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Welcome to Central Illinois' On-Line Broadcast Museum. This website documents in detail the history of each of the viewable TV stations, past and present, across mid-Illinois in text, photos, and videos, as well as each station's current status. This site also includes local radio history and automated analog formats, again told in pictures, videos, and text.
Note that this website displays best on a full-size monitor, desktop, or laptop computer. If you're watching on your mobile phone, the mobile phone view has been replaced by the desktop view throughout this site. You can zoom in on the page if needed. Also, you may have to sign in to YouTube to view some videos. Some browsers do not allow some embedded videos to play, so click on the "YouTube" logo on the video to view it from YouTube.
Featured Videos
A “Potpourri” Collection of Featured Videos
I find a common thread connecting the Featured Videos to each new posting. This time, I threw caution to the wind and let the videos pick themselves. The first ones that popped up on my YouTube Home listings that fit the Classic TV Shows category are listed below. And it’s one incredible collection, something for everyone…!
The earliest is an edition of “The Lawrence Welk Show.” If you’re no longer among the living, you probably watched this one. If you’re older than 65, you might have had senior family members who watched this musical series religiously. In this one, I explain how my exposure to “The Lawrence Welk Show” led me actually to meet and talk with the maestro. I also include a show that is weirdly related to the “Welk” show, as they shared the same studio/theater.
Producer Harry Ackerman, the guy who brought a large number of “beach movies” to the big screen and many shows to the small screen, including “Hazel,” “Bewitched,” and others, brought us this combination of “beach movie” and family sitcom show with a young star, Sally Field, who would go on to win two Oscars™.
Just by chance, I included two videos from TV series that were both victims of the CBS “rural purge” by Fred Silverman and Robert Wood. One was from a movie, a radio star, and a long-time CBS TV comedy variety show host. Then, another rural comedy show was produced at a local TV station and broadcast on network television. I also explain where it was produced and how it became a hit later in first-run syndication.
Marlo Thomas, daughter of Danny Thomas, produced her successful ABC sitcom that pre-dates “The Mary Tyler Moore” show, which showcases the life of a single young woman going to begin a career in the big city. The final episode ever produced is shown in this Featured Video collection.
There’s also a 30-minute, edited-for-syndication version of a one-hour comedy variety show that was a first for television, with a young African-American comedian hosting it, and it was a tremendous hit at the time! It also included some great music from one of my favorite singing groups!
Was it a talent show? Or just a put-on comedy? It was actually both, created by Chuck Barris and Chris Bearde. Mr. Barris created two very popular ABC game shows, but before that, he was an ABC network executive. Then there’s Chris Bearde, one of the writers of “Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-In” and many other TV specials with people like Dinah Shore and Elvis!
Check out this NBC daytime series with an episode that may have a local connection! There’s also a connection with one of the CBS execs who contributed to the “rural purge” in the early 1970s mentioned above. It sure is a small world!
Then, there’s Dana Carvey, Nathan Lane, and Mickey Rooney in “One of the Boys,” a short-lived sitcom on NBC. Frankly, I didn’t remember this one, as it was a single-season show in 1982. It’s not a bad show, but just seeing a very young Dana Carvey and Nathan Lane as college students makes it worth watching. Plus Mickey Rooney, in the role of a senior character. Then we continue to salute Dana Carvey's talent with a video of his own mid-90s comedy show, which had a very short ABC network run. Also, you can watch the Dana Carvey video with his celebrity impressions from “The Howard Stern Show” and SiriusXM.
You’ll get a memory rush from the video compilation of great cartoon themes from Hanna-Barbera cartoons, beginning with the earliest H-B cartoon I remember watching. It originally aired on NBC from 1957 to 1960! Are you feeling “rough and ready” for it?
Then, on Classic Radio, we travel to St. Louis, with radio stations that covered southwest central Illinois on both AM and FM. The FM stations were mostly blow torches, broadcasting at 100,000 watts, since they were on the Missouri side of the Mississippi River. Those on the east side of the river are limited to 50,000 watts with antennas at 500 feet. The signals from these stations in 1980 and one from 1993 were audible all the way to just south of Springfield and west of Vandalia. Check out the airchecks from "dinosaur" stations (call letters and formats) that no longer exist.
That’s what's in store for you through August 14th on the Home Page here at Central Illinois’ On-Line Broadcast Museum!
Classic Television
Click on the image to watch the video directly from YouTube.
The Lawrence Welk Show (1962) ABC
When I was picking videos at random, this was one of the first to pop up. Originally known as “The Plymouth Show” (1955-1971), it was one of several shows with Mr. Welk that featured other Chrysler automobile models, such as DeSoto and Dodge. The Lawrence Welk musical empire also brought ABC other shows in the prime-time schedule, including “The Dodge Dancing Party” (1955-1956), “The Lawrence Welk Presents Top Tunes and New Talent” (1956-1958), and “The Lawrence Welk Plymouth Show” (1958-1962). “The Lawrence Welk Show” continued on ABC through 1971, when it was canceled in a move similar to the CBS “rural purge.”
It later entered first-run syndication through 1982. Reedited versions of previous shows have been aired on PBS stations for a couple of decades.
This particular installment includes all of the usual segments: old-fashioned, melody-based music, costumes, sets, and a regular cast of attractive people singing and performing. The audience was even invited to dance along between the audience seating and the stage. One feature segment included a dance number of songs and dances from the 1920’s. In 1962, doing a dance number to songs from the 1920s would be like doing a dance number to songs from 1986 today! (Use that against your children or grandchildren when you defend the relevance of the show at the time of broadcast.) Also in 1960, the Lawrence Welk Orchestra had a hit record in the Top 40, hitting number one with “Calcutta.” Incredible how time warps our memories and our view of the past! Of course, the cameras picked it all up in living black and white.
Lawrence Welk from the video above from his show in 1962.
(YouTube screen grab)
Myron Floren, the greatest accordian player ever from "The Lawrence Welk Show" in 1962.
(YouTube screen grab)
For the 1965 season, “The Lawrence Welk Show” was broadcast in color for the first time. The entire production was picked up and moved to be shared with the production of “The Hollywood Palace” at the theater aptly called “The Hollywood Palace.” According to one source, ABC had installed color production facilities at the “Palace,” but another source has indicated that the color equipment was leased and temporarily installed at the theater.
Either way, it’s also been stated that the final edited videotapes of both shows were then transported separately to the NBC Burbank studios, where studio time was leased by ABC, and relayed in dead times via the network's coaxial cable to ABC New York master control, which sent the color video out to the affiliates on schedule. ABC master control in Los Angeles/Hollywood had not yet converted to color.
For those of you interested, “The Hollywood Palace” theater was located at 1735 N. Vine Street, across the street from the legendary Capitol Records Tower in Hollywood. It’s now called the Avalon Theater.
