WLS Radio - Big 89 Rewind

[DaveWollenberg]

Sure wish the big 89 ran for more than just the 2 years of '07-'08. Talk radio blows!

[sepel61297]

we have a school in germany and the name is wilhelm-Leuchtner-Schule and abbreviation is WLS!

[Thunderchicken1997]

The only station that we could get in Terre Haute< Indiana after 10 pm was WLS.

I grew up listening to WLS. It WAS the best station in the world. Talk radio sucks. LONG LIVE AM ROCK!!!

[Thunderchicken1997]

kjk

[crazykidmatt101]

What is the song playing in the background of Fred Winston Talking? It is from 2:58-3:13?! I need to know!

[markandrews]

@crazykidmatt101 It's Ride Captain Ride by Blues Image. One of my first 45's.

[sambo300]

Still VERY difficult to put up with Tom Kent. Takes away from your "listening pleasure".

[Thunderchicken1997]

Being from Terre Haute, Indiana, the streets (as well as the great radio stations), rolled up the carpet at 10 pm, and we were left with WLS. I weep inside at the change of format. They were the greatest radio station in the world!!! To have these radio reunions are a magnificent tribute to those who made AM radio AM radio.

We will NEVER see this dynamic of personalities in radio again.  A passing of an American institution. Quite a shame. All of you texters: GO TO HELL..

[musicmandon1]

The man is so right-behind the scenes at a radio station can be funnier than what goes on the air. I interned at a station that did shows for a blind audience. Behind the boards we were all blind, the volunteers doing the readings of newspapers and magazines could see. We, going strictly by their voices, used to spend time picking which volunteer we would want to have sex  with.

[zsezse215]

Psychiatry is genocide. Pink Floyd The Wall zsezse com

[mforner1]

What are the names of the songs that Tom Kent were doing intros for?

[DaveWollenberg]

Hey, gang. Anybody else think that WLS-AM could turn a profit again, as a '70s-'80s top 40 station? Please get back to me on it. God bless!

[megjonaslove333]

Chicago had two incredible top 40 stations in the 60s & 70s in WLS and WCFL, both 50-kilowatt monsters not far away on the dial, going head-to-head. It was part of my nighttime listening as a kid, to go with other 50kw top 40 giants like WABC (New York), CKLW (Windsor/Detroit) and WKBW (Buffalo).

[algielongworth]

Chills down my freakin' spine!  These guys are GREAT. Today's smart ass, weak-voiced, post-ironic twerp-jocks are nowhere. WLS. WABC. CFL. CHUM. CKLW. THOSE were the days my friends....

[Thunderchicken1997]

Growing up in Terre Haute, Indiana, the local stations rolled up the carpet at 10 at night. WLS came in loud and clear. I have ALWAYS been a big 'LS fan, I miss the old format, and highly recommend that the current WLS go back to the former format. I was listening to the Big 89 when they changer format, living in Wauconda.

It was a travesty. I'm still in therapy.

There are plenty of us who appreciate the romanticism of the AM age. Please, bring it back. We have the money.

[frogger74]

WLS Rocks!

[macvic311]

The days when radio was fun. I can watch TK bob and heave like a prize fighter over and over. Love it!!!

Just wish the clip was longer.

[BobMayPanicattack7]

I work in radio right now actually - and not gonna lie, im a young guy in my 20's .. I have a passion for radio, and I truly do love it .. but that my friend, that was a HUGE inspiration even watching that. Wow.

[voxtoneonline]

make your own radio commercials via the audio through VoxTonePRO dot come. google the word VoxTonePRO.

[dccoulthard]

We won a trip with WLS back in 1986 to Disney, and this brings back those memories!

[Hroller1]

Larry sounds very old! Probably all the cigs he smoked.

[funtyrone]

boogie check, boogie check, ooh, ahh! boogie check boogie check, ooh, ahh!

[buffalocrotch]

This really takes me back, I grew up in the Chicago area, and I remember Larry Lujack, and WLS, good memories.

[Madcat151]

BOOGIE CHECK!

[modphotog1]

Forget everyone else, and give me MORE TOM KENT--Tom that was great. Used to listen to you in Cleveland at G98. You're one of the few jocks I actually respect, and you stil can "kick it" good!!

[gweedoe23]

Haha... Tom Kent... Classic...

[MichaelJGrant]

I can remember when the Big 89 could be heard just about anywhere West of the Rockies at night, in AM Stereo! A tremendous station. Now the signal has deteriorated to match its format. I think Darwin had it backwards.

[bigtruck1969]

WLS the rock of chicago i couls listen to it at night in Nw Ohio in the 60's great radio

[thegrovetube]

Is it me, or does it appear Tom Kent is pissed off at his engineer?

[MichaelJGrant]

It's you. TK isn't in the main studio, but the side announcer's booth. The board operator has to look across the main studio to see him through two soundproof glass windows. That's why JRL had to cue the board op for him. The only problem I have with TK is he just doesn't seem animated enough. :)

[MichaelJGrant]

Tommy Edwards was a great sidekick for Ole Uncle Lar. On his own, he was a bit lacking. It was like Ed McMahon hosting the Tonight Show. The was no better second banana than McMahon, but a host he was not. That's why a guest host was always brought in rather than let Ed sub for Johnny. The same is true of Little Tommy.

[cfprnr07]

Landecker did "Jane, beat the machine Dame" when Jane Byrne was around. I remember Lujack played it once in the a.m. "because Landecker crossed my palms with payola."

