Publication Date

1-8-1970

Comments

Reel-to-reel tape and WAV file

Abstract

1940:

- (00:01:45) Heck Lackey announced at 6:00pm on January 8th, 1940, that WHOP would begin broadcasting on channel 1200. Eventually the station would be moved to channel 1230.

- (00:03:20) Until a flood emergency in 1937, local radio stations were not very common (or even seen as necessary) only large cities like Louisville or Paducah had stations. However, by 1939, Lackey’s vision for Hopkinsville to have a local radio station was growing.

- (00:06:20) A relative of Lackey who helped found WHOP claimed the two began the process without much prior knowledge on the subject. Despite having humble beginnings (by not having the greatest gear for the studio), there were several music groups that would seem to come from all over to sing live on the station. Goober P. Nut is cited as being very helpful in establishing the station.

- (00:09:40) The first studio was located at an old meat business on Buttermilk Road, and the regular hours of operation were 6:00-11:00 (I assume 6:00am to 11:00pm). However, due to the war, sometimes the station could only operate until 9:00 because no one was able to work. The original building still stood at the time of this broadcast.

  • The guest speaker shares a story of how Buttermilk Road got its name: he claims the road was so bumpy and rocky that when the milk truck would get to the end of the road, the milk would become buttermilk from all the turbulence!

- (00:10:35) Many of the first ever announcements given on the station are recollected. These included new officers in various organizations such as chamber of commerce or at the bank. Other announcements were war related such as the American Red Cross hosting an event to knit sweaters for Polish war refugees. Some pertained to pop culture such as when Andy Devine came to Hopkinsville to announce his new movie. Some others related to weather such as when on January 26th, 1940, the temperature was 17 below 0 or when in March heavy rains washed away 20 bridges across Christian County. It was in 1940 that US 68 (the “blacktop highway” as mentioned in the program) opened in Hopkinsville.

- (00:12:05) The war scare is briefly discussed. Superintendents urged teachers to promote patriotism in schools in light of the ongoing world warfare. County men between the ages of 21 and 36 registered for the upcoming military draft. The fall of Paris, France to Nazi Germany is discussed as a potential turning point in both the war and European culture. The report is given without much hope—the speaker seems skeptical to assume that Hitler might ever be overthrown.

- (00:16:04) The re-election of FDR is briefly discussed. In Christian County, he received 1033 more votes than Wendell Willkie. War rumors loom throughout the community.

1941:

- (00:17:38) More announcements that were originally given in 1941 are recollected. 72 members of the local national guard went to war as bands played and flags flew. Hopkinsville’s city streets became one-way streets. The city fire department bought its first fire siren this year. Rumors began to spread that an army post might be built near Hopkinsville.

- (00:18:30) News in the early days is discussed. Much of the news was focused on WWII. In the early days, news was not given in time slots as it was in 1970. A guest speaker shares how news would come spontaneously, and the 5-6 people working in the station would scramble to get the news on the air as quickly as possible—not even taking the time of day into account because they were simply too busy. Local coverage was rare—most news was national.

- (00:20:30) Miscellaneous announcements from 1941 are recollected: store remodels, 325 men were presently in the armed services from Christian County, and the death of a local judge is announced.

- (00:20:50) “The news of all news” is announced. A recording of the actual announcement of the bombing of Pearl Harbor is played. The following day, President Roosevelt’s “Day of Infamy” speech was aired. A recording of the speech is aired.

1942:

- (00:23:20) The announcement of an Army camp between Hopkinsville and Clarksville is made. 85 farms are engulfed for its construction within 4 counties. The city commission announced in January that it would begin going on daylight savings time for the duration of the war. It was also announced that Hopkinsville would be purchasing TVA power for the community.

- (00:24:00) Sports programming is briefly discussed. Originally, the station would air wrestling matches from Paducah. However, the first big broadcast was the high school tournament in Pembrook (it was a ball game [not specified—presumed baseball]). The sports section almost flopped, that is until some workers at the station decided to band together and raise enough money to put one baseball team on the air—broadcasting did not hurt the physical attendance of the game, though some feared many would stay home and listen to the game instead.