On a personal note: “I had a great-aunt and great-uncle who were more like grandparents to me. I would end up staying with them on Saturday nights when my parents went out. I probably watched this when I was 7 years old, as I remember watching Lawrence Welk every Saturday Night.
When Lawrence Welk and his group appeared at the Assembly Hall at the University of Illinois many years later, my wife and I took her parents to see them. They saw Lawrence Welk in Chicago in the mid-1940s on their Honeymoon, so I had them take their program from that show, and I had Mr. Welk sign it for them. He was most gracious and incredibly friendly. Little did I know that when I was 7 years old, I would have the opportunity to meet and talk with Lawrence Welk as an adult many years later. My great-aunt and great-uncle would have been proud and amazed!”
“The Lawrence Welk Show” was seen on all ABC affiliates across Mid-Illinois, including WTVP (WAND), WTVH (WIRL-TV), WJJY-TV, and KTVI. The episode above was seen on WTVP, WTVH, and KTVI.
Click on the image to watch the video directly from YouTube.
The Hollywood Palace (1965) ABC Season Opener in Color
This season opener was the first color broadcast of “The Hollywood Palace” from September 18, 1965. This was the same theater mentioned in “The Lawrence Welk Show” above, where the series would ultimately share the same theater/studio as this Saturday night series. Both were recorded on videotape for showing on the same night, but on different days at the same place. I explained the process above.
“The Lawrence Welk Show’s” first color broadcast took place the same night as shown in the newspaper TV listings here.
Bing Crosby during the first color broadcast of "The Hollywood Palace."
(YouTube Screen Grab)
Click on the image to watch the video directly from YouTube.
Gidget (1965) ABC Pilot
Yes, everyone really likes you, Sally Field! Even during the first TV series she starred in. “Gidget” premiered on September 15, 1965, with the episode above, with the final episode airing on September 1, 1966. One season, 32 episodes, with its 19-year-old star, Sally Field, as Francine “Gidget” Lawrence. Her father was Professor Russell “Russ” Lawrence, played by Don Porter.
Others in the cast included Gidget’s older sister, Ann Cooper, played by Betty Conner, and her husband, John Cooper, was played by Peter Deuel. Gidget’s friend was Larue, played by Lynette Winter, and Peter “Siddo” Stone, was played by Michael Nader (“Dynasty”).
This pilot of “Gidget” was broadcast on WTVP, WIRL-TV, and KTVI across much of Mid-Illinois.
(Above): The family cast of "Gidget" with (top) Sally Field and Betty Conner, with (front) Don Porter and Peter Deuel.
(YouTube screen grab)
(Right): Listings for the show shown above from the Bloomington Pantagraph
WCIA Fall Promo 1981
Click on the image to watch the video directly from YouTube.
Click on the image to watch the video directly from YouTube.
The Red Skelton Show (1970) CBS
I present Mid-Illinois this edition of “The Red Skelton Show,” which can now be seen for the first time across Mid-Illinois! As I researched the TV schedule for February 17, 1970, WCIA presented “The University of Illinois Jazz Band Chicago Festival” at 7:30 pm, while WMBD-TV presented an off-network rerun of “Richard Diamond.” Then, at 8 pm, it was Illinois Basketball as Iowa visited the Assembly Hall to meet the Illini. Not only was “The Red Skelton Show” preempted for the Illini game, but “60 Minutes” was preempted as well.
This “Red Skelton Show” was a modernized version of his 1950s and 60s CBS variety show, featuring mime sketches and his stable of characters, such as Klem Kadiddlehopper. Barbara Feldon from “Get Smart” was his guest, who participated in a couple of those sketches. The musical guest was the group, The Letterman.
Red Skelton from his monologue during the episode of "The Red Skelton Show" from the 1970 episode above.
(YouTube screen grab)
As I write below, with the video of “Hee Haw,” CBS was getting into the era called the “CBS rural purge,” in which those CBS shows that were popular with rural US and older audiences and demos were canceled in favor of scheduling more topical, updated, modern, edgy shows like “All in the Family” and other Norman Lear-produced shows. “The Red Skelton Show” was one of those targeted shows, with the last CBS episode in June of 1970.
“The Red Skelton Show” wasn’t over yet; it moved to NBC, where it would continue for one more season, from CBS Television City to the NBC Burbank studios, from September 1970 through August 1971.
WCIA Fall Promo 1981
Click on the image to watch the video directly from YouTube.
Click on the image to watch the video directly from YouTube.
That Girl (1971) ABC Final Show
This is episode 24 of the fifth season of “That Girl,” starring Marlo Thomas as aspiring actress Ann Marie and Ted Bessell as boyfriend/fiancé Don Hollinger. It was broadcast on March 19, 1971, on ABC and seen across Mid-Illinois on WAND, WIRL-TV, WJJY-TV, and KTVI, and was the last episode produced for the show, which lasted five seasons on ABC.
“That Girl” premiered on September 8, 1966, and aired through September 10, 1971. Marlo Thomas, the daughter of Danny Thomas and sister of producer Tony Thomas, was a co-star on “The Joey Bishop Show” and even played a native American on “Bonanza’s” fifth season. She continues to dedicate her resources to the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, founded by her father, Danny Thomas.
Ted Bessell, once described as the ultimate TV boyfriend, played the long-suffering boyfriend of Marlo Thomas’ character. The rest of the cast were used only occasionally, while others made frequent appearances throughout the series' run. They include Lou Marie, Ann’s father, played by Lew Parker, and Rosemary DeCamp, who played her mother, Helen. The others were a collection of neighbors, friends, agents, and workmates. That list included many who were either TV veterans or up-and-comers. Dabney Coleman, Bernie Kopell, Ronnie Schell, Rich Little, George Carlin, and Ruth Buzzi are the most recognizable occasional guests.
“That Girl” was developed and produced by Bill Persky and Sam Denoff, who also served as head writers on “The Dick Van Dyke Show,” which was produced by Marlo’s dad, Danny Thomas. Even with the TV veteran team of Persky-Denoff, Marlo Thomas served as executive producer, as the production company overseeing the show was Daisy Productions, which she owned. The series took place in New York but was shot at the Desilu-Cahuenga Studios, now called Red Studios, located at 846 North Cahuenga Boulevard in Hollywood, California.
Many episodes are available on the Filmrise YouTube Channel.
Ted Bessell as boyfriend/fiance, Don with Marlo Thomas as Ann on "That Girl" during the last episode of the series.
(YouTube screen grab)
WCIA Fall Promo 1981
Click on the image to watch the video directly from YouTube.
Click on the image to watch the video directly from YouTube.
The Midnight Special (1972) NBC
This edition of “The Midnight Special” served as the pilot for the late-night weekly edition of the show, which aired from February 2, 1973, through May 1, 1981. This pilot aired well before its network run on August 19, 1972, and also served as a promotional show to encourage newly franchised voters aged 18-21 to vote for the first time. It was hosted by John Denver and included Argent, Harry Chapin, David Clayton Thomas, Mama Cass, The Everly Brothers, The Isley Brothers, Helen Reddy, Linda Ronstadt, and War.
