WLBZ Radio Station Records

WLBZ Transmitter Building, circa 1937

An image scanned from a photograph of the WLBZ transmitter building with a flat-top antenna on Broadway in Bangor, Maine, circa 1937.

WLBZ Performers

A group of performers in the WLBZ third floor studio, 100 Main Street, in the early to mid 1940s.

WLBZ Technician Adjusts Radio Station Amplifier

Bernard Kellom adjusts the power output of WLBZ’s “new” one kilowatt amplifier, circa 1937.

WLBZ Early Radio Equipment

A scan from a photograph of an early set-up of equipment pieced together by Thompson L. Guernsey, owner of WLBZ radio.

Irv Hunter and Norm Lambert in the WLBZ Studio

Radio personalities Irving Hunter and Norm Lambert in the WLBZ Studio at 100 Main Street, Bangor, Maine, circa 1950.

WLBZ Transmitter Building, circa 1956

An image scanned from a color photograph of the WLBZ transmitter station on Broadway in Bangor, Maine, circa 1956.

WLBZ radio evolved from the passion of Thompson Guernsey, an amateur radio buff from Dover-Foxcroft who began experimenting with radio at the age of thirteen. As noted in a piece written by Fred Thompson in The History of Broadcasting in Maine: the First Fifty Years, Guernsey, considered by some to be an "eccentric genius," began with homemade receivers and transmitters and an amateur license granted in 1921. After graduating from the University of Maine in 1926 with an A. B. in electronic engineering, Guernsey began operating WLBZ as a commercial broadcast station from Dover-Foxcroft.

In 1928, he moved his studio to the back of the Andrews Music House at 100 Main Street in Bangor and connected to a transmitter located at 861 Broadway. According to Thompson, "Radio was new to everyone in 1926, and aside from WCSH in Portland, his was the only commercial radio station in the state." Subsequent WLBZ general managers were Edward Guernsey, (1934-1974), Irving Hunter (1974-1976), Edward Owen, (1976-1978) and Barry Darling (1978-1983).

The WLBZ station records and audio recordings at the University of Maine's Raymond H. Fogler Library Special Collections Department reflect rapid growth and evolution of the station from the 1930s to the 1970s. Materials include station logs, items related to licensing and operations, and many audio recordings of locally recorded programming. This digital collection makes several of these audio recordings available along with accompanying transcribed text.

For more information about files included in this collection or other materials in the station records, contact Special Collections, 5729 Raymond H. Fogler Library, Orono, ME 04469-5729, 207.581.1686, um.library.spc @ maine.edu.

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Nissen Bakery Open House, Mrs. Grant Interview

WLBZ Radio

Paul Ford interviews Mrs. Clayton Grant of Bangor at the open house of Nissen Baking Corp.'s new plant on Abbott Street, Brewer, Maine.
Nissen Bakery Open House, Mrs. Hopkins Interview

WLBZ Radio

Paul Ford interviews Mrs. Mavis Hopkins of Dedham at the open house of Nissen Baking Corporation's new plant on Abbott Street, Brewer, Maine.
Nissen Bakery Open House, Mrs. Jamison Interview

WLBZ Radio

Bill Mincher interviews Mrs. John Jamison of Brewer at the open house of Nissen Baking Corporation's new plant on Abbott Street, Brewer, Maine.
Nissen Bakery Open House, Mrs. King Interview

WLBZ Radio

Paul Ford interviews Mrs. Henry King, Jr., of Brewer at the open house of Nissen Baking Corporation's new plant on Abbott Street, Brewer, Maine.
Nissen Bakery Open House, Mrs. Millett Interview

WLBZ Radio

Bill Mincher interviews Mrs. Everett Millett of Brewer at the open house of Nissen Baking Corporation's new plant on Abbott Street, Brewer, Maine.
Nissen Bakery Open House, Mrs. Moore Interview

WLBZ Radio

Paul Ford interviews Mrs. George Moore (or Mower) of Bangor at the open house of Nissen Baking Corp.'s new plant on Abbott Street, Brewer, Maine.
Nissen Bakery Open House, Mrs. Schmidt Interview

