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Welcome to Central Illinois' On-Line Broadcast Museum. This website documents in detail the history of each of the viewable TV stations, past and present, across mid-Illinois in text, photos, and videos, as well as each station's current status. This site also includes local radio history and automated analog formats, again told in pictures, videos, and text.
Note that this website displays best on a full-size monitor, desktop, or laptop computer. If you're watching on your mobile phone, the mobile phone view has been replaced by the desktop view throughout this site. You can zoom in on the page if needed. Also, you may have to sign in to YouTube to view some videos. Some browsers do not allow some embedded videos to play, so click on the "YouTube" logo on the video to view it from YouTube.
TV Time Capsule for July
August 20-26, 1955
So what’s so important about 1955? The year brought many firsts, such as the first appearance (in Illinois) of what would become a major worldwide fast-food chain, a popular toothpaste brand, the first TV remote, quite a few classic movies, many TV shows you still watch today, Disneyland opened, a major up-and-coming Indiana film star was killed, and see what everyday life was like! Plus, what popular mid-1980s movie time-traveled to 1955! You’ll see all of that, plus a full week of local TV from the August 20-26, 1955 issue of TV Guide™, along with videos of some of the programs shown that week. It’s a blockbuster Time Capsule!!
Click on the TV Guide™ picture above to see for yourself!
Featured Videos
A Collection of “Family” Shows 1951-1971
So, how do we define “family shows”? Two ways: from a viewer standpoint, it would be a show attractive to an ageless demographic who all live in the same household, or a show whose ensemble cast could be defined as a “family.” So, at the same time, “Taxi” or “McHale’s Navy” or “Barney Miller” could be included, or it could be just a typical family with children. There are many different types of families.
This collection of videos at Central Illinois’ On-Line Video Museum narrows it down to people living under the same roof who have a “family” connection. I started my search from the TV schedules of 1951 and worked to 1974. I found 50 shows that fit the criteria. From there, I found the most interesting, and what I thought would be interesting to those who study the history of television.
And then the search was on to find recordings of those shows (complete episodes) on YouTube that I could include in this collection of Videos.
With a couple of exceptions, I excluded those you can watch every day on MeTV, FSTV, or any of the boutique channels that are streamed on DISH or other streaming services.
The winners are below. It's a pretty good representation of the evolution of family sitcoms from the very early days of television to the more topical, edgier comedy. I hope you’ll agree and enjoy them all.
Among the series that didn’t make the cut were “The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet,” “Mama,” “Father Knows Best,” “Life of Riley,” “Leave it to Beaver,” “The Dick Van Dyke Show,” “My Three Sons,” “The Joey Bishop Show,” “The Flintstones,” “The Jetsons,” “The Beverly Hillbillies,” “Farmer’s Daughter,” “Bewitched,” “My World and Welcome To It,” “The Courtship of Eddies Father,” “The Brady Bunch,” and “Sanford and Son.” Several are available from other popular sources/channels/networks, while others are copyright-controlled or restricted to subscription-only channels.
Maybe some of those will come up at another time if copyright guards release them.
Classic Television
Click on the image to watch the video directly from YouTube.
The Ruggles (1950) ABC “Charlie’s Promotion”
From YouTube: “Insurance agent Charlie (he used his real name in the series) and wife Margaret have their hands full with an active family. The teenagers, Sharon and Chuck, are anxious about things like first dates. The adorable twins Donna and Donald want to keep Dad busy. This rare episode is from 1950. Starring Charlie Ruggles. Provided by My Video Classics.”
“The Ruggles,” one of the first television “family show” series, aired on ABC from November 2, 1949, through June 19, 1952. It was not seen live across Mid-Illinois or anywhere else across the country. It was produced and broadcast live at KECA-TV (now KABC, Los Angeles) to seven other ABC affiliates on the West Coast. Kinescopes, like the one shown here, were rebroadcast across the rest of the ABC network along the East Coast and at select stations in the Midwest soon after.
The show's star, Charlie Ruggles, was born in 1886 and studied to be a doctor, but had an interest in acting. He soon left his studies to appear on Broadway in 1914. He went on to star in over 100 films, including “If I Had a Million,” “Six of a Kind” (appearing with W.C. Fields), and “It Happened on Fifth Avenue,” a popular Christmas movie with future TV stars Gale Storm and Don DeFore. You might recognize his voice, as he would be the voice of Aesop on the “Aesop and Son” cartoons on “The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show.” He died of cancer in 1970 at the age of 84. He has three stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, one for movies, one for radio, and one for television.
Watch the ABC ID logo at the end, with the announcement that it is “video recorded.” It’s a classic!
This is Charlie Ruggles, the actor and namesake of this very early ABC sitcom from 1950 (76 years ago!) shown above.
I'm pretty certain this show was never broadcast across Mid-Illinois at the time or at any other time afterward.
(YouTube screen grab)
Click on the image to watch the video directly from YouTube.
Danny Thomas Show (1961) CBS
Guest: Bill Dana
Video from FilmRise, and Radical Entertainment Company.
“The Danny Thomas Show” first appeared on ABC on September 29, 1953, and aired through July 1957. The show would move to CBS (sponsored by General Foods) in October of 1957, where it would stay until September of 1965. The cast included, of course, Danny Thomas as Danny Williams, a nightclub performer, and his family. Initially, the series had Jean Hagen as his wife, Margaret Williams (who quit the show and was written off as “had died”) was then replaced by Marjorie Lord, who played Kathy Williams. His kids were played by Rusty Hamer as “Rusty,” both Serry Jackson and Penny Parker as daughter Terry, and Angela Cartwright as Linda Williams.
