Isn’t it amazing how radio stations evolve? Today, we’re exploring WPNT-AM in Chicago a station with a rich broadcasting history.
WPNT-AM began its journey as WCBD. It first aired on June 23 1923. The station broadcasted at 870 kHz. WCBD started in Zion Illinois. Wilbur Glenn Voliva owned it. He was the Christian Catholic Apostolic Church’s leader. Voliva famously believed the Earth was flat.
WCBD was non-commercial. It aired religious programs. These programs reflected Voliva’s flat Earth views. The station also played vocal and instrumental music. Initially, WCBD broadcasted with 500 watts. Its power increased to 5000 watts in 1925. From 1924 to 1928, WCBD shared its frequency with WLS. In 1928, the station moved to 1080 kHz. It then shared time with WMBI. Both stations operated only during the day. This was to protect WBT in Charlotte North Carolina.
In 1934, WCBD’s studios moved to Waukegan Illinois. Gene T. Dyer became the station director. The station started airing some Italian language programs. By 1936, Dyer bought the station. Studios then moved to Chicago’s Guyon Paradise Ballroom. It turned commercial and aired religious ethnic and music shows.
A teenager set fire to WCBD’s transmitter in 1937. The fire also destroyed the Christian Catholic Apostolic Church’s Shiloh Tabernacle. The transmitter relocated to Addison Township now Elmhurst Illinois. Studios moved to 2400 W. Madison in Chicago.
In 1940, Voliva sued WCBD. He claimed the station demanded scripts of his speeches. Dyer said it was because Voliva aired his political views.
WCBD shifted to 1110 kHz in 1941. This change came from the North American Regional Broadcasting Agreement.
In June 1941, the station moved to 820 kHz. It broadcasted with 5000 watts. The station signed off at sunset in Dallas. This protected WBAP in Fort Worth. The call sign changed to WAIT in September 1941.
In 1947, WAIT shared time with a new WCBD. The Christian Catholic Church owned it. This WCBD broadcasted only on Sundays. In 1959, WAIT’s owners bought WCBD for $132000. WAIT then got full daytime operations on the frequency.
Daddy-O Daylie started his radio career on WAIT in 1948. He hosted a jazz program. Daylie stayed until 1956. He then began hosting a nighttime show on WMAQ.
WAIT’s studios moved to Elmhurst in 1951. In 1954, the Miller family bought the station. Nelson Eddy and Liberace were heard on WAIT in the 1950s.
In 1962, Maurice and Lois Rosenfield led a partnership to buy the station. The price was $1 million. In 1963, WAIT adopted a beautiful music format. It kept this format through the 1970s. The station used the slogan “try a little tenderness”.
WAIT applied for nighttime operations in 1967. The FCC denied it.
The station shifted to adult contemporary in 1976. In 1977, WAIT switched to talk. Ratings dropped so it returned to beautiful music in 1978.
In 1980, WAIT applied to add nighttime operations at 1000 watts. The FCC granted the permit in 1981. Nighttime operations began by 1982.
In 1986, the station became “Cozy” WCZE. It aired a soft adult contemporary format. In 1988, it became WXEZ. It simulcasted easy listening music.
In 1990, the station became WPNT. It simulcasted a hot AC format branded “The Point”. In early 1991, the station went off the air. Its owner sold the transmitter site.
In 1992, Diamond Broadcasting bought the station. It returned as WSCR “The Score”. It became Chicago’s first all-sports station.
In 1997, N. John Douglas’s Personal Achievement Radio bought the station. It aired motivational talk. The call sign changed to WYPA.
In 1998, WYPA became a Spanish language talk station.
In 1999, Catholic Family Radio bought the station. It aired Catholic talk programming.
In 2001, Newsweb Corporation bought WYPA. It adopted a sports format. The call sign changed to WCSN.
In 2005, the call letters changed back to WAIT. Newsweb’s WAIT launched a progressive talk format. The new call letters were WCPT.
In 2007, Chicago’s Progressive Talk moved from 850 AM to 820 AM. WCPT doubled its power and covered all of Chicago. The WCPT call letters moved to 820 AM.
In 2016, WCPT’s daytime power increased to 5800 watts. The transmitter moved to Chicago’s Jefferson Park.
In 2019, Joan Esposito and Santita Jackson joined WCPT as hosts.
In 2024, Newsweb transferred WCPT to Heartland Signal.
From flat Earth theories to progressive talk WPNT-AM has truly seen it all.