SPOTLIGHTING WALLY PHILLIPS

Originally broadcast on WNIB
Saturday, June 7, 1997

Today we devote our program to one of Chicago’s most popular radio personalities on his Golden Anniversary.

WALLY PHILLIPS began his broadcasting career fifty years ago, in 1947, when he got his first radio job at station WJEF in Grand Rapids, Michigan.  He soon moved to Cincinnati, Ohio where, over the next eight years he was on the air at WASI, WCOP and WLW.

In the fall of 1956 he joined WGN in Chicago, his radio home ever since. He began his Chicago career doing a variety of mid-day and evening programs.  In 1965 he brought his quick wit and clever use of the telephone to WGN’s morning drive time, quickly becoming the listeners’ choice and making him a ratings leader for several decades.

In 1993 he was inducted  into the Radio Hall of Fame at the Museum of Broadcast Communications, adding an important honor to his already long list of accolades.  Earlier this year he was welcomed into the National Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame.

Wally Phillips will join us in person during our program today as we talk about his radio career and present clips from some of his memorable broadcasts.