WAKR

Add links
This is a good article. Click here for more information.
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
This article is about the radio station in Akron, Ohio. For the television station formerly known as WAKR from 1953 to 1986, see WVPX-TV.

WAKR
FCC
Facility ID43871
ClassB
Power5,000 watts
Transmitter coordinates
41°01′14″N 81°30′20″W / 41.02056°N 81.50556°W / 41.02056; -81.50556
Translator(s)93.5 W228EL (Akron)
Links
Public license information
Webcast
Websitewakr.net

WAKR (1590 

radio station licensed to serve Akron, Ohio, and known as "Soft Hits 93.5 FM". Locally owned and operated by Rubber City Radio Group, Inc., the station primarily services the Akron metropolitan area, including both Summit County and Portage County
.

The station's current

Cleveland Cavaliers, and Cleveland Guardians radio networks, as well as the Ohio State Sports Network. Prior formats on WAKR have included talk radio (in three distinct iterations), oldies and adult standards
.

Signed on by S. Bernard Berk on October 16, 1940 (1940-10-16), WAKR was neither the first radio station to have been built in Akron, nor the oldest surviving station,

WAKR-FM (97.5) in 1947 and TV outlet WAKR-TV (channel 49, later 23) in 1953, and culminated as the flagship of "Group One Broadcasting", a nine-station chain with broadcast outlets in Akron, Dayton, Dallas and Denver.[8] The station remained in the hands of the Berk family until a series of ownership transfers starting in 1986 resulted in the Rubber City Radio Group purchasing it and WONE-FM (the former WAKR-FM) in 1993;[9] Rubber City has operated both stations in tandem with WQMX
into the present day.

WAKR's studios are located in Akron's Wallhaven neighborhood, while the station transmitter is located in the city's southeast side.[10] In addition to a standard analog transmission, WAKR's programming is relayed over low-power Akron translator W228EL (93.5 FM) and is available online.

History

A third voice for Akron

An attorney and appliance store owner, S. Bernard Berk prevailed in a nearly three-year-long legal battle to establish WAKR, presiding over it and original parent company Summit Radio for over 25 years.

S. Bernard Berk, a practicing attorney and electrical appliance store operator in Akron,

headlights for oncoming traffic at night,[13] and also designed a five-speaker public address system for Western Electric.[14]

high-fidelity broadcasting.[17] Berk appealed the decision, claiming that the commission ignored testimony from Akron officials and leaders desiring a third station,[18] and after securing statements of support from 34 different civic, religious and community organizations in the city, the FCC reversed itself on August 8, 1939, granting the permit.[19]

Washington insiders don't give interested Akronites much chance of being granted a license for a third radio station in the rubber city ... I can't say we need it ...

John S. Knight, in his Editor's Notebook column for the Akron Beacon Journal, July 22, 1937[15]

WJW and WADC filed protests against the ruling and requested a rehearing, along with two other stations that operated on the proposed 1530

kHz frequency: KITE (the former KXBY) and WBRY in Waterbury, Connecticut.[b] KITE and WBRY objected on engineering grounds and would later withdraw their protests, while WJW and WADC objected on economic grounds.[21] At a final review set forth by the commission on October 25, 1939,[22] WJW's counsel stated that the station either made profits of less than $900 a year or had been operating at a loss since 1936, having paid out most of their income on employee salaries.[23] (After WAKR's launch and a subsequent sale of the station, WJW moved out of Akron and into the Cleveland market in November 1943.[24]) After the proceedings, sources close to the FCC told the Beacon Journal that the commission had been changing its focus to awarding permits unless there was an engineering issue and was no longer taking economic arguments into account.[23]

Following this final review, Berk was awarded federal authorization to construct WAKR on January 10, 1940, under his family-owned business Summit Radio Corp.[11] Studios were set up on the ground floor of the First Central Tower in downtown Akron—now known as the Huntington Tower[25]—and WAKR signed up to be an affiliate of NBC's Blue Network and Thesaurus radio transcription service upon launch.[26] Due to WAKR's frequency having been recently included for use for broadcast purposes, Berk's radio appliance store offered free of charge to change the tuning devices on any radios that did not go up to 1530 kHz.[27][28] After being formally granted the license on October 16, 1940, WAKR took to the air that evening with a grand opening ceremony emceed by Milton Cross, host of the NBC Blue game show Information Please, along with NBC Blue's Metropolitan Opera radio broadcasts.[29]

Initially at 1530 kHz with 1,000 watts, WAKR was moved to 1590 kHz on March 28, 1941, as a result of the North American Regional Broadcasting Agreement, and had power output raised to 5,000 watts the following December.[12] S. Bernard Berk's son, Roger G. Berk, had his first job in the medium digging post holes at WAKR's transmitter site in the city's southeast side;[8] the site remains in active use today.[10]

Market dominance

One of several industry trade magazine advertisements taken out by WAKR in the mid-1940s promoting their ratings dominance, this listed WAKR's ratings for ABC Radio programs compared to other affiliates

We had to send an engineer out with a reporter... they radioed it in (using cumbersome two-way radios strapped to their backs) and we would record it on discs. We didn't have tapes or wires; we actually put it on wax.

