Steve Casey/Don Gatlin on 690 WAPE, & Joe McMillian on 1280 WIVY Jacksonville | July 27 1974

Courtesy: Mike McCann

This air check features a 1970s air check of WAPE & WIVY. Everyone knows 690 WAPE, but there are many who aren’t that familiar with 1280 WIVY. Through the 1960s & 70s, 690 WAPE “The Big Ape” was Jacksonville’s popular Top 40 station. Before he became a big deal in Washington D.C., The Greaseman was making big waves on WAPE. Actor Jay Thomas started his radio career at WAPE, and was the station’s morning man.

WIVY was a daytime only pop station, with a signal of only 1,000 watts. In the early 1970s, when the station moved from AM 1050 to 1280, it was able to increase its power to 5,000 watts, but still had to sign off at sunset. For a Top 40 battle, it was a bit lopsided.

On this early morning aircheck, you will hear Steve Casey finishing his overnight airshift on WAPE, followed by Dan Gatlin at dawn. You’ll also hear Joe McMillian on WIVY. The audio quality on this one is less than perfect, but it’s rare to hear pre-1975 Jacksonville airchecks. Big thanks to Mike McCann, who recorded this on a road tip many years ago. -Ellis

  From the Ellis B Feaster You Tube Radio Aircheck & Classic TV Channel.