WAIT (850

kHz The hertz (symbol: Hz) is the unit of frequency in the International System of Units (SI), often described as being equivalent to one event (or cycle) per second. The hertz is an SI derived unit whose formal expression in terms of SI base uni ...

) was an AM

radio station Radio broadcasting is the broadcasting of audio (sound), sometimes with related metadata, by radio waves to radio receivers belonging to a public audience. In terrestrial radio broadcasting the radio waves are broadcast by a land-based rad ...

licensed A license (American English) or licence (Commonwealth English) is an official permission or permit to do, use, or own something (as well as the document of that permission or permit). A license is granted by a party (licensor) to another part ...

Crystal Lake, Illinois Crystal Lake is a city in McHenry County, Illinois, United States. Named after a lake southwest of the city's downtown, Crystal Lake is northwest of Chicago. The population was 40,269 as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. Crystal L ...

, and serving the

Chicago metropolitan area The Chicago metropolitan area, also referred to as Chicagoland, is the largest metropolitan statistical area in the U.S. state of Illinois, and the Midwest, containing the City of Chicago along with its surrounding suburbs and satellite cities. ...

. It was licensed by the

Federal Communications Commission The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is an independent agency of the United States government that regulates communications by radio, television, wire, internet, wi-fi, satellite, and cable across the United States. The FCC maintains j ...

(FCC) as a Class D station and broadcast only during daytime hours, signing off at sunset to protect

KOA KOA (short for Kampgrounds of America) is an American franchise of privately owned campgrounds. Having more than 500 locations across the United States and Canada, it is the world's largest system of privately owned campgrounds. It was founded ...

Denver Denver ( ) is a List of municipalities in Colorado#Consolidated city and county, consolidated city and county, the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of municipalities in Colorado, most populous city of the U.S. state of ...

, the

clear-channel station A clear-channel station is a North American AM radio station that has the highest level of protection from interference from other stations, particularly from nighttime skywave signals. This classification exists to ensure the viability of cross ...

on 850 kHz. The station had a highly directional pattern, with nulls to the northeast and southwest, to protect WGVS in

Muskegon, Michigan Muskegon ( ) is a city in and the county seat of Muskegon County, Michigan, United States. Situated around a harbor of Lake Michigan, Muskegon is known for fishing, sailing regattas, and boating. It is the most populous city along Lake Michigan' ...

, and KFUO in

Clayton, Missouri Clayton is a city in and the county seat of St. Louis County, Missouri, and borders the independent city of St. Louis. The population was 17,355 at the 2020 census. Organized in 1877, the city was named after Ralph Clayton, a citizen who donated ...

. Because of its northwest suburban location and directional pattern, WAIT could be heard in

Rockford, Illinois Rockford is a city in Winnebago County, Illinois, Winnebago and Ogle County, Illinois, Ogle counties in the U.S. state of Illinois. Located in far northern Illinois on the banks of the Rock River (Mississippi River tributary), Rock River, Rockfor ...

, and

Janesville, Wisconsin Janesville is a city in Rock County, Wisconsin, United States, and its county seat. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the city had a population of 65,615, making it the List of cities in Wisconsin, tenth-most populous city in Wis ...

, in addition to the Chicago

media market A media market, broadcast market, media region, designated market area (DMA), television market area, or simply market is a region where the population can receive the same (or similar) television station, television and radio broadcasting, ra ...

History

WCLR

The station began broadcasting on October 1, 1965, holding the

call sign In broadcasting and radio communications, a call sign (also known as a call name or call letters—and historically as a call signal—or abbreviated as a call) is a unique identifier for a transmitter station. A call sign can be formally as ...

WCLR, which stood for "Crystal Lake Radio". The station originally ran 500 watts during daytime hours only. The station was owned by George DeBeer, Lynn Renne, and Art Thorsen. The station aired

easy listening Easy listening (including mood music) is a popular music genre and radio format that was most popular during the 1950s to the 1970s. It is related to middle of the road (MOR) music and encompasses instrumental recordings of standards, hit s ...

music, along with local news and high school football games.

WIVS

In 1969, the station was purchased by

Mal Bellairs Mal Bellairs (born November 9, 1919 – July 12, 2010) was a well-known Chicago-area radio and television personality during the second half of the 20th century. He was named a National Radio Hall of Fame Regional Pioneer by the Illinois Broadcast ...

, a WBBM personality, for $350,000.Rowland, Brett.
Longtime local radio broadcaster Mal Bellairs dies at 90
, ''

Northwest Herald The ''Northwest Herald'' is a daily tabloid newspaper published in Crystal Lake, Illinois. The paper serves the northwest suburbs of Chicago, including all of McHenry County and northern Kane County. Its main competition is the '' Daily Hera ...

