WCCO-AM / WCCO-FM
WCCO-AM is a heritage radio station based in Minneapolis, MN, with a rich history dating back to 1922. Originally launched as WLAG (“The Call of the North”), the station was acquired in 1924 by the Washburn Crosby Company—the predecessor to General Mills—and rebranded as WCCO, taking its call letters from the company name. It became one of the Midwest’s most influential stations and eventually a CBS affiliate.
WCCO-AM broadcasts at 50,000 watts on a clear-channel frequency, giving it an expansive reach across the Upper Midwest—especially at night. The station has long been known for its mix of news, talk, and community-focused programming, and it has earned a reputation as “The Good Neighbor Station.”
WCCO has been home to many beloved broadcasters whose voices became staples of Minnesota radio.
Remembering Cedric Adams (1902-1961). For airchecks and more (click here)
Remembering Charlie Boone (1927-2015). For airchecks and more (click here)
Remembering Steve Cannon (1927-2009). For airchecks and more (click here)
Remembering Dick Chapman (1930-2015). For airchecks and more, including many "Honest to Goodness" shows (click here)
Remembering Ray Christensen (1924-2017). For airchecks and more (click here)
Remembering Bill Diehl (1926-2017). For airchecks and more (click here)
Remembering Roger Erickson (1928-2017). For airchecks and more (click here)
Remembering Sid Hartman (1920-2020). For airchecks and more (click here)
Remembering Franklin Hobbs (1920-1995). For airchecks and more (click here)
Remembering Joyce Lamont (1916-2014). For airchecks and more (click here)
Celebrating the career of Dave Lee (Retired). For airchecks and more (click here)
Remembering Chuck Lilligren (1928-2017). For airchecks and more (click here)
Remembering Dark Star / George Chapple (1946-2012). For airchecks and more (click here)
Remembering Howard Viken (1924-2021). For airchecks and more (click here)
WCCO Radio Tornado and Severe Weather coverage airchecks (click here)
Learn more about many of these personalities who have been inducted into the MN Broadcasters Hall of Fame on the Pavek Museum of Electronic Communication website.
WCCO remains a vital part of Minnesota’s media landscape and is now owned by Audacy, Inc. The station continues to serve the region with a news/talk format, broadcasting Minnesota Twins baseball and offering both local and syndicated shows on 830 AM and KMNB 102.9 FM HD2.
WCCO-AM AIRCHECKS
9/12/1924: WLAG-AM (720 kHz) The earliest recording of a program known to be carried by a Twin Cities station, "The National Defense Day Program." The program begins with a reading of a list of stations in the "chain" and thereby contains the only known recording of someone saying "WLAG Minneapolis" that was actually broadcast over WLAG. WLAG had left the air on July 31, 1924. This defense day broadcast was a really big deal in the USA that day, so the parties negotiating the funding and founding of WCCO (out of the ashes of WLAG) agreed to put station WLAG back on the air for this one night so that the station could join this early coast-to-coast experiment. (provided by Todd Kosovich)
1926 and 1929: Wheaties Quartet - One of the first singing commercials
1926 version
1929 version
1/30/1937: St. Paul Winter Carnival Coronation Radio Broadcast (810 kHz)
9/29/1938: As heard on WCCO Radio, CBS Radio live coverage of Nazi Germany Adolf Hitler's speech from Berlin Sportpalast before 15,000 cheering attendees demanding that Czechoslovakia hand over Sudeten territory to Germany as broadcast on September 29, 1938. Includes translation and analysis by H.V. Kaltenborn, a brief speech segment by Joseph Goebbels, and a WCCO Radio station ID during part six. This recently discovered historical recording is one of the most complete of this speech known.#1 #2 #3 #4 #5 #6 (provided by Bill Lund, Digital on Location, Woodbury, MN)
In honor of those who perished during WWII, here is a link to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum.
11/20/1938: WCCO-AM (810) - Broadcast of "Bill Carlson and His Band of a Million Thrills" from from the Minnesota Terrace at the Hotel Nicollet on November 20, 1938. Enjoy this unedited 25 minute recording. (provided by Mark Durenberger)
Note: WCCO Radio was broadcasting at 810 AM in 1938. The station moved to 830 AM in 1941. In addition, the station's studios were located at the Hotel Nicollet until 1938.
12/7/1941: Attack on Pearl Harbor including the interruption of a New York Philharmonic symphony broadcast at Carnegie Hall; breaking news that Japan has attacked Pearl Harbor and the Philippines; WCCO identification; CBS Radio’s John Daly reporting on the attacks; a report by CBS Radio’s Albert Warner on a State Department announcement and comments from members of Congress; analysis and report by Major George Fielding Eliot; a WCCO Radio update; return to the symphony concert; and a CBS bulletin.
4/12/1945: WCCO's Paul Wann reads a flash and bulletin announcing the death of President Franklin Roosevelt.
News as it broke on the CBS World Today as it would have been heard on WCCO Radio. Plus, coverage of the funeral procession on April 14, 1945 as aired on CBS Radio with Bob Evans, Cliff Allen and Arthur Godfrey. (provided by Todd Kosovich)
4/20/1945: "School of the Air" program produced by CBS Radio/WCCO Radio featuring students from Minneapolis West High School discussing "Is World Organization Possible?". This program aired eight days after the death of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, 10 days before the death of Adolf Hitler and 18 days before the surrender of Nazi Germany. The recording ends with a WCCO Radio ID and a live commercial for Bulova watches. Note: The recording audio quality is poor.
8/18/1946: Minneapolis Mayor Hubert H. Humphrey reading the newspaper comics from the Minneapolis Tribune during the "Stay At Home" campaign during a polio outbreak. Frank Butler hosts the show with music by Toby Prin. Humphrey's children, Skip and Nancy, also appear on the show. (provided by Todd Kosovich)
FYI: The Minnesota State Fair was cancelled in 1946 due to outbreak of polio. The Star Tribune published a story about the above broadcast including photos: www.startribune.com/local/blogs/116452338.html
5/7/1949: Bob DeHaven's "Our Own Bob" show broadcast from the Our Own Hardware store in Little Falls, MN.
July 1949: WCCO Aquatennial Show with Cedric Adams, Bob Hope, Arthur Godfrey and Monica Lewis.
(Thanks to Todd Kosovich for the above image)
1949-1950
8/6/1949 - Schmidt's City Club with Clellan Card, Ed Viehman, Mary Davies, Tony Grise, City Club Orchestra with Wally Olson and more.
1950 - Schmidt's City Club with Clellan Card, Frank Butler, Mary Davies, City Club Band and more.
1950 - Schmidt's City Club with Clellan Card with Frank Butler, Tony Grise, Mary Davies, Velvetones, Wally Olson Orchestra and more #1 - #2
12/21/1949: People and Events of 1949
July 1950: WCCO Aquatennial Show with Cedric Adams, Garry Moore, Eddie Cantor, Janette Davis, Tony Grise and more
6/5/1951: Melody Matinee including commercials.
7/21/1951: WCCO Aquatennial Show with Cedric Adams, Ken Murray and more.
1951-1953: Clellan Card brief introduction of himself.
1954: Good Neighbor Time show broadcast from 1954 with Bob DeHaven, Maynard Speece, plus music by the Wally Olson Orchestra and The Red River Valley Gang, and more.
