Dave Boland wrote:

I have my doubts. Most radio stations have some sort of banner and logo
that is displayed for any pictures, which I don't see.

Many stations never had mic flags. And those that did often used them only
for remotes, not in-studio. I can think of a number of stations I worked for
that never had mic flags at all.

I also doubt
that the picture was mid 60's because continuous loop tapes were in use
in the early 60's, and there are none to be seen.

As late as 1965 there were stations that still used open reel tapes for spots.
I can remember visiting KDAC in Fort Bragg California. Their spots were live
or on 3 or 5-inch reels. In those days the Fidelipac system was still under
patent, and thus was expensive to buy. So, lots of smaller stations just made
do without until they couldn't hold out any longer.

Finally, all the
coffee suggests that this was a late-night or over-night shift, which
WHLO didn't have.

Not necessarily, either. Radio stations were known for having few perqs, but
one perq nearly every station had where I ever worked was the coffee pot.

While you're attempting good detective work, none of the things you mention
point to a fraudulent photo. Now, I haven't seen the photo and I know nothing
about WHLO, but I'm just basing this on my experience.