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NextMedia Chicago Old Studios and Pics

B

bigtim

Guest
Where did the studios for the NextMedia stations used to be before 2410-B Caton Farm in Jolliet? If you have pics, post them please. I remember WLLI (now WSSR) on Walnut St., IIRC. They had a sign that said NOW IN STEREO @ 96.7FM!<P ID="signature">______________
Tim</P>
 
> Where did the studios for the NextMedia stations used to be
> before 2410-B Caton Farm in Jolliet? If you have pics, post
> them please. I remember WLLI (now WSSR) on Walnut St., IIRC.
> They had a sign that said NOW IN STEREO @ 96.7FM!

Ask and ye shall receive! These are some exterior shots I took in April 2003:

<a target="_blank" href=http://photos.tmesser.com/v/radio/towers/illinois/wjol/>http://photos.tmesser.com/v/radio/towers/illinois/wjol/</a>
 
> > Where did the studios for the NextMedia stations used to
> be
> > before 2410-B Caton Farm in Jolliet? If you have pics,
> post
> > them please. I remember WLLI (now WSSR) on Walnut St.,
> IIRC.
> > They had a sign that said NOW IN STEREO @ 96.7FM!
>
> Ask and ye shall receive! These are some exterior shots I
> took in April 2003:
>
> http://photos.tmesser.com/v/radio/towers/illinois/wjol/
>

Wow, looks old fashioned, lol. Was this the studio, or just the TX site?
<P ID="signature">______________
Tim</P>
 
> Wow, looks old fashioned, lol. Was this the studio, or just
> the TX site?

That was the former studio (WJOL/WLLI/WJTW/WBVS moved to the Crest Hill location in the second half of 2000, I believe) and current transmitter site. You can tell that the portion of the building with the WLLI sign was added later. The original section of the building was constructed in the early days of WJOL's existence.

At the time I took those pictures, it was the site for WJOL, WLLI and WJTW. WJTW was later sold, a new transmitter site was constructed and it became WVIX. Now it's just the site for WJOL and WSSR, and continues to be a relay hop for the WRXQ STL. That building is also gone now, and everything is in a smaller building down the hill by the tower.
 
> > Wow, looks old fashioned, lol. Was this the studio, or
> just
> > the TX site?
>
> That was the former studio (WJOL/WLLI/WJTW/WBVS moved to the
> Crest Hill location in the second half of 2000, I believe)
> and current transmitter site. You can tell that the portion
> of the building with the WLLI sign was added later. The
> original section of the building was constructed in the
> early days of WJOL's existence.
>
> At the time I took those pictures, it was the site for WJOL,
> WLLI and WJTW. WJTW was later sold, a new transmitter site
> was constructed and it became WVIX. Now it's just the site
> for WJOL and WSSR, and continues to be a relay hop for the
> WRXQ STL. That building is also gone now, and everything is
> in a smaller building down the hill by the tower.
>
Ah, I see. Wasn't WBVS's studio at the TX site? Or was it at the WLLI/WJOL TX site? Also, the new studios were done in Early 01. I remember because I used to live like a mile from there.<P ID="signature">______________
Tim</P>
 
> Ah, I see. Wasn't WBVS's studio at the TX site? Or was it at
> the WLLI/WJOL TX site? Also, the new studios were done in
> Early 01. I remember because I used to live like a mile from
> there.

WBVS studios (or should I say closet) used to be with the WJOL/WLLI studio that Tim Messer posted...which is at the WLLI/WJOL TX site. I never actually saw the old Bus studio...but from what I understand it was a converted broom closet.

The TX site for the bus...which is now RXQ, is in a trailer off Route 53 just outside of Wilmington. The studio was not at the TX trailer.

