We asked Bangor Daily News readers to share their memories, stories and feelings after the news earlier this week that Stephen King would be shutting down his Zone Radio stations.
You responded with an array of funny, sometimes touching stories about listening to WKIT, WZON and WZLO, as children and as adults, at work and in the car and at home. Here are some of the responses we got, coming from folks from all over the country.
“I’m truly sad to learn of this. WKIT, WZON, and their DJs have been familiar and comforting fixtures on my car radio for the better part of 30 years. I’ve enjoyed hearing local information on those stations and I have a feeling that won’t be the case for radio for very long unfortunately. It will all be paid for corporate/satellite relay from across the country. What a sad day.” – Todd Burgess, Holden
“I live in St. Louis, Missouri and have admired Bangor from afar for a few years. I visit when I can and consume local media to stay in touch with the local culture. BDN is one source. Downtown with Rich Kimball on WZON is another (streaming). This Brewer High School teacher produces a high quality radio program with such interesting guests. Conversations are regularly insightful and help ground me on my way home from my job as a chaplain at an inner city Level I trauma hospital. I so appreciate his show, especially after difficult days caring for people in pain. I’m sad to know that I’ll lose my commute companion.” – John Allen, St. Louis, Missouri
“When WZON was sports radio I listened to the morning show hosted by Dale Duff every day during my commute to high school at Bangor Christian. My brothers and I tried to answer the sports trivia question each morning. My mother, who often drove us, even became a Red Sox fan from learning more about the team from WZON. The station was a cherished part of my teen years.” – Joshua Bean, Bedford, Virginia
“WKIT has helped me so much personally in my [music] career, and I’ll be forever grateful. So many times I did radio appearances at other stations, and it felt like there was no need to even have people working there. The same 3 songs followed by the same dozen ads, so much fear of straying from the format for even a second. WKIT was totally different. They would play my songs, promote my shows, let me come in and hang for the morning show and shoot the shit, not because I was making them any money, but because it was fun and we all loved music. I’ll seriously cherish those memories. A big reason WKIT was so good was that it was a labor of love from Stephen King. In terms of media, I’ve spent more time with Stephen King’s work than I have anyone else. It’s just wild that my favorite creator just happened to own my favorite radio station. It’s like if your favorite bookstore was owned by Bruce Springsteen.” – Chris Ross, Ellsworth
“I listened to WZON getting ready for middle/high school in the mornings for the Duffer and Clem and would try to win the trivia game for a Tri City Pizza a little too often (ending up being late for school a few times as a result). Local sports coverage was the best.” – Matt Grondin, Cumberland
“I’m going to miss the local DJs on WKIT. They play old and new music, they are goofy and a little bit nerdy sometimes. I consider them to be old friends who keep me company in my kitchen and my car. I confess I will also miss the syndicated DJs – they are a good fit with the local guys.” – Donna Twombly, Bangor
“I live in Foxborough, Massachusetts. In 2018, my wife and I went on a Stephen King tour with SK Tours of Maine, which included a stop at WKIT’s iconic signage on Broadway: ‘Stephen King’s Rock Station.’ I downloaded the WKIT app and have been a loyal streaming listener since. I even called in a few requests over the years. They used to play a recording of my request for Deep Purple’s “Highway Star.” I particularly enjoyed Scotty “Scomo” Moore in the afternoon, Alice Cooper’s syndicated show at night, and Time Warp with Bill St. James on the weekends. ScoMo and Alice got me through a lot of shifts at work. I was crushed to hear WKIT is closing down at the end of the year, but the television and radio industries are going through a terrible time.” – Jason Law, Foxborough, Massachusetts
“I love the station. I listened while living in Maine and continue to listen via the APO here in Cincinnati. I won tickets to the Pennobscot Narrows Bridge opening. I was one of the first people on the bridge. Sad to see the station go. Not another one like it, I know.” – Jeffrey McMannis, Cincinnati, Ohio
“I listen to WZLO as often as I can when I’m in signal range in the truck. Always had a varied selection of music. I prefer radio after having XM and using my phone for BT; I just miss the local weather, news and the local ads to know what is going on. Sorry to see it go, but the world is changing quickly and he managed to hang on though it cost him plenty. Thanks for the entertainment.” – Fred Leisentritt, Lincoln
“The morning show format hasn’t changed much since I first listened in the early ’90s. Now living out of state, I put it on from time to time which brings me back to the good old days! I used to call in back in MS to request songs and participate in contests — fast forward to 2024 and I’m texting in my requests and comments. The hosts are and always have been funny and relatable. I was also a caller-in to WZON; one year I won an ESPN2 salad bowl for winning a Stephen A. Smith impersonation contest. The bowl was even signed by him!” – Tom St. John, Binghamton, New York
“I would always listen to WKIT when I was in elementary, middle and high school while shoveling snow for people, listening to the school cancellation list.” – Adam Jones, Brewer
“I already miss Bobby Russell’s Morning Show, how he interacted with Jim Witt’s weather team and calendar predictions. He ran a fairly tight ship and kept things moving. Let’s not forget Drifty Twitchell in the daily planner. He made some terrific skits and told some great stories of his mishaps! Scotty Moore’s ‘Gee, your brain smells terrific’ and music selections there seem to be a purpose for the day, not just syndicated unknown ramblings. The Zone Corporation will be missed a lot. You have earned your legacy, Mr. King, with all the radio jockeys and behind the scene team players. A magnificent contribution. Our listening community will experience a vacancy, a void that will be difficult to replace. God bless you all for your dedicated service keeping our ears happy and souls content!” – Mary Demmons, Orono