- (00:27:00) June 13th – Many Hopkinsville women decided to step up and do their part for the ongoing warfare. Some registered as hostesses for benefit dances, others got their certifications in first aid. Bethel Women’s College announced it would suspend operation in light of the war.

- (00:27:28) A recording of Edward R. Murrow’s popular newscast from London is played. He describes the scene in London during times of warfare. The scene is ominous and desolate.

- (00:28:55) Some final announcements from the year are recollected. Then-called Camp Campbell was a hot button topic of discussion.

1943:

- (00:30:33) C.M. Meacham and Harry Leonard Lebcatcher’s deaths are announces on February 1st and March 1st respectively. Hopkinsville annexed its first area of land for the first time in more than 30 years on the southern edge of the city.

- (00:31:00) WHOP joined the CBS network, and this topic is briefly discussed in this section. CBS proposed the agreement because Hopkinsville was in a location where CBS has a geographic “hole in their network.” So the partners who ran the station met up with officials from CBS in Atlanta to go over the deal. The first CBS airing was July 18th, 1943.

- (00:32:28) Local programming was not as common. Most local programming was strictly for sports events.

- (00:33:30) It was in this year that city schoolteachers received raises of $5-12 a month. On May 22nd, 1943, the 9th street Christian Church had a mortgage burning ceremony. The First Presbyterian Church and the Westminster Presbyterian Church merged congregations. Hopkinsville fathers were moved to level A instead of AAA by the draft board. Many Hopkinsville citizens opened the doors of their homes to Camp Campbell soldiers for the Christmas season. Final approval from Washington was given for Christian County to open a Health department.

1944:

- (00:35:35) A $200,000 fire destroyed the main officers building at Camp Campbell at the turn of the year. On January 21st, Hopkinsville welcomed home its first war hero: Charles M. Cornett. WWII was getting into full swing with plans of the invasion of Europe at hand.

- (00:36:28) The first major WWII-related news story is recollected: Germany’s invasion of Holland in 1940. The news station had signed off the air at 10, but when the brothers who ran the station got word of the invasion, the two came back to the station to air details about it as they came in.

- (00:37:35) The Latham Hotel fire is briefly discussed. Many of the antiques were gotten out before the Hotel burned (literally from the top down). The telephone company allowed the station to tap into a telephone line to broadcast the fire (at least until it got too hot to be around and the telephone line began to burn). This was the first big local news event the station covered (the man recalls this event happened in 1940).

- (00:38:37) The biggest news in 1944 of course pertained to the war. On June 6th, General Dwight D. Eisenhower announced the D-day invasion. It was aired on WHOP. For the first time in broadcasting, a tape recorder was used to cover the invasion when George Hicks submitted a recording from the invasion. You can hear several explosions, guns firing, and people shouting in the recording. President FDR’s Fireside Chats were also aired on the station.

- (00:41:16) In August, WHOP reported the worsening of a polio epidemic. By this point, 5 in Christian County had died from the disease. 43 Kentucky counties had reported cases. Camp Campbell was actively being turned into a permanent training center. FDR was reelected in November with Democrats all over pulling together in support of him.

1945:

- (00:43:00) The International Shoe Company announced it would be relocating to Hopkinsville. With a $500,000 annual payroll, this was expected to bring around 400 new jobs to the area. The war was knowingly coming to an end, but some bad news was broadcasted beforehand in April: “President Roosevelt is dead.” The recording of the announcement which was broadcast is played. The funeral was aired on WHOP—the dreary scene was explained by the radio announcer.

- (00:45:14) President Truman announced that Germany had surrendered to the United Nations. Along with this was an announcement from Winston Churchill. Both announcements were aired on WHOP. There was joy all over the world. Edward R. Murrow reported the joyous scene from London.

- (00:47:08) President Truman took to the airwaves to tell the listeners of the beginning of the atomic age by announcing the bombing of Hiroshima. Three days later, Robert Trout of CBS came across the airwaves to announce the end of the second world war with Japanese surrender.