There were many reoccurring characters including Louise Beavers and Amanda Randolph as the family housekeeper “Louise,” Jesse White, Hans Conried, Marcy Wickes, Sheldon Leonard (who would parter with Danny Thomas to bring us "The Bill Dana Show," “The Andy Griffith Show” and “The Dick Van Dyke Show” all in the early 1960s), Pat Harrington Jr. (later in “One Day at a Time”), Sid Melton, Pat Carroll, and even Annette Funicello (Walt Disney’s “Mickey Mouse Club” and later several “beach movies”). Much of the series was filmed at Desilu Studios.
The show would reappear later in an updated format on ABC from September 1970 through September 1971, with most members returning to where the show left off in 1965.
The original series would have been seen on WTVP, WDAN-TV, and WTHI. After moving to CBS in 1957, it was seen on WCIA, WTVH through Dec 31, 1967, WMBD-TV from Jan 1, 1958, WTHI-TV, KHQA, and KMOX-TV.
Danny Thomas (Marlo and Tony's dad) as Danny Williams with Marjorie Lord as his series wife Kathy.
(YouTube Screen Grab)
Sheldon Leonard was the producer and director of "The Danny Thomas Show" video above. (right): Sheldon Leonard behind Humphrey Bogart from the 1944 movie "To Have and Have Not."
Sheldon Leonard was one of the most influential TV producers from the very late 1950s through the 1960s and even into the 1970s. Along with being a character actor (usually as a gangster, racetrack tout, or as a bartender like in the movie "It's a Wonderful Life"), he was also an occasional character on "The Jack Benny Program" from the 40's into the 50s, and a cartoon voice (as King Leonardo in "The King and Odie).
The producers of the TV series "The Big Bang Theory" (2007-2019) used Sheldon Leonard's name to create the series' characters, Sheldon Cooper and Leonard Hofstadter.
Click on the image to watch the video directly from YouTube.
Bachelor Father (1957) CBS Pilot Show
From YouTube: "Bentley Greg (John Forsythe), a bachelor and Hollywood attorney, accepts the new responsibilities as guardian to his niece, Kelly (Noreen Corcoran). He’s aided at home by his “houseboy,” played by Sammee Tong. In this episode, he tries to attract an Italian movie star and attend a PTA meeting, all while managing his now chaotic household."
“Bachelor Father” aired on CBS from September 15, 1957 (the broadcast date of the episode above) through June of 1959, then moved to NBC from June 1959 through September 1961, and finally to ABC from October 1961 through September 1962. Instead of listing the stations on which it aired across Mid-Illinois, I’ll say it aired on every station in the market at one time or another.
If you recognize the voice, John Forsythe was the voice of “Charlie” on “Charlie’s Angels” in the 1970s and also played Blake Carrington in “Dynasty” from 1981 to 1989. Forsythe passed away in 2010 at the age of 92.
Noreen Corcoran went on to appear in several movies during the 1950s and 60s, including “Gidget Goes to Rome” and “The Girls on the Beach.” She was also in several TV series, including “Circus Boy” (with Mickey Dolenz of “The Monkees”), “The Magical World of Disney,” “Dr. Kildare,” “Ben Casey,” and “The Big Valley.” She passed away at the age of 72 in 2016.
Noreen Cocoran and John Forsythe in "Bachelor Father" from the episode above.
(YouTube screen grab)
If you remember John Forsythe in "Dynasty," you probably remember his much younger wife, played by Linda Evans (of "Big Valley"). She appeared in an early episode of "Bachelor Father" as a friend of Noreen Corcoran's character, Kelly.
Norren Corcoran also appeared with Linda Evans in "The Big Valley in the mid-1960s! I find TV creative reunions that begin and end years, or even decades, later fascinating!
To watch more of this "family" sitcom, "Bachelor Father," visit the provider of this episode at the mathieu2120 You Tube Channel here.
WCIA Fall Promo 1981
Click on the image to watch the video directly from YouTube.
Click on the image to watch the video directly from YouTube.
Hazel (1961) NBC Pilot
This is the pilot show of “Hazel,” airing on September 28, 1961, on NBC, and seen locally on WICS, WICD, WCHU, WEEK-TV, WGEM-TV, and KSD-TV.
In this episode, Hazel does battle with a local politician who wants to turn the plan for a state-supported botanical garden into a kids' playground, an action which she opposes. Hazel was played by Shirley Booth, who won two Emmy Awards for her role in this popular, family-oriented show. His costars included Don DeFore as George Baxter, Whitney Blake as Dorothy Baxter, and Bobby Buntrock as their son, Harold Baxter. That was cast through the NBC run of the series.
For the 1965-1966 season, the show would move to CBS, and all but a new cast would replace Ms. Booth and Buntrock. The George and Dorothy Baxter, it was explained, would leave their son Bobby with Hazel and move to the Middle East! The house would be taken over by George's younger brother and his wife, played by Ray Fulmer and Lynn Borden. It’s been reported that Shirley Booth put up the money to have the series continue after the contracts of Defore and Blake had expired.
Bobby Buntrock as Harold Baxter in "Hazel" from 1961. As a side note, he was killed at the age of 21 in a car accident near Keystone, South Dakata. He was reportly buried in a cemetery in view of Mt. Rushmore.
(YouTube screen grab)
Don DeFore and Shirley Booth from the pilot show of "Hazel" produced in 1961.
(YouTube screen grab)
Click on the image to watch the video directly from YouTube.
Ford Motor Company Commercials (1963) with the cast of "Hazel"
Click on the image to watch the video directly from YouTube.
Hazel (1964) Opening Credits-Ford Mustang
One of the major sponsors of "Hazel" was The Ford Motor Company, which introduced several automobile models in the show's opening and closing credits. If you watch reruns of the show on the FETV channel, you’ll often see those credits (like the one above) with the Ford vehicles without the sponsor billboard (“brought to you by The Ford Motor Company”). I always thought the Ford Mustang was introduced on an episode of “Hazel” in 1964; this is further proof I was correct in that assumption. By the way, the red cars looked terrific on the NBC colorcasts of the show and the commercials!
