WAKR

File:S. Bernard Berk.jpg

S. Bernard Berk, a practicing attorney and electrical appliance store operator in Akron,{{r|Broadcasting1}} first filed paperwork with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on January 6, 1937, to establish a third radio station for the city,{{Cite web|url= https://cdbs.recnet.com/corres/?doc=46674 |title= FCC History Cards for WAKR|publisher=Federal Communications Commission}} after WADC and WKNR; WTAM in Cleveland also serviced Akron with its transmitter site in Brecksville, {{Convert|20|mi|km|abbr=out|lk=on}} north of the city. In addition to his law practice and business, Berk also had experience as an inventor. He held a patent for an early photoelectric cell that automatically dimmed automobile headlights for oncoming traffic at night,{{sfn|Ritchey|Miles|1993|p=32}} and also designed a five-speaker public address system for Western Electric.{{Cite news|date=September 1931|title=Self-Advertisers: Public Address Installations Create Their Own Market|volume=14|pages=30–31|work=Radio Retailing|publisher=McGraw Hill|issue=3|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Radio-Retailing/30s/Radio-Retailing-1931-09.pdf|access-date=January 30, 2020|via=World Radio History|archive-date=September 22, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200922165001/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Radio-Retailing/30s/Radio-Retailing-1931-09.pdf|url-status=live}}

Akron Beacon Journal publisher John S. Knight publicly showed skepticism in his column that the commission would even grant the permit, and could not justify the need for a third station.{{Cite news|last=Knight|first=John S.|author-link=John S. Knight|date=July 22, 1937|title=The Editor's Notebook|page=4|newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal|location=Akron, Ohio|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/43339260/the_editors_notebook/|access-date=January 31, 2020|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=January 31, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200131055731/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/43339260/the_editors_notebook/|url-status=live}} Both WJW and WADC objected to the establishment of another radio station in Akron, as did KXBY in Kansas City, Missouri; despite those objections, John T. Brambill, an FCC examiner, recommended that the permit be granted.{{Cite news|date=May 17, 1939|title=Postpone Hearing on Radio Station|page=21|newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal|location=Akron, Ohio|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44187406/postpone_hearing_on_radio_station/|access-date=February 13, 2020|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=February 13, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200213223825/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44187406/postpone_hearing_on_radio_station/|url-status=live}} The FCC, however, reversed that examiner's ruling on May 11, 1938, citing that there was "no lack of radio broadcast facilities and service in Akron, Ohio" and that Berk's party did not propose "a program of research and experimentation" to the development of high-fidelity broadcasting.{{unbulleted list citebundle

|1={{Cite news|date=May 14, 1938|title=Commission Denies Berk Radio Permit: Attorney, Sporting Goods Dealer Loses Year-Old Fight For New Station|page=17|newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal|location=Akron, Ohio|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44297832/commission_denies_berk_radio_permit/|access-date=February 13, 2020|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=January 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220120233125/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44297832/commission-denies-berk-radio-permit/|url-status=live}}

|2={{Cite news|date=May 15, 1938|title=Three New Locals Get FCC Grants; More Are Denied: Maine, Mass., Texas Stations; All in Dallas Turned Down|volume=14|page=16|work=Broadcasting|issue=10|id={{ProQuest|1014931333}}|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1938/1938-05-15-BC.pdf|access-date=January 30, 2020|via=World Radio History|archive-date=January 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220120233124/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1938/1938-05-15-BC.pdf|url-status=live}}

|3={{Cite book|last=United States|first=Federal Communications Commission|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=e3URAQAAMAAJ|title=Federal Communications Commission Reports: Decisions, Reports, Public Notices, and Other Documents of the Federal Communications Commission of the United States: Volume 5, November 16, 1937-June 30, 1938|publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office|year=1939|location=Washington, D.C.|pages=409–416|access-date=February 13, 2020|archive-date=January 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220120233123/https://books.google.com/books?id=e3URAQAAMAAJ|url-status=live}}}} Berk appealed the decision, claiming that the commission ignored testimony from Akron officials and leaders desiring a third station,{{Cite news|last=Doran|first=Dorothy|date=June 13, 1938|title=Some Music, Radio Groups See Melody Replacing Swing In Popularity|page=5|newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal|location=Akron, Ohio|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44297618/some_music_radio_groups_see_melody/|access-date=February 13, 2020|via=Newspapers.com}} and after securing statements of support from 34 different civic, religious and community organizations in the city, the FCC reversed itself on August 8, 1939, granting the permit.{{unbulleted list citebundle

|1={{Cite news|date=August 9, 1939|title=Construction Permit Granted For 3rd Akron Radio Station|page=13|newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal|location=Akron, Ohio|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44298291/construction_permit_granted_for_3rd/|access-date=February 13, 2020|via=Newspapers.com}}

|2={{Cite news|date=August 15, 1939|title=FCC Authorizes Fulltime Regional In Akron on 1530: Locals for Sault Ste. Marie And Yuma Also Are Granted|volume=17|page=22|work=Broadcasting|issue=4|id={{ProQuest|1014938939}}|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1939/1939-08-15-BC.pdf|access-date=January 30, 2020|via=World Radio History|archive-date=January 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220120233126/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1939/1939-08-15-BC.pdf|url-status=live}}}}

{{Quote box

| quote = Washington insiders don't give interested Akronites much chance of being granted a license for a third radio station in the rubber city ... I can't say we need it ...

| author = John S. Knight

| source = in his Editor's Notebook column for the Akron Beacon Journal, July 22, 1937{{r|Knight skeptical}}

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WJW and WADC filed protests against the ruling and requested a rehearing, along with two other stations that operated on the proposed {{Frequency|1530|kHz}} frequency: KITE (the former KXBY) and WBRY in Waterbury, Connecticut.{{efn|Both KITE and WBRY were originally two of four experimental high-fidelity AM stations that launched in 1934, along with W2XR in New York City and W6XAI in Bakersfield, California.{{cite web|title=History of W9XBY|url=http://www.route56.com/radio/kc/w9xby.html|last=Kennedy|first=Richie|work=Route 56|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190607003242/http://www.route56.com/radio/kc/w9xby.html|archive-date=June 7, 2019|access-date=June 6, 2019}}}} KITE and WBRY objected on engineering grounds and would later withdraw their protests, while WJW and WADC objected on economic grounds.{{sfn|Ritchey|Miles|1993|pp=32–33}} At a final review set forth by the commission on October 25, 1939,{{Cite news|last=Doran|first=Dorothy|date=October 12, 1939|title=Band Leader Martone Turns 'Rah-Rah Boy'|page=24|newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal|location=Akron, Ohio|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44186113/band_leader_martone_turns_rahrah_boy/|access-date=February 13, 2020|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=February 13, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200213223824/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44186113/band_leader_martone_turns_rahrah_boy/|url-status=live}} WJW's counsel stated that the station either made profits of less than $900 a year or had been operating at a loss since 1936, having paid out most of their income on employee salaries.{{Cite news|last=Doran|first=Dorothy|date=October 27, 1939|title=Third Akron Station Depends Upon FCC: Attorneys Protest Reversed Opinion, Commission To Give Decision Soon|page=12|newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal|location=Akron, Ohio|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44298620/third_akron_station_depends_upon_fcc/|access-date=February 13, 2020|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=January 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220120233127/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44298620/third-akron-station-depends-upon-fcc/|url-status=live}} (After WAKR's launch and a subsequent sale of the station, WJW moved out of Akron and into the Cleveland market in November 1943.{{unbulleted list citebundle

|1={{Cite news|date=November 2, 1942|title=WJW, Akron, Seeks Move To Cleveland|id={{ProQuest|1014962096}}|volume=23|page=14|work=Broadcasting|issue=18|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1942/1942-11-02-BC.pdf|access-date=December 9, 2019|via=World Radio History|archive-date=January 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220120233130/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1942/1942-11-02-BC.pdf|url-status=live}}

|2={{Cite news|date=November 15, 1943|title=WJW, Now Cleveland, With 5 kw, Joins Blue|id={{ProQuest|1014978679}}|volume=25|page=12|work=Broadcasting|issue=20|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1943/1943-11-15-BC.pdf|access-date=December 9, 2019|via=World Radio History|archive-date=January 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220120233132/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1943/1943-11-15-BC.pdf|url-status=live}}}}) After the proceedings, sources close to the FCC told the Beacon Journal that the commission had been changing its focus to awarding permits unless there was an engineering issue and was no longer taking economic arguments into account.{{r|WJW WADC Protest 1939}}

Following this final review, Berk was awarded federal authorization to construct WAKR on January 10, 1940, under his family-owned business Summit Radio Corp.{{Cite news|date=January 15, 1940|id={{ProQuest|1014938737}}|title=Akron's Regional Grant Reaffirmed: 1 kw. Station Gets 1530 kc.; Two More Locals Granted|volume=18|page=40|work=Broadcasting|issue=2|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1940/1940-01-15-BC.pdf|access-date=January 30, 2020|via=World Radio History|archive-date=January 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220120233127/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1940/1940-01-15-BC.pdf|url-status=live}} Studios were set up on the ground floor of the First Central Tower in downtown Akron—now known as the Huntington Tower{{cite news|last=Price|first=Mark J.|date=March 14, 1999|title=Beacon Magazine: Scraping the Sky|page=13|newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal|location=Akron, Ohio|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/5800633/19990314_beacon_p13_hx_of_the_tower/|access-date=February 17, 2020|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=February 17, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200217151439/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/5800633/19990314_beacon_p13_hx_of_the_tower/|url-status=live}}—and WAKR signed up to be an affiliate of NBC's Blue Network and Thesaurus radio transcription service upon launch.{{unbulleted list citebundle

|1={{Cite news|last=Doran|first=Dorothy|date=August 21, 1940|title=WAKR To Be Located In First-Central Tower|page=18|newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal|location=Akron, Ohio|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/6865952/wakrtower82140/|access-date=February 9, 2020|via=Newspapers.com}}

|2={{Cite news|date=September 15, 1940|title=New WAKR, in Akron, Names IRS, Joins Blue|id={{ProQuest|1014934367}}|volume=19|page=30|work=Broadcasting|issue=6|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1940/1940-09-15-BC.pdf|access-date=January 30, 2020|via=World Radio History|archive-date=January 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220120233130/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1940/1940-09-15-BC.pdf|url-status=live}}

|3={{Cite news|date=August 1, 1940|title=WCBS, WAKR to Blue|id={{ProQuest|1040377107}}|volume=19|page=76|work=Broadcasting|issue=3|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1940/1940-08-01-BC.pdf|access-date=January 31, 2020|via=World Radio History|archive-date=January 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220120233132/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1940/1940-08-01-BC.pdf|url-status=live}}

