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The Yankee Network was an American radio network, based in Boston, with affiliate radio stations throughout New England.Francis G. Jenkins. "New radio Station Chain Under Way. Washington Post, February 2, 1930, p. F5. At the height of its influence, the Yankee Network had as many as twenty-four affiliated radio stations."Yankee Web's Comeuppance Via 24 Outlets." Variety, October 23, 1946, p. 31. The network was co-founded by John Shepard III and his brother Robert, in 1929–1930."Yankee Network is Being Formed." New York Times, February 9, 1930, p. X20. The beginnings of what became the Yankee Network occurred in the mid-1920s, when John Shepard's Boston station WBIX linked by telephone land lines with Robert Shepard's station in Providence, Rhode Island, WPRV, so that the two stations could share or exchange programming."Sporting Events Featured at WNAC." Boston Herald, July 5, 1925, p. D5. Those two stations became the first two Yankee Network stations. In 1930, they were joined by the first affiliated radio stations, including WLBZ in Bangor, Maine; WORC in Worcester, Massachusetts; WNBH in New Bedford, Massachusetts; and WICC in Bridgeport, Connecticut. During the 1930s, the network became known for developing its own local and regional news bureau, the Yankee News Service."News Listeners Cry Out Against Limited Programs." Christian Science Monitor, March 5, 1934, p. 4. The Yankee Network and the Yankee News Service operated until February 1967.Joseph T. Sullivan. "Golden Music to Replace WNAC Talk." Boston Herald, February 15, 1967, p. 31.
By 1931, the network was also offering regular news broadcasts, on the half-hour, making use of reporting by some of Boston's newspapers.Mark J. Staples. "Yankee Network Has Cooperative News Arrangements with New England Press." Broadcasting, December 1, 1931, p. 10. But by 1933, the relationship between print and radio had become contentious, with newspapers no longer willing to provide news to radio stations. The so-called "Press-Radio Agreement" limited the number of newscasts radio stations could broadcast to only two a day, and listeners were very upset that they could no longer hear regular news on the air."News Listeners Cry Out Against Limited Programs." Christian Science Monitor, March 5, 1934, p. 4. In early March 1934, John Shepard III organized his own news bureau, the Yankee News Service, to provide his affiliates with regular local and regional news reports."John Shepard Organizes Own News Bureau to Feed Yankee Network." Variety, February 27, 1934, p. 39. It replaced the newscasts previously provided by reporters from the Boston Herald-Traveler, Boston American, and Boston Daily Record. Shepard hired Richard D. Grant, a former print journalist from the Boston Evening Transcript, to be in charge of the news broadcasts."Radio News Cut to Tabloid Size from March 1." Christian Science Monitor, February 28, 1934, pp 1, 4. Editor in chief was Leland Bickford,"Yankee News Marks 25th Anniversary on TV Today." Boston Globe, March 1, 1959, p. 55. who co-wrote a book in 1935 about the first year of the Yankee News Service. The Yankee News Service used the slogan "News while it IS News," intended as a jab at the newspapers, which disseminated news at a slower pace than radio. That was also the title of the book about the creation of the news service.Leland Bickford, with Walter Fogg. News While It Is News: The Real Story of the Radio News. Boston: Manthorne & Co., 1935. In addition, on February 20, 1938, the Yankee Network debuted its own radio weather service, to provide up-to-date weather information to affiliates."Radio Weather Service for New England." Christian Science Monitor, February 15, 1938, p. 10. The first chief meteorologist of the Yankee Network Weather Service was Salvatore Pagliuca, who had formerly worked at the Blue Hills Observatory and the Mount Washington Observatory."Military Rights for Maj. Pagliuca." Boston Herald, May 4, 1944, p. 21.
One area where the expansion was noticeable was in the news department, which was praised by national magazines like Variety for its coverage of state legislatures, as well as coverage of news-makers throughout New England."Yankee Network News Flashes." Variety, March 27, 1934, p. 38. There was some early controversy over John Shepard's policy of inserting brief "plugs" (sponsor mentions) into the newscasts, but Shepard defended the practice as necessary in order to support the broadcasts."Yankee Web Seeds Disguised Blurbs Into News Service-- Public No Like." Variety, April 3, 1935, p. 39. Gradually, as the network hired more staff and was able to cover stories more extensively, the complaints diminished. By 1939, the Yankee Network was said to be the first regional network to send a full-time reporter, Pete Tully, to Washington, D.C. to cover Congress."Yankee's Washington Newsman." Broadcasting, June 1, 1939, p. 22. The Yankee Network also earned praise for its coverage of natural disasters in New England, such as in April 1936, when heavy rainstorms caused flooding in western Massachusetts,Norman Corwin, "City's Ether Vibrated with Phenomenal Precedent as Spectacular Broadcasts Told Nation of the Flood." Springfield (MA) Sunday Republican, April 12, 1936, p. E1. or in September 1938, when a hurricane devastated much of Southern New England. Yankee affiliate WHLL in Springfield was instrumental in keeping the public informed, broadcasting weather reports and news coverage around the clock until the storm had ended;"Radio Again Succors Stricken Region." Broadcasting, October 1, 1938, p. 66 and later, WMAS raised funds for on-going disaster relief in the region."Western Mass. Red Cross Issues Joint Plea over WMAS Tonight." Springfield (MA) Republican, November 13, 138, p. 3.