BTW....the sign on the trailer there STILL says 100.7 WKBM, which is the oldies station that was on before it was the Bus.<P ID="signature">______________
</P>
 
> > Ah, I see. Wasn't WBVS's studio at the TX site? Or was it
> at
> > the WLLI/WJOL TX site? Also, the new studios were done in
> > Early 01. I remember because I used to live like a mile
> from
> > there.
>
> WBVS studios (or should I say closet) used to be with the
> WJOL/WLLI studio that Tim Messer posted...which is at the
> WLLI/WJOL TX site. I never actually saw the old Bus
> studio...but from what I understand it was a converted broom
> closet.
>
> The TX site for the bus...which is now RXQ, is in a trailer
> off Route 53 just outside of Wilmington. The studio was not
> at the TX trailer.
>
> BTW....the sign on the trailer there STILL says 100.7 WKBM,
> which is the oldies station that was on before it was the
> Bus.
>

Oh man, you guys...the memories!

There actually was, up until I left, a studio at 100.7's TX site in Wilmington. I never did finish the side project I had of putting in a switcher to go "live" from that studio. It was actually functional - it was the former WKBM studio.

The Bus never broadcast from that site, however. They signed on from a closet on Walnut St.

I have to admit that it was a sad day when the Walnut St. building went away. There was a lot of history there, although the place needed to be torn down. I remember towards the end seeing snakes and mice and stuff in the basement.

I always remembered to make LOTS of noise when I went into that building to do late-night transmitter work.

I will always have a soft spot for those stations. Very rarely to you see a group of people who did so much with so little so well. The GM there was the best. Fortunately, the guy who took my place has done a very good job keeping the place up!

There are some stories, too. Someday, I'll tell the story of Me, Ryan Snow, and Rob Creighton in the old building at 4am when we had an unexpected visitor...<P ID="signature">______________
</P>
 
> I will always have a soft spot for those stations. Very
> rarely to you see a group of people who did so much with so
> little so well. The GM there was the best. Fortunately,
> the guy who took my place has done a very good job keeping
> the place up!
>
> There are some stories, too. Someday, I'll tell the story
> of Me, Ryan Snow, and Rob Creighton in the old building at
> 4am when we had an unexpected visitor...
>


Thanks Chris! I try.

BTW: The trailer in Wilmington will be headed for the scrap heap in the next year or so. Long story in how we got it, but the short version is that a GFRC building is on it way there next month. Plans are to place it right at the base of the tower. I'm also working on getting a coax switch and backup transmitter for the site.
 
> BTW: The trailer in Wilmington will be headed for the scrap
> heap in the next year or so. Long story in how we got it,
> but the short version is that a GFRC building is on it way
> there next month. Plans are to place it right at the base
> of the tower. I'm also working on getting a coax switch and
> backup transmitter for the site.

Humdinger....is GFRC something like a glass reinforced fiber...something or another building?

Also....is that white rusty satellite dish staying? Is that the monster that gets the signal from Caton Farm Rd.....or does it do something else?<P ID="signature">______________
</P>
 
> > BTW: The trailer in Wilmington will be headed for the
> scrap
> > heap in the next year or so. Long story in how we got it,
>
> > but the short version is that a GFRC building is on it way
>
> > there next month. Plans are to place it right at the base
>
> > of the tower. I'm also working on getting a coax switch
> and
> > backup transmitter for the site.
>
> Humdinger....is GFRC something like a glass reinforced
> fiber...something or another building?
>
> Also....is that white rusty satellite dish staying? Is that
> the monster that gets the signal from Caton Farm Rd.....or
> does it do something else?
>

GFRC is a company that makes pre-fab buildings. We commonly use them for TX buildings.

