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When did WMAQ-AM go dark?

W

whiteyoday

Guest
When did WMAQ-AM go dark? Wasn't it about 5 years ago this month or next?
 
> When did WMAQ-AM go dark? Wasn't it about 5 years ago this
> month or next?
>

WMAQ became WSCR on August 1, 2000, which would be 4 years and 10.5 months ago.
 
> > When did WMAQ-AM go dark? Wasn't it about 5 years ago this
>
> > month or next?
> >
>
> WMAQ became WSCR on August 1, 2000, which would be 4 years
> and 10.5 months ago.
>

WMAQ stayed WMAQ (Simmulcasting with WSCR-1160) for several weeks after the flip to The Score. Then 1160 went to a simmulcast of WXRT (Becoming WXRT and WXRT becoming WXRT-FM) At that time WMAQ became WSCR. This lasted until early 2001 when Salem bought 1160. 1160 then became WYLL and 106.7 became WYLL-FM. They simmulcasted the WYLL programming for awhile, with 540 WZER Jackson-Milwaukee, WI joining in. Then around March 2001 106.7 became The Fish.
<P ID="signature">______________
</P>
 
> WMAQ stayed WMAQ (Simmulcasting with WSCR-1160) for several
> weeks after the flip to The Score. Then 1160 went to a
> simmulcast of WXRT (Becoming WXRT and WXRT becoming WXRT-FM)
> At that time WMAQ became WSCR. This lasted until early 2001
> when Salem bought 1160. 1160 then became WYLL and 106.7
> became WYLL-FM. They simmulcasted the WYLL programming for
> awhile, with 540 WZER Jackson-Milwaukee, WI joining in. Then
> around March 2001 106.7 became The Fish.

Was 1160 originally WXRT, creating 93.1 WXRT-FM? Or were the call letters just to show that 1160 and 93.1 were simulcasting?
 
> > WMAQ stayed WMAQ (Simmulcasting with WSCR-1160) for
> several
> > weeks after the flip to The Score. Then 1160 went to a
> > simmulcast of WXRT (Becoming WXRT and WXRT becoming
> WXRT-FM)
> > At that time WMAQ became WSCR. This lasted until early
> 2001
> > when Salem bought 1160. 1160 then became WYLL and 106.7
> > became WYLL-FM. They simmulcasted the WYLL programming for
>
> > awhile, with 540 WZER Jackson-Milwaukee, WI joining in.
> Then
> > around March 2001 106.7 became The Fish.
>
> Was 1160 originally WXRT, creating 93.1 WXRT-FM? Or were the
> call letters just to show that 1160 and 93.1 were
> simulcasting?
>

1160 was originally WJJD, then WSCR, WXRT, and now WYLL. 93.1 was WXRT until the three-month period began where it was simulcast on 1160. CBS/Infinity had to officially change 93.1 from WXRT to WXRT-FM in order to park the callsign on 1160. However, there is no requirement to file an app to remove the -FM suffix once the AM with the same callsign "goes away." This is why stations like WLUP-FM still have the suffix, even though WLUP has been gone from AM 1000 for over a decade.

Technically, NBC could now file an app to change Channel 5 from WMAQ-TV to just WMAQ. But, who needs more paperwork to do when it's not required, right?
 
> 1160 was originally WJJD, then WSCR, WXRT, and now WYLL.
> 93.1 was WXRT until the three-month period began where it
> was simulcast on 1160.

Thanks for that info. So, does that make 93.1 the original WJJD-FM? Or is WJJD-FM another station?
 
> > 1160 was originally WJJD, then WSCR, WXRT, and now WYLL.
> > 93.1 was WXRT until the three-month period began where it
> > was simulcast on 1160.
>
> Thanks for that info. So, does that make 93.1 the original
> WJJD-FM? Or is WJJD-FM another station?
>
WJJD-FM was on 104.3. Later it was WJEZ and now it is WJMK. <P ID="signature">______________
Peter Q. George (K1XRB)
Whitman, Massachusetts</P>
 
> > > 1160 was originally WJJD, then WSCR, WXRT, and now WYLL.
>
> > > 93.1 was WXRT until the three-month period began where
> it
> > > was simulcast on 1160.
> >
> > Thanks for that info. So, does that make 93.1 the original
>
> > WJJD-FM? Or is WJJD-FM another station?
> >
> WJJD-FM was on 104.3. Later it was WJEZ and now it is WJMK.
>

By the way, What format was it when they did the old WJJD 104.3-FM???
Anyone knows???
 