- (00:49:56) The war was over! Servicemen were coming home—with 300 ex-servicemen applying for jobs in the month of November.

1946:

- (00:51:36) The war department said 25 men from Christian County lost their lives during combat while 23 others lost their lives due to natural causes or accidents during their time of service. In August of that year, a Mrs. Green died and willed her house to the American Red Cross to use as a chapter house. The United Nations held its first general assembly session.

- (00:52:15) The service of WHOP throughout the first few years is recollected. Several difficult circumstances had happened up to this point. The founder, Heck Lackey married and moved to Henderson to start another radio station, leaving his brother. In 1945, the tower was blown down. Several people came and went throughout the years. It was during these first years that the station was truly put to the test having such large competition with stations out of Nashville. Getting the agreement with CBS was a huge help—especially for airing during the night.

1947:

- (00:54:47) The cancer clinic at Jenny Stuart Hospital was established during this year. Plans were made for the first parochial school in the city.

- (00:55:32) In national news, the British Labor government began to nationalize the industry in Britain, imposed the marshal plan, and India was freed from colonialism by England.

1948:

- (00:56:28) This was the first year Hopkinsville had a two-truck garbage pickup force. It was also the year the city commission purchased 100 street signs.

- (00:56:40) In national news, the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi is announced. This was also the year of the Berlin Airlift. Radio drama and comedy also peaked during this year.

- (00:57:24) The topic of soap operas is briefly recollected. Some examples are played for the listener to enjoy. The feeling is really quite nostalgic. Each soap opera is generally begun by the announcement of who is sponsoring said soap opera and followed by an organ or orchestral music. Then the title of the soap opera would be announced with much taste and/or drama.

1949:

- (01:03:30) Floods in the county forced some 200 people to leave their homes. Nationally, Truman proposed the 4-Point Program, NATO was organized, the West German Federal Republic was formed, Russia exploded its first atomic bomb, and rumors of approaching trouble in Korea began.

1950:

- (01:04:24) On January 25th, Hopkinsville recorded a record high temperature of 73 degrees. In April, the Farm Bureau announced plans to sell stock to build offices on W. 9th Street. That same month, Camp Campbell was renamed Fort Campbell—becoming a permanent army post. The Korean conflict began this year, Truman ordered that the hydrogen bomb be developed, and American troops reached the Manchurian border in Korean fighting. The county court clerk, Frank Basset, died this year in office. In August, army, navy, and air force reserved forces in the area began getting calls to serve in the Korean conflict.

- (01:05:18) The highlights of the 1950s with WHOP are recollected briefly. Some men working at the station were called back into service. In 1954, the co-founder of the station started the Community Broadcaster’s Association to advocate for more power for the radio station. As a result, in 1955, the station moved and was modernized to better serve the greater Hopkinsville area. It was in the 1950s that the station implemented mobile news units. One of the first mobile news events was a salt vaccination promotion event.

1951:

- (01:07:52) The Korean conflict worsened. WHOP aired reports on the matter. Some reports were given even in the heat of battle. One report is shared which was recorded in a Korean fox hole. It was also in this year that Truman removed general McArthur from all commands. In more local news, an April fire set off sprinklers at the Hopkinsville Clothing Company, soaking some 120,000 garments of clothes valued at around $50,000. In this year, 9 boys registered to attend Bethel college. The annual Rotary Radio Auction began this year. H.E. Bud Hudson was named acting post-master.

1952:

- (01:09:40) Fort Campbell started a $21 million dollar project for troop housing and other facilities in this year considering the Korean conflict. In March, approval came to widen highway US 41-A between Hopkinsville and Clarksville. In April, 14 people were trapped for 90 minutes in the top of the Jefferson Davis monument when the elevator broke down. Christian county ranked 20th in the state with a per capita income rate of $920 annually. In this year, Hopkinsville voters changed the city government from the commission form to the council form following a scandal in the commission. The city’s semi-official population was recorded at 16,227.

