WJBK FM * Saturday, November 23, 1963 * THE BOB PRATT COLLECTION
THE KENNEDY TAPES (Bob Pratt Collection) SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 1963
WJBK Radio 15 News (1:00 P.M. – 1:31 P.M.)
_______________
In this segment you will hear the 1:00 p.m. WJBK Radio 15 Newsline Report with Bob King and Bernard Morris.
In November 1963, the WJBK News department comprised of 5 news anchors. The Radio 15 anchors were: Bob King, Norm Lenhardt, Alan Thayer, Bernard Morris and Bob Edgington.
For news and information, the WJBK news department was reliant on UPI and AP teletypes machines for local, domestic, and international news wires and reports.
In 1963, the Detroit Storer Broadcasting owned WJBK radio station was not affiliated with any major news organizations nor with a major news network.
You will note a somber solemnity in the first day of national mourning. WJBK, a top 40 station, dropped their music format. The station reverted instead playing dirge music — breaking only for news as they developed — at the top and bottom of the hour throughout their broadcasting day, November 23, 55 years ago.
Bob King and Bernard Morris | WJBK FM Detroit
WWJ-AM * Saturday, November 23, 1963 * THE BOB PRATT COLLECTION
THE KENNEDY TAPES (Bob Pratt Collection) SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 1963
NBC Radio Network (7:30 A.M. – 10:00 A.M.) [A]
_______________
In this (newly added; November 1, 2019) WWJ-AM segment you will hear NBC radio reports by Russ Ward (New York) and following correspondents:
Richard Volariani (Washington); John Rich (Tokyo); Pierce Allman (Dallas); Enaldo Akalena (Beirut); Wilson Hall (Rio De Janeiro); Joseph C. Harsh (London); John Sharky (Saigon); Phyllis Hepp (Nairobi); Alvin Rosenfeld (Tel Aviv); Irvin R. Levine (Rome); Peter Hackuss (Washington); John Chancellor (Berlin); John Lavencheck (Miami); Robert McCormick (Washington); Robert Gorawlski (White House); Hubert Humphrey (Washington); Bernard Prissell (France) Pope Paul IX (Vatican); Senator John Tower (New York); Representative Hale Boggs (Louisiana); Representative Gerald R. Ford (Michigan); Representative Albert Thomas (Washington); Alan Kennedy (New Delhi)
WWJ-AM * Saturday, November 23, 1963 * THE BOB PRATT COLLECTION
THE KENNEDY TAPES (Bob Pratt Collection) SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 1963
NBC Radio Network (10:00 A.M. – 12:00 P.M.) [B]
_______________
In this (newly added; November 1, 2019) WWJ-AM segment you will hear NBC radio reports by Russ Ward (New York) and following correspondents:
Irvine R. Levine (Rome); Ed Newman (Washington); Robert Goralski (White House); Ron Nessen (Washington); Tom Petitt (Dallas); Jim Jenson (Hyannis Port); Jim Holbrook (Chicago); Ray Sherer (White House); Jim Hurlman (New York); Ray Moore (Atlanta); Robert Abernathy (Washington); Bryson Rash (Washington): Eli Abel (State Department); Richard Harkness (Andrews Air Force Base); Dr. William H. McCarcall (Bristol, Tennessee); Wells Heilmann (Bonn)
ABOUT THESE NOVEMBER 1963 RECORDINGS
_______________
A special THANK YOU to Bob Pratt, of Farmington Hills, MI., for contributing these historic recordings with Motor City Radio Flashbacks.
In November 1963, Bob Pratt recorded over 15 hours on reeled tapes covering the tragic four days, 55 years ago.
_______________
The WWJ-AM recordings began at 7:30 a.m., when NBC Radio (New York) signed on all their affiliates nationwide, Saturday morning, November 23, recorded until 12 noon. The WJBK-FM recording began at the top of the 1:00 p.m. hour until just after 1:30 p.m.
Bob Pratt shares his own recollections of President Kennedy’s assassination. His personal memories is featured on this website, here.
These historic Detroit radio broadcasts was never available to anyone — anywhere — until now. Motor City Radio Flashbacks features these historic recordings in their entirety — exclusively here — for the very first time.
_______________
TOMORROW: WWJ FM November 24, 1963
— ABOUT THESE IMAGES —
Above newspaper images courtesy from the freep.com newspaper archive. Copyright 2018. Newspapers.com.
The above featured images was ‘clipped,’ saved, and imaged from the credited source by Motor City Radio Flashbacks
— NOTES —
For largest views – if viewing on your mobile device, tap over newspaper images. Open to second window. “Stretch” images across your device screen to magnify detailed view.
All images posted in this featured presentation was created by Jim Feliciano. The ‘televised’ image was used, having been obtained from the personal collection of the author.
Photos featured: Associated Press
Photo caption: Four days in November. The mood of a nation. A U.S. serviceman weeps as President Kennedy’s caisson rolls by inside Arlington.
