{"id":13154,"date":"2015-05-06T07:46:00","date_gmt":"2015-05-06T11:46:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/?p=13154"},"modified":"2015-05-06T21:07:28","modified_gmt":"2015-05-07T01:07:28","slug":"when-wlw-was-the-one-and-only-super-station","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2015\/05\/when-wlw-was-the-one-and-only-super-station\/","title":{"rendered":"When WLW was the one and only “Super Station”"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"WLW's<\/a>

WLW’s diamond-shaped Blaw-Knox radio tower at night (Original photo by RP Piper via Creative Commons 2.0)<\/p><\/div>\n

(Source: National Endowment for the Humanities<\/a>)<\/p>\n

For a Brief Time in the 1930s, Radio Station WLW in Ohio Became America\u2019s One and Only \u201cSuper Station\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

by\u00a0Katy June-Friesen<\/a><\/p>\n

When President Franklin Roosevelt, sitting in the White House, pushed a ceremonial button on his desk in May 1934, a five hundred thousand-watt (500 kW) behemoth stirred in a field outside Cincinnati. Rows of five-foot glass tubes warmed. Water flowed around them at more than six hundred gallons per minute. Dozens of engineers lit filaments and flipped switches, and, within the hour, enough power to supply a town of one hundred thousand coursed through an 831-foot tower.<\/p>\n

Thus began WLW\u2019s five-year, twenty-four-hour-a-day experiment: a radio station that used more power and transmitted more miles than any station in the United States had or would. The so-called super station\u2014licensed by the new Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on a temporary basis\u2014amped up the debate among broadcasters, government regulators, and listeners about how radio should be delivered to serve the \u201cpublic interest,\u201d a mandate laid out in the Radio Act of 1927, and influenced legal, programming, and technical decisions that shape the broadcast system we know today.<\/p>\n

Since radio\u2019s beginnings in the early 1920s, industry and government leaders promoted it as the great homogenizer, a cultural uplift project that could, among other things, help modernize and acculturate rural areas. The challenge was how to reach these areas, many of which received few or no radio signals in the mid-1930s. One solution was high-powered, clear-channel stations that could blanket large swaths of the country with a strong signal. These stations operated on \u201ccleared\u201d frequencies that the government assigned to only one station to prevent interference.<\/p>\n

WLW had operated on one of forty designated clear channels since 1928. The station\u2019s creator and owner, an entrepreneur, inventor, and manufacturer named Powel Crosley Jr. frequently increased the station\u2019s wattage as technology and regulation allowed. In 1934, when WLW increased its power from 50 kW to 500 kW, all other clear-channel stations were operating at 50 kW or less. Now, WLW had the ability to reach most of the country, especially at night, when AM radio waves interact differently with the earth\u2019s ionosphere and become \u201cskywaves.\u201d People living near the transmitter site often got better reception than they wanted; some lights would not turn off until WLW engineers helped rewire houses. Gutters rattled loose from buildings. A neon hotel sign near the transmitter never went dark. Farmers reported hearing WLW through their barbed-wire fences.<\/p>\n

