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Long Running Radio Shows

MarcB

MarcB

I was wondering what's the longest running radio show that's still on the air?

Sophie Zembruski has been doing the Polka Show on WATR 1320 AM in Waterbury, Connecticut since the station signed on back in 1934. She's only missed 2 shows in the 75 years she's been on the air. Once when President Kennedy was killed and once when her husband died. (Which was some 20+ years ago). Time have changed of course. At one time she was live in studio. Later she was on tape. And now she's Voice Tracked.

The Italian Show on WXCT AM 990 in Southington, CT has been on the air since the station signed on in 1969 as WNTY. Although there's been different hosts in the 40 year history of the show, it is my understanding it's all connected to the original show that started in 1969.

John Jeski did a Polka show on WRYM AM 840 in Newington, CT (Licensed to New Britain) for 30+ years until he retired due to health problems in 2007. Mr. Jeski sadly passed away last year. The new Polka show that took its place is not the same. It's bilingual and it plays regular Polish tunes in addition to the Polkas.

The Immanuel Lutheran Church Mass from Bristol, CT has been on the air continiously since 1987. It started in the early 80s on WBIS 1440 AM in Bristol, CT and went off the air when the station was sold and went dark in 1986. When the station returned to the air on 1120 AM in 1987 the Mass was back. It aired on 1120 AM until 1993 when the Spanish broadcasters (that still run the station today, they bought it in 98) took over the station. That's when it moved to Southington's WNTY 990 (now WXCT), so 15 years on AM 990. The only difference is WBIS carried the Mass live. 990 airs it on tape.
 
...WSM/650 Nashville's Grand Ole Opry has been on the air continuously since 5 October 1925. Happy Station ran on PCJ shortwave and Radio Nederland in Hilversum, Holland, from 1928 to 1995, and was recently revived by WRMI Miami...
 
"The Lutheran Hour" dates back to 1930...And I don't know if Lutheran churches in Connecticut hold mass, but around here they sure don't.

Also, If "The Tenpin Tattler" still airs on WGN, it dates back to around 1930 as well.
 
Corky Marlowe said:
"The Lutheran Hour" dates back to 1930...And I don't know if Lutheran churches in Connecticut hold mass, but around here they sure don't.

Also, If "The Tenpin Tattler" still airs on WGN, it dates back to around 1930 as well.
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Tenpin Tattler has been gone since 1995. It first aired in 1935 on WCFL, moving to WGN in 1966. The host for its entire run, Sam Weinstein, died in 2003 at age 88.
 
"The Lutheran Hour" dates back to 1930...And I don't know if Lutheran churches in Connecticut hold mass, but around here they sure don't.

Here in Delaware, both Lutheran Church Missouri Synod and ELCA Lutheran Church's have wonderful Lutheran Masses, both traditional with chanting /hymns, and contemporary using modern praise music. Both types of Lutheran Mass have Holy Communion each week where you can receive the Eucharist (body) and the wine (blood) most also offer grape juice for those who'd prefer that.

Remember Martin Luther wasn't trying to break away from the Roman Catholic Church, he just wanted to reform it. Obviously, without going into all the details, etc, he eventually was ex-communicated and then he did complete the Protestant Reformation by starting his own church, which he called the Evangelical Church, later, after his death, was called Lutheran. So Martin Luther and the Lutherans didn't have a problem with the Mass being their worship service (that was what they all knew at the time of Luther's Protestant Reformation, the other types of services and denominations all came later).

Getting back to the Lutheran Hour, it is an excellent broadcast that you can hear online - Google Lutheran Hour to find. They even have older shows on line going back to a very early Lutheran Hour broadcast from 1937. If I remember correctly, the Lutheran Hour is heard on over 900 stations including Armed Forces Radio.
 
Ultimajock said:
...WSM/650 Nashville's Grand Ole Opry has been on the air continuously since 5 October 1925.
Click to expand...

The LDS Church's Music & The Spoken Word, with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, debuted July 15, 1929. Making it the longest continuously running radio show.
Click to expand...

When I see two different claims like these, I need to check it out. The link qoutes: "Today Music and the Spoken Word has become the world's longest-running continuous network broadcast and is carried on more than 2,000 radio and television stations and cable systems."

So, one is the longest on a station and one is longest on a network. Again, both are right.

I think.
 
"Stork Express" on WOMI Owensboro made its mark. It held the record for the longest sponsor relationship. The sponsor was Velvet Dairy and the program ran from September 1st 1940 until Joanna's (Cliffordean Potter) March 31, 1972 retirement along with her husband/GM Hugh.
 
THE POLKA SHOW on WTOD 1560 in Toledo has been on the air continuously since the station signed on in 1947. The current host Sharon Zablocky plans to keep it going until 2017 the show's 70th anniversary.
 
Does the news on KDKA/Pittsburgh or "100th anniversary" broadcaster KCBS/San Francisco qualify? ???
 
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