“World’s First Broadcasting Regiment.” This slogan once echoed for WFBR. Let’s step back in time to uncover the story of this Baltimore radio station.
WFBR’s story began long ago. It wasn’t always WFBR. Initially, it was WEAR. The Baltimore American newspaper launched WEAR in 1922. This makes it one of Maryland’s first radio stations. WEAR broadcast Mayor William F. Broening’s speech. It also broadcast President Warren G. Harding’s speech. This was a significant moment. It marked the first time a U.S. President spoke on civilian radio.
However, WEAR’s journey was short-lived. The station was deleted in 1924. But its equipment found a new purpose. The Fifth Regiment of the Maryland National Guard acquired it. They established WFBR. The call letters were randomly assigned.
WFBR’s early days were filled with diverse content. Dramas and comedies filled the airwaves. News and sports entertained listeners. Soap operas and game shows captivated audiences. Big band music made people dance. Arthur Godfrey even started his career at WFBR in 1930.
WFBR changed its network affiliations over time. It joined NBC Red Network in 1931. Later, it switched to the Mutual Broadcasting System. In 1945, it became an ABC affiliate. WFBR moved to 1300 kHz in 1941.
In the 1960s, WFBR adapted to changing times. It transitioned to a Top 40 music format. The station maintained a strong news department. Local sports coverage remained extensive. WFBR’s studios were on East 20th Street. Its transmitter was near the Patapsco River. A popular program was “Conference Call”. This weekday panel discussed local and national news.
The 1970s brought memorable personalities to WFBR. “The Flying Dutchman” Pete Berry entertained listeners. Ron Matz and his alter-ego “Harry Horni” added humor. Johnny Walker was a cutting-edge morning DJ. “The Coach” Charley Eckman shared his sports expertise. Tom Marr covered news and sports. WFBR became known as “Mad Radio 13”.
WFBR became the flagship station for the Baltimore Orioles in 1979. This partnership lasted until 1986. Harry Shriver led the promotion. He created “Oriole Magic”. Chuck Thompson and Bill O’Donnell announced the games. Tom Marr also contributed. Jon Miller later joined the team.
WFBR evolved musically. It shifted from Top 40 to adult contemporary. The station added evening talk shows. However, it lost the Orioles broadcast rights in 1986. WFBR transitioned to a news/talk format. Hosts included Tom Marr and Alan Christian.
WFBR began broadcasting in AM stereo in 1984. Infinity Broadcasting acquired the station in 1988. It switched to an oldies format. The station played music from 1955 to 1965.
In 1990, WFBR’s call letters changed. It briefly became WLIF. Later, it became WJFK. WJFK initially simulcast with WJFK-FM. This brought Howard Stern to Baltimore.
WJFK became the radio home for the Baltimore Ravens in 1996. Scott Garceau and Tom Matte called the games. However, WJFK flipped to ESPN Radio in 2003. It rebranded as “AM 1300 The Jock”.
The call sign changed to WJZ in 2008. WJZ retained its ESPN Radio affiliation. It added University of Maryland sports. In 2012, WJZ simulcast sister station WJZ-FM. It became a CBS Sports Radio affiliate in 2013.
CBS merged CBS Radio with Entercom in 2017. WJZ radio separated from WJZ-TV. In 2021, WJZ flipped to sports gambling. It became “The Bet Baltimore”.
Today, the WFBR call letters are used by a station in Glen Burnie. It serves the Baltimore area. It broadcasts a multilingual format. This station honors the legacy of WFBR. WFBR’s story is a testament to radio’s evolution.