WWTC-AM
WWTC is one of the oldest radio stations in the Twin Cities. In 1925 it signed on as WRHM (for "Rosedale Hospital") in Minneapolis. WRMH was purchased in September 1934 by Twin Cities Newspapers, a partnership between the St. Paul Pioneer Press and the Minneapolis Tribune, and the call sign was changed to WTCN. in 1964, the call letters were changed to WWTC-AM.
In the 1960s, WWTC tried to ride the wave of rock and roll by adopting a Top 40 music format. However, competition from other local rock stations limited its success in this genre. As a result, in the 1970s, the station transitioned to a Middle of the Road (MOR) and Adult Contemporary format, appealing to a more mature audience with softer music and less emphasis on youth culture.
One of the station’s most memorable eras came in the early 1980s when it rebranded as “The Golden Rock,” airing a 1950s and 1960s oldies format. This format became a local favorite and is still fondly remembered by Twin Cities radio enthusiasts for its nostalgic and upbeat programming.
In the mid-to-late 1980s, WWTC experimented with a variety of formats, Metro Radio, All Weather Radio, Sunny Radio, The Breeze, return of the Golden Rock format, and more.
By the early 1990s, WWTC became the flagship station for the national Radio Aahs network, pioneering children’s radio with programming tailored to pre-teens and families.
Toward the late 1990s, the station changed direction once again, this time embracing conservative talk radio. Today, WWTC is branded as “AM 1280 The Patriot” and continues to air a mix of conservative talk radio and Christian programming.
(WRHM-AM and WTCN-AM)
WTCN-AM
WWTC-AM:
WWTC-AM SAMPLE OF PROGRAMMING FROM 1972-1975
Paul Stagg (1971) - Paul Stagg - (provided by Curt Lundgren)
Jingle + Promo (1972)
Jingle (1972) (provided by Jeff R. Lonto)
Fast Eddie Wake-Up Call (1972) (provided by Jeff R. Lonto)
Glen Olson (June 18, 1975) Glen's final show and the final day of music format before switching to All News Radio format.
Final Minutes of Music Format (June 18, 1975)
ALL NEWS RADIO
"All News Radio" With WAYL-FM Promo (1976) (WWTC-AM News Radio and WAYL-FM Beautiful Music were owned by different companies, but for a while cross promoted each other)
News Radio Format (1/23/1976) - #1 - #2 (provided by Curt Lundgren)
Amateur Radio Show with Steve Brown (1970s)
NewsRadio - (1977) (provided by Curt Lundgren)
Bob Allard (4/24/1977) - Bob interviews the station's engineer, Al Flom (provided by Bob Rivard)
Bob Allard (1978) (opening segment provided by Bob Rivard)
Bob Allard Show (Interviews Steve Martinson of American Nazi Party) - 7/14/1978 - #1 - #2 (provided by Jeff Lonto)
ALL NEWS RADIO
Bob Allard + Newscast (7/15/1978) (provided by Jeff R. Lonto)
Bob Allard Show (Local Restaurants and Food Fest) (7/19/1978) - #1 - #2 (provided by Curt Lundgren)
Bob Allard Show (Interviews Kim Andrew Elliott about shortwave listening) (8/26/1978) - #1 - #2 - #3 - #4
News Radio format from Oct. 5, 1978 with newscast by Ray Valdovinos. (provided by Ray Valdovinos)
News Radio format from Dec. 1, 1978 with newscast by Ray Valdovinos during the Bob Allard Show. (provided by Ray Valdovinos)
Bob Allard Show (Open Phone Lines/Christmas Day) (12/25/1978) - #1 - #2 (provided by Curt Lundgren)
Bob Allard Show (One of Bob's final shows) (2/21/1979) - #1 - #2 (provided by Curt Lundgren)
Article about WWTC News Radio (7/15/1975) Appeared in Illustrator News - PDF
WWTC-AM - News Radio "News" Summary - 1977 JPEG (provided by Curt Lundgren)
Consultant Report (1979) This fascinating report provided by a national consultant gives an analysis of the Twin Cities radio market in 1979 and the reasons for WWTC-AM to discontinue the "All News Format" in favor of an oldies format - PDF
SPLENDID BLEND
John Farrell from May 1979 Includes Mutual Radio newscast and commercials for George's Fashions for Men, Minnesota Kicks Soccer, Dermasoft, Ex-Lax, and Ford. (provided by Craig Broden)
Montage of Announcers (1979 including Dave Hellerman, Deanna Love, etc.) (provided by Jeff R. Lonto)
THE GOLDEN ROCK
The Golden Rock Sales Demo (1979)
The Golden Rock Sales Demo (1982)
Remembering Steve Bowman - Passed Away in 1986
Steve Bowman - "Late Night Dedications" (1980-1981) - A collection of 160 recordings:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 141 142 143 144 145 146 147 148 149 150 151 152 153 154 155 156 157 158 159 160
(Provided by Larry "Hutch" Hutchinson and Twin Cities eMedia).
