America’s First Black-Owned Television Station
Welcome to William V Banks Broadcast Museum
In 1975, a groundbreaking moment in American media history occurred when WGPR-TV62 in Detroit became the first Black-owned television station in the United States. The museum features the history of WGPR-TV62 with videos, oral histories, & artifacts that bring the station’s impact and influence on broadcasting to Life!
About WGPR Museum
Our Founder
WGPR Historical Society
Our Exhibitions
Known as "The Gipper" to some followers, WGPR 107.5 FM was purchased for $40,000 by William V. Banks and the International Free and Accepted Modern Masons, Incorporated and Order of the Eastern Star from Ross Mulholland, a Grosse Pointe based owner and former WJR radio broadcaster. GPR originally stood for "Grosse Pointe Radio" but after
Known as "The Gipper" to some followers, WGPR 107.5 FM was purchased for $40,000 by William V. Banks and the International Free and Accepted Modern Masons, Incorporated and Order of the Eastern Star from Ross Mulholland, a Grosse Pointe based owner and former WJR radio broadcaster. GPR originally stood for "Grosse Pointe Radio" but after Banks, an ordained preacher purchased the station, it became known as "Where God‘s Presence Radiates."
· The station was armed with a powerful 50,000 Watt antenna that could be heard from Windsor to parts of Ohio, especially at night. In the beginning, resources were meager. Nat Morris, an on-air personality at the station in 1972, recalled that the studio was in the basement of the Mason's Hall in Detroit.
· It didn’t have much of a record library, so he and other on-air personalities, including Ray Henderson, often brought in their own records to broadcast. Morris and Hendersonlater went on to become the first hosts of The Scene, one of WGPR-TV62's most popular programs.
· The radio station continued to grow throughout the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s, featuring entertainment on-air talent including Lee Garrett; Clarence "Foody" Rome, who earned the Michigan Chronicles' Disc Jockey of the Year Award in 1984;J.C.Cage; Tiger Dan; "Marvelous" Marvin Taylor; Larry Bird; Billy T Thompson; Henry Tyler; R.J.Watkins; and Rosetta Hines.
· Perhaps the stations most notable on air personality was the "Electrifying Mojo," who drew legions of nightly radio listeners and took them on musical journeys ranging from techno to funk.
· He introduced Detroiters to the sounds of Prince, Parliament/Funkadelics, and many techno artists. In 2016, his hand-prints and signature were added to the Legends Plaza of the Detroit Historical Museum, a first for a Detroit Radio DJ.
· Strong Arbitron ratings placed WGPRin the market's top 10 in the 1980s, which was very impressive for an independent studio with far fewer resources than its major competitors: WDRQ and WJLB.
Our Exhibitions
WGPR Historical Society
Our Exhibitions
Explore the unique and thought-provoking exhibitions that WGPR Museum hosts throughout the year, featuring works by internationally renowned artists and emerging talents from around the world.
WGPR Historical Society
WGPR Historical Society
WGPR Historical Society
The WGPR-TV Historical Society is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit established by former WGPR employees, many of whom launched their careers at the station. The origin of Society came from a realization that the story of WGPR needed to be preserved and that a museum was the best cultural institution to collect, archive, and present the
The WGPR-TV Historical Society is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit established by former WGPR employees, many of whom launched their careers at the station. The origin of Society came from a realization that the story of WGPR needed to be preserved and that a museum was the best cultural institution to collect, archive, and present the station’s history.
The WGPR TV-62 Historical Society established and operates the William V. Banks Broadcast Museum. Over a 24-month period the Society collected photographs, oral histories, artifacts, and memorabilia on station history. They worked with a museum designer to create an exhibit that was first seen at the Detroit Historical Museum’s Community Gallery from January to April of 2016. The exhibit story panels were designed to be portable and were stored while the original studio of TV62 was converted and renovated to create space for the William V. Banks Broadcast Museum & Media Center. Sponsorship support from the International Masons and WGPR Radio Inc. made this possible.
Organizational Timeline of Key Events
In the span of six years, the Detroit Historical Society went from organizing as a non-profit to opening a museum. Members of the Society, all former WGPR TV employees gave generously of their time, expertise, and funding to make the William V. Banks Broadcast Museum a reality.
We are grateful for a supportive community that joined us in celebrating WGPR TV-62 50th Anniversary
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Your support and contributions will enable us to meet our goals and fund our mission.
Explore the captivating moments captured at WGPR Historical Museum through our stunning photo gallery
Contact Us
Better yet, see us in person!
We love our WGPR alumni and guests, so feel free to visit during normal business hours and/or schedule a history museum guided tours and history museum education programs.
William V Banks Broadcast Museum - WGPR TV62
3146 East Jefferson Avenue, Detroit, Michigan 48207, United States
Hours
Today | Closed |
Scheduled Tours by appointments.