1/23/1954: Saturday Night Party and Talent Parade with Jack Huston
9/1/1954: "Sunrise Salute" with Allen Gray including newscast, conversation, music, etc. (Note: audio is a bit rough)
1955: "Good Neighbor Time" - Bob DeHaven (provided by Aaron Mintz)
7/16/1955: WCCO Aquatennial Show broadcast with Cedric Adams, Bob DeHaven, Bob Crosby (brother of Bing Crosby), Jan Murray (who was host of the television game show "Dollar A Second"), Guy Mitchell and much more. #1 - #2
8/5/1955: First Bank Notes with Joyce Lamont and Ed Viehman - Recording is scratchy
January 1956: WCCO Winter Carnival Broadcast from 1956 with Cedric Adams, Bob DeHaven, Johnny Carson, Steve Lawrence, Warren Hull (host of the CBS television show "Strike it Rich") Richard Hayman, Mindy Carson, The Red River Band, Burt Hanson and others. #1 - #2 (audio is a bit rough at times due to the poor condition of the transcription records
2/22/1956: First Bank Notes with Clellan Card and Joyce Lamont sponsored by First Banks featuring music, time, temperature, and news.
5/19/1957: Ernie Martz with "Accent on Music" including 1:05 am sign-off. (provided by Ernie Martz)
1953-1962
EIGHT WCCO RADIO YEAR END SPECIALS
Show summaries provided by Todd Kosovich.
1953 Highlights: Cedric Adams narrates a review of the year’s news, featuring many actualities. Russian Premier Joseph Stalin dies. Queen Elizabeth II is crowned. The Korean War Armistice is signed, with coverage and commentary from President Dwight D. Eisenhower. Veterans return home as families react. President Eisenhower visits Minnesota and promotes a stronger U.S. Air Force. Farm parity controversies plague farmers. U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Ezra Taft Benson addresses farmers, as does former Governor Harold Stassen. Senator Hubert H. Humphrey weighs in on parity, saying “no tinkering or tampering” is needed. Stillwater Prison narrowly avoids a riot. A fire destroys St. Olaf’s Catholic Church, a community landmark. Halsey Hall calls a Paul Giel first down, and Giel is later named an All-American. University of Minnesota football coach Wes Fesler resigns.
1955 Highlights: Cedric Adams narrates. DFL Governor Orville Freeman is sworn in and delivers his inaugural address. A budget deadlock grips the Minnesota Legislature. Harold Stassen considers a run for president if Eisenhower does not seek reelection. The Willard Hotel burns. A Thief River Falls banker is kidnapped. Korean War POWs are returned to Minnesota families. Farm prices again become controversial. Assistant Secretary of Agriculture Earl Butz addresses farmers (he would later serve as Secretary of Agriculture under Presidents Nixon and Ford). Agriculture Secretary Ezra Taft Benson speaks in Minneapolis. Confidence in the Salk polio vaccine is shaken. On February 5, a new Soviet leader is announced, reported by Alan Jackson, with comments from Eisenhower. The Atoms for Peace conference is covered. Eisenhower returns to Washington following his heart attack, with CBS reports and comments from the president.
1956 Highlights: Cedric Adams narrates. A Northwest Airlines airliner crashes into Puget Sound, with all aboard saved; a stewardess gives WCCO a riveting first-hand account of the rescue. Thief River Falls banker Kenneth Lindbergh is kidnapped and killed, followed by WCCO bulletins and reports on the kidnapper’s court case. On June 9, a jet crash kills two people in a car near an airport. Four days later, a caller to Big Bill Cash reports another plane crash near the airport, setting six houses on fire. Six air crashes in Minnesota during 1956 claim 21 lives. Frank Lloyd Wright visits Minnesota. Senator Estes Kefauver defeats Adlai Stevenson in the Minnesota DFL presidential primary. Former Governor Harold Stassen opposes a second term for Vice President Richard Nixon. Jim Borman recounts how vice-presidential candidate Kefauver mispronounced Minnesota city names during a campaign visit. Nominees Stevenson and Eisenhower both campaign in Minnesota. A national columnist claims Eisenhower suffered a heart-attack relapse while in Minnesota and is confronted by loyal supporters. Minnesota’s first taconite plant opens.
1960 Highlights: Walter Mondale is appointed Minnesota Attorney General and comments on a charity-contribution fraud case. Dick Chapman covers the 1960 Wisconsin primary battle between Senators Hubert H. Humphrey and John F. Kennedy, including excerpts from both candidates and primary-night results. DFL Governor Orville Freeman and Humphrey appear at the 1960 Democratic National Convention. Minnesota GOP Congressman Dr. Walter Judd keynotes the Republican National Convention and is discussed as a vice-presidential hopeful. Republican Elmer L. Andersen is elected governor, defeating Freeman. The Washington Senators announce their move to Minnesota, becoming the Minnesota Twins. The NFL grants Minnesota an expansion franchise, later named the Vikings. University of Minnesota students celebrate as the Golden Gophers are selected for the 1961 Rose Bowl.
1962 Highlights: Arv Johnson narrates. At the time of the broadcast, votes in the Minnesota governor’s race are still being counted. The GOP nominates incumbent Governor Elmer L. Andersen, while the DFL nominates Lieutenant Governor Karl Rolvaag. The campaign is bitter, with the quality of concrete used on Interstate 35 becoming a major issue. (Rolvaag was later declared the winner by 91 votes and took office on March 25, 1963.) President John F. Kennedy and former President Dwight D. Eisenhower campaign in Minnesota. A Communist speaker invited to the University of Minnesota sparks a free-speech debate. A tense football game pits the Wisconsin Badgers against the Minnesota Golden Gophers.
May 1958
MINNESOTA MILESTONES – 12-PART SERIES THAT AIRED ON WCCO RADIO IN 1958
On May 11, 1858, Minnesota became the 32nd state to be admitted into the union. In 1958, WCCO Radio commemorated Minnesota's Statehood Centennial Year, bringing history to life in a twelve broadcast series. This series recreated the drama of Minnesota progress from the days of the first explorers into the frontiers of the space age. Narrators were Cedric Adams, Bob DeHaven, and Dr. E.W. Ziebarth. The recordings are approximately one-hour each, totaling 12 hours.
Minnesota Milestones 1 - Ox Carts to Rockets: The Story of Transportation
Minnesota Milestones 2 - Sod Buster to Soil Bank: The Story of Agriculture
Minnesota Milestones 3 - The Towering Skyline: The Story of Forestry
Minnesota Milestones 4 - Faith of Our Fathers: The Story of Religion
Minnesota Milestones 5 - Minnesota's Marching Men: Military Affairs
Minnesota Milestones 6 - Frontiers of Enterprise: Business Labor and Finance
Minnesota Milestones 7 - Climate for Culture: Education and the Arts
Minnesota Milestones 8 - Pipestone to Taconite: Mining and Geology
Minnesota Milestones 9 - The 32nd Star: Politics and Government
Minnesota Milestones 10 - The State of Pleasure: Sports and Recreation
Minnesota Milestones 11 - Sight and Sound: The Story of Communications
Minnesota Milestones 12 - Medicine Man to Miracle Drug: The Story of Medicine
1959: Open Mic Program - Listeners call in message to be later played on Russian radio.
