The birth of WMMM-AM 1260 KHz
The beginnings of WMMM actually started back with events dating back to 1956. Radio station WAVZ-AM in New Haven had originally operated on an assigned frequency of 1260 KHz, but events led it to relocate to an operating frequency of 1300 KHz. This provided an opening the 1260 KHz frequency assignment. The original application filed by Hartford attorney Norman Bernstein was for a 500 watt facility that had a non-directional signal. The proposed transmitter site was off Cross Highway in Westport. WMMM was licensed by the FCC for 1000 watts daytime operation utilizing a two tower directional array. The transmitting facilities were located off the Post Road on Willard Road in the neighboring city of Norwalk. The studios and offices were located on the second floor of the County Bazaar Building located at 163 Main Street.
The station's call letters stood for "Westport's Modern Minute Man" after a beloved town symbol based on several statues of revolutionary war soldiers given that name.
While the original target sign-on date was slated to be January 1st of 1959, WMMM's official sign-on took place on Wednesday, April 15, 1959. The original facilities include an RCA control board and turntables, cartridge tape decks, BA-6 compressor as well as 44-BX and 77-DX microphones. The original transmitter was an RCA BTA-1R 1000 watt AM transmitter. The programming consisted of "in-depth" news, classical, semi-classical and popular music, show tunes as well as a variety of special features broadcast throughout the day.
Approximately a year after WMMM's first sign-on, Norman Bernstein apparently had financial difficulties and sold the station. Donald J. Flamm, who had been involved in broadcasting since 1925 as the owner of WMCA in New York, purchased WMMM for the sum of $125,000.
Sidney Flamm, who had previously managed brother Donald's radio station WPAT in Paterson, New Jersey, became Vice President and General Manager of WMMM.
As part of of its news commitment, WMMM became an affiliate of the Mutual Broadcasting System on July 31, 1961, making them network affiliate number 438.