WILM (AM) in Wilmington, where Joe Pyne debuted as a talk show host
in 1950. It is believed to be the nations first "Call-In" talk show.
.

 
     Joe Pyne (December 22, 1924 – March 23, 1970)

Pyne was a radio and television talk show host, who pioneered
the confrontational style in which the host advocates a viewpoint 
and argues with guests and audience members. He was a major 
influence on other talk show hosts such as Bill O’Reilly, Rush
Limbaugh, Glenn Beck, Morton Downey, Jr, and Michael Savage.  

Payne enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1942 and saw combat
in the South Pacific, where he earned three battle stars. In 1943,
during a Japanese bombing attack, he was wounded in the left leg.