Sharing Nostalgic Snowville Experiences: Insights from the Public
In the heart of Baltimore, a historic building once stood - the Smith Building. This structure, clad in shiny copper, was more than just a physical entity; it held a significant place in the annals of radio broadcasting history.
The Smith Building was home base for corporate operations for Gore Broadcasting, a company that played a pivotal role in shaping the broadcasting landscape. Archie Stulc, a notable figure in the industry, expressed concern about the loss of such historic structures, knowing well the impact they had on the industry's evolution.
Jonathon R. Yinger, who served as vice president of operations for Gore Broadcasting at the Smith Building, was one of the key figures in this narrative. Yinger, who attended a course offered by the NAB on directional antennas in Cleveland, was mentored by the ownership of the radio station he worked at in Miami. His tenure at the Smith Building saw the station, with call letters WRDZ, broadcasting in C-Quam AM stereo, a technology that was revolutionary at the time.
Glynn Walden, another notable figure, had a love for older and historic buildings. His father, a handyman who worked on buildings around 100 years old, instilled in him a appreciation for the past. Walden took design philosophy from his father into his later endeavors, including radio. He was provided with two booklets on AM directional arrays, one focusing on the mathematics of directional antenna systems and the other on the specific array he would be operating.
The Smith Building is historically linked to Julian Sinclair Smith, who, with his wife Carolyn and other shareholders, founded the Commercial Radio Institute in Baltimore in the late 1950s. This institute applied for and began building FM radio and later UHF television stations starting in 1958-1959. Smith’s first radio station, WFMM-FM (now WPOC), began broadcasting in 1960. By 1967, Smith's company expanded into television, obtaining permits for new stations in Baltimore.
The impact of the Smith Building and its associated enterprises on radio broadcasting lies primarily in their role as a foundation for the growth of Sinclair Broadcast Group, a major telecommunications conglomerate today. Sinclair evolved from these early radio and television ventures, growing significantly and shaping the American broadcasting landscape through numerous television and radio stations.
Although the Smith Building may not have a distinct storied history like some other landmark buildings, its significance lies in its connection to the early facilities and initiatives of Julian Sinclair Smith in Baltimore, foundational to the later, major Sinclair Broadcast Group. Its impact is seen in the growth and influence of that company on American broadcasting.
[1] Sinclair Broadcast Group History [2] Chollas Heights Towers [4] Early Electronic Newsgathering [5] History of NPR
- The Smith Building, once home to Gore Broadcasting in Baltimore, has deep roots in the expansion and evolution of the broadcasting industry, serving as a foundation for the rise of Sinclair Broadcast Group.
- Jonathon R. Yinger, who worked at the Smith Building, was instrumental in implementing revolutionary technologies such as C-Quam AM stereo, showcasing the building's role in pushing the boundaries of broadcasting innovation.
- Radio designer Glynn Walden, inspired by his father's work on older buildings, played a part in the Smith Building's narrative through his application of design philosophy from AM directional antenna booklets, further emphasizing its significance in the broadcasting landscape.