Roger G. Berk, on WAKR's methods for filing news reports in the 1940s[4]

While WADC had an advantage of being a

United Press and the Associated Press.[8][27] During WAKR's peak in the mid-1940s, C. E. Hooper ratings showed the station with as much as 55 percent of the Akron audience in mornings and 30 percent of the audience in afternoons;[30] even local ratings for Don McNeill's Breakfast Club outperformed comparable ABC Radio affiliates by significant margins.[31] WAKR took out multiple full-page advertisements in Broadcasting throughout 1945 and 1946 boasting of their ratings dominance, calling themselves "Tops in Akron" (also a play on the 1590 kHz frequency being at the "top" of the medium wave band).[30]

Along with the highly rated weekday programming, WAKR also offered multiple specialty programs. One of the longer running programs was the children-oriented Tip Top Tales, hosted by

WKSU-FM.[37]

The "WAKR Talent School"

Throughout the 1940s and 1950s, WAKR became famous in the industry as being a "stepping stone" for up-and-coming announcers, actors, and television presenters, in what would be informally known as the "WAKR Talent School" under S. Bernard Berk's guidance.[27] Future Peter Gunn co-star Lola Albright joined WAKR after graduating from high school as a receptionist before finding additional work at WTAM in Cleveland.[38] Peter Hackes worked as a newsman at WAKR in the late 1940s before going to CBS News and NBC News, later making notable cameos in the films Broadcast News and True Colors.[39]

He plans to do free lance TV work in the big city and don't be surprised if you see his face on some network video programs.

Art Cullison, on Art Fazzin leaving WAKR in 1952[40]

Shortly after signing on, the station hired a young announcer named Stephen Richards, who did announcing, acting, and engineering work, and broke the news of the Attack on Pearl Harbor on-air.[41] After leaving WAKR for a brief stint at WJW, Richards starred in the Weathervane Playhouse stage production Yes and No before moving to Los Angeles, a chance meeting with two Hollywood press agents prompted him to go to the Warner Bros. Burbank studios.[42] A 1944 promotional booklet issued by the studio promoting new talent signings said of Richards, "Walked into Warner Brothers studio. Asked for a job. Got it."[43] Assuming the stage name Mark Stevens, his first theatrical appearance was a bit role in Passage to Marseille,[44] and went to appear in over eighty feature films and forty different television programs.[41]

Art Fazzin was hired as Top O' the Morning host in January 1949, having worked previously at radio stations in North Carolina.

color commentary for Akron Zips football games,[46] announced Soap Box Derby finals for the station,[47] and hosted various other daytime programs. Fazzin left the station on January 11, 1952, to pursue freelance work in New York City, leading Beacon Journal writer Art Cullison to predict, "don't be surprised if you see his face on some network video programs."[40] Using his middle name for the stage name Art Fleming, Fazzin became best known as the first host of the television game show Jeopardy![7]

Alan Freed was a popular late-evening host on WAKR from 1945 to 1950. Freed's departure resulted in the enforcement of a year-long non-compete clause, followed by him landing at Cleveland's WJW (850 AM)
.

Perhaps WAKR's most famous personality in this era was

bobby soxer audience early on at WAKR; when that was dropped from the lineup, the station added an evening show hosted by Freed titled Wax Works.[52] The station also launched an phone participation contest program hosted by Freed in 1948, entitled Hello, Cinderella.[53] After an ABC Radio program hosted by Paul Whiteman was cancelled, WAKR declined to pick up a replacement program offered by ABC and Freed's daytime show was reinstated, giving him over five hours of airtime every day.[50] Even with his popularity, Freed was reportedly fired temporarily in 1948 for violating studio rules,[c] later accounts suggested it was due to his failure to show up for several days in a row.[5]

Many a Hollywood star would envy (Alan Freed's) fan mail... which averages about 500 letters and postcards a day... plus telegrams and special delivery epistles... A well-meaning mother was having trouble getting her baby to sleep... so she called WAKR to have Alan sing a lullaby... Result! Freed did... but the baby didn't.

Bee Offineer[51]

When Freed left the station on February 12, 1950, he attempted to resurface at WADC several days later on a program sponsored by an area record store.[55] After one show, Berk sued Freed to enforce a non-compete clause preventing him from working at any station within a radius of 75 miles (121 km) from Akron for a full year.[56] This clause was included in a contract Freed signed in 1948, at the height of his popularity at WAKR, and has been used as a model for broadcasters ever since.[5] After exhausting his legal appeals and on the brink of financial ruin, Freed surfaced for a brief time at WXEL (channel 9),[57] then joined WJW (850 AM) in Cleveland after the non-compete finally ended; it is at WJW where he made history coining the phrase "Rock and Roll" for rhythm and blues recordings played on his program, and where he presided over the Moondog Coronation Ball, a landmark popular music event.[58]

WAKR hired

WNEW-TV and WABC (770 AM) being cancelled.[64] Muni, however, is perhaps best known for his long run as a pioneering progressive rock air personality at WNEW-FM.[6]

From mid-1956 to 1960, Charlie Greer—nicknamed "The Skinny Boy"—hosted WAKR's Top O' the Morning program, later re-titled Happy Music.[65][66] Greer also famously emceed a "Miss Downtown Akron" beauty pageant on a day in 1959 when multiple buildings in downtown Akron were demolished.[67] Greer left the station in November 1960 to join WABC upon that station's conversion to a Top 40 format,[68] teaming up with former WAKR colleague Scott Muni in the process as part of WABC's "Swingin' Seven at 77". When reporting about Greer's departure from the station and noting the alumni that already had preceded him, Akron Beacon Journal writer Dick Shippy commented, "...whoever does the picking at WAKR must have the right formula."[69] Jack Ryan also made his debut at WAKR in June 1956 as the late-morning host;[70] unlike Muni and Greer, Ryan remained at the station in that time slot until retiring at the end of 1986.[71][72]

Enter Knight, FM and TV

See also: WONE-FM and WVPX-TV
transmitter mast once used by WAKR-FM and WAKR-TV remained on top of the building until July 9, 2019.[73]

In April 1946, Akron Beacon Journal publisher John S. Knight, who had been previously critical of the efforts to establish WAKR, purchased a 45 percent interest of Summit Radio Corp. for an undisclosed amount; no changes in management or operations came with this transaction.