Steve Bowman (Oct. 1981)
Steve Bowman obituary PDF (1986)
Scott Carpenter (March 1980) (provided by Tom Oszman)
Susan Carr (Jan.1982 - including interview with Paul Revere)
Chickenman Sales Demo (Early 1980s) (provided by Jeff R. Lonto)
BJ Crocker (10/8/1980) (provided by Curt Lundgren)
BJ Crocker (1981)
BJ Crocker - "Golden Top 40 Countdown" (1981):
- Featuring music from the week of Aug. 29, 1957 Songs 40 to 26 - Songs 25 to 11 - Songs 10 to 1 (by Joe Nechanicky)
- Featuring music from the week of July 11, 1959 July 11, 1959
- Featuring music from the week of Oct. 31, 1960 Songs 40 to 27 - Songs 26 to 16 - Songs 16 to 1 (by Joe Nechanicky)
- Featuring music from the week of Sept. 26, 1962 including an interview with Steve Ward of The Trashmen - Songs 40 to 26 - Songs 25 to 12 - Songs 11 to 1 (provided by Joe Nechanicky)
- Featuring music from the week of Sept. 5, 1964 including an interview with Gregory Dee of Gregory Dee And The Avantis - Songs 40 to 27 - Songs 26 to 24 - Songs 23 to 10 - Songs 9 to 1 (provided by Joe Nechanicky with with audio enhancement of the first two segments by Mark Durenberger). Note: The audio can be a bit scratchy at times because this aircheck was recorded outside of the Twin Cities metro in Owatonna, MN.
- Featuring music from the week of July 25, 1965 #1 #2 Includes a Mutual Radio newscast and an interview with Jim Donna from the Castaways, plus the following commercials: Coca-Cola (Bill Cosby), Shaak Electronics, Dannon Yogurt, Paulson Bumper to Bumper Stores, Dayton's Furniture, Menards, St. Paul's Salute to Rock and Roll, Budget Power, Super America, Visa, Kellogg's, Eagle Mill Restaurant, Kris Kristofferson at Northrup Auditorium, Pioneer Car Stereo, Amoco, Lone Star Beer, Brookdale Shopping Center, Waterbed Gallery, Ultra Brite Toothpaste, NSP and Elko Speedway.
- Featuring music from the week of Oct. 24, 1965 - Songs 39 to 33 - Songs 32 to 21 - Songs 11 to 1
- Featuring music from the week of Sept. 19, 1968 - Songs 40 to 25 - Songs 24 to 13 (provided by Joe Nechanicky)
B. J. Crocker Interviews from 1981 with Paul Revere - Cory Wells - Chubby Checker - Del Shannon - Tommy Roe
B. J. Crocker Demo Tape (approx 1981)
B. J. Crocker Show (approx. 1981)
BJ Crocker (1/20/1983) (provided by Curt Lundgren)
BJ Crocker (Nov. 1984)
BJ Crocker (11/9/1984) - Final Show
Remembering Dick Driscoll - Passed Away in 2016
Dick Driscoll "Flying Officer Nelson" Demo (1979)
Dick Driscoll & Arne Fogel (Oct. 1980) Taking calls on release of John Lennon's "Starting Over" (provided by Jeff R. Lonto)
Dick Driscoll "Flying Officer Nelson" (1981)
Dick Driscoll (6/30/1981) - #1 - #2
Dick Driscoll (5/7/1982) Includes Mutual newscast at end of aircheck. Includes commercials for Esteban’s Mexican Restaurant, Hansord Downtown Pontiac, Hamburger Joint, LaBelle’s, Youngstedts, Sugar Free Rondo, Western Airlines, Burch Pharmacy & Gift, Bel Furniture Showrooms, Allied Van Lines, Campbell’s Crispy Soup, True Value/Eveready Batteries, and Ramada. (provided by Curt Lundgren)
Arne Fogel (2/8/1981) - Buddy Holly special hosted by Arne Fogel. Includes commercials for the WWTC Valentine's Day Record Hop at the Leamington Hotel, Senior T's Restaurant, Nautilus Waterbeds, Ford, Spray & Wash, Quaker State Motor Oil, and Avis. (Provided by Family of Raymond and Muriel Harrington)
Alan Freed (1982)
Nancy Gallos (8/14/1982) Final Show
Steve Garren (1984) (provided by Jeff R. Lonto)
Mary Hatcher (6/30/81) Final Show.