Despite John Shepard's affiliation of his Yankee Network stations with CBS, he still became involved in the founding of a new network, which came to be known as the Mutual Broadcasting System, and he served on its board of directors.Christopher Sterling and Michael Keith. Sounds of Change: A History of FM Broadcasting in America. University of North Carolina Press, 2008, p. 24. Beginning around 1936, the Yankee Network also started to carry some Mutual programs."Networks Now Changed Over." Boston Herald, September 27, 1936, p. 4C. Meanwhile, there were some changes in Boston radio that affected the Yankee Network. CBS had begun purchasing stations, in addition to providing network programming. In early 1936, CBS purchased Boston's WEZE, making it necessary for Shepard's WNAC to affiliate with a different network, NBC's Red Network."Transfer of WEEI to CBS Approved." Broadcasting, July 1, 1936, p. 76. The change officially took place in late September of that year."WEEI and WNAC Change Networks." Boston Herald, September 27, 1936, p. C3.
In the late 1930s, Shepard had become interested in FM radio (later known as FM). In 1937 a plan was developed envisioning that 90% of New England could be provided with FM programs by building mountaintop stations, consisting of a 50 kilowatt transmitter on Mount Asnebumskit at Paxton, Massachusetts, plus 5 kilowatt stations on Mount Washington in New Hampshire and Mount Mansfield in Vermont. "More FM Service in New England" by A. F. Sise, FM magazine, April 1941, pages 8-14. (Later plans dropped the proposed Mount Mansfield station). With the help of the inventor of FM, Major Edwin H. Armstrong, the Yankee Network inaugurated the nation's first FM radio network, beginning with an early January 1940 demonstration of an FM inter-city relay, linking Shepard's experimental FM station W1XOJ in Paxton, Massachusetts, to an FM transmitter at station W1XPW in Meriden, Connecticut (now WHCN), to Armstrong's W2XMN in Alpine, New Jersey, to the parent broadcasting system based in the studios of WEAF in New York."Short Wave Replaces Wires to Link Radio Chain in Test." Christian Science Monitor, January 6, 1940, p. 1. Shepard's FM network officially made its debut in December 1940 when W1XOJ in Paxton was permanently linked with W1XER on Mount Washington."Chain of Staticless Stations Organized by Shepard Group." Christian Science Monitor, May 6, 1941, p. 18. Because of their superior audio quality, the FM stations became known for broadcasting live classical music concerts."Boston String Orchestra in Debut Over FM." Boston Herald, January 11, 1942, p. 4B.
But while John Shepard III was making plans to further expand the Yankee Network's FM properties,"He Sees Broadcasting by FM Replacing Present Type in East." Christian Science Monitor, July 31, 1942, p. 4. there was a major obstacle. The Yankee Network faced a powerful opponent—the Radio Corporation of America (RCA—the majority owner of NBC), which saw FM as a threat to its established AM broadcasting radio business.Giles Slade. Made to Break: Technology and Obsolescence in America. Harvard University Press, 2007, pp. 89-90. RCA was also concerned that Yankee's technique of "networking" their service around New England via inexpensive, off-air FM relays instead of AT&T phone lines, would open the door to many less well-funded groups establishing competition to RCA's established network, NBC. RCA, under general manager David Sarnoff, successfully pressured the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to move the FM radio spectrum from 42–50 MHz to 88–108 MHz in 1945. This required massive hardware retooling at all FM broadcasters. Some affiliates dropped out, forcing the Yankee Network to lease phone lines from AT&T to fill in the holes between stations. The added costs to broadcasters and the obsolescence of all FM radios at the time set back FM broadcasting for a decade or more.