The video above features the cast of "Hazel" in a long-form commercial for the Ford Motor Company, produced in 1963.
The CBS version of “Hazel” would have been seen across Mid-Illinois on WCIA, WMBD-TV, WTHI-TV, KHQA, and KMOX-TV.
The new Ford Mustang for 1964 as shown in the opening credits of "Hazel."
(YouTube screen grab)
WCIA Fall Promo 1981
Click on the image to watch the video directly from YouTube.
Click on the image to watch the video directly from YouTube.
Flipper (1964) NBC
From YouTube: “In a gripping race against time at Coral Key Park and Marine Preserve, Dr. Bill Darmon faces a life-threatening situation after a severe shark attack while skin-diving. Critically injured and aboard his boat, he manages to radio Porter Ricks for urgent help, requiring a specific, rare blood type for survival. Porter and Sandy launch into immediate action, speeding across the waters while coordinating with a Coast Guard helicopter transporting the precious blood from Miami. During a perilous attempt to transfer the blood between the helicopter and boat, disaster strikes as the crucial container plummets into the ocean, sinking to a daunting depth of 300 feet. With time running out and Dr. Darmon’s life hanging in the balance, Porter Ricks realizes their only hope lies with Flipper, whose remarkable diving abilities might be their last chance to recover the vital blood supply.”
Shown in this scene of "Flipper" from the episode above is Brian Kelly, Jessica Walter, and Tommy Norden.
(YouTube screen grab)
The wife of the victim in the episode above was played by Jessica Walter (movie “Play Misty For Me,” “The Flamingo Kid,” and many others, TV shows “Route 66,” “The Fugitive,” “Mission Impossible,” “Marcus Welby MD”, among many others). Jessica Walter passed away in March of 2021 at the age of 80.
Dr. Darmon was played by William Traylor (in the movies “The Boston Strangler,” “The Towering Inferno,” and two of the “Fletch” movies with Chevy Chase). He died in 1989.
“Flipper” was broadcast in color on NBC, one of the first adventure series to do so. It premiered on September 19, 1964, and aired through September 1, 1968. The cast included Brian Kelly as Porter Ricks, a ranger at Coral Key Park in Florida. He was a widower with two sons, older Sandy played by Luke Halpin, and younger Bud, played by Tommy Norden.
On a personal note: “Flipper” was the only show regularly shown in color on Saturday evenings at 6:30 pm (CT). Since my family had an RCA color TV at the time, we'd have it on, and that’s what I would watch.
For those with color TV in 1964, the selection of color programming was still rather slim, but NBC had almost all of it. In 1965, NBC went virtually all-color with prime-time programming, with daytime programming going all-color in November 1966.
“Flipper” was seen in color across central and Mid-Illinois on WICS, WCHU, WEEK-TV, WTWO-TV, WGEM-TV, and KSD-TV. It was seen in black and white on WICD in the Danville area, as it would not broadcast color until it combined with WCHU in 1967 to become a full-powered station on Channel 15, as WICD-TV. See the History of WCHU and the History of WDAN-TV.
WCIA Fall Promo 1981
Click on the image to watch the video directly from YouTube.
Click on the image to watch the video directly from YouTube.
My Mother the Car (1965) NBC Pilot
Jerry Van Dyke looking rather perplexed about the fact her mother was reincarnated as a 1928 Porter classic car.
(YouTube screen grab)
“My Mother the Car” is widely regarded as one of the worst TV shows in history. Now, that may be a rather mean statement, but I think many others could fall into that category as well.
This series has been mocked and criticized for years. If you look at the credits, you might wonder what went wrong. It was produced by Rod Amateau, whose resume included “The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show,” “The Bob Cummings Show,” “The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis,” “Mister Ed,” “Gilligan’s Island,” and “Supertrain.” OK, the last couple of shows in that listing may give you a hint of what went wrong.
Alan Burns, alone, wrote for Jay Ward Productions, which brought us “The Bullwinkle and Rocky Show,” “Dudley Do-Right,” and “George of the Jungle.” He was also the creator of the Cap’n Crunch character used by Quaker Oats. He later joined forces with Chris Hayward to create “The Munsters” and “My Mother the Car.” That began a long association that would lead to work on “He & She” and “Get Smart.”
Alan Burns later teamed with James L. Brooks to work on “Room 222,” “Mary Tyler Moore,” “Lou Grant,” “Rhoda,” “Paul Sand in Friends and Lovers,” and several other projects. Alan Burns passed away in late January of 2021 at the age of 85. Chris Hayward worked as a writer on “77 Sunset Strip,” “Fractured Flickers,” “The Governor and J.J.,” and “Barney Miller.” He passed away in November 2006 at the age of 81.
“My Mother the Car” starred Dave Crabtree, played by Jerry Van Dyke, a Danville, Illinois, native and the younger brother of Dick Van Dyke. Others in the cast included Maggie Pierce as his wife Barbara, with Cindy Eilbacher and Randy Whipple as their kids. Avery Schreiber played Captain Berknard Manzini, who was always trying to steal the antique automobile, a 1928 Porter, which contained the soul of Dave’s mother, voiced by veteran actor Ann Southern.
By the way, Jerry Van Dyke went on to star in commercials for Hardee's and Big Lots in his later years and later played a pivotal role in "Coach" on ABC. That series lit up his star once again and brought about more appearances on the ABC family sitcom "The Middle."
The series "My Mother the Car" aired in color from September 14, 1965, through September 6, 1966, on Mid-Illinois stations WICS, WCHU, WEEK-TV, WTWO-TV, WGEM-TV, and KSD-TV. It was seen in black and white on WICD from Danville, Jerry’s hometown. How embarrassing was it that the station couldn’t broadcast a show in color starring one of its hometown “boys!”
