Lakes Region NH Radio & Media Archive

Lakes Region NH Radio & Media Archive Highlights and Lowlights of Lakes Region NH radio history with a side of local newspapers & magazines

Today we celebrate the 30th anniversary of the debut of the little station that got big really fast: BIG 101.5. Our good...
02/28/2024

Today we celebrate the 30th anniversary of the debut of the little station that got big really fast: BIG 101.5. Our good friend & BIG architect Steve Gamlin provides background and make comments on the decent collection of pictures we will be posting on the peeps and events that led BIG 101.5 to become the runner up for Station of the year at the then NHAB Golden Mic awards. If you were there please share your stories. Thx

Ricky: Steve The Steve Stevester. Greetings. Today is the 30th anniversary (Feb 28, 1994) of the debut of Big 101.5. I was wondering if you would share a few words to go with as many pictures as I can load of those wild & wacky times. Highlight winning station of the year at NHAB? Key characters. The floor is yours.

Steve: Happy to share. We were 'the little station that could...and did."

Would you like me to reach out to Evil Jack Beaton? He's the one who got behind us to take it off satellite and go LIVE for part of the day...without telling the owner of the station (because he believed in us THAT much)

Rick: I just remember the magic of winning at the Granite Mics. Days of wine and roses..

Steve: We actually got 2nd place, in our first full year of being live...truly was an amazing honor!

Also, Ron Drew and I collaborated as Music Directors for the station. First thing we agreed upon: We did NOT play 'Stairway to Heaven' during the first year of the station's existence!

Some of the other names of those involved with BIG 101.5 in our heyday: Evil Jack Beaton Ron Drew Brian Bernard Trey McKain AnnMarie Biello

And also days of Guns 'n Roses, Thursday night Blues Jam at Zack's Lakeside and getting to meet so many amazing fans!

Rick I also remember the 2 Skyshows at Opechee. Did Ron create the Skyshow soundtrack that was cued to the fireworks?

Steve: Yes he did, for Atlas PyroVision!

Steve: And a big THANK YOU to Gary the Engineer who got everything bolted down just hours before Brian and I went live for the very first morning show!

Rick: When you have a moment please make comments on the pictures we’ve included in the post. Thanks Steve.

and....we're back! On Wednesday February 28 we will celebrate the 30th anniversary of the debut of the little station th...
02/24/2024

and....we're back! On Wednesday February 28 we will celebrate the 30th anniversary of the debut of the little station that got big really fast: BIG 101.5. Our good friend & BIG architect Steve Gamlin will provide some background and make comments on the decent collection of pictures we will be posting on the peeps and events that led BIG 101.5 to become the runner up for Station of the year at the then NHAB Golden Mic awards. If you were there please share your stories. Thx

October 1986 saw the debut of “This Week” in the Lakes Region Magazine. Mrs Hooper was the editor for a few years. Che...
11/30/2023

October 1986 saw the debut of “This Week” in the Lakes Region Magazine. Mrs Hooper was the editor for a few years. Check the 2 mastheads in the pictures for a cornucopia of media peeps we’ve known and loved. We’ll go deeper down the road. For now enjoy the ads from the 1986 premier and a 1989 edition. See you at Summerfields!

11/24/2023

THE WLNH “TOWNS JINGLE”

A message from Co-Radio Archive Historian Rick Hooper

It’s a radio archive. Where’s the sound? In 1980 I was 21 working as a copywriter at WLNH. We were getting some new jingles. The demo was a WBZ jingle package from TM. One jingle in particular stood out. We simply called it “The Towns Jingle”. WBZ’s was a listing of a multitude of Boston metro towns. (Have learned that the original BZ jingle was from 1974 and there were 2 versions: The Towns and Landmarks)

My task was to come up with a list of Central New Hampshire towns that would work with the jingle bed. So I got a map and a protractor and drew a circle with Laconia at the center and made a list of towns. And over a few days proceeded to write the lyrics for the WLNH version of the towns jingle.

Once it debuted it was immensely popular. We would get requests for it. Even mailed a few cassettes to out-of-towners who wanted to take a bit of the Lakes Region home with them.

I’ve been searching for the WBZ version for several years. Pleased to find today on You Tube.

WBZ version is first then WLNH

HAPPY BIRTHDAY 101.5 FM!A message from Co-Radio Archive Historian Dirk Nadon. I’d be remiss in my duties if I didn’t ack...
11/16/2023

HAPPY BIRTHDAY 101.5 FM!