WJJD-FM, WXRT-FM was WMAQ

Back in the days of the Chicago FM Guide (what I would give for a stack of those!), WJJD-FM was all over the road, as most FMs were. Not block programing like you'll find on stations like WSBC and WEEF, but a little of this and a little of that. I think they did go country using the WJJD calls, and the ran sort of a segue serenade country format with the WJEZ calls. I don't know if the AM and FM ever simulcasted the Country format, perhaps those with a little more historical knowledge can chime in.

I have some photocopies of pages of a 1949 Broadcasting Yearbook. I'll have to put the station list up here for all to see (AM and FM) but at the time the WXRT call letters were at 101.9 FM.
 
Re: WJJD-FM, WXRT-FM was WMAQ

> Back in the days of the Chicago FM Guide (what I would give
> for a stack of those!), WJJD-FM was all over the road, as
> most FMs were. Not block programing like you'll find on
> stations like WSBC and WEEF, but a little of this and a
> little of that. I think they did go country using the WJJD
> calls, and the ran sort of a segue serenade country format
> with the WJEZ calls. I don't know if the AM and FM ever
> simulcasted the Country format, perhaps those with a little
> more historical knowledge can chime in.
>
> I have some photocopies of pages of a 1949 Broadcasting
> Yearbook. I'll have to put the station list up here for all
> to see (AM and FM) but at the time the WXRT call letters
> were at 101.9 FM.

104.3 was a simulcast of 1160 WJJD for a period of time, but the "segue serenade country format" as so accurately described was phased in to break up the simulcast. Sometime around '75 or '76 Plough Broadcasting made the "EZ Country" format more official with the moniker/callsign change to FM-104 WJEZ. The format slid to mainstream Country around 1978 the format was dumped from AM 1160. WJEZ remained Country for a couple years after US-99 came on the scene. Except for a brief time in the 90s when WKXK Kicks 94.7 attempted to ride the already-collapsed Garth wave, US-99.5 has been the only Country station hailing from Chicago since WJEZ.

FYI, there actually was a WMAQ-FM at one time. 101.1 was the home of WMAQ-FM until NBC attempted to launch a national radio news/information "service" on FM (anyone have the year on that? 1970?) as WNIS. Call it a dumb idea, or call it "ahead of its time," it didn't take long for NBC to pull the plug. NBC was already itching to jettison radio stations anyway. I don't know when the call flipped to WKQX, or if there were any other callsigns in between.
 
Re: WJJD-FM, WXRT-FM was WMAQ

> 104.3 was a simulcast of 1160 WJJD for a period of time, but
> the "segue serenade country format" as so accurately
> described was phased in to break up the simulcast. Sometime
> around '75 or '76 Plough Broadcasting made the "EZ Country"
> format more official with the moniker/callsign change to
> FM-104 WJEZ. The format slid to mainstream Country around
> 1978 the format was dumped from AM 1160. WJEZ remained
> Country for a couple years after US-99 came on the scene.
> Except for a brief time in the 90s when WKXK Kicks 94.7
> attempted to ride the already-collapsed Garth wave, US-99.5
> has been the only Country station hailing from Chicago since
> WJEZ.

Remember that until the early 80s, WJJD had to sign off at Salt Lake City sunset to protect KSL. The breakoffs from the simulcast tended to happen more during the summer, since FM could only simulcast 12 hours of the AM. In 1978, the calls on the FM were flipped to WJEZ and the FM 100 Plan "Beautiful Country" format started, while the AM remained mainstream country. When 'JEZ eventually became more mainstream, the AM went more classic country until Plough flipped to adult standards in 1982. Mel bought the stations a year or two later and flipped the FM to oldies and WJMK in 1984.

> FYI, there actually was a WMAQ-FM at one time. 101.1 was
> the home of WMAQ-FM until NBC attempted to launch a national
> radio news/information "service" on FM (anyone have the year
> on that? 1970?) as WNIS. Call it a dumb idea, or call it
> "ahead of its time," it didn't take long for NBC to pull the
> plug. NBC was already itching to jettison radio stations
> anyway. I don't know when the call flipped to WKQX, or if
> there were any other callsigns in between.

