Home
Welcome to the Radio Timeline.com website!
Our 19th year online with over 450,000 visitors since 1999.
This website is dedicated to the history of radio stations from the 1950’s to the late 1980’s. We exhibit scoped radio station airchecks, music surveys, promotions, interesting radio articles, tribute pages and more. The site has been updating since 1999.
THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING THE SITE FOR THE LAST 20 YEARS!
Radio Timeline. com WDHF-WMET Chicago
Amateur Radio Website
www.N2KNL.com
.
Zenith Radio Corporation WEFM and other stations will begin operation on the new FM band in 1946 from the Armstrong FM Band, 45.1 mc to 98.5 and later 99.5 mc.
July 1946..
59 years ago, June 1, 1961 Zenith Radio Corporation WEFM 99.5 Chicago begins stereo broadcasting..
Zenith Radio Store, Chicago, Michigan & Huron..
Articles; May 29, 1961 & June 1, 1961..
September 1966..
WEFM 99.5 Chicago, Dan Walker to Frank Ryan, July 4, 1980 (37:22) 
WEFM 99.5 Chicago, Dan Walker, John Brock, July 3, 1980 (37:22)
.
WGAR AM 1220 Cleveland, The Real Bob James, 1978 (8:38)
.
The Real Bob James..
WWWW FM 106.7 Detroit, Don Shuster, May 20, 1972 (14:10)
.
38 Years Ago Today..
May 10, 1982, The Day The Music Died in NYC..
(Thanks for posting on the RTL FB Page Don Beno)
WABC AM 770, New York, Last hour of top 40 with Dan Ingram & Ron Lundy, May 10, 1982 (6:12)
.
98 CKGM Remote 1964..
CKGM AM 980 Montreal, Rob Christie, July 12, 1976 (5:53)
CKGM AM 980 Montreal, Wayne Magatere, May 12, 1980 (15:20)
.
KFRC AM 610 San Francisco, Bill Lee, January 20, 1983 (17:13)
.
Another year goes by as we remember the WCFL format change from top 40 to beautiful music on March 15, 1976..
Go to the WCFL Tribute Page
Larry Lujack and board op Spacey Dave
February 21, 1976 Article..
WCFL Chicago’s Bob Dearborn’s explanation of Don McLeans American Pie
WCFL AM 1000 Chicago, Bob Dearborn’s American Pie Special (23:29)
.
NBC’s “News and Information Service” terminates January 1, 1977..
WNIS FM 101.1 Chicago, Rick Sallinger, June 1976 (44:14) My recording.
.
September 1975 Station Subscribers..
49 Years ago Today..
Dick Sainte & Shadoe Stevens on 1110 KRLA..
KRLA AM 1110 Los Angeles, Dick Sainte to Shadoe Stevens, January 4, 1971 (19:07)
.
AM 890 WLS Chicago, Chuck Buell / Jerry Kay, Big 89 of 1968, 1-1-69 (12:08)
AM 890 WLS Chicago, Chuck Buell Big 89 of 1970, 1-1-70 (9:28)
FM 94.7 95 WLS Chicago, Rich McMillan Big 89 of 1981, 1-1-82 (33:54) My original recording.
.
FM 94.7 WLS Chicago, Tommy Edwards/Chuck Britton Big 89 of 1984, 12-28-84 (19:46) My original recording.
FM 94.7 WLS Chicago, Jeff Davis Big 89 of 1984 (#13 – #1), 12-31-84 Includes the 1955-84 song montage (40:29) My original recording.
.
Christmas Eve through New Years Day..
The Sounds of 1971..
AM 930 KHJ Los Angeles, The Sounds of 1971, Bill Wade, Mark Elliot, Don Steele, Walt Baby Love & Johnny Williams (25:44)
.
AM 930 KHJ Los Angeles, The Big 93 of 1972
#93 – #62 Mark Elliot to Robert W. Morgan. Bob Lee with News (30:43)
#61 – #1 Robert W. Morgan to Mark Elliot. Bob Lee with News (42:56)
.
KHJ Radio Spots..
