1220/WGAR Tribute and Alumni Page

18/12/2021

1220/WGAR Chief Engineer Bob Reymont (R.I.P.) decorating the Broadcast Park Christmas Tree. (Year unknown) Photo courtesy of Cleveland Radio History professor Jim Davison

13/04/2021

Once again, our radio family continues to shrink. Sadly we note the passing of 1220/WGAR's Bob Becker. During his WGAR career, Bob not only served as newsman, but air personality as well. He did it all. TV reporter, radio talk show host, Ohio Lottery show host, producer of numerous documentaries, and the list goes on. His dry humor and quick wit in the WGAR newsroom is how we best remember Bobby, who lost his ten-year battle with Alzheimer's a few hours ago. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his wife Luanne Bole-Becker and family.

20/12/2020

It's December 20 and happy 1220 day from the Big 1220/WGAR! Also, thanks to Cleveland radio historian and all-around good guy Jim Davison, looking toward the New Year, pointing out that rearranging the numbers 2021, gives us 1220!
Hopefully, that's a good sign!

22/09/2020

A big shout out to former all night guy 1220/WGAR's Jim Buchanan. We're happy to add him to our tribute page! Jim recently posted on Facebook and we'll let him tell his 1220/WGAR memories in his own words: "A couple of shots of me circa 1974 in Studio A doing the all-night show at The Big 1220 / WGAR. I replaced Norm N. Nite after he exited to go to WCBS-FM in New York. John Lund hired me. I worked at WGAR from April 1973 to November 1975. Wonderful experience for a young 22 year old kid who landed a major market gig after just 2 years in the biz. Worked with a bunch of talented on air talent and production folks. John Lanigan, Emperor Joe Mayer, Chuck Collier, Bob Vernon, Loren Owens, Fig Newton, Stoney Richards, Geoff Fox, Phil Gardner, Buddy Henderson, Chick Watkins, Art Wallis."

15/05/2020

Big 1220/WGAR, blast from the past. September 3, 1982. John Lanigan, Ed Richards and Jim Chenevey. (unscoped). https://youtu.be/4eYikWBsWD8

For over 40 years John Lanigan has been entertaining listeners of WGAR and WMJI in Cleveland (among others). Here's John from September of 1982.

08/02/2020

"The Real" Bob James

08/02/2020

1220/WGAR's Eric Braun and "The Real" Bob James

08/02/2020

01/01/2020

Interesting article and observations of Don. https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/don-imus-the-man-who-was-always-willing-to-go-too-far/2019/12/31/9769ae22-2bfd-11ea-bcb3-ac6482c4a92f_story.html

And in doing so, he revolutionized radio.

27/12/2019

Sadly we note the passing of 1220/WGAR morning man Don Imus. RIP. https://www.facebook.com/groups/radiosurvivors/permalink/3212386665450230/

20/12/2019

With a smile and a hearty laugh, Emperor Joe Mayer wishes us a Happy 1220 Day, "on 12/20 at 12:20 on 1220/WGAR".

20/08/2019

Happy National Radio Day from 1220/WGAR!

19/12/2018

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from The Big 1220/WGAR!

19/09/2018

Sadly, we get word from Cleveland radio historian Jim Davison that former 1220/WGAR Director of Engineering, Bob Reymont has passed away at age 72. Details as we get them. R.I.P., Bob.

19/06/2018

Former 1220/WGAR News Director John O'Day. This pic was taken during his stint as Newsman at WHLO 640, Akron in 1964.

23/02/2018

"1220/WGAR Smiley Note" - The World's first known emoticon.

08/08/2017

Two great guys now gone. Chuck Collier and Glen Campbell. RIP Chucker and Glen.

07/05/2017

Thanks to former 1220/WGAR Production Ace Bill Connors for this precious find!

Starting to clean out my archives and some fun stuff I found and saved from things that were being thrown out years ago. have 3 cards from a 70's sales kit.

20/08/2016

Happy National Radio Day to all of our friends. Although it is 8/20, in our hearts it is always 1220!

27/07/2016

Excerpt from Bill Ward's newly released memoirs. "Memories and More, 1220/WGAR: The Second Five Years, 1980-1985."

30/06/2016

Standby for more 1220/WGAR memories from 1979 to 1984, the end of the big 1220. "Sweaty"Bill Ward just shipped us the manuscript of his memoirs of the final years of the Big 1220! We will be posting excerpts in the coming days.

19/11/2015

Congrats to former 1220/WGAR Newsman Ken Robinson (far right) on his induction last Friday evening into The Press Club of Cleveland Journalism Hall of Fame. Ken joins (L-R) The Indians' Tom Hamilton, Plain Dealer's Mark Dawidziak, Former Cleveland Magazine editor and current editor of Readers' Digest, Liz Ludlow Vaccariello, Chuck Heaton Award recipient Betsy Kling of WKYC TV-3, and Bob Dyer, Akron Beacon Journal Columnist. Congrats Kenny!

22/09/2015

Chuck "The Chucker" Collier. Four years ago this day. We shall never forget.

16/09/2015

Welcome to our legion of new followers, courtesy of Cleveland radio historian (and all-around good guy) Jim Davison.

1220 WGAR Listens to You!

15/03/2015

1220/WGAR SkyBird Traffic Copter

28/02/2015

Dave McBride, former 1220/WGAR Newsman hangs 'em up after 43 years. Congrats on a great career, Dave!

His thoughts on calling it a career:

"Today I delivered my final newscast in a career of 43 years from Watergate to Deflategate. I’ve lately been doing news for stations around the country that don’t have their own news staff and my last story was about a North Carolina State Trooper in the Smokey Mountains who saved a baby’s life in a snowstorm. Nice. Anita retires Monday and we happily already live in South Florida so we don’t have to move to retire here. I have been a fortunate Forest Gump finding myself over the years in the company of top-talent radio royalty. In Cleveland I performed news for John Lannigan and in Chicago for Joel Sebastian, Art Roberts, Robert Murphy and Steve Dahl; all of whose names can be justifiably preceded with the word “legendary.” A shout-out and thanks to the many of you with whom I’ve shared a studio. I will continue sending the occasional voice report to a pal at a news/talk in West Palm Beach so I can keep media credentials to get into stuff for free. And I’m anticipating spending sultry afternoons with Anita and friends in waterfront dives where Jimmy Buffet leaks from the Jukebox. God Bless the AFTRA pension. That’s the news, I’m Dave McBride."