trade organization of FM broadcasters and enthusiasts, notably predicted at a WAKR-FM sponsored function of radio store owners that a network composed solely of FM stations having complete coverage throughout the contiguous United States could be established as early as 1948.[78]

As WAKR-FM was being established, Summit Radio Corp. and WADC filed competing applications for the lone television channel assigned to Akron, originally intended as a

UHF band.[83] When the freeze was lifted, the FCC's Sixth Report and Order reassigned the proposed Akron license as one of two potential UHF signals for the market.[84] Summit Radio won the license for WAKR-TV on channel 49 by September 4, 1952;[85][86] a coin flip determined the winning bid between Summit and WADC, as the other frequency available, channel 65, was not considered operable at the time.[8] While initially based at the First Central Tower,[87] and with a UHF mast affixed to the top of the building,[88] WAKR, WAKR-FM and WAKR-TV moved the following year to new studios at the former Copley Theatre, which only had existed as a theater between March 1947 and October 1952.[89]

Even though the job of a TV journalist has many repetitive actions, the substance of the job, the news, almost never repeats itself. This is something I discovered during my first serious job when I worked at WAKR TV and Radio in Akron. I spent three years there and loved the fact that the sense of discovery with my job changed every day as the news would change.

Ted Henry[90]

From the start, WAKR personalities also appeared on WAKR-TV; including Jack Fitzgibbons,[91] Bill Murphy and Bob Wylie.[92][93] Scott Muni hosted a nightly weather segment on the TV station at 6:55 p.m., directly leading in to his nightly Top 40 program on WAKR,[94] and also hosted The Hop, a local music and dance program.[95] Charlie Greer also hosted a limited-run dance program devoted to big band music over WAKR-TV in 1958.[96] Muni and Greer's former colleague Jack Ryan would later serve as the lead weatherman for WAKR-TV's evening newscasts throughout the 1960s, 1970s and early 1980s. Ted Henry began his career as a reporter for WAKR and WAKR-TV in 1965.[90] Sports coverage on WAKR would also find itself shown on WAKR-TV; this included Akron Zips football and basketball broadcasts, Wylie in particular soon became known as the "Voice of the Zips".[92] WAKR-TV also touted itself as having broken news of the armistice agreement which formally suspended the Korean War well before any of the Cleveland market stations reported the news.[97]

Despite the touting of UHF signals as not being any different from VHF signals in a technical sense,[84] along with optimistic words from S. Bernard Berk at launch that "about 99-44/100% of the Akron area will receive (WAKR-TV) without difficulty",[98] the station immediately ran into issues with poor reception, transmission issues relating to inclement weather conditions, and a lack of adequate UHF channel tuners.[99] Even with passage of the All-Channel Receiver Act, these problems which would not be totally resolved until Summit Radio successfully petitioned the FCC to amend channel allocations between Canton and Akron, allowing WAKR-TV to move to a reassigned channel 23 allocation at higher power,[100] the change took place on December 1, 1967.[101] WAKR-TV amassed a "seven figure" operating deficit from 1953 until the move to channel 23[102] and lost significant amounts of money for the majority of its existence; Summit Radio relied on profits from WAKR to keep the TV station solvent.[97]

WAKR-TV became an ABC-TV affiliate when they signed on, owing to WAKR's existing ABC affiliation; Berk attributed the recent merger with United Paramount Theaters to create American Broadcasting-Paramount Theatres as a determining factor for the affiliation.[103][88] This competitive advantage would soon end, however, after WEWS became the ABC-TV affiliate for the Cleveland market. While WEWS had the larger audience by a commanding margin, both stations would fight for each other's viewership for the next four decades.[97]

Grouped as ONE

John S. Knight, publisher of the Akron Beacon Journal and founder of what would become Knight Ridder, owned minority interest in WAKR's parent company from 1946 to 1977. A planned merger between the two entities in 1968 was never completed.

The Berk family's broadcasting interests expanded when they purchased

college scholarship in S. Bernard Berk's name.[107]

(Roger G.) Berk wants to be Vice President-Broadcasting. The reason? Status! This is terribly important to him and you must know the man to understand his attitude. As I read it, Berk fears being 'shunted aside.' He craves recognition, doesn't want to be known forever as 'the man from WAKR.' More on this later.

Knight Newspapers-Summit Radio merger[108]

John S. Knight and Roger G. Berk began talks of merging Summit/Group One and Knight Newspapers in late 1967, at a potential value of $6.6 million.

Scripps Howard properties, this included Knight re-purchasing Scripps Howard's 25 percent minority stake in the Akron Beacon Journal.[110] By April 1968, the merger talks evolved into Knight buying out the remaining 55 percent of Summit/Group One stock held by the Berk family, with Roger G. Berk being retained as manager for the group's stations in Dallas and Dayton,[4] while Berk continued to lobby extensively to have a larger role within Knight Newspapers.[111]

The merger talks ultimately reached an impasse and collapsed by December 1968;

KLZ-FM in Denver from Time-Life Broadcasting for $2.75 million on February 12, 1972.[114]

Locally, WAKR-FM had entered into separate programming with an

quadraphonic stereo in 1972.[116] Even with all of those changes, the call sign was changed to WAEZ on July 9, 1973, in order to establish a distinct identity for it, compared to WAKR and WAKR-TV.[117] Summit/Group One vice president Alfred G. Grosby expressed regret that it did not occur sooner, as the FM station was already boasting a strong audience and advertiser base, WAEZ was chosen by the staff after analyzing a computer query of all available call signs.[118]

Consistency at 1590

Newspaper ad promoting Jerry Healey's March 1976 return to WAKR; also featuring much of the station's news personnel and air staff.

