January 1 WDCB begins streaming audio on the Internet so, even though the station is transmitting a much-reduced signal in its usual broadcast area, Those Were The Days and all other regular programming may now be heard around the world via the World Wide Web.
February 23 On the final Saturday of the 23rd Jack Benny Month, the TWTD Radio Players present their interpretation of “Brewster’s Millions” which originally starred Jack Benny on the Lux Radio Theatre.
JUNE 8, 2002 A TWTD Remote broadcast on WDCB and streaming on the Internet from Waukegan for the dedication of the Jack Benny statue. Len Kunka is the technician on the control board and Chuck is on the air.
June 8 Remote broadcast from Waukegan, Illinois as Those Were The Days covers the dedication of the Jack Benny Statue in the comedian’s home town. On-air guests include Eric Biome, sculptor of the statue; Laura Leff, president of the International Jack Benny Fan Club, and Benny impersonator Eddie Carroll.
June 15 TWTD celebrates the 15th Anniversary of the Museum of Broadcast Communications. This is also the last TWTD broadcast from the Museum after 15 years, first at the River City location, then in the Chicago Cultural Center.
June 22 TWTD moves from studios in the Chicago Cultural Center to the main broadcast studio of WDCB at College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn, Illinois.
July 11 Chicago Sun–Times columnist Robert Feder writes:
After 15 years at the Radio Hall of Fame studios in Chicago’s Museum of Broadcast Communications, Chuck Schaden has moved the site of his weekly broadcast of Those Were the Days. The old-time radio showcase now originates from the Glen Ellyn studios of WDCB-FM on the College of DuPage campus.
July 17 WDCB resumes broadcasting at full authorized strength after a new tower has been constructed and erected and a new antenna is finally beaming its strong signal after seven months of service to a reduced audience.
July 19 Chicago Sun-Times columnist Robert Feder writes:
Seven months after high winds knocked down the transmitter tower of WDCB-FM, the College of DuPage’s public radio station is broadcasting at full power again. The station… has been beaming a loud and clear signal through much of the metropolitan area since then.
July 27 With the WDCB antenna tower up and working, TWTD presents “Christmas in July,” repeating all the programs that were scheduled but weren’t heard on December 22, 2001 when the original tower collapsed. Chuck and Ken Alexander take their microphones out of the studio to the new tower as Ken decides to “christen” it with unexpected results.
October 26 Ken Alexander hosts TWTD while Chuck and a group of Those Were The Days Radio Players travel to Newark, New Jersey for a meeting of the Friends of Old Time Radio convention. The Those Were The Days Players, directed by Randy Larson, provide a re-enactment of a Hall of Fantasy program from 10-1-1952 entitled “The Map of Gold.” Old Time Radio Digest magazine presents the Ezra Stone/Willard Waterman Award to Chuck for “outstanding contributions to the preservation of old-time radio.”
November 11 Illinois Humanities Council presents the Studs Terkel Humanities Service Award to Chuck Schaden, who was nominated for the honor by the Village of Morton Grove, Illinois. His hometown proclaims this date “Chuck Schaden Day” in recognition of his contributions to radio broadcasting… and as a champion of the humanities.”