5/5/1961: CBS Radio coverage of the flight of Freedom 7 piloted by Alan Shepard, the United States first manned mission into space. #1 #2 (provided by Todd Kosovich)
The flight of Freedom 7 lasted 15 minutes, 22 seconds and the spacecraft traveled 302 miles from its launch point.
2/20/1962: CBS Radio's pre, flight, and post coverage of astronaut John Glenn becoming the first American to orbit the Earth as he flew aboard Project Mercury's Friendship 7 spacecraft. Glenn circled the globe three times in a flight lasting 4 hours and 55 minutes before splashing down in the Atlantic Ocean. Coverage anchored by Dallas Townsend at Cape Canaveral. Includes remarks by President Kennedy in part seven. - #1 #2 #3 #4 #5 #6 #7 #8 (provided by Todd Kosovich)
10/22/1962: CBS Radio - CBS World News Roundup - Pre-Cuban Missile Coverage - Reports that President Kennedy and officials are planning something big today. “Extraordinary peace time secrecy shrouds this city.” There will be a major announcement sometime today. A lot of rumors and wonder: Is it Cuba? Is it Berlin? Emergency Construction crews are working around the clock at Key West Florida. Service men are flooding into the city. Control Tower built and made working in one day! (provided by Todd Kosovich)
11/22/1963: WCCO Radio coverage of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy - Click Here
12/5/1963: Honest to Goodness special "clear channel" coast-to-coast broadcast with Dick Chapman and Randy Merriman (by Mark Durenberger)
Many more Honest to Goodness shows are posted on Dick Chapman's page.
1964: Portions of a raw tape recorded by then WCCO General Manager Larry Haeg Sr. interviewing former 'CCO Radio GM Earl Gammons about the early years at WLAG-AM / WCCO-AM. Mr. Haeg was off microphone but can still be heard asking the questions. (provided by the Library of American Broadcasting, University of Maryland - thanks to Mark Durenberger for enhancing the audio)
Mid-1960s: Honest to Goodness (provided by Mark Durenberger)
12/28/1965: Honest to Goodness with Dick Chapman and Randy Merriman (provided by Larry Haeg, Jr.)
WCCO RADIO 17 HOURS AIRCHECK FROM 1972
8/26/1966: Here is a rare opportunity to enjoy approximately 17 hours of continuous programming as heard on WCCO-AM on August 26, 1966 from 5:00 am to 11:00 pm. You will hear Roger Erickson and Maynard Speece in the morning, Howard Viken filling in on the national Arthur Godfrey Show, Boone and Erickson, MN Vikings vs. the Washington Redskins with Ray Christensen and Paul Giel, MN Twins vs. the Chicago White Sox with Herb Carneal, Ray Scott, Halsey Hall and Sid Hartman. Plus many commercials (including lots of cigarette ads), Jergen Nash Show, an address by President Johnson and much more!
These recordings were digitized off of a very slow moving "logger" reel-to-reel tape kept by 'CCO. As a result, the audio is not studio quality but more like what it would have sounded like listening with a 1960s small pocket AM transistor radio. We hope you enjoy this wonderful audio journey back in time.
Here is a LINK to the page with all the hourly airchecks and detailed descriptions.
11/22/1966: Farm City Day broadcast from Lake City, MN including Maynard Speece, Roger Erickson, Howard Viken, Joyce Lamont, Jergen Nash and Jim Hill - #1 #2 #3 #4 #5 #6 (provided by James Schrimpf)
The above recording features many vintage commercials (which we have also isolated) including: Anacin Camel Cigarettes Camel Cigarettes Copenhagen Tobacco Corn Huskers Lotion Fresh and Air Humidifiers
Gleem Toothpaste Great Northern Train Local Florists Lucky Strikes Cigarettes Mustang Mustang
Northwestern National Bank ("May We Help You Today") O'Brien Paints Pall Mall Cigarettes Pure Oil Sara Lee Southdale True Cigarettes True Cigarettes United Airlines ("Fly the Friendly Skies") Vantage Watches
12/23/1966: Aircheck of Bob DeHaven with the Standard Oil News Roundup, Paul Giel with the sports and Roger Erickson (provided by Mark Durenberger)
1/27/1967-1/28/1967: WCCO and CBS Radio breaking news coverage of the Apollo 1 tragedy Click Here.
5/26/1967: Studio quality hour-long aircheck of the Top of the Morning Show from May 26, 1967 with Roger Erickson and Maynard Speece including singing "The Good Morning Song," many jokes, farm news, Jim Hill with news and weather, Ray Scott with weather, and CBS World News Roundup with Dallas Townsend. #1 - #2 (provided by Bill Lund, Digital on Location, Woodbury, MN)
Includes commercials for DX Gas Stations, Standard Oil, Shoppers' City, Burlington Railroad, Camel Filter Cigarettes, Chevrolet Corvair 500, Chevrolet Camaro, Farmers and Mechanics Bank, Land O'Lakes, Donaldson's Warehouse Sale and more.
1968: WCCO Radio/CBS Radio - Lowell Thomas breaks up laughing
April-June 1968: WCCO Radio/CBS Radio Coverage of the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. - Click Here
6/5/1968-6/8/1968: An extensive collection of airchecks covering the shooting, death, funeral mass and more of Senator Robert F. Kennedy - Click Here
8/7/1968: CBS Radio coverage of the Republican National Convention roll call to Richard Nixon's nomination (provided by Stuart Held)
3/31/1969: First Bank Notes with Bill Diehl and Joyce Lamont. This program was broadcast on the same day of former President Dwight D. Eisenhower's funeral in Washington DC, a national day of mourning, and features newscasts, patriotic music, weather forecasts, and commercials for First National Bank, RCA Color TV and Northwest Heating Oil Council (provided by Helen Diehl)
July 1969: Coverage of the launch, moon landing, first steps on the moon of Apollo 11 - Click Here
November 1969: Coverage of Apollo 12 - Click Here
1970s: Sales demo sample tape (provided by Mark Durenberger)
Early 1970s: Joe McFarlin aircheck from the early 1970s playing music from the late 1920s and early 1930s. (provided by Reed Hagen -- Joe played a request from Reed in the recording)
April 1970: Coverage of Apollo 13 - Click Here
11/4/1971: News coverage of D.B. Cooper’s hijacking of a Northwest Orient flight. D. B. Cooper was the alias used by an unidentified man who, while in flight, opened the aircraft’s aft door, deployed the airstair, and parachuted to an uncertain fate over a remote, heavily wooded area of southwest Washington with $200,000 (equivalent to approximately $1.6 million today). Cooper was never found.
Listen to extensive breaking news coverage that aired throughout the night and into the following morning from CBS Radio and WCCO Radio staff, including Steve Edstrom, Franklin Hobbs, Joe McFarlin, Dick Chapman, Bob Thornberg, Roger Erickson, Maynard Speece, and others. Also included are an interview with the Seattle–Tacoma International Airport control center, on-the-scene reports from Reno–Tahoe International Airport, and analysis and speculation.
This recording was digitized from a slow-moving WCCO Radio “logger” tape, so the audio is not studio quality.
WCCO RADIO FULL DAY AIRCHECK FROM 1972
2/24/1972: Here is a rare opportunity to enjoy 24 hours of programming as heard on WCCO-AM on February 24, 1972. CLICK HERE. Listen to WCCO Radio broadcasting legends including Charlie Boone, Roger Erickson, Steve Cannon, Howard Viken, Maynard Speece, Franklin Hobbs, Joyce Lamont, Jergen Nash, and others. Also included is a Minnesota North Stars game with Al Shaver and Steve Cannon, along with reports throughout the day on President Richard Nixon’s historic trip to China.
