32 – WHER: 1000 Beautiful Watts—The First All Girl Radio Station in the Nation—Part 1

WHER, the nation’s first all-girl radio station, launched in Memphis on October 29, 1955, as a bold experiment by Sun Records founder Sam Phillips. Housed in a Holiday Inn, the station defied industry norms by employing an entirely female staff, from DJs and news anchors to engineers. These women navigated a male-dominated field, often balancing professional responsibilities—such as running control boards and logging transmitter readings—with domestic lives. While the station’s aesthetic was playfully branded as a "Doll Den," the work was treated with serious professional rigor. By prioritizing a curated format of "love music" and avoiding the rock and roll hits associated with Sun Records, the station carved out a unique cultural space. Through the recollections of original staff members, this history highlights the pioneering spirit of women who challenged gender barriers in mid-century broadcasting.