WWRL

From a small studio in Woodside, Queens, a voice emerged. That voice belonged to WWRL, signing on for the first time at midnight on August 26, 1926. WWRL, originally Woodside Radio Laboratory, was the brainchild of William Reuman. He broadcast from his own home at 41-30 58th Street. Imagine the scene: a neighborhood filled with the sounds of live musical performances, often featuring Reuman’s friends and neighbors. One of those neighbors was a young Astoria singer named Ethel Zimmerman, later known to the world as Ethel Merman. WWRL’s early days coincided with a period of relaxed government oversight. New stations popped up with little regulation. This Wild West atmosphere ended with the formation of the Federal Radio Commission (FRC). WWRL, along with many other stations, faced scrutiny and had to justify its existence. It successfully argued for its continuation, transitioning from a hobbyist endeavor to a commercial enterprise. By 1929, it was incorporated as the Long Island Broadcasting Corporation, broadcasting in multiple languages including Italian, German, French, Polish, Hungarian, Slovak, and Czech, along with English. WWRL became known as “The Voice of Queens County,” reflecting its diverse programming. The station’s journey through the radio waves involved several frequency changes due to international agreements and regulatory decisions. It eventually landed on 1600 kHz in 1941, its home to this day. In 1951, another significant change occurred: WWRL’s city of license switched from Woodside to New York City. This move broadened its reach and solidified its place in the city’s dynamic radio landscape. WWRL’s programming evolved, catering to the city’s diverse communities, focusing on Hispanic and Black listeners, with other ethnic groups also finding a place on the airwaves. By the late 1950s, WWRL had become a primarily Spanish-language station broadcasting 24 hours a day. It was in the mid-1960s that WWRL transformed into a powerful voice for the Black community under the direction of news director Dick London. This era also saw legendary DJs like Frankie Crocker and Jocko Henderson gracing the airwaves. From the soulful sounds of R&B to the uplifting messages of gospel, from progressive talk to ethnic programming, WWRL has consistently adapted, reflecting the changing times and the diverse voices of New York.