WABC AM 770 New York, Bruce Morrow, December 25, 1970, The Heavy Hundred Hits of 1970 (13:38)
WABC AM 770 New York, Bruce Morrow, December 26, 1970, The Heavy Hundred Hits of 1970 (7:17)
WABC AM 770 New York, Dan Ingram, August 1968 (19:13)
WABC AM 770 New York, Bruce Morrow, 1969 (11:00)
WABC AM 770 New York, Bruce Morrow, April 1972 (7:50)
.
.
1410 WPOP Hartford Early 1970’s
Your Leeedah!
WPOP AM 1410 Hartford, Bill Lund, December 18, 1970 (2:02)
WPOP AM 1410 Hartford, Jack Armstrong’s Last Show, February 7, 1970 (1:03:29)
WKBW AM 1520 Buffalo, April 1, 1972 (10:45)
.
AM 950 WLOF Orlando 1975
WLOF Control 1969
Here’s a Scott Walker Triple-Play..
WLOF AM 950 Orlando, Scott Walker, February 2, 1978 (9:41) From the Scott Walker/Alex Stone master aircheck collection I won on ebay. Includes KOMA-WKY OKC, WYNE Appleton, WLOF Orlando, KFSB Joplin & KSWO Lawton.
KOMA AM 1520 Oklahoma City, Scott Walker, May 1971 (10:31)
WYNE AM 1150 Appleton, Scott Walker, March 1972 (6:56)
.
WDGY 1130 Minneapolis.. Johnny Canton
WDGY AM 1130 Minneapolis, Johnny Canton, April 1968 (8:26)
WDGY AM 1130 Minneapolis, Johnny Canton, November 10, 1970 (4:50)
WDGY AM 1130 Minneapolis, Bob Dayton, September 30, 1971 (17:22)
.
Hudson Valley Radio.. 1340 WALL Middletown
WALL AM 1340 Middletown, Jim Frey, September 29, 1974 (5:43) Jim continues playing oldies 3-7 PM on 101.5 HD2 / 1340 WALL. WALLRadio.com
WALL AM 1340 Middletown, Randy West, September 29, 1974 (21:07)
.
Howard Stern WCCC Hartford
FM 106.9 WCCC Hartford, 1975 Composite (5:07) 
.
WDVE Jack Maloy
FM 102.5 WDVE Pittsburgh, Terry Kaywood, June 27, 1979 (13:25) My original Recording.
FM 96.1 WXKX Pittsburgh, SK Simpson, June 22, 1979 (11:43) My original Recording.
FM 94.5 WPEZ Pittsburgh, Randy Kramer, June 22, 1979 (12:54) My original Recording.
.
SK Suitcase Simpson at AM 850 WIVK Knoxville after leaving 96 WXKX Pittsburgh..1980
.
FM 95 1/2 WDHF Chicago, Jim Channell a.k.a. Captain Whammo, May 17, 1976 (18:50) My original Recording.
.
KVIL FM 103.7 Dallas Air Composite:
FM 103.7 Dallas, Composite: Ron Chapman, Bill Gardner, Michael Selden & Major Lewis, 1974-1975 (18:54)
.
.
AM 1170 KSTT Davenport / Quad Cities
AM 1170 KSTT Davenport, Joe Fedele, 1977 (6:33)
AM 1170 KSTT Davenport, Tom Clay, Spring 1981 (11:15)
.
39 Years Ago..
The Last Day of Mike Joseph’s “Hot Hits” Format in Syracuse.. 11/15/80
AM 1390 WFBL Syracuse, Air Composite, 11/15/80 (28:33) Tony Oscar Davis, Todd Parker, Don Rossi & Tommy Mack. My original recording.
AM 1390 WFBL Syracuse, Dave Laird, 5/1979 (11:55) My original recording.
AM 1390 WFBL Syracuse, Skip Clark, 5/1979 (12:02) Last day of Superradio ’14 FBL before the start of the “Hot Hits” format. My original recording.
.