The show returned in February 1973 and continued to entertain contemporary music fans through 1981. There were many hosts, including Helen Reddy, Johnny Rivers, Mac Davis, Paul Anka, Ray Charles, David Bowie, Chubby Checker, Al Green, and several others.
John Denver, host of this edition of "Midnight Special"
Mama Cass and John Denver
Linda Ronstadt
John Denver, host of this edition of "Midnight Special"
This is a gallery of the talent lineup for the pilot of "The Midnight Special," broadcast on August 19, 1972, on NBC.
(YouTube screen grab)
“The Midnight Special” didn’t air on the local NBC affiliates until much later, probably because network compensation was either very low or nonexistent for the local affiliates. Instead, local Peoria, Springfield, and Champaign affiliates aired more local commercials with syndicated programs, or paid programming.
WICS/WICD aired an undetermined Wrestling program, and WEEK aired a movie. By February 23, 1973, though, WICD aired “The Midnight Special” live on NBC at midnight on Friday nights. WICS still aired wrestling, and WEEK still aired late-night horror films.
WCIA Fall Promo 1981
Click on the image to watch the video directly from YouTube.
Click on the image to watch the video directly from YouTube.
Flip Wilson Show (1973) NBC
Flip Wilson as seen on "The Flip Wilson Show" on NBC.
(YouTube screen grab)
Flip Wilson was the first African American to achieve widespread popularity as the host of his own comedy-and-music variety series. “Flip” aired on NBC from September 17, 1970, through June 27, 1974. This series ranked number two in the ratings for the first and second seasons.
His portrayal of various stock characters, such as Geraldine Jones, Reverend LeRoy of the Church of What’s Happening Now, Danny Danger the P.I., and Herbie the Good Time Ice Cream Man, was featured in several sketches during the one-hour show, which also included great contemporary musical artists and other comedians.
This abbreviated 30-minute version, edited from the December 13, 1973, hour-long show and presented as part of a syndication package for TV stations, is easier to schedule and is presented above. It features one of my favorite singing groups, The 5th Dimension, along with the comedian duo Jack Burns and Avery Schreiber.
“Flip” aired across mid-Illinois on NBC affiliates WICS, WICD, WEEK-TV, WGEM-TV, WTWO-TV, and KSD-TV.
WCIA Fall Promo 1981
Click on the image to watch the video directly from YouTube.
Click on the image to watch the video directly from YouTube.
The Gong Show (1977) NBC
This is episode number 193 of “The Gong Show” that may have been from the daytime version or the nighttime syndicated version. This episode is listed in one source as airing on March 4, 1977, and in another as airing on October 21, 1977. Take your pick.
This talent/comedy sketch series was created and produced by Chuck Barris and Chris Beard. Chuck Barris brought us “The Dating Game” and “The Newlywed Game” game shows in the mid to late 60s and through the 70s. He was also an executive at ABC who helped shape the network's daytime TV schedule in the late 1950s, the network's first attempt to program one. Keep in mind that the FOX, so-called network, has never successfully programmed daytime or late-night and only programs a two-hour prime-time schedule. FOX barely meets the criteria of being a “network!”
The most notable things about this episode are the appearance of Arte Johnson (a former University of Illinois alum) and Steve Martin (who was once a contestant on “The Dating Game”). There’s also a co-contestant wearing a light blue Illinois State University shirt, who is one half of the singing duo The Ball Brothers. Does anyone know them?
This series airs on WICS, WICD, WEEK, WTWO, WGEM-TV, and KSD-TV. “The Gong Show” was produced from 1976 to 1980 with host Chuck Barris. Gary Owens hosted the nighttime syndicated version. Other versions were produced in 1988-89 and were hosted by Don Bleu.
Other episodes of “The Gong Show” are available at the Filmrise Television YouTube Channel.
Does anybody know these guys with Chuck Barris of "The Gong Show?" Let me know!
(YouTube screen grab)
WCIA Fall Promo 1981
Click on the image to watch the video directly from YouTube.
Click on the image to watch the video directly from YouTube.
One of the Boys (1982) NBC Dana Carvey
In this episode, a college student, Nathan Lane, needs money for tuition. "One of the Boys" starred Dana Carvey, Nathan Lane, and Mickey Rooney.
Nathan Lane was 26, Dana Carvey was 27 when this was shot, and Mickey Rooney was 62. One comment on this series states that Tom Cruise is the same age today as Mickey Rooney was in this series!!
It’s another example of how time warps our memories! It was recorded at the NBC studios at 30 Rock in New York.
Mickey Rooney at age 62 and 27-year-old Dana Carvey from "One of the Boys" on NBC in 1982.
(YouTube screen grab)
Click on the image to watch the video directly from YouTube.
The Dana Carvey Show (1996) ABC
Dana Carvey, off the Saturday Night Live rollercoaster, hosted his own show for ABC during the first half of 1996. It was a bit controversial for what were called “over the top” sketches. It was also a bit trendy, as it allowed full sponsorships for companies that also received title billing for the show. It worked, sort of, until Taco Bell was offended by a song and dance routine that included the words, “We paid him a fortune to use our name, 'cause he’s a shameless whore…” There were also cringy political sketches that included a multi-nippled Bill Clinton to show how “nurturing he was.” Pizza Hut and others also pulled out of show sponsorship; audiences were small, and ABC canceled the show two months later.
The support cast included Steve Carell, Stephen Colbert, Robert Smigel, Bill Cholt, and Heather Morgan.
“The Dana Carvey Show” aired across the region on WAND, WHOI, WBAK-TV, and KTVI.
Dana Carvey displaying his talents on "The Dana Carvey Show."
(YouTube screen grab)
A younger Stephen Colbert on "The Dana Carvey Show" in 1996!
(YouTube screen grab)
Click on the image to watch the video on this website.
The Howard Stern Show (2016) SiriusXM Dana Carvey
This video features the incredibly talented Dana Carvey on “The Howard Stern Show” as broadcast on SiriusXM in 2016.
WCIA Fall Promo 1981
Click on the image to watch the video directly from YouTube.
Click on the image to watch the video directly from YouTube.
Top 50 Best Hanna-Barbera Opening Themes
From YouTube: “The 50 best opening theme songs from four decades of classic Hanna-Barbera cartoons, presented in chronological order. All the greats are included: Yogi Bear, the Flintstones, the Jetsons, Magilla Gorilla, Huckleberry Hound, Scooby Doo Where Are You?, Pebbles and Bam Bam, and many more.”
See how many you remember!
This is from the Mr. Ned YouTube Channel.
"Ruff and Reddy" was the first animated TV series from Hanna Barbera Proeuctions. It aired on NBC from 1958-1960.