- (01:10:49) In July, national Republicans nominated Dwight D. Eisenhower to their party’s ticket for president. A clip of Eisenhower’s convention speech is played. During the campaign Eisenhower promised to go to Korea and end the fighting—a promise he kept when in December of that year, he secretly went even before being sworn into office after winning the presidential bid. The US exploded their first test nuclear bomb in the deserts of Nevada in this year.

1953:

- (01:12:28) August 8th, two military men from Christian County were among the prisoners of war handed over by the communists to the United Nations during a prisoner exchange. Bethel College, in that same month, opened its classes for the 100th year. In October, the $70,000 club house at the Hopkinsville country club and golf course was dedicated. This was the year the local fire department was notified that it had won 8th place out of all the cities in the nation for the best 1952 municipal fire prevention program. Just as the year ended, the dial system for telephones was installed in Christian County. In national news, England got a new ruler—Queen Elizabeth II. A recording of the coronation was played over the radio waves.

1954:

- (01:15:08) Thomas Industries (a million-dollar manufacturing plant) decided to locate in Hopkinsville. A mental health clinic was formed in the city this year. The city council approved plans to build a new school on Morning Side Drive. In national news, America launched an atomic submarine this year, but perhaps the most far-reaching news was the Supreme Court’s decision to ban racial segregation in schools.

- (01:15:51) The Rotary Radio Auction is briefly discussed. This is a big, week-long event that WHOP takes great pride in assisting. The first year of the auction, $3,558 was raised for the Rotary Student Loan Fund. By the time of this broadcasting (1970), the previous auction had raised an all-time high of $28,741, and overall, the auction had raised $241,718 up to this point. Through a loan repayment program, the organization had loaned $341,000 to 464 students who might have otherwise failed to get college or vocational training.

1955:

- (01:18:31) It was in this year that the state economic security office building was built on 7th Street as well as the Christian County tuberculosis home just off Dawson Springs Road. The Kiwanis club members went ahead with a $50,000 proposed swimming pool project. Contracts were also signed to pave the way for the new Christian County High School. This was also the year the polio vaccine was approved. WHOP worked at the city health department as children went to get their vaccines to promote the movement and hand out lollipops and cards to the children who were to receive them. Emma Wilson wrote a book about Hopkinsville entitled Under One Roof which was published this year. Fort Campbell began construction on their first permanent buildings for family housing. Thomas Industries had its dedication, which WHOP held the open house for on October 2nd.

- (01:20:06) The growth of Hopkinsville and WHOP is briefly recollected. It was during the mid-50s that WHOP grew its staff and began reporting full-time local news with mobile units around picking up whatever was happening.

1956:

- (01:22:28) Major General Thomas L. Sherborn came to Fort Campbell to command the 101st Airborne Division, he also took command of Fort Campbell. This same year, CBS and WHOP brought the tragic news of Alvin Barkley’s death as he was speaking to a group of college students in Virginia. That same year, Stevenson carried Christian County over Eisenhower. In national news, Khrushchev called Stalin a murderer. The Freedom fighters of Hungary revolted but were crushed by the communists. Egypt seized the Suez Canal, and Britain, France, and Israel invaded Egypt.

1957:

- (01:25:46) The 9th Street Christian Church was sold for construction of a new motel. F.E. Lackey was elected to the office of mayor for a second term. This was also the year of “THE FLOOD.” Water stood several feet at 9th and Main in downtown Hopkinsville and was declared a “disaster area.” This brought into discussion the construction of a dam and reservoir with the creation of a Flood Control Commission to prevent this from happening in the future. It was also this year that President Eisenhower sent troops from Fort Campbell to Little Rock, Arkansas to enforce integration of Central High School. The Space Age was born in this year on October 4th with the creation of the first artificial Earth satellite.

1958:

- (01:28:00) The space race was on! American space scientists were trying to compete with Russia to place an artificial earth satellite into orbit. The youngest Major General in the army at the time, William C. Westmoreland, was named commander of the 101st Airborne Division and Fort Campbell. This was the year that Hopkinsville was given approval for the local flood control project—a series of dams would be constructed along the north and south sides of the river. More extensive one-way streets were implemented in the city this year. Mid-Continent Spring Company also opened its doors in Hopkinsville on June 25th of this year. Alaska became the 49th state of the Union.

