FOUR DAYS IN NOVEMBER: THE WJBK / WWJ NBC DETROIT RADIO COVERAGE. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 1963

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In this WJBK FM, Saturday, November 23 segment you will hear the 1:00 p.m. WJBK Radio 15 Newsline Report with Bob King and Bernard Morris.

WJBK Radio 15 Newsline, November 1963

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 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 entirely their music format. The station reverted instead playing continuous dirge music — breaking only for news as they developed at the top and bottom of the hour throughout their broadcasting day, Saturday, November 23, 60 years ago today.

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Note: In 1963, WJBK WJBK-FM was owned and operated by The Storer broadcasting Company. The Storer Detroit affiliate was represented nationally by the Katz Agency, Inc.

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The Detroit Free Press Sunday, November 24, 1963

It is 4:40 a.m., Saturday, November 23. Entering through the gates of the White House, President Kennedy’s body is returned to the East Room of the Executive Mansion for the last time. (Associated Press)

In Detroit, universal shock, disbelief, and grief immediately sweeps the city on hearing the news of President Kennedy’s assassination. (The Detroit Free Press, Saturday, November 23, 1963)

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WWJ NBC Detroit Radio logo, 1963

In this (newly added; November 1, 2019) WWJ-AM hourly 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)

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Note: In 1963, WWJ WWJ-FM was owned and operated by The Detroit News. The NBC Detroit affiliate was represented nationally by Peters, Griffins, Woodward, Inc.

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The accused, Lee Harvey Oswald, is seen on television (CBS-TV) handcuffed between two other prisoners prior having been booked a fourth (and final) lineup by Dallas police, Saturday morning, November 23.

Dallas Police Homicide Lt. J. C. Day hoists the alleged suspect’s rifle through a crowded, third floor hallway at Dallas Police Headquarters. Later in the day Homicide Bureau Capt. Will Fritz declared to the press, “This case is cinched. This man killed the President.” Late Saturday evening, November 23.

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WWJ NBC Detroit Radio logo, 1963

In this (newly added; November 1, 2019) WWJ-AM hourly 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)

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Note: In 1963, WWJ WWJ-FM was owned and operated by The Detroit News. The NBC Detroit affiliate was represented nationally by Peters, Griffins, Woodward, Inc.

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Saturday, November 23. The U.S. flag on the White House is televised lowered at half mast.

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Bob Pratt

A special thank you to Bob Pratt, of Farmington Hills, MI., for contributing these historic recordings for our Motor City Radio Flashbacks archive.

In November 1963, Bob Pratt recorded over 20 hours on reeled tapes covering the tragic four days, 60 years ago.

The featured WWJ-AM recordings began at 7:30 a.m., when NBC Radio (New York) first signed on that morning on all their affiliates nationwide, Saturday, November 23. These recording totaled 4.5 hours, to 12 noon. The featured WJBK-FM recording began in the afternoon, at top of the 1:00 p.m. hour. Saturday, November 23. 

Bob Pratt also shared 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. Motor City Radio Flashbacks featured these historic recordings in their entirety — exclusively here — for the very first time when this site premiered these broadcasts in November 2018, five years ago.

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Throughout the rainy day, a continuous stream of mourning government officials and dignitaries arrive at the White House as President Kennedy’s body lies in repose. Saturday, November 23. (Photo: Abbie Rowe; The John F. Kennedy Presidential Library, Boston)

Above newspaper image courtesy from the freep.com newspaper archive. Copyright 2023. Newspapers.com.

The above featured images was ‘clipped,’ saved, and imaged from the credited source by Motor City Radio Flashbacks

All photographs used for this featured presentation was randomly selected. All photographs was captioned by the author. All selected photos herein were found to be under/as ‘public domain’ and are displayed here for educational purposes only, as stipulated under the “fair use” clause, unless specified otherwise, and having been credited, as.

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 re-imaged, re-framed, and was web created for this featured presentation by Jim Feliciano. The ‘televised’ image was used (see top frame), having been obtained from the personal collection of the author.

Photos featured: Associated Press

The President’s body lies in repose inside the East Room at the White House. Saturday morning, November 23.

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