Radio Cincinnati
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  • 1921, December, WMH (Cincinnati's first commercial radio station) goes on the air in Walnut Hills.
  • 1922, March, Powel Crosley Jr. puts WLW on the air to augment the sale of his Crosley radios.
  • 1923, June, WSAI goes on the air at the U.S. Playing Card Company in Norwood.
  • 1924, December, WFBE goes on the air at the Parkview Hotel downtown.
  • 1925, April, WMH becomes WKRC to reflect the name of its new owners-the Kodel Radio Corporation.
  • 1926, by this point, Crosley has been the world's largest manufacturer of radios for over a year.
  • 1928, Crosley buys WSAI from US Playing Card. WLW is one of first stations granted 50-KW. New factory is started in Camp Washington which will include studios.
  • 1929, September, L.B. Wilson and a group of investors put WCKY on the air in Covington.

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1920's WLW Studio, Colerain and Alfred Streets. Note the monks cloth wall coverings.

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WZIP studios in former WCKY building in Covington, KY circa 1948.

  • 1930, WKRC is acquired by CBS making it one of the network's O and O's.
  • 1931, Mills Brothers, Peter Grant, Eddie Albert among acts coming to WLW
  • 1932, "Ma Perkins" leaves Cincinnati for Chicago, Fats Waller arrives.
  • 1933, Crosley builds new factory in Camp Washington, WLW locates its studios to the eighth floor.
  • 1934, May, WLW granted permission to broadcast experimentally at 500,000 watts, making it the most powerful station in the world! NBC carries the dedication program nationally.
  • 1935, October, WFBE is purchased by EW Scripps, who change call letters to WCPO for its newspaper, the Cincinati POst.
  • 1937, WCKY is granted a power increase to 10-KW. John Lair brngs his Renfro Valley entertainers to WLW.
  • 1938, WCPO brings Mort Watters to Cincinnati.
  • 1939, WCKY is granted 50-KW, WLW's superpower is revoked and the station returns to 50-KW.

  • 1940, the four Williams brothers come to WLW.
  • 1941, America enters WWII, radio reacts.
  • 1942, Doris Day joins WLW as a staff vocalist.
  • 1943, WLW wins first Peabody Award. FM radio debutes with WLWA.
  • 1945, Powel Crosley sells everything except Reds to try one more time to create a successful Crosley car.
  • 1946, WSAI sold to Marshall Field. WCTR, transit radio, debutes on WKRC's FM frequency.
  • 1947, WZIP begis broadcasting in old WCKY studios in Covington.
  • 1948, February, WLW-T television begins comercial broadcasting on Ch. 4. WNOP begins in Newport.
  • 1949, WCPO and WKRC television also begin broadcasting.

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Peter Grant in the WLWT weather studio in the Comex building ca. 1955.

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Don Herman in the WCKY studios ca. 1961.

  • 1951, WLW-T's Midwestern Hayride is broadcasting as a national summer replacement.
  • 1951, Stan Matlock begins his ascent as WKRC ratings king
  • 1952, Wally Phillips leaves WLW.
  • 1952, Nelson King becomes one of the most profitable and popular DJ's in the country on WCKY
  • 1953, WCIN debutes on the radio dial with Buggs Scruggs.
  • 1954, L.B. Wilson dies of a heart attack.
  • 1955, WLW's Ruth Lyons is getting national attention for her 50-50 Club show.
  • 1956, WLWT debuts one of first broadcast weather radars
  • 1958, Bob Braun appears as disc jocky and program host.
  • 1959, Paul Dixon wins TV/Radio Guide's personality of the year for a second time.

  • 1961, WSAI changes to Top-40 format, brings in the "Good Guys."
  • 1963, Shad and Mike bring off-beat humor to WCPO.
  • 1964, WSAI brings the Beatles to town for the first time.
  • 1965, WCPO is sold, becomes WUBE owned by a group including Danny Kaye and Lester Smith.
  • 1966, Beatles come to town a second time, this time Crosley Field show is postponed because of rain.
  • 1967, WEBN-FM debutes as classical station.
  • Early 70's, WKRQ FM becomes Q-102 and starts rivalry with WEBN.
  • Deregulation in 1981, leads to creation of Jacor, which buys WEBN and WLW, reinventing venerable old AM into a talk format station.
  • 1990's Clear Channel ends up owning eight Cincinnati stations, locates national radio corporate offices to Covington.
  • 2005, Xavier sells WVXU to WGUC. Golden age of Cincinnati radio comes to an end (okay, that's a personal statement)

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WLW's Rich King in studio ca. 1967.