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WJOL
Joliet, Illinois;
Broadcast area	Southwest Suburban Chicago
Frequency	1340 kHz
Branding	1340 WJOL
Programming
Format	News talk/sports
Affiliations	ABC News Radio; Fox Sports Radio; Compass Media Networks; Premiere Networks
Ownership
Owner	Alpha Media; (Alpha Media Licensee LLC);
Sister stations	WCCQ, WERV, WKRS, WSSR, WXLC, WZSR
History
First air date	May 1925
Former call signs	WJBI (1925); WCLS (1925–1945)
Former frequencies	1400 kHz (1924–1927); 1390 kHz (1927–1928); 1310 kHz (1928–1941)
Call sign meaning	Joliet
Technical information
Licensing authority	FCC
Facility ID	62235
Class	C
Power	1,000 watts unlimited
Links
Public license information	Public file; LMS;
Webcast	Listen live
Website	wjol.com

WJOL (1340 AM) is a radio station broadcasting a news talk/sports format. Licensed to Joliet, Illinois, United States, the station is currently owned by Alpha Media, through licensee Alpha Media Licensee LLC. WJOL carries a variety of local programming, as well as nationally syndicated shows.^[4] WJOL's studios are located in Crest Hill, and its transmitter site is in Joliet.

History

The station was first licensed on May 27, 1925,^[2] as WJBI, to Harold M. Couch at 104 Summitt Street in Peoria, for 100 watts on 1400 kHz.^[5] Later that year, the station was sold to the parent company of the Boston Store (a Joliet-based store unrelated to the Wisconsin Boston Stores), which changed the call sign to WCLS, standing for "Will County's Largest Store".^[1]^[6] WCLS operated a limited number of hours, sharing its frequency with other stations.

Following the establishment of the Federal Radio Commission (FRC), stations were initially issued a series of temporary authorizations starting on May 3, 1927,^[7] and later that year, WCLS's frequency was changed to 1390 kHz.^[2] In addition, stations were informed that if they wanted to continue operating, they needed to file a formal license application by January 15, 1928, as the first step in determining whether they met the new "public interest, convenience, or necessity" standard.^[8] On May 25, 1928, the FRC issued General Order 32, which notified 164 stations, including WCLS, that "From an examination of your application for future license it does not find that public interest, convenience, or necessity would be served by granting it."^[9] However, the station successfully convinced the commission that it should remain licensed.

On November 11, 1928, the FRC made a major reallocation of station transmitting frequencies, as part of a reorganization resulting from its implementation of General Order 40. WCLS was assigned to 1310 kHz, with its power reduced to 100 watts, initially sharing time with four other stations.^[10] In 1930 the timesharing was reduced to just one other station, WKBB,^[2] which ended in 1934, with WCLS's operation changed to "specified hours", after WKBB moved to a new frequency. On March 29, 1941, WCLS, along with most of the stations on 1310 kHz, moved to 1340 kHz, its location ever since, with its power increased to 250 watts, as part of the implementation of the North American Regional Broadcasting Agreement.

In 1945, the station's call sign was changed from WCLS to WJOL, and in 1962 the daytime power was increased to 1,000 watts.^[2] In the early 1960s, WJOL adopted a Top 40 format and published a local Top 50 record chart.^[11] In early 1985, the station's nighttime power was increased to 1,000 watts.^[12] At the time, the station aired an adult contemporary format. During the 1990s, it aired formats of news/talk, oldies, and classic hits. It became a full-time news/talk station by 2001.

WJOL alumni

Notable radio personalities that have worked at WJOL include Frank O'Leary, Don Ladas, Bill Drilling, Art Hellyer, Bob Zak, Don Beno, Tony Ray, Ralph Sherman Sr., Jerry Halasz, Max Carey, Ron Gleason, Joe Tippett, John Dempsey, Bob Wheeler and Ruth Stevens, who did a radio show from her record shop and was the first black woman on the station.^{[citation needed]} While working at the station during its WCLS era, sportscaster Harry Caray adopted his on-air professional name which he would use for the rest of his career.

From 1947-1950, novelist William Johnston worked as a news reporter for WJOL.^[13]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c Ghrist, John R. (1996). Valley Voices: A Radio History. Crossroads Communications. p. 157-163.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h History Cards for WJOL, fcc.gov. Retrieved July 21, 2018.
^ "Facility Technical Data for WJOL". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
^ Show Schedule, WJOL. Retrieved July 21, 2018.
^ "New Stations", Radio Service Bulletin, June 1, 1925, page 3.
^ "Alterations and corrections", Radio Service Bulletin, August 1, 1925, page 6.
^ "List of broadcasting stations issued temporary permits", Radio Service Bulletin, April 30, 1927, pages 6-14.
^ "Extension of Broadcasting Station Licenses", Radio Service Bulletin, December 31, 1927, page 7.
^ "Appendix F (2): Letter to and list of stations included in General Order No. 32, issued May 25, 1928", Second Annual Report of the Federal Radio Commission for the Year Ended June 30, 1928, Together With Supplemental Report for the Period From July 1, 1928 to September 30, 1928, pages 146-149.
^ "Broadcasting Stations", Second Annual Report of the Federal Radio Commission (June 30, 1928), page 175.
^ "Joliet's Fantabulous Fifty", WJOL. March 30, 1963. Retrieved August 14, 2018.
^ Zorn, Eric. "Rumors Persist: WMET Will Change Its Format", Chicago Tribune, January 07, 1985. Retrieved July 21, 2018.
^ "William Johnston". Contemporary Authors Online. Detroit: Gale. 2002. Retrieved 25 August 2015.