WFBL Flagship Station of The Syracuse Chiefs AAA Baseball Team.. circa 1971
WFBL Studio & Transmitter site, Old Collamer Road, East Syracuse, NY.. circa 1959
Carrier Circle, Thruway Exit 35 and WFBL Complex. Carrier Air Conditioning Company has been out of business in Syracuse for two decades. Across Thompson Road to the left construction starts on the new Howard Johnson’s Motor Lodge. The WFBL complex was demolished in 1982. Replaced with many hotels.. circa 1965
SK Suitcase Simpson at AM 850 WIVK Knoxville after leaving 96 WXKX Pittsburgh..1980
FM 96 WXKX Pittsburgh, SK Simpson, June 22, 1979 (11:43) My original Recording.
.
1978..
FM 94.5 WPEZ Pittsburgh, Randy Kramer, June 22, 1979 (12:54) My original Recording.
.
AM 1460 KIRL St. Charles, MO, Jeff Douglas, May 1972 (8:44)
FM 98.1 KSLQ St. Louis, MO, Johnny King, March 1974 (4:11)
.
July 1976..
FM 107.3 WCGQ Columbus, GA, The Smoker, 1975 (16:54) He sounds a lot like Dr. Grady Brock. Got this aircheck from Kevin Fennessy’s tape collection in 1983.
FM 107.3 WCGQ Columbus, GA, Randy Reeves, 1977 (4:22)
.
1977..
AM 1310 KFSB Joplin, Scott Martin a.k.a. Alex Stone KOMA 1971, 10/24/71 (14:08)
AM 1520 KOMA OKC, Alex Stone a.k.a Scott Martin KFSB 1971, 9/73 (14:01)
.
Here’s a mini tribute to Don Bombard a.k.a. Bob Shannon
At 15, Bob built his own AM radio station transmitter in his hometown of Syracuse, New York. He later joined the staff of Syracuse University’s FM 88.3 WAER and by 1969 helped launch the Drake Radio Format at AM 1490 WOLF. Bob also worked at AM 1260 WNDR. In 1978 Bob worked at 1320 WKTQ Pittsburgh. His dream was to make to New York which he did in late 1981 working for 97.1 WYNY and the next year made it to WCBS-FM.
Don Bombard at WOLF (1969) a.k.a. Bob Shannon at WCBS-FM (2000)
AM 1490 WOLF Syracuse, Howie Castle to Don Bombard, Richard G. Flakle with News (a.k.a. Rick Gary) 11-28-69 (36:56)
AM 1260 WNDR Syracuse, Don Bombard’s Saturday Night of Gold 1971 (16:11)
AM 1260 WNDR Syracuse, Air Composite including Don Bombard and Promos, 1970’s (13:59)
Don’s next stop Pittsburgh’s WKTQ 1978..
Don Bombard’s move to New York City.. 1981
Bob Shannon finds him home in 1982..
At 1:01 PM on July 12, 2007, New York’s WCBS-FM flipped from “Jack FM” back to the hits of the 60s, 70s and 80s.
AM 640 WHLO, Akron, Doug Payton, November 8, 1968 (18:08) Doug sounds like WCFL’s Barney Pip.
AM 640 WHLO, Akron, Joe Cunningham, May 30, 1970 (8:53)
.
An episode of Adam-12 as they pass by the KROQ AM 1500 Billboard. January ’73
AM 1500 KROQ Burbank, Jim Wood, October 31, 1972 (21:44)
AM 1500 KROQ Burbank, Jimmy Rabbit, March 23, 1973 (16:25)
.
1050 CHUM Toronto, Tom Rivers, May 15, 1971 (25:04)
1050 CHUM Toronto, Gary Gears, November 1973 (15:55)
1050 CHUM Toronto, Terry Steele, August 16, 1974 (8:12)
1050 CHUM Toronto, Greg Lee, 1984 (25:40) I recorded this CHUM aircheck from Presqu’ile Provincial Park, Brighton, Ontario.
1050 CHUM Toronto, Air Composite 1960′-70’s (10:51)
.
WWKB AM 1520 Buffalo, Jack Armstrong, December 3, 2003 (36:37) I recorded this gem on the air from Cape Cod, MA. WKBW ran the original oldies format for about 3 years. Jack’s show was live via satellite from his apartment in High Point, N.C..
.
KIQQ FM 100.3 Los Angeles Composite: Robert W. Morgan, Eric Chase, The Real Don Steele, Billy Pearl, Jerry Butler and Jim Carson, 2/20/1974 (12:19)
.