|4={{Cite news|date=August 1, 1940|id={{ProQuest|1040463831}}|title=It happened in '35 at Colorado Springs - and it's meant more profits for stations ever since!: NBC Thesaurus (advertisement)|volume=19|pages=68–69|work=Broadcasting|issue=3|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1940/1940-08-01-BC.pdf|access-date=January 30, 2020|via=World Radio History|archive-date=January 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220120233131/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1940/1940-08-01-BC.pdf|url-status=live}}}} Due to WAKR's frequency having been recently included for use for broadcast purposes, Berk's radio appliance store offered free of charge to change the tuning devices on any radios that did not go up to {{Frequency|1530|kHz}}.{{Cite news|last=Nichols|first=Kenneth|date=July 11, 1966|title=WAKR's S. Bernard Berk Dies|pages=A-1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/43947243/berks_persistence_put_wakr_on_air/ A-2]|newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal|location=Akron, Ohio|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/43947199/wakrs_s_bernard_berk_dies/|access-date=February 9, 2020|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=January 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220120233132/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/43947199/wakrs-s-bernard-berk-dies/|url-status=live}}{{sfn|Ritchey|Miles|1993|p=34}} After being formally granted the license on October 16, 1940, WAKR took to the air that evening with a grand opening ceremony emceed by Milton Cross, host of the NBC Blue game show Information Please, along with NBC Blue's Metropolitan Opera radio broadcasts.{{sfn|Ritchey|Miles|1993|p=35}}

Initially at {{Frequency|1530|kHz}} with {{val|1000|fmt=commas|u=watts}}, WAKR was moved to {{Frequency|1590|kHz}} on March 28, 1941, as a result of the North American Regional Broadcasting Agreement, and had power output raised to {{val|5000|fmt=commas|u=watts}} the following December.{{r|WAKR History Cards}} S. Bernard Berk's son, Roger G. Berk, had his first job in the medium digging post holes at WAKR's transmitter site in the city's southeast side;{{Cite news|date=February 25, 1974|id={{ProQuest|1014681446}}|title=Profile: The low visibility of a highly involved broadcaster: Roger Berk|volume=86|page=73|work=Broadcasting|issue=8|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1974/1974-02-25-BC.pdf|access-date=February 7, 2020|via=World Radio History|archive-date=January 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220120233132/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1974/1974-02-25-BC.pdf|url-status=live}} the site remains in active use today.{{Cite web|title=Site of the Week 5/8/15: From Cleveland to Akron|url=https://www.fybush.com/site-20150508/|last=Fybush|first=Scott|date=May 5, 2015|website=Fybush.com|publisher=Fybush Media|language=en-US|via=RadioBB|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150511232418/https://www.fybush.com/site-20150508/|archive-date=May 11, 2015|access-date=February 7, 2020}}

File:WAKR_1946_Hooper_ratings_ad.jpg programs compared to other affiliates]]

{{Quote box

| quote = We had to send an engineer out with a reporter... they radioed it in (using cumbersome two-way radios strapped to their backs) and we would record it on discs. We didn't have tapes or wires; we actually put it on wax.

| author = Roger G. Berk

| source = on WAKR's methods for filing news reports in the 1940s{{r|WAKR 50th Anniversary}}

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While WADC had an advantage of being a CBS Radio Network affiliate, WAKR built its reputation primarily through local programming alongside NBC Blue (renamed the Blue Network in 1943, then again as ABC Radio in 1945) offerings. WAKR has been often regarded as being one of the first radio stations in the United States to have established an active news department when it signed on, augmenting coverage from United Press and the Associated Press.{{r|Roger Berk Profile}}{{r|S Bernard Berk obit}} During WAKR's peak in the mid-1940s, C. E. Hooper ratings showed the station with as much as 55 percent of the Akron audience in mornings and 30 percent of the audience in afternoons;{{unbulleted list citebundle

|1={{Cite magazine|date=September 22, 1945|title=WAKR: Akron's First Station All Day Long. Advertisement.|volume=57|page=15|magazine=The Billboard|issue=37|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/40s/1945/BB-1945-09-22.pdf|access-date=January 30, 2020|via=World Radio History|archive-date=January 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220120233134/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/40s/1945/BB-1945-09-22.pdf|url-status=live}}

|2={{Cite news|date=October 21, 1946|title=You get up to DOUBLE THE AUDIENCE AND MORE! (Advertisement.)|volume=31|page=79|work=Broadcasting|issue=16|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1946/1946-10-21-BC.pdf|access-date=January 31, 2020|via=World Radio History|archive-date=January 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220120233133/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1946/1946-10-21-BC.pdf|url-status=live}}

|3={{Cite news|date=June 24, 1946|title=WAKR Akron: First in Listeners! (Advertisement)|volume=30|page=11|work=Broadcasting|issue=25|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1946/1946-06-24-BC.pdf|access-date=January 31, 2020|via=World Radio History|archive-date=January 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220120233133/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1946/1946-06-24-BC.pdf|url-status=live}}

|4={{Cite news|date=August 19, 1946|title=Buy WAKR Akron: First in Listeners! (Advertisement.)|volume=31|page=41|work=Broadcasting|issue=7|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1946/1946-08-19-BC.pdf|access-date=January 31, 2020|via=World Radio History|archive-date=August 10, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220810201642/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1946/1946-08-19-BC.pdf|url-status=live}}}} even local ratings for Don McNeill's Breakfast Club outperformed comparable ABC Radio affiliates by significant margins.{{Cite magazine|last=Koehler|first=Joe|date=April 20, 1946|title="Audience-Delivering" Stations: Hooper-B.B. 1945-'46 Tab|id={{ProQuest|1040016915}}|volume=58|pages=7, 18–19|magazine=The Billboard|issue=16|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/40s/1946/BB-1946-04-20.pdf|access-date=January 30, 2020|via=World Radio History|archive-date=August 10, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220810201521/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/40s/1946/BB-1946-04-20.pdf|url-status=live}} WAKR took out multiple full-page advertisements in Broadcasting throughout 1945 and 1946 boasting of their ratings dominance, calling themselves "Tops in Akron" (also a play on the {{Frequency|1590|kHz}} frequency being at the "top" of the medium wave band).{{r|WAKR 1946 Ads}}

Along with the highly rated weekday programming, WAKR also offered multiple specialty programs. One of the longer running programs was the children-oriented Tip Top Tales, hosted by librarian Harriet Leaf, which aired from 1940 to 1957.{{Cite news|last=Price|first=Mark J.|date=April 7, 2014|title='Story Lady' told 'Tip Top Tales'|language=en|pages=B1–[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/51925429/story-lady-told-tip-top-tales-pt-2/ B3]|newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal|location=Akron, Ohio|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/51925334/story-lady-told-tip-top-tales/|access-date=February 4, 2020|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=August 10, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220810201553/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/51925334/story-lady-told-tip-top-tales/|url-status=live}} A local version of the Blue/ABC program America's Town Meeting of the Air ran on WAKR that was aimed at the teenage and young adult audience, championed by S. Bernard Berk's wife, Viola Berk.{{Cite magazine|date=March 30, 1946|id={{ProQuest|1039993945}}|title=Results, Not $$, Makes Seg Pubserv; Eds Praise B.R. Program: Station Exec's Interest Pays|volume=58|page=12|magazine=The Billboard|issue=13|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/40s/1946/BB-1946-03-30.pdf|access-date=February 6, 2020|via=World Radio History|archive-date=August 10, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220810201521/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/40s/1946/BB-1946-03-30.pdf|url-status=live}} Starting on {{Start date|1945|01|13}},{{Cite news|last=Recht|first=Ruth Jane|date=December 24, 1944|title=Radio Workshop Goes Back On Air Wednesday, Jan. 13|page=4|newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal|location=Akron, Ohio|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/46242417/radio-workshop-goes-back-on-air/|access-date=March 6, 2020|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=March 29, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220329182442/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/46242417/radio-workshop-goes-back-on-air/|url-status=live}} WAKR broadcast weekly productions from Kent State University's Radio Workshop on Saturday mornings;{{Cite news|last=Paffilas|first=Pauline|date=October 15, 1948|title=Broadcasting Airs From Armory|page=36|newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal|location=Akron, Ohio|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/46245979/broadcasting-airs-from-armory/|access-date=March 6, 2020|archive-date=March 29, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220329182443/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/46245979/broadcasting-airs-from-armory/|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|last=Offineer|first=Bee|date=October 14, 1949|title=Nelson Family Airs On WAKR|page=42|newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal|location=Akron, Ohio|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/46249151/nelson-family-airs-on-wakr/|access-date=March 6, 2020|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=March 29, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220329182445/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/46249151/nelson-family-airs-on-wakr/|url-status=live}} this continued until 1950 when the university established WKSU-FM.{{Cite news|last=Cullinson|first=Art|date=December 8, 1950|title=College Court Games Go To TV|page=52|newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal|location=Akron, Ohio|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/46246274/college-court-games-go-to-tv/|access-date=March 6, 2020|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=March 29, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220329182444/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/46246274/college-court-games-go-to-tv/|url-status=live}}

