WRAC FM RACINE - SEPTEMBER 1969.wmv

In 1969 WRAC AM 1460 was required to sign off at local sunset. This recording is from WRAC FM 100.7 after the AM had signed off for the day. You can hear a Cessna pilot calling the tower over the seuge from the Supremes to Glen Campbell. This was not broadcast over the air, but rather an RF mix from the crummy 1969 radio used to record this. You can also hear the FM flutter caused by that plane near the end of the clip.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• WRAC
• AM
• FM
• Racine
• Wisconsin
• 1969

[rrrprod2]

Thanks T! I didn’t think my memory had vanished completely. I specifically remember some FCC cross-ownership rules that took effect in 1968.

[rrrprod2]

The 1968 edition of Broadcasting Yearbook listed WRJN as owned by the Racine Broadcasting Corporation. Somewhere along the line I beleive they had some tie to the Racine Journal Times. I do also recall they were at some time owned by Sentry Insurance of Wausau, WI. It may have been a group ownership. Oh yes I do remember that old Gatesway tube board in the AM studio. It was there till the late 70's. The AM studio was converted to the FM studio, the old FM studio was converted to the PD's office,

[rrrprod2]

The 1968 edition of Broadcasting Yearbook listed WRJN as owned by the Racine Broadcasting Corporation. Somewhere along the line I beleive they had some tie to the Racine Journal Times. I do also recall they were at some time owned by Sentry Insurance of Wausau, WI. It may have been a group ownership.

[rrrprod2]

WRAC 1460 AM bought what was at the time WRJN FM 100.7 from the Racine Journal in 1968. I could be wrong but I seem to recall in 1968 the FCC had some rules about owning a full time AM, FM and newspaper. After the purchase of course it flipped to WRAC FM, and they simulcast till 1971. In the beg. / end of the clip you hear the 100.7 FM jingle indicating the AM had already signed off for the day. The second video clip though a little hard to see is the FCC PSSA for AM 1460 WRKR by then.

[tstern1007]

@rrrprod2 You are right about the link to the Journal Times. WRJN, which signed on in 1926 stands for Racine Journal News. At one time, Racine had two newspapers...the Journal News and the Racine Times-Call. Eventually, the JN and Times-Call merged and became the Journal Times. The newspaper cross-ownership issue makes sense. According to a JT article, Sentry bought the station in 1969...so it appears that the AM & FM were sold off in about the same window of time.

[fxdptch]

At the time WRAC bought the FM side from WRJN, WRJN was owned by Sentry Broadcasting, a subsidiary of Sentry Insurance of Stevens Point, WI.

[fxdptch]

This air check is pre WRKR. It was simulcasting at the WRAC AM from the AM studios which consisted of a Gatesway 80 mono tube console and 16" (the could have been 14") Gates turntable. The station at the time was owned by WRAC Broadcasting, the principle owner was J.W. O'Connor who owned WCIU Channel 26 in Chicago under a separate company.

[jeremy1069fm]

Awesome thanks! That pilot chatter still occationally hits the dial to this day

[uppermidwestaircheck]

Great clip! I assume WRAC started with the AM and the FM was a simulcast? Any history available on WRAC? Dates, formats?