AM 1310 WGH Newport News, John Gary, November 17, 1970 (22:16)
AM 1310 WGH Newport News, Dale Parsons, 1974 (15:32)
AM 1310 WGH Newport News, Jim Stewart, 1974 (4:12)
.
Bob Calvert
Larry O’Brien in 1968. A year before his move to WCFL Chicago..
1961..
AM 950 KJR Seattle, Tracy Mitchell to Burl Baer, December 1975 (3:52)
AM 950 KJR Seattle 1981 Air Composite, Gary Lockwood, Dancin’ Danny Wright, Bob Case & Scott Forest (12:27)
.
Gary Lockwood 95 KJR..
Scott Forest 1090 KING..
.
Jeff Laurence at 1430 WENE Endicott, N.Y… 1972-mid 1973
AM 1430 WENE Endicott, NY, Ray Ross, Jeff Laurence spot @ 2:46, 1973
.
Jeff at WOLF 1974..
AM 1490 WOLF Syracuse, Jeff Laurence, October 1974 (7:49) Jeff’s voiceover website www.JeffLaurence.com . Hear the Fred Winston Hour ID @ 0:53. Fred’s first radio gig was Newsman at WOLF in 1965 www.WOLF1490.net
.
The WFYR 103 1/2 Chicago Memorial Day 500 (1976)
WFYR 103 1/2 Chicago, Memorial Top 500 with Jack Miller (21:37) My Original recording.
.
It’s an Indianapolis Radio Speedway Weekend..
AM 1070 WIBC Indianapolis, TJ Byers, February 2, 1974 (10:08)
AM 950 WXLW Indianapolis, Scottie O’Brien, March 1973 (4:18)
AM 950 WXLW Indianapolis, Bill Shirk, 1974 (15:09)
AM 1260 WNDE Indianapolis, Chris Bailey, 1976 (15:03)
AM 1260 WNDE Indianapolis, Ken Cocker, 1979 (5:04)
FM 93.1 WNAP Indianapolis, Al Stone, June 1969 / Big John Gillis, April 22, 1970 (7:34)
.
.
43 Years Ago Friday, May 24, 1976 The Alan Burns Show 2-6 PM. And a Happy 78th Birthday to Bob Dylan.
FM 94.7 WDAI Chicago, Alan Burns to Rufus Jackson (44:39) I recorded this aircheck when I was 19 at Central Ave near Montrose , Jefferson Park Area. So many years ago!
.
Alan Burns 2005
Friday August 13, 1976..
.
AM 680 WRKO Boston, Al Gates, June 19, 1967 (6:07)
.
The BIG 68 WRKO Boston-Al Gates, John Rode, Chuck Knapp, Joel Cash and the Boston Playboy Bunnies.. 1967
FM 105.7 WROR Boston, JJ Wright, 1990 (4:59)
.
AM 1260 KYA San Francisco, John Hardy, June 20, 1972 (10:14)
AM 1260 KYA San Francisco, John Hardy, February 20, 1973 (12:34)
AM 1260 KYA San Francisco, Sam Van Zandt, January 20, 1983 (13:23)
.
San Van Zandt
FM 95 1/2 WDHF Chicago, Gary Price, May 1976 (19:08) My original recording.
FM 95 1/2 WDHF Chicago, F. J. Bailey, May 1976 ( 10:39) My original recording.
FM 95 1/2 WDHF Chicago, Screamin’ Jay Hawkins, June 1976 (12:04) My original recording.
.
FM 103.5 WAPP Lake Success-New York Composite, 1984-85 (34:33) Bobby Ocean,Chip Hobart, Harry Nelson & Perry Stone – 11/24/84 Recorded visiting friends in New Jersey Thanksgiving Weekend 1984. I recorded Bobby Ocean in Westchester County on the way home to Syracuse.
Michael Jay, Alan Beebe & John Grappone – 9/27/85 My old friend and I recorded this aircheck in North Syracuse, NY, 270 miles away. We called Alan Beebe for a minute and talked about his radio career including WNBC. After the call, Alan almost said the NBC calls by accident. Listen @ 26:32 minutes.