Throughout the 1940s and 1950s, WAKR became famous in the industry as being a "stepping stone" for up-and-coming announcers, actors, and television presenters, in what would be informally known as the "WAKR Talent School" under S. Bernard Berk's guidance.{{r|S Bernard Berk obit}} Future Peter Gunn co-star Lola Albright joined WAKR after graduating from high school as a receptionist before finding additional work at WTAM in Cleveland.{{unbulleted list citebundle

|1={{Cite news|last=McNary|first=Dave|date=March 24, 2017|title='Peter Gunn' Star Lola Albright Dies at 92|language=en|website=Variety|publisher=Penske Media Corporation|url=https://variety.com/2017/film/obituaries-people-news/lola-albright-dead-peter-gunn-dies-obituary-1202015831/|url-status=live|access-date=January 30, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170327020944/http://variety.com/2017/film/obituaries-people-news/lola-albright-dead-peter-gunn-dies-obituary-1202015831/|archive-date=March 27, 2017}}

|2={{Cite news|last=Price|first=Mark J.|date=March 24, 2017|title=Actress Lola Albright of Akron Dies|language=en|pages=A1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/51910236/actress-lola-albright-of-akron-dies/ A10]|newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal|location=Akron, Ohio|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/51910118/actress-lola-albright-of-akron-dies/|access-date=January 30, 2020|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=August 10, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220810201627/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/51910118/actress-lola-albright-of-akron-dies/|url-status=live}}}} Peter Hackes worked as a newsman at WAKR in the late 1940s before going to CBS News and NBC News, later making notable cameos in the films Broadcast News and True Colors.{{unbulleted list citebundle

|1={{Cite news|last=Cullison|first=Art|date=November 14, 1955|title=Margaret Lacks Femcee Sparkle|page=18|newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal|location=Akron, Ohio|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44871901/margaret_lacks_femcee_sparkle/|access-date=February 17, 2020|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=February 17, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200217151436/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44871901/margaret_lacks_femcee_sparkle/|url-status=live}}

|2={{Cite news|date=November 7, 1949|title=Beacon Journal-WAKR For Election Results!|page=1|newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal|location=Akron, Ohio|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44871689/beacon_journalwakr_for_election/|access-date=February 17, 2020|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=February 17, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200217151435/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44871689/beacon_journalwakr_for_election/|url-status=live}}

|3={{Cite news|last=Murphy|first=Frances B.|date=September 29, 1988|title=TV's Dick Goddard to speak at Radio Hall of Fame induction|page=C-3|newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal|location=Akron, Ohio|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/43948034/tvs_dick_goddard_to_speak_at_radio/|access-date=February 9, 2020|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=August 10, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220810201551/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/43948034/tvs-dick-goddard-to-speak-at-radio/|url-status=live}}

|4={{cite news|date=April 22, 1994|title=Obituaries: Peter Hackes; Broadcaster, 69|newspaper=The New York Times|location=New York, New York|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/04/22/obituaries/peter-hackes-broadcaster-69.html|url-status=live|access-date=February 4, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150526105149/http://www.nytimes.com/1994/04/22/obituaries/peter-hackes-broadcaster-69.html|archive-date=May 26, 2015}}}}

{{Quote box

| quote = He plans to do free lance TV work in the big city and don't be surprised if you see his face on some network video programs.

| author = Art Cullison

| source = on Art Fazzin leaving WAKR in 1952{{r|Fleming leaves}}

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Shortly after signing on, the station hired a young announcer named Stephen Richards, who did announcing, acting, and engineering work, and broke the news of the Attack on Pearl Harbor on-air.{{Cite news|last=Price|first=Mark J.|date=August 21, 2016|title=The trail to Hollywood|language=en|pages=B1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/51911179/the-trail-to-hollywood-pt-2/ B3]|newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal|location=Akron, Ohio|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/51911140/the-trail-to-hollywood/|access-date=January 30, 2020|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=August 10, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220810201634/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/51911140/the-trail-to-hollywood/|url-status=live}} After leaving WAKR for a brief stint at WJW, Richards starred in the Weathervane Playhouse stage production Yes and No before moving to Los Angeles, a chance meeting with two Hollywood press agents prompted him to go to the Warner Bros. Burbank studios.{{unbulleted list citebundle

|1={{Cite news|last=Offineer|first=Bee|date=June 16, 1946|title=Talent Shines---If Given Chance|page=6-C|newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal|location=Akron, Ohio|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44438954/talent_shinesif_given_chance/|access-date=February 15, 2020|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=February 15, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200215204009/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44438954/talent_shinesif_given_chance/|url-status=live}}

|2={{Cite news|last=French|first=Betty|date=February 19, 1943|title=Studios Grab At Surrender Title; Judge Stone Plows|page=10|newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal|location=Akron, Ohio|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44449148/studios_grab_at_surrender_title_judge/|access-date=February 15, 2020|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=February 15, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200215204017/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44449148/studios_grab_at_surrender_title_judge/|url-status=live}}}} A 1944 promotional booklet issued by the studio promoting new talent signings said of Richards, "Walked into Warner Brothers studio. Asked for a job. Got it."{{Cite news|last=French|first=Betty|date=March 28, 1944|title=Ex-Akron Announcer Crashes Films|page=10|newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal|location=Akron, Ohio|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44440406/exakron_announcer_crashes_films/|access-date=February 15, 2020|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=February 15, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200215204015/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44440406/exakron_announcer_crashes_films/|url-status=live}} Assuming the stage name Mark Stevens, his first theatrical appearance was a bit role in Passage to Marseille,{{Cite news|last=French|first=Betty|date=August 21, 1945|title=Richards Wins Role With Fontaine|page=10|newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal|location=Akron, Ohio|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44442106/richards_wins_role_with_fontaine/|access-date=February 15, 2020|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=February 15, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200215204020/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44442106/richards_wins_role_with_fontaine/|url-status=live}} and went to appear in over eighty feature films and forty different television programs.{{r|Mark Stevens ABJ Profile}}

Art Fazzin was hired as Top O' the Morning host in January 1949, having worked previously at radio stations in North Carolina.{{Cite news|last=Offineer|first=Bee|date=January 18, 1949|title=AM And TV Cover Inaugural: Art Fazzin Joins Staff Of WAKR; Was In South|page=15|newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal|location=Akron, Ohio|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44375175/am_and_tv_cover_inaugural_art_fazzin/|access-date=February 15, 2020|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=February 15, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200215072818/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44375175/am_and_tv_cover_inaugural_art_fazzin/|url-status=live}} In addition to mornings, Fazzin provided color commentary for Akron Zips football games,{{Cite news|date=October 22, 1949|title=Radio Time Table|page=12|newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal|location=Akron, Ohio|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44374503/radio_time_table/|access-date=February 15, 2020|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=February 15, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200215072810/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44374503/radio_time_table/|url-status=live}} announced Soap Box Derby finals for the station,{{Cite news|last=Offineer|first=Bee|date=July 30, 1950|title=Air Entire Soap Box Derby: WAKR Assigns Four Men For Coverage|page=6C|newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal|location=Akron, Ohio|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44373764/air_entire_soap_box_derby_wakr_assigns/|access-date=February 15, 2020|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=February 15, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200215072811/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44373764/air_entire_soap_box_derby_wakr_assigns/|url-status=live}} and hosted various other daytime programs. Fazzin left the station on January 11, 1952, to pursue freelance work in New York City, leading Beacon Journal writer Art Cullison to predict, "don't be surprised if you see his face on some network video programs."{{Cite news|last=Cullison|first=Art|date=January 11, 1952|title=Disc Jockey Art Fazzin Leaves|page=32|newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal|location=Akron, Ohio|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44374117/disc_jockey_art_fazzin_leaves/|access-date=February 15, 2020|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=February 15, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200215072813/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44374117/disc_jockey_art_fazzin_leaves/|url-status=live}} Using his middle name for the stage name Art Fleming, Fazzin became best known as the first host of the television game show Jeopardy!{{Cite news|last=Price|first=Mark|date=April 15, 2019|title=Local history: 'Jeopardy!' host was Akron radio star|language=en|pages=B1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/51903935/jeopardy-host-was-akron-radio-star/ B3]|newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal|location=Akron, Ohio|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/51903850/jeopardy-host-was-akron-radio-star/|access-date=January 30, 2020|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=August 10, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220810201656/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/51903850/jeopardy-host-was-akron-radio-star/|url-status=live}}File:Alan Freed disk jockey.jpg was a popular late-evening host on WAKR from 1945 to 1950. Freed's departure resulted in the enforcement of a year-long non-compete clause, followed by him landing at Cleveland's WKNR.|left]]

Perhaps WAKR's most famous personality in this era was Alan Freed, who joined WAKR in June 1945 at the age of 23 after previous work in Youngstown and New Castle, Pennsylvania.{{Cite web|title=Local history: Before they were stars, they were ours|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-akron-beacon-journal-before-they-wer/169393271/|last=Price|first=Mark J.|date=November 14, 2016|website=Akron Beacon Journal|location=Akron, Ohio|language=en|access-date=February 8, 2020|pages=A1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-akron-beacon-journal-history/169393295/ A4]}} Known on-air as "The Old Knuclehead",{{Cite news|last=Freed|first=Alan|author-link=Alan Freed|date=November 2, 1947|title=A Personal Message From Alan Freed (Advertisement)|page=11B|newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal|location=Akron, Ohio|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/6865821/freedletter11247/|access-date=February 9, 2020|via=Newspapers.com}}{{r|WhitemanFreed}} Freed quickly became a local favorite at the station, hosting a nightly popular music program, Request Review, and an afternoon program, Jukebox Serenade.{{Cite news|last=Offineer|first=Bee|date=January 16, 1946|title=Freed Sings And Fans Write|page=4|newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal|location=Akron, Ohio|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/43951427/freed_sings_and_fans_write/|access-date=January 28, 2020|via=Newspapers.com}} Freed also hosted a daytime program aimed at the bobby soxer audience early on at WAKR; when that was dropped from the lineup, the station added an evening show hosted by Freed titled Wax Works.{{Cite news|last=Offineer|first=Bee|date=July 23, 1947|title=Freed Premiers 'Wax Works'|page=7|newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal|location=Akron, Ohio|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/51909508/freed-premieres-wax-works/|access-date=May 22, 2020|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=August 10, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220810201622/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/51909508/freed-premieres-wax-works/|url-status=live}} The station also launched a phone participation contest program hosted by Freed in 1948, entitled Hello, Cinderella.{{Cite news|last=Offineer|first=Bee|date=April 4, 1948|title=WAKR Looking For 'Cinderella'|page=8B|newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal|location=Akron, Ohio|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10151483/cinderella_article_48/|access-date=February 11, 2020|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=August 10, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220810201556/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10151483/cinderella-article-48/|url-status=live}} After an ABC Radio program hosted by Paul Whiteman was cancelled, WAKR declined to pick up a replacement program offered by ABC and Freed's daytime show was reinstated, giving him over five hours of airtime every day.{{Cite news|date=June 30, 1948|title=Whiteman Off, Freed On Again|page=20|newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal|location=Akron, Ohio|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/43951341/whiteman_off_freed_on_again/|access-date=February 7, 2020|via=Newspapers.com}} Even with his popularity, Freed was reportedly fired temporarily in 1948 for violating studio rules,{{efn|An Akron Beacon Journal column on February 8, 1948, responding to reader inquiries about his status confirms this temporary firing with the terse reply: "He doesn't work here (at WAKR) anymore."{{Cite news|last1=Stopher|first1=Robert H.|last2=Jackson|first2=James S.|date=February 8, 1948|title=Behind The Front Page: Miscellany|page=2B|newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal|location=Akron, Ohio|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44504186/behind-the-front-page/|access-date=May 23, 2020|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=July 9, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709185835/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44504186/behind-the-front-page/|url-status=live}}}} later accounts suggested it was due to his failure to show up for several days in a row.{{r|Freed Fame}}