WAKR's music focus evolved throughout the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, becoming

adult contemporary centered around local personality and extensive sports coverage. News reporter Kenny Halterman worked at WAKR from 1961 until his retirement in 1982, Halterman also moonlit as an instructor at Kent State University and filed reports for WAKR-TV.[119] Halterman was part of a news department for a radio station that, at its peak in the 1970s, employed 12 full-time reporters.[120]

Jerry Healey joined the station in August 1967 calling games for the

initialism for the phrase "Thank God It's Friday", which was also used as a title for a WAKR-TV program, TGIF Party, in 1974.[128] Healey left the station again on March 24, 1977, the result of a contract dispute.[129]

Meanwhile, after having left for New York City in 1960, Charlie Greer returned to WAKR on July 2, 1973, as afternoon drive host,[130] he then took over as morning show host after Healey's first departure.[126] Greer resumed work in afternoons when Healey returned,[127] remaining in that timeslot until leaving in September 1980.[131] Charlie Greer's replacement in afternoon drive, Bill Hart, was also named as program director.[132]

Many times we would get off the air and be exhausted from laughing so much. I remember saying, "You know, Bob (Allen), these are the good old days." And they were.

Adam Jones[133]

The station hired the duo of Adam Jones (Robert Ocepek) and Bob Allen (Gorden Van Waes) for morning drive on August 21, 1978, after previous work at WQUA in Moline, Illinois and WPTF in Raleigh, North Carolina.[133] As part of a viral marketing campaign, Jones and Allen went around the city wearing t-shirts emblazoned "Adam and Bob", handing out two-dollar bills and pairs of concert tickets to the general public.[134] The Adam and Bob Show soon became listener favorites, ranked at or near the top of the ratings in the Akron market throughout their entire tenure, and were even ranked among the top 25 morning shows nationwide by Radio & Records in the fall of 1983.[135] Jones and Allen became best known for their many comedic segments and laid-back presentation, with an on-air chemistry so prevalent that they often concluded their shows in fits of laughter.[133][136]

Bob Friend was another mainstay who joined the station in 1967 doing production work, then moving into on-air duties hosting afternoon drive the following year.

dream analysis provided by Friend from people calling in to the station.[138] The Dream Machine feature became so popular that Bob Friend continued to host speaking engagements with different community groups relating to dream interpretations for many years after it was cancelled in 1991.[136]

Accentuating the station's prolific sports coverage, Mike Snyder was named sports director for WAKR in September 1982, announcing games for the Kent State Golden Flashes, the Akron Zips, and the

KJAC-TV in Port Arthur, Texas.[142] Denny Schreiner also served as WAKR and WAKR-TV's sports director prior to joining ESPN as lead play-by-play voice for their PBA Tour coverage.[143]

Sales and transitions

Reportedly under pressure from the FCC,

junk bond frenzy of the mid-late 1980s.[4] WAKR-TV was retained by the Berk family under the Group One name; a columnist for the Akron Beacon Journal jokingly mused, "does that mean that Channel 23 is now a group of one?"[148]

Summit/Group One had previously filed a trademark for the WAKR call sign on August 6, 1985, this trademark has since been cancelled.

teletype-based musical introduction that had been in use for over 30 years.[151]

Less than three weeks after DKM Broadcasting announced that the company would undergo an

Cleveland Cavaliers Radio Network that gave the NBA franchise priority over all other teams,[154] WAKR declined to renew their contract for the Akron Zips at the start of the 1989 football season, resulting in game coverage being moved to WZIP; this ended a relationship that had been in place since the 1950s.[155]

I think I did some good work here. I have four statewide awards to show for it. I can walk out of here with my head up and a lot of friends... I don't feel anything but good about the people I have worked with and the job I have done here.

Don Ursetti[156]

At the start of 1989, Summit purchased two stations from the FCC-ordered breakup of

GenCorp's RKO General: WFYR (103.5 FM) in Chicago on January 4 for a combined $21 million,[157][d] and WRKS (98.7 FM) in New York City on May 10 for a combined $50 million.[158][e] Following published reports that Summit would soon divest WAKR and WONE-FM as a result of the RKO General station purchases, Summit reached a deal to sell both stations to Ragan A. Henry's U.S. Radio for $13 million on June 5, 1989.[159] An African-American, Henry purchased both stations under one of multiple partnerships and groups he had controlling interest in, FCC regulations set up to encourage minority ownership permitted him to own up to 14 AM and 14 FM stations.[160] Despite having received approval by the FCC and after having announced multiple subsequent purchase agreements, the sale of WAKR and WONE-FM did not close until the following January, due to issues securing financing for the actual payment.[161]

While WAKR celebrated their 50th anniversary in October 1990 with fanfare, the station was also starting to deal with declining ratings outside of morning drive and significant budget cuts under U.S. Radio.

Cleveland Indians Radio Network.[162] WAKR returned to the Indians Radio Network for the following season.[163][f]

The "Friday Massacre"

Adam Jones (Robert Ocepek) and Bob Allen (Gorden Van Waes) co-hosted morning drive on WAKR from 1978 until Jones' dismissal in 1991 following a format change. The duo were perennially at the top of local ratings surveys throughout their entire tenure together.

