Hi Scott,

I happened across your nifty WLS page, and got a kick out of reading through it, and looking at the pictures. Including one of me. From 1963 to 1967, I was Production Director at WLS-AM. I was hired by Gene Taylor, then program director under Ralph Beaudin. When Ralph went to New York, Gene became GM and Clark Weber took over as PD. I'm still in touch (e-mail) with Art Roberts, Ron Riley, engineer Dale Shimp (who did most of the engineering on "The Adventures of Peter Fugitive"), and I regularly see Clark Weber, who is still active in Chicago. A couple or three years ago, there was a WLS Musicradio reunion at Ditka's (were you there?) and it was great to again see Dex Card, Jerry Golden, Bud Miller, and Bob Hale...with whom I had worked in Peoria (WIRL) prior to ABC buying WLS from Prairie Farmer. After leaving WLS, I continued to do free lance voice-overs, and opened a recording studio (Studio One) with Kirk Johnson, a sound engineer. That was back in 1970. He bought me out about 8 years ago, but I still maintain an office at the studio, which I use as headquarters for coaching newcomers in voice-over, producing their demos, doing production work on commercials, etc. I write a column for Screen Magazine, and try to stay out of trouble. My oldest son, Jeff, is a sound designer at CRC (Chicago Recording Company) on East Ohio Street. I get a chance to do productions with him every so often, which is a kick. Again, many thanks for the fun I had reviewing all those familiar faces in your WLS spread. It was a wonderful experience being part of that station and that era. It seems we never really appreciate something, until it's viewed in retrospect.

All the best.

-Ray Van Steen

 

 
   

Scott,

Great web site! Brought back all kinds of memories, having grown up with the Silver Dollar Survey, etc. (hey, I still have my Ron Riley Batman Club button!!)  My brothers Tom, Bob, and I grew up in the Rogers Park Neighborhood of Chicago in the 50's and 60's.....WLS was a focal point of great music then, and great memories now.

Glad you made the effort to put all the stuff on the website.  My Dad worked for WLS-TV, and my brothers and I got to know lot of the staff and talent over the years in both radio and television.  The Big 89 was really into our generation back then, as the internet is today.

Dick Biondi's "On Top of a Pizza"....I nearly forgot that.

Thanks,

-Jim Stahl

Here you go Jim, you asked for it and you got it!  -Scott 

 

 
 
 

Hi Scott,

I can see you put a lot of effort into your pages. It was a great trip down memory lane.  I think my thoughts of the Chicago area were kindled by the plane crash in Zion today. (which took the life of WGN Radio's Bob Collins on February 8, 2000)  I have a friend there and it made me think of the time I lived in Waukegan from '81 to '88 while I was in the Army at Ft. Sheridan and then Great Lakes. It's good to know the people I listened to are doing well. I'll have to dig out my Animal Stories album. One joke they had about the guy taking a duck to the theater and the duck started eating the old ladies popcorn is one of my all time favorites.

Thank you,

-David Leach

 

 
 
 

Scott-

While surfing. I was delighted to find your article about the "new" WLS in the 60's. My friends and I "grew-up" listening to Dick Biondi, Fred Winston, Dex Card, and the others mentioned. 
I assume this article will be on the net for a limited time.
I am a real nostalgia kind of guy. 

Thanks,

- Paul H. Miner 
Lakeland, Florida (formerly from Decatur, Illinois)

Never fear Paul, these pages are here to stay and are updated regularly! (www.WLSHistory.com)  I am always trying to add more content, 
so stop back again soon!  -Scott

 
 
Scott,

Enjoyed it...really took me back!  I grew up listening to WLS across the lake near Benton Harbor, MI.  EVERYONE listened to it!  I remember well the lyrics of popular songs that were re-done as WLS promos.  For example, the Pointer Sisters: "I'm driving in your car, you're listening to WLS." Also, the Grass Roots: (from "Sooner or Later, Love is Gonna Get Ya...") "W-L-S-----Chicago--- Sooner or Later..."

-Mary Simko

Mary, Don't forget "Life is a rock, WLS rolled me" by Reunion and "I'm at WLS in Chicago" (from the WKRP theme in 1982)!  -Scott

 
 
Scott,

Great site! Having cut my early radio teeth listening to Chicago radio, I particularly enjoyed your WLS memorabilia! 

-Michael Wolfgang 
Production Director, ESPN Radio 1000 (WMVP)

 

 

 
 
 

Hey Scott,

I've really been enjoying the WLS History site! I grew up near Bowling Green, Kentucky, and during my high school days of the early 1970s WLS was the station all of us listened to ... there was nothing else as good. I can still hear "89 ... W L S" in my head, and I remember how the song title and station ID used to be inserted into the intro of some popular songs (for some reason, I remember Donny Osmond's "Sweet and Innocent", with the tag line over the music, "sweet ... and innocent ... W L S"). Later, I moved to San Jose, California, and for a long time every station there was measured, in my mind, against what I remembered on the Big 89. Thanks again for stirring up some happy old memories.

Joe Reda
-Heyworth, IL

 

 

 
 

morethoughts

 

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