Before streaming and syndication, before playlists replaced personalities, there was WLS — The Big 89. If you were within reach of a transistor radio
Before streaming and syndication, before playlists replaced personalities, there was WLS — The Big 89. If you were within reach of a transistor radio in the 1960s, ’70s, or early ’80s, chances are you grew up with it. Recently, WLS alumni and fans came together for a special evening of memories, music, and microphones — reliving the magic that made this Chicago powerhouse one of America’s most iconic radio stations.
Following the celebration was a live reunion broadcast, “WLS Unwound”, hosted by radio historian and WLS veteran Scott Childers. The event featured a star-studded lineup of legendary personalities — Jim Kerr, Chuck Knapp, Catherine Johns, Chuck Buell, and the ever-charismatic Tommy Edwards — all reuniting to reminisce and reconnect with listeners who never forgot them.
But the evening wasn’t just a reunion. It was a full-on memory download — a time capsule of jingles, stories, soundbites, and signature features that defined the station’s golden age. The personalities that couldn’t do the show live were there with pre-recorded capsule comments.
Scott Childers hosted WLS Unwound
Larry Lujack & Animal Stories: From the Absurd to the Sublime
No tribute to WLS would be complete without Uncle Lar — the irreplaceable Larry Lujack. His gravelly voice, dry wit, and biting sarcasm made him a Chicago institution. And paired with “Little Tommy” Edwards, he created radio gold with the legendary Animal Stories segment.
“Your Honor, our next case involves a squirrel, a mailbox, and two gallons of motor oil…”—that’s how an Animal Story might begin. No one could deliver absurd headlines quite like Lujack and Edwards, deadpanning through real news stories that were sometimes funny, sometimes heartwarming, and always unforgettable.
The “Clunk Letter of the Day”, another Lujack staple, was a masterclass in sarcastic humor — reading hilariously bad listener mail and awarding the “winner” with mock fanfare. For listeners, it was irresistible radio. For Lujack, it was just another day of elevating the mundane into the memorable.
Boogie Checks and the John Records Landecker Show
John Records Landecker (“Records truly is my middle name”) brought high energy, wild production, and an irreverent style that captured the soul of 1970s pop culture. One of his best-loved features was the “Boogie Check” — a nightly rapid-fire call-in segment where kids from across the Midwest would shout greetings, jokes, and even a few harmless taunts, all fast and furious with John’s finger on the hang up button. “Press My Conference” and “American Panorama” and parody versions of hit songs were fan favorites, too.
Landecker’s show wasn’t a one-man operation — it was a team effort. Producers, news anchors, board ops, and other DJs would regularly get pulled into the show’s high-concept bits and audio stunts. It was messy, but highly creative process in the production studio. A rare kind of collaborative chaos that only added to the fun.
John ‘Records’ Landecker at Reunion
Voices We Still Hear in Our Head: Fred Winston, J.J. Jeffries & the Powerhouse Staff
Listeners of a certain age can still hear Fred Winston’s rich baritone echoing over the WLS jingles — suave, funny, and effortlessly cool. J.J. Jeffries, with his energetic style, was part of the bridge between WLS’s rock-and-roll roots and its polished Top 40 dominance. And Chuck Buell, who joined the reunion broadcast, remains a fan favorite for his smooth delivery and on-air warmth.
WLS was more than just big personalities — it was a family. DJs often stepped in to help produce each other’s bits, help produce parody songs, and keep the momentum going on-air and off. In an era before automation, everyone worked together to make great radio.
Behind the Glass: Program Directors and the Day the Music Died at WCFL
No story of WLS would be complete without mentioning the fierce competition with WCFL, its Top 40 rival on the AM dial. The battle for ratings and listeners defined an era — but one of the most pivotal moments came on March 15, 1976, when WCFL abruptly dropped its Top 40 format and switched to “beautiful music.” WLS staffers, listening from their studios just down the dial, knew in that moment that the crown was theirs.
It was a bittersweet victory, but it marked the end of a classic era in Chicago radio — and the beginning of WLS’s undisputed dominance.
Art ‘Radio’s Best Friend’ Vuolo capturing WLS Unwound on Video
WLS Unwound: A Signal Heard Once More
For one unforgettable night, the static cleared, and the voices that once ruled the airwaves returned. Stories were shared, jingles rang out, and the unmistakable energy of The Big 89 filled radios again — not as a nostalgia act, but as a celebration of a time when radio was live, local, and larger than life.
Here is an air check of WLS Unwound as heard 7-26-25 on WLS 89 – Chicago.
Tommy Edwards
Thanks to Scott Childers and the dedicated WLS family — both behind the mic and in front of the speaker — we were reminded that radio at its best isn’t just background noise. It’s a companion. A community. A chorus of memories, still playing in perfect harmony.
