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The mystery of WWIZ/1380 in Lorain, Ohio: an otherwise forgotten station...

BTW, WZLE never used the WLRO tower for it's antenna, The WLRO tower was and is only 150 feet high. Instead, WZLE built a tower within sight of the WLRO tower about a half mile away over 300 feet tall I forget exactly how much. Neither of these sites were the old WWIZ site but it was possible to look across the field from either site to where the WWIZ tower had been.

WZLE ( At WLRO we referred to it as " The Weazel " ) was owned by Lake Erie Broadcasting originally and run by Gene Sines former salesmanager at WLEC. He left after he was passed over for manager. ZLE's original format was block programing. AC days, Country at night then I think they may have gone Country all the time for awhile. Under Sines it was always at the Sherrfield Center and left there when it was sold to the Christian broadcasters. Under Sines they carried high school sports at night and alot of local news. Sometimes you could get it as far West as Bellevue. I believe they were an ABC Affilliate just as WWIZ had been. WLRO was a Mutual affiliate.
 
My first ever post! I can shed some light on some thoughts shared here.
I remember listening to WLRO in the early to mid 1970s. They were a daytime only station when I listened. I remember them signing off at sundown. For some strange reason, I enjoyed listening to stations sign off.

There was some misinformation about WBOE-FM shared earlier in this discussion. The station was owned and operated by the Cleveland Public Schools beginning in 1938, although they did not broadcast on 90.3 FM until 1947. In 1976 their 67khz subcarrier began to be used by the Cleveland Radio Reading Service (CRRS) to provide programming to blind and print impaired persons. At no time did the owners of the reading service own WBOE 90.3 FM. During the final two weeks of 1976, WBOE became Cleveland's first National Public Radio (NPR) affiliate. They remained an NPR affiliate until going dark. Their last day of regular broadcasting on 90.3 FM was October 7, 1978. However, by special authorization of the FCC, WBOE was allowed to turn the carrier on with no modulation so that CRRS could continue using the sub-carrier. All that was broadcast on regular over-the-air 90.3 FM was a quick on-the-air ID/subcarrier authorization announcement immediately after the transmitter was turned on and just before it was shut off. For much of the time the transmitter was turned on/off twice a day, primarily because the main reading was the Plain Dealer in the morning and the Cleveland Press in the late afternoon/evening. This continued until 1982 when CRRS was temporarily shut down. Sometime in 1983 or 1984 the call letters were changed from WBOE to WCPN. CRRS returned to the subcarrier air in May 1984, approximately 5 months before WCPN officially signed on. CRRS's call letters were changed to CSCN (Cleveland Sight Center Network) in 2006.
 
captbob said:
BTW, WZLE never used the WLRO tower for it's antenna, The WLRO tower was and is only 150 feet high. Instead, WZLE built a tower within sight of the WLRO tower about a half mile away over 300 feet tall I forget exactly how much. Neither of these sites were the old WWIZ site but it was possible to look across the field from either site to where the WWIZ tower had been.
Click to expand...

WLRO's tower is easily seen at Elyria and Dunton, behind the Sheffield Center. Meanwhile, the WWIZ tower was located off of Dunton Road, and the aforementioned old studios were at the old Commerce Building off of Broadway. Apparently that building still exists, though I'VE never been in there... oh, and it's right next door to the Journal's HQ - imagine that!

- nate81
 
Hi ya' folks. I never really listened to WWIZ, but MANY years ago, I worked at WFAR in Farrell, Pa., which was started up, owned, built and engineered by the legendary Sanford Shafitz. One of these days I'll relate some very scary "Sandy" stories (I can't believe I wasn't electrocuted!).
 
i can't believe you weren't electrocuted either. was working in y-town in the early/mid 70s and got a tour of the wfar facilities once. was never sure what was scarier, farrell or it's radio station. that the thing was even on the air was amazing. made you want to shower upon departing
 
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