WLRA
MHz, FCC FM Channel 201 | |
Branding | The Start! |
---|---|
Programming | |
Format | Variety |
Affiliations | CNN Newsource |
Ownership | |
Owner |
|
History | |
First air date | 1973 |
Former call signs | WFJL 93.1 FM,WLCL 600 AM,WERA 590 AM |
Call sign meaning | Lewis RAdio |
Technical information[1] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
Facility ID | 37190 |
Class | A |
ERP | 140 watts effective radiated power |
HAAT | 40 meters (130 ft) |
Transmitter coordinates | 41°36′10.00″N 88°4′49.00″W / 41.6027778°N 88.0802778°W |
Links | |
Public license information | |
Webcast | Listen live |
Website | www.wlraradio.com |
WLRA (88.1
Lewis University's radio station history
- WFJL – (W – FJL – Frank J. Lewis) (93.1 FM Chicago) went on the air on May 22, 1949. WFJL is operated as a non-commercial station by Lewis College of Science and Technology (the previous name of Lewis College, now of 29,000 watts.
- WLCL-AM – (W – LCL – Lewis College Lockport) AM carrier current radio station on Lewis College, Lockport, Illinois campus. Located in the Sheil Hall dormitory basement from its inception until 1970, the station broadcast on 600 kHz to Sheil, Fitzpatrick, and Founders Halls. Robert Feustal and Norb Bora are credited with the inception of WLCL-AM and introducing college radio at Lewis. In 1969, the Sheil Hall basement facility was upgraded with new QRK professional turntables replacing the old Garrard consumer models. A used Gates Sta-Level compressor was installed, giving the station a much more professional technical sound. News, weather, and sports information now came to the station via a United Press International teletype machine. A direct feed to the PA system in the Lewis cafeteria was also added.[citation needed]
- WERA-AM – picked up where WLCL left off in the Fall of 1970. It was at this time that the merger with the College of St. Francis in Joliet was announced (the combined school would be called Lewis-St. Francis of Illinois) and the campus radio station at Lewis (the "North Campus") would now serve the two dorms at the "South Campus" (CSF) as well. A direct feed was installed in the newly remodeled Student Union. A second studio was constructed for production use with the turntables and mixer module able to be easily removed for "remote" broadcast origination from anywhere on the "twin campuses." Most of the carpentry work during the upgrade was done by Station Manager Dennis Stork and the studio wiring was done by Mike Berlak. One very late night, while station staffers discussed plans for the new incarnation of the station (around a table at the Pure Oil truckstop on 55), they noticed a dry cleaners' van in the parking lot with the name "New Era" on it. It was a "new era" for both the college and the campus radio station...and that was the inspiration for the new call letters, WERA. At that time, the station also changed the transmitter frequency to 590 kHz. At the start of the Fall 1971 semester, the station conducted its biggest promotional push, "weraweek!" Highlights included the WERA YesterHop (a live broadcast/50s style "sock hop" in the Union) and a flight of the WERA Beer Bomber (a live broadcast from an airplane over the campus which dropped certificates good for six-packs to the assembled multitudes below.) During the 1971–72 school year, General Manager Mike Berlak began the process of applying for an FCC FM license, which would allow over-the-air broadcasts. In anticipation of this expansion, a completely new broadcast facility was built in the former Fitz Hall Lounge area, opening in the Spring of 1972.[citation needed]
- WLRA-FM – (W – LRA – Lewis RAdio) went on the air March 4, 1973, on 88.1 in mono, 250 watts of HAAT. WLRA is licensed as a non-commercial educational radio station. In 1976 WLRA added stereo. Lewis University was annexed from Lockport to Romeoville, Illinois, and WLRA's license reflected the change.[citation needed]
Programming
As with most colleges, WLRA included the
WLRA Radio's diverse programming reflects a traditional
WLRA Radio has hosted many innovative radio programs over the years. These include eclectic and
WLRA's current programming includes news and sports
In the Fall 2008 semester, WLRA staffed 24 hours with students on air. The station also introduced a Trop Rock format called "The Island" which features calypso, reggae, and Caribbean rock music.[citation needed]
WLRA has broadcast many radio remotes from as far away as Florida to cover Lewis University Flyer Baseball, Las Vegas to broadcast "The Practice Squad" sports talk show; and also the National Association of Broadcasters Convention at the Comrex booth. The radio station has also broadcast from The House of Blues in Chicago, LaLaPalooza, Jimmy Buffett pre-concert, Ditka's Restaurant in Chicago, and ESPN Zone in Chicago.[citation needed]
WLRA, with a commitment to community service, has produced marathon broadcasts for a local children's hospital
Specialty radio shows
"The Island" features calypso, reggae, and Caribbean rock music (Friday Midnight – Sunday 3am)
"Route 53 Country" features country music (Sunday 6 am-6 pm)
"Friday Night Lights" features local high school football games from the Joliet region (weekly – Friday 6pm-10pm)
"United Way of Will County's Christmas Memories for you and your Family" features religious and secular Christmas music (Thanksgiving until January, 24 hours a day)
Technical achievements
Lewis University's WLRA Radio was the first college radio station in the country to become digital. Lewis University received a $350,000 digital broadcasting project grant in the 1990s from the philanthropy of The Andrew Corporation, a leading worldwide communications corporation. The studios, music archives, music scheduling system, audio storage and retrieval systems (including an AES/EBU Broadcast Electronics – Audiovault serial number 001 and 002), digital
WLRA's memberships
- NAB (National Association of Broadcasters)NAB: The Voice for America's Radio and TV Broadcasters member station
- ILBA (Illinois Broadcaster's Association)Illinois Broadcasters Association
- BEA (Broadcast Education Association)BEA – The Broadcast Education Association | Educating Tomorrow's Media
References
- ^ "Facility Technical Data for WLRA Radio". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
- ^ "WLRA Facility Record". United States Federal Communications Commission, audio division. Archived from the original on 2002-01-13. Retrieved 2008-02-29.
- ^ 1955 Broadcasting Yearbook–Marketbook Archived 2021-10-16 at the Wayback Machine, Broadcasting, 1955. p. 128. Retrieved February 2, 2019.
- ^ "Existing FM Stations Archived 2021-10-16 at the Wayback Machine", Broadcasting – Telecasting. August 27, 1956. p. 116. Retrieved February 2, 2019.
- ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2012-04-02. Retrieved 2011-09-25.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ISSN 0032-4558. Retrieved 2015-06-04.
- ^ "Lewis' WLRA Presents "Un Poco De Todo"". Press Release. Lewis University. Archived from the original on 2011-07-16. Retrieved 2008-11-19.
- ^ "WLRA Radio Raises Funds to Benefit Hope Children's Hospita". Press Release. Lewis University. Archived from the original on 2011-07-16. Retrieved 2008-11-19.
- ^ http://media.www.lewisflyer.com/media/storage/paper638/news/2006/11/24/News/real-World.Brad.Returns.To.Lewis-2471284.shtml [dead link]
- ^ "WLRA application is available at iTunes Store". lewisu.edu. Archived from the original on 2016-04-07. Retrieved 2015-06-04.
External links
- WLRA in the FCC FM station database
- WLRA in Nielsen Audio's FM station database
- Official Lewis University website Lewis University