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May 2, 1960

R

radioman148

49 years ago today WLS-AM began playing Rock & Roll. I wonder if anyone has an aircheck of that day. That would be quite historic.
 
Well, we can't turn the clock back to 1960, nor can we return to our age at that time (in my case, a bit younger than 11, actually).

You gentlemen have an immense knowledge of Chicago radio! It has been very enjoyable to read your posts!
 
Ultimajock said:
radioman148 said:
Prais said:
WHO stays in a radio job - ANY job these days - for 50 years???
Click to expand...

Dick Biondi
Click to expand...

...not even Dick. Remember, he was on WCFL a year longer than he was on WLS (AM)...
Click to expand...

True and he was on WJMK longer than any of the other stations, but to still be on the air in Chicago almost 50 years later is incredible.
 
I was a youngster in Oklahoma City. I had the radio speaker system cranked on all rooms in our house when the new WLS signed on at, I believe, 5:30AM. My parents were really pleased with me. Of course, at the time, Oklahoma City had a far better top 40 station, KOMA.
 
b344077 said:
I was a youngster in Oklahoma City. I had the radio speaker system cranked on all rooms in our house when the new WLS signed on at, I believe, 5:30AM. My parents were really pleased with me. Of course, at the time, Oklahoma City had a far better top 40 station, KOMA.
Click to expand...

They also had WKY didn't they?
 
Ultimajock said:
radioman148 said:
Prais said:
WHO stays in a radio job - ANY job these days - for 50 years???
Click to expand...

Dick Biondi
Click to expand...

...not even Dick. Remember, he was on WCFL a year longer than he was on WLS (AM)...
Click to expand...
Dick had a successful stint out at KRLA in Los Angeles and came back to Chicago and eventually retired to a Myrtle Beach FM station before he came back to Chicago once again. When he was on WKBW/Buffalo prior to coming to WLS, he used to do proms and dances all over the east coast. As I recall, he even did a prom in Maine or Vermont.

As Indianapolis teenagers in the early and late 60's, we mostly listenend to Chicago stations at night and for us Dick Biondi ruled. I am still amazed at the talented personalities who worked nights in Chicago during the AM top 40 days.

Although Barney Pip and Ron Brittain were not on WLS, we used to love listening to them. Ron was very creative and thrived in his self created organized chaos. I also remember when he did the "Psychedilic Circus" shows on WCFL back in the late 60's.
 
Icangelp said:
Ultimajock said:
radioman148 said:
Prais said:
WHO stays in a radio job - ANY job these days - for 50 years???
Click to expand...

Dick Biondi
Click to expand...

...not even Dick. Remember, he was on WCFL a year longer than he was on WLS (AM)...
Click to expand...
Dick had a successful stint out at KRLA in Los Angeles and came back to Chicago and eventually retired to a Myrtle Beach FM station before he came back to Chicago once again. When he was on WKBW/Buffalo prior to coming to WLS, he used to do proms and dances all over the east coast. As I recall, he even did a prom in Maine or Vermont.

As Indianapolis teenagers in the early and late 60's, we mostly listenend to Chicago stations at night and for us Dick Biondi ruled. I am still amazed at the talented personalities who worked nights in Chicago during the AM top 40 days.

Although Barney Pip and Ron Brittain were not on WLS, we used to love listening to them. Ron was very creative and thrived in his self created organized chaos. I also remember when he did the "Psychedilic Circus" shows on WCFL back in the late 60's.
Click to expand...

Ron Britain was very talented and the master of the drop ins & sound effects.
 
"They also had WKY didn't they?"

Not to take away any homage from WLS: Yep, OKC had WKY and it had a tremendous share in the cow-town at the time but KOMA, being number 2, had to battle doubly hard and in many ways was a better radio station. It was also a class 1-B and covered the western US at night. their revenues from PI's was something to behold.
 
b344077 said:
"They also had WKY didn't they?"

Not to take away any homage from WLS: Yep, OKC had WKY and it had a tremendous share in the cow-town at the time but KOMA, being number 2, had to battle doubly hard and in many ways was a better radio station. It was also a class 1-B and covered the western US at night. their revenues from PI's was something to behold.
Click to expand...

I was in Oklahoma in 68 and 69 and from what I remember it was about an even battle between WKY & KOMA. Pretty much whoever was playing the best record.
Alot of people had a car radio button set to WLS for nightime listening.
 
The two stations approached the market from two different perspectives:

1) WKY was owned by EK Gaylord (The Daily Oklahoman) and was a home grown product with mostly local talent who knew the city. The music was a mix between rock with a country influence. Strong on local news.
2) KOMA was part of the Storz chain and brought in talent from other markets. There were some local boys there but the majority (at least when I worked for Storz-1965/6) were out of towners. Top notch talent but it was rare to here an "Okie" accent on the station. KOMA adhered to a tight top 40 music wheel. The news department always seemed to struggle.

It was an epic struggle in those days. The only ratings service available was a company called Hooper and it was strictly telephone coincidentals so the sales staff would go into shopping center parking lots and check car radio dial "positions" In those days, the radios were all analog dial.

What fun.
 
b344077 said:
The two stations approached the market from two different perspectives:

1) WKY was owned by EK Gaylord (The Daily Oklahoman) and was a home grown product with mostly local talent who knew the city. The music was a mix between rock with a country influence. Strong on local news.
2) KOMA was part of the Storz chain and brought in talent from other markets. There were some local boys there but the majority (at least when I worked for Storz-1965/6) were out of towners. Top notch talent but it was rare to here an "Okie" accent on the station. KOMA adhered to a tight top 40 music wheel. The news department always seemed to struggle.

It was an epic struggle in those days. The only ratings service available was a company called Hooper and it was strictly telephone coincidentals so the sales staff would go into shopping center parking lots and check car radio dial "positions" In those days, the radios were all analog dial.

What fun.
Click to expand...

They were both good stations to listen to when I heard them in the late 60s.
 
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