1922 - 1929 PEOPLE

1922-1929 PEOPLE

A - J

"Fiddlin John" performing "Little Log Cabin".

John Carson

"Fiddlin'" John Carson as he was known brought what was then called “hillbilly” music to the airwaves of WSB. Carson is thought to have been the first country musician on WSB. He made a living playing and "passing the hat" when he was not working in the cotton mill, painting houses, or making moonshine On March 23, 1922, he walked into the studios of WSB, the brand new radio station started by the Atlanta Journal, and announced that he would "like to have a try at the newfangled contraption," Lambdin Kay obliged him. His only pay being a snort of the engineer's whiskey, Carson performed "Little Old Log Cabin in the Lane."

Major John S. Cohen

The publisher of the Atlanta Journal in 1921, Cohen was visited by a former Navy sailor who while in the military worked as a “wireless operator". Walter Tison convinced Cohen that it would be a great idea for the Journal to begin building a commercial radio station. Cohen was sold on the idea and placed an order for equipment. He was anxious to beat rival newspaper The Atlanta Constitution to be the first paper with a radio station. On March 15, 1922, Cohen’s dream became reality.

WINIFRED SUSAN BEATRICE COKER

Take a close look at the name and yes, the first three names start with the letters WSB. Lambdin Kay had received a request to name a child and he came up with this one using the call letters of the station. The parents loved the idea and the child received world wide publicity as WSB’s original godchild. (Story from the book WELCOME SOUTH BROTHER.)

Harry Dougherty explaining how "radio" worked

Harry Dougherty

Harry Dougherty was one of the first engineers at WSB. His early duties included setting up a radio receiver in towns all over what is now called "metro" Atlanta to show them that voices were traveling in the air and could be listened to. People were skeptical of the new invention and Dougherty talked about overcoming the skeptics in an interview for WSB in a 1952 anniversary broadcast (below).

GORDON HIGHT

Gordon played a pivotal role in the birth of WSB. According to the book WELCOME SOUTH BROTHER, when Major John Cohen got federal approval to begin operating a radio station, he was without a transmitter. He called Hight who was a ham radio operator in Rome, Georgia and bought his transmitter seen in the picture to the left.

W.D. HOPKINS

In 1926, WSB donated time for educational programs which were received in the city school buildings thanks to receivers donated by W.D. Hopkins, president of Hopkins Auto Equipment Service.

George A. Iler

Hired by Major John S. Cohen to be the first director of operations for WSB. Iler was qualified in the new industry with his background as an engineer with Georgia Power.

Rev Andrew Jenkins and Family

Five months after Atlanta's radio station WSB first began broadcasting in 1922, the Jenkins family presented their first program over the air. They were among the first gospel music groups to be heard on any radio station. For the next ten years they were a regular feature on WSB.

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