WCDQ (defunct)

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WCDQ was a radio station broadcasting out of Sanford, Maine on 92.1 FM and was broadcasting with 3,000 watts.

[edit] History

WCDQ's logo from their web site c. 1998

WCDQ began to broadcast in 1986, with a classic rock radio format. Eventually it became known for its on-air staff, as well as creative programming. One such program was "Dead Tracks", an all Grateful Dead program broadcast on Thursday nights at 10PM. Another program was "Blue Monday", featuring all Blues music hosted by "The First Lady of Mt. Rialto" Sharon Small. Two other groundbreaking programs were "Mt. Rialto Redemption" a Reggae music show and "Local Chords" an opportunity for local, unsigned bands to get their material played on the radio hosted by Steve Biron who also did afternoons.

The Station claimed that it broadcasted from "The Summit of Mt. Rialto", a reference to the common name for movie theaters, popular in the 1930s through '50s. It was some times called Mt. Rialto Radio. Another fictional locale often referenced by the station was "The Elegante Ballroom", a cavernous hall from which the station's lunch time show was supposedly broadcast. The ruse of the station's broadcast locale was so well done, (complete with summit ski and weather reports) that occasionally students from the University of New Hampshire would travel to Sanford with the intent of hiking the fictitious mountain.

The weekend's arrival was heralded every Friday at 5 PM by playing "Switchin' To Glide" by The Kings.

The secondary tag line for the radio station was "The theater of the mind"

WCDQ was bought by Phoenix Communications and added to the Phoenix Broadcast network. It became WPHX and began simulcasting WFNX, from the Boston, Massachusetts radio market in the summer of 1999.

[edit] Former DJs

  • Rock Bergeron
  • E.J.
  • Jonathan Smith
  • Ken Ridley
  • Steve Biron
  • Sharon Small
  • Roy Lawrence