WCIA Fall Promo 1981
Click on the image to watch the video directly from YouTube.
Click on the image to watch the video directly from YouTube.
The Second Hundred Years (1967) ABC
From YouTube: "The Second Hundred Years” aired on ABC for one season, premiering on September 6, 1967, and airing through September 19, 1968. It aired on Wednesday nights at 7:30-8 pm (CT) from September 1967 through February 1968. In March 1968, it was moved to Thursday nights at 6:30-7 pm for the rest of its run.
“In 1900, Luke Carpenter left his wife and infant son to go to Alaska for gold. While there, he was buried alive in a glacier slide and was instantly frozen. In 1967, he was found by the military…alive and having not aged a year in appearance, he looked like he was 33 years old. Not knowing what to do with him, the military sent Luke to his son, Edwin, who is now aged 67 years, played by Arthur O’Connell. Elwin now has a 33-year-old son. Coincidentally, both appear to be 33 years old and are played by Monte Markham. Though they look alike, many episodes center on the distinct personalities of the grandfather and grandson. Meanwhile, a military doctor looks after him and follows his every move, Col. Garroway, played by Frank Maxwell.”
“The Second Hundred Years” aired across Mid-Illinois on WAND, WIRL, and KTVI. It was posted on my Doug Quick On-Line YouTube Channel. See the complete list of videos from Central Illinois’ On-Line Broadcast Museum.
Arthur O'Connell, Monte Markham, and Frank Maxwell on "The Second Hundred Years" for ABC, 1967.
(YouTube screen grab)
WCIA Fall Promo 1981
Click on the image to watch the video directly from YouTube.
Click on the image to watch the video directly from YouTube.
Nanny and the Professor (1970) ABC Pilot
From YouTube: "Phoebe Figalilly, a British nanny with mysterious powers, arrives at the house of widowed professor Harold Everett to help care for his three children."
This was one of the magical TV series in the same vein as “Bewitched,” “I Dream of Jeannie,” and “The Ghost and Mrs. Muir.” “Nanny and the Professor” was a charming, short-lived series that starred Juliet Mills ("QB VII") as Phoebe Figalilly, Richard Long (movies: "Ma and Pa Kettle" films, and on TV: "Bourbon Street Beat," "77 Sunset Strip," and "The Big Valley") as Professor Howard Everett, with the kids played by David Doremus, Trent Lehman, and Kim Richards.
“The Nanny and the Professor” aired on ABC and was seen across the region on WAND, WIRL, WJJY, and KTVI.
Juliet Mills as Phoebe and Richard Long as the Professor
in "Nanny and the Professor" in 1970 for ABC
(YouTube screen grab)
WCIA Fall Promo 1981
Click on the image to watch the video directly from YouTube.
Click on the image to watch the video directly from YouTube.
All in the Family (1971) CBS Pilot
While all the previous “family shows” above were considered family-friendly, things were going to change. The rural purge of folksy half-hour sitcoms on CBS was coming to an end. We said goodbye to “The Beverly Hillbillies,” “Green Acres,” “Petticoat Junction,” and others, and said hello to a jarringly different kind of family sitcom. This Norman Lear comedy spawned three major spinoffs in the years that followed, including “Maude,” “The Jeffersons,” and “Archie Bunker’s Place.”
Other Norman Lear sitcoms included: "Sanford and Son," "Good Times," and "One Day at a Time."
Rob Reiner, Sally Struthers, Carroll O'Connor, and Jean Stapleton in "All in the Family" and the pilot show from 1971.
In the pilot episode, we learned the opinions of the major confrontational characters, Archie Bunker and his son-in-law, Mike Stivic, whom Archie called “Meathead.” An anniversary dinner goes awry when an argument breaks out between the two. Carroll O’Connor was Archie; Edith, his wife, was played by Jean Stapleton; Gloria, their daughter, was played by Sally Struthers; and Mike, the son-in-law, was played by Rob Reiner.
This classic series aired from January 12, 1971, through September 21, 1983. It was seen on the CBS affiliates over Mid-Illinois, WCIA, WMBD-TV, WTHI-TV, KHQA, and KMOX-TV.
WCIA Fall Promo 1981
Click on the image to watch the video directly from YouTube.
Click on the image to watch the video directly from YouTube.
The Smith Family (1971) ABC Pilot
This full-season entry was from ABC and starred Henry Fonda as police detective sergeant chief Chad Smith, with his wife, Betty, played by Janet Blair. His kids were played by Chicago native, Darleen Carr ("The Streets of San Francisco’) as Cindy, Ronny Howard (“The Andy Griffith Show”) as Bob, and Michael-James Wisted as Brian.
This series was family-based, dealt with topical subjects of the time, and perhaps represented ABC’s attempt to match the modern-day relevance of “All in the Family” but as a drama.
In this episode, the series premiere, Henry Fonda’s character arrests his daughter’s best friend for marijuana possession. What follows is Cindy being labeled as a “narc.”
Mike Minor (“Petticoat Junction”) sang the beginning segment of the theme song. Others in the cast included Vince Howard, with many appearances in movies and TV shows at that time, including “Mannix,” “O’Hara, US Treasury,” “Owen Marshall,” “Mission Impossible,” and others, as Sgt. Ed Thomas.
“The Smith Family” premiered with the episode above on September 20, 1971, and its last episode aired on June 14, 1972. It aired across Mid-Illinois on WAND, WIRL, WJJY, and KTVI.
Other episodes of “The Smith Family” are available on the Times Past Television YouTube Channel.
Cast members of "The Smith Family" from 1971. (top): Henry Fonda and Janet Blair, (middle): Henry Fonda and (lower) Ron "Ronny" Howard
(YouTube screen grab)
WCIA Fall Promo 1981
Click on the image to watch the video directly from YouTube.
