The early 1920's. Birth of commercial radio as we know it today. KDKA in Pittsburg is recognized as being the first broadcast outlet, having given the election returns of the Harding-Cox presidential race in 1920. 1921 brought WJZ New York to the air with music and entertainment. Primitive radio sets were the norm in the early days, ranging from crystal "cat whisker" receivers, often fashioned out of oatmeal boxes. It got its name from its most important component, known as a crystal detector, originally made with a piece of crystalline mineral such as galena. Crude homemade single and multiple tube sets, both utilizing headphones were also being pioneered in the early days of radio broadcasting. By mid-decade, the tuned radio frequency receiver represented a major improvement in performance over what had been available before, later to be replaced by the superheterodyne receiver.

Sears President Julius Rosenwald flanked by early Sears/WLS print ads, including the one on the right 
which referred to the station by an early set of call letters - WJR.

In the Midwest, Sears-Roebuck and Company had flirted with the new medium by buying time on radio stations to address and target the lucrative farming market. By the winter of 1923, it was apparent to Sears that they needed their own broadcast outlet to continue their relationship with the farmers. As a result, the company started the Sears-Roebuck Agricultural Foundation, designed to be a clearinghouse for information and assistance through its Farm and Home Service Departments. Midwest farmers had been particularly hard hit with the deflation of 1920-21. Sears president Julius Rosenwald approved a plan to construct their own radio station. 

While transmitting and studio equipment was being completed for the new station, Sears was anxious to get on the air. For three weeks, the foundation bought airtime for a noontime farm program beginning on March 21, 1924, with its first assigned call letters WBBX, from the studios of WMAQ Radio.

On April 9, 1924 Sears signed on 500 watt WES (for World's Economy Store) from it's own studios in Chicago, Illinois.  The small studio was located next to the Agricultural Foundation offices on the 11th floor of the 14 story Sears-Roebuck tower.  The company's drafting room served as a control room, sending the signal to the transmitter site, located in Crete.  The initial night of testing featured singer Grace Wilson and the musical comedy team of Big Ford and Little Glenn.  Ford Rush was actually the first employee of the new Sears station, and was also it's first announcer.  Glenn Rowell soon became Studio Director and also headed up the station's music department.  Over the next two evenings (April 10 & 11) Sears aired more test programs.  The Sears switchboards reportedly "lit up like Christmas trees" with listeners checking in after hearing the broadcasts. 

(L-R) Sam Guard and Edgar Bill apply the finishing touches, hours before the inaugural WLS broadcast.  
Grace Wilson, known as "The Girl With A Million Friends."   Ford And Glenn performing on the first broadcast.

After several days of experimental transmissions, the station officially went on-the-air on April 12th.  On the evening of formal dedication, Sears changed the calls to WLS Radio.  The call letters stood for World's Largest Store, a name the giant retailer and catalogue merchant had gained from their West Side Headquarters on Homan Avenue. 

Shortly after 6:00 pm, Edgar Bill stepped to the microphone and exclaimed "Here ye, here ye, here ye! WLS, the Sears-Roebuck station is on the air!" With those words, station WLS was off and running!  Ford and Glenn appeared on the inaugural night as well as Grace Wilson, who sang "At The End Of The Sunset Trail" in addition to a new song by station organist Ralph Waldo Emerson.  

As the night wore on, renowned dramatic actress Ethel Barrymore was introduced to say a few words on the broadcast.  However, upon seeing the new-fangled microphone, she froze up and exclaimed "Turn that damned thing off!"  

Movie cowboy hero William S. Hart recited a powerful rendition of "Invictus" with his eyes shut, fists clenched and perspiration pouring down his face!  Notable speakers on hand included Chicago Mayor William E. Dever, Jane Addams of the Hull House; H.W. Mumford of the Illinois College of Agriculture and E.T. Meredith, former US Secretary of Agriculture among others.  

Through a special hookup with a station in New York, special opening addresses were given by Gloria Swanson, Amelia Bingham, Arthur Brisbane, H.B. Warner and William Faversham. According to Edgar Bill, "It was a grand opening, never to be forgotten by those in attendance."

Among the guests on the inaugural broadcast included (L-R) actress Ethel Barrymore, actor William S. Hart, 
Chicago Mayor William E. Dever and Hull House founder Jane Addams.