{{Quote box

| quote = Many a Hollywood star would envy (Alan Freed's) fan mail... which averages about 500 letters and postcards a day... plus telegrams and special delivery epistles... A well-meaning mother was having trouble getting her baby to sleep... so she called WAKR to have Alan sing a lullaby... Result! Freed did... but the baby didn't.

| author = Bee Offineer{{r|Freed sings}}

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}}

When Freed left the station on February 12, 1950, he attempted to resurface at WADC several days later on a program sponsored by an area record store.{{Cite magazine|date=February 25, 1950|title=Akron Jockey, WAKR Tangle|id={{ProQuest|1039946160}}|volume=62|page=16|magazine=The Billboard|issue=8|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/50s/1950/Billboard%201950-02-25.pdf|access-date=January 31, 2020|via=World Radio History|archive-date=August 3, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200803235153/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/50s/1950/Billboard%201950-02-25.pdf|url-status=live}} After one show, Berk sued Freed to enforce a non-compete clause preventing him from working at any station within a radius of {{Convert|75|miles|km|abbr=}} from Akron for a full year.{{Cite magazine|date=March 4, 1950|title=Court Slaps Ban On Alan Freed In Jockey Fight|id={{ProQuest|1039965366}}|volume=62|page=20|magazine=The Billboard|issue=9|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/50s/1950/Billboard%201950-03-04.pdf|access-date=January 31, 2020|via=World Radio History|archive-date=August 10, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220810201735/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/50s/1950/Billboard%201950-03-04.pdf|url-status=live}} This clause was included in a contract Freed signed in 1948, at the height of his popularity at WAKR, and has been used as a model for broadcasters ever since.{{Cite news|last=Dyer|first=Bob|date=October 14, 1990|title=Contract clause led to Freed's fame|pages=F1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/43944973/ F6]|newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal|location=Akron, Ohio|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/43896683/contract_clause_led_to_freeds_fame/|access-date=February 9, 2020|via=Newspapers.com}} After exhausting his legal appeals and on the brink of financial ruin, Freed surfaced for a brief time at WXEL (channel 9),{{Cite news|last=Denny|first=Frank|date=September 30, 1950|title=D. J.s must change for TV, says Freed|page=3|work=TV Today|url=http://www.alanfreed.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/016-DJs-Must-Change-1950.pdf|url-status=dead|access-date=January 28, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200128001749/http://www.alanfreed.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/016-DJs-Must-Change-1950.pdf|archive-date=January 28, 2020|via=AlanFreed.com}} then joined WKNR in Cleveland after the non-compete finally ended; it is at WJW where he made history coining the phrase "Rock and Roll" for rhythm and blues recordings played on his program, and where he presided over the Moondog Coronation Ball, a landmark popular music event.{{cite news|last=Sheerin|first=Jude|date=March 21, 2012|title=How the world's first rock concert ended in chaos|work=BBC News Magazine|publisher=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-17440514|url-status=live|access-date=May 22, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140325153227/http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-17440514|archive-date=March 25, 2014}}

WAKR hired Scott Muni from WSMB/New Orleans in early November 1956 as the station's overnight host;{{Cite magazine|last=Bundy|first=June|date=November 17, 1956|title=Vox Jox|id={{ProQuest|1040106662}}|volume=68|page=48|magazine=The Billboard|issue=46|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/50s/1956/Billboard%201956-11-17.pdf|access-date=February 12, 2020|via=World Radio History|archive-date=August 4, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200804032217/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/50s/1956/Billboard%201956-11-17.pdf|url-status=live}} he would be promoted to host Request Review, the evening program that Freed once dominated, on July 8, 1957.{{Cite news|last=Cullison|first=Art|date=June 16, 1957|title=TV Carries Big Fight|page=4-D|newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal|location=Akron, Ohio|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44299125/tv_carries_big_fight/|access-date=February 12, 2020|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=August 10, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220810201714/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44299125/tv-carries-big-fight/|url-status=live}} Along with his on-air work, Muni served as the station's music director, despite no formal training in the profession, he used music trends in trade publications and sought feedback from teenage sock hops he would emcee.{{Cite news|last=Michelson|first=Herb|date=March 2, 1958|title=The DJ Controls What Your Teen-Ager Likes|page=4-D|newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal|location=Akron, Ohio|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44299476/the_dj_controls_what_your_teenager/|access-date=February 12, 2020|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=August 10, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220810201938/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44299476/the-dj-controls-what-your-teen-ager/|url-status=live}} Just before leaving the station for WMCA in New York City in May 1958,{{Cite news|last=Cullison|first=Art|date=May 5, 1958|title=Why 2 Stars Flopped|page=16|newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal|location=Akron, Ohio|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44299773/why_2_stars_flopped/|access-date=February 12, 2020|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=August 10, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220810201711/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44299773/why-2-stars-flopped/|url-status=live}} Muni was honored by the Akron Junior Chamber of Commerce as "Man of the Month" for hosting a sock hop that benefited a local children's home.{{Cite news|date=April 22, 1958|title=Scott Muni Man Of Month|page=10|newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal|location=Akron, Ohio|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44299978/scott_muni_man_of_month/|access-date=February 12, 2020|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=January 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220120233246/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44299978/scott-muni-man-of-month/|url-status=live}} In late 1959, Muni would find himself the subject of unwanted attention when he was questioned by a congressional investigation into payola, the same investigation that enveloped Freed's career and resulted in his shows at WNEW-TV and WABC (AM) being cancelled.{{Cite news|date=November 28, 1959|title=In Payola Probe: Second Ex-Akron DeeJay Questioned|page=1–[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44300847/second_exakron_deejay_questioned_pt_2/ 2]|newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal|location=Akron, Ohio|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44300697/in_payola_probe_second_exakron_deejay/|access-date=February 12, 2020|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=January 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220120233244/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44300697/in-payola-probe-second-ex-akron-deejay/|url-status=live}} Muni, however, is perhaps best known for his long run as a pioneering progressive rock air personality at WNEW-FM.{{Cite news|last=Pareles|first=Jon|date=September 30, 2004|title=Scott Muni, 74, a Radio D.J. of FM Rock Programming, Dies|newspaper=The New York Times|location=New York, New York|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/09/30/arts/scott-muni-74-a-radio-dj-of-fm-rock-programming-dies.html|url-status=live|access-date=January 9, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170724001842/http://www.nytimes.com/2004/09/30/arts/scott-muni-74-a-radio-dj-of-fm-rock-programming-dies.html|archive-date=July 24, 2017}}

From mid-1956 to 1960, Charlie Greer—nicknamed "The Skinny Boy"—hosted WAKR's Top O' the Morning program, later re-titled Happy Music.{{Cite news|date=October 25, 1956|title=Dial a song and a smile with the "Skinny Boy" Charlie Greer (Advertisement)|page=52|newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal|location=Akron, Ohio|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/6987453/charlie_greer_1956/|access-date=February 10, 2020|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=January 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220120233243/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/6987453/charlie-greer-1956/|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|date=March 2, 1960|title=WAKR happy Music with Charlie Greer (Advertisement)|page=68|newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal|location=Akron, Ohio|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/9139312/greer_1960/|access-date=January 31, 2020|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=January 31, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200131190501/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/9139312/greer_1960/|url-status=live}} Greer also famously emceed a "Miss Downtown Akron" beauty pageant on a day in 1959 when multiple buildings in downtown Akron were demolished.{{Cite web|title=Local history: Demolition party was a smash in 1959|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/51909082/demolition-party-was-a-smash/|last=Price|first=Mark J.|date=September 16, 2019|newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal|location=Akron, Ohio|pages=B1–[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/51909887/demolition-party-was-a-smash-pt-2/ B2]|language=en|access-date=January 31, 2020|archive-date=January 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220120233248/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/51909082/demolition-party-was-a-smash/|url-status=live|via=Newspapers.com}} Greer left the station in November 1960 to join WABC upon that station's conversion to a Top 40 format,{{Cite magazine|date=November 14, 1960|id={{ProQuest|1505602045}}|title=New WABC Format Competition Spark|volume=72|page=4|magazine=The Billboard|issue=46|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/60s/1960/Billboard%201960-11-14.pdf|access-date=January 31, 2020|via=World Radio History|archive-date=August 9, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200809001758/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/60s/1960/Billboard%201960-11-14.pdf|url-status=live}} teaming up with former WAKR colleague Scott Muni in the process as part of WABC's "Swingin' Seven at 77". When reporting about Greer's departure from the station and noting the alumni that already had preceded him, Akron Beacon Journal writer Dick Shippy commented, "...whoever does the picking at WAKR must have the right formula."{{unbulleted list citebundle

|1={{Cite news|last=Shippy|first=Dick|date=December 1, 1960|title=Back To Tuesday, Red: Enough Of That 'Wednesday' Gang|page=68|newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal|location=Akron, Ohio|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44301204/back_to_tuesday_red_enough_of_that/|access-date=February 10, 2020|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=August 10, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220810201927/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44301204/back-to-tuesday-red-enough-of-that/|url-status=live}}

|2={{Cite web|title=Charlie Greer|url=http://traxandgrooves.blogspot.com/2017/06/charlie-greer.html|date=June 2017|website=Trax & Grooves|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200131190501/http://traxandgrooves.blogspot.com/2017/06/charlie-greer.html|archive-date=January 31, 2020|access-date=January 31, 2020}}

|3={{Cite news|date=December 19, 1960|id={{ProQuest|1285741667}}|title=The swingin' 7 from 77! (Advertisement)|volume=59|page=55|work=Broadcasting|issue=25|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1960/BC-1960-12-19.pdf|access-date=January 31, 2020|via=World Radio History|archive-date=March 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308024658/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1960/BC-1960-12-19.pdf|url-status=live}}

|4={{Cite magazine|date=December 12, 1960|title=Mitch's Idea Picked Up For Radio|id={{ProQuest|1505600362}}|volume=72|page=12|magazine=The Billboard|issue=50|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/60s/1960/Billboard%201960-12-12.pdf|access-date=January 31, 2020|via=World Radio History|archive-date=August 10, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220810201557/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/60s/1960/Billboard%201960-12-12.pdf|url-status=live}}}} Jack Ryan also made his debut at WAKR in June 1956 as the late-morning host;{{Cite news|last=Cullison|first=Art|date=June 11, 1956|title=Networks Fight Monopoly Claim|page=22|newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal|location=Akron, Ohio|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44028860/networks_fight_monopoly_claim/|access-date=February 11, 2020|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=August 10, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220810201913/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44028860/networks-fight-monopoly-claim/|url-status=live}} unlike Muni and Greer, Ryan remained at the station in that time slot until retiring at the end of 1986.{{Cite news|last=Dyer|first=Bob|date=December 21, 1986|title=Checkbooks cool off as ratings period closes|page=H2|newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal|location=Akron, Ohio|url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=NewsBank&req_dat=1082885C71926A79&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F0EDF1497D497176D|url-status=live|url-access=subscription|access-date=November 14, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220203042543/https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=NewsBank&docref=news/0EDF1497D497176D&f=basic|archive-date=February 3, 2022|via=NewsBank}}{{Cite news|date=January 28, 2018|title=John F. Mulcahey (Obituary)|page=B8|newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal|location=Akron, Ohio|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/51925613/obituary-for-john-f-mulcahey-aged-93/|access-date=February 20, 2020|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=January 21, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220121204939/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/51925613/obituary-for-john-f-mulcahey-aged-93/|url-status=live}}