These recordings were digitized from a very slow-moving “logger” reel-to-reel tape maintained by WCCO. As a result, the audio is not studio quality, but rather resembles what it may have sounded like on a small AM transistor radio. We hope you enjoy this remarkable audio journey back in time. Music has been scoped.
5/15/1972:
In 1972, Alabama Governor and Democratic Presidential Candidate, George Wallace, was shot five times while campaigning in Laurel, Maryland. Wallace was hit in the abdomen and chest, and one of the bullets lodged in his spinal column, leaving him paralyzed from the waist down for the rest of his life. A five-hour operation was needed that evening, and Wallace had to receive several units of blood in order to survive. Three others who were wounded in the shooting also survived. The shooting and Wallace's subsequent injuries put an effective end to his bid for the Democratic Presidential nomination.
WCCO-AM (830) - Breaking news coverage on the shooting of George Wallace as reported by CBS Radio and WCCO Radio including reports from CBS Radio's Reid Collins, Bernard Kalb, and others, along with WCCO Radio's Charlie Boone, Steve Edstrom, Dick Chapman, Jergen Nash, and Steve Cannon.
4/30/1975: CBS Radio and WCCO Radio news coverage on the fall of Saigon - Click Here
9/22/1975: President Ford assassination attempt - CBS Radio Net Alert - CBS Radio Special Report (provided by Todd Kosovich)
11/11/1975: Coverage on the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald
The SS Edmund Fitzgerald was an American Great Lakes freighter that sank in Lake Superior during a storm on November 10, 1975, with the loss of the entire crew of 29 men.
9/15/1976: Jimmy Carter appears at Farmfest.
11/3/1976: CBS Radio News: Jimmy Carter wins presidential election (provided by Todd Kosovich)
1/20/1977: Jimmy Carter Inauguration coverage.
1977: Charlie Boone and Joyce Lamont (provided by Curt Lundgren)
8/16/1977: Coverage of the death of Elvis Presley as the news broke on during the Cannon Mess with Steve Cannon including Dan Hertsgaard, Jergen Nash, Dick Chapman, Bill Diehl and CBS Radio. Recording also includes a CBS Radio newscast and "Newsbreak with Charles Osgood" feature that aired the following morning.
9/18/1977: CBS Radio 50th anniversary special (portion) and WCCO Nighttime News with Dan Hertsgaard including a report from WCCO Government Correspondent Arv Johnson. (provided by Brian Carlson)
January 1978: Death Coverage of Hubert Humphrey (click here)
4/17/1978: Aircheck from from 7-8:30 am with the CBS World News Roundup and WCCO Radio news with Howard Viken, Dick Chapman and Jergen Nash. Sports with Ray Christensen and weather and more with Glen Olson. Howard Viken show during the final 30 minutes with news with Glen Olson and special events with Joyce Lamont. #1 - #2 - #3 - #4 (provided by Curt Lundgren)
Includes commercials for Northwest Orient Airlines, Toro, Twin City Federal, Minnegasco, Standard Oil, Amoco, 3M Secretary 2 Copier, Minneapolis Star Newspaper, Dayton’s, Ray Eliot Buick, NSP, Western Airlines, Kline Oldsmobile, First Banks, Rosemount Inc., AC Spark Plugs, Pennzoil, Firestone, Yoplait Yogurt, Northwestern Banks, Peterson Pontiac, North Central Airlines and Nature Valley Granola Bars.
October 1979: Airchecks during announcer/engineer strike. Station managers, sales people, etc. took over air shifts.
Star Tribune article on IBEW strike - (provided by Curt Lundgren)
11/3/1979: Announcement by Jon Quick and station VP and General Manager Phil Lewis that the 28 day IBEW strike had ended and engineers and announcers would be returning to work.
4/2/1980: Joe McFarlin and Franklin Hobbs (provided by Tom Oszman)
1981: "Real Radio Story" Sales Demo and "Real Radio" programming demo
January 1981: Curtis Beckmann (News Director) talks with Bruce Laingen shortly after the release of Americans held hostage in Iran.
March 30-31, 1981: WCCO/CBS Radio coverage of the shooting/assassination attempt on President Reagan - Click Here
5/13/1981: CBS Radio breaking news coverage of the shooting/assassination attempt on Pope John Paul II - Reid Collins - Richard C Hottelet - Reid Collins
10/6/1981: CBS breaking news coverage on the death of Egyptian President Anwar Sadat - (provided by Todd Kosovich)
April-May 1982: Extensive collection of CBS Radio newscasts covering the Falklands War - Click Here
11/25/1982: Breaking and continuous news coverage of the 1982 Minneapolis Thanksgiving Day fire that destroyed the 16-story headquarters of Northwestern National Bank (now Wells Fargo) and the vacant, partially demolished location formerly occupied by Donaldson's department store. Includes Steve Cannon, Rich Holter, Dan Hertsgaard, Jim Rogers and Joe McFarlin. #1 - #2 - #3 - #4
2/18/1983: Bob Newhart, legendary comedian and sitcom star, passed away on July 18, 2024 at age 94.
WCCO Radio's Howard Viken was the first to give significant airtime to a comedy album by a young Bob Newhart. Thanks to Howard and WCCO Radio listeners, the album took off in this market, which attracted the attention of programmers in other markets. Soon the album, The Button-Down Mind of Bob Newhart, was a big success. Newhart always gave credit to Howard for helping him get his first big break.
WCCO-AM - Bob Newhart appears on the Howard Viken Show on February 18, 1983
6/20/1983: Sign-Off Announcement
10/23/1983: CBS Radio breaking newscasts of the Beirut barracks bombing resulting in 241 American servicemen deaths. (provided by Todd Kosovich)
1983/1984: Staff photo taken in 1984 celebrating WCCO's Steve Murphy winning a George Foster Peabody Award for a series of special reports he wrote and produced titled "Debbie Pielow: Waiting for a Heart that Never Came."
Debbie Pielow: Waiting for a Heart that Never Came - Murphy's Peabody Award winning reports (1983)
Peabody Award News Release - PDF
Back row: Larry Haeg, Karin Mengar-Davis, Howard Viken, Dick Monn and Chuck Lilligren. Front/middle rows: By Napier, Jerry Miller, Barb Piazza, Clayt Kaufman, Bruce Hagevik, Gordon Mikkelson, Steve Murphy, ?, Tom Gavaras, Curt Beckmann, ? (partial face), Betty Hammond, Sue Frase, Judy Thorpe, Maureen Mulvaney, Linda Paulson, ?, and Steve Woodbury.