(YouTube screen grab)
WCIA Fall Promo 1981
Click on the image to watch the video directly from YouTube.
Click on the image to watch the video directly from YouTube.
Hee Haw (1969) CBS Pilot Show
This video is the pilot episode for the comedy series “Hee Haw,” the country version of “Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-In,” presented as part of the primetime schedule beginning on June 15, 1969, on CBS. It was eliminated from the CBS schedule during the “rural purge” of mostly rural sitcoms that, according to CBS network executives such as Fred Silverman and Robert Wood, appealed to rural audiences and older demos in “fly-over states.” Despite most of those shows receiving high Nielsen ratings, CBS canceled them. Those network executives felt the network was losing advertisers seeking younger urbanites.
“Hee Haw” wasn’t the only show featured this week that was canceled by the “rural purge.” “The Red Skelton Show,” featured above, was another victim that same year.
For those of you who were fans, here’s some background on the production of “Hee Haw.” It was produced in Nashville, Tennessee, at the studios of WLAC-TV, then later WTVF. According to Alex McNeil’s book “Total Television,” it was “taped in assembly-line style during periods lasting several weeks. The segments were then cut, edited, and spliced together to comprise the hour-long programs.”
Welcome to the Hee Haw Gallery of the cast on the first Hee Haw Show from 1969.
Pickin' and Grinin' with Roy Clark and Buck Owens
Produced at WLAC-TV, Nashville, TN.
Welcome to the Hee Haw Gallery of the cast on the first Hee Haw Show from 1969.
This is a gallery of scenes and stars of "Hee Haw" as broadcast on June 15, 1969 on CBS.
(YouTube screen grab)
It was created by Frank Peppiatt and John Aylesworth, both Canadians who also produced the series. Buck Owens and Roy Clark hosted it, though later in the run, they appeared only occasionally. The regular performers included Louis M. “Grandpa” Jones, Junior Samples, Jeannine Riley, Lulu Roman, David “Stringbean” Akeman, Sherry Miles, Lisa Todd, Minnie Pearl, Gordie Tapp, Diana Scott, Cathy Baker, Zella Lehr, the Hagers, and last but not least, Barba Benton. During the later years, others included Roni Stoneham, George Lindsey, Gunilla Hutton, Harry Cole, Don “Charlie Farquharson” Harron, Misty Rowe, Gailard Sartain, Mackenzie Colt, Irlene Mandrell, Dub Taylor, and Jeff Smith.
“Hee Haw” premiered on CBS on June 15, 1969, and continued to air during the summer until September 7, 1969. It returned on December 17, 1969, and aired through July 13, 1971, when CBS canceled it despite ranking in the top 20 of all TV shows in the ratings. It was seen across Mid-Illinois on WCIA, WMBD-TV, WTHI-TV, KHQA, and KMOX-TV.
After CBS canceled it, it entered first-run syndication and was picked up across mid-Illinois by stations WRAU (Channel 19, Peoria) and WICS/WICD (Channels 20/15, Springfield and Champaign). All stations showed it on Saturday evenings at 6 pm for several years, until its final show in 1992.
WCIA Fall Promo 1981
Click on the image to watch the video directly from YouTube.
TV Time Capsule for July
August 20-26, 1955
So what’s so important about 1955? The year brought many firsts, such as the first appearance (in Illinois) of what would become a major worldwide fast-food chain, a popular toothpaste brand, the first TV remote, quite a few classic movies, many TV shows you still watch today, Disneyland opened, a major up-and-coming Indiana film star was killed, and see what everyday life was like! Plus, what popular mid-1980s movie time-traveled to 1955! You’ll see all of that, plus a full week of local TV from the August 20-26, 1955 issue of TV Guide™, along with videos of some of the programs shown that week. It’s a blockbuster Time Capsule!!
Click on the TV Guide™ picture above to see for yourself!
Classic Radio
Click on the image to watch the video on this website.
KSLQ, 98.1FM St. Louis (1980) Phillips and Wall
KSTL-FM at 98.1FM signed on April 2, 1960. It was part of KSTL 690AM in St. Louis, which Radio St. Louis, Inc originally owned. In 1967, the call letters changed to KRCH, presumably under the same ownership group. Bartell Media Corporation purchased the station at 98.1 FM in 1972. It changed the call letters to KSLQ, making it part of its media collection of legendary stations, including KCBQ in San Diego, WOKY in Milwaukee, and WDRQ in Detroit. They were FM stations that met their local AM Top 40 stations head-on with an active, lively personality-driven CHR format that broadcast in stereo.
The aircheck above is from 1980, two years before the station would transition to a more adult-contemporary format under the call letters KYKY and become KY98. In 1985, ownership changed again as the station was purchased by EZ Communications, which retained the call letters but switched to a Hot AC format. EZ Communications merged with American Radio Systems in 1996, and American Radio Systems was subsequently acquired by Infinity
Broadcasting, a CBS subsidiary, in 1998. CBS Radio then merged into Audacy, which now owns the station, along with KMOX 1120AM/104.1FM (News/Talk), KEZK 102.5FM (Adult Contemporary), KFTK 97.1FM (Conservative Talk), and WFUN 96.3FM (Urban Contemporary). Audacy, Inc has reportedly sold its group of St. Louis stations to Hoffman Media Group with FCC approval pending.
This hour-long air recording is from August 28, 1980, with the morning jocks, Philips and Wall, and entire songs.
Click on the image to watch the video on this website.
KXOK, 630AM St. Louis (1980) Phil Duncan
This was recorded on the same date as the one above, August 28, 1980, and features the KXOK DJ Phil Duncan. This was long after KXOK’s heyday, and it was definitely facing intense pressure on ratings from other contemporary stations in the St. Louis market. It used the slogan “St. Louis’ number one adult music station.” "One thing that was still there was the newsman Bob Shea, a KXOK news veteran for years, going back to the 1960s.
KXOK has a long history, beginning back in 1935 when Elzey Roberts of the St. Louis Star-Times Newspaper founded the radio station in St. Louis. At the time, the owners of KSD Radio and WIL Radio challenged the issuance of a license for an additional radio station for St. Louis. The legal battle ended in 1937 with the issuance of KXOK for 1250AM. It finally got on the air in 1938 with a staff member named Paul Aurandt. He would later be known as Paul Harvey, a popular, well-known network radio commentator who worked into the 2000s.
The station would draw the attention of broadcasters across the country after Robert and Todd Storz purchased it for $ 1.5 million. KXOK would become a Top 40 powerhouse despite having only a 5,000-watt signal. Listeners across Missouri, Southern Iowa, and Central and Southern Illinois would experience KXOK's popularity. Over the years, the station would feature many outstanding DJs and personalities well into the 1970s.
The unexpected death of Todd Storz (the son of Robert) would put the brakes on some of the genius competitive moves of the station. His refusal to purchase an FM station that could have guided his company into the future was a poor decision, as FM stations, like the ones featured here on this page, would put an end to what could have been a bright future for the call letters and Storz Broadcasting.
