WSM and WLS:
Giants of Early Radio
WSM radio in Nashville began broadcasting on October 8, 1925. Owned by the National Life and Accident Insurance Company, the station's call letters reflected its owner's motto: "We Shield Millions." The 50-thousand-watt "Air Castle of the South," with its Grand Ole Opry, is inseparable from the history of country music, and from the history of radio.

"WSM did a number of remote broadcasts during World War II," says Professor Charles Wolfe of Middle Tennessee State University. "George Patton perfected his tank tactics in middle Tennessee, and they went out and interviewed him about it."

"They also sent a crew down to Atlanta for the premiere of 'Gone with the Wind.' You can hear the WSM announcer standing in the lobby as the film was shown for the very first time, and as he is announcing, you can hear the theme music of 'Gone with the Wind' as the curtain comes down; you can hear the audience applauding. And then as various people come out he interviews them. It's just really an amazing piece of Americana."

In 1924, another station was making already making history. WLS, owned by the Sears-Roebuck and Company ("World's Largest Store") broadcast out of Chicago. Its 50-thousand-watt signal carried such popular programs such as the National Barn Dance -- the longest-running and most popular country-and-western program after the Grand Ole Opry.