The big ol' dish? That was used for WKBM's satellite programming back in the day. If you look, there is a neat setup where they could blow warm air behind the dish to keep it clear.<P ID="signature">______________
</P>
 
> > I will always have a soft spot for those stations. Very
> > rarely to you see a group of people who did so much with
> so
> > little so well. The GM there was the best. Fortunately,
> > the guy who took my place has done a very good job keeping
>
> > the place up!
> >
> > There are some stories, too. Someday, I'll tell the story
>
> > of Me, Ryan Snow, and Rob Creighton in the old building at
>
> > 4am when we had an unexpected visitor...
> >
>
>
> Thanks Chris! I try.
>
> BTW: The trailer in Wilmington will be headed for the scrap
> heap in the next year or so. Long story in how we got it,
> but the short version is that a GFRC building is on it way
> there next month. Plans are to place it right at the base
> of the tower. I'm also working on getting a coax switch and
> backup transmitter for the site.
>

You're modest...you've done a great job there!

Glad to hear that the trailer is going away. Hopefully the transmitter will no longer "dip" with the tower lights! (Hooray for bad electrical!)<P ID="signature">______________
</P>
 
Wilmington pics

Just added my 'RXQ site pictures, including one of the cool dish setup.

<a target="_blank" href=http://photos.tmesser.com/v/radio/towers/illinois/wrxq/>http://photos.tmesser.com/v/radio/towers/illinois/wrxq/</a>
 
Re: Wilmington pics

> > Just added my 'RXQ site pictures, including one of the
> cool
> > dish setup.
> >
> > http://photos.tmesser.com/v/radio/towers/illinois/wrxq/
> >
>
> Who is that guy going into the gate at the tower, and why
> are their 2 FM bays at about 10'???
>

That's me! (Note the HT clipped to my pocket next to the cellphone...)

Those were the old bays. When they were brought down, we had nowhere to put them, so we clamped them down to the base of the tower.<P ID="signature">______________
</P>
 
WBVS STUDIO PICS 99-01

Being part of the past with WBVS, I have some pictures of the studio. I have to find them and post them for you.

And yes, it was a closet. Myself and the rest of the air staff always joked that the whole place used to be a house (which Im sure I can prove) and that WJOL got the master bedroom, Star got a bedroom, WLLI got the den, and WBVS got little jimmy's closet. WHAT A GREAT PLACE FOR MY 1st JOB. Great memories, too bad the buiding is gone. Never was the same in Crest Hill, too high class.

Chris can also back me on this, that WBVS's studio was connected to a small room that was the BUS JOCK AREA/PD OFFICE/RACK ROOM....
 
Re: WBVS STUDIO PICS 99-01

> Being part of the past with WBVS, I have some pictures of
> the studio. I have to find them and post them for you.
>
> And yes, it was a closet. Myself and the rest of the air
> staff always joked that the whole place used to be a house
> (which Im sure I can prove) and that WJOL got the master
> bedroom, Star got a bedroom, WLLI got the den, and WBVS got
> little jimmy's closet. WHAT A GREAT PLACE FOR MY 1st JOB.
> Great memories, too bad the buiding is gone. Never was the
> same in Crest Hill, too high class.
>
> Chris can also back me on this, that WBVS's studio was
> connected to a small room that was the BUS JOCK AREA/PD
> OFFICE/RACK ROOM....
>

Ironically, Pat and I are working together again, though we're out of the "closet". The WBVS closet, that is.

Actually, the building wasn't a house - it was always a radio station. The original building ended at the doorway going into the "jock area". Everything from that wall south was added on. First the area including the closet and transmitter room, and then even later the "wing" where the Star studio, PD offices and sales offices were was added.

The problem was that the building was built originally for one station (WJOL) then expanded for a second (WLLI). The last two (WJTW and WBVS) were thrown in there, pretty much wedged in where they could. WJTW got a prod studio and WBVS got a closet.


I agree, there was a lot of fun had in that old building. I really enjoyed my time there. The new building was nice, but didn't have nearly the character or history of Walnut.

You really want to see history, I spent time up at the original WAJP studio/transmitter site on Ruby St. WAJP 93.5 FM signed on in the 50's and eventually became WJTW (now WVIX).

Oh well, you can't stop progress!<P ID="signature">______________
</P>
 
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