WLS (AM)

Sears opened the station in 1924 as a service to farmers and subsequently sold it to the Prairie Farmer Magazine, which continued that orientation through 1960. It was the scene of the National Barn Dance, which featured Gene Autry, Pat Buttram, and George Gobel, and which was second only to the Grand Ole Opry in presenting country music and humor.

Related Topics:
1924 - Prairie Farmer Magazine - National Barn Dance - Gene Autry - Pat Buttram - George Gobel - Grand Ole Opry - Country music

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The station also experimented successfully in many forms of news broadcasting, including weather and crop reports. Its most famous news broadcast was the report of the Hindenburg disaster by Herbert Morrison.

Related Topics:
Weather - Hindenburg disaster - Herbert Morrison

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Starting in the 1930s, WLS had been an affiliate of the Blue Network of the National Broadcasting Company (NBC), and as such aired the popular Fibber McGee and Molly and Lum and Abner comedy programs during their early years. When the Federal Communications Commission forced NBC to sell the Blue Network, WLS maintained its affiliation with the network under its new identity, the American Broadcasting Company (ABC). However, some programs from the network that were not sponsored were transferred from WLS to air on another Blue Network/ABC affiliate in Chicago, WCFL.

Related Topics:
Blue Network - National Broadcasting Company - Fibber McGee and Molly - Lum and Abner - Federal Communications Commission - WCFL

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In 1960 WLS hired star disc jockey Dick Biondi (RHOF) http://www.radiohof.org/discjockey/dickbiondi.html from WKBW in Buffalo, New York to anchor the station's new Top 40 music radio format. Other notable disc jockies who worked at WLS include Fred Winston, Art Roberts, Clark Weber, Ron Riley and Larry Lujack. WLS became a predominantly conservative talk station in 1989. It currently features Rush Limbaugh. Three notable liberal talk show hosts are Mike Malloy, Jay Marvin, and Nancy Skinner, all left WLS or were fired. They now host shows on Air America Radio, Air America affiliate KKZN in Denver, and Air America affiliate WDTW in Detroit respectively. It currently is available on the Internet.

Related Topics:
Disc jockey - Dick Biondi - RHOF - WKBW - Buffalo, New York - Top 40 - Music radio - Fred Winston - Art Roberts - Clark Weber - Ron Riley - Larry Lujack - Talk station - 1989 - Rush Limbaugh - Mike Malloy - Air America Radio - WDTW

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