On May 31, 1991, a date later referred to as "The Friday Massacre" by personality Bob Friend,[167] WAKR abruptly dropped all music programming in favor of talk radio.[168] such a format change had been discussed before by station management, but research did not justify it at the time.[4] Among the personalities dismissed were Friend, WAKR program director Bill Hart, and Adam Jones, while Jones' co-host Bob Allen was retained to host the morning-drive news program.[167] The Spring 1991 Birch Survey—completed after the format change—showed The Adam and Bob Show tied with Stan Piatt at WNIR for the number one ranking in morning drive.[169] Despite this, the station's overall ratings had been on a substantial decline from the mid-1980s onward due to increased competition from FM stations. General manager Fred Anthony noted that WAKR benefited from listeners tuning in whenever major news events took place, and the music selections had become incidental.[168] Friend regarded the firings as beneficial to WAKR's bottom line, especially after having become part of the U.S. Radio chain, a claim Anthony refuted.[170]

Along with an extended newscast block in afternoon drive, and an hour-long newscast at noon, WAKR picked up The Rush Limbaugh Show on a one-hour tape delay (it had been added to the lineup several weeks before the format switch)[168] and a local talk show hosted by Bill Hall. Announcer Dave Milo was assigned to host a nightly sports program, and Anthony promised to restore the station's coverage of high school sporting events.[168] The Larry King Show, which WAKR had carried in overnights since 1978,[g] was retained; after King moved his talk show to late afternoons in February 1993, WAKR took both Rush and King's programs live, cancelling the noon and afternoon news blocks and dismissing four staffers.[172] Hall left the station on April 29, 1993, after undisclosed "philosophical differences" with station management,[173] his replacement in the late-morning timeslot was Dan Gaffney.[167]

WAKR and WONE-FM were once again sold on August 4, 1993, to WQMX owner Gordon-Thomas Communications, Inc., headed by Thom Mandel; Gordon-Thomas also announced a pending name change to the Rubber City Radio Group.[120] Like the Berk family before him, Mandel's family had industrial roots; Thom's father Morton Mandel founded what would become Premier Industrial Corporation in 1946, now a part of Premier Farnell.[174] With an estimated value of $9.3 million, including a five-year non-compete preventing U.S. Radio and Ragan Henry from purchasing any other stations in the Akron market,[175] the deal closed that December 6, with Mandel directly taking over station operations that day.[9]

Full-service restoration

A three-story building with a brick facade sits to the left in the picture, with an empty parking lot in the foreground. To the far right, a small black van with "97.5 WONE" is parked in the lot.
The Akron Radio Center, located on West Market Street in Akron's Wallhaven neighborhood, serves as the current studio facilities for WAKR, along with co-owned WONE-FM, WQMX and WNWV.

I love radio. I learned the hard way that the older you get, the more difficult it is to find a job... you can be terrible, but if you're around for 23 years, people will love you.

Bob Friend[167]

Following extensive research and studies commissioned by Thom Mandel, WAKR reverted to their previous full-service format on February 25, 1994.[176] Dan Gaffney's show, Rush Limbaugh and Larry King were all dropped from the lineup and replaced with a restored extended noon newscast and music blocks hosted by Bob Allen and Bob Friend in late mornings and afternoons; Dave Milo's sports program was retained.[167] Mandel said of the changes, "I saw a boo-boo and I tried to fix it... people were still bemoaning the loss of their radio station. I'm in business to give them what they want", and described the music selections as "the good stuff" from the 1950s through the 1970s.[167] Along with Milo's program, national talk shows from Bruce Williams and Jim Bohannon aired in the evening and overnight hours.

Due to increasing difficulties with landing advertisers and sponsors for the music blocks, the station went back to a talk radio format on August 4, 1997,[177] resulting in Friend departing for a second time, while Christy Maxx, who joined the station the year before, was reassigned within the Rubber City cluster.[136] Unlike the station's first time with the format, WAKR's lineup was almost entirely syndicated, including America in The Morning hosted by Jim Bohannon, ESPN Radio's The Fabulous Sports Babe, and Cincinnati-based humorist Gary Burbank; the locally based newscast blocks in morning drive and noon were retained.[136] Burbank's show was eventually replaced with ESPN's The Tony Kornheiser Show and an afternoon program hosted by former WAKC sports anchor Phil Ferguson.[178]

WAKR dropped the majority of talk programming from the lineup on September 7, 1999, and switched to a satellite-fed

AM Only service; Phil Ferguson was moved to morning drive, while Bob Allen was moved to the noon news block.[179] Coincidentally, "AM Only" program director Chick Watkins worked at WCUE and WCUE-FM (96.5) as program director from 1956 to 1970, and had like duties for Cleveland's WGAR (1220 AM) from 1970 to 1982; his reappearance led some listeners to believe that he was doing his on-air work in Akron, while in reality he was at the Westwood One studios in Los Angeles.[180] The network "AM Only" programming also resulted in Jerry Healey unofficially returning to the station, as Healey was the format's weekend late evening host dating back to when it launched under the Transtar Radio Networks name.[123]

From oldies to talk to soft AC

Former station logo used throughout the 1990s until 2020

Keeping the flame of 1590 WAKR, a vital and historic radio station burning brightly is not a job, it's a privilege. Add to that I get to compile and manage a library of songs we all grew up with, well, just try to drag me out of here.

Chuck Collins, WAKR website bio[181]

The station formally dropped all satellite programming on August 30, 2006, in favor of an all-local lineup, centered around Chuck Collins in late mornings, Bob Allen in middays, and Tim Daugherty in afternoons, respectively; Ray Horner—host of the morning news program since December 2000—was retained.[182] A market veteran who previously worked as production director for WWWM (105.7 FM) in Cleveland and as program director for WKDD (96.5 FM) in Akron,[183] Collins was hired as WAKR's program director in 2006, then promoted to operations manager for the three-station group in October 2007.[184] WAKR also evolved its playlist to an oldies format at this time, while Bob Allen moved from afternoons to weekends before retiring on February 23, 2010.[185] WAKR commemorated their 70th anniversary in 2010 by reviving many of their classic jingles from the 1960s and 1970s, while also airing montages and airchecks from past personalities.

I always thought Chuck's strength was being positive, making people feel good about where they're working and what they're doing, and then he came back and tried to add onto that positive image... positive energy but yet continue to help you do better at your job, and feeling better as a person.