{{See also|WONE-FM|WVPX-TV}}

File:Huntington Tower.jpg, was WAKR's first studio home; a {{Convert|120|foot|m|abbr=}} tall transmitter mast once used by WAKR-FM and WAKR-TV remained on top of the building until July 9, 2019.{{Cite news|last=Mackinnon|first=Jim|date=July 11, 2019|title=Something's missing on downtown skyline|language=en|pages=B1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/51906136/somethings-missing-on-downtown/ B10]|newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal|location=Akron, Ohio|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/51905915/somethings-missing-on-downtown/|access-date=February 19, 2020|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=January 21, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220121204937/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/51905915/somethings-missing-on-downtown/|url-status=live}}|alt=]]

In April 1946, Akron Beacon Journal publisher John S. Knight, who had been previously critical of the efforts to establish WAKR, purchased a 45 percent interest of Summit Radio Corp. for an undisclosed amount; no changes in management or operations came with this transaction.{{Cite news|date=April 15, 1946|title=John S. Knight Buys 45% Interest in WAKR|id={{ProQuest|1014876915}}|volume=30|page=30|work=Broadcasting|issue=15|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1946/1946-04-15-BC.pdf|access-date=January 31, 2020|via=World Radio History|archive-date=June 21, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200621130628/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1946/1946-04-15-BC.pdf|url-status=live}} Knight's stock acquisition came after purchasing ownership stakes in both Miami's WQAM and Chicago's WIND, as his fledgling newspaper chain owned both the Miami Herald and Chicago Daily News, respectively.{{unbulleted list citebundle

|1={{Cite news|date=February 12, 1945|id={{ProQuest|1285664075}}|title=Miami-Herald Buys WQAM; Newark News to Get WBYN|volume=28|page=14|work=Broadcasting|issue=7|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1945/1945-02-12-BC.pdf|access-date=January 31, 2020|via=World Radio History|archive-date=December 1, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201201150956/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1945/1945-02-12-BC.pdf|url-status=live}}

|2={{Cite news|date=February 4, 1946|id={{ProQuest|1014871447}}|title=Knight Buys 42% WIND Stock From R.L. Atlass for $800,000|volume=30|pages=17–74|work=Broadcasting|issue=5|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1946/1946-02-04-BC.pdf|access-date=January 31, 2020|via=World Radio History|archive-date=December 1, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201201144527/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1946/1946-02-04-BC.pdf|url-status=live}}}} Despite remaining separate entities, WAKR and the Beacon Journal would often share news resources and cross-promote each other for the next 30 years.{{Cite news|last=Heldenfels|first=Rich|date=September 10, 2000|title=Akron TV station withers in Cleveland's shadow|page=L6|newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal|location=Akron, Ohio|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44311441/akron_tv_station_withers_in_clevelands/|access-date=February 12, 2020|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=January 21, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220121205211/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44311441/akron-tv-station-withers-in-clevelands/|url-status=live}} An FM adjunct, WAKR-FM (97.5), commenced regular operations on October 12, 1947; with its transmitter located on top of the First Central Tower, it was the first FM station licensed to the city of Akron.{{Cite news|date=October 20, 1947|title=Fast Work|id={{ProQuest|1014892537}}|volume=33|page=77|work=Broadcasting|issue=16|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1947/1947-10-20-BC.pdf|access-date=January 31, 2020|via=World Radio History|archive-date=March 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308051129/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1947/1947-10-20-BC.pdf|url-status=live}} J.N. Bailey, executive director of the FM Association, a non-profit trade organization of FM broadcasters and enthusiasts, notably predicted at a WAKR-FM sponsored function of radio store owners that a network composed solely of FM stations having complete coverage throughout the contiguous United States could be established as early as 1948.{{Cite news|date=December 1, 1947|title=Complete FM Hookup In Year, Says Bailey|id={{ProQuest|1014900521}}|volume=33|page=32|work=Broadcasting|issue=21|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1947/1947-12-01-BC.pdf|access-date=January 31, 2020|via=World Radio History|archive-date=February 25, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210225075830/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1947/1947-12-01-BC.pdf|url-status=live}}

As WAKR-FM was being established, Summit Radio Corp. and WADC filed competing applications for the lone television channel assigned to Akron, originally intended as a VHF license on channel 11.{{Cite news|date=December 15, 1947|title=WAKR, WADC Seek Television License|page=21|newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal|location=Akron, Ohio|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/24210363/the_akron_beacon_journal/|access-date=February 5, 2020|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=February 6, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200206055519/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/24210363/the_akron_beacon_journal/|url-status=live}} The applications were filed at the same time WEWS-TV commenced operations as the first television station in Ohio.{{Cite magazine|date=January 3, 1948|id={{ProQuest|1040076795}}|title=2 Akron Stations Bid for Lone Outlet|volume=60|page=5|magazine=The Billboard|issue=1|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/40s/1948/Billboard%201948-01-03.pdf|access-date=February 6, 2020|via=World Radio History|archive-date=August 3, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200803222509/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/40s/1948/Billboard%201948-01-03.pdf|url-status=live}} Both applications remained under review and went before a commission hearing on July 15, 1948,{{unbulleted list citebundle

|1={{Cite news|last=Nichols|first=Kenneth|date=June 30, 1948|title=This and That|page=23|newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal|location=Akron, Ohio|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/43951404/this_and_that/|access-date=February 9, 2020|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=January 21, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220121204919/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/43951404/this-and-that/|url-status=live}}

|2={{Cite news|date=April 12, 1948|title=Outlook Among TV Grantees, etc.|volume=34|pages=8, 94|work=Broadcasting|issue=15|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1948/1948-04-12-BC.pdf|access-date=February 6, 2020|via=World Radio History|archive-date=January 25, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210125094023/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1948/1948-04-12-BC.pdf|url-status=live}}}} and WAKR had gone so far as to make a purchase order for VHF transmitting equipment from RCA,{{Cite news|date=September 8, 1952|title=TV Grants Now Total 49|id={{ProQuest|1285683206}}|volume=43|pages=65, 65, 97|work=Broadcasting|issue=10|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1952/BC-1952-09-08.pdf|access-date=February 6, 2020|via=World Radio History|archive-date=January 31, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210131191818/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1952/BC-1952-09-08.pdf|url-status=live}} before the FCC implemented a freeze on any additional television licenses that September 30, while it studied the possibility of adding additional channels via the UHF band.{{unbulleted list citebundle

|1={{Cite news|last=Crater|first=Rufus|date=October 4, 1948|id={{ProQuest|1040475180}}|title=Television Freeze: FCC Action Halted Pending Definite Policy|volume=35|page=22A, 57|work=Broadcasting|issue=14|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1948/1948-10-04-BC.pdf|access-date=February 6, 2020|via=World Radio History|archive-date=January 31, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210131072603/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1948/1948-10-04-BC.pdf|url-status=live}}

|2={{Cite news|date=October 11, 1948|title=TV Freeze: Generally Approved by Industry|id={{ProQuest|1285668301}}|volume=35|page=28|work=Broadcasting|issue=15|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1948/1948-10-11-BC.pdf|access-date=February 6, 2020|via=World Radio History|archive-date=January 30, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210130132011/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1948/1948-10-11-BC.pdf|url-status=live}}}} When the freeze was lifted, the FCC's Sixth Report and Order reassigned the proposed Akron license as one of two potential UHF signals for the market.{{Cite news|date=December 10, 1952|title=WADC Asks For 2nd TV Outlet Here|page=34|newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal|location=Akron, Ohio|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/8417814/the_akron_beacon_journal/|access-date=February 6, 2020|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=February 6, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200206055519/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/8417814/the_akron_beacon_journal/|url-status=live}} Summit Radio won the license for WAKR-TV on channel 49 by September 4, 1952;{{Cite web|url= https://cdbs.recnet.com/corres/?doc=85901 |title= History Cards for WVPX (WAKR-TV)|publisher=Federal Communications Commission}} (Guide to reading History Cards){{Cite news|date=November 17, 1952|title=The New Grantees' Commencement Target Dates|volume=43|page=72|work=Broadcasting|issue=20|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1952/BC-1952-11-17.pdf|access-date=February 6, 2020|via=World Radio History|archive-date=January 30, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210130050249/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1952/BC-1952-11-17.pdf|url-status=live|id={{ProQuest|1285707215}}}} a coin flip determined the winning bid between Summit and WADC, as the other frequency available, channel 65, was not considered operable at the time.{{r|Roger Berk Profile}} While initially based at the First Central Tower,{{sfn|Price|2015|p=165}} and with a UHF mast affixed to the top of the building,{{Cite news|date=June 29, 1953|title=Roundup of Post-Thaw Television: 80 Stations Now In Business|id={{ProQuest|1285699613}}|volume=44|page=72|work=Broadcasting|issue=26|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1953/BC-1953-06-29.pdf|access-date=February 7, 2020|via=World Radio History|archive-date=January 29, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210129203555/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1953/BC-1953-06-29.pdf|url-status=live}} WAKR, WAKR-FM and WAKR-TV moved the following year to new studios at the former Copley Theatre, which only had existed as a theater between March 1947 and October 1952.{{unbulleted list citebundle

|1={{Cite news|date=February 22, 1953|title=Copley Theater Bought For WAKR-TV Center|page=1-A|newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal|location=Akron, Ohio|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/8701843/copley_rd_purchase_1953/|access-date=February 14, 2020|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=January 21, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220121204931/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/8701843/copley-rd-purchase-1953/|url-status=live}}

|2={{Cite news|date=February 23, 1953|title=At Deadline: WAKR-TV Buys Theatre|volume=44|page=11|work=Broadcasting|issue=8|id={{ProQuest|1285706267}}|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1953/BC-1953-02-23.pdf|access-date=February 7, 2020|via=World Radio History|archive-date=January 31, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210131111753/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1953/BC-1953-02-23.pdf|url-status=live}}

|3={{Cite web|title=Copley Theatre, Akron OH|url=https://www.cinematour.com/tour/us/40016.html|website=www.cinematour.com|publisher=CinemaTour - Cinemas Around the World|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200207062246/https://www.cinematour.com/tour/us/40016.html|archive-date=February 7, 2020|access-date=February 7, 2020}}

|4={{Cite web|title=Copley Theatre in Akron, OH|url=http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/15942|website=cinematreasures.org|publisher=Cinema Treasures|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200313070804/https://cinematreasures.org/theaters/15942/|archive-date=March 13, 2020|access-date=February 7, 2020}}

|5={{Cite news|date=March 27, 1947|title=Gala Premiere Opening-Copley Theatre (Advertisement)|page=24|newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal|location=Akron, Ohio|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/5009884/copley_theatre_opening/|access-date=February 6, 2020|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=February 7, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200207062245/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/5009884/copley_theatre_opening/|url-status=live}}}}