It was WMAQ-FM, simulcasting the AM, then running an automated MOR format. In 1972 they switched to the TM Stereo Rock format and flipped the calls to WJOI ("Joy in Chicago") a year later. When the AM went country in 1975, they switched to TM's country format on the FM until the NIS started up and then flipped the calls to WNIS. When the NIS went belly up at the start of 1977, Bob Pittman flipped the station to AOR and switched the calls to WKQX, which they've remained ever since.
 
Re: WJJD-FM, WXRT-FM was WMAQ

I'll have to do some more work on this...but as I recall, prior to being WXRT, 93.1 was WSBC-FM - and as far as I can tell 93.1 WSBC-FM/WXRT signed on the air in 1959 on 93.1.....but I'm getting old and have long killed those brain cells with micro-brews....

WXRT on 101.1 or 101.9? WMAQ-FM/WNIS/WKQX is on 101.1, right?

101.9 - before WTMX/WCLR/WRSV migrated to it - was home to WCLM. WCLM lost its license in the late 60s after allegedly running horse race results to bookies on their subcarrier. Once WCLM went dark, WXFM 105.9 bought the physical plant (transmitter/antenna/studios) at 333 N. Michigan Avenue.

WRSV (now WTMX) operated out of Skokie on 98.3. Once WCLM was gone, the FCC moved WRSV to the 101.9 frequency as 98.3 was short-spaced to WFMT and whatever the calls were on 97.9 (WSDM or WVON-FM)....

WJJD-FM. Remember them simulcasting WJJD-AM - but could only do it 50% of the time during the FCC rules then. On Sundays they'd break away from the AM and run taped classical music. Weirdness.
 
Re: WJJD-FM, WXRT-FM was WMAQ

LOL...I forgot about the WJOI days!
 
Re: WJJD-FM, WXRT-FM was WMAQ

> LOL...I forgot about the WJOI days!

LOL is right! The station's automation had a nasty habit of not reading EOM tones occasionally. I recall listening to nothing but time checks for about 45 minutes one night ("JOY to Chicago. It's 8:52... JOY time is 8:54... It's 8:56 at Chicago's JOY"...). Every now and then, it would dump every source onto the air at the same time. The WMAQ NABET engineers were supposed to keep an ear on it, but it wasn't a priority...obviously.
 
Chicago Radio Dial/1964

Enjoy!

Chicago/Alphabetical order:

WAAF..sign-on date 1922 950kc/1kw-D Programming: Black (listed as "Neg")

WAIT..sign-on date 1941 820kc/5kw-D (Dallas Sunset) No format listed

WBBM..sign-on date 1923 780kc/50kw No format listed

WBBM-FM..sign-on date 1941 96.3mc/10.5kw @ 560ft. Duplicates AM

WBEZ(FM)..sign-on date 1942 91.5mc/16kw @ 550ft. No format listed

WCFL..sign-on date 1926 1000kc/50kw Directional. No format listed

WCLM(FM)..sign-on date 1957 101.9mc/60kw @ 520ft. No format listed

WCRW..sign-on date 1926 1240kc/250w (shares w/WEDC & WSBC). German, Sp & Greek

WDHF(FM)..sign-on date 1959 95.5mc/52kw @ 230ft. No format listed

WEBH(FM)..sign-on date 1958 93.9mc/35kw @ 240ft. No format listed

WEDC..sign-on date 1926 1240kc/250w (shares w/WCRW & WSBC). Polish, Sp, Czech
Russian, Norwegian

WEFM(FM)..sign-on date 1940 99.5mc/44kw @ 560ft. No format listed

WENR-FM..sign-on date 1946 94.7mc/27kw @ 580ft. "FM affiliate of WLS/Chicago"

WFMF(FM)..sign-on date 1947 100.3mc/33kw @ 540ft. No format listed

WFMQ(FM)..sign-on date 1958 107.5mc/36kw @ 560ft. No format listed except
"C&W 2hrs weekly"

WFMT(FM)..sign-on date 1951 98.7mc/135kw @ 540ft. No format listed

WGN..sign-on date 1924 720kc/50kw No format listed

WHFC(FM)..sign-on date 1942 97.9mc/75kw @ 270ft. Duplicates WVON/Cicero, IL

WIND..sign-on date 1927 560kc/5kw Directional. No format listed

WJJD..sign-on date 1924 1160kc/50kw Directional (Salt Lake City Sign-Off). No
format listed