2/10/1984: Morning show with Chuck Lilligren. A CBS Net Alert bulletin breaks in at 17:40 announcing the death of Russian leader Yuri Andropov. (provided by Todd Kosovich)
8/30/1984: Coverage of the first launch of space shuttle Discovery along with regular WCCO Radio programming with Chuck Lilligren, Roger Erickson, Bill Farmer, Bill Endersen, Dick Chapman, Howard Viken and others. - #1 #2 #3 #4. Plus, ABC Radio's coverage of the launch with Bob Walker and Vic Ratner. (All provided by Todd Kosovich)
October 1984: 60th Anniversary Broadcast - #1 - #2
October 2, 1984 -WCCO Radio celebrated its 60th anniversary with a special gala honoring 60 "Distinguished Good Neighbors" - one designated for each year the station had been on the air from 1924 to 1984. Appearing at the event included many of the honored individuals and/or their families, WCCO Radio personalities, Charles Osgood, Harry Reasoner, the president of CBS Broadcasting Gene Jankowski, and local dignitaries. Event Program (PDF) - Speech by Jergen Nash about what makes WCCO Radio special and a closing speech by Charles Osgood.
10/18/1985: Jim Rogers (provided by David Ocar)
10/19-20/1985: Paul Stagg, Joyce Lamont, Bill Diehl (provided by David Ocar)
10/21/1985: Howard Viken (provided by David Ocar)
1/28/1986: Coverage Of The Challenger Shuttle Disaster - Click Here
3/19/1987: Relive the excitement of the Fourth Annual WCCO Radio Sports Trivia Bowl Championship Round, broadcast live from the Hyatt Regency Hotel. Quizmaster Dave Mona and moderator Jim Rogers present the final matchup as the Lakeville Four face off against the Yankee Clippers. The tournament began with 100 four-person teams, all competing for the ultimate bragging rights.
8/21/1987: Paul Stagg and Brad Johnson featuring bloopers previously aired on WCCO Radio, along with additional highlights. (provided by Keith Schad)
Paul Stagg’s career began at KWLM-AM in Willmar, followed by WDAY-AM in Fargo, and then WWTC-AM, WCCO-FM/WLTE-FM, WCCO-AM, and KLBB-AM in the Twin Cities before returning to KWLM to conclude his career. Brad Johnson’s career included work at WMIN-AM, WTCN-AM, WTCN-AM, KRSI-AM, and WLOL-AM, where he helped pioneer the talk-radio format. He later joined the WCCO Radio sales staff and became one of the station’s top account executives. Both Paul and Brad were inducted into the Minnesota Broadcasters Hall of Fame.
October 1987: Minnesota Twins 1987 World Series celebration coverage - Click Here
1988
10/28/1988: A live two-hour broadcast from the grand opening of the Pavek Museum’s current location in St. Louis Park—recorded the day before it officially opened to the public.
The program, hosted by Jim Rogers, features interviews with Minnesota broadcasting legends from WCCO Radio, WDGY Radio, KSTP Radio, and more.
Links below are to profile pages/materials of those who appeared in the broadcast: Johnny Canton, Bob DeHaven, Paul Hedberg, Rolf Hertsgaard, Leigh Kamman, Rodger Kent, Joyce Lamont, Jergen Nash, Stanley Mack, Jim Ramsburg, Jimmy Valentine, and the museum’s namesake, Joe Pavek. (provided by Keith Schad)
Learn more about the Pavek Museum of Electronic Communication at PavekMuseum.org
1989: CBS Radio - Douglas Edwards' final hourly news broadcast
WCCO and CBS Radio breaking-news coverage of the San Francisco–Oakland (Loma Prieta) earthquake on October 17, 1989, which occurred just before the start of Game 3 of the World Series at Candlestick Park in San Francisco. The shock was responsible for 63 deaths and 3,757 injuries. The coverage includes WCCO’s Jim Rogers, Steve Cannon, John Gordon, Ted Robinson, and Dean Spratt, along with phone calls and reports from CBS Radio newscasters and reporters. #1 #2 #3 #4. (provided by Keith Schad)
1989: Tom Bodett - The End of the Road - Old Log Theater
#1 - #2 - #3 - #4 - #5
This show was recorded at the Old Log Theater (near Minneapolis) in 1989 starring Tom Bodett and Johnny B along with special guests including WCCO Radio's Boone and Erickson. In addition to hearing the show as it was broadcast nationally, you will also hear the interaction and dialog with the audience before the show started and between the segments that radio listeners never heard including retakes, audience instructions, recording of show promo, off-air performances and much more. Radiotapes has been granted permission by Tom Bodett to post this copyrighted recording.
1989: Sports Programming demo
11/11/1989: CBS Radio World News Roundup and WCCO Radio's coverage of the fall of the Berlin wall. (provided by Todd Kosovich)
1990-2003
The New Music Challenge sampler with Dan Hertsgaard, Alan Lotsberg, Pat Proft and Wayne Luchau. This show aired on WCCO Radio from 1990-1997, RBN Network from 1998-1999, and syndicated on the Minnesota News Network and on KLBB Radio from 1999-2003. (provided by Dan Hertsgaard)
6/3/1990: "Moscow to Minnesota" with coverage of the visit to Minnesota by Mikhail and Raisa Gorbachev including Ruth Koscielak, Roger Erickson, Dimitri Simes, Eric Eskola, Steve Murphy, Bruce Hagevik, Jan Jirak, Mark Ginther and Mary Ann Rentas. #1 - #2 (provided by Todd Kosovich)
Includes commercials for Minnesota Soybean Research and Promotion Council, Quality Lincoln Mercury, Fuller O'Brien Paint, Delta Faucets, Thompson Oak Furniture, Blaine Dodge, Minnesota Beef Council, Dermoplast Pain Relieving Spray, Asian Wall Street Journal Weekly, and Flintstones Vitamins.
1/16/1991: Coverage of the start of Operation Desert Storm - Click Here
October 1991: Minnesota Twins 1991 World Series celebration coverage - Click Here
5/28/1992: Coverage of WCCO Ag Director Roger Strom taking the fifth grade class from Snail Lake School in Shoreview, MN to a farm near Balsam Lake, WI. (provided by Joe Younglove)
1993: Timothy D. Kehr on the Denny Long Show (provided by Dave Olson)
Timothy D. Kehr passed away in September 2013. In the mid 1960s, Kehr produced “Liar, Liar,” by the Castaways (Billboard #12). He also arranged and produced “Nowhere to Run” By the More-Tishans, secured recording contracts for Crow (“Evil Woman Don’t Play Your Games With Me”), Northern Light (“Minnesota”) and others. Kehr managed two music publications: the Music Scene and the Insider. In 1967 and '68, Kehr wrote the column "Musically Yours" for the local TV Digest. From 1968-1980, Kehr worked for Columbia and Epic Records, Motown, 20th Century, and Polydor. During this time, Billboard Magazine named him executive of the year 1972 Through 1978. In 1980, Kehr left the record business to open his own advertising agency in the Twin Cities. Kehr also developed himself as a local television personality as a host of late night television from 1976-1986. In 2010, Kehr broadcast the True Oldies Christmas Show on WDGY-AM.
1/15/1993: Tim Russell's Final Show (first time) (provided by Keith Schad) - Note: Aircheck has some technical problems.
