STORER 1345

initially a weak 5o -watt outlet in a midsized city. Just months under a Storer -enlisted announcer named Alan Freed, that the after the purchase, Storer extended overtures to Columbia rock and roll music craze was born. Storer's Detroit radio sta- Broadcasting System (CBS) founder William Paley, which tion, WJBK, likewise became a trendsetting rock and roll sta- resulted in WSPD's being named as the eighth affiliate of the tion. In 1960 Storer returned to New York and for $io year -old CBS radio network. By increasing the transmitting million, the largest amount that had then been paid for a radio power of the facility, Storer transformed WSPD into a 5,000 - station, acquired WINS. This outlet, too, was converted to watt station that attracted listeners and advertisers in many rock music. Freed was transferred to WINS, and he, along parts of the Midwest. With profits generated by the one Toledo with two other WINS personalities, Murray "The K" Kauf- station, Storer was able to launch a second outlet, CKLW in mann and Bruce "Cousin Brucie" Morrow, helped popularize Windsor, Ontario, in 1932. and to purchase a third, WWVA in the rock music trend. Wheeling, West Virginia, the following year. Storer was featured in news reports in 1960 when FCC Storer's most ambitious undertaking in radio was his unsuc- Chairman John Doerfer was forced out of office after accepting cessful attempt to form a fourth national radio network to airplane flights and a six -day cruise on board the broadcaster's compete with CBS and the Red and Blue networks of the yacht. Congress did not pursue allegations, heard before a National Broadcasting Company (NBC). This plan took shape House Oversight Subcommittee, that Storer had given favors to in March 1934 when Storer acquired radio station WMCA in Doerfer in order to expedite FCC licensing of a TV station in New York City. After designating this outlet as the key station, Miami that Storer had planned. The Miami station was aban- Storer formally chartered the network under the name Ameri- doned. Two years earlier, Storer had been brought before the can Broadcasting System. However, by this time, organizers of FCC to answer charges that his company was engaged in sta- a competing venture, the Mutual network, had assembled a tion "trafficking." These charges had stemmed from Storer's superior lineup of local affiliates. By 1937 Storer's hopes of sale of KPTV and immediate purchase of WITI. Starer was entering network radio had collapsed. cleared of wrongdoing following an FCC investigation. It was largely because of his setback with the American Storer's business interests were not confined to broadcast- Broadcasting System that Storer shifted his primary interests to ing. Through the 196os Storer owned Standard Tube and the coming new medium of television, where his major Nemir Industries, both plastics firms. He briefly controlled the achievements would unfold. At large premiums, Storer sold the Boston Gardens sports arena and in 1965 outbid Howard stations in New York, Windsor, and Wheeling and used the Hughes for the ownership of Northeast Airlines. proceeds in 1939 to initiate the first 50,00o -watt station in In the early 197os, Storer passed control of his broadcast Miami, with the call letters WGBS (for George Butler Storer). operations to his two sons, George B. Storer Jr. and Peter Then, in 1943, Storer was an indirect beneficiary when the Storer. Between 1978 and 1980, the younger Storers sold all of U.S. Justice Department forced NBC to sell its Blue network. the company's radio properties in order to expand holdings in The buyer, Edward Noble, paid Storer $3 million for Storer's cable TV. In 1993 the company broke up. Storer Cable, the "American Broadcasting" moniker to begin the modern Amer- country's third -largest multisystem operator, was absorbed by ican Broadcasting Companies (ABC). This windfall cleared the TCI, while several of the television stations were purchased by way for Storer's formidable entry into TV. Rupert Murdoch and became cogs in Murdoch's Fox network. Storer's most important accomplishment was licensing and The elder Storer died on 7 November 1975. Earlier that launching three of the io8 prefreeze local television stations year, he had received broadcasting's top honor, the Distin- that were begun prior to the Federal Communication Commis- guished Service Award of the National Association of Broad- sion's (FCC) 1948 "freeze." These stations were WSPD in casters. He remains the namesake of the Storer Foundation's Toledo, WJBK in Detroit, and WAGA in Atlanta. Shortly philanthropic foundation. thereafter, Storer acquired a fourth station, WJW in Cleveland, CRAIG ALLEN and a fifth, KPTV in Portland, Oregon. In 1958, after the Port- land station was sold, Storer acquired WITI in Milwaukee. In George B. Storer. Born in Champaign, Illinois, to November 1964 and 1965, Storer added two more outlets, WSBK in Bos- 1899. Established radio station WTAL (later WSPD), 1927; ton and KCST in San Diego. Storer's company was the first to launched CKLW, Windsor, Ontario, 1932; WWVA, 1933; own seven television stations, the maximum originally allowed WGBS, Miami, Florida, 1939; received $3 million for by the FCC. Among broadcasting companies, it trailed only "American Broadcasting" moniker, 1943; acquired WJW, NBC, CBS, ABC, Westinghouse, and Metromedia in annual Cleveland, Ohio, which launched rock and roll disc jockey revenues. Alan Freed's career, 1954; acquired WINS, New York City, to Radio, however, remained an important component of expand rock and roll format, 1960; owned seven television Storer's operations. Storer's entry into Cleveland in 1954 had stations, 1965; rendered control holdings to sons, 197os; included the acquisition of WJW radio. It was at this station, recipient: Distinguished Service Award of the National