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GLENN SNYDER
The genial Manager of WLS is an active leader among radio executives, President of the Chicago Broadcasters' Association and a regional officer of the N.A. B.



WILLIAM R. CLINE
Affectionately known as "Bill", Mr. Cline, as Sales Manager, is responsible for the handling of commercial accounts on the station. His voice was once well known to listeners.



GEORGE COOK
Neither a singer, actor nor announcer, Mr. Cook still has a part in every program on the air because he pays the bills. He must find enough money to cover expenses.



HAROLD SAFFORD
The program Director plans and supervises all programs. To look at Harold you wouldn't think he had a daughter in her third year of college and a son completing high school. The Saffords also have two younger daughters. Under his direction is a large staff of writers and production men, as well as entertainers. In his rare moments of leisure, he plays the fiddle.



GEORGE C. BIGGAR
The Promotional Director combines his South Dakota rural background with nearly fourteen years radio experience, creating programs for folks ho keep their feet on the ground. Mr. and Mrs. Biggar have two sons and a daughter. Commonly referred to as our "idea" man. For vacations he likes to load the family in the car and drive, stopping to get acquainted at every radio station along the way.

"WLS ... It's Roots in Chicago"

In The Beginning ...
WLS Radio went on the air in 1924 on 870 kilocycles with just 500 watts of power from a transmitter site in Crete, Illinois. WLS was owned by Sears, Roebuck and Company also located in Chicago. The call letters stood for "World Largest Store". WLS was known as The Prairie Farmer station. It captured a large agricultural farming audience throughout Mid-America. One of the many live programs was the "WLS Barn Dance" which was created in 1924 by George Hayes, a Memphis announcer who worked at WLS.
            In the late 1930's and early 1940's WLS/NBC had several network shows like "Fame and Fortune" with Tommy Dorsey and "Pot O Gold" with Horace Heidt.
            One of the most famous live broadcasts was the explosion of the german passenger Zeppelin Hindenburg on May 6th, 1937 in Lakehurst,New Jersey. WLS reporter Herbert Morrison and his engineers were at the event recording the landing. Morrison reported as the Hindenburg burst into flames.
            In 1941, WLS moved to 890 kilocycles with 50,000 watts. For about 15 years WLS shared it's frequency with WENR as part of the NBC Blue Network. WENR then moved to 670 kilocycles and became WMAQ and went on to Television, channel 7, which is now WLS-TV. The WLS studio and Prairie Farmer location: 1230 W. Washington Boulevard, Chicago.

  The Top 40 era ...
In 1960 WLS became part of ABC. As the popularity of Elvis, Buddy Holly, Bill Haley and local Chicago area garage bands began, WLS started playing pop hits. The Million Dollar survey was distributed to local area record stores to boost record sales. Announcers Art Roberts, Clark Weber, Dick Biondi and others entertained us.

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