March 1993: Tribune to Jergen Nash aired shortly before his death. (provided by Brian Carlson)
11/7/1993: Ray Christensen interviewed about his Golden Memories book by Dave Lee and Ruth Koscielak. Ray's co-writer, Stew Thornley, was also in the studio. Ray served as the play-by-play announcer for the Minnesota Golden Gophers sports teams from 1951 to 2001 and worked for WCCO-AM beginning in 1963. The recording includes a news update with Telly Mamayek and listener calls. - (Provided by Keith Schad)
PHIL HENDRIE WCCO AIRCHECKS - FIRST SHOW TO THE LAST
1993-1994
- March 25, 1993 - First show on WCCO-AM - #1 - #2 - #3 (provided by Curt Lundgren)
- March 1991 - Phil Hendrie Show
- November 4, 1993 Phil Hendrie - A rare show when Phil explains and re-introduces his characters due to criticism and misunderstanding by station listeners - #1 - #2 (provided by Curt Lundgren)
- 1994 - Phil Hendrie - More than 3 Hours! #1 #2 #3 #4 #5 #6 - (provided by Anthony Thompson)
- March 12, 1994 - Phil Hendrie Final Show on WCCO Radio - #1 #2 #3 #4 #5 #6 (provided by Don Roux)
1/12/1994: Jimmy Carter appears on the Ruth Koscielak Show.
1995: Wes Minter - Promo/contest tape. (provided by Irwin "Irv" Schreiner)
1996
The early part of 1996 in Minnesota experienced persistent winter conditions, highlighted by heavy snow, major blizzards, and one of the state’s most extreme cold outbreaks. Here is some of the coverage as heard on WCCO Radio:
January 18, 1996: Roger Erickson, the longtime radio king of school closings, announcing school delays and closings with Dave Lee.
February 2, 1996: Mike Lynch reporting live from Tower, MN as the town hits Minnesota’s all-time record low temperature of −60°F, a landmark event in state history.
1998: Tim Russell (provided by Al Arneson)
1999-2000: Coverage of Years midnight as 1999 turned into 2000 (provided by Brian Keenan)
9/11/2001: Coverage of the attacks on 9/11 - Click Here
10/25/2002: Coverage of the death of Paul Wellstone (provided by Todd Kosovich)
12/13/2003: Coverage of the capture of former Iraq leader, Saddam Hussein
- CBS Radio/WCCO News #1 #2 (provided by Todd Kosovich)
- Jack Rice and Eric Eskola. (provided by Mark Durenberger)
8/1/2007-8/4/2007: 35W Bridge Collapse Coverage - Click Here
11/4/2008: Barack Obama wins presidential election - CBS Radio/WCCO Radio coverage.
6/25/2009: Coverage of the death of Michael Jackson - Click Here
7/17/2009
Coverage of the reporting of the death of Walter Cronkite by WCCO Radio's Jeff McKinney, Mike Max and CBS Radio.
11/5/2009: Shootings at Fort Hood - Starting with the news breaking on WCCO Radio followed by CBS Radio reports throughout the afternoon.
12/2/2009: Breaking news coverage of the verdict announcement in the Tom Petters trial.
12/11/2009: Final Minutes of the last Don Shelby Show.
1/12 to 1/18/2010: WCCO Radio/CBS Radio Haiti earthquake coverage starting when the news first broke on 1/12 followed by reports that aired later that day and the following six days: 1/12/2010 1/13/2010 1/14/2010 1/15/2010 1/16/2010 1/17/2010 1/18/2010
A catastrophic magnitude 7.0 Mw earthquake struck Haiti on January 12,2010. The epicenter was near the town of Léogâne approximately 16 miles west of Port-au-Prince, Haiti's capital. By January 24, 2010, at least 52 aftershocks measuring 4.5 or greater had been recorded. An estimated three million people were affected by the quake. Death toll estimates range from 100,000 to about 160,000 to Haitian government figures from 220,000 to 316,000, although these latter figures are a matter of some dispute. The government of Haiti estimated that 250,000 residences and 30,000 commercial buildings had collapsed or were severely damaged.
4/10/2010
CBS Radio news coverage of the death of Polish President Lech Kaczyński and 95 others including dozens of Poland's military, political and religious leaders.
Coverage from the English language service of Polish Radio (4/10/2010).
5/21/2010: Excerpts from Eric Eskola's final day including Dave Lee, Sid Hartman, Governor Tim Pawlenty, Bruce Hagevik, Steve Murphy, Telly Mamayek, John Rash and Cathy Wurzer.
July 2011: FINAL SPACE SHUTTLE FLIGHT
July 8, 2011 - CBS Radio coverage of the final launch of the space shuttle Atlantis
July 21, 2011 - Coverage of the landing space shuttle Atlantis.
9/17/2011
REMEMBERING ELEANOR MONDALE POLING 1960-2011
WCCO-AM (830) - Tribute to Eleanor Mondale by Susie Jones (9/17/2011)
WCCO-AM (830) - News & Views segment featuring Eleanor Mondale hosted by Susie Jones including the above tribute and comments from current/former WCCO staff and listeners #1 - #2 (9/18/2011)
Television Coverage: WCCO-TV KMSP-TV KSTP-TV
Newspaper Coverage: Star Tribune Pioneer Press
DNR Loon Nongame Podcast with Eleanor Mondale (9/3/2010)
More airchecks of Eleanor Mondale are posted on the WLOL page.
6/28/2012: Breaking news coverage of the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling on the constitutionality of the Affordable Health Care Act including the first reports and speeches by Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney and President Obama.
7/20/2012: Breaking news coverage of the shootings in Aurora, Colorado as broadcast on July 20, 2012 between 3-7 am central time including CBS Newscasts and special reports, coverage on Overnight America with John Grayson, WCCO Radio newscasts, etc.
9/27/2012: Breaking news coverage of the mass shootings at Accent Signage Systems in Minneapolis including Adam Carter, Daphne Adato, Edgar Linares, Susie Jones, John Hines plus reports on CBS Radio newscasts and simulcast coverage from WCCO-TV including Bill Hudson.
11/6/2012: WCCO and CBS Radio coverage that President Obama has won re-election.
12/17/2013: Tribute to Steve Murphy, WCCO Radio news journalist and managing editor, on his retirement - #1 - #2
Appearing: Mick Anselmo, Charlie Boone, Adam Carter, Steve Enck, Roger Erickson, Eric Eskola, Bruce Hagevik, John Hines, Susie Jones, Denny Long, Mike Lynch, Telly Mamayek, Steve Murphy, Tim Russell, John Williams.
9/3/2018: John Hines broadcasts his final regular show (from the WCCO Radio Broadcast Center at the Minnesota State Fair) and is joined by many special guests including Bob Berglund, Tom Barnard and others. 9-10 AM - 10-11 AM - 11 AM-12 PM
WCCO'S MINNESOTA HOSPITAL
WCCO-AM (830) - A collection of Minnesota Hospital skits with Charlie Boone, Roger Erickson, Dave Lee, Sid Hartman, Eric Eskola, Mike Lynch, Tim Russell, Mike Max, Herb Carneal, John Gordon, Paul Flatley, Roger Strom, John Rash, WCCO Marketing Department, and more.