WJJD-FM..sign-on date 1961 104.3mc/40kw @ 460ft. No format listed

WKFM(FM)..sign-on date 1957 103.5mc/50kw @ 500ft. No format listed

WLS..sign-on date 1924 890kc/50kw No format listed

WMAQ..sign-on date 1922 670kc/50kw No format listed

WMAQ-FM..sign-on date 1948 101.1mc/24kw @ 640ft. Duplicates WMAQ (AM)

WMBI..sign-on date 1926 1110kc/5kw (sign on/off affected by WBT/Charlotte, NC
and KFAB/Omaha, NE). No format listed


WMBI-FM..sign-on date 1960 90.1/44kw @ 450ft. Duplicates WMBI (AM)

WNIB(FM)..sign-on date 1955 97.1mc/11kw @ 185ft. No format listed

WSBC..sign-on date 1925 1240kc/1kw-D, 250w-N (shares with WCRW & WEDC).
Format: Italian, "Negro", Polish, Spanish, Bohemian, Greek, Jewish


WXRT(FM)..sign-on date 1960 93.1mc/55kw @ 260ft Co-owned w/WSBC but "programs
separately"

WYNR..sign-on date 1924 1390kc/5kw Directional Programming: "Neg"


In The Burbs: (by city)

Arlington Heights: WNWC(FM)..sign-on date 1960. 92.7mc/1kw @ 225ft.

Aurora: WKKD..sign-on date 1970. 1580kc/250w Day only Directional
WKKD-FM..sign-on date 1961. 95.9mc/710w @ 125ft. Duplicates AM 90%
WMRO..sign-on date 1928. 1280kc/1kw-D, 500w-N, Directional
WMRO-FM..not on air. CP for 95.1mc, 3.6kw @ 255ft.

Chicago Heights: WCGO..sign-on date 1959. 1600kc/1kw-D Directional
WMPP..sign-on date 1963. 1470kc/1kw-D Directional

Cicero: WVON..sign-on date 1926. 1450kc/1kw-D, 250w-N

Elgin: WELG(FM)..sign-on date 1960. 103.9mc/1kw @ 80ft
WEPS(FM)..sign-on date 1959. 90.9mc/364w @ 24ft
WRMN..sign-on date 1949. 1410kc/1kw-Daytime
WRMN-FM..sign-on date 1960. 94.3mc/1kw @ 130ft. Duplicates WRMN (AM)

Elmhurst: WRSE-FM..sign-on date 1962. 88.7mc/10 watts

Elmwood Park: WXFM(FM)..sign-on date 1947. 32kw @ 250ft

Evanston: WEAW..sign-on date 1953. 1330kc/5kw daytime only Directional
WEAW-FM..sign-on date 1946. 105.1mc/35kw (CP: 180kw) @ 240ft.
Duplicates AM.
WNMP..sign-on date 1947. 1590kc/1kw-dayime only

Geneva: WGSB..sign-on date 1961. 1480kc/1kw-D, 500w-N Directional

Glen Ellyn: WELF(FM)..sign-on date 1961. 107.1mc/1kw @ 115ft.
Note: long deleted WELF co-owned with long-deleted
WELG/Elgin


Harvey: WBEE..sign-on date 1955. 1570kc/1kw-daytime only Directional

Highland Park: WEEF..sign-on date 1963. 1430kc/1kw-Daytime only Directional
WEEF-FM..sign-on date 1963. 103.1mc/1kw @ 120ft.

Joliet: WAJP(FM)..sign-on date 1960. 93.5mc/1kw @ 250ft
WJOL..sign-on date 1929. 1340kc/1kw-day, 250w-night
WJOL-FM..sign-on date 1960. 96.7mc/1kw @ 125ft
WJRC..no yet on air. CP for 1510kc/500w daytime only

Kankakee: WKAK(FM)..sign-on date 1952. 99.9mc/6.6kw @ 210ft
WKAN..sign-on date 1947. 1320kc/1kw-day 500w directional nights