Originally, the Sears station was licensed to south suburban Crete.  This was the dawning era of radio and Sears knew they could get in on the ground floor by not only selling radios, but providing programming and farm service as well. As stated in the 1925 Sears Catalogue, "WLS was conceived in your interests, is operated in your behalf and is dedicated to your service.  It is your station."     Broadcasting several hours a day, the station's slogan becomes "Bringing The World To The Farm." According to accounts, in little more than four years, WLS went from being an obscure signal to a Midwestern powerhouse.  It was even rumored to be heard as far away as New Zealand!  The station aired speeches from President Calvin Coolidge, Ralph Stockton's sermons, the comedy of Pie Plant Pete and  the wit of Will Rogers.  WLS hosted a 1925 Military Tournament as well as Chicago's reception of Colonel Charles Lindbergh

Early WLS programming included Johnny Muskrat, who assisted farmers in getting top dollar 
for their "raw furs" and cooking shows broadcast from Sears' Bungalow Studio.

While the main focus was farm and civic programming, several popular-music, comedies and radio serials could be heard as well.  Nearly 60 different bands called WLS home, while over 130 musical acts aired on the station for free.  On April 19th, 1924 the station aired the first National Barn Dance program, a four-hour cavalcade of music, comedy and down-home entertainment.  The program went on to become one of the most popular and longest running country-and-western shows in history, second only to The Grand Old Opry.  By 1932, the National Barn Dance program would be cut to two hours and broadcast live, originating from the Eighth Street Theater in the South Loop. 

An early picture of the National Barn Dance troupe in the "old hayloft," the Sears-Roebuck studios. 
This was taken on the night of the Harvest Home Festival and Carnival Corn Show.

The "Solemn Old Judge," George Dewey Hay was one of  the nation's most popular radio announcers when he  brought his voice and his whistle to WLS in 1924. He helped form the National Barn Dance at WLS and went on to create the Grand Old Opry after moving to WSM Radio in Nashville.

Another popular show during the station's early years was "WLS Unlimited." The show would begin with a whistle blown by The "Solemn Old Judge," played by George D. Hay. The Indiana born Hay who moved with his family to Chicago when he was a child was hardly solemn and certainly not old - at age 29! Ford and Glenn were also featured on the program which took listeners on a transcontinental trip across the country. "WLS - Chi-caw-go! The first stop will be Clinton Iowa," Hay would proclaim! The Solemn Old Judge had another cohort, a double yellow-headed Mexican parrot named "Static," who learned to speak English. Static would assist Hay in calling out the stops on the WLS Unlimited. The parrot was given the run of the station and could often be heard squawking in the background during other WLS programs.  In September 1924, Hay was awarded the title of "World's Best Radio Announcer" by Radio Digest Illustrated. In addition to the accolades, he also received a 14 carat gold trophy at a ceremony in New York City.

In addition to farm programming, children's shows and "down-home entertainment, the station also aired vaudeville skits, one act comedies and even sound poems "...given by professional readers." WLS was one of the first radio stations to air Shakespeare plays. In September 1924, the wife of playwright H.D. Saddler directed "The Merchant Of Venice" in addition to many other plays. The performances were pared down to thirty minutes with a brief synopsis of the scenes that didn't make the broadcast. A group of farm plays written around the modern farmer and his family were also presented.

(L) Ford Rush, George Dewey Hay and Glenn Rowell of WLS Unlimited.   (R) Static the parrot learns some new words.

WLS Staff in 1925 (Standing L-R) E. Warren K. Howe (Opera), George D. Hay (Chief Announcer), 
Ford Rush, Grace Viall Gray (Homemakers), Edgar Bill (Director). (Seated L-R) Anthony Wons (Drama),
George Biggar (Farm and Markets), Martha Meier (Pianist and vocalist)

WLS was originally housed on the 11th floor in the Sears-Roebuck headquarters on Homan Avenue.

After a frequency shuffle in autumn 1928, WLS changed from 3/7 to 5/7 time at 870 kHz.  A court order permitted WENR, known as "The Voice of Service in Chicago" to share equal on-air time with WLS.  The station, owned by Great Lakes Broadcasting Company (originally opened by E.N. Rauland), signed on in March, 1925.

Jeff Davis tells "The Dial Story."

 Broadcasting mainly from the Civic Opera House, WENR appealed to a more urban audience. The station, (which had utilities magnate Samuel Insull as an investor), featured the Edison Symphony Orchestra and the Home Services Show, sponsored by Peoples Gas Light & Coke Company. The WENR Studio Orchestra featured Frank Westphal on piano, who had previously aired on WLS. WENR also aired minstrel and comedy shows and a strange program starring a singing canary! With the time-sharing agreement, the two stations would squabble back and forth for the next 26 years. WENR was acquired by NBC in 1931 and became, along with WLS, the Chicago outlets for the Blue Network.

By 1943, NBC Blue became the American Broadcasting Company (ABC) and the two stations merged in 1954 (more on that  later).

 
In addition to selling radios, Sears Roebuck also sold tubes and other accessories using the "WLS" brand.

A new era was about to begin at WLS as the station transferred from its first 
to its second owner by the end of 1928.

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