Despite the setback with FM, the Yankee Network seemed to be doing well. There were a number of popular programs, including "Ruth Moss Interviews," featuring conversations with local and national celebrities;"Three Major Boston Stations Shift Networks Tomorrow." Boston Herald, June 14, 1942, p. 25. a variety show called "Yankee House Party," featuring organist Frank Cronin and the Bobby Norris Orchestra, which was also picked up by the Mutual Network;"Yankee House Party Joins Mutual Network." Boston Herald, August 2, 1942, p. 26. as well as various sports events, including Red Sox and Braves play-by-play, often announced by Jim Britt, who had been hired as a sportscaster by the Yankee Network in 1939."Jim Britt in WNAC Radio Debut." Boston Herald, December 16, 1939, p. 17. In mid-1941, it was announced that the network would soon change from its affiliation with NBC to a full-time affiliation with Mutual."WNAC, WEAN Join Mutual Network Soon." Christian Science Monitor, April 23, 141, p. 13. In March 1942, the network debuted six new studios, including one especially equipped for FM, as well as several with better acoustics and new musical instruments for the Yankee Network's orchestras; one studio featured a custom-designed organ, said to be the largest in use at any radio station."Big Opening for Yankee's New Studios." Boston Traveler, March 20, 1942, p. 5.
In 1941, the FCC ruled that owners could not own more than one station in the same city. Shepard owned two Boston stations: WNAC and its sister station WAAB. To comply with the FCC's ruling, Shepard needed to move WAAB. He decided to relocate it to Worcester, a market that Yankee did not serve at that point."Shepard Applying for WAAB Shift." Broadcasting, June 9, 1941, p. 9. WAAB, which made its debut broadcast from Worcester on December 13, 1942, was now the Mutual and Yankee affiliate in central Massachusetts."WAAB On the Air From Worcester." Broadcasting, December 14, 1942, p. 10.
In mid-December 1942, it was suddenly announced that the Yankee Network was being sold; the news caught most people in Boston's broadcasting community by surprise, as it was not generally known that the network was for sale. The purchaser was General Tire and Rubber Company of Akron, Ohio, led by its president William O'Neil. The new owner agreed that John Shepard III would stay on at the head of the Yankee Network for the next five years."Yankee Network is Sold to General Tire Company." Christian Science Monitor, December 16, 1942, p. 3.
In 1947, the Yankee Network's flagship station, WNAC, celebrated its 25th anniversary, but this milestone was commemorated in a very low-key manner."WNAC Marks Its 25th Year on Air in N.E." Christian Science Monitor, July 31, 1947, p. 4. While Shepard continued on as head of the network, he was now in poor health; the day-to-date operation of the network was being handled by Executive Vice President and General Manager Linus Travers, a veteran of the network who had worked for Shepard since being hired in 1927 as an announcer and commercial manager."New Commercial Director at WNAC." Boston Globe, June 23, 1928, p. 6. When Travers was promoted to an executive position at Mutual in September 1948,"Travers Named to Executive Staff of Mutual System." Boston Herald, September 30, 1948, p. 15. he was replaced by another long-time employee of the Yankee Network, George Steffy."Steffy Named Director of Yankee Network." Boston Herald, October 1, 1948, p. 9. In December 1948, John Shepard Jr., who had run the Shepard Department Stores and provided early financial support for his son John III's radio venture, died at age 91."Shepard Rites in Florida." Boston Herald, December 22, 1948, p. 25. John Shepard III died from heart disease in mid-June 1950, at age 64."Rites are Held in Brookline for John Shepard." Boston Traveler, June 13, 1950, p. 41.
Meanwhile, television had come to Boston in early June 1948, when WBZ-TV debuted; the Yankee Network's TV station, WNAC-TV made its debut several weeks later, on June 21."Both WNAC and WBZ to Televise Convention." Boston Globe, Jun 19, 1948, p. 11. But as the Yankee Network expanded into TV, it experienced some labor problems. In early May 1949, all of the network's eighty engineers, both from radio and television, went out on Strike action, to protest what were said to be steep wage cuts the ownership was asking them to take."Strike Halts Yankee Network Air, TV Shows." Boston Globe, May 4, 1949, p. 1. Managers and other executives kept the stations on the air, but some remote broadcasts had to be canceled, including the scheduled telecasts of the Boston Braves home games."Fail to End Network Strike, Game Off Video." Boston Globe, May 7, 1949, p. 2. Also, some announcers refused to cross the picket lines, requiring management to do some of the announcing during the strike. The pay dispute, which made the national news, took sixteen days to resolve and required the help of an arbitrator."Arbitration Move Due Today in Try to End Radio Strike." Boston Globe, May 11, 1949, p. 17. The strike finally ended after the proposed wage cuts were canceled and a new salary agreement was reached, at which time the engineers and announcers returned to work."Yankee Network Strike Ends with no Wage Slash." Boston Herald, May 18, 1949, p. 1.