Ray Horner, on Chuck Collins[186]

Chuck Collins took an extended medical leave from the station in July 2013 after the discovery of a brain tumor.

e-book memoir, RoBBing Mind: How Attitude and Intention Helped Prevent a Fate Worse Than Death.[189] Collins ultimately never recovered and died less than two years later.[190]

Due to his departure from the station, WAKR slowly moved back to a talk radio format for a third time. On February 24, 2014, the station added a local midday program hosted by news anchor/reporter Jasen Sokol,

The Dave Ramsey Show, and a nightly sports program hosted by Brad Russell.[192] Former WHBC host Sam Bourquin joined WAKR that November, replacing Dave Ramsey,[193] and later teamed up with Russell to co-host the Sam & Brad Show. Ray Horner was eventually promoted to program director for WAKR as Collins' successor in June 2016.[186]

The station reverted to a full-service/soft adult contemporary music mix branded as "Soft Hits 93.5 FM" on January 24, 2020; coinciding with the switch, midday host Jasen Sokol left the station to join WJCU in a management capacity, while Sam Bourquin, Brad Russell, Ben Thomas, and Aaron Coleman were all dismissed.[2]

Current programming

Local music personalities heard on WAKR include Sandy Bennett (Middays), Tim Daugherty (Afternoons), Nick Anthony (Evenings/Overnights), with Sue Wilson, Rick Allen, and Jeanne Destro on weekends. Ray Horner hosts the morning-drive news program and serves as Program Director as well.

Cleveland Cavaliers, Cleveland Guardians[f] and Ohio State Buckeyes radio networks.[195] Horner served as the lead play-by-play voice for WAKR's high school sports broadcast coverage until high school programming ceased in the mid-2010s.[196]

Public affairs programming on Sunday mornings includes the audio portion of Forum 360, produced with the Jewish Community Center of Akron and WNEO/WEAO.[197] Originally titled Civic Forum of the Air, Forum 360 has aired weekly on WAKR since June 4, 1961, and has been simulcast on television throughout its entire run.[198]

FM translator

On June 5, 2019, WAKR began broadcasting on a low-power FM translator, W228EL (93.5 FM).[199] This translator was one of up to 873 applications initially filed by AM stations nationwide in 2018 as part of the FCC's "AM Revitalization" program.[200] The transmitter for W228EL is located in Akron's West Akron neighborhood on a tower utilized by WONE-FM and several other stations.[201]

Call sign Frequency City of license FID ERP (W)
HAAT
 Class Transmitter coordinates FCC info
W228EL 93.5 FM Akron, Ohio 202752 210 (Horiz.)
250 (Vert.)		 177 m (581 ft) D 41°03′53.00″N 81°34′59.00″W / 41.0647222°N 81.5830556°W / 41.0647222; -81.5830556 LMS

Notes

  1. ^ Those distinctions belong to WOE and WADC, the latter now known as WARF, respectively.[3]
  2. W2XR in New York City and W6XAI in Bakersfield, California.[20]
  3. ^ An Akron Beacon Journal column on February 8, 1948, responding to reader inquiries about his status confirms this temporary firing with the terse reply: "He doesn't work here (at WAKR) anymore."[54]
  4. ^ Due to the way that the FCC ordered the divestiture of RKO General's broadcast properties, Summit Communications Group paid RKO General a total of $13.5 million, and four parties that had previously challenged the broadcast license to WFYR were paid $7.3 million.
  5. ^ As was the case with WFYR's sale, Summit Communications Group paid RKO General $32.5 million, and paid a total of $17.5 million to competing applicants for WRKS-FM's license.
  6. ^ a b WAKR has been affiliated with what is now the Cleveland Guardians Radio Network from 1951[164] to 1966, from 1968[165] to 1978, from 1979[166] to 1989, and from 1991 to the present day.
  7. ^ WHLO carried The Larry King Show from January to August 1981.[171]

