The Tennessean from Nashville, Tennessee • Page 107

Louis Draughon Recalls Early Radio They moved to Nashville a bit later, spent about a year in the basement of the Andrew Jackson Hotel, then upped the station's power, changed frequencies and held forth for many years from the 14th floor of the Nashville Trust Building. In 1961, they moved Into ultra-modern facilities on Murfreesboro Road in Nashville. The anniversary being observed is the 10th WSIX signed-on November 30, 1953 the second TV channel assigned to Tennessee's Capitol City. But any story involving Louis Draughon, brother Jack, or WSIX must necessarily include the other facets of broadcasting if it is to tell the full story. assure, "we ought to mention our FM operation here.

We use Programmatic broadcasting service and equipment which gives programming completely separate from our standard AM operation. Our power has been increased to 100,000 watts and we now program 38 hours of stereophonic broadcasting. We are looking toward a great future in FM." 40 Acres of Land Mr. Draughon would not comment at any great length about the plant growth in and around all three facilities, but the AM, FM, and TV operations are situated on some 40 acres of land which fronts on Murfreesboro Road and some 1700 feet on the railroad along the back side. "Yes, it has good potential." Mr.

Draughon is frequently an understater of facts, "We have-looked at a lot of the possibilities. We definitely will have some expansion for live color programming by the end of 1964. And there are great possibilities open in syndicating shows for television consumption." Yes, Mr. Drannhnn, I said, this is the capital city of country music in the nation. But I think he already knew that and the gleam in his eye says he might consider that factor in his plans for utilizing this ultra-modern facility which has much room for expansion.

"In fact, Louis is quick to station if he would help haul it down to Springfield. He did and then waited for his pay, of course, until we got the station set up and operating." On 1 Hour a Night I asked him what the first radio shows were like. "Well, we'd play a few records. We were on the air one hour a night and at the beginning we had six nights a week sold for $10 a night. We would go down to the record shop and borrow a few old Brunswick records we'd play them one night and, next day, exchange them for some more." I asked him about news coverage.

"The late Hardin Conn was our announcer back then, he urns the first one," Mr. Draughon recalled, "We didn't have any real news reports as you'd think of them today, but if anything was going on around toum and we knew about it, we tell the folks." Some people didn't have much faith in the future of radio in those days, or in the business skill of Louis and his brother, Jack. Lewis said one old gentlemen whom he declined to name came around and saw what they were doing and asked where their father was. "He's in Florida," said Louis "I'm gonna call him this day," said the Irate and well-meaning friend of the family, "I gonna tell him that you boys are gonna spend him broke with such schemes if he doesn't come on back home." A Good Risk Mr. Draughon said the man wasn't kidding either.

It was a little better risk than the average man thought apparently because the years saw rapid growth of the radio Industry and an equal growth of the Draughon brothers. Until a few short hours before the station went on the air, the brothers had not decided what call letters to use. They were located above their small service station and finally agreed on WSIX which they intended to mean Where Service Is Excellent. By TOM MAYHEW ISTENING to Louis Draughon recall early radio is like listening to a doting grandfather recount the exploits of his favorite grandson. WSIX-TV observes Its 10th Anniversary this week (Nov.

29, to be exact) and appropriate programming and announcements will proclaim this proud and special occasion on Channel 8, but Mr. Draughon would as soon recall how it all started as show you through one of the most modern studios in the south. As majority stockholder in WSIX, Mr. Draughon is President and active supervisor of three separate broadcasting facilities SIX-AM and FM and WSIX-TV. In addition he oversees his Robertson County farm near Springfield, his home, and continues to operate the Draughon Brothers Oil Company of Springfield.

He's at Home Mr. Draughon looks perfectly at home in the plush surroundings of the new Murfrees-boro Road home of WSIX, but It was not always so and he Is as happy to recall the old as he is to present the new. "My late brother, Jack, and I were visiting a large auto supply accessory store in Nashville," Mr. Draughon told me, "back in 1926. "We saw this pile of second hand equipment on the floor and asked the man in the store what It was.

He explained it was a transmitter and asked us why we didn't put up a radio station in Springfield." "We didn't have much money so we asked him what he'd take for it. He said he didn't have much use for it and would take something in trade. We had our oil business going then, and we settled on five barrels of oil." "Then we made our first barter, trading a fellow some commercial advertisements on the Mrs. Anderson has the chair on the left and Mr. Anderson has the other one.

Whoever gets there first has the ottoman They AAn for all three paid QOO matching only flV pieces. (At those prices, they should buy another ottoman) See all the new Signature chairs by Kroehler. Many gorgeous covers to choose from nylons glove-soft vinyls, matelasses, tweeds, solids, and others. Luxurious foam comfort. Woods are hand-finished.

Most fabrics are Performance-Tested and chairs are Warranted by Kroehler, world's largest furniture maker. Mr Chair only $69.50 Mrs. Chair only $64 50 Ottoman only $24.00 Buy one, two or all thret piicet jr Open Monday and Friday Nights 'Til 8:30 Park Frti At 313 Broadway SOUTHEAST CORNER BROADWAY 3rd AVE Staff photo by Eld red Reaney Louis Draughon Appreciates PaM Welcomes Futurt 21-J.