50 years in broadcasting began with a prayer

Roughly seven years ago, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel ran a feature on the 50th anniversary of VCY America:

Fifty years ago next week, Eliason and three teenagers – “now grandparents” – interested in starting a Christian radio show took the baby steps toward what became VCY America, a Christian broadcasting chain of 25 radio stations, including WVCY-FM (107.7) and WVCY-TV (Channel 30), all with offices at N. 35th St. and W. Kilbourn Ave.

Eliason is its vice president and executive director. The group will hold a 50th anniversary celebration Sunday at the Waukesha Expo Center.

Back in 1961, Eliason urged the teenagers to make an audition tape and then ask for public service time. But after being rejected by several stations, “they prayed and said, ‘God, if you want us to have a Christian radio program, you’ll have to supply the airtime.’ This was Friday. On Monday, the door opened, and in walks a guy and the first words out of his mouth were, ‘Could anybody here use free airtime?'” Eliason said.

Read the rest of the story at http://archive.jsonline.com/entertainment/tvradio/121360769.html/

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