H. Grant Theis â42, founder of WPRU, which later became WPRB. (PAW Archives, Feb. 24, 1941)
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H. Grant Theis â42, founder of WPRU, which later became WPRB. (PAW Archives, Feb. 24, 1941)
From its first broadcast in 1940, in the Pyne Hall dorm room of an ambitious and tech-savvy undergrad, to its current incarnation as a leading regional music source for indie rock, classical, jazz, and more, WPRB has followed a remarkable path.
As the station approaches its 75th anniversary, former DJ and station manager Dipika Sen â13 is leading a push to collect pieces of WPRB history for display in a 2015 exhibition. The station will kick off its 75th-anniversary efforts at Reunions with a reception May 31 at 4:15 p.m. in its home in Bloomberg Hall (near the P-radeâs terminus). Sen and her colleagues are asking for alumni to lend or donate ârelics from WPRBâs illustrious pastâ â T-shirts, photos, listener letters, and audio content. (Those who are not returning for Reunions can learn more about submitting memorabilia online.)
âItâs a perfect opportunity to see how the station has evolved,â Sen said. âWeâve had an enthusiastic response from alumni so far.â
READ MORE:A WPRB timeline, from the Dec. 8, 2010, issue of PAW