WHTT originally signed on in 1947 as WWOL-FM, a station targeting Lackawanna. Its transmitter is located behind the Abbott Road Plaza on Dorrance Avenue near Abbott Road on the border between West Seneca and Lackawanna. One of the station's early disc jockeys was Guy King, who later found fame under the name Tom Clay; two others would launch their own stations after runs at WWOL: Dan Lesniak launched WADV (now WYRK), while country musician Ramblin' Lou Schriver would launch WXRL. Joey Reynolds also briefly worked at the station in the 1950s. The station also held the calls WWOR and WACJ. It would change call signs to WNYS in 1982 when it flipped to a Top 40/CHR format, later taking on the name "Hot 104 WNYS". During their Top 40/CHR years, the station employed the female comic, progressive talker, and future WQHT/New York morning jock, Stephanie Miller. Another employee of this era was Jay Thomas, who after his brief run at this station (and numerous others) found fame as a DJ, comedian, and actor.