- 1988
- Late 1980s - MN State Fair - (Herb Carneal, John Gordon, Paul Flatley)
- 1990 - WCCO Radio Marketing Department
- 8-17-1991
- 8-23-1991 - MN State Fair
- 8-30-1991 - MN State Fair
- 11-22-1991 - Broadcast from Willmar
- 1-8-1993
- 1994 - Broadcast from Winthrop, MN
- 4-1-1994
- 1995 - Undated
- 3-19-1995 - John Gordon
- 9-1-1995 - MN State Fair with William Christopher
- 10-27-1995
- 11-24-1995
- Sept 1996
- 3-14-1997 - Live audience
- 7-12-1997 - Broadcast from New Ulm, MN
- 8-28-2009 - MN State Fair
- 8-27-2010 - MN State Fair
- 8-24-2012 - MN State Fair
- 8-23-2013 - MN State Fair
- 8-30-2013 - MN State Fair
- 8-29-2014 - MN State Fair
- 8-28-2015 - MN State Fair
- 9-4-2015 - MN State Fair
- 8-26-2016 - MN State Fair
- 9-2-2016 - MN State Fair
- 8-25-2017 - MN State Fair
- 9-1-2017 - MN State Fair
- 8-24-2018 - MN State Fair
- 8-31-2018 - MN State Fair
- 8-23-2019 - MN State Fair
- 8-30-2019 - MN State Fair
Minnesota Hospital Open and Close Theme Music
MISC.
Undated
Sign Off (provided by Mark Durenberger)
Undated
Clellan Card (undated) (Provided by Todd Kosovich)
Undated
Mark Durenberger
Jerry Miller
1996 and 2001
An "audio tour" of WCCO's Coon Rapids transmitter plant with Mark Durenberger and former WCCO Radio Chief Engineer Jerry Miller (2001) (provided by Mark Durenberger). Plus, an aircheck of Jerry Miller with Steve Cannon talking about Jerry's retirement from WCCO Radio (July 1996).
WCCO-AM (830) - Show Opening Theme Music
- Top of the Morning Show/Good Morning Song - 1
- Top of the Morning Show/Good Morning Song - 2
- Boone & Erickson Show * ("Swing That Music")
- First Bank Notes * (open and close - 1960s)
- Howard Viken Show ("Tom Hark" by Ted Heath)
- Ruth Koscielak Show ("Me and My Bad Mood" by Jeff Arundel)
- The Cannon Mess (Open instrumental) (Open vocal) (Close - "The Groove" by Rodney Franklin)
- Jergen Nash Show *
- Honest to Goodness * ("Bambolina" by Marty Gold)
- Party Line Show *
- Hobbs House * ("Smoke Rings" by Henry Mancini)
* = (provided by Mark Durenberger)
CBS RADIO - News Hourly Sounders
- Undated - CBS Radio vocal sounder/jingle (provided by Jeff Miller)
- 1962-1968 (provided by Kirk Morgan)
- Prior to 1968 - Net Alert Bulletin Sounder (provided by Jeff Miller)
- 1968 News Sounder Promo
- 1968-1983
- 1983-1999 (provided by Tom Oszman)
- 2000-Current (provided by Jeff Miller)
WCCO-AM (830) /CBS Radio - CBS Radio Recordings
(provided by Jeff Miller)
- 4/17/60 - CBS News broadcast sponsored by Chevrolet
- 7/13/68 - CBS News Morning report intro
- 1970 - Douglas Edwards CBS Radio newscast
- 11/14/1970 - Richard C. Hottelet CBS newscast on Marshall University (Huntington, WV) airplane crash
- 6/18/1973 - CBS World News Roundup with Dallas Townsend
- 5/14/1976 - Lowell Thomas' last broadcast on CBS Radio
- 7/13/1977 - CBS Radio Net Alert on York City Blackout
1988
CBS Radio - Newsmark: 50th Anniversary of the CBS Radio World News Roundup
Klaxon Weather Sounder
WCCO-AM Klaxon as it sounded in 1965 (used for more than two decades afterwards)
WCCO-AM Klaxon as heard during severe weather coverage on June 25, 2010
(KQRS-FM Klaxon Parody - Undated)
JINGLES
1956
Jingle
1970s
News Hourly Sounder
1974 (50th Anniversary)
Jingles
1980s
"Real Radio" Full Vocal - Instrumental
1984
"60 Years Strong" Full Vocal - Instrumental
Mid 1980s
"Welcome to the Real World" Full Vocal - Instrumental
1987
"Turn to a Friend" jingles: Full Vocal (long version) - Full Vocal (long version) - Instrumental (long version) - Soft Full Vocal - Soft Instrumental - R&B Full Vocal
R&B Instrumental - Rock Full Vocal - Rock Instrumental - Pop Full Vocal - Pop Instrumental - Promo Bed Music
News Jingle/Sounder - Weather Jingle/Sounder - Traffic Jingle/Sounder - Sports Promo Music
Early 1990s
News You Want People You Know Jingles
2002
Minnesota's 830 Jingles (provided by David Ocar)
WCCO-AM PRINT MATERIALS
WLAG-AM (720 AM) - 1924 *
WCCO (720 AM) - Mid 1920s
WCCO-AM (720 AM)
Radio Digest 4/25/1925
WCCO-AM (720 AM) - 1925 Verification Card
WCCO (810 AM) 1929 *
WCCO-AM (810 kHz) Newspaper ad (approx. 1930)
(provided by Mark Durenberger)
WCCO (810 AM) - 1930
WCCO (810 AM) - 1938
"Calling All Women" studio ticket (3/28/1945)
WCCO-AM (830AM) 25th Anniversary - 1949
WCCO-AM (830 AM) 1950s Cedric Adams
WCCO-AM (830 AM) 30th Anniversary - 1954
WCCO Radio (830 AM) News Parade
WCCO Radio (830 AM) - 1955 Illustrated programming guide
WCCO Radio (830 AM) - 1964
WCCO-AM (830 AM) - 1968 *
WCCO-AM (830 AM) Program Brochures (MN State Fair 1970 or 1971)
1971 ad promoting MN North Star broadcasts (Provided by Brian Carlson)
WCCO Radio (830 AM) Rate Card - 1977
Newspaper Ad 1987
Newspaper Ad 1987
Newspaper Ad 1988
Newspaper Ad 1988
* Provided by David Ocar
WCCO RADIO ANNIVERSARY PUBLICATIONS
1954 (30th Anniversary)
1964 (40th Anniversary) *
1974 (50th Anniversary) *
1984 (60th Anniversary) *
2004 (80th Anniversary) *
-
* Scans from World Radio History
RESEARCH PAPER - Is WCCO Radio’s beginning October 2, 1924 as their record suggests … or was it really September 4, 1922?
This research paper (31 pages) was written by Minnesota Broadcasting Hall of Fame inductee, Mark Durenberger, who has six decades of radio, television and satellite broadcast engineering experience, including having previously worked at WCCO Radio. Mark takes us back in time to the start of WCCO Radio and the two preceding years when the station was known as WLAG Radio.
WCCO-AM (830) - An article from the April 1969 issue of Greater Minneapolis magazine, which was published by the Chamber of Commerce. A script of WCCO Radio's Charlie Boone and Roger Erickson at the 1969 Mid-Winter Baseball Banquet predicting what the Twins' opener would be like ten years in the future in 1979. (provided by Jeff R. Lonto) - PDF file
"WHAT GOES ON AT A RADIO STATION?" BOOK FROM 1984 FEATURING WCCO RADIO
PDF of a book printed in 1984 featuring WCCO Radio called "What Goes On at a Radio Station?" including photos of some station personalities and others behind the scenes. This book is presented with the permission of the author, Susan Gilmore.
WCCO-FM AIRCHECKS
WCCO-FM, originally launched in 1969 as the FM counterpart to Minneapolis's WCCO-AM, has undergone significant transformations over the decades. Initially, it featured a blend of beautiful music and middle-of-the-road album cuts, later incorporating progressive rock segments. By 1975, the station had transitioned to an adult contemporary format, distinguishing itself by playing deeper album tracks than typical adult contemporary format stations. Notable personalities during this era included Tim Russell, who later became known for his work on "A Prairie Home Companion.”