Classic Radio
KXOK, 630AM St. Louis (1966) Nick Charles
From a Friday, July 29, 1966, beginning around Noon on that day, here’s Nick Charles on the St. Louis top contemporary station with lots of personality, great jingles, and the top hits.
KXOK, 630AM St. Louis (1966) William A. Hopkins
One jock from the golden age, William A. Hopkins, with Bill Addison doing the news and Lou Cooley with the traffic report, reportedly from once again Friday, July 29, 1966, during what sounds like drive-time afternoon.
WCFL, 1000AM Chicago (1967) Barney Pip
This air recording is from September 1, 1967, from WCFL.
WCFL, 1000AM Chicago (1967) Dick Biondi
This is a nearly complete broadcast recording (including most of the music not challenged by copyright) with commercials and the unique voice of Dick Biondi. He passed away in June of 2023 at the age of 90.
WLS, 890AM Chicago (1967) Art Roberts
From an undetermined Sunday night broadcast, here’s Art Roberts, Chicago Radio Royalty.
WLS, 890AM Chicago (1977) Yvonne Daniels
This is from the overnight shift, when nearly half of the US could listen to the “Rock of Chicago.” This is from June 18, 1977, with the first and only female DJ on the station at that time.
WIRL,1290AM Peoria (1969)
This complete air recording is from the late morning shift on February 1, 1969, and features Don Strickland News, DJ VLJ. This one features a lot of the great music at the time, with a heavy commercial load.
WIRL, 1290AM Peoria (1976) Robyn Weaver and the Early Birds
From YouTube: "Robyn Weaver was WIRL's popular wake-up host. Famous for his "Rancid Recipes", incredible voice, and irreverent wit, Robyn started Central Illinois' mornings on The Big 1290 with much music, original comedy, and loads of fun each morning. Here's "Weav" during WIRL's Top 40 heyday doing what he did best back in the spirited Summer of '76."
WWTO, 105.7FM Peoria (1973) Solid Gold
From YouTube: WWTO-105.7FM Peoria was broadcasting the automated Drake-Chenault "Solid Gold" Format in July 1973. The exact date is unknown, other than it was recorded during that month, on a Sunday night before the weekly sign-off at Midnight. This was recorded from my hometown of Taylorville, Illinois, 79 miles south of East Peoria, the transmitter and tower/antenna. For more on WWTO and automated radio or Drake-Chenault, click here.
KSHE, 94.7FM St. Louis (1974)
From YouTube: A complete off-air recording of KSHE from June 1974. For more, visit www.dougquick.com. One correction on the distance between the station and where it was recorded. It wasn't 90 miles, it was actually 104 miles! For the History of KSHE, click here.
WCVS, 1450AM Springfield (1971) Steve West
This is an aircheck from WCVS-AM(1450), Springfield, Illinois, from sometime in April of 1971. It features the voice of Steve West before his move to WDBR in 1973. This is from the Rich Styles Collection. For more information on the WCVS and central Illinois CHR/Top 40 history, visit History of WCVS here.
WBNQ, 101.5FM (1976) Solid Gold
This air check was recorded during the 8 am hour on August 16th, 1976. The station was using the Drake-Chenault XT-40 format. Go to the History of WBNQ for more about this Bloomington station.
WDZ, 1050AM Decatur (1975) Larry Limbach
This air check is with Larry Limbach as the DJ. He was voice tracking through an IGM automation system. It was a terrific effort to create a very live-sounding radio station using this antiquated system, originally designed for a beautiful music format. His music voice-overs were timed(he didn't actually hear the music playing-he just knew how long the intros were). Larry was a great jock and a radio ad executive for years in Decatur. For more about Illinois' first radio station click on the History of WDZ.
WLRW, 94.5FM Champaign (1974) Solid Gold
This broadcast was recorded by Scott Baer and contributed to dougquick.com for use in the "Area CHR" page on a profile of WLRW(FM), Champaign, IL. The complete recording was edited to an aircheck by Doug Quick. WLRW was an automated radio station that used an IGM automation system and aired the syndicated radio format "Solid Gold," produced by Drake-Chenault. For the History of WLRW click here.
WDNL, 102.1FM Danville (1984) Doug Quick
This aircheck features Doug Quick subbing for regular morning disk jockey Bob Taylor. It is from June 19, 1984.
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Are Staff Changes at WCIA a Result of the Nexstar/Tegna Merger Difficulties?
POSTED 2026-0701
You may have noticed changes at WCIA. It’s not unusual to see people come and go; sometimes, a couple may exit at the same time. Contracts come to an end, and, seemingly, they are renewed only in rare instances to keep an individual there beyond the initial term of the agreement.
Stations in the central Illinois market are starter or second-level employers to many, just getting started in their careers. Most move on to larger markets and better opportunities after their initial two- or three-year contract expires.
I won’t say it’s rare, but it is unusual to see what’s happening at WCIA right now, which could indicate something else is going on behind the scenes.
The first time it happened was in 2000, after Nexstar (the current owner of WCIA) purchased the station and purged a vast number of veteran personalities/journalists from the newsroom roster, including weekday and weekend anchors, several reporters, and behind-the-scenes support people. See the History of WCIA 1966-2019.
The Local TV news website, FTVLive, describes the current changes as being an “exodus. Once again, it’s difficult to say, as the station hasn’t been fully transparent about its internal activities (no station or company is, or should be, expected to be), whether the situation is a huge coincidence or a “cost-cutting” move by Nexstar.
In case you haven’t noticed, here’s the rundown of who appears to have left or who is leaving soon, according to FTVLive:
Weekend weather Meteorologist Seth Bohnoff has already departed.
Jaclyn Friedlander (”unexpectedly departed”)
Jennifer Roscoe, anchor, retired after 34 years last week.
