WHTB

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WHTB is a radio station in Fall River, Massachusetts operating with 1kW unlimited hours on 1,400 kilcycles (1.4 Megacycles). Originally known as WALE, the call letters moved to Providence, Rhode Island to 990kc. on July 20, 1989. On that date, SNE Broadcasting LTD. (owned by local businessmen Robert and James Karam) took ownership of the radio station. The stations first loactionwas at the corner of North Main Street and Central Street in Fall River,MA. This was known as the Durfee Theatre Building. The station's "Wale" was a plaster and chicken wire figure atop the building with the words "WALE 1400" emblazened on the sides in white paint.The transmitting antenna was on the roof and had a copper screen ground system. There was no real ground connection to the antenna and the screen created an artificial grounding system and limiting the coverage area. Personalities included, Mike "Surfer " Sands (Arthur Lang) and long time engineer Stephen J. Sorel who was also an Amateur Radio operator with the call sign K1RFH. Sorel and Lang made the move to WICE/1290 Providence, Rhode Island in the early 1970s. Steve Sorel ended his career as the Chief Engineer of WHTB/WSAR. The North Main Street/Central Street site was also the location of WCFR-FM and WCFR-TV (Although it is not known IF WCFR-TV ever produced a signal as after World War II the Channel 1 assignment (44-50Mc.) was dropped from Television and given to the Business Radio Service. WALE moved to Rock Street in the early 1970s and the transmitter was relocated to the area along Interstate 195 West and Route 24 South and remains there today. The studios have moved to Home Street in Somerset,Ma. as WHTB and WSAR are still owned by the Karams.