Radio Atlanta
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Radio Atlanta was a offshore commercial station that operated briefly from 12 May to 2 July 1964 from a ship anchored in the North Sea, three and a half miles off Frinton-on-Sea, Essex, England. While the station was dubbed as a pirate radio station, its actual operation took place within the laws of the day and its offices were located in the heart of the Soho district of London. Its ownership was vested in company known as Project Atlanta, Ltd., which had been specifically formed by British political, banking, theatrical and music publishing interests.
The on air studio and 10,000 watts AM transmitter of Radio Atlanta were located on board the motor vessel MV Mi Amigo. This radio ship had been originally converted and outfitted as the previous home of the offshore Swedish station Radio Nord by a consortium in Texas who included Gordon McLendon and Clint Murchison.
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[edit] Origin of the Station
Radio Atlanta was the brainchild of the Australian music publisher Alan Crawford who was doing business and residing in England. The origins of the idea for Radio Atlanta began with the English language CNBC test broadcasts from the Dutch radio ship that was the home of Radio Veronica, and the proposed offshore stations known as GBLN The Voice of Slough, and GBOK, all predating the arrival of Radio Atlanta, but owing inspiration to Alan Crawford.
[edit] Station history
Radio Atlanta began test broadcasts on the 12 May, 1964 and remained on the air until 2 July, 1964 when it joined Radio Caroline to form the Caroline Network, with the original Caroline radio ship moving to a location off the Isle of Man as Radio Caroline North, and Radio Atlanta staying on it original location under the new identity of Radio Caroline South.
[edit] See also
- Clint Murchison - Texas entrepreneur and promoter of U.S. political interests
- Gordon McLendon - U.S. broadcasting pioneer from Texas who created Radio Nord
- Stockholm, Sweden - Target audience for Radio Nord
- Radio Nord - Swedish offshore radio ship that became the new home of Radio Atlanta
- CNBC - the Commercial Neutral Broadcasting Company
- GBLN - The Voice of Slough
- GBOK
- Alan Crawford - Australian promoter of music, records and Radio Atlanta in London
- Oliver Smedley - British Army Major, Liberal Party member and promoter of Radio Atlanta
- Tony Windsor - DJ, known by his real name Tony Withers on Radio Atlanta
- Radio Caroline - Radio Atlanta became Radio Caroline South.
[edit] References
- Richard Cockett, Thinking the Unthinkable: Think-Tanks and the Economic Counter-Revolution, 1931-1983. Fontana, 1995. - Background of Major Oliver Smedley
[edit] External links
- Radio Atlanta in the Pirate Radio Hall of Fame - Contains many audio, visual and text biographical stories relating to personal involved in the 1964 venture.
