MEXICO — If “Video Killed the Radio Star” as the 1979 song by The Buggles alleges, local radio station WJUN survived and experienced an unparalleled run for seven decades.

In the early 1950s, residents of Juniata County were excited to learn that a radio station was being built along the Juniata River, just east of Mexico along Route 22.

“People are wondering who would undertake such a venture and who the announcers would be,” said Robert N. Sieber, a native of Oakland Mills and retired museum and historical site administrator.

“Having a broadcast source means that a strong radio signal will be available every day from sunup to sundown to get music and up-to-the-minute news,” Sieber added. “In addition to national radio network news, the station’s service will also include what is happening locally and who is being admitted to Lewistown Hospital.”

Sieber will speak about Juniata County’s first radio station, WJUN, during his program at the Juniata County Historical Society Fall Dinner will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 30, at the Walker Grange in Mexico.

Sieber has presented programs on Pennsylvania agriculture and country life and local history. His written works include the history of his hometown village, Penn Central Racing Association and a 2018 book on health and wellness. Currently, he is working on the history of the Hans (John) Sieber family.

The dinner will begin at 6:30 p.m., followed by a short business meeting then the speaker’s presentation. The meal consists of roast beef, mashed potatoes and gravy, filling, California blend/cheese, cherry or apple dessert with ice cream. There will also be a 50/50 drawing.

Tickets cost $25 each, and are available at the Juniata County Historical Society Archives, located at 498 Jefferson St., Suite B, Mifflintown, until Tuesday, Oct. 22. The archives is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays and 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesdays.

The Buggles’ song reminisces about the golden age of radio in the 1950s, where people would eagerly tune in to listen to their favorite songs and connect with the world through the airwaves. The lyrics suggest that the protagonist once admired and idolized the radio star, recognizing their talent and creativity.

However, with the advent of new technology and the introduction of music videos, the radio star’s influence and status were diminished, symbolizing a changing media landscape.

Before WJUN, people had to wait for cold reports printed in local newspapers, either daily or weekly. In a clever promotional tie-in, the local news is broadcast weekdays at 12:20 p.m., matching the station’s place on the AM dial, 1220, Sieber said.

Musically, the station was born at an opportune time. “Somebody named Elvis is breaking out across the nation and country music is growing into a force more expansive than just western ‘twang and yodeling,'” Sieber explained.

For younger listeners, WJUN-AM meant getting popular music without having to drop dimes in a jukebox or having to scrape up a dollar to buy a 45 RPM record.

“To the delight of music fans, we also hear the more obscure numbers, including flipsides,” Sieber added. “Cool!”

The station also became a source of broadcasts for county all-star teener baseball teams. Andy Kerr, Dale Smith, “Beetle” Harling, Wayne Taylor and “Ace” Henderson became household names.

“Another example of community service is enjoying broadcasts from the Juniata County Fair and to hear our high school musicians compete on Band Day,” Sieber said.

The station started broadcasting under the name Juniata-Perry Broadcasting Co. in September 1955. As a small market station — one of the smallest in the state at the time — the station had very little budget, so all equipment was used.

The studio equipment was from a former station in Lewistown, which had recently shut down, and the tower and transmitter were from an Altoona station, which had merged after a fire destroyed its facility in 1951.

For the first 25 years, WJUN’s format and block programming consisted of country, gospel, easy listening and polka. Plus, there was Phillies baseball, news and local obituaries.

When Mid-State Broadcasting, owned by former employees of WKVA Radio in Lewistown, purchased the station in 1977, much of its equipment was modernized and it switched to a more mainstream adult-contemporary format, which included country hits.

In 1986, Mid-State was granted an FM allocation but lacked the funds to construct the permit, so the station was sold to Starview Media, who signed on WJUN-FM in July 1988. WJUN soon ran an oldies format, switching to ESPN Radio several years later.

In 2018, WJUN was sold once again, this time to Seven Mountains Media, which started simulcasting an oldies format from WLUI 670 AM in Lewistown.

In 2023, WJUN changed its format, playing simulcasted classic rock-formatted WBUS 99.5 FM Centre Hall, branded as 99.5/107.5 the Bus.