This week the NEO Airchecks WayBack Machine takes the blog to the previously unexplored era we'll refer to as pre-rock and roll radio. To quote a favorite band of the editor's, "no Elvis, Beatles or the Rolling Stones" here; just block programming and features with titles like "Breakfast With Your Neighbor".
Featured is a recording of the on-air dedication of WFAH/1310 (now WDPN) in Alliance. This program aired September 9, 1953. Members of the Hoiles and Peterson families, which launched WFAH's FM sister in 1947, are heard here along with other movers and shakers of the worlds of commerce and politics. A snippet of a similar program for WFAH/101.7 (now WDJQ/92.5) is also included near the beginning of this aircheck. Special thanks to the Rodman Public Library and D.A. Peterson, Incorporated for providing access to this recording.
The Peterson family still owns both stations, which may or may not employ a member of this blog's staff. WFAH/1310 became WDPN in 1990. The station currently airs a locally-programmed soft AC format, featuring local news, high school sports and University of Mount Union football and basketball.
Monday, February 14, 2011
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Can't Sleep? Get Up And Dance!
The last time NEO Airchecks featured Canton's WHBC/1480, we time traveled to May 2003 via a recording of midday host Tom Jarrett. This week the blog presents an aircheck of longtime overnight personality John Allen from September of the same year. Allen keeps the energy level up between the tunes, dropping in tidbits about the songs and artists that were a part of the full-service/oldies format of that era. It's worth noting that this was not a voice-tracked air shift, a fact that's made clear by Allen's frequent checks of time and temperature. While Allen's on-air shift was made irrelevant by WHBC's switch to a news/talk format in March 2007, he remained with the station as its production director until early 2009.
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Talk Radio So Hot, It Burns Down the House
"...the girls ride in the front. Little brother rides in the trunk, preferably where you pack the spare tire..."
Anyone who knows the people behind NEO Airchecks knows how we love the obscure, especially when it comes to airchecks. This week the humble blog features WOKG/1570 in Warren (now WANR). Neil Hagan is heard in this brief aircheck of the station's "Talk 1570" format, which appears to be from mid-summer of 1989. Hagan chats with longtime Warren radio personality "Dr. Rock", otherwise known as then-WRRO/1440 jock Ron Leader. The good doctor provides some tips on cruising that are sure to prompt a chuckle or two.
Neil Hagan's time with WOKG began two years prior to this recording, as he tells NEO Airchecks in an e-mail:
"I had toured the old WTCL studios as a child and was facinated with radio and announcing. I started in early 1987 as a helper to longtime anchorman and commentator Jack Darrow. I then moved to a morning show with an announcer named A.J. We did an early morning show and around 10a.m. A.J. joined Charles Cunningham for a free wheeling local oriented conservative, political talk [show]. After about 3 weeks with A.J., I was offered the night spot called "Sundown Talk". It was a lot of hit and miss and experimenting at first; sometimes I thought no one was listening. After a while I hit on a formula and it was a local hit...Eventually threatening letters and phone calls started comming, around 1989."
WOKG's fortunes took a hit of another kind on March 23, 1990, when a fire destroyed the studios located in Warren Township. The blaze, which occured just a few hours after Hagan signed off for the evening, was later ruled arson by local authorities. The case remains unsolved to this day. Due to the fire, WOKG was knocked off the air for a week. A reconfigured pizza concession trailer parked next to the burnt-out ruins provided temporary studios for the station. Not long after that, WOKG was sold by then-owner Geraldine Taczak.
WOKG began life as WTCL in 1971, broadcasting on the frequency that had been home to Youngstown Top 40 juggernaut WHOT from 1955 to 1963. (WHOT was a daytimer prior to moving down the dial to 1330.) WTCL's ownership changed the call letters to WOKG in 1981. Formats heard on 1570 up to that time ranged from oldies to country to AC. By 1989, WOKG was airing a talk format programmed by once-and-again WRRO PD and WFMJ personality Steve Fine. (For a more detailed history of the station, read this.)
Sporting the calls of WANR since 1990, 1570 is now owned by WhipLash Radio, LLC, led by Chris Lash of Greensburg, Pennsylvania. The station has been co-owned with WYCL/1540 since August 2010, when Lash purchased the properties from Beacon Broadcasting. The studios are now located in the former WNIO building in Mineral Ridge. WANR airs a classic hits format, featuring local news and a healthy dose of high school sports.
Anyone who knows the people behind NEO Airchecks knows how we love the obscure, especially when it comes to airchecks. This week the humble blog features WOKG/1570 in Warren (now WANR). Neil Hagan is heard in this brief aircheck of the station's "Talk 1570" format, which appears to be from mid-summer of 1989. Hagan chats with longtime Warren radio personality "Dr. Rock", otherwise known as then-WRRO/1440 jock Ron Leader. The good doctor provides some tips on cruising that are sure to prompt a chuckle or two.