A message from Co-Radio Archive Historian Dirk Nadon.

I’d be remiss in my duties if I didn’t acknowledge today’s important birthday: 101.5 FM is 35 Years Young today.

The story began in 1986 when Dad and I had lunch together at Paugus Diner and I told him about some “New FM Station Licenses” that were coming to the Lakes Region. He told me to “find out more, maybe you and I will get one”. Gary Howard, former EMJ GM joined us…and from that point forward we competed against 4 other groups for the license, and eventually got it.

WMRQ was born the morning of November 16, 1988. In a building literally still under construction at the top of the hill, near Hart’s Turkey Farm in Meredith, Dominic Biello (Chris Michaels) and Allan Harrison started the day and, from that moment on, MRQ was a Rocket Ship at light speed.

My friend Mike Lessard handled midday, I was on afternoon, Ron Leroux at night and a further cast of stars 24/7 LIVE.

Paul Fuller joined a few months later and we were Rockin’.

If you’re interested, here are a few photos from that time. I didn’t think that special “Lighting In A Bottle” could ever be captured again, but we have caught it again, with Hawk, Mountain Country 97…and now seeing 101.5 on-top now as Lakes FM is certainly a dedication to this long adventure.

Thank you,

Dirk

Don't blink. Hundreds of people at our Mall. What a difference 24 years makes. Steeplegate Mall was the host for a mul...
11/09/2023

Don't blink. Hundreds of people at our Mall. What a difference 24 years makes. Steeplegate Mall was the host for a multitude of WLNH & Oldies 99 Boats Shows, Car Shows, Kids Fairs, Job Fairs....not to mention the Black Friday events hosted by Nazzy & JYY. Soon to be a Costco, Whole Foods, and 600+ much needed apartments for the Concord Region. We'll always have Paris.

11/02/2023

Today is Warren Bailey's Birthday.
Let's smash a bottle of champagne on the bow of this page and kicks things off with a video featuring the new "Warren Bailey Community Champion Award" at the recent New Hampshire Association of Broadcasters Granite Mic Awards.
The founding of The Children's Auction is just one of the many community endeavors that Warren has championed during his close to 50 years on air in the Lakes Region.

Have been wanting to get this page going for a while. Like lots of current and former radio guys and gals I'm a hoarder....
11/02/2023

Have been wanting to get this page going for a while. Like lots of current and former radio guys and gals I'm a hoarder. A hoarder of all things radio going back to 1968 with my oldest item being a WTRY Albany Top 30 Survey. Crimson & Clover by the Tommy James & The Shondells was #1.
So time to share....Lakes Region Radio, Newspaper, Magazine and other Media artifacts from the 20th century. Audio, video, newspaper and magazine clippings just for the fun of it.
I've asked fellow Lakes Region radio geek like me Dirk Nadon to join me Rick Hopper for the ride and co-administration.
You are welcome to submit items of interest. Just message.

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THE WLNH “TOWNS JINGLE” A message from Co-Radio Archive Historian Rick Hooper It’s a radio archive. Where’s the sound? In 1980 I was 21 working as a copywriter at WLNH. We were getting some new jingles. The demo was a WBZ jingle package from TM. One jingle in particular stood out. We simply called it “The Towns Jingle”. WBZ’s was a listing of a multitude of Boston metro towns. (Have learned that the original BZ jingle was from 1974 and there were 2 versions: The Towns and Landmarks) My task was to come up with a list of Central New Hampshire towns that would work with the jingle bed. So I got a map and a protractor and drew a circle with Laconia at the center and made a list of towns. And over a few days proceeded to write the lyrics for the WLNH version of the towns jingle. Once it debuted it was immensely popular. We would get requests for it. Even mailed a few cassettes to out-of-towners who wanted to take a bit of the Lakes Region home with them. I’ve been searching for the WBZ version for several years. Pleased to find today on You Tube. WBZ version is first then WLNH

Today is Warren Bailey's Birthday. Let's smash a bottle of champagne on the bow of this page and kicks things off with a video featuring the new "Warren Bailey Community Champion Award" at the recent New Hampshire Association of Broadcasters Granite Mic Awards. The founding of The Children's Auction is just one of the many community endeavors that Warren has championed during his close to 50 years on air in the Lakes Region.

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