Brandon Merano (”has been off the air for four weeks with no public explanation”)
Meteorologist Adam Sherwinski “announced he’s leaving as well” on July 7th.
Plus, WCIA morning co-anchor Taylor Mitchell has posted a local announcement that she will be leaving on July 14th.
According to an FTVLive report, an anonymous staffer claimed that “People are leaving because of management.”
NewscastStudio has also reported that Nextstar is cutting staff at its TV stations nationwide. According to reports, the company is undergoing a major restructuring in connection with its merger with Tegna. (see story below). The cuts have consisted of around 400 positions across the company. Among those are veteran high-profile anchors, journalists, and meteorologists in the major markets, and, evidently, now in the medium- to small-market ones. The station's promotional activities and the production of local commercials are now being handled at Nexstar facilities in a few larger markets, eliminating the need for creative service employees at the local level.
Audacy Sells St. Louis Radio Group to Hoffman Media Group
POSTED 2026-0629
It’s been reported that Audacy is selling its large group of radio stations in St. Louis to the Hoffman Media Group, part of HF Companies of Winnetka, Illinois. HF Companies describes itself as “a multi-vertical, family-owned company and a multi-generational family business.” They recently obtained the NHL team, the Pittsburgh Penguins. They also own several publications, including the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
The St. Louis radio stations that are involved in the sale include:
WFUN(FM) “96.3 R&B”
KFTK(FM) “97.1 FM Talk
KYKY(FM) “Y-98”
KEZK(FM) “102.5 Adult Contemp”
KMOX AM/FM “News Talk 1120AM and 104.1FM”
K254CR/KEZK-HD2 “Hot 98.7”
The sale is pending FCC approval.
Layoffs at IHeart Media Affects Many On-Air Jobs and Other Positions
POSTED 2026-0625
iHeart Media is reportedly laying off dozens of on-air positions across its 860 stations in 160 markets, controlling over 21% of the U.S. radio market! The company has been in bankruptcy since 2019. With the current downturn in radio revenue due to shifts in listening behavior and reduced ad revenue amid increased competition from other audio sources, the company is struggling to meet its sales and profit goals.
It was in April that IHeart laid off many management and sales positions. Now, many well-known veteran air personalities have found themselves without a job. There have been reports that large portions of the air staff and other personnel at some stations have been affected by these layoffs. The company calls them “job impacts.”
iHeart Media does not own any radio stations that broadcast to Central Illinois, although many are streamed on the iHeart national streaming service.
From the St. Louis Market, IHeart stations include: KLOU(103.3FM), KSD(93.7FM). From Indianapolis, the IHeart stations include WFBQ(94.7FM). From Chicago their owned stations include WCHI(95.5FM), WGCI(107.5FM), WKSC(103.5FM), WLIT(93.9FM) and WVAZ(102.7FM). This list is by no means complete.
READ MY LATEST BLOG ON THIS SUBJECT.
Nexstar Makes a Claim That They Hope Will Clear a Path
to the Merger
UPDATE 2026-0522
Nexstar is fighting back against the filings of DirecTV and the attorneys general of several states hoping to end the merger of Nexstar and Tegna that amounts to over $6 billion.
Nexstar is now asking for an expedited appeal with the 9th Circuit Court saying that the preliminary injunction filed by a federal judge is damaging the company's future health.
Nexstar is accusing the US District Court's ruling is an overreach. Nexstar claims that their need to increase their station holdings well beyond what the FCC rules permit is causing "unrecoverable harm" to both companies. and their future operations.
Previous Information:
The merger would bring the total number of stations owned by one company to a number previously deemed illegal under FCC rules and regulations. The merger, according to the California Attorney General Rob Bonta, “is illegal and will give Nexstar and Tegna the ability to control and raise prices, fire journalists, and dominate the media landscape.” He went on to describe the merger as “a rotten deal for consumers, for workers, for affordability and for our local news.”
Nexstar currently owns/operates the TV stations WICA and WCIX (Champaign, IL) WMBD-TV and WYZZ (Peoria-Bloomington, IL) WTVO and WQRF (Rockford), WHBF-TV and KLJB(Quad Cities), WTTV, WTTK, and WXIN(Indianapolis), KPLR-TV and KTVI (St. Louis, MO).
Tegna currently owns/operates the TV stations WQAD (Quad Cities), KSDK-TV (St. Louis) and WTHR, WALV-CD (Indianapolis).
UPDATE 2026-0617
In an OpEd piece published in Fortune, Nexstar Chairman and CEO Perry Sook stated that the Nexstar/Tegna deal is "vital to the future of local television and local journalism," saying that "local broadcast news operations could collapse and disappear just as newspapers did if the deal is not allowed to go through."
In his piece he went on to state that "outdated" TV station ownership rules have crippled local broadcasts and have allowed big tech to dominate the media landscape.
He says that by not changing the ownership rules would be "dire" and local voices would be diminished or eliminated totally.
READ MY LATEST BLOG ON THIS SUBJECT.
More Mega Merger Issues between Scripps TV and INYO Stations
UPDATED 2026-0617 The issues with mega mergers among television broadcast groups continue, with one being called out by the Internet and Television Association (NCTA-National Cable Television Association). The association has filed comments with the FCC concerning the merger of E.W. Scripps and INYO Broadcast Holdings, a group of 23 TV stations that includes WIPX, Channel 63, and WCLJ-TV, Channel 42, in Indianapolis.
The Indianapolis stations and others exist to broadcast the signals of the ION TV networks and other leased boutique channels in their home markets. If you visit the TV Today menu at the top of the page and select Indianapolis, scroll to the WDLJ/WIPX listings, and you’ll find the station broadcasts the ION channels along with Court TV, Busted, Game Show Channel, Bounce, and a shopping channel. Both stations broadcast from the facility, with the Bounce Channel being the only listing with a virtual channel number of 42.1. All the others have virtual channel 63. Both broadcast a full-powered signal which covers Indianapolis and Bloomington, Indiana.