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| quote = Even though the job of a TV journalist has many repetitive actions, the substance of the job, the news, almost never repeats itself. This is something I discovered during my first serious job when I worked at WAKR TV and Radio in Akron. I spent three years there and loved the fact that the sense of discovery with my job changed every day as the news would change.

| author = Ted Henry{{r|Ted Henry}}

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From the start, WAKR personalities also appeared on WAKR-TV; including Jack Fitzgibbons,{{Cite news|date=August 12, 2002|title=Jack Fitzgibbons (Obituary)|page=B7|newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal|location=Akron, Ohio|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/7040543/fitzgibbons_obit/|access-date=February 7, 2020|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=February 7, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200207062249/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/7040543/fitzgibbons_obit/|url-status=live}} Bill Murphy and Bob Wylie.{{Cite news|last=Shippy|first=Dick|date=September 30, 1979|title=The legend: That's what Bob Wylie's become|page=3|newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal|location=Akron, Ohio|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10768176/the_akron_beacon_journal/|access-date=February 7, 2020|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=February 7, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200207062247/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10768176/the_akron_beacon_journal/|url-status=live}}{{sfn|Price|2015|p=166}} Scott Muni hosted a nightly weather segment on the TV station at 6:55 p.m., directly leading in to his nightly Top 40 program on WAKR,{{Cite news|last=Cullison|first=Art|date=July 9, 1957|title=Muni's Weather Magic: WAKR Man Uses No Mirrors|page=45|newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal|location=Akron, Ohio|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44096924/munis_weather_magic_wakr_man_uses_no/|access-date=February 12, 2020|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=January 21, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220121204938/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44096924/munis-weather-magic-wakr-man-uses-no/|url-status=live}} and also hosted The Hop, a local music and dance program.{{Cite news|last=Torre|first=Marie|date=April 11, 1958|title=Capt. Video Grounded|page=28|newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal|location=Akron, Ohio|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44300332/capt_video_grounded/|access-date=February 12, 2020|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=January 21, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220121204948/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44300332/capt-video-grounded/|url-status=live}} Charlie Greer also hosted a limited-run dance program devoted to big band music over WAKR-TV in 1958.{{Cite news|date=October 13, 1958|title=Adults Get Own Tv Record Hop|id={{ProQuest|1285760511}}|volume=55|page=130|work=Broadcasting|issue=15|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1958/1958-10-13-BC.pdf|access-date=January 31, 2020|via=World Radio History|archive-date=February 1, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210201183905/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1958/1958-10-13-BC.pdf|url-status=live}} Muni and Greer's former colleague Jack Ryan would later serve as the lead weatherman for WAKR-TV's evening newscasts throughout the 1960s, 1970s and early 1980s. Ted Henry began his career as a reporter for WAKR and WAKR-TV in 1965.{{unbulleted list citebundle

|1={{Cite web|url=https://tedhenryblog.wordpress.com/2009/04/29/more-more-more/|title=People Always Ask Me....|last=Henry|first=Ted|author-link=Ted Henry|date=April 29, 2009|website=Ted's Blog|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200206232421/https://tedhenryblog.wordpress.com/2009/04/29/more-more-more/|archive-date=February 6, 2020|access-date=February 6, 2020|quote=This is something I discovered during my first serious job when I worked at WAKR TV and Radio in Akron. I spent three years there and loved the fact that the sense of discovery with my job changed every day as the news would change.}}

|2={{cite web|url=http://www.spoke.com/people/ted-henry-3e1429c09e597c100386afea|title=Henry's career|publisher=Spoke|access-date=February 6, 2020|archive-date=February 6, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200206232423/http://www.spoke.com/people/ted-henry-3e1429c09e597c100386afea|url-status=live}}}} Sports coverage on WAKR would also find itself shown on WAKR-TV; this included Akron Zips football and basketball broadcasts, Wylie in particular soon became known as the "Voice of the Zips".{{r|Bob Wylie retirement}} WAKR-TV also touted itself as having broken news of the armistice agreement which formally suspended the Korean War well before any of the Cleveland market stations reported the news.{{Cite news|last=Heldenfels|first=Rich|date=February 26, 2016|title=A fade to black|page=A1–[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44303364/a_fade_to_black_pt_2/ A4]|newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal|location=Akron, Ohio|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44302831/a_fade_to_black/|access-date=February 14, 2020|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=January 21, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220121204941/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44302831/a-fade-to-black/|url-status=live}}

Despite the touting of UHF signals as not being any different from VHF signals in a technical sense,{{r|WADC 2nd}} along with optimistic words from S. Bernard Berk at launch that "about 99-44/100% of the Akron area will receive (WAKR-TV) without difficulty",{{Cite news|date=June 22, 1953|title=61 Television Stations Plan Operating Starts Before Fall|id={{ProQuest|1285698467}}|volume=44|page=48|work=Broadcasting|issue=25|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1953/BC-1953-06-22.pdf|access-date=February 7, 2020|via=World Radio History|archive-date=January 30, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210130124323/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1953/BC-1953-06-22.pdf|url-status=live}} the station immediately ran into issues with poor reception, transmission issues relating to inclement weather conditions, and a lack of adequate UHF channel tuners.{{sfn|Price|2015|p=167}} Even with passage of the All-Channel Receiver Act, these problems which would not be totally resolved until Summit Radio successfully petitioned the FCC to amend channel allocations between Canton and Akron, allowing WAKR-TV to move to a reassigned channel 23 allocation at higher power,{{sfn|FCC|1966|p=535}} the change took place on December 1, 1967.{{Cite news|date=December 1, 1967|title=NEW TOWER OF POWER (Advertisement)|page=B8|newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal|location=Akron, Ohio|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/39633956/the_akron_beacon_journal/|access-date=February 7, 2020|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=February 7, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200207063238/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/39633956/the_akron_beacon_journal/|url-status=live}} WAKR-TV amassed a "seven figure" operating deficit from 1953 until the move to channel 23{{sfn|FCC|1966|p=534}} and lost significant amounts of money for the majority of its existence; Summit Radio relied on profits from WAKR to keep the TV station solvent.{{r|WAKC Fade to Black}}

WAKR-TV became an ABC-TV affiliate when they signed on, owing to WAKR's existing ABC affiliation; Berk attributed the recent merger with United Paramount Theaters to create American Broadcasting-Paramount Theatres as a determining factor for the affiliation.{{Cite news|last=Cullison|first=Art|date=May 24, 1953|title=WAKR-TV Signs With ABC|page=14-E|newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal|location=Akron, Ohio|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44314672/wakrtv_signs_with_abc/|access-date=February 14, 2020|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=February 15, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200215000003/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44314672/wakrtv_signs_with_abc/|url-status=live}}{{r|Broadcasting2}} This competitive advantage would soon end, however, after WEWS became the ABC-TV affiliate for the Cleveland market. While WEWS had the larger audience by a commanding margin, both stations would fight for each other's viewership for the next four decades.{{r|WAKC Fade to Black}}

File:John S. Knight on Wall Street with newspaper.jpg, publisher of the Akron Beacon Journal and founder of what would become Knight Ridder, owned minority interest in WAKR's parent company from 1946 to 1977. A planned merger between the two entities in 1968 was never completed.|alt=|left]]

The Berk family's broadcasting interests expanded when they purchased WONE (AM) and WONE-FM (104.7) in Dayton from Brush-Moore Newspapers for $1.5 million in 1964.{{Cite news|date=December 14, 1964|title=Changing Hands: Approved|volume=67|pages=44–45|work=Broadcasting|issue=24|id={{ProQuest|1014475258}}|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1964/1964-12-14-BC.pdf|access-date=February 9, 2020|via=World Radio History|archive-date=June 6, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200606051746/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1964/1964-12-14-BC.pdf|url-status=live}} Both WONE and WONE-FM were assigned under a new subsidiary, Group One Broadcasting, when the deal closed.{{Cite web|url= https://cdbs.recnet.com/corres/?doc=83422 |title= History Cards for WTUE|publisher=Federal Communications Commission}} (Guide to reading History Cards) While WAKR, WAKR-FM and WAKR-TV officially remained under Summit Radio control, Summit owned all of Group One's stock,{{sfn|FCC|1966|p=534}} and all three stations would formally be promoted as "Group ONE" stations in advertisements and were regarded as being a part of the chain in station profiles.{{r|Roger Berk Profile}} Under the Group One name, the Berk family purchased KBOX and KBOX-FM in Dallas for over $1.2 million in 1967. Following founder S. Bernard Berk's death at age 69 on July 11, 1966,{{r|S Bernard Berk obit}} his widow Viola Berk took over Summit/Group One operations,{{Cite news|date=April 26, 1977|title=Broadcaster Viola Berk dies|page=B1|newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal|location=Akron, Ohio|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/8394596/viola_berk_42677/|access-date=February 7, 2020|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=January 21, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220121204948/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/8394596/viola-berk-4-26-77/|url-status=live}} ultimately handing them over in 1970 to WAKR's vice president and general manager Roger G. Berk,{{r|WAKR History Cards}} who also had been heavily involved with WAKR-FM and WAKR-TV's establishments.{{r|Roger Berk Profile}} The surviving members of the Berk family also established a memorial college scholarship in S. Bernard Berk's name.{{Cite news|date=October 10, 1970|title=Walker Receives Bernard Beck-WAKR Scholarship|volume=2|page=3|work=The Akron Reporter|publisher=The Educator Publishing Company|issue=2|url=https://ohiomemory.org/digital/collection/p16007coll68/id/581|access-date=February 7, 2020|via=Akron-Summit County Public Library|archive-date=August 10, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220810201557/https://ohiomemory.org/digital/collection/p16007coll68/id/581|url-status=live}}