FM 100.3 WHTZ New York, Scott Shannon, 11/24/84 (43:04) Recorded Thanksgiving Weekend 1984.
AM 660 WNBC New York, E.J. Cromey to Wolfman Jack, 11/25/84 (12:48) Recorded Thanksgiving Weekend 1984.
.
September 1985..
.
AM 1500 KBLA Burbank, Bob Dayton, June 13, 1967 (22:51)
AM 1110 KRLA Pasadena, Bob Dayton, November 21, 1972 (25:46)
.
43 Years Ago, March 15, 1976 WCFL changes from top 40 to beautiful music. John Driscoll quotes..”From high atop the unemployment building”
AM 1000 WCFL Chicago, John Driscoll’s Last Show 3/15/76 (10:51)
AM 1000 WCFL Chicago, Bob Dearborn’s Last Show 3/15/76 (17:19)
AM 1000 WCFL Chicago, Tim Kelly’s Last Show 3/13/76 (12:41)
AM 1000 WCFL Chicago, Larry Lujack’s Last Show/Format Change 3/15/76 (30:33)
AM 1000 WCFL Chicago, Jack Miller, The WCFL Story, Produced 8/79 (28:54)
AM 1000 WCFL Chicago, Ron O’Brien, November 1975 (16:29)
.
March 3, 1976
Bob Dearborn and Board Operator Al Urbanski.. March 1976
Larry Lujack and Board Operator Spacey Dave.. March 1976
The Last WCFL Survey
WDHF begins publishing their own surveys on 3/16/76..
.
AM 560 WFIL Philadelphia, Kris Chandler, 1974 (10:26)
.
AM 560 WFIL Philadelphia, Programmers Digest 1972 Air Composite (14:59)
.
AM 560 WFIL Philadelphia 1974 PAMS Jingles (2:45)
.
AM 1590 KLIV goes silent on January 27, 2018
after serving San Jose for 73 years..
11/16/73..
Jim Powers..1975
Bob Ray..1971 / CCRs Doug Clifford, Bob-Ray & Tom Fogerty…Early 1970s
.
AM 1590 KLIV San Jose, Jim Powers to Bob Ray, August 19, 1973 (16:28)
.
AM 1590 KLIV San Jose, Ralph Koal, June 13, 1978 (21:10)
.
AM 1590 KLIV San Jose, Format Change, May 7, 1981 (6:43)
.
.
Tired Of Winter??
Let’s head to South Florida’s..
FM 96.5 WMYQ Miami Composite, March 1972 (7:55)
Johnny Dark, Dave Thompson, Robert W. Walker & Jay Michael Stone.
FM 96.5 WMYQ Miami, Johnny Dark, December 1972 (19:40)
.
AM 560 WQAM Miami, Todd Chase, Russ Carlton with news, April 7, 1971 (11:45)
AM 560 WQAM Miami, Jim Dunlap, 1976 (6:36)
.
50 years ago.. January 1969
On January 21, 1969 AM 1490 WOLF switched from country to the Bill Drake format.
AM 1490 WOLF Syracuse, Big John Allen, Switch from country to the Bill Drake Top 40 Format, January 21, 1969 (13:26) Thanks to Don Bayley for this aircheck.
AM 1490 WOLF Syracuse, Howie Castle to Don Bombard (a.k.a. Bob Shannon WCBS-FM) November 28, 1969 (36:56) Rick Gary newscast @ 5:05
AM 1490 WOLF Syracuse, Ron White, May 1970 (5:39)
AM 1490 WOLF Syracuse, Jeff Laurence, October 1974 (7:49) Former 1960’s WOLF employee Fred Winston Hour ID @ 0:53 minutes.
.
Jeff Laurence 1973-74
.
AM 1490 WOLF Syracuse, Bob Reynolds, November 1978 (8:24)
.
.
WSDM FM 97.9 Chicago (1976) *** WLS AM 890 Chicago (1984)
WAVZ AM 1300 New Haven (1974) *** WSYR-FM 94.5 Syracuse (1981) *** WLS AM 890 Chicago (1980)
www.N2KNL.com