Ben Cagle, Johnny Eagle, Russell Bean and Earl Freudenberg
Retired radio broadcaster Earl Freudenberg was guest speaker for the November meeting of the Chattanooga Area Historical Association.
Hey Earl, as he is known, shared a collection of his short radio programs including Earl Winger who co founded WDOD in 1925. Mr. Winger said the first radio program on WDOD was broadcast on WDOD from the historic First Presbyterian Church on April 13, 1925. Mr. Winger and Norman Thomas had a small studio located in a house near the church.
The speaker said Mr. Winger related that he ran a long microphone cable from the house to the church pulpit located at 554 McCallie Ave.
Mr. Freudenberg also shared interviews with Bill Hall from the former Town and Country Restaurant and a conversation between Luther Masingill and Cindy Messenger of the Mount Vernon Restaurant.
Mr. Freudenberg started in radio in 1962 and retired in 2016, although he does volunteer work for WDYN.
Among those in attendance were Ben Cagle, retired broadcast executive with WDEF radio and TV, Johnny Eagle, WFLI radio and City Court Judge Russell Bean, longtime Chattanooga radio fan.
The Chattanooga Area Historical Association is now meeting in the First Presbyterian Church Chapel. Their next meeting is Jan. 10 with Judge Neil Thomas the speaker. His topic is Ed Johnson and Supreme Court Justice John Marshall Harlan, the Great Dissenter.
For information on the organization go to www.chattahistoricalassoc.org.
Joe V. Williams, president; Marti Rutherford, program chairwoman, and Earl Freudenberg