As top-40 radio became dominant on AM in the late 1950s, the Yankee Network continued to program for an audience that was now aging. In fact, at many stations, the programming content was undergoing a number of changes: for one thing, few stations had live orchestras any more. With television becoming popular, many programs previously heard only on radio moved over to TV. Even soap operas, long a staple of network programming on radio, ceased in 1960.George B. Merry. "Soap Operas Go; A Happy Ending." Christian Science Monitor, November 26, 1960, p. 1. Also during this time period, many stations stopped relying on syndicated programs from NBC, CBS, ABC, or Mutual and began to do their own programming: in Boston, for example, WBZ ended its long affiliation with NBC to program its own music, using live and local announcers."WBZ to Drop NBC Shows; WBZ-TV Still in Network." Boston Globe, July 16, 1956, p. 8. Just like with WBZ, the emphasis at many radio stations had shifted to playing records. As the top-40 hit format proliferated, in an effort to attract the growing youth audience, WNAC and the Yankee Network stayed with the older music; this earned them praise from a number of newspaper columnists, many of whom were also getting older and found top-40 unpleasant. For them, WNAC's and the Yankee Network's emphasis on "great standards" and songs with "beautiful melodies" was very comforting.Anthony LaCamera. "Editor Finds WNAC Tops for Popular Music." Boston Evening American, August 23, 1955, p. 22. The Yankee stations, especially flagship WNAC, played the music that the older audience enjoyed, avoiding songs that were popular with young people and focusing on "easy listening" music.Anthony LaCamera. "Like to be on the $64,000 Quiz?" Boston Evening American, July 8, 1955, p. 38. One popular announcer during this time was Gus Saunders, who was also well known as the host of another of the Yankee Network's cooking programs; in addition, Saunders announced some of the network's sports events, such as Boston's Boston Marathon.Anthony LaCamera, "Baseball Tomorrow." Boston Evening American, April 18, 1958, p. 5. Another popular announcer was Vin Maloney, who like Saunders, fulfilled a wide range of functions for WNAC and the Yankee Network, including announcing, news-reading, and covering sports. The Yankee News Service remained popular throughout the 1950s, and listeners relied on it for local news and sports; this was especially true in the summer of 1957, when Boston's newspapers went on strike. WNAC, WNAC-TV, and the entire Yankee Network increased the amount of hourly newscasts, added more news bulletins, and sent out members of its Boston staff to post news headlines on billboards around the city."Radio-TV Carry the Ball in Boston, Detroit." Broadcasting, August 26, 1957, p. 81.
In August 1959, the Yankee Network de-affiliated itself from Mutual Broadcasting System (MBS), allowing 27 Yankee stations to affiliate directly with MBS.
But despite its reputation for news, easy-listening music, and shows that homemakers enjoyed, the Yankee Network was no longer as influential as it had once been. After experimenting with various formats (including talk radio, big band, and a brief attempt to play some of the softer top 40 hits), Yankee found itself struggling for a niche. Affiliates had dwindled: a majority of stations now preferred to have their own local staff, rather than relying on a regional network.Joseph T. Sullivan. "Yankee Network Soon to be Dissolved." Boston Herald, January 31, 1967, p. 35. Further, flagship station WNAC was preparing to switch to a top-40 hit music format (under the call letters WRKO).Anthony LaCamera. "Big Shake-Up Due on WNAC." Boston Record-American, February 6, 1967, p. 26. The Yankee Network's parent company, RKO General, announced the network would be disbanded. It officially ceased operation on February 26, 1967.
| Originally at 1500 AM & then at 1490 AM post-NARBA until the 1960s. Now defunct | ||
| Frequency moved to 970 AM post-NARBA | ||
| Boston | Massachusetts | City of license transferred to Worcester in 1942 |
| Programming/call sign transferred to WRKO in 1953 | ||
| Frequency moved to 1340 AM post-NARBA | ||
| Worcester | Massachusetts | |
| Frequency moved to 1480 AM post-NARBA | ||
| Frequency moved to 1240 AM post-NARBA | ||
| Frequency moved to 1400 AM post-NARBA | ||
| Frequency moved to 1340 AM post-NARBA | ||
| Frequency moved to 1340 AM post-NARBA | ||
| Frequency moved to 1370 AM post-NARBA | ||
| Frequency moved to 790 AM post-NARBA |
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