Gosh, grew up through the 70's, washing the dishes in my kitchen in downstate IL, Lujack in the morning, Landecker at night, wouldn't get on the high school bus in the morning unless I heard Animal Stories first!

Thanks for the memories!

[mrtraveler181]

WOW.this is awesome to see the faces that you listened to in the 70's and 80's. A great memory from listening to the radio growing up in southern Minnesota and listening to boogie check fading in and out.

[slingblade65]

Are they doing one for 2009 ??

[3goatees]

booty check dude

[frontwardz]

Deborah Rowe is my mom

[MichaelJGrant]

I'm sorry. Please accept my most heartfelt sympathy.

[opolo2112]

Loved everybody EXCEPT that Tom Kent- What a douchebag!!!

[wvaguy]

Fred-- I was born in '59 & I don't remember much of the '70's either!

[3goatees]

boogie check

[rickfmdj]

Can't wait for the new one coming out for this year!

[albertj58]

when will it happen? you know a date and time it is gonna be? Thanks

[redradiodog]

I remember Uncle Lair and little snot nose Tommy.

[20710os]

What a way to spend a great Sunday ! Listening to people who are legends in their time ! Thx a lot WLS ! ---When are we gonna get more ?

[setxbubba]

AHh it was on MONDAY....a little too much celebrating on Memorial Day, huh??? Hopefully they will do it again on Memorial Day 09!

[M1903A1]

I forgot how good Tom Kent was on that show!

I taped the entire rewind...it was incredible.

[rockyraccoon1979]

And WLSQ aired Tom Kent's Part In The Basment show weeknights also. You could hear it all on that station....everything....from the 50's to the early 80's. SO many people were sad to see that station go. I can just imagine how Chicago residents felt about WLS going all talk

[rockyraccoon1979]

Here in Knoxville, TN we had a radio station called MusicRadio 105.7 WLSQ and the station was presented just like a station from the 70's would have. The DJ's, jingles, music, it just didn't get any better. It was a great trip down memory lane listening to that station. A big corporate group bought the station, fired the staff,and changed the format to country. We sure do miss WLSQ - which was actually a ripoff of the actual WLS.

[albertj58]

Will WLS do this again? When?

[patrickguice]

I have heard from a friend of mine here in NYC that his friend mentioned they will do it this year again. It has not been promoted as of yet so I don't know if it will?

[TheAlexBrend]

I hope so. I grew up with WLS and WGN.

[ictyme7]

animal stories!! with your charming and delightful..old uncle lar!!! and theres him little snot nosed tommy hi tommy..hi uncle lar! hi everybody! morning shows these days need to get a clue

[MaccaIsYoDaddy]

Man, I wish I could have heard the Big 89 Rewind (I dont think WLS's signal travels to Los Angeles).

I grew up in Cleveland (also no slouch in awesome radio stations) but for me, it was WLS as soon as the sun went down. I sure do remember Boogie Check!

WLS rocks!

[patrickguice]

They do stream I believe.

[setxbubba]

Listen to the stream...I did! Recorded both 07 and 08 off the stream burned them to CDs (editing out the commercials and not so funny stuff) and listen to them more than local radio!!!

[lumberdung]

un-fucking-believable!!! radio has taken a serious dump since the 70s. these guys were great!

[dburr13]

That was incredible!...I learned some of the best radio stuff from those guys...One of the main things in radio is timing...and the jocks at WLS had it!...I didn't...Until i heard how cool it sounded on WLS...It is hard...if not impossible to find that much fun on the radio today.

[cowboat]

That is why it smells so funny - 10low oil! -_ god..Fred's news intro! - That classic ABC Radio News Sounder - Lyle Dean! - "The late Henry Mancini!" - Gill and John! - Yes. Dancing Queen does still sound good coming out of the LEGAL ID jingle - You know, these are probably the same people, but they are much better! -- Wow. What a treat. It was amazing to see John Records Landecker in his element today. Great talent makes a great station. Thanks for this.

[mavrock019]

Funny...great to watch and recall

[kiloklass]

What memories, being raised in Oklahoma WLS was our local rock station, after the sun went down. John Landecker, Larry and Jeff Davis was my inspriation to get into radio. I made my way into engineering and that is where I am today. I wanted to work at WLS (Worlds Largest Store), however I settled for working in Fort Smith AR at KISR (Kisser 93) with my good friend Fred.

[trymy69]

Love to see this clip !

I remember when John Landecker was the "Morning Man at 680 CFTR Toronto in the 80's..I enjoyed his show, but his ratings were not so good on Toronto so he went back to WLS Chicago.

[daryl060761]

Great to see this video. We picked up WLS at night up in Thunder Bay, ON. Landecker and Boogie Check were absolutely amazing. Thanks for posting this!

[owski1]

Few dj's today exhibit more energy in the studio than Tom Kent. I'm going to miss him on his "into the 70's" national show, but then again how can i complain when his replacement is John Records Landecker!

[93Huskers]

Thanks WLS for having a rewind day like sister station WABC. Both are great, but I like the WLS version a little better because its an actual return (if just for one day) to playing music with the old cast of Landecker, Lujack, Winston, and others. The glory days of the big time AM musicradio powerhouses are long over unfortunately, due to many good reasons, but we have our memories. Yvonne Daniels, WLS, Chuck Leonard, WABC, you are both missed.

[M1903A1]

This was probably the most amazing day I ever spent listening to the radio. Today's radio doesn't even come close to the great Top 40 era.

[beeb1421]

boogie check, boogie check

ooh ahh! the soundtrack to my childhood.

yvonne daniels RIP