Brad Piras (Aug. 1980) Including Flying Officer Nelson & The Maintenance Man (provided by Jeff R. Lonto)
Remembering Del Roberts (Darrell Mulroy) - 1945-2003
Del Roberts first show on WWTC on September 2, 1979 - (provided by Jeff R. Lonto)
Del Roberts - September 8, 1979 (provided by Jeff R. Lonto)
Del Roberts - 1980 - #1 - #2 (provided by Jeff R. Lonto)
Del Roberts interviews David Brenner - March 3, 1980 (provided by Stuart Held)
Del Roberts interviews Bobbie Vee - August 14, 1980 (provided by Stuart Held)
Del Roberts - 1984 - #1 - #2 (provided by Jeff R. Lonto)
Del Roberts - November 9, 1984
Saturday Night Cruise - March 2, 2002 - #1 - #2 - #3 (provided by Jeff R. Lonto)
Saturday Night Cruise - April 13, 2002 - #1 - #2 - #3 - #4 (provided by Jeff R. Lonto)
Saturday Night Cruise - March 15, 2003 - Del's final show (Del passed away late that evening). (provided by Jeff R. Lonto)
Nancy Rosen (4/19/81) Final Show
Michael Ryan and Steve Bowman (Nov. 1981 during Twin Cities ice storm)
Michael Ryan (12/24/1981)
Barry Siewert (1981)
Barry Siewert (1981) plus commercials including McDonald's "You Deserve a Break Today"
Scott Stevens (1983) (provided by Scott Stevens)
Don Thompson (Dec. 1981)
Rate card (1/1981) and ratings research (Oct/Nov 1980) PDF
Article about "The Golden Rock" (12/19/1980) Appeared in Sweet Potato
WWTC-AM Class Reunion Ad - 1983 JPEG (provided by Curt Lundgren)
1982 Photos
(WWTC on top floor) (provided by Alan Freed)
Promo Flyer - 1980 - JPEG File - (provided by Brian Carlson)
METRO RADIO
"Metro Radio" Sales Demo Tape (Nov. 1984) (provided by Jeff R. Lonto)
"Metro Radio" (11/12/1984) - Format change from The Golden Rock to Metro Radio
WWTC-AM - Report on switch from Golden Rock to Metro Radio (click image to play video)
Aired on WTCN-TV (now known as KARE-TV) - 1984 (provided by Jay Philpott)
WEATHER RADIO
Format change to Weather Radio stunting (September 1985)
Sample of Weather Radio Format (September 1985)
Sample of Weather Radio Format (10/28/1985)
Newspaper articles start of Weather Radio (Star Tribune, Skyway News, Twin Cities Reader, City Business) (1985) PDF
KSNE "SUNNY RADIO"
Stan Mack (Aug. 1986) Format change from "Weather Radio" to KSNE
KSNE "THE BREEZE"
Brian Turner (5/9/1988) (provided by Jeff R. Lonto)
Newspaper articles about The Breeze - Pioneer Press
"THE ORIGINAL 1280 - GOLDEN ROCK"
Format switch from KSNE-AM The Breeze jazz format to WWTC-AM with the Original Golden Rock format on May 27, 1988 kicking off with an oldies music montage followed by "Ugly" Del Roberts. Also includes an MNN Radio newscast with Bob Ryan and a commercial for KTCJ-AM encouraging jazz listeners to tune to that station.
Brian Turner (9/17/1988)(provided by Jeff R. Lonto)
WWTC-AM - Aired on KARE-TV - 1988 (click image to play video)
Newspaper articles about switching format from The Breeze to The Golden Rock - Star Tribune - Pioneer Press
RADIO AAHS / AAHS WORLD RADIO
First Day - Radio AAHS (5/12/1990) (provided by Jeff R. Lonto)
Final Day - Radio AAHS - AAHS World Radio (1/30/1998)
BEAT RADIO
"Beat Radio" (Sept. 1998) - Alan Freed (provided by Robert Konshak)
"Beat Radio" (1998) Alan Freed - Live Remote Broadcast from First Avenue
CATHOLIC FAMILY RADIO
In The Know (7/30/2000)(provided by Jeff R. Lonto)
THE PATRIOT
The Patriot Sign-On (3/19/2001) Including review of formats previously aired on AM 1280 (provided by Jeff R. Lonto)
"Ugly" Del Roberts airchecks posted above.
The Patriot (2004) Legal ID