''. Jul 12, 2010. Retrieved December 31, 2018. Bellairs changed the station's call letters to WIVS, standing for "wives", reflecting the station's programming aimed at housewives. Under Bellairs ownership, the station aired middle of the road (MOR) music, as well as talk, cooking, gardening, and sports programming.
Broadcasting Yearbook 1975
',

Broadcasting Broadcasting is the data distribution, distribution of sound, audio audiovisual content to dispersed audiences via a electronic medium (communication), mass communications medium, typically one using the electromagnetic spectrum (radio waves), ...

, 1975. p. C-56. Retrieved January 1, 2019.Stations, everywhere: a listeners' guide to the AM and FM bands
, ''

Chicago Tribune Magazine The ''Chicago Tribune'' is an American daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Founded in 1847, it was formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper", a slogan from which its once integrated WGN radio and WGN tele ...

''. March 4, 1979. p. 34. Retrieved January 1, 2019. In 1981, Bellairs sold the station, along with 105.5

WXRD WXRD (103.9 FM broadcasting, FM) is a radio station broadcasting a classic rock format using the station name X-Rock 103.9. Licensed to Crown Point, Indiana, United States, it serves Northwest Indiana and Chicago's south suburbs. The station is ...

Woodstock The Woodstock Music and Art Fair, commonly referred to as Woodstock, was a music festival held from August 15 to 18, 1969, on Max Yasgur's dairy farm in Bethel, New York, southwest of the town of Woodstock, New York, Woodstock. Billed as "a ...

, to Katy Communications for $838,000. Mal Bellairs would continue to host a music and talk show on the station until March 11, 1985, when WIVS began airing a

country music Country (also called country and western) is a popular music, music genre originating in the southern regions of the United States, both the American South and American southwest, the Southwest. First produced in the 1920s, country music is p ...

format using programming fed by the

Satellite Music Network Satellite Music Network was the first satellite delivered Radio network, network to provide complete live 24-hour-a-day music programming to radio stations, local stations, under several different formats. History Affiliate stations, mostly i ...

. In 1985, WIVS's power was increased from 500 watts to 2,500 watts.

850 becomes WAIT

In April 1986, the original WAIT at 820 kHz, which was best known for its beautiful music format in the 1960s and '70s, changed its call letters to WCZE, branded "Cozy" radio, and began airing a soft adult contemporary format.Boss, Kit.
Radio`s Satellite Networks Beam With Success
, ''

Chicago Tribune The ''Chicago Tribune'' is an American daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Founded in 1847, it was formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper", a slogan from which its once integrated WGN (AM), WGN radio and ...

''. July 17, 1986. Retrieved January 2, 2019. In May 1986, 850 picked up the WAIT call letters, while continuing to air its Satellite Music Network fed country music format. In 1988, the station was sold to Crystal Lake Radio, along with 105.5 WXET in Woodstock, for $1.6 million. The new owners replaced the country music format with a full service format, with

oldies Oldies is a term for musical genres such as pop music, rock and roll, doo-wop, surf music from the second half of the 20th century, specifically from around the mid-1950s to the 1980s, as well as for a radio format playing this music. Since 2 ...

music comprising approximately 70% of its schedule, with the remainder devoted to programming of local interest, along with

old time radio The Golden Age of Radio, also known as the old-time radio (OTR) era, was an era of radio in the United States where it was the dominant electronic home entertainment medium. It began with the birth of commercial radio broadcasting in the earl ...

and ethnic programs on weekends.WAIT AM 850
, ''Radio Chicago''. Fall 1989. p. 8. Retrieved January 2, 2019. On January 1, 1990, the station adopted a beautiful music format. In 1991, the station was sold to Pride Communications, along with 105.5 WAIT-FM, for $2.2 million. In autumn 1991, the station's former owner, Mal Bellairs, returned to the station, and began serving as an announcer.Kening, Dan.
Still Crystal Clear Mal Bellairs Has Maintained A Mellow Spot
, ''

''. September 13, 1992. Retrieved January 1, 2019.

Adult standards years

In late December 1992, WAIT adopted an

adult standards Adult standards (also sometimes known as the nostalgia or Big Band format) is a North American radio format heard primarily on AM or class A FM stations. Adult standards started in the 1950s and is aimed at "mature" adults, meaning mainly tho ...

format.Unmacht, Robert.
Format Changes
, ''The M Street Journal''. Vol. 10, No. 1. January 6, 1993. p. 1. Retrieved January 3, 2019.Station Formats
, ''Chicago Airwaves''. p. 13-15. August 1993. Retrieved January 3, 2019. The station initially aired ABC Radio's satellite-fed adult standards format Stardust, which featured longtime Chicago area radio personality

Eddie Hubbard Charles Edward "Eddie" Hubbard (August 29, 1917 – March 26, 2007) was an American easy-listening/MOR disc jockey and radio personality in Chicago, at such radio stations as WIND and WGN. At WGN he co-hosted a popular show with Jack Brickhouse ...

