WGPA
| City | Bethlehem, Pennsylvania |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | Allentown/Bethlehem/Easton |
| Branding | "The New Sunny 1100" |
| Slogan | "Your Hometown, Community Minded Radio Station" |
| Frequency | 1100 kHz |
| First air date | February 14, 1946 |
| Format | Full-service |
| Power | 250 watts (daytime only) |
| Class | D |
| Transmitter coordinates | 40°37′27″N 75°21′19″W / 40.62417°N 75.35528°WCoordinates: 40°37′27″N 75°21′19″W / 40.62417°N 75.35528°W |
| Callsign meaning | W Globe Publishing Authority |
| Owner | Ronald and Christopher Crumbliss (CC Broadcasting, LLC) |
| Website | WGPASunny1100.com |
WGPA (1100 kHz) is a Class D daytimer radio station, licensed to Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, and serving the Lehigh Valley. It is owned by Ronald and Christopher Crumbliss, through licensee CC Broadcasting, LLC (Kutztown). It airs a Full-Service radio format that the owners describe as "Ameripolitan," consisting of classic country music, rockabilly, oldies and polka music.
Because AM 1100 is a clear channel frequency, WGPA must sign off at night to protect WTAM in Cleveland, the Class A station on 1100 kHz. (Radio waves travel farther at night.) WGPA's studios and offices are located at 2311 Easton Ave. and its transmitter is at 1080 Win Drive, in Bethlehem.
WGPA was originally a part of the Bethlehem Globe Publishing Authority (the GPA in WGPA). Both WGPA-AM and its sister station, WGPA-FM (now WZZO), began broadcasting on February 16, 1946 and was located at 426 Brodhead Avenue, next to the Globe-Times daily newspaper building. At the time, WGPA-AM and FM were simulcast. The FCC license stated ownership as A-B-E Broadcasting, a division of the Bethlehem Globe Times Newspapers, signifying Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton as the coverage area. WGPA AM 1100 originally broadcast popular music from that time period. The original musical lineup primarily consisted of big band/swing featuring artists such as Perry Como, Frank Sinatra, Artie Shaw, Glenn Miller and Doris Day. In the early fifties, Bob Wolken, a recent graduate of Liberty High School, started at the station performing odd jobs. He would eventually became an on-air announcer, who would remain through changes in ownership and formats into the 1990s. Wolken's smooth style was the wake up voice for generations of Bethlehem-area residents for many years. His program was called "In the Book" and it aired from sign on time to 9:30 am Monday through Saturdays.
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