By the late 1970s, the station would change formats to talk and even oldies. It was sold to Legends Broadcasting and KHTK for $ 6.5 million in 1989—still a hefty sum for a dying station. KXOK was sold again in 1994 to Crawford Broadcasting, changed its call letters to KJSL, and switched to a religious talk format. By 2013, a sale once again sent the former Top 40 giant in the Gateway City to oblivion. The Bible Broadcasting Network purchased the signal for $2 million to broadcast its network feed.
Click on the image to watch the video on this website.
KHTR, 103.3FM St. Louis (1984) Bob Scott, Bobby Day, John Frost, Craig Roberts, Lori Thompson
It was formerly KMOX-FM from 1962 through 1981, when the call letters changed along with the format, which shifted from a soft rock format that was universal among the CBS-owned FM stations across the country, as guided by CBS consultant Mike Joseph. Then, in the early 1980s, the format began a transition to a more Top 40/Contemporary Hit format. On December 20, 1982, KMOX-FM became KTHR, as in “HitRadio 103”. It was successful in the market, actually making it the number two station among those 12+ in the St. Louis market, second only by its AM sister station, KMOX, the market’s news station and CBS Radio affiliate.
In November 1988, the format changed once again to an oldies format, along with several other CBS FM stations across the country. The call letters are now KLOU, and it plays Classic Hits. Both stations are now owned by iHeart Media, along with other St. Louis sister stations: KATZ 1600AM (Urban Gospel), KATZ 100.3FM (Urban contemporary), KSD 93.7FM (Country), KSLZ (107.7 Contemporary Hit Radio), and KSLZ-FM 104.9FM (Conservative Talk). Audacy Inc. now owns the original KMOX and is in the midst of an ownership change to the Hoffman Media Group.
Click on the image to watch the video on this website.
KWK, 1380AM, 106.5FM St Louis (1980) Beau Raines
KWK began in 1925, over a hundred years ago, as KFVE on 1380 AM. It began broadcasting on 99.1 FM in 1946, but ended in 1950 due to a lack of interest from listeners and advertisers. This station has a long and complicated history, changing call letters nearly a dozen times. It was KWK from 1927 to 1984. After that, it changed to KGLD, KASP, WKBQ, KRAM, WKBQ(again), KKWK, KZJZ, and KSLG. It’s also intertwined with its later FM sister station, KWK-FM.
In 1973, the AM station went off the air until November 1, 1978, when it returned as a Top 40 station. In March of 1979, the AM station began simulcasting with its FM counterpart, WWWK-FM. In June of 1984, KWK became KGLD (K-Gold) and aired an oldies format. By 1992, it had switched to a talk-sports format and changed its call letters to KASP. The following year, 1380AM returned to simulcasting, with the call letters changing again to WKBQ to match its FM station, WKBQ-FM. That was the year the FM station would flip from 106.5 FM to 104.1 FM. Then, in 1994, 1380 AM would change to “Straight Talk 1380.” Other formats and call letters would follow, such as a return to sports with the call letters KRAM after the LA Rams announced a relocation to St. Louis. In 1996, the station once again returned to an FM simulcast with WKBQ-FM, marking another return to its WKBQ identity. Later in the year, its new owners, Emmis Communications, would donate the AM station to a religious group. Other formats would follow with urban talk, jazz, southern gospel, Sporting News Radio, ESPN Radio, Fox Sports, and ultimately back to religion.
Meanwhile, the FM station started as WGNU in 1965 and aired a country music format. In 1977, the station at 106.5 FM was sold to Doubleday and Company, which invested in the operation, increased power to cover the St. Louis market, and changed the call letters to WWWK and later to KWK-FM. With that call letter change, the format would change to an album-oriented rock format.
The video/audio above takes us to late August 1980 with an off-air recording of KWK AM/FM St. Louis. With the simulcast of its heritage AM station, KWK, the FM station became KWK-FM and used the slogan “Stereo WK.” The DJ is Beau Raines.
In 1988, KWK-FM changed its call letters to WKBQ-FM and began broadcasting a Top 40 format after KHTR dropped its CHR format in favor of an oldies format, leaving the market without an FM Top 40 radio station. It continued until late 1993, when an ownership change led to a frequency change from 106.5 to 104.1.
According to “mbatchelor” who posted in 2010 on an internet forum, after the purchase of the 104.1 WKBQ-FM by Emmis, the format was changed along with the call letters to WALC(FM) called “Alice @104.1” with a modern adult contemporary format, but would change to WXTM "Extreme Radio, 80s and More,” then WMLL “the Mall” followed by WRDA(FM) “Red 104.1” before being sold to Radio One, where it became WHHL, “Hot 104.1.” It also changed the city of license from Jerseyville, Illinois, to Hazelwood, Missouri, and relocated its transmitter/antenna to the former Majic 108 tower on DeBaliviere Avenue, closer to the center of St. Louis, with a power of 50,000 watts. Since that post, though, the frequency 104.1 FM has been used as KMOX-FM, a simulcast with the heritage AM station KMOX.
The station went through owners like water, with the various companies being Doubleday Broadcasting (1977-1984), Robinson Broadcasting (1984-1985), Chase Broadcasting (1986-1993 or 1991?), Zimmer Radio Group (1991 or 1993?-1996), Emmis Broadcasting (1996-2005), Radio One (2005-2005), Audacy (2005-current).
Audacy Inc. owns KMOX-FM at 104.1 FM and is in the midst of an ownership change to Hoffmann Media Group, which also owns the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and newspapers in over 150 communities across 30 states, as well as several other print and broadcast media outlets and a professional hockey team. The Illinois newspapers owned by Hoffmann Media Group through his recent purchase of Lee Enterprises are the Bloomington Pantagraph, Decatur Herald-Review, Mattoon/Charleston Journal Gazette/Times Courier, and the Quad Cities Dispatch/Rock Island Argus.
Most of the airchecks above were recorded and posted on the Indychauffeur YouTube Channel.
Click on the image to watch the video on this website.
KADI, 96.3FM (1986) Chip St James
KADI was the sister station of KADY when it went on the air on December 22, 1959. Both stations were licensed to St. Charles, Missouri. The owner was William R. Cady. By 1965, both stations were sold to Vanguard Broadcasting. By 1969, the FM station was transferred to Richard J. Miller, who owned KXLW in Clayton, Missouri. The format before that was unknown, but it was changed to progressive rock under the programming leadership of Ron Elz (formerly at KXOK as the “original Johnny Rabbitt” and at KSHE). At the same time, the station was called “KADI, The Rock of St. Louis.” See and hear more about KADI by clicking here.