. On November 26, 1994, the station switched to

Westwood One Westwood One, Inc. is an American radio network owned by Cumulus Media. The company syndicates talk, music, and sports programming. The company takes its name from an earlier network also named Westwood One, a company founded in 1976. The co ...

's satellite-fed adult standards format called "AM Only" (now

America's Best Music America's Best Music is the on-air branding of a soft oldies and adult standards 24-hour radio network, formerly known as AM Only. The service is syndicated by Westwood One, a subsidiary of Cumulus Media. It was one of the original Transtar Ra ...

).Borden, Jeff.
Oldies, Goodies at this station are listeners
, ''

Crain's Chicago Business ''Crain's Chicago Business'' is a weekly business newspaper in Chicago, IL. It is owned by Detroit-based Crain Communications. History The first issue of ''Crain's Chicago Business'' is dated April 17, 1978. In 1977, when Crain Communicati ...

''. April 5, 1999. Retrieved January 3, 2019. WAIT enjoyed ratings success as an adult standards station, making it into the top 10 among Chicago area stations and taking a 3.3 audience share in April 1996.Reich, Howard.
WAIT Soars In The Ratings Relying On The Golden Oldies
, ''

''. May 23, 1996. Retrieved January 3, 2019. At least part of the ratings increase could be attributed to longtime adult standards station 1160 WJJD switching to a news/talk format. On May 5, 1996,

Clark Weber Clarence Henry "Clark" Weber (Born November 24, 1930, in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin died March 7, 2020) was an Americans, American radio personality in Chicago, Chicago, Illinois. He also ran his own radio advertising consultancy, Clark Weber Associate ...

began hosting a Friday morning talk show on WAIT, and on February 20, 1999, longtime WGN 720 talk show host

Wally Phillips Walter Phillips (July 7, 1925 – March 26, 2008) was an American radio personality best known for hosting WGN's morning radio show from Chicago for 21 years from January 1965 until July 1986, and was number one in the morning slot from 1968 ...

began hosting a two-hour Saturday morning talk show. In October 2000,

NextMedia Group NextMedia Group was an out-of-home media company headquartered in Greenwood Village, Colorado. NextMedia owned and operated 33 AM and FM stations, 5,700 outdoor advertising display across several regions and markets, as well as an interactive div ...

purchased Pride Communications' nine radio stations, including WAIT, for approximately $57 million.

Chicagoland's Voice

Although still enjoying relatively good ratings, WAIT switched from adult standards to a

news-talk Talk radio is a radio format containing discussion about topical issues and consisting entirely or almost entirely of original spoken word content rather than outside music. They may feature monologues, dialogues between the hosts, interviews wi ...

format branded "Chicagoland's Voice" on January 28, 2002.Mowatt, Raoul V.
A format switch has WAIT talking about its future
, ''

''. March 11, 2002. Retrieved January 3, 2019. The station carried longtime Chicago area talk show host Libby Collins, as well as syndicated hosts including Bill O'Reilly, Mike Gallagher,

Rusty Humphries Ralph Edward "Rusty" Humphries (born August 29, 1965) is an American broadcaster, conservative political commentator, award-winning journalist and songwriter. Humphries' former nationally syndicated radio show, ''The Rusty Humphries Show'', air ...

, and

Michael Savage Michael Alan Weiner (born March 31, 1942) known by his professional name Michael Savage, is an American author, political commentator, activist, and former radio host. Savage is best known as the host of '' The Savage Nation'', a nationally ...

. Wally Phillips and Clark Weber's talk shows continued. Ratings plummeted after the station's format change, and in the fall of 2003 the station was sold to

Newsweb Corporation Newsweb Corporation is a printer of ethnic and alternative newspapers in the United States, based in Chicago, Illinois. The company also owns AM 750 WNDZ. Newsweb was founded in 1971 by Chicago entrepreneur, political activist, and philanthropis ...

for $8.25 million.Radio Active
, ''

Airplay Monitor ''Billboard Radio Monitor'' was a weekly music trade publication that followed the radio industry and tracked the monitoring of current songs by format, station and audience cumes. The magazine was a spinoff of ''Billboard'' magazine and was mo ...

''. November 7, 2003. p. 3. Retrieved January 4, 2019.

