Topic: CALLetters
The following link is to a slightly modified version of an article written by the curator that appeared in the November 8th, 1993 edition of the 'Tempo' section of the Chicago Tribune on the occasion of the 62nd anniversary of Chicago's first broadcast. It deals with KYW, Chicago's pioneer broadcast station and some of the silliness---in Chicago and elsewhere---that accompanied the 'Radio Craze' of the early 1920's.
1921 KYW-AM in Chicago, Illinois begins radio transmissions
1934 KYW-AM in Chicago, Illinois moves to Philadelphia Pennsylvania
1956 KYW-AM in Philadelphia Pennsylvania gives calls to WTAM (now WWWE) Cleveland Ohio. Philadelphia station owners, NBC, change call sign to WRCV (RCA Victor in Nearby Camden NJ)
[FCC antitrust lawsuits involving Westinghouse (Group W) and NBC ownership and affiliations force reversal of the 1956 move. Rumors at the time indicated NBC wanted swap to get foothold in larger market of Philadelphia and would cancel NBC television affilation with Group W's Philadelphia channel 3 TV station if they did not go along with the plan.]1965 following FCC and lawsuit hearings KYW-AM in Cleveland Ohio returns call letters to Philadelphia, PA and within a few months KYW 1060kc, now under GROUP W banner, begins an all news format similar to GROUP W's WINS 1010kc in New York City. GROUP W also brought their TV production of THE MIKE DOUGLAS SHOW with them broadcasting live from the 1619 Market Street basement TV theater studio and syndicating videotape version nationwide.
Updated: Wednesday, 14 November 2007 12:04 AM EST