The acquisition, if approved, would result in a group of stations covering 40.29% of the U.S., just 1.29 percentage points above the current ownership cap of 39% of the population. FCC Chair Brendan Carr has already expressed that the agency would waive the ownership caps if the waiver would “be in the public interest.”
More recently, the FCC waived ownership rights to approve the Nexstar/Tegna merger that would result of the resulting group covering 54.5” of the U.S. population. That is now being litigated in the Federal Courts of California and Washington D.C. The NCTA contends that Congress did not give the FCC authority to waive the caps.
The Radio Hall of Fame Announces its Class of 2026
POSTED 2026-0522
The Radio Hall of Fame inductees for 2026 were announced earlier this week. They include at couple of former WLS DJs probably familier to Top 40 radio listeners in the 70s and 80s.
The group includes:
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Boomer Esiason: WFAN-AM/FM, New York City
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Dennis Green: COO, Sun & Fun Media/Key Networks
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Shotgun Tom Kelly: SiriusXM's '60s on 6
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Helen Little: WLTW-FM, New York City
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Bob Pittman: Chairman and CEO, iHeartMedia, Inc.
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Rickey Smiley: Urban One/Reach Media
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Charlie Van Dyke: Major-market Top 40 radio DJ, former WLS
and station voice for WICS
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Fred Winston: Chicago Top 40 radio, WLS
Congratulations to them all from Central Illinois' On-Line Broadcast Museum.
FCC Plans to Auction FM Radio Construction Permits to
Perspective Radio Owners
POSTED 2026-0512
The Federal Communications Commission plans to auction FM radio construction permits beginning in February 2027.
“Auction 114 would make available for bidding construction permits for vacant FM radio channels,” it said in the announcement.
It will offer 132 CPs, including 99 not previously offered; 33 of them were offered at auction before but unsold.
Most are Class A or Class C; there is a Class B1 in Illinois. That is for 96.9FM licensed to Mattoon, IL. Save your money, though, the bidding begins at $25,000.
WICS and WICD Changing Owners Again
UPDATED 2026-0527
The Transfer of Ownership application of the sale of WICS/WICD from the FCC,
The application also includes details on the continuation of the "shared services agreement" with GoCom Media in the operation of WRSP, WCCU, and WBUI.
UPDATED 2026-0331
Springfield based Illinois Times reported the proposed sale of WICS, Channel 20, Springfield and WICD, Channel 15, Champaign. This sale follows an earlier sale of the stations just over a year ago to Rincon Broadcasting (president Todd Parkin) which purchased the station duo among other TV stations previously owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group. Others in original sale included ones in Hannibal, MO-Quincy IL (KHQA), Kirksville, MO-Ottumwa, IA (KTVO). That sale to Rincon was reported to total $29.5 million.
Compare that to the most recent announcement of the sale being $116.5 million for the Springfield and Champaign stations and many others located in Memphis, TN; Omak-Okanogan, Washington; Milwaukee, Wi; Lincoln, NE; Prosser, WA; Sandpoint, ID; Colville, WA; Cape Girardeau, MO; Grangeville, ID; Pendleton, OR; Spokane, WA; Lewiston, ID; New Bedford, MA; Yuma, AZ; Richland, WA; Yakima, WA; Coeur D’Alene, ID; Tulsa, OK; and Paducah, KY. The sale also includes a number of translator stations that rebroadcast the main stations owned by Rincon to hard to reach areas in the Rockies.
The purchaser is Community News Media LLC. It’s website states that it is “a leading multimedia company providing local news and information through a wide range of print, digital, and radio products...”
The local newspapers owned by Community News Media in our region include the Champaign-Urbana News-Gazette, The Iroquois Times-Republic (Watseka, IL), Piatt County (Monticello, IL) Journal-Republican, and Fountain County Neighbor (Covington, IN).
Local radio stations owned by Community News Media include: WDWS (AM-FM), WHMS (FM), Champaign, IL; WKIO (FM), Monticello, IL; WDAN (AM), WDNL (FM), WRHK (FM), Danville, IL, WSOY (AM) and (FM), WDZ (AM), WDZQ (FM).
This purchase of the Rincon TV stations by Community News Media, LLC, appears to be the first venture into television for the company.
The ownership change is pending FCC approval.
More TV stations could appear soon in the Central Illinois market
POSTED 2026-0319
In Illinois, filings were made for new TV transmitters including 1 each for Springfield and Champaign.
The applications for both Springfield and Champaign were submitted by the same person/group, whose address is 26 N. Halsted, Chicago.
That is the home of Weigel Broadcasting. Two of the contacts listed in the application are with Weigel Broadcasting.
Weigel is the owner of MeTV, MeTV Toons, Movies!, H&I, StartTV, Story Television, Catchy Comedy, Dabl, West, and MeTV+. I'm assuming it's their intention to place all, or at least some, of those TV networks on each designated channel as digital subchannels.
In Springfield, the application is for Channel 14 with a power of 15kW from a tower/antenna height of 489-feet.
For Champaign the group is seeking Channel 33 with a power of 15kW from an tower/antenna, 450 feet high.
So far there has been confirmation of the approval of the petitions for those new low power TV transmitters.
Hasbro Entertainment has launched Hasbro Legends, a new linear broadcast channel dedicated to the company’s portfolio of legacy brands.
Set to debut on July 2nd on full- and low-powered leased channel stations, it is expected to reach more than 70 million U.S. homes at launch, with additional distribution planned across streaming platforms, including the soon-to-be-launched Heartland+ service.
The network features programming from Hasbro’s franchise content library, including series based on G.I. Joe, Transformers, Power Rangers, My Little Pony, and Jem and the Holograms.