In 1983, WCCO-FM rebranded as WLTE, shifting to a soft adult contemporary format. In 2011, it adopted the KMNB call letters, branding itself as "Buz'n 102.9" with a country music format. Today the station continues the country music format and is known as “102.9 The Wolf.”
5/5/1969: A very early early recording of WCCO-FM (One of the station's first evenings) - Steve Edstrom. (provided by Mark Durenberger)
1970s: Jingle
3/2/1974: WCCO-FM (102.9) Tim Russell on March 2, 1974.
Aircheck includes the station's sign-on, some of Tim's voice impersonations including Richard Nixon, John Wayne, and Howard Cosell. Plus UPI newscasts and local news with Rick Olson - this was the day before maximum speed limit was reduced nationally to 55 mph due to an oil embargo. Watergate was also in the news.
Commercials included the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Morrie's Imports, Ridgedale Mazda, and Northwestern Bell.
4/26/1974: WCCO-FM (102.9) Almost complete scoped broadcast day from sign-on to sign-off on April 26, 1974.
- – Sign-on / Tim Russell and Paul Stagg
- – Paul Stagg
- – Dave Teller
- – Tom Ambrose
- – Ken Mills / Sign-off
19.5 hours scoped to seven hours and 20 minutes. Broadcast includes music (note the transition from more popular songs during the day to deeper album cuts in the evening), limited commercials including Grain Belt Beer, Checkered Flag Imports, Morrie’s Imports, Minnesota Tourism, etc., and top and bottom of the hour newscasts with Rick Olson, Bill Henderson, Mark Johnson, Dan Carlson, and Bill Bischel.
Some of the news items included Secretary of State Henry Henry Kissinger’s trip to the Middle East, Watergate tapes, military takeover of Portugal, shelling of an auditorium near Saigon, Israel begins its 27th year of independence with sporadic fighting along the Golan Heights, Mitchell-Stans conspiracy trial, General Motors sales of cars down due to the gas/energy crisis, and much more. Plus, promotion of Tim Russell’s upcoming coverage of an arm wrestling competition (claiming to be a radio first) and Dave Teller interviews Chuck Dayton with Sierra Club Northstar Chapter.
3/31/1975
Paul Stagg (provided by Curt Lundgren) Includes a commercial for K-Mart and a WCCO-FM newscast.
3/31/1975: Greg Gears Includes commercials for Music of the Big Bands promo with Tom Ambrose and Arts and Science Fund. Starts with newscast. (provided by Curt Lundgren)
9/18/1976: Carl Lensgraf - Includes commercials for Kline Oldsmobile in Roseville, Spaghetti Emporium, Schaak Electronics, Sears Men’s Store, Leon & Mary Russell and Firefall at St. Paul Civic Center, Shirt Shack, The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars and Motor Kings (movie) with Richard Pryor, Apache Plaza Craft Show, Jennie-O Brand Turkey Roast, Iten Chevrolet, NSP, Zantigo Mexican restaurant (name change from Zapata), Sure Footing, Dayton’s RCA and Zenith TV sale, Musicland and Turquoise Turtle in Richfield. Plus ABC Contemporary Newscast, Sven Skarnasdag and more. (provided by Curt Lundgren)
11/6/1976: Peter May Including newscast ready by Peter May, ABC Contemporary newscast plus commercials for Pizza Factory, Wally McCarthy's Lindahl Olds, Venus Waterbeds and Knights Formal Wear. (provided by Curt Lundgren)
1977: Insider Newsletter - PDF
1977: Tom Ambrose (provided by Jay Philpott)
1977: Carl Lensgraf with Captain Buzz Studley - Curt Lundgren - Paul Stagg/Tim Russell/Bill Henderson - Peter May - Terri Davis - Tim Russell (provided by Curt Lundgren)
August 1977: Tom Ambrose (provided by Ron Gerber)
12/31/1977: Jerry Brooke - Includes commercials for Wally McCarthy Lindahl Oldsmobile, Schaak Electronics, Veterans Administration and K-Mart. Includes ABC Contemporary newscasts. (provided by Curt Lundgren)
1978: Peter May - Includes commercials for Sun In (hair lightener), US Navy, Contac, Rudy Boschwitz, Horizon Townhomes, Musicland, Shivers (movie), Saint John's Preparatory School, Winwood Edina Condominiums, Grease (movie), Audio Warehouse, JC Penny’s Summer White Sale, North Central Florists and Super America. Also includes WCCO-FM newscast. (provided by Curt Lundgren)
4/19/1978: Terri Davis #1 - #2 Includes local WCCO-FM newscasts, ABC American Entertainment Network newscasts, and commentary by Pat Chapman of ABC News on the kidnapping and death of former Italian Prime Minister Aldo Moro. Plus, commercials for Firestone, Wally McCarthy's Lindahl Olds, Northwestern Banks, Pannekoeken Huis, Hartz 2 in 1 Plus Collar, Master Charge, Contac, Jim Christy Pontiac and GMC Truck, Oxy Scrub, and Public Libraries. (provided by Curt Lundgren)
1979 (provided by Al Arneson)
- Tom Ambrose
- Johnny Canton
- Terri Davis
- Mesa Kincaid
- Curt Lundgren and Captain Buzz Studley (Tim Russell)
- Pat O'Neil
1/16/1979: Paul Stagg, Ray Scott newscasts, plus character voices by Carl Lensgraf & Tim Russell including Captain Buzz Studley, and more. #1 - #2 Includes commercials for Video Den (read by Ray Scott), Consumer's Guide '79, Wild Wings, Dayton's Energy Consultants, Larry Reids Bloomington Chrysler Plymouth, Borton Volvo, Award Realty, US Post Office Express Mail, RW London & Co., Minneapolis Star, Toyota, Hubert W. White, IBM (get a small business computer starting at $18,000), 7-11 and Schaak Electronics (read by Ray Scott). (provided by Curt Lundgren)
4/12/1979: Terri Davis (provided by Jeff R. Lonto)
1981: Sales Demo
4/22/1982: "The Rude Awakening" with Tim Russell and Carl Lensgraf. (provided by Tom Oszman)
Remembering Carl Lensgraf (1943-2018)
Carl began working in broadcasting parttime, as a radio announcer for KNOX in Grand Forks, ND, while attending the University of North Dakota. He was on-air in a number of markets including, Springfield, Illinois, Topeka, Kansas, Great Falls, Montana and Minneapolis, MN where he was employed by WCCO AM-FM and KSTP-FM. In 1999 he joined KBUR/KGRS in Burlington and remained there until retirement in 2004. Carl loved radio, the music, the listeners, and all the fellow jocks he worked with at every station.
1974: WYOO-AM: Bill Lake (aka Carl Lensgraf) - (provided by Curt Lundgren)
9/18/1976: WCCO-FM: Carl Lensgraf (provided by Curt Lundgren)
1977: WCCO-FM: Carl Lensgraf with Captain Buzz Studley (provided by Curt Lundgren)
4/22/1982: WCCO-FM: "The Rude Awakening" with Tim Russell and Carl Lensgraf. (provided by Tom Oszman)