The John Celarek Collection

[Description by Uncle Ricky] Jerry Kay started his radio career in Yakima Washington, worked at both KOL and KJR in Seattle, served as Program Director at KNEW in Spokane, and was part of John Rook’s top-rated WLS, Chicago, in 1969. Following Chicago, he returned to Seattle and remained in the Northwest U.S. for the remainder of his career. This Exhibit ‘SCOPED (18:57) If all you want is the jings and the jock and the news and the spots, this version’s for you! This aircheck demonstrates Jerry’s casual, easy-going midday show on WCFL from March 4, 1971. Also included: a first-rate newscast, typical of the effort the Chicago Federation of Labor felt was necessary to compete with ABC O&O WLS. Jerry Kay passed away September 25, 2005 in Seaside, Oregon. He was 67.

[Description by Uncle Ricky] Jerry Kay started his radio career in Yakima Washington, worked at both KOL and KJR in Seattle, served as Program Director at KNEW in Spokane, and was part of John Rook’s top-rated WLS, Chicago, in 1969. Following Chicago, he returned to Seattle and remained in the Northwest U.S. for the remainder of his career. This Exhibit ‘SCOPED (18:57) If all you want is the jings and the jock and the news and the spots, this version’s for you! This aircheck demonstrates Jerry’s casual, easy-going midday show on WCFL from March 4, 1971. Also included: a first-rate newscast, typical of the effort the Chicago Federation of Labor felt was necessary to compete with ABC O&O WLS. Jerry Kay passed away September 25, 2005 in Seaside, Oregon. He was 67.

[Description by Uncle Ricky]

Dick Biondi demonstrates his mastery of a decade of “show biz” music radio in this unscoped hour of WCFL from Sunday, August 1, 1971. The instant you hear Biondi’s voice, you know this will be precision, professional Top 40 musicradio.

TM jings, spots for funny cars, Adventure Land and a great Larry Lujack spot for Chicagoland concerts (at 34:31) highlight this exhibit, but what about Larry O’Brien and that casual “young dude” promo (at 21:09)? The Men From Ten promo (at 29:05) leaves no doubt that they were all out and about.

WCFL worked really hard on their news presentation, because their competitor was ABC (WLS). And this exhibit includes an outstanding WCFL newscast (at 38:50) featuring Fred Barton, Jim Frank, John Ganas, Howie Roberts, and a People Talk – Chicago Speaks public affairs feature. Just amazing – was the entire news department featured on this newscast? It is the precursor of the short-attention-span personality-driven television newscasts of today.

Some musical segments were restored: The opening jingle (improvised) and song, and all of the music on the second half.

Big Ron O’Brien was the Program Director at WCFL in 1975. That’s probably why this aircheck is so enjoyable, because there is no other Program Director to hotline and complain about format violations. Ron sounds completely comfortable in this venue, and since he could control it, he did! There’s a Turkey Shoot contest and a spot for a hair product by Allison Steele, who in those pre-MTV days was freshly legendary as a radio “disc jockey”. Musical portions of this exhibit were restored before processing and encoding for presentation.

[Description by Uncle Ricky] Steve York was heard overnights on Big 10 WCFL during 1971 and 1972. This recording features Steve’s show from January 14, 1971, between 2 and 3AM. There is not one single commercial announcement in this entire hour, but there are lots of Public Service Announcements, two of those impressive multiple-reporter newscasts, and a Public Affairs feature. As was common in those days, WCFL cleared much of their required community service programming in the overnight time slot. The frequently featured jingles include some Phase II and other cuts from TM of Dallas. Unlike many of the WCFL personalities who sounded bigger than life, York sounds unexpectedly young and casual here. We wonder where he went after the Voice of Labor?

[Description by Uncle Ricky] Steve York was heard overnights on Big 10 WCFL during 1971 and 1972. This recording features Steve’s show from January 14, 1971, between 2 and 3AM. There is not one single commercial announcement in this entire hour, but there are lots of Public Service Announcements, two of those impressive multiple-reporter newscasts, and a Public Affairs feature. As was common in those days, WCFL cleared much of their required community service programming in the overnight time slot. The frequently featured jingles include some Phase II and other cuts from TM of Dallas. Unlike many of the WCFL personalities who sounded bigger than life, York sounds unexpectedly young and casual here. We wonder where he went after the Voice of Labor?

Here’s Chicago Top 40 legend Dick Biondi in the 4PM hour at Big 10 WCFL. It’s a humid Friday, June 25 of 1971, and ‘CFL has a heavy spot load (nearly all national buys with great production!)

We’re also treated to another excellent WCFL Newscast, introduced by Fred Barton.

WCFL always had great production values, and after listening to this hour, it’s difficult to believe that such a great station didn’t survive the decade.

Here’s Chicago Top 40 legend Dick Biondi in the 4PM hour at Big 10 WCFL. It’s a humid Friday, June 25 of 1971, and ‘CFL has a heavy spot load (nearly all national buys with great production!)

We’re also treated to another excellent WCFL Newscast, introduced by Fred Barton.

WCFL always had great production values, and after listening to this hour, it’s difficult to believe that such a great station didn’t survive the decade.

[Description by Uncle Ricky] Jimmy P. Stagg is the star, TM jingles and all, in this ultra-expanded super-long uncut unscoped studio sample of Big Ten WCFL, that once-giant VERY first-class radio station operated by The Chicago Federation of Labor. It’s March of 1970. Remember? Does it take a Union to make a radio station this good? Well, it did then. This is exceptionally professional radio, with the exception of a turntable that accidentally stops turning in the first few minutes. (At least it happens to a deserving song.) Jim Stagg was silenced by cancer in November of 2007. His friend Sam Hale wrote: Jim was among the select few who traveled with the Beatles on their American tours. In fact, I was surprised to see him at the Atlanta concert in August, 1965; not knowing he was traveling with them. At that time, Jim was with WCFL. He later was at WMAQ, but on the Friday when the jocks were called together for a meeting and informed that on the following Monday the station was going country, and each one could apply for a position with that format, Jim decided he had enough of the politics of radio. It was then that he opened a record store in the Northern suburbs of Chicago and later added more stores, including one in Orlando. Prior to Chicago, Jim was afternoon drive jock at KYW and, earlier he had been at KYA, WIBG and, where I first met him, WYDE – Birmingham. Jim had a marvelous voice and during his college years was the featured soloist with the Crimson Tide orchestra at the University of Alabama. Our thanks to Sam for his comments, and to John Celarek for this full-length exhibit.