{{Quote box

| quote = (Roger G.) Berk wants to be Vice President-Broadcasting. The reason? Status! This is terribly important to him and you must know the man to understand his attitude. As I read it, Berk fears being 'shunted aside.' He craves recognition, doesn't want to be known forever as 'the man from WAKR.' More on this later.

| author = John S. Knight

| source = from a confidential memo during negotiations over a proposed Knight Newspapers-Summit Radio merger{{sfn|Ritchey|Miles|1993|p=44}}

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John S. Knight and Roger G. Berk began talks of merging Summit/Group One and Knight Newspapers in late 1967, at a potential value of $6.6 million.{{sfn|Ritchey|Miles|1993|p=42}} To further enable the transaction, Knight Newspapers divested themselves of any associations in Scripps Howard properties, this included Knight re-purchasing Scripps Howard's 25 percent minority stake in the Akron Beacon Journal.{{Cite news|date=February 26, 1968|title=Closed Circuit: Way Paver|id={{ProQuest|1016845425}}|volume=74|page=5|work=Broadcasting|issue=9|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1968/1968-02-26-BC.pdf|access-date=February 8, 2020|via=World Radio History|archive-date=March 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308044307/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1968/1968-02-26-BC.pdf|url-status=live}} By April 1968, the merger talks evolved into Knight buying out the remaining 55 percent of Summit/Group One stock held by the Berk family, with Roger G. Berk being retained as manager for the group's stations in Dallas and Dayton,{{Cite news|last=Dyer|first=Bob|date=October 14, 1990|title=WAKR has 50 years under its belt: Will past outshine future?|page=F1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/43944936/ F5]|newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal|location=Akron, Ohio|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/43894748/wakr_has_50_years_under_its_belt_will/|access-date=February 9, 2020|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=January 21, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220121204941/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/43894748/wakr-has-50-years-under-its-belt-will/|url-status=live}} while Berk continued to lobby extensively to have a larger role within Knight Newspapers.Ritchey, pp. 43–44.

The merger talks ultimately reached an impasse and collapsed by December 1968;{{sfn|Ritchey|Miles|1993|p=44}} less than a year later, Knight Newspapers purchased The Philadelphia Inquirer and Daily News from Triangle Publications; notably excluded from the purchase were WFIL, WFIL-FM and WFIL-TV.{{Cite news|date=November 3, 1969|id={{ProQuest|1014523422}}|title=Knight boosts its circulation: Newspaper chain buys two Philadelphia dailies from Triangle, but stations aren't involved in sale|volume=77|page=33|work=Broadcasting|issue=18|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1969/1969-11-03-BC.pdf|access-date=February 8, 2020|via=World Radio History|archive-date=January 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220120235126/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1969/1969-11-03-BC.pdf|url-status=live}} In 1977, three years after Knight merged his newspaper holdings into Ridder Publications, Inc. to form Knight Ridder, the company divested itself of the minority stake in Summit/Group One, valued at $3.3 million;{{Cite news|date=May 2, 1977|title=Closed Circuit: Monomedium|id={{ProQuest|1016888410}}|volume=92|page=7|work=Broadcasting|issue=18|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1977/BC-1977-05-02.pdf|access-date=February 8, 2020|via=World Radio History|archive-date=September 19, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200919082639/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1977/BC-1977-05-02.pdf|url-status=live}} Berk later said of Knight's divestment, "nobody wanted to own a minority share of a family company."{{r|WAKR 50th Anniversary}} Despite the failure to merge with Knight Newspapers, Summit/Group One would make one additional purchase: KLZ and KLZ-FM in Denver from Time-Life Broadcasting for $2.75 million on February 12, 1972.{{Cite news|date=January 10, 1972|id={{ProQuest|1505673502}}|title=Inch by inch toward a closing: Four Time-Life sales clear FCC, but the big ones still await action|volume=82|page=49|work=Broadcasting|issue=2|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1972/1972-01-10-BC.pdf|access-date=February 9, 2020|via=World Radio History|archive-date=March 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308043146/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1972/1972-01-10-BC.pdf|url-status=live}}

Locally, WAKR-FM had entered into separate programming with an easy listening format in the late 1960s; a power upgrade and placement on WAKR-TV's new tower in November 1967 was concurrent with adding coverage of Kent State Golden Flashes basketball games.{{Cite news|last=Shippy|first=Dick|date=November 30, 1967|title=A Boost At WAKR-FM, Too|page=D-2|newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal|location=Akron, Ohio|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44028279/a_boost_at_wakrfm_too/|access-date=February 11, 2020|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=August 10, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220810201913/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44028279/a-boost-at-wakr-fm-too/|url-status=live}} The FM station also began broadcasting in quadraphonic stereo in 1972.{{Cite news|date=July 10, 1972|title=Four from two.|id={{ProQuest|1016867693}}|volume=83|page=46|work=Broadcasting|issue=2|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1972/1972-07-10-BC.pdf|access-date=February 9, 2020|via=World Radio History|archive-date=March 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308045012/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1972/1972-07-10-BC.pdf|url-status=live}} Even with all of those changes, the call sign was changed to WAEZ on July 9, 1973, in order to establish a distinct identity for it, compared to WAKR and WAKR-TV.{{unbulleted list citebundle

|1={{Cite news|date=July 5, 1973|title=Just Call It WAEZ Now|page=B-20|newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal|location=Akron, Ohio|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/43954416/just_call_it_waez_now/|access-date=February 9, 2020|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=August 10, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220810201855/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/43954416/just-call-it-waez-now/|url-status=live}}

|2={{Cite news|date=July 8, 1973|title=WAEZ 97.5 Stereo (Advertisement)|newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal|location=Akron, Ohio|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/43954439/waez_975_stereo/|access-date=February 9, 2020|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=August 10, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220810201934/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/43954439/waez-975-stereo/|url-status=live}}}} Summit/Group One vice president Alfred G. Grosby expressed regret that it did not occur sooner, as the FM station was already boasting a strong audience and advertiser base, WAEZ was chosen by the staff after analyzing a computer query of all available call signs.{{Cite news|last=Porter|first=Mickey|date=August 13, 1974|title=Mickey Porter's Tipoff: After 11, Babies Are No Big Deal|page=D-20|newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal|location=Akron, Ohio|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/43954492/after_11_babies_are_no_big_deal/|access-date=February 9, 2020|via=Newspapers.com}}

File:WAKR1976ad.jpg

WAKR's music focus evolved throughout the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, becoming full-service adult contemporary centered around local personality and extensive sports coverage. News reporter Kenny Halterman worked at WAKR from 1961 until his retirement in 1982, Halterman also moonlit as an instructor at Kent State University and filed reports for WAKR-TV.{{Cite news|last=Peacock|first=Nancy|date=April 16, 1982|title=Kenny Halterman is retiring: Prof once told the radio news veteran he'd never make it|page=C-1|newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal|location=Akron, Ohio|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/35845792/ken_h41682/|access-date=February 11, 2020|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=January 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220120233430/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/35845792/ken-h4-16-82/|url-status=live}} Halterman was part of a news department for a radio station that, at its peak in the 1970s, employed 12 full-time reporters.{{r|RCRG Naming}}

Jerry Healey joined the station in August 1967 calling games for the Akron Vulcans during their lone season in the Continental Football League;{{Cite news|last=Patterson|first=Jack|date=December 15, 1974|title=Healey Offers 'Short Course' For Golfers|page=C-1|newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal|location=Akron, Ohio|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44302019/healey_offers_short_course_for_golfers/|access-date=February 10, 2020|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=January 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220120233431/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44302019/healey-offers-short-course-for-golfers/|url-status=live}} then became morning host and sports director that September,{{Cite news|last=Shippy|first=Dick|date=September 1, 1967|title=Discipline, Jerry?|page=B-2|newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal|location=Akron, Ohio|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44301745/discipline_jerry/|access-date=February 10, 2020|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=January 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220120233430/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44301745/discipline-jerry/|url-status=live}} delivering sports updates on his show with Bickersons-style alter egos "Sam and Serena", and was the lead play-by-play voice for Akron Zips football and basketball.{{unbulleted list citebundle

|1={{Cite web|title=Sports broadcaster, radio host Jerry Healey|url=https://www.latimes.com/socal/la-canada-valley-sun/news/tn-vsl-xpm-2009-02-05-lnws-healeydies205-story.html|date=February 5, 2009|website=La Cañada Valley Sun|location=La Cañada Flintridge, California|language=en-US|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200522215250/https://www.latimes.com/socal/la-canada-valley-sun/news/tn-vsl-xpm-2009-02-05-lnws-healeydies205-story.html|archive-date=May 22, 2020|access-date=February 10, 2020}}

|2={{Cite web|title=Jerry Healey Dies|url=https://www.allaccess.com/net-news/archive/story/52615/jerry-healey-dies|date=February 5, 2009|website=All Access|publisher=All Access Music Group|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200127233136/https://www.allaccess.com/net-news/archive/story/52615/jerry-healey-dies|archive-date=January 27, 2020|access-date=January 27, 2020}}}} Healey became the first president of the Akron Press Club upon its 1971 formation{{Cite web|url=http://www.akronpressclub.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/apc-history.pdf|title=Akron Press Club History|date=July 7, 2011|website=Akron Press Club|access-date=February 8, 2020|archive-date=October 24, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181024135504/http://www.akronpressclub.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/apc-history.pdf|url-status=live}} and hosted a daily half-hour variety show over WAKR-TV.{{Cite news|last=Jaycox|first=Betty|date=December 28, 1972|title=About Town: Our Judi Is Wearing A Ring|page=A-14|newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal|location=Akron, Ohio|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/43948048/|access-date=February 9, 2020|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=January 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220120233434/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/43948048/about-town-our-judi-is-wearing-a-ring/|url-status=live}} He left WAKR in November 1973 to focus on broadcast productions and sports commentary,{{Cite news|date=November 5, 1973|title=Jerry Healey Is Leaving WAKR|page=B-1|newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal|location=Akron, Ohio|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44304671/jerry_healey_is_leaving_wakr/|access-date=February 10, 2020|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=January 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220120233432/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44304671/jerry-healey-is-leaving-wakr/|url-status=live}} notably developing and holding a patent for "Quickie Golf",{{r|Healey Short Golf}} but returned in March 1976.{{Cite news|date=March 22, 1976|title=Healey brings back Sam and Serena|page=B-1|newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal|location=Akron, Ohio|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44304944/healey_brings_back_sam_and_serena/|access-date=February 10, 2020|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=January 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220120233435/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44304944/healey-brings-back-sam-and-serena/|url-status=live}} Healey was reputedly one of the first people in radio to use the "TGIF" initialism for the phrase "Thank God It's Friday", which was also used as a title for a WAKR-TV program, TGIF Party, in 1974.{{Cite news|date=May 31, 1974|title=Jerry Healey's Back: Sam and Serena invite you to his TGIF PARTY (Advertisement)|page=B24|newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal|location=Akron, Ohio|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/8974634/haeley_1974/|access-date=February 8, 2020|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=January 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220120233433/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/8974634/haeley-1974/|url-status=live}} Healey left the station again on March 24, 1977, the result of a contract dispute.{{Cite news|date=March 25, 1977|title=Jerry Healey leaves WAKR|page=A-1|newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal|location=Akron, Ohio|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44305184/jerry_healey_leaves_wakr/|access-date=February 10, 2020|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=January 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220120233438/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44305184/jerry-healey-leaves-wakr/|url-status=live}}

