Vintage microphone, embossed with the WCYB call letters
BRISTOL, Va.-Tenn. -In celebration ofWBCM Radio Bristol’s 10th anniversary, the station announced a new partnership withNews5 WCYB-TVto promoteFarm and Fun Time, a musical variety show that got its start on WCYB Radio in the 1940s. During the press conference, held at theBirthplace of Country Music Museumin historic downtown Bristol, a “lost” artifact was also unveiled–a working 1954 RCA 77-DX microphone used for live broadcasts on WCYB Radio.
“The microphone symbolizes our shared history in bluegrass and early country music, in particular theFarm and Fun Timeshow,” said WCYB General Manager Jim Doty. “This is the first time the microphone has been seen by the public in decades, and we couldn’t think of a better place for it to be displayed. We are thrilled to partner with Radio Bristol and with the work they have done to reimagineFarm and Fun Timefor new audiences.”
The vintage microphone, embossed with the WCYB call letters, will be exhibited at the museum for the remainder of the year.
“Early on in the development of Radio Bristol, resurrecting WCYB Radio’s classicFarm and Fun Time radio show was a central goal for us,” said Radio Bristol Program Director and host Kris Truelsen. “It has become the signature program for our station, much like it was for WCYB Radio back in the day.”
WCYB Radio andFarm and Fun Timewent live on the air in December 1946. It was among many post-World War II radio stations of the era and was known for its clear broadcasting channel that reached portions of a five-state region: Virginia, Tennessee, North Carolina, West Virginia and Kentucky. Back then, WCYB Radio broadcast from the lobby of the Hotel General Shelby, built in 1925-26 on the northwest corner of Cumberland and Front Streets near the Bristol Train Station. The hotel was demolished in the 1970s during a period of urban renewal, according to an article written by the late Bristol historian Bud Phillips for theBristol Herald Courier.
WCYB Radio'sFarm and Fun Timewas appointment programming for area farmers who listened to the show for important weather reports and information that may affect their crops. In addition to the news of the day, the show featured live musical performances. It was a career boost for legendary bluegrass acts The Stanley Brothers, Flatt & Scruggs, Jim & Jesse McReynolds, Mac Wiseman, Curly King & the Tennessee Hilltoppersand many others.WCYB made the switch to television Aug.13, 1956 and sold WCYB Radio due to FCC regulations forbidding common ownership of television and radio stations. After the sale, the station's call letters changed to WZAP.Farm and Fun Time continued to air weekly on WZAP, with tickets to the live show selling for $1
Radio Bristol debuted its revival ofFarm and Fun Timein August 2014 for the grand opening of the Birthplace of Country Music Museum, hosted by legendary WCYB news anchor Johnny Wood. Wood’s broadcasting career in the Tri-Cities began at WOPI radio in 1963 before he transitioned to television, becoming a trusted and beloved figure in local news for over four decades. The featured musical guest on that pilot episode was none other than Jesse McReynolds, one half of the famed bluegrass duo Jim & Jesse, and his band The Virginia Boys. During the show, Jesse referenced the death of his brother Jim, who had passed away in 2002, and their first appearance on WCYB Radio’sFarm and Fun Timein 1954. Jesse honored Jim’s memory, as well as that of their grandfather Charles McReynolds, by playing the fiddle Charles had used with the Bull Mountain Moonshiners during the 1927 Bristol Sessions. Sadly, Jesse passed away in June 2023 at the age of 93, followed by Wood who left us in October of 2024. He was 82.
“Radio Bristol is a natural extension of our work here at the Birthplace of Country Music Museum,” said Museum Director Dr. Rene Rodgers. “We are so grateful to have the opportunity to preserve the memory, music, and stories of these legendary figures in our region’s history through the station's programming andFarm and Fun Timeperformances.”
Though the station’s low-watt FM signal is only available in the Bristol area, tens of thousands of music lovers from all over the world listen online atlistenradiobristol.org, log on to watch theFarm and Fun Timelivestream onRadio Bristol’s Facebookpage and view archived episodes onYouTube, expanding the program’s reach far beyond the imagination of its predecessor.
There’s nothing quite like being part of the live audience for a taping ofFarm and Fun Time, whether it's held in the intimate performance theater at the Birthplace of Country Music Museum or the historic stage at Paramount Bristol. To listen live to Radio Bristol’s programming, tune into 100.1 FM in the Bristol area or visitListenRadioBristol.org, where you’ll also find archives of your favorite shows. Radio Bristol is also available via the station’s freemobile app.