Neil Hagan's time with WOKG began two years prior to this recording, as he tells NEO Airchecks in an e-mail:
"I had toured the old WTCL studios as a child and was facinated with radio and announcing. I started in early 1987 as a helper to longtime anchorman and commentator Jack Darrow. I then moved to a morning show with an announcer named A.J. We did an early morning show and around 10a.m. A.J. joined Charles Cunningham for a free wheeling local oriented conservative, political talk [show]. After about 3 weeks with A.J., I was offered the night spot called "Sundown Talk". It was a lot of hit and miss and experimenting at first; sometimes I thought no one was listening. After a while I hit on a formula and it was a local hit...Eventually threatening letters and phone calls started comming, around 1989."
WOKG's fortunes took a hit of another kind on March 23, 1990, when a fire destroyed the studios located in Warren Township. The blaze, which occured just a few hours after Hagan signed off for the evening, was later ruled arson by local authorities. The case remains unsolved to this day. Due to the fire, WOKG was knocked off the air for a week. A reconfigured pizza concession trailer parked next to the burnt-out ruins provided temporary studios for the station. Not long after that, WOKG was sold by then-owner Geraldine Taczak.
WOKG began life as WTCL in 1971, broadcasting on the frequency that had been home to Youngstown Top 40 juggernaut WHOT from 1955 to 1963. (WHOT was a daytimer prior to moving down the dial to 1330.) WTCL's ownership changed the call letters to WOKG in 1981. Formats heard on 1570 up to that time ranged from oldies to country to AC. By 1989, WOKG was airing a talk format programmed by once-and-again WRRO PD and WFMJ personality Steve Fine. (For a more detailed history of the station, read this.)
Sporting the calls of WANR since 1990, 1570 is now owned by WhipLash Radio, LLC, led by Chris Lash of Greensburg, Pennsylvania. The station has been co-owned with WYCL/1540 since August 2010, when Lash purchased the properties from Beacon Broadcasting. The studios are now located in the former WNIO building in Mineral Ridge. WANR airs a classic hits format, featuring local news and a healthy dose of high school sports.
Thursday, December 30, 2010
It's A New Year All Over Again
After a break for the holidays, your editor is refreshed and ready to begin another year of fun with airchecks. In observance of the start of 2011, NEO Airchecks this time features a partially-scoped aircheck of Jerry Vincent on WHOT/1330 in Youngstown. Vincent counts down the Top 10 songs of 1970 in this recording from January 1, 1971 --forty years ago this week. NEO Airchecks wishes to thank Jerry Coleman of Salem, Ohio for this latest aircheck.
Jerry Vincent was a personality on several northeast Ohio radio stations during the 1970's and 80's, including Akron's WHLO/640 and much later, WDJQ/92.5 in Alliance. After a lengthy stint at WDJQ, he left the radio business and became a minister. At last check he was a pastor in the Canton area.
Jerry Vincent was a personality on several northeast Ohio radio stations during the 1970's and 80's, including Akron's WHLO/640 and much later, WDJQ/92.5 in Alliance. After a lengthy stint at WDJQ, he left the radio business and became a minister. At last check he was a pastor in the Canton area.
Saturday, December 18, 2010
That Underground Sound
This week NEO Airchecks strays from its usual focus of Top 40 formatted stations of the AM persuasion in favor of a station that was, in many ways, the antithesis of mainstream radio of its era. We're talking about Cleveland's WNCR/99.5, whose progressive/free-form rock format can be heard in this 1972 aircheck contributed by Bob Papa. The announcer's identity is unknown to this blog's editor.
In a move that was typical of such FM stations, WNCR ignored the usual bells and whistles of radio and allowed the music to be the star. A listen to the aircheck reveals no jingles or other programming elements. As a result, a Noxzema spot heard early on in the recording sticks out like a sore thumb.
The station began life as WGAR-FM in 1952, simulcasting sister station WGAR/1220 until July 1970. The call letters were changed to WNCR and the progressive rock format was launched at that time. By September, conflicts between management and the on-air staff prompted a walk out, which included program director Jerry Dean. The format would last until January 1973, replaced first by country as WKSW. The format wheel was spun again in 1975 and the switch was made to beautiful music before country returned to 99.5 in 1980. The format has been in place there ever since. The calls were changed to WGAR-FM in 1984.
WGAR-FM was sold to Jacor Communications in 1997 as part of the company's purchase of Nationwide Communications and its stations. Clear Channel bought the station in 1999, along with several other Cleveland propeties.
In a move that was typical of such FM stations, WNCR ignored the usual bells and whistles of radio and allowed the music to be the star. A listen to the aircheck reveals no jingles or other programming elements. As a result, a Noxzema spot heard early on in the recording sticks out like a sore thumb.
The station began life as WGAR-FM in 1952, simulcasting sister station WGAR/1220 until July 1970. The call letters were changed to WNCR and the progressive rock format was launched at that time. By September, conflicts between management and the on-air staff prompted a walk out, which included program director Jerry Dean. The format would last until January 1973, replaced first by country as WKSW. The format wheel was spun again in 1975 and the switch was made to beautiful music before country returned to 99.5 in 1980. The format has been in place there ever since. The calls were changed to WGAR-FM in 1984.