La Grange: WTAQ..sign-on date 1950. 1300kc/1kw-day 500w directional nights

[/b]Lansing:[/b] WLNR-FM..sign-on date 1961. 106.3mc/1kw @ 240ft

Oak Park: WOPA..sign-on date 1950. 1490kc/1kw-D, 250w-N
WOPA-FM..sign-on date 1950. 102.7mc/8.1kw @ 260ft. Dups AM 50%

Park Forest: WRHS(FM)..sign-on date 1960. 88.1mc/10 watts

Park Ridge: WMTH(FM)..sign-on date 1960. 88.5mc/10 watts

Skokie: WRSV(FM)..sign-on date 1961. 98.3mc/1kw @ 130ft

Waukegan: WEFA(FM)..sign-on date ? -me thinks 1963- 102.3mc/1kw @ 185ft
WKRS..sign-on date 1949. 1220kc/1kw-daytime only

Wheaton: WETN(FM)..sign-on date 1962. 88.1mc/10 watts

Winnetka: WNTH(FM)..sign-on date ? 88.1mc/10 watts
 
Re: Chicago Radio Dial/1964

> WAIT..sign-on date 1941 820kc/5kw-D (Dallas Sunset) No
> format listed

I would think that "The World's Most Beautiful Music" had started by then.

> WBBM..sign-on date 1923 780kc/50kw No format listed

"Chicago's Showmanship Station"--full-service MOR with perhaps still some live music.

> WBEZ(FM)..sign-on date 1942 91.5mc/16kw @ 550ft. No format
> listed

Only weekday instructional programming during the school year, with hours corresponding to Chicago Public Schools hours. Off for 35 minutes around noon when board-op went to lunch. The switch to NPR was still eight years. away.

> WCFL..sign-on date 1926 1000kc/50kw Directional. No format
> listed

Full-service MOR, labor union announcements and White Sox. We're a year away from Ken Draper flipping the station to Top 40.

> WDHF(FM)..sign-on date 1959 95.5mc/52kw @ 230ft. No format
> listed

Believe Bob Newhart owned the station then. Background music, like most non-classcial FMs back then.

> WEFM(FM)..sign-on date 1940 99.5mc/44kw @ 560ft. No format
> listed

Classical, with only commercials Zenith institutional ads (station owned by Zenith to promote FM radio sales--all Zenith FM radios back then had a red dot on the dial at 99.5). Jules Herbevaux would come in as G< the next year and make the station more competitive with 'FMT, including taking general ads for the first time.


> WFMF(FM)..sign-on date 1947 100.3mc/33kw @ 540ft. No
> format listed

Easy listening. Don't know if Darrel Peters was programming the station then. Several years away from adapting the "FM 100" identity.


> WFMT(FM)..sign-on date 1951 98.7mc/135kw @ 540ft. No
> format listed

Classical, of course.

> WGN..sign-on date 1924 720kc/50kw No format listed

Full-service MOR, of course. I believe Wally Phillips was still doing evenings then.

> WIND..sign-on date 1927 560kc/5kw Directional. No format
> listed

Full-service MOR, with Howard Miller doing his flag-waving raps in the morning by then.

> WJJD..sign-on date 1924 1160kc/50kw Directional (Salt Lake
> City Sign-Off). No
> format
> listed
>
> WJJD-FM..sign-on date 1961 104.3mc/40kw @ 460ft. No format
> listed

Still Top 40, AM-FM simulcast, but country was on its way.

> WLS..sign-on date 1924 890kc/50kw No format listed

Top 40 blowtorch, of course.

> WMAQ..sign-on date 1922 670kc/50kw No format listed

Full-service MOR, but I recall seeing that sometime in '64 or '65 Mike Joseph was hired to turn the station into Top 40. Listeners screamed and New York supposedly ordered the station to return to MOR.

> WMBI..sign-on date 1926 1110kc/5kw (sign on/off affected by
> WBT/Charlotte, NC
> and KFAB/Omaha, NE).
> No format listed
>
>
> WMBI-FM..sign-on date 1960 90.1/44kw @ 450ft. Duplicates
> WMBI (AM)

Religious, of course.

> WNIB(FM)..sign-on date 1955 97.1mc/11kw @ 185ft. No format
> listed

Classical, of course, wtih some brokered. Florians had owned the station for almost a decade by then.

> WYNR..sign-on date 1924 1390kc/5kw Directional
> Programming: "Neg"

Could be considered Top 40 by some. By the following couple of years McLendon had flipped the station to all-news as WNUS.
 
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