In 1972, the frequency was changed from 96.5 to 96.3 to allow another station to go on the air at 97.1 FM. On Sunday, September 23, 1973, one of the station’s newsroom teletype machines caught fire, and flames spread throughout the studios located on Bomparte Avenue in Brentwood, MO. The broadcast transmitter and tower were also located there. It was also reported that the station resumed broadcasting soon after the fire, from a spare studio at competitor KSLQ. One former staffer recalled the station’s 385-foot tower, which housed the broadcast antenna. But I regularly received KADI from around 100 miles away before and after the fire, which I feel would have been impossible from that short of a tower and antenna, even at 100,000 watts. So I do question that information.
On a January 1974 aircheck, the location of the KADI studios was read on the air as 2440 South Brentwood in St. Louis. There are other discrepancies in KADI’s history, but for now, I’ll stand by what I’ve written here.
Click on the image to watch the video directly from YouTube.
KRJY-FM 96.3FM St. Louis (1993) Johnny King
This is a 23-minute aircheck with DJ Johnnie King at KRJY-FM, the former KADI-FM (St. Louis). By the way, I have a sweatshirt that Frank Absher, the St. Louis broadcast historian, gave me a few years ago, with that station’s logo on it. I still wear it, even though it’s over 30 years old; it’s held up unbelievably well, and still looks new! The only thing I know about the station is that it was on the frequency formerly used by KADI (FM) at 96.3 FM. It’s changed several times since then.
This is from the Travis House YouTube Channel.
Announcing...
I’m now associated with a new radio consulting company called “Open-Source Radio Group.” Their website states: “At Open-Source Radio Group, we believe in the power of open, flexible radio formats that give stations the freedom to create unique sounds without constraints. Our professionally programmed music formats are tailored to local markets, blending familiarity and innovation to connect with listeners.”
My association focused on developing a mass appeal format for radio listeners whom contemporary music formats have left behind. “Doug Quick’s Golden Classics” is available to small-market, low-power, and large-to-medium-market radio stations with HD channels and offers stations ultimate program flexibility, with 100% of the commercial time going to the station. Each format is available in three service tiers. It offers a station an automation-ready, custom, personality-driven format with music from the mid-60s, 70s, and early 80s. For more information, click on the logos above.
So, what does Doug Quick's Golden Classics sound like? Click on the Video above for a sample!
New Audio
Recorded July 5, 2026
This is a two-hour sample of "Golden Classics" with complete songs, and only the commercials are edited out. The call letters and the radio station are for demonstration purposes only and does not exist.
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Latest TV
Radio
Headlines
ABC Reported to Switch Affiliation from Sinclair's KDNL to Gray Media's KMOV Channel 4.2.
POSTED 2026-0723
Deadline.com has reported that ABC is leaving Sinclair's KDNL, Channel 30 and moving to Gray Media's KMOV, Channel 4.2 on September 1st.
KMOV-TV will provide locally produced newscasts, something that has not been a feature of KDNL since 1995, with newscasts being produced by KSDK-TV until 2001, before relying on a locally produced "news" alternative called "The Allman Report" an extension of a local conservative radio show described as having a "debate-driven format." It continued through 2018 when the host was involved in a controversial social media post.
KDNL has been said to be the lowest rated ABC affiliate in the country. What Sinclair plans to do with the station remains to be reported.
Audacy Sells St. Louis Radio Group to Hoffman Media Group Which Also Owns a Number of Illinois Newspapers
POSTED 2026-0629
UPDATED 2026-0713
It’s been reported that Audacy is selling its large group of radio stations in St. Louis to the Hoffmann Media Group, part of HF Companies of Winnetka, Illinois. HF Companies describes itself as “a multi-vertical, family-owned company and a multi-generational family business.” They recently obtained the NHL team, the Pittsburgh Penguins. They also own several publications, including the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
The media company also recently purchased Lee Enterprises, a publisher of over 120 newspapers including the following in Illinois:
The Bloomington Pantagraph
The Decatur Herald/Review
The Mattoon-Charleston Journal Gazette/Times-Courier
The Quad Cities Dispatch
Rock Island Argus
The St. Louis radio stations that are involved in the sale include:
WFUN(FM) “96.3 R&B”
KFTK(FM) “97.1 FM Talk
KYKY(FM) “Y-98”
KEZK(FM) “102.5 Adult Contemp”
KMOX AM/FM “News Talk 1120AM and 104.1FM”
K254CR/KEZK-HD2 “Hot 98.7”
The sale is pending FCC approval.
Layoffs at IHeart Media Affects Many On-Air Jobs and Other Positions
POSTED 2026-0625
iHeart Media is reportedly laying off dozens of on-air positions across its 860 stations in 160 markets, controlling over 21% of the U.S. radio market! The company has been in bankruptcy since 2019. With the current downturn in radio revenue due to shifts in listening behavior and reduced ad revenue amid increased competition from other audio sources, the company is struggling to meet its sales and profit goals.
It was in April that IHeart laid off many management and sales positions. Now, many well-known veteran air personalities have found themselves without a job. There have been reports that large portions of the air staff and other personnel at some stations have been affected by these layoffs. The company calls them “job impacts.”
iHeart Media does not own any radio stations that broadcast to Central Illinois, although many are streamed on the iHeart national streaming service.
From the St. Louis Market, IHeart stations include: KLOU(103.3FM), KSD(93.7FM). From Indianapolis, the IHeart stations include WFBQ(94.7FM). From Chicago their owned stations include WCHI(95.5FM), WGCI(107.5FM), WKSC(103.5FM), WLIT(93.9FM) and WVAZ(102.7FM). This list is by no means complete.
READ MY LATEST BLOG ON THIS SUBJECT.
Nexstar Makes a Claim That They Hope Will Clear a Path
to the Merger
UPDATE 2026-0522
Nexstar is fighting back against the filings of DirecTV and the attorneys general of several states hoping to end the merger of Nexstar and Tegna that amounts to over $6 billion.
Nexstar is now asking for an expedited appeal with the 9th Circuit Court saying that the preliminary injunction filed by a federal judge is damaging the company's future health.
Nexstar is accusing the US District Court's ruling is an overreach. Nexstar claims that their need to increase their station holdings well beyond what the FCC rules permit is causing "unrecoverable harm" to both companies. and their future operations.
Previous Information:
The merger would bring the total number of stations owned by one company to a number previously deemed illegal under FCC rules and regulations. The merger, according to the California Attorney General Rob Bonta, “is illegal and will give Nexstar and Tegna the ability to control and raise prices, fire journalists, and dominate the media landscape.” He went on to describe the merger as “a rotten deal for consumers, for workers, for affordability and for our local news.”
Nexstar currently owns/operates the TV stations WICA and WCIX (Champaign, IL) WMBD-TV and WYZZ (Peoria-Bloomington, IL) WTVO and WQRF (Rockford), WHBF-TV and KLJB(Quad Cities), WTTV, WTTK, and WXIN(Indianapolis), KPLR-TV and KTVI (St. Louis, MO).