WLBZ Radio

Bill Mincher interviews Mrs. Martin Schmidt of Bangor at the open house of Nissen Baking Corporation's new plant on Abbott Street, Brewer, Maine.
Nissen Bakery Open House, Mrs. Shaw Interview

WLBZ Radio

Irv Hunter interviews Mrs. Carl Shaw of Brewer at the open house of Nissen Baking Corp.'s new plant on Abbott Street, Brewer, Maine.
Nissen Bakery Open House, Mrs. Varney Interview

WLBZ Radio

Paul Ford interviews Mrs. Richard Varney of Bangor at the open house of Nissen Baking Corporation's new plant on Abbott Street, Brewer, Maine.
Nissen Bakery Open House, Mrs. Wade Interview

WLBZ Radio

Paul Ford interviews Mrs. May Wade at the open house of Nissen Baking Corp.'s new plant on Abbott Street, Brewer, Maine.
Nissen Bakery Open House, Mrs. York Interview

WLBZ Radio

Irv Hunter interviews Mrs. Ralph York of Brewer at the open house of Nissen Baking Corp.'s new plant on Abbott Street, Brewer, Maine.
Nissen Bakery Open House, Mundy Interview

WLBZ Radio

Bill Mincher interviews William Mundy of Brewer at the open house of Nissen Baking Corp.'s new plant on Abbott Street, Brewer, ME.
Nissen Bakery Open House, Nissen Employee Interview

WLBZ Radio

Paul Ford interviews a Mr. Reynolds, a Nissen employee, of Bangor at the open house of Nissen Baking Corp.'s new plant on Abbott Street, Brewer, Maine.
Nissen Bakery Open House, Schiro Interview

WLBZ Radio

Paul Ford interviews Dave Schiro of Bangor at the open house of Nissen Baking Corp.'s new plant on Abbott Street in Brewer, Maine.
Nissen Bakery Open House, Soucie Interview

WLBZ Radio

Bill Mincher interviews J.A. Soucie of Fredericton, Canada, at the open house of Nissen Baking Corporation's new plant on Abbott Street, Brewer, ME.
Nissen Bakery Open House, Wilks Interview

WLBZ Radio

Bill Mincher interviews Miss Norma Wilks of Bangor at the open house of Nissen Baking Corporation's new plant on Abbott Street, Brewer, ME.
Nissen Bakery Open House, York Interview

WLBZ Radio

Paul Ford interviews Gerald York of Brewer at the open house of Nissen Baking Corporation's new plant on Abbott Street, Brewer, Maine.
Nissen Bakery Open House, Young Interview

WLBZ Radio

Paul Ford interviews Barret Young of Bangor at the open house of Nissen Baking Corp.'s new plant on Abbott Street, Brewer, Maine.
Dot Campbell Interview with Patrick Dickinson, Exchange Teacher from England, Part 1

WLBZ Radio

Aroostook County Reporter Dot Campbell interviews Patrick Dickinson, an exchange teacher from New Castle, England. They discuss how he came to be here in Maine, all about the exchange program and some of the differences between England and America.
Dot Campbell Interview with Patrick Dickinson, Exchange Teacher from England, Part 2

WLBZ Radio

The second part of a two part interview with Patrick Dickinson done by Dot Campbell. The pair discusses some differences between the United States and England and what Mr. Dickinson wants to be doing and what he will be doing in his spare time.
Hoffman Television Advertisements

WLBZ Radio

Four short advertisements for Hoffman television sets from 1956.
Mack's Sunbeam Bread Commercials

WLBZ Radio

Short commercials for Mack's Sunbeam Bread, circa 1958.
Hotel Bellevue Advertisements

WLBZ Radio

Three advertisements encouraging Maine residents to consider a family trip to Boston to stay at the Hotel Bellevue on Beacon Hill. Recorded in 1958.
Promotional Spot for Bob Day Country Music Show and Hanson’s Depart Mart, South Brewer

WLBZ Radio

A short announcement encouraging listeners to tune in to listen to country music on the the Bob Day Show on Saturday mornings and an upcoming show about Hanson's Depart Mart on Main Street in South Brewer, Maine. Recorded August 20, 1958.
Edward H. Keith for City Councilman, Political Annoucements

WLBZ Radio

Short announcements encouraging Bangor voters to elect Edward H. Keith City Councilman in October, 1958.