Continue reading…<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

(Source: National Endowment for the Humanities) For a Brief Time in the 1930s, Radio Station WLW in Ohio Became America\u2019s One and Only \u201cSuper Station\u201d by\u00a0Katy June-Friesen When President Franklin Roosevelt, sitting in the White House, pushed a ceremonial button on his desk in May 1934, a five hundred thousand-watt (500 kW) behemoth stirred in […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[373,56,433,3,305,288],"tags":[3825,4097,3823,3822,374,127,3824],"class_list":["post-13154","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-am","category-broadcasters","category-mediumwave","category-news","category-nostalgia","category-radio-history","tag-700-khz","tag-am","tag-am-broadcast-stations","tag-clear-channel","tag-medium-wave","tag-wlw","tag-wlw-700-am"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pn3uc-3qa","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":52069,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2022\/03\/video-presentation-wlw-radio-100-years-behind-the-scenes-by-dave-snyder\/","url_meta":{"origin":13154,"position":0},"title":"Video Presentation: WLW Radio -100 Years – Behind The Scenes by Dave Snyder","author":"Thomas","date":"March 4, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, David Snyder, who shares this presentation outlining the history of WLW for the National VOA Museum of Broadcasting YouTube channel. https:\/\/youtu.be\/V6T1bmk_f8M Video description: Behind the scenes pictures from the efforts of Powel Crosley, Jr. creating the famous WLW Radio Station, including the largest USA\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "AM"","block_context":{"text":"AM","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/am\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/VOA-Bethany-1-11.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/VOA-Bethany-1-11.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/VOA-Bethany-1-11.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/VOA-Bethany-1-11.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":18029,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2016\/04\/the-crosley-radio-corporations-1936-wlw-model-super-power-radio-receiver\/","url_meta":{"origin":13154,"position":1},"title":"The Crosley Radio Corporation\u2019s 1936 \u201cWLW Model Super-Power Radio Receiver\u201d","author":"Thomas","date":"April 3, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"(Source: Nuts and Volts) In 1935, the Zenith Radio Corporation produced a stunning radio receiver called the Stratosphere model 1000Z. The set used 25 tubes and three loudspeakers \u2014 more than any other radio to date. An amazing (for the time) 50 watts drove its three speakers \u2014 one 6\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Manufacturers"","block_context":{"text":"Manufacturers","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/manufacturers\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Crosley","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/Crosley.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/Crosley.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/Crosley.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":18111,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2016\/04\/video-1936-crosley-wlw-model-super-power-radio-receiver\/","url_meta":{"origin":13154,"position":2},"title":"Video: 1936 Crosley WLW Model Super-Power Radio Receiver","author":"Thomas","date":"April 7, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"In response to our recent thread of posts about the Crosley WLW Model Super-Power Radio Receiver, I'd like to thank both Jonathan Marks and Mike Barraclough for sharing the following video by TNT Amusements on YouTube: https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=3DueG7yzfn4&feature=youtu.be Click here to view on YouTube.","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"WLW Model Super-Power Radio Receiver-2","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/WLW-Model-Super-Power-Radio-Receiver-2-1024x403.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/WLW-Model-Super-Power-Radio-Receiver-2-1024x403.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/WLW-Model-Super-Power-Radio-Receiver-2-1024x403.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":48172,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2021\/03\/radio-waves-wlw-at-100-wwvb-upgrades-ofcom-radio-amateur-data-and-unlocking-the-airwaves\/","url_meta":{"origin":13154,"position":3},"title":"Radio Waves: WLW at 100, WWVB Upgrades, Ofcom Radio Amateur Data, and Unlocking the Airwaves","author":"Thomas","date":"March 14, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Radio Waves:\u00a0 Stories Making Waves in the World of Radio Because I keep my ear to the waves, as well as receive many tips from others who do the same, I find myself privy to radio-related stories that might interest\u00a0SWLing Post\u00a0readers.\u00a0 To that end:\u00a0Welcome to the\u00a0SWLing Post\u2019s Radio Waves, a\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Ham Radio"","block_context":{"text":"Ham Radio","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/ham-radio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/WWV-Sign.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/WWV-Sign.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/WWV-Sign.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/WWV-Sign.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":18106,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2016\/04\/a-p-richards-1939-thesis-on-the-crosley-wlw-model-super-power-radio-receiver\/","url_meta":{"origin":13154,"position":4},"title":"A.P. Richards’ 1939 thesis on the Crosley WLW Model Super-Power Radio Receiver","author":"Thomas","date":"April 6, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"In response to our recent post about the Crosley WLW Super-Power receiver, SWLing Post contributor, Larry\u00a0Hagood, writes: I am an EE student at Oklahoma State (Formerly Oklahoma A&M)--the school where the designer of the WLW [Super Power receiver], Amyle Richards, got his BSEE in 1927. [Richards]\u00a0wrote and submitted a masters\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "AM"","block_context":{"text":"AM","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/am\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Crosley","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/Crosley.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/Crosley.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/Crosley.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":52097,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2022\/03\/52097\/","url_meta":{"origin":13154,"position":5},"title":"“Lies, Spies and Secrets – Hidden History of Cincinnati Radio”","author":"Thomas","date":"March 8, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Lee Hite, who writes: Following up on Dave Snyder\u2019s WLW post, here is the rest of the story about WLWO. Click to download: Lies, Spies and Secrets - Hidden History of Cincinnati Radio (PDF in Google Drive) Thanks Lee Hite What a fascinating read!\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "AM"","block_context":{"text":"AM","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/am\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Crosley-Dial.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Crosley-Dial.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Crosley-Dial.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Crosley-Dial.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Crosley-Dial.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13154","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13154"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13154\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13154"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=13154"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=13154"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}