References

  1. ^ "Facility Technical Data for WAKR". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  2. ^ a b Venta, Lance (January 24, 2020). "WAKR Flips to Soft AC". RadioInsight.com. RadioInsight. Archived from the original on January 26, 2020. Retrieved January 26, 2020 – via RadioBB.
  3. ^ Cullison, Art (March 11, 1956). "WOE Was Akron In Early Radio Days". Akron Beacon Journal. Akron, Ohio. p. 219. Retrieved May 23, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g Dyer, Bob (October 14, 1990). "WAKR has 50 years under its belt: Will past outshine future?". Akron Beacon Journal. Akron, Ohio. p. F1, F5. Archived from the original on January 21, 2022. Retrieved February 9, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ a b c Dyer, Bob (October 14, 1990). "Contract clause led to Freed's fame". Akron Beacon Journal. Akron, Ohio. pp. F1, F6. Retrieved February 9, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ a b Pareles, Jon (September 30, 2004). "Scott Muni, 74, a Radio D.J. of FM Rock Programming, Dies". The New York Times. New York, New York. Archived from the original on July 24, 2017. Retrieved January 9, 2017.
  7. ^ a b Price, Mark (April 15, 2019). "Local history: 'Jeopardy!' host was Akron radio star". Akron Beacon Journal. Akron, Ohio. pp. B1, B3. Archived from the original on August 10, 2022. Retrieved January 30, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^
    ProQuest 1014681446. Archived
    (PDF) from the original on January 20, 2022. Retrieved February 7, 2020 – via World Radio History.
  9. ^ a b Dyer, Bob (December 18, 1993). "Family now owns three top stations, Mandels rearrange management lineup at WAKR and WONE under yet another ownership change". Akron Beacon Journal. Akron, Ohio. pp. C1, C6. Archived from the original on January 20, 2022. Retrieved February 8, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ a b Fybush, Scott (May 5, 2015). "Site of the Week 5/8/15: From Cleveland to Akron". Fybush.com. Fybush Media. Archived from the original on May 11, 2015. Retrieved February 7, 2020 – via RadioBB.
  11. ^
    ProQuest 1014938737. Archived
    (PDF) from the original on January 20, 2022. Retrieved January 30, 2020 – via World Radio History.
  12. ^ a b c FCC History Cards for WAKR
  13. ^ Ritchey & Miles 1993, p. 32.
  14. McGraw Hill. September 1931. pp. 30–31. Archived
    (PDF) from the original on September 22, 2020. Retrieved January 30, 2020 – via World Radio History.
  15. ^ a b Knight, John S. (July 22, 1937). "The Editor's Notebook". Akron Beacon Journal. Akron, Ohio. p. 4. Archived from the original on January 31, 2020. Retrieved January 31, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ^ "Postpone Hearing on Radio Station". Akron Beacon Journal. Akron, Ohio. May 17, 1939. p. 21. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved February 13, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. U.S. Government Printing Office. pp. 409–416. Archived
    from the original on January 20, 2022. Retrieved February 13, 2020.
  • ^ Doran, Dorothy (June 13, 1938). "Some Music, Radio Groups See Melody Replacing Swing In Popularity". Akron Beacon Journal. Akron, Ohio. p. 5. Retrieved February 13, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  • ProQuest 1014938939. Archived
    (PDF) from the original on January 20, 2022. Retrieved January 30, 2020 – via World Radio History.
  • ^ Kennedy, Richie. "History of W9XBY". Route 56. Archived from the original on June 7, 2019. Retrieved June 6, 2019.
  • ^ Ritchey & Miles 1993, pp. 32–33.
  • ^ Doran, Dorothy (October 12, 1939). "Band Leader Martone Turns 'Rah-Rah Boy'". Akron Beacon Journal. Akron, Ohio. p. 24. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved February 13, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  • ^ a b Doran, Dorothy (October 27, 1939). "Third Akron Station Depends Upon FCC: Attorneys Protest Reversed Opinion, Commission To Give Decision Soon". Akron Beacon Journal. Akron, Ohio. p. 12. Archived from the original on January 20, 2022. Retrieved February 13, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  • ProQuest 1014978679. Archived
    (PDF) from the original on January 20, 2022. Retrieved December 9, 2019 – via World Radio History.
  • ^ Price, Mark J. (March 14, 1999). "Beacon Magazine: Scraping the Sky". Akron Beacon Journal. Akron, Ohio. p. 13. Archived from the original on February 17, 2020. Retrieved February 17, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  • ProQuest 1040463831. Archived
    (PDF) from the original on January 20, 2022. Retrieved January 30, 2020 – via World Radio History.
  • ^ a b c d Nichols, Kenneth (July 11, 1966). "WAKR's S. Bernard Berk Dies". Akron Beacon Journal. Akron, Ohio. pp. A-1, A-2. Archived from the original on January 20, 2022. Retrieved February 9, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  • ^ Ritchey & Miles 1993, p. 34.
  • ^ Ritchey & Miles 1993, p. 35.
  • ^ a b
  • ProQuest 1040016915. Archived
    (PDF) from the original on August 10, 2022. Retrieved January 30, 2020 – via World Radio History.
  • ^ Price, Mark J. (April 7, 2014). "'Story Lady' told 'Tip Top Tales'". Akron Beacon Journal. Akron, Ohio. pp. B1–B3. Archived from the original on August 10, 2022. Retrieved February 4, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  • ProQuest 1039993945. Archived
    (PDF) from the original on August 10, 2022. Retrieved February 6, 2020 – via World Radio History.
  • ^ Recht, Ruth Jane (December 24, 1944). "Radio Workshop Goes Back On Air Wednesday, Jan. 13". Akron Beacon Journal. Akron, Ohio. p. 4. Archived from the original on March 29, 2022. Retrieved March 6, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  • ^ Paffilas, Pauline (October 15, 1948). "Broadcasting Airs From Armory". Akron Beacon Journal. Akron, Ohio. p. 36. Archived from the original on March 29, 2022. Retrieved March 6, 2020.
  • ^ Offineer, Bee (October 14, 1949). "Nelson Family Airs On WAKR". Akron Beacon Journal. Akron, Ohio. p. 42. Archived from the original on March 29, 2022. Retrieved March 6, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  • ^ Cullinson, Art (December 8, 1950). "College Court Games Go To TV". Akron Beacon Journal. Akron, Ohio. p. 52. Archived from the original on March 29, 2022. Retrieved March 6, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  • ^
  • ^
  • ^ a b Cullison, Art (January 11, 1952). "Disc Jockey Art Fazzin Leaves". Akron Beacon Journal. Akron, Ohio. p. 32. Archived from the original on February 15, 2020. Retrieved February 15, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  • ^ a b Price, Mark J. (August 21, 2016). "The trail to Hollywood". Akron Beacon Journal. Akron, Ohio. pp. B1, B3. Archived from the original on August 10, 2022. Retrieved January 30, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  • ^