Now Streaming Nationally
Click on the image above to listen to MeTVFM. It's the popular music companion to MeTV, Memorable Entertainment Television, America’s #1 all classic television network. Launched at 87.7FM in late February, 2015, MeTVFM features a unique mix of timeless and memorable music incorporating a wide variety of classic hits, deep tracks and softer sounds spanning several decades of popular music.
Previously on Videos of the Week...
If you've missed any of the "Videos of the Week" or "Classic Radio" recordings, you'll find them here. Unfortunately, there's no written narrative to go along with each. You have to visit each week for that.
The Fugitive (1967) ABC The Judgment Parts 1 & 2
The Fugitive (1963) ABC Pilot episodes
The Prisoner (1968) CBS Pilot
Secret Agent (1965) CBSD opening credits for the US version of the UK series
The Outer Limits (1995) Showtime
The Time Tunnel (2002) Unsold Pilot Update
Classic Radio
The Steve Allen Show (1956) NBC Elvis
The Ed Sullivan Show (1956) CBS Elvis
Ozzie and Harriet (1958) ABC Rick Nelson
Dick Clark’s Beech-Nut Show (1959) ABC Paul Anka
American Bandstand (1963) ABC The Orlons
The Ed Sullivan Show (1964) CBS The Beatles “I Want to Hold Your Hand”
The Ed Sullivan Show (1964) CBS The Beatles “I Saw Her Standing There” in color
The Ed Sullivan Show (1964) CBS The Beatles Complete Live Performance
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (2026) CBS The Final Show Paul McCartney
The T.A.M.I Show (1964) Theatrical Film Assorted Performances
Hollywood Palace (1964) ABC Host: Dean Martin The Rolling Stones
The Ed Sullivan Show (1967), CBS, The Rolling Stones, “Let’s Spend the Night (Some Time) Together.”
Shindig (1964-66) ABC Variety of Performances
Hullabaloo (1965) NBC hosted by Gary and Jerry Lewis
The Hollywood Palace (1966) ABC Host Arthur Godfrey, The Mama's and the Papa's
The Smothers Brothers Show (1968) CBS The Association
This is Tom Jones (1969) ABC Tom Jones with Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young
Midnight Special (1975) NBC Rod Stewart and Faces
Classic Radio
WRLL, 1690AM, Berwyn-Chicago, IL (recreated 1958) countdown
KFWB, 980AM, Los Angeles (1958) B. Mitchell Reed and Bill Ballance
KXOK, 630AM, St. Louis (1961) Jack Elliot
WLS, 890AM, Chicago (1960s) Compilation of “The Lost 60s.”
WLS, 890AM, Chicago (1967) Art Roberts
KXOK, 630AM, St. Louis (1968) Johnny Rabbitt
Red Skelton Show (1951) CBS First Show
CBS News (1952) Douglas Edwards with the News
I Love Lucy (1953) Segment “At the Chocolate Factory”
Stars in the Eye (1952) CBS Special
Television City Tour-Part 1 (1953) CBS Edward R. Murrow
Television City Tour-Part 2 (1953) CBS
Jack Benny Show (1953) Guest: Marilyn Monroe
CBS Morning Show-first segment (1954) CBS Host: Jack Paar
See It Now (1954) CBS Edward R. Murrow
American Masters (1990) PBS Edward R. Murrow
The Bob Crosby Show (1955) CBS - Special Retrospective by Musicom
A Visit to CBS Color Television (1954) for affiliates only
Gunsmoke (1955) John Wayne’s Introduction
Andy Griffith Show (1962) CBS segment Ep 1
The Beverly Hillbillies (1963) CBS Clampetts in Court
Newsflash (1963) CBS Kennedy Assassination
CBS News Capsule (1963) CBS News Capsule
CBS Evening News (1963) CBS Evening News with Walter Cronkite
The Dick Van Dyke Show (1965) CBS Season 5 Ep 1
CBS News (1968) Walter Cronkite Calls for US to leave Vietnam
CBS News (1968) Walter Cronkite/Martin Luther King Jr. Assassination Report
The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour (1969) CBS The Never-Aired Episode
The Smothers Brothers Show Cancellation Press Conference (1969)
Classic Radio
CBS News-Chicago (2016) CBS Radio Signs off after 100 years
The Ruggles (1950) ABC “Charlie’s Promotion”
Danny Thomas Show (1961) CBS Guest: Bill Dana
Bachelor Father (1957) CBS Pilot Show
My Mother the Car (1965) NBC Pilot
The Second Hundred Years (1967) ABC
Nanny and the Professor (1970) ABC Pilot
All in the Family (1971) CBS Pilot
The Smith Family (1971) ABC Pilot
CLASSIC RADIO
KXOK (1966) William A. Hopkins
WIRL (1976) Robyn Weaver and the Early Birds
Next Regular Update Comes July 24th
to be announced
Get some History of all of these Mid-Illinois Radio stations and others under Radio History on the main menu bar above and here by choosing:
Remembering CBS Radio News
launched in 1927 under William S. Paley layed the foundation for the Columbia Broadcasting System.
The network officially signed off on May 22, 2026 by its parent company Paramount, that eliminated all the staff and distribution to 700 radio affiliate stations.
Danville had a full powered TV station from 1953-1967. Get the History of this ill-fated TV station and why it is no longer a part of the Mid-Illinois TV landscape Plus, more artifacts are now a a permanent part of Central Illinois' On-Line Broadcast Museum. Get the entire story by going to the History of WDAN-TV.
Central Illinois On-Line Broadcast Museum and dougquick.com supports the work of the St. Louis Media History Foundation.
Visit their website at:
National Academy
of Television Arts
and Sciences
Mid-America Chapter
Silver Circle Award
Winner 2013
Doug Quick, the 2017
Medium market TV
Best TV News Anchor Sliver Dome Award from the Illinois Broadcasters Association
for his work with WCCU-TV