WGAR-FM was sold to Jacor Communications in 1997 as part of the company's purchase of Nationwide Communications and its stations. Clear Channel bought the station in 1999, along with several other Cleveland propeties.
Friday, December 10, 2010
A Voice is Silenced
Until now, this blog hasn't had an opportunity to mark the passing of a personality or reporter with ties to northeast Ohio. Unfortunately that changed this week, when a source notified us of the death of Mark Dailey. The Youngstown native, best-known as a reporter and anchor for Toronto, Canada's CityTV, lost his latest battle with cancer Monday. Mark Dailey was 57.
Prior to his days in television, Dailey first made noise in 1971 at Youngstown's WHOT/1330. It was there he worked alongside WHOT newsmen including Al DeJulio and Ed Richards, developing a voice and style of reporting that would make him a brand name in the business for more than thirty years. [Editor's note: We have since learned that Mark began his radio career at nearby WNIO/1540 in 1969.] He would soon move across the Canadian border to CKLW and CHUM before taking his place at CityTV in 1979.
Posted below is a portion of a tribute produced and broadcast by CityTV earlier this week.
Prior to his days in television, Dailey first made noise in 1971 at Youngstown's WHOT/1330. It was there he worked alongside WHOT newsmen including Al DeJulio and Ed Richards, developing a voice and style of reporting that would make him a brand name in the business for more than thirty years. [Editor's note: We have since learned that Mark began his radio career at nearby WNIO/1540 in 1969.] He would soon move across the Canadian border to CKLW and CHUM before taking his place at CityTV in 1979.
Posted below is a portion of a tribute produced and broadcast by CityTV earlier this week.
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Rockin' The Steel City
This week's feature concerns a Youngstown area station making its first appearance on NEO Airchecks; WNIO/1540. In this two-part aircheck from 1972, Ron Leader is at the controls during morning drive. In keeping with the upbeat Top 40 presentation of the era, Leader makes frequent use of audio drops and gags that provide a sharp contrast to his previous appearance on this blog via WFMJ/1390. While WFMJ was a tightly-programmed rocker, WNIO here sounds as through the PD was giving personalities far more creative control.
At the time of this recording, Ron Leader had recently split from the aforementioned 1390. As previously mentioned here, he's spent most of his lengthy career in the Youngstown-Warren market. His resume reads like a virtual who's who of northeast Ohio radio, including on-air stints at WHOT/Youngstown, WINW/Canton, WCUE/Akron and WHHH/WRRO/Warren.
As for WNIO, it first took to the Mahoning Valley's airwaves in 1963. By the late 60's it had become a prominent Top 40 station in the region, battling with WHOT/1330 for the lion's share of listeners. Due to its daytimer status, WNIO was unable to knock WHOT from its perch and switched to a country format circa 1974. The successful format would remain in place well into the 1980's, when the migration of listeners to FM and new country powerhouse WQXK/105.1 would force another change. Formats came and went until the mid-90's, when a nostalgia format featuring former WHOT jocks Johnny Kay and Dick Thompson brought the stations renewed life and ratings. The format and call letters moved to 1390 in 1999 during a multi-station move by owner Clear Channel. 1540 has sported the call letters WRTK ever since, a reminder of 1390's news/talk format of that period.
WRTK/1540 is now owned by WhipLash Radio LLC, a company led by Chris Lash of Waynesville, Ohio. Along with co-owned WANR/1570 of Warren, WRTK was recently moved into WNIO's longtime studios located off Webb Road in Mineral Ridge. In another example of how things in the radio world can come full circle, WRTK now airs a classic country format not unlike the one that was heard there for many years.
At the time of this recording, Ron Leader had recently split from the aforementioned 1390. As previously mentioned here, he's spent most of his lengthy career in the Youngstown-Warren market. His resume reads like a virtual who's who of northeast Ohio radio, including on-air stints at WHOT/Youngstown, WINW/Canton, WCUE/Akron and WHHH/WRRO/Warren.
As for WNIO, it first took to the Mahoning Valley's airwaves in 1963. By the late 60's it had become a prominent Top 40 station in the region, battling with WHOT/1330 for the lion's share of listeners. Due to its daytimer status, WNIO was unable to knock WHOT from its perch and switched to a country format circa 1974. The successful format would remain in place well into the 1980's, when the migration of listeners to FM and new country powerhouse WQXK/105.1 would force another change. Formats came and went until the mid-90's, when a nostalgia format featuring former WHOT jocks Johnny Kay and Dick Thompson brought the stations renewed life and ratings. The format and call letters moved to 1390 in 1999 during a multi-station move by owner Clear Channel. 1540 has sported the call letters WRTK ever since, a reminder of 1390's news/talk format of that period.
WRTK/1540 is now owned by WhipLash Radio LLC, a company led by Chris Lash of Waynesville, Ohio. Along with co-owned WANR/1570 of Warren, WRTK was recently moved into WNIO's longtime studios located off Webb Road in Mineral Ridge. In another example of how things in the radio world can come full circle, WRTK now airs a classic country format not unlike the one that was heard there for many years.
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