1959:

- (01:30:52) Belmont school was destroyed by a fire this year, but the Churches of Hopkinsville opened their doors for use as classrooms. The new school was erected on the same site. Jordan Furniture Company also burned as was rebuilt. J.C. Beavers, a Christian County woman, was named Kentucky Mother of the Year. Thomas Industries announced expansion plans this year. Ground was broken for a new fire station. Expansion for Mid-Continent Spring Company was also announced this year. In national news, Castro took over Cuba. Charles de Gaulle became president of France. Hawaii became the 50th state of the Union. And the St. Lawrence Seaway opened to ocean-going traffic for the first time.

1960:

- (01:32:45) The continued growth of Hopkinsville and WHOP is discussed. The news department at WHOP was second to none. They won several Associated Press awards as well as the Headliners award. The station got a power increase in the 1960s (1000 watts) but also had a tower go down, which resulted in a new tower with higher gain, better coverage, better range, and even anti-ice equipment so the FM transmitters wouldn’t ice over. In summary, this decade brought additional power, increased physical facilities, expansion of programming, and expansion of service for WHOP.

- (01:35:42) In national news, this was the year Kruzchev killed the Paris Summit Meeting over the U-2 incident. Cuba also seized US military property in Cuba.

1961:

- (01:36:24) Early in this year, 5 crewman of a C-19 flying box car lost their lives when the ship crashed at it approached the Fort Campbell airfield. In January, the temperature dipped to 8 below zero in Hopkinsville. Urban renewal as well as a new municipal center were approved in this year for the Hopkinsville area. Trigg county high school burned down this year. The space age aged—Yuri Gagarin (a Russian) became the first human to enter space—orbiting the earth once. Later that year, the US got their first man in space: Alan B. Shepherd.

1962:

- (01:38:30) A new elementary school was approved to be constructed on the southern edge of Hopkinsville. Midway shopping center at Fort Campbell was destroyed by fire. The veteran’s administration gave up Atwood hospital at Dawson Springs. It was later repurposed as a school for the mentally retarded. In national news, John Glenn became the first American to orbit the earth. Telstar provided intercontinental live television for the first time. Back to local news, Hopkinsville lawyer, Edward T. Breathitt, announced his intentions to run for governor of Kentucky. The Skyline shopping center opened for business this year. Allegations were made that Crofton was a speed trap. A motel operator, Joe Noffsinger, even erected signs warning people of said trap.

- (01:39:25) In national news, this was the year President Kennedy issued a Cuban quarantine after missile bases were discovered on Cuban soil. Kennedy’s speech is played over the airwaves.

- (01:40:51) Back to local news, the McConnel’s tobacco warehouse burned down this year. Over 300,000 pounds of tobacco was destroyed. More than 25,000 Christian Countians took the polio vaccine this year. The fight about school boundary lines began (this began the usage of the term “disputed area”).

1963:

- (01:41:32) The entire country was hit by the Asian Flu. In Christian County alone, almost 5,000 cases were reported. Schools in Trigg County were forced to closed because of the flu. Hopkinsville High School students got a new building this year. The old high school was made into a junior high school.

- (01:42:15) Ned Breathitt won the governorship for the Kentucky. WHOP was at the inauguration. The event is recollected. More than 1,000 people from Christian County attended the event. A recording of the swearing in ceremony is played over the airwaves.

- (01:45:15) The schools in Christian County were ordered to desegregate. The state approved plans for a branch of the University of Kentucky to be built in Hopkinsville. A new Army National Guard armory was dedicated this year as well.

- (01:45:28) The day Kennedy was assassinated is recollected. At first, it was only reported that President Kennedy and the governor of Texas were shot. However, a few minutes later it was reported that the president of the United States was dead. Lyndon Johnson became the new president, and only two days later, Lee Harvey Oswald (Kennedy’s assassin) was shot and killed by Jack Ruby.