Tegna currently owns/operates the TV stations WQAD (Quad Cities), KSDK-TV (St. Louis) and WTHR, WALV-CD (Indianapolis).
UPDATE 2026-0617
In an OpEd piece published in Fortune, Nexstar Chairman and CEO Perry Sook stated that the Nexstar/Tegna deal is "vital to the future of local television and local journalism," saying that "local broadcast news operations could collapse and disappear just as newspapers did if the deal is not allowed to go through."
In his piece he went on to state that "outdated" TV station ownership rules have crippled local broadcasts and have allowed big tech to dominate the media landscape.
He says that by not changing the ownership rules would be "dire" and local voices would be diminished or eliminated totally.
UPDATE 2026-0710
The District of Columbia Circuit Court of Appeals has dismissed a filing by Free Press objecting to the FCC’s initial approval of Nexstar's purchase of Tegna. The ruling dismissed the filing because the FCC has not held the final vote to approve the merger. There are still separate filings that have resulted in a preliminary injunction requiring Nexstar and Tegna to continue operating separately. This does not affect a continuing lawsuit involving several state attorneys general and DirecTV.
READ MY LATEST BLOG ON THIS SUBJECT.
More Mega Merger Issues between Scripps TV and INYO Stations
UPDATED 2026-0617 The issues with mega mergers among television broadcast groups continue, with one being called out by the Internet and Television Association (NCTA-National Cable Television Association). The association has filed comments with the FCC concerning the merger of E.W. Scripps and INYO Broadcast Holdings, a group of 23 TV stations that includes WIPX, Channel 63, and WCLJ-TV, Channel 42, in Indianapolis.
The Indianapolis stations and others exist to broadcast the signals of the ION TV networks and other leased boutique channels in their home markets. If you visit the TV Today menu at the top of the page and select Indianapolis, scroll to the WDLJ/WIPX listings, and you’ll find the station broadcasts the ION channels along with Court TV, Busted, Game Show Channel, Bounce, and a shopping channel. Both stations broadcast from the facility, with the Bounce Channel being the only listing with a virtual channel number of 42.1. All the others have virtual channel 63. Both broadcast a full-powered signal which covers Indianapolis and Bloomington, Indiana.
The acquisition, if approved, would result in a group of stations covering 40.29% of the U.S., just 1.29 percentage points above the current ownership cap of 39% of the population. FCC Chair Brendan Carr has already expressed that the agency would waive the ownership caps if the waiver would “be in the public interest.”
More recently, the FCC waived ownership rights to approve the Nexstar/Tegna merger that would result of the resulting group covering 54.5” of the U.S. population. That is now being litigated in the Federal Courts of California and Washington D.C. The NCTA contends that Congress did not give the FCC authority to waive the caps.
The Radio Hall of Fame Announces its Class of 2026
POSTED 2026-0522
The Radio Hall of Fame inductees for 2026 were announced earlier this week. They include at couple of former WLS DJs probably familier to Top 40 radio listeners in the 70s and 80s.
The group includes:
-
Boomer Esiason: WFAN-AM/FM, New York City
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Dennis Green: COO, Sun & Fun Media/Key Networks
-
Shotgun Tom Kelly: SiriusXM's '60s on 6
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Helen Little: WLTW-FM, New York City
-
Bob Pittman: Chairman and CEO, iHeartMedia, Inc.
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Rickey Smiley: Urban One/Reach Media
-
Charlie Van Dyke: Major-market Top 40 radio DJ, former WLS
and station voice for WICS
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Fred Winston: Chicago Top 40 radio, WLS
Congratulations to them all from Central Illinois' On-Line Broadcast Museum.
FCC Plans to Auction FM Radio Construction Permits to
Perspective Radio Owners
POSTED 2026-0512
The Federal Communications Commission plans to auction FM radio construction permits beginning in February 2027.
“Auction 114 would make available for bidding construction permits for vacant FM radio channels,” it said in the announcement.
It will offer 132 CPs, including 99 not previously offered; 33 of them were offered at auction before but unsold.
Most are Class A or Class C; there is a Class B1 in Illinois. That is for 96.9FM licensed to Mattoon, IL. Save your money, though, the bidding begins at $25,000.
WICS and WICD Changing Owners Again
UPDATED 2026-0714
The application also includes details on the continuation of the "shared services agreement" with GoCom Media in the operation of WRSP, WCCU, and WBUI.
UPDATED 2026-0331
Springfield based Illinois Times reported the proposed sale of WICS, Channel 20, Springfield and WICD, Channel 15, Champaign. This sale follows an earlier sale of the stations just over a year ago to Rincon Broadcasting (president Todd Parkin) which purchased the station duo among other TV stations previously owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group. Others in original sale included ones in Hannibal, MO-Quincy IL (KHQA), Kirksville, MO-Ottumwa, IA (KTVO). That sale to Rincon was reported to total $29.5 million.
Compare that to the most recent announcement of the sale being $116.5 million for the Springfield and Champaign stations and many others located in Memphis, TN; Omak-Okanogan, Washington; Milwaukee, Wi; Lincoln, NE; Prosser, WA; Sandpoint, ID; Colville, WA; Cape Girardeau, MO; Grangeville, ID; Pendleton, OR; Spokane, WA; Lewiston, ID; New Bedford, MA; Yuma, AZ; Richland, WA; Yakima, WA; Coeur D’Alene, ID; Tulsa, OK; and Paducah, KY. The sale also includes a number of translator stations that rebroadcast the main stations owned by Rincon to hard to reach areas in the Rockies.
The purchaser is Community News Media LLC. It’s website states that it is “a leading multimedia company providing local news and information through a wide range of print, digital, and radio products...”
The local newspapers owned by Community News Media in our region include the Champaign-Urbana News-Gazette, The Iroquois Times-Republic (Watseka, IL), Piatt County (Monticello, IL) Journal-Republican, and Fountain County Neighbor (Covington, IN).
Local radio stations owned by Community News Media include: WDWS (AM-FM), WHMS (FM), Champaign, IL; WKIO (FM), Monticello, IL; WDAN (AM), WDNL (FM), WRHK (FM), Danville, IL, WSOY (AM) and (FM), WDZ (AM), WDZQ (FM).
This purchase of the Rincon TV stations by Community News Media, LLC, appears to be the first venture into television for the company.
The ownership change is pending FCC approval.
More TV stations could appear soon in the Central Illinois market
POSTED 2026-0319
In Illinois, filings were made for new TV transmitters including 1 each for Springfield and Champaign.
The applications for both Springfield and Champaign were submitted by the same person/group, whose address is 26 N. Halsted, Chicago.
That is the home of Weigel Broadcasting. Two of the contacts listed in the application are with Weigel Broadcasting.
Weigel is the owner of MeTV, MeTV Toons, Movies!, H&I, StartTV, Story Television, Catchy Comedy, Dabl, West, and MeTV+. I'm assuming it's their intention to place all, or at least some, of those TV networks on each designated channel as digital subchannels.
