WCIN

[radiorob2.0]

It's worth noting that these days 1230 beats 1360.

 

[KFodor]

WCIN was infact at 106 Glenwood Ave. The four 5/8th wave (419 ft) towers and a 81 degree (150) tower were on the hill to the north of the studios. They used two of the big boys and the little one durng the day and the four tall ones at night. The night pattern threw everything to the SW, the ERP was 2500 watts.
Before the days of Bob Hudson, Tom Knox, Larry Dailey, Dennis Grant, Tom Hankerson and the crew, Eddie Castleberry and Bugs Scruggs held court down on Beekman St. where the studio and tower were located when CIN was 1 kw day only. After Robert Roundsaville bought the station the upgrade came.
The late Rev. Abraham Issac Jacob Swanson the 12th was the pastor of the Bibleway Church of God in Christ on Reading Rd in Avondale. Lil Abe did an hour from 5-6 in the morning then came back for another hour at 10am.

WCIN was at 106 Glenwood Avenue when I worked there back in the 70's. Yes, the condition of the hill the towers were on behind the building gradually deteriorated. (When I was there, the late Kurt Farmer, who was the engineer then was convinced tower #5 would come sliding down the hill from land erosion at any time.)

In the 70's, the station was 5 KW days, 500 watts at night. The night signal was garbage...you got it for a mile or so up I-75 and it was "poof" gone.

Another poster mentioned about WCIN playing "crossover" music way back when. That was also true for a time in the late 70's when Mike Roberts was Program Director. Mike took a lot of heat from the "black" record tip sheets for playing, for instance, songs like the Doobie Brothers "What A Fool Believes". Their attitude was playing the Doobie Brothers was taking a playlist slot away from a deserving black artist. But, the research Mike did (for what the station could do at the time) convinced him that black listeners liked the song, and his attitude was "why should I let Q102 or WKRC have this song and take black listeners away from us?" It should be noted that, in at least one book during that time (maybe more, I don't recall), WCIN grabbed almost a 6 share among listeners age 12 plus. Probably the highest ratings the station had in years.

Mike would later go on to V-103 in Atlanta, where he stayed for a long time. He's a guy I've never forgotten about in my radio career. A talented PD.

Back then, I think Lincoln Ware was probably old enough to buy beer. He was very young then...and, also, very talented. Talented, too was the rest of the staff. And "little" Abraham Issac Jacob "Superstar" Swanson the 12th was a very kind and gentle person who always had a smile on his face when I came in around 4:45 am to get the morning news ready.

That was also the time of the Who concert tragedy in Cincinnati. Which earned me my one and only time to be a reporter for the BBC in London. I just happened to be back in the 'CIN newsroom editing police interviews from the Coliseum when my buddy Kurt came in and asked, "Hey, were you expecting a call from the BBC in London?" I said, "No, but I'll take it..." The BBC reporter interviewed me for their morning program (it was probably around 3:30 am in London when the interview took place).

After it was all done, I couldn't resist asking the guy from the BBC, "How is it, you decided to call us?"

His reply: "I called the overseas operator and asked her to give me the names of some of the radio stations in Cincinnati. She gave me your call letters, WCIN, and I figured you just had to be one of the biggest stations in Cincinnati...."

And yeah...I let him go right on thinking that!

 

[Cincinnati Kid]

It is so ironic that tragic events can lead to something like being contacted by a major news source. I had a similar experience when an airline crash ocurred at the Greater Cincinnati Airport in the Fall of 1967.

 

[klutch00]

Sorry to change the subject, but If I owned WCIN, I'd try making Clear Channel an offer they couldn't refuse and buy 1360. Granted, it wouldn't be the best place for smooth jazz, but it'd be one hell of an improvement!

 

[Matlock]

It will be a moot point when 97.3 goes Smooth Jazz. Wait for it.....

 

[klutch00]

It will be a moot point when 97.3 goes Smooth Jazz. Wait for it.....

That'd probably be the best thing that could happen to the format in that market. I didn't realize how much trouble ratings wise 97.3 was in.

 

[major]

How long must I "Wait for it?"

Are you just guessing, or do you know this for sure? It is a pity the &@$(!@$ signal out of WCIN sucks. To me it's only a daytimer.

Sorry Darksoldier, we've beat this horse till it's dead.

 

[JerryK]

Does anyone know what happen to Tom Knox aka TKO?
At one time or another I think he handled every shift around CIN but always worked part time.
Thanks

 

[major]

Happy Anniversary Smooth Jazz format!

 

[microbob]

How long must I "Wait for it?"

Are you just guessing, or do you know this for sure? It is a pity the &@$(!@$ signal out of WCIN sucks. To me it's only a daytimer.

Sorry Darksoldier, we've beat this horse till it's dead.

It's a shame that WCIN didn't get 104.3 FM years ago. I've heard stories that they had it and then couldn't come up with the money for the original CP to build it.

 

[jcr]

Does anyone know what happen to Tom Knox aka TKO?
At one time or another I think he handled every shift around CIN but always worked part time.
Thanks

Tom Knox passed away several years ago, after WCIN, he began working at WEBN in June of 1969, and then started the Radio Workshop on Saturday mornings on WEBN. He later worked as an announcer at WWEZ-FM

 

[johnnyrichards]

Does anyone know what happen to Tom Knox aka TKO?
At one time or another I think he handled every shift around CIN but always worked part time.
Thanks

Tom Knox passed away several years ago, after WCIN, he began working at WEBN in June of 1969, and then started the Radio Workshop on Saturday mornings on WEBN. He later worked as an announcer at WWEZ-FM

Man, I'm sorry to hear that. I was one of Tom's Radio Workshop students, as a result I was on 'EBN very VERY early on Saturday mornings.

He was a great teacher, with a kind heart - but also the kind of guy who let you know, in no uncertain terms, when you screwed up.

 

[klutch00]

Another poster mentioned about WCIN playing "crossover" music way back when. That was also true for a time in the late 70's when Mike Roberts was Program Director. Mike took a lot of heat from the "black" record tip sheets for playing, for instance, songs like the Doobie Brothers "What A Fool Believes". Their attitude was playing the Doobie Brothers was taking a playlist slot away from a deserving black artist. But, the research Mike did (for what the station could do at the time) convinced him that black listeners liked the song, and his attitude was "why should I let Q102 or WKRC have this song and take black listeners away from us?" It should be noted that, in at least one book during that time (maybe more, I don't recall), WCIN grabbed almost a 6 share among listeners age 12 plus. Probably the highest ratings the station had in years.

Hats off to Mike for having the guts to try something 'unconventional!' But if you think about it, Michael McDonald's voice does have a 'soulful' quality to it and the Doobie Brothers, I believe tried to bridge a gap between rock and soul. I think this was especially evident after McDonald joined the band. Having said that, I can understand why at least one of their hits would be appropriate on a "black" or "urban" station, even back then. Back around late '79 or so, I recall 'station surfing' and IIRC, I heard one of the FM black stations (I think WKYS) play Kenny Loggins' "This Is It".