- (01:46:53) The topic of Vietnam is first brought up when American advisors are being sent to the nation.

1964:

- (01:48:13) This was the year Hopkinsville really began to blossom. Bethel College closed this year, but ground was broken for a new community college campus this year. The new municipal building was completed this year, and the city also got a new police and fire station. The army was trying a new type of aircraft at Fort Campbell this year—the helicopter. One of them crashed, killing six people, and this was reported on WHOP. Work began on an urban renewal project with the federal government giving the go ahead for the $35 million Land Between the Lakes Recreational Area.

1965:

- (01:51:34) Hopkinsville was becoming a hit. The city was notified that it had been selected as the site for two new industrial plants. On April 7th, 1965, the city was tabbed as an “All American City,” it was one of 11 cities in the entire nation. The Pennyrile parkway was proposed this year after a plan to four-lane US 431 N was deemed too expensive. The war in Vietnam was heating up. It was this year that the First Brigade of the 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell was shipped to Vietnam. Locally, the Little River Water Shed was nearing completion.

1966:

- (01:54:30) For the first time in history, the President of the United States came to Christian County to Fort Campbell to review troops of the 101st Airborne Division. The Vice President also came to the county this year for the dedication of Barkley Dam. Hopkinsville got another plant this year: KY Clothing Company. Ground was broken for Pennyrile Parkway this year. Later, plans were announced for a new animal disease diagnostic lab in Hopkinsville.

1967:

- (01:56:27) The Vietnam was not popular at all. The final two brigades of the 101st Airborne Division were shipped to the nation leaving Fort Campbell at its lowest troop strength in recent years. The Screaming Eagles were sent to both Vietnam and Detroit to put down rioting in the negro section of the city. Hopkinsville’s industrial growth continued this year—a bowling ball making company announced plans to come to Hopkinsville. The North Fork Little River Water Shed was named the Water Shed of the Year Across the United States. Construction began for an additional 2,000 feet of runway for the local airport. And construction began on a new state office building. A record number of people died on the county’s highways this year—41 in total. Unions came to Hopkinsville in light of the growing industrialization, but their efforts to unionize failed this year, however, they were successful a few years down the road. In national news, Israel invaded Egypt in a 6-day war.

1968:

- (02:00:00) A Hopkinsville sailor, Willy Bustle Jr., was captured by the North Koreans along with 83 other US crewman. After 8 months of captivity, the prisoners were released. The 6th Infantry Division was organized and disbanded at Fort Campbell all in this year. 26 passengers were injured this year when and L&N train derailed near the city. There was also controversy of a toll road charge on the Pennyrile Parkway ramps at US 68—the toll was never initiated. Hopkinsville High School was the site of racial tensions for most of this year. The bankrupt Tennessee Railway was sold to three other lines. Downtown stores were boycotted by the negro community (with not much success). Nine coal miners in Greenville died this year with an explosion rocked a coal mine. The Pembrook bank was robbed this year as well.

In national news, Nixon defeated Humphrey and Wallace for the presidential bid. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated, and his assassination was reported on WHOP. Senator Robert Kennedy was also assassinated this year, and his assassination was reported on WHOP likewise. A recording off the dramatic event is played over the airwaves. You can hear the reporter saying “get his gun” regarding the assassin. CBS called this year “the incredible year.”

1969:

- (02:04:02) Hopkinsville’s industrialization continued to grow dramatically this year with three new companies coming to the city. Construction of a new mall-type shopping center was also announced this year. Officials promised civilian cutbacks at Fort Campbell. The city and county school systems discussed a merger in this year—to no avail.

- (02:04:50) In national news, the “biggest story of the century” was announced. Mankind made it to the moon! Neil Armstrong became the first man on the moon.

1970s:

- (02:05:54) The future is discussed for the community of Hopkinsville, Christian County, and WHOP. “Real great changes” are announced for WHOP. Expansion is the biggest topic of discussion for the radio station. The ideal goal is to meet the growing needs of the listeners.

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