In Springfield, the application is for Channel 14 with a power of 15kW from a tower/antenna height of 489-feet.
For Champaign the group is seeking Channel 33 with a power of 15kW from an tower/antenna, 450 feet high.
So far there has been confirmation of the approval of the petitions for those new low power TV transmitters.
POSTED 2026-0703
Hasbro Entertainment has launched Hasbro Legends, a new linear broadcast channel dedicated to the company’s portfolio of legacy brands.
Set to debut on July 2nd on full- and low-powered leased channel stations, it is expected to reach more than 70 million U.S. homes at launch, with additional distribution planned across streaming platforms, including the soon-to-be-launched Heartland+ service.
The network features programming from Hasbro’s franchise content library, including series based on G.I. Joe, Transformers, Power Rangers, My Little Pony, and Jem and the Holograms.
Now Streaming Nationally
Click on the image above to listen to MeTVFM. It's the popular music companion to MeTV, Memorable Entertainment Television, America’s #1 all classic television network. Launched at 87.7FM in late February, 2015, MeTVFM features a unique mix of timeless and memorable music incorporating a wide variety of classic hits, deep tracks and softer sounds spanning several decades of popular music.
Previously on Videos of the Week...
If you've missed any of the "Videos of the Week" or "Classic Radio" recordings, you'll find them here. Unfortunately, there's no written narrative to go along with each. You have to visit each week for that.
The Fugitive (1967) ABC The Judgment Parts 1 & 2
The Fugitive (1963) ABC Pilot episodes
The Prisoner (1968) CBS Pilot
Secret Agent (1965) CBSD opening credits for the US version of the UK series
The Outer Limits (1995) Showtime
The Time Tunnel (2002) Unsold Pilot Update
Classic Radio
The Steve Allen Show (1956) NBC Elvis
The Ed Sullivan Show (1956) CBS Elvis
Ozzie and Harriet (1958) ABC Rick Nelson
Dick Clark’s Beech-Nut Show (1959) ABC Paul Anka
American Bandstand (1963) ABC The Orlons
The Ed Sullivan Show (1964) CBS The Beatles “I Want to Hold Your Hand”
The Ed Sullivan Show (1964) CBS The Beatles “I Saw Her Standing There” in color
The Ed Sullivan Show (1964) CBS The Beatles Complete Live Performance
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (2026) CBS The Final Show Paul McCartney
The T.A.M.I Show (1964) Theatrical Film Assorted Performances
Hollywood Palace (1964) ABC Host: Dean Martin The Rolling Stones
The Ed Sullivan Show (1967), CBS, The Rolling Stones, “Let’s Spend the Night (Some Time) Together.”
Shindig (1964-66) ABC Variety of Performances
Hullabaloo (1965) NBC hosted by Gary and Jerry Lewis
The Hollywood Palace (1966) ABC Host Arthur Godfrey, The Mama's and the Papa's
The Smothers Brothers Show (1968) CBS The Association
This is Tom Jones (1969) ABC Tom Jones with Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young
Midnight Special (1975) NBC Rod Stewart and Faces
Classic Radio
WRLL, 1690AM, Berwyn-Chicago, IL (recreated 1958) countdown
KFWB, 980AM, Los Angeles (1958) B. Mitchell Reed and Bill Ballance
KXOK, 630AM, St. Louis (1961) Jack Elliot
WLS, 890AM, Chicago (1960s) Compilation of “The Lost 60s.”
WLS, 890AM, Chicago (1967) Art Roberts
KXOK, 630AM, St. Louis (1968) Johnny Rabbitt
Red Skelton Show (1951) CBS First Show
CBS News (1952) Douglas Edwards with the News
I Love Lucy (1953) Segment “At the Chocolate Factory”
Stars in the Eye (1952) CBS Special
Television City Tour-Part 1 (1953) CBS Edward R. Murrow
Television City Tour-Part 2 (1953) CBS
Jack Benny Show (1953) Guest: Marilyn Monroe
CBS Morning Show-first segment (1954) CBS Host: Jack Paar
See It Now (1954) CBS Edward R. Murrow
American Masters (1990) PBS Edward R. Murrow
The Bob Crosby Show (1955) CBS - Special Retrospective by Musicom
A Visit to CBS Color Television (1954) for affiliates only
Gunsmoke (1955) John Wayne’s Introduction
Andy Griffith Show (1962) CBS segment Ep 1
The Beverly Hillbillies (1963) CBS Clampetts in Court
Newsflash (1963) CBS Kennedy Assassination
CBS News Capsule (1963) CBS News Capsule
CBS Evening News (1963) CBS Evening News with Walter Cronkite
The Dick Van Dyke Show (1965) CBS Season 5 Ep 1
CBS News (1968) Walter Cronkite Calls for US to leave Vietnam
CBS News (1968) Walter Cronkite/Martin Luther King Jr. Assassination Report
The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour (1969) CBS The Never-Aired Episode
The Smothers Brothers Show Cancellation Press Conference (1969)
Classic Radio
CBS News-Chicago (2016) CBS Radio Signs off after 100 years
The Ruggles (1950) ABC “Charlie’s Promotion”
Danny Thomas Show (1961) CBS Guest: Bill Dana
Bachelor Father (1957) CBS Pilot Show
My Mother the Car (1965) NBC Pilot
The Second Hundred Years (1967) ABC
Nanny and the Professor (1970) ABC Pilot
All in the Family (1971) CBS Pilot
The Smith Family (1971) ABC Pilot
CLASSIC RADIO
KXOK (1966) William A. Hopkins
WIRL (1976) Robyn Weaver and the Early Birds
Next Regular Update Comes August 14
To Be Announced soon....
Next TV Time Capsule Comes on August 1st
Get some History of all of these Mid-Illinois Radio stations and others under Radio History on the main menu bar above and here by choosing:
Remembering CBS Radio News
launched in 1927 under William S. Paley layed the foundation for the Columbia Broadcasting System.
The network officially signed off on May 22, 2026 by its parent company Paramount, that eliminated all the staff and distribution to 700 radio affiliate stations.
Danville had a full powered TV station from 1953-1967. Get the History of this ill-fated TV station and why it is no longer a part of the Mid-Illinois TV landscape Plus, more artifacts are now a a permanent part of Central Illinois' On-Line Broadcast Museum. Get the entire story by going to the History of WDAN-TV.
Central Illinois On-Line Broadcast Museum and dougquick.com supports the work of the St. Louis Media History Foundation.
Visit their website at:
National Academy
of Television Arts
and Sciences
Mid-America Chapter
Silver Circle Award
Winner 2013
Doug Quick, the 2017
Medium market TV
Best TV News Anchor Sliver Dome Award from the Illinois Broadcasters Association
for his work with WCCU-TV
