South Memphis in Shelby County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)
WHER - The Nation's First All Girl Radio Station
Photographed By Tim Fillmon, November 19, 2020
1. WHER - The Nation's First All Girl Radio Station Marker
On October 30, 1955, in a Holiday Inn at 972 S. Third Street, the nation's first radio station to staff only women as disk jockeys went on the air as "WHER-1,000 Beautiful Watts." Sam Phillips of Sun Studio and Kemmons Wilson of Holiday Inn developed the idea. Dotty Abbott, Fay Bussel, Dot Fisher, Barbara Gurley, Donna Rae Jackson, Marion Keisker, Becky Phillips, Phyllis Stimbert, and Bobbie Stout were the first set of on-air personalities. At WHER 1430 AM, the Studio was the "Doll Den," the Control Room was the "Playroom," and the Manager's Office was marked "Boss Ma'am." Becky Phillips said the format was "Better music, the kind that lives on through the years to bring back pleasant memories." In 1970, the format gave way to "informational radio," and a male was hired as general manager. The call letters were changed to WWEE in 1972.
Erected 2019 by The Shelby County Historical Commission.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Communications • Entertainment • Women. A significant historical date for this entry is October 30, 1955.
Location. 35° 7.26′ N, 90° 3.293′ W. Marker is in Memphis, Tennessee, in Shelby County. It is in South Memphis. Marker is on South 3rd Street (U.S. 61) just south of Lucrene Place, on the right
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Mason Temple (approx. 0.3 miles away); Bishop Charles Harrison Mason (approx. 0.3 miles away); Martin Stadium (approx. 0.6 miles away); Birthplace of Aretha Franklin (approx. 0.6 miles away); Lucie Eddie Campbell (approx. ¾ mile away); Booker T. Washington High School (approx. ¾ mile away); First Baptist Church, Lauderdale (approx. 0.8 miles away); T. H. Hayes and Sons Funeral Home (approx. 0.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Memphis.
Also see . . . The Story of WHER, America’s Pioneering, First All-Woman Radio Station (1955). Open Culture website entry (Submitted on January 14, 2023, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)
via The Kitchen Sisters, unknown
2. WHER - The Nation's First All Girl Radio Station
Photographed By Tim Fillmon, November 19, 2020
3. WHER - The Nation's First All Girl Radio Station Marker
Former Holiday Inn on the right.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on April 8, 2021, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida. This page has been viewed 961 times since then and 539 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on April 8, 2021, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida. 2. submitted on January 14, 2023, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. 3. submitted on April 8, 2021, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida.
