The Beginning of WMMM Radio
An original WMMM sales brochure from just prior to the April 1959 sign-on.
The beginnings of WMMM actually started back in 1956. New Haven's WAVZ-AM had originally operated on 1260 KHz, but the station relocated to 1300 KHz opening the 1260 KHz frequency assignment. The original application filed by Sidney Bernstein was for a 500 watt facility that have a non-directional signal. The proposed transmitter site was off Cross Highway in Westport. WMMM was licensed by the FCC for 1000 watts daytime operation utilizing a two tower directional array. The transmitting facilities were located off Willard Road in the neighboring city of Norwalk. The studios and offices were located on the second floor in the County Bazaar Building on Westport's Main Street (most people now know this as 163 Main Street).
The station's call letters stood for "Westport's Modern Minute Man" after a beloved town symbol based on several statues of revolutionary war soldiers given that name.
WMMM's official sign-on was on Wednesday, April 15, 1959. The original facilities include an RCA control board and turntables, cartridge tape decks, BA-6 compressor as well as 44-BX and 77-DX microphones. The original transmitter was an RCA BTA-1R 1000 watt AM transmitter. The programming consisted of "in-depth" news, classical, semi-classical and popular music, show tunes as well as a variety of special features broadcast throughout the day.
Approximately a year after WMMM's first sign-on, Sidney Bernstein apparently had financial problems and sold the station. Donald J. Flamm, who had been involved in broadcasting since 1925 as the owner of WMCA in New York, purchased the station. He ran the station with help from his brother, Sidney.
One notable employee of these early years was broadcast veteran John R. Newhouse. Starting his broadcast career in 1935 he had worked Maryland's WFMD, Philadelphia's WFIL, New York's WOR & WCBS, Stamford's WSTC-AM as well as the Mutual Broadcasting System. Mr. Newhouse served as WMMM's sales manager, creative director and prior to his retirement on March 31, 1978 he served as administrative vice president.