Newsweb ownership

In October 2003, Newsweb took ownership of AM 850 WAIT, and the talk format ended on the station.Application Search Details - BAL-20030428ABE
fcc.gov. Retrieved January 3, 2019. The station began airing

brokered programming Brokered programming (also known as time-buy and blocktime) is a form of broadcast content in which the show's producer pays a radio or television station for air time, rather than exchanging programming for pay or the opportunity to play spot com ...

and the syndicated

AAA AAA, Triple A, or Triple-A is a three-letter initialism or abbreviation which may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Gaming * AAA (video game industry) - a category of high budget video games *'' TripleA'', an open source wargame Mu ...

program '' World Cafe''. In May 2005, the station adopted a

progressive talk Progressive talk radio is a talk radio format devoted to expressing left-leaning viewpoints of news and issues as opposed to conservative talk radio. In the United States, the format has included syndicated and independent personalities such as ...

format, and its call sign was changed to WCPT. Zorn, Eric.
'Air America' return may not be a good thing
, ''

''. May 2, 2005. Retrieved January 4, 2018. The station was an affiliate of Air America. Hosts heard on the station included

Rachel Maddow Rachel Anne Maddow ( ; born April 1, 1973) is an American television news program host and liberal political commentator. She hosts '' The Rachel Maddow Show'', a weekly television show on MSNBC, and serves as the cable network's special event ...

Jerry Springer Gerald Norman Springer (February 13, 1944 – April 27, 2023) was a British-American broadcaster, journalist, actor, lawyer, and politician. He was best known for hosting the controversial tabloid talk show '' Jerry Springer'' from 1991 to 2 ...

Al Franken Alan Stuart Franken (born May 21, 1951) is an American politician, comedian, and actor who served from 2009 to 2018 as a United States senator from Minnesota. A member of the Democratic Party (United States), Democratic Party, he worked as an ...

Ed Schultz Edward Andrew Schultz (January 27, 1954 – July 5, 2018) was an American television and radio host, Pundit, political commentator, news anchor and sports broadcaster. He was the host of ''The Ed Show'', a weekday news talk program on MSN ...

, and

Randi Rhodes Randi Joyce Robertson (née Bueten; born January 28, 1958), better known by her Stage name#Reasons for use, air name Randi Rhodes, is an American progressivism, progressive political commentator, activist and talk radio host. ''The Randi Rhode ...

. The WAIT call letters were moved to 820 AM. On November 26, 2007, the progressive talk format and the WCPT call sign moved to 820 AM, and the WAIT call sign returned to this station.WCPT/Chicago To Move To 820 AM
, ''All Access Music Group''. November 8, 2007. Retrieved January 4, 2019. On February 25, 2009, the station began airing brokered

religious programming Religious broadcasting, sometimes referred to as faith-based broadcasts, is the dissemination of television and/or radio content that intentionally has religious ideas, religious experience, or religious practice as its core focus. In some coun ...

in both Spanish and English as "La Promesa"/"The Promise". The station ceased airing brokered religious programming in July 2019, and began airing a variety of music and later syndicated public affairs talk shows. In August 2019, Newsweb sold WAIT's transmitter site to

McHenry County College McHenry County College (MCC) is a Public college, public community college in McHenry County, Illinois. The college serves residents residing in Community College District 528, which covers most of McHenry County and portions of surrounding c ...

, and on August 27 the station was taken off the air.

Feder, Robert Robert Feder (born May 17, 1956) is an American media blogger who was the television and radio columnist for the ''Chicago Sun-Times'' from 1980 until 2008, a blogger for Vocalo.org from 2009 until 2010, and a blogger for ''Time Out Chicago'' fr ...

.
Robservations: Weigel Broadcasting turns WCIU into CW26 on Sunday
, RobertFeder.com. August 28, 2019. Retrieved August 29, 2019. Newsweb surrendered the station's license on July 15, 2020, and the FCC cancelled the license on July 21.

.
Robservations: Newsweb hands back WAIT's license to FCC
, RobertFeder.com. July 20, 2020. Retrieved July 21, 2020.

References

External links

in the FCC Licensing and Management System
FCC History Cards for WAIT
( covering 1962-1980 as WCLR / WIVS) {{Daytime-only radio stations in Illinois

AIT An ait (, like ''eight'') or eyot () is a small island. It is especially used to refer to river islands found on the River Thames and its tributaries in England. Aits are typically formed by the deposit of sediment in the water, which accumu ...

Crystal Lake, Illinois

1965 establishments in Illinois Radio stations established in 1965 Defunct radio stations in the United States Radio stations disestablished in 2020 2020 disestablishments in Illinois