Today in Wheeling History: January 7--Radio station WWVA-AM founded the Wheeling Jamboree, which initially broadcasted to 17 other states and six Canadian provinces, and in April 1933, the live country music show moved from the WWVA studios to the stage of the Capitol Music Hall to begin performing before an audience (1933).
The Wheeling Jamboree is one of the longest-running country music radio programs in the United States, originating on WWVA radio in Wheeling, West Virginia in 1933. Some of the nationally famous names that performed at the Jamboree include Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper, Hawkshaw Hawkins, Lee Moore, Doc and Chickie Williams, and Big Slim the Lone Cowboy (Harry C. McAuliffe). The Jamboree stage also hosted the likes of musical megastars Loretta Lynn, Buck Owens, Dolly Parton, Johnny Cash, Tammy Wynette, George Jones, The Osborne Brothers, Charley Pride, Merle Haggard, Brad Paisley, and hundreds of other beloved artists. It moved to various venues over the decades before returning to the Capitol Theatre in 1969, where it remained until 2005. Though WWVA ended its broadcasts of the Jamboree in 2008 after 75 years, the show continued on other stations and still produces live shows, retaining its status along with the Grand Ole Opry as one of the few surviving country music broadcast institutions from the early days of radio. After WWVA ceased broadcasting it, the Jamboree found a new home on Wheeling station WKKX-AM.
To learn more: (http://tinyurl.com/5b948xk2) (http://tinyurl.com/2wm4h8ae) (http://tinyurl.com/4c98yr3r)
Photo Credits: The West Virginia Encyclopedia, Wikipedia
The Wheeling Jamboree is one of the longest-running country music radio programs in the United States, originating on WWVA radio in Wheeling, West Virginia in 1933. Some of the nationally famous names that performed at the Jamboree include Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper, Hawkshaw Hawkins, Lee Moore, Doc and Chickie Williams, and Big Slim the Lone Cowboy (Harry C. McAuliffe). The Jamboree stage also hosted the likes of musical megastars Loretta Lynn, Buck Owens, Dolly Parton, Johnny Cash, Tammy Wynette, George Jones, The Osborne Brothers, Charley Pride, Merle Haggard, Brad Paisley, and hundreds of other beloved artists. It moved to various venues over the decades before returning to the Capitol Theatre in 1969, where it remained until 2005. Though WWVA ended its broadcasts of the Jamboree in 2008 after 75 years, the show continued on other stations and still produces live shows, retaining its status along with the Grand Ole Opry as one of the few surviving country music broadcast institutions from the early days of radio. After WWVA ceased broadcasting it, the Jamboree found a new home on Wheeling station WKKX-AM.
To learn more: (http://tinyurl.com/5b948xk2) (http://tinyurl.com/2wm4h8ae) (http://tinyurl.com/4c98yr3r)
Photo Credits: The West Virginia Encyclopedia, Wikipedia
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