Unless you were in the radio or record business, this photo probably doesn't mean a thing to you. However if you ever were associated with the most exciting business of radio, you recognize this 1960's era control room. This is the first control room I worked in after I graduated from the University of Florida and Delinda and I moved to Jacksonville, Florida to work at WPDQ. The studios were on the 13th floor of the ACL building in downtown Jacksonville, right on the St. Johns river. Back then we actually used all four of those turntables...and...of couse this was decades before computers. Notice the large machine up on the right...this was referred to as the "window shade" and was use to record commercials and jingles and play back by sliding a bar across the "shade." I loved this studio and want to thank Bob Dillehay for sending this picture.
2 comments:
Tom: I'm Carl Peeples. I was searching on WPDQ and found your site. Your picture of the WPDQ control room was taken by me sometime around 1960 or 1961 with my brand new Polaroid camera. I have the original and only print. The control room in the picture was in the Gulf Life Bldg. before the move to the ACL Bldg. I don't know Bob Dillehay. But, I'm a lifelong friend of Bill Weaver who is also, according to Bill, a friend of yours. I emailed the picture to him and Berkley Fraser within the last year or two. As far as I can recall, they are the only two to whom I've ever given a copy of the picture. And, that was via email. I graduated from UF in 1963 with a Bachelor of Electrical Engineering. I worked for several years during my college days at WPDQ and WQTY in Jax and at WGGG in Gainesville. I met you sometime in the sixties. Bill told me within the last year or so that you could not recall me. I retired from the FAA in 2002 and live in Douglasville, GA (metro Atlanta). You can email me at cbpeeples@carlsgold.com. I would love to hear from you. Specifically, regarding the picture. I assure you that your picture of the control room is the one that I took. I have several more of me and a very young Bill Weaver at the same console in the same control room taken at the same time. I will share them with you if you like.
Best regards, Carl.
I love the shot of the studio! I guess you are familiar with the photos of WLAK on the radioyears site. I have tried to contribute as many photos as I could find. Memories! Sooooo glad I found your blog. I am reading all of it...from the beginning. I got this far and had to stop and make a comment. More later perhaps.
Jane (Ward) Britnell
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