  • ^ French, Betty (March 28, 1944). "Ex-Akron Announcer Crashes Films". Akron Beacon Journal. Akron, Ohio. p. 10. Archived from the original on February 15, 2020. Retrieved February 15, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  • ^ French, Betty (August 21, 1945). "Richards Wins Role With Fontaine". Akron Beacon Journal. Akron, Ohio. p. 10. Archived from the original on February 15, 2020. Retrieved February 15, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  • ^ Offineer, Bee (January 18, 1949). "AM And TV Cover Inaugural: Art Fazzin Joins Staff Of WAKR; Was In South". Akron Beacon Journal. Akron, Ohio. p. 15. Archived from the original on February 15, 2020. Retrieved February 15, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  • ^ "Radio Time Table". Akron Beacon Journal. Akron, Ohio. October 22, 1949. p. 12. Archived from the original on February 15, 2020. Retrieved February 15, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  • ^ Offineer, Bee (July 30, 1950). "Air Entire Soap Box Derby: WAKR Assigns Four Men For Coverage". Akron Beacon Journal. Akron, Ohio. p. 6C. Archived from the original on February 15, 2020. Retrieved February 15, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  • ^ Price, Mark J. (November 14, 2016). "Local history: Before they were stars, they were ours". Akron Beacon Journal. Akron, Ohio. Retrieved February 8, 2020.[permanent dead link]
  • ^ Freed, Alan (November 2, 1947). "A Personal Message From Alan Freed (Advertisement)". Akron Beacon Journal. Akron, Ohio. p. 11B. Retrieved February 9, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  • ^ a b "Whiteman Off, Freed On Again". Akron Beacon Journal. Akron, Ohio. June 30, 1948. p. 20. Retrieved February 7, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  • ^ a b Offineer, Bee (January 16, 1946). "Freed Sings And Fans Write". Akron Beacon Journal. Akron, Ohio. p. 4. Retrieved January 28, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  • ^ Offineer, Bee (July 23, 1947). "Freed Premiers 'Wax Works'". Akron Beacon Journal. Akron, Ohio. p. 7. Archived from the original on August 10, 2022. Retrieved May 22, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  • ^ Offineer, Bee (April 4, 1948). "WAKR Looking For 'Cinderella'". Akron Beacon Journal. Akron, Ohio. p. 8B. Archived from the original on August 10, 2022. Retrieved February 11, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  • ^ Stopher, Robert H.; Jackson, James S. (February 8, 1948). "Behind The Front Page: Miscellany". Akron Beacon Journal. Akron, Ohio. p. 2B. Archived from the original on July 9, 2021. Retrieved May 23, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  • ProQuest 1039946160. Archived
    (PDF) from the original on August 3, 2020. Retrieved January 31, 2020 – via World Radio History.
  • ProQuest 1039965366. Archived
    (PDF) from the original on August 10, 2022. Retrieved January 31, 2020 – via World Radio History.
  • ^ Denny, Frank (September 30, 1950). "D. J.s must change for TV, says Freed" (PDF). TV Today. p. 3. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 28, 2020. Retrieved January 28, 2020 – via AlanFreed.com.
  • BBC News Magazine. BBC News. Archived
    from the original on March 25, 2014. Retrieved May 22, 2020.
  • ProQuest 1040106662. Archived
    (PDF) from the original on August 4, 2020. Retrieved February 12, 2020 – via World Radio History.
  • ^ Cullison, Art (June 16, 1957). "TV Carries Big Fight". Akron Beacon Journal. Akron, Ohio. p. 4-D. Archived from the original on August 10, 2022. Retrieved February 12, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  • ^ Michelson, Herb (March 2, 1958). "The DJ Controls What Your Teen-Ager Likes". Akron Beacon Journal. Akron, Ohio. p. 4-D. Archived from the original on August 10, 2022. Retrieved February 12, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  • ^ Cullison, Art (May 5, 1958). "Why 2 Stars Flopped". Akron Beacon Journal. Akron, Ohio. p. 16. Archived from the original on August 10, 2022. Retrieved February 12, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  • ^ "Scott Muni Man Of Month". Akron Beacon Journal. Akron, Ohio. April 22, 1958. p. 10. Archived from the original on January 20, 2022. Retrieved February 12, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  • ^ "In Payola Probe: Second Ex-Akron DeeJay Questioned". Akron Beacon Journal. Akron, Ohio. November 28, 1959. p. 1–2. Archived from the original on January 20, 2022. Retrieved February 12, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  • ^ "Dial a song and a smile with the "Skinny Boy" Charlie Greer (Advertisement)". Akron Beacon Journal. Akron, Ohio. October 25, 1956. p. 52. Archived from the original on January 20, 2022. Retrieved February 10, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  • ^ "WAKR happy Music with Charlie Greer (Advertisement)". Akron Beacon Journal. Akron, Ohio. March 2, 1960. p. 68. Archived from the original on January 31, 2020. Retrieved January 31, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  • ^ Price, Mark J. (September 16, 2019). "Local history: Demolition party was a smash in 1959". Akron Beacon Journal. Akron, Ohio. pp. B1–B2. Archived from the original on January 20, 2022. Retrieved January 31, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  • ProQuest 1505602045. Archived
    (PDF) from the original on August 9, 2020. Retrieved January 31, 2020 – via World Radio History.
  • ProQuest 1505600362. Archived
    (PDF) from the original on August 10, 2022. Retrieved January 31, 2020 – via World Radio History.
  • ^ Cullison, Art (June 11, 1956). "Networks Fight Monopoly Claim". Akron Beacon Journal. Akron, Ohio. p. 22. Archived from the original on August 10, 2022. Retrieved February 11, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  • ^ Dyer, Bob (December 21, 1986). "Checkbooks cool off as ratings period closes". Akron Beacon Journal. Akron, Ohio. p. H2. Archived from the original on February 3, 2022. Retrieved November 14, 2021 – via NewsBank.
  • ^ "John F. Mulcahey (Obituary)". Akron Beacon Journal. Akron, Ohio. January 28, 2018. p. B8. Archived from the original on January 21, 2022. Retrieved February 20, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  • ^ Mackinnon, Jim (July 11, 2019). "Something's missing on downtown skyline". Akron Beacon Journal. Akron, Ohio. pp. B1, B10. Archived from the original on January 21, 2022. Retrieved February 19, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  • ProQuest 1014876915. Archived
    (PDF) from the original on June 21, 2020. Retrieved January 31, 2020 – via World Radio History.
  • ProQuest 1014871447. Archived
    (PDF) from the original on December 1, 2020. Retrieved January 31, 2020 – via World Radio History.