meta_pixel
Tapesearch Logo
Log in
The Kitchen Sisters Present

33 – WHER: 1000 Beautiful Watts—The First All Girl Radio Station in the Nation—Part 2

The Kitchen Sisters Present

The Kitchen Sisters & Radiotopia

Society & Culture

4.61.3K Ratings

🗓️ 27 October 2015

⏱️ 27 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

When Sam Phillips sold Elvis’ contract in 1955 he used the money to start WHER, an all-girl radio station in Memphis, TN. In this episode we move from the pink plush studio in the Holiday Inn, with undies hanging on clotheslines in the lobby, into the 1960s and a new studio in the Mid-City building, Memphis. Set against the backdrop of the civil rights movement, the women’s movement, Vietnam, and the death of Martin Luther King—the story of WHER continues following the women who pioneered in broadcasting as they head into one of the most dramatic and volatile times in the nation’s history.

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

Radio Topia. Welcome to the Kitchen Sisters Presently.

0:04.0

PRX.

0:05.0

We're the Kitchen Sisters, Davia Nelson and Nicki Silva.

0:09.0

Hi, this is Nicky of the Kitchen Sisters.

0:13.0

Thank you so much to everyone who's already donated to support Radiotopia and this show during our fall fundraiser.

0:19.0

Radiotopia from PRX is a non-profit public media company. The money we raise from this fundraiser

0:25.6

is split amongst all the shows in the network. This creates opportunity for emerging shows

0:31.3

or those that wouldn't be prioritized at other networks.

0:35.4

We love reading the comments that people leave when they donate.

0:38.4

Kelly says, keep the great creator-owned work coming. And Erica writes, I have been obsessed with every radiotopia

0:46.2

podcast I have listened to. I appreciate this collective so, so much and hope that these

0:51.7

amazing creators can keep making what they want to make in a world where many shows are being shut down.

0:58.0

We are coming to the end of the fundraiser, but we are still short of our goal. Not very short but short. If we reach our goal of a

1:05.9

thousand donors after the holidays we'll share a digital zine with everyone who

1:10.4

donated to help us get there. If you haven't donated yet, but you've been

1:14.3

thinking about it, we need your help now. Visit radiotopia.fm slash donate and add your name

1:21.5

to the list of listeners who support independent podcasts.

1:25.0

Thanks so much. Radiotopia.

1:28.0

FM slash donate.

1:30.0

If you're listening to Jane on your all-girls station, six minutes before 1 o'clock.

1:37.0

People started burning things and throwing things and marches were happening and marches had been happening you know peaceful

1:47.5

demonstration marches but these were angry marches and Charlie would give us our little tape recorder and say they're going

...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from The Kitchen Sisters & Radiotopia, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of The Kitchen Sisters & Radiotopia and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.

Copyright © Tapesearch 2025.