[BC] Early formats on FM

[Larry Albert]

Rich,

   I was living in Chicago at that time.

   Will report events "as I remember them," unfortunately my memory may not 
be totally correct.

   Individual owner (possibly the founder and his family) started to sell 
WFMT to another station.

   (Must have been WGN from your post.)

   (NO certain knowledge of WHY owner was selling station - possibly wished 
to retire.)

   WFMT listeners got totally out of joint and formed a "Committee to Save 
WFMT".

   Listeners were afraid that "they" would lose "their station" and its 
programing.

   Seller was not happy about the committee's interference  - just wanted 
to get his money.

   Buyer was facing a public relation disaster.

   IIRC Buyer closed sale and then donated the station to a public group 
which was to continue operate WFMT as it had been.

   I think the transfer/donation may have also included some significant 
financial contribution to the new operating group also.

   Hopefully Gordon Carter will be able to confirm or deny the accuracy of 
my memory.

   Gordon could ask Studs Terkel (sp?) for his recollections of these events.
   Studs is older than dirt.  He has seen lots.  He has heard lots. He 
remembers most of it.

*****

   At same time in Chicago I remember "Smack Dab in the Middle"  WSDM  -  87.9.

   IIRC format was JAZZ.

   Who wants to tell the rest of group what else a listener would notice 
that was unique about this station.

   Hint: A listener would notice the same unique feature listening  a 
certain Memphis AM.
   Not sure if the Memphis AM was unique during the same years.


*****

Albert



At 09:05 PM 10/23/05 -0400, you wrote:
>------ At 04:08 PM 10/23/2005, Rob Atkinson wrote: -------
>
>>I was told years ago that WFMT used to be WGN FM.   never found out if 
>>that was true or not, but your story about tribune once owning it makes 
>>it plausable.   I bet Tribune has regretted the decision to donate it.
>
>It was a strange situation. WGN got possession of WFMT and didn't want it. 
>I don't remember the circumstances. After all WGN had been dominant for 
>centuries and FM was not worth the effort. It was better to donate it to 
>WTTW and get the tax benefits. WPIX-FM was also owned by Tribune. When I 
>worked there I asked someone at corporate why it was done. He responded by 
>rolling his eyes as though some dumb jerk should have been fired for doing 
>it. That was many years later after FM became dominant. 20-20 hindsight.
>
>Rich
>
>Rich Wood
>Rich Wood Multimedia
>Phone: 413-303-9084
>FAX: 413-480-0010
>
>
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