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| | WMIZ - 1270 on the AM dial |  | WMIZ first came on the air as WDVL on Wednesday, August 19, 1959 as a daytimer. That means it only operated from sunrise to sunset. Today, the station (now operating as WMIZ) broadcasts on a 24 hour a day basis. Nine years later, its sister station WDVL-FM started broadcasting in October of 1968. WDVL-FM is now known as WVLT, our sister station with an oldies music format.
One former employee of the station says he clearly remembers a document posted in the GM's office saying that the AM station came on the air in 1957. However, several different editions of Broadcasting Yearbook show the start date as August 19, 1959. Gerry Wilkinson, Vice-President of the Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia and the organization's broadcast historian says: Years ago, stations sometimes operated under authority of their construction permit (CP) broadcasting regular programming until the next three year license period started. Therefore, both dates could be correct. WDVL (now WMIZ) could have been broadcasting regular programming as early as 1957 with their first full three year license being dated August 19, 1959. Wilkinson is also a consultant for Clear Communications, Inc., owners of both WMIZ and WVLT.
Husband and wife, Mortimer and Vivian Hendrickson trading under the corporate name of "Delsea Broadcasters" were the original owners of both WDVL & WDVL-FM (now WMIZ and WVLT). WDVL-FM carried AM's broadcasts during the day. Those programs included Urban Contemporary and Hispanic formats (still aired on the station over three decades later.) However, the AM station's main strength was from a format called "Town & Country" by the Hendricksons. At night when the AM station was off the air (now WMIZ operates 24 hours a day), WDVL-FM carried what was then referred to as "MOR" or Middle of the Road" music. MOR was what was successful at that time on major market stations like WIP and WNEW.
During the Hendrickson's time, Mort did the noon news (mostly local) and then followed it with his own music program until 2 pm. Viv did several things at the station including hosting a children's program (called "Story Hour") airing Saturdays at 12 noon.
Just before the station was sold, Station Chief Enginer George Dodds hosted a country music show entitled "The Corncob Show." It aired mornings until 10 am. At ten (until noon), the station's Program Director Henry Morey did a show called "WDVL Classics." It was a light classical music program. Then at 2 pm (until 4), Jose Luis Acosta had a show which was named "Radio Caribe" and was broadcast in broadcast. It was a forerunner of today's format. After Jose (at 4 pm), George Anthony Struckell presented "beautiful music" and MOR music. His show was entitled "The Music Room."
In mid 1972, the Hendricksons sold the two stations to Vita Marie and Frank Ventresca for a quarter of a million dollars. |  |  | | Charles McCreery | | In 1986, Clear Communications, Inc. and its President, Charles McCreery purchased WMIZ and its sister station, which is now WVLT. On August 15, 1986, WDVL became WFHM. Four days before Christmas in 1990, the station assumed new call letters, WMIZ which we still use today.
Over the years like most modern day radio stations, WMIZ had changed or modified their programming to fulfill the needs and desires of the community it serves. WMIZ broadcasts in Spanish into three states, which are: New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware. Our signal broadcasts to an area with a population of millions. |
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