The tuner wasn't digital, the FM band largely unused. The popular radio shows were Queen for a Day, Mitch Miller and Face the Nation. Television was challenging the dominance of radio as the main broadcast medium. Viewers could tune their TV sets to Modern Romances, Romper Room, Kit Carson, and The Today Show with Dave Garroway.
The Columbus Dispatch reported that Vice President Richard Nixon had recovered from a cold and was continuing his campaign for Eisenhower in the Midwest. The Ohio Turnpike celebrated its first anniversary as a link in a new roadway system that allowed motorists to drive "from New York to Chicago without a red light." At a neighborhood theater in Clintonville, Earth vs. the Flying Saucers was being screened. In downtown Columbus at the Palace Theater on Broad Street, you could see Inherit the Wind.
Next door to the Palace and up nearly 50 stories, a 54-foot antenna atop the Lincoln-LeVeque Tower transmitted the first broadcast of a new radio service of the Columbus Public Schools: WCBE. It was September 26, 1956.
The "baby" WCBE station had an effective power of 11,000 watts and covered a 65 mile radius. John Sittig, the supervisor of Audio-Visual Education for the Columbus Public Schools was the pioneer in the new endeavor to broadcast lessons to Columbus classrooms every morning. Sittig served as the station's manager and would lead WCBE for the next 28 years.
In the months that followed, one hour of daily programming grew to 5 ½ hours every weekday. WCBE linked up with United Press International (UPI) bringing news of the world, the nation, and the state. A corps of radio teachers prepared and presented a variety of programs on the arts, music and even physical education as classrooms within the broadcast area tuned in during the school day.
By the mid-1960's, WCBE's weekly listenership was estimated at over 150,000. To extend the service to the Columbus community and lengthen the broadcast day, WCBE added forty-two hours of classical music to its schedule each week. In 1969, WCBE qualified to receive financial assistance from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting; the only large-city school licensed station of the 500 applicants to qualify. At the time, the requirements for the grant were far exceeded by WCBE's full schedule devoted to education, information, and cultural programming – twelve hours daily, seven days a week.
In 1971, WCBE's programming included: Safety Story Lady, Once Upon a Time in Ohio, Spanish for Fifth Graders, Atomic Highlights, Spin Back the Years, Radio Smithsonian, The Music Room, Pioneers of Science, Columbus Board of Education meetings, and a new national news program called All Things Considered. By mid-1972, WCBE completed its installation of new stereo broadcast equipment.
The station grew through the 1970's providing new programs while nurturing the talents of budding broadcasters and radio professionals. A satellite earth station was installed giving more programming options to thousands of WCBE listeners in the growing Columbus metropolitan area. WCBE's continuing alliance with the Corporation for Public Broadcasting provided a financial base to support the continuation of a wire service, staff expansion, and enhanced station operations.
In 1984, WCBE's "founder" and station manager, John Sittig, retired. Sharon Miller, a WCBE staff member since 1966, took the helm. WCBE was broadcasting 18 hours daily including news programming from National Public Radio, classical music and locally produced informational programming. Weekend broadcasts included jazz, world, big band, Celtic, barbershop, jazz and folk music as well as a growing favorite: Garrison Keillor. WCBE reached out into the community, sponsoring events, setting up remote broadcasts, and including community affairs programming in its broadcasts.
In late 1990, WCBE moved away from classical music to a newly developing "format." Under Program Direction David Gordon, the station's programming still included NPR's Morning Edition and All Things Considered as well as favorites Car Talk, Thistle and Shamrock, CBC Sunday Morning, Keillor, but new music programming that was not available through other broadcast outlets – acoustic folk, blues, Afropop, and American roots music – was added. The new music format was a hit in Columbus and WCBE's reputation grew nationally as well.
In 1993, the afternoon music program, Radio Free Columbus won the Ohio Educational Broadcasting (OEB) Award for Program of the Year. In 1995, the station was nominated by The Gavin Report, a national music trade weekly, as best non-commercial radio station in the country. The WCBE news department gained attention with its local news coverage and the award-winning Evening Journal, a daily half-hour local news show. Now Infohio brings state and local news to WCBE's airwaves. With the addition of the BBC World Service Overnight, WCBE added international news to its schedule and became a 24-hour a day broadcast service.
In spring of 1996 WCBE starts to offer information and communication via the internet. Also in 1996, Jazz Sunday is added to the program lineup in March and The Grateful Dead Hour is picked up in July. Sadly Sharon Miller retires from her position of General Manger of WCBE after 40 years with the station and Dan Mushalko becomes operations director of WCBE.
In January of 1997 Only A Game is added to broadcast schedule and local newscasts are expanded to start at 8:30 weekday mornings. In October the fall membership campaign lasts only 10 hours on-air due to a successful mailing. In November ratings from the fall say over 100,000 people listen to WCBE every week, making it the most listened to public radio station in Columbus.
In February of 2000 online streaming is available on the WCBE website. Late in the year, Richelle Antczak is hired as an evening announcer on weekday nights. Columbus School Board eliminates funding for WCBE in 2001. Programming continues through support from listeners and the community. It's Movie Time, hosted by John DeSando & Clay Lowe (and originally produced by Richelle Antczak), began production at WCBE.
In 2002 WCBE is ranked among the top 10 radio stations in Central Ohio for the first time and is named one of the 30 most-listened-to public radio stations in the country. In October of 2002 the Lucky 13 concert, WCBE's first multi-band benefit concert. In early 2003 WCBE's own Richelle Antczak receives the Association of Music Personnel in Public Radio NPR Scholarship. In August of 2004 Wendy Craver begins work as Marketing/Underwriting Associate. In the fall of 2005 WCBE participates in a community service event by doing a blood drive with the Red Cross. In 2006 (so far) WCBE is planning a 50th anniversary celebration!