Meanwhile, after having left for New York City in 1960, Charlie Greer returned to WAKR on July 2, 1973, as afternoon drive host,{{Cite news|date=June 29, 1973|title=Greer Returns To WAKR Radio|page=B-7|newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal|location=Akron, Ohio|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44304385/greer_returns_to_wakr_radio/|access-date=February 10, 2020|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=January 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220120233434/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44304385/greer-returns-to-wakr-radio/|url-status=live}} he then took over as morning show host after Healey's first departure.{{r|Healey Leaving 1st}} Greer resumed work in afternoons when Healey returned,{{r|Healey Returns}} remaining in that timeslot until leaving in September 1980.{{Cite news|date=September 13, 1980|title=Two radio personalities leave WAKR|page=A-14|newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal|location=Akron, Ohio|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44305645/two_radio_personalities_leave_wakr/|access-date=February 10, 2020|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=January 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220120233433/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44305645/two-radio-personalities-leave-wakr/|url-status=live}} Charlie Greer's replacement in afternoon drive, Bill Hart, was also named as program director.{{Cite news|date=October 4, 1980|title=Hart back in Akron|page=A12|newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal|location=Akron, Ohio|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44974996/hart_back_in_akron/|access-date=February 17, 2020|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=February 17, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200217213610/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44974996/hart_back_in_akron/|url-status=live}}

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| quote = Many times we would get off the air and be exhausted from laughing so much. I remember saying, "You know, Bob (Allen), these are the good old days." And they were.

| author = Adam Jones{{r|Adam remembers Bob 1}}

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The station hired the duo of Adam Jones (Robert Ocepek) and Bob Allen (Gorden Van Waes) for morning drive on August 21, 1978, after previous work at WQUA in Moline, Illinois and WPTF in Raleigh, North Carolina.{{Cite web|title=Remembering the Good Old Days - Bob Allen|url=http://www.adamjones.info/stories/b-rememberingboballen.htm|last=Jones|first=Adam|date=May 24, 2017|website=www.adamjones.info|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200522191726/http://www.adamjones.info/stories/b-rememberingboballen.htm|archive-date=May 22, 2020|access-date=February 9, 2020}} As part of a viral marketing campaign, Jones and Allen went around the city wearing t-shirts emblazoned "Adam and Bob", handing out two-dollar bills and pairs of concert tickets to the general public.{{Cite news|date=August 18, 1978|title=Adam and Bob come to WAKR|page=F6|newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal|location=Akron, Ohio|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44305884/adam_and_bob_come_to_wakr/|access-date=February 10, 2020|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=January 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220120233434/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44305884/adam-and-bob-come-to-wakr/|url-status=live}} The Adam and Bob Show soon became listener favorites, ranked at or near the top of the ratings in the Akron market throughout their entire tenure, and were even ranked among the top 25 morning shows nationwide by Radio & Records in the fall of 1983.{{Cite news|date=April 1984|title=Drivetime Dominators: AM Drive/Top 25, Average Quarter-Hour Share (12+, M-F, 6-10am)|volume=1|page=37|work=1984 Radio & Records Ratings Report|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Ratings-Directories/RR-1984-1.pdf|access-date=February 9, 2020|via=World Radio History|archive-date=January 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220120233432/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Ratings-Directories/RR-1984-1.pdf|url-status=live}} Jones and Allen became best known for their many comedic segments and laid-back presentation, with an on-air chemistry so prevalent that they often concluded their shows in fits of laughter.{{r|Adam remembers Bob 1}}{{r|Dreams Fade 1997}}

Bob Friend was another mainstay who joined the station in 1967 doing production work, then moving into on-air duties hosting afternoon drive the following year.{{Cite news|last=Shippy|first=Dick|date=December 5, 1968|title=Which Was The Unkindest Cut?|page=F-6|newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal|location=Akron, Ohio|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44304154/which_was_the_unkindest_cut/|access-date=February 14, 2020|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=January 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220120233434/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44304154/which-was-the-unkindest-cut/|url-status=live}} Friend, however, is perhaps best known for hosting the late-evening shift on WAKR, an hour-long portion of which was named The Dream Machine, devoted to dream analysis provided by Friend from people calling in to the station.{{Cite news|last=Cardwell|first=Jewell|date=May 10, 1982|title=Dreams in the night|page=C-1|newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal|location=Akron, Ohio|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/43945804/dreams_in_the_night/|access-date=February 9, 2020|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=August 10, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220810201913/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/43945804/dreams-in-the-night/|url-status=live}} The Dream Machine feature became so popular that Bob Friend continued to host speaking engagements with different community groups relating to dream interpretations for many years after it was cancelled in 1991.{{Cite news|last=Musarra|first=Russ|date=August 27, 1997|title=Dreams fade at WAKR|pages=D1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/43923692/dreams_fade_at_wakr_pt2/ D5]|newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal|location=Akron, Ohio|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/43945005/|access-date=February 9, 2020|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=August 10, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220810201851/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/43945005/dreams-fade-at-wakr/|url-status=live}}

Accentuating the station's prolific sports coverage, Mike Snyder was named sports director for WAKR in September 1982, announcing games for the Kent State Golden Flashes, the Akron Zips, and the Cleveland Force.{{unbulleted list citebundle

|1={{Cite news|date=September 3, 1982|title=Loose ends|page=D2|newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal|location=Akron, Ohio|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44923370/loose_ends_mike_snyder/|access-date=February 17, 2020|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=February 17, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200217202448/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44923370/loose_ends_mike_snyder/|url-status=live}}

|2={{Cite news|last=Seaburn|first=John|date=December 12, 1982|title=Kent State's Grisko is honored|page=E7|newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal|location=Akron, Ohio|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44945013/kent_states_grisko_is_honored/|access-date=February 17, 2020|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=February 17, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200217202449/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44945013/kent_states_grisko_is_honored/|url-status=live}}

|3={{Cite news|last=Shippy|first=Dick|date=September 18, 1983|title=Channel 43 to air 12 Force matches|page=E8|newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal|location=Akron, Ohio|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44937551/channel_43_to_air_12_force_matches/|access-date=February 17, 2020|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=February 17, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200217202449/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44937551/channel_43_to_air_12_force_matches/|url-status=live}}}} Currently the sports director for WTAM and in-studio host for the Cleveland Cavaliers Radio Network, Snyder left the station on October 20, 1984, after competitor WSLR picked up the local rights to Force radio broadcasts.{{unbulleted list citebundle

|1={{Cite news|date=October 24, 1984|title=Snyder quits WAKR for job with Force|page=C3|newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal|location=Akron, Ohio|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44937110/twining_headlines_coliseum_boxing/|access-date=February 17, 2020|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=February 17, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200217202453/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44937110/twining_headlines_coliseum_boxing/|url-status=live}}

|2={{Cite news|last=Pluto|first=Terry|author-link=Terry Pluto|date=January 31, 1999|title=Local flavor for Browns' broadcasts|page=D10|newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal|location=Akron, Ohio|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44947712/local_flavor_for_browns_broadcasts/|access-date=February 17, 2020|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=February 17, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200217202448/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44947712/local_flavor_for_browns_broadcasts/|url-status=live}}}} Jeff Phelps began his broadcast career in 1981 as a color commentator for Kent State Golden Flashes football broadcasts on WAKR, and co-hosted a weekly program with Kent State football coach Ed Chlebek on WAKR-TV;{{unbulleted list citebundle

|1={{Cite news|date=June 23, 1981|title=WAKR to carry some Kent games|page=D2|newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal|location=Akron, Ohio|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44874641/wakr_to_carry_some_kent_games/|access-date=February 17, 2020|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=February 17, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200217202450/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44874641/wakr_to_carry_some_kent_games/|url-status=live}}

|2={{Cite news|date=September 8, 1981|title=WAKR-TV to air Kent grid show|page=D3|newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal|location=Akron, Ohio|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44875845/wakrtv_to_air_kent_grid_show/|access-date=February 17, 2020|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=February 17, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200217202451/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44875845/wakrtv_to_air_kent_grid_show/|url-status=live}}

|3={{Cite news|last=Seaburn|first=John|date=September 18, 1981|title=Kent State, Akron to keep WAKR sportscasters busy|page=C5|newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal|location=Akron, Ohio|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44875136/kent_state_akron_to_keep_wakr/|access-date=February 17, 2020|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=February 17, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200217202450/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44875136/kent_state_akron_to_keep_wakr/|url-status=live}}}} Phelps left the station in October 1982 for a position at KJAC-TV in Port Arthur, Texas.{{unbulleted list citebundle

|1={{Cite news|date=October 24, 1982|title=Phelps leaving WAKR radio|page=E13|newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal|location=Akron, Ohio|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44874507/phelps_leaving_wakr_radio/|access-date=February 17, 2020|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=February 17, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200217202452/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44874507/phelps_leaving_wakr_radio/|url-status=live}}

|2={{Cite web|title=Jeff Phelps|url=https://923thefan.radio.com/hosts/jeff-phelps|date=February 24, 2018|website=92.3 The Fan|language=en|access-date=February 9, 2020|archive-date=January 9, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190109181906/https://923thefan.radio.com/hosts/jeff-phelps|url-status=live}}}} Denny Schreiner also served as WAKR and WAKR-TV's sports director prior to joining ESPN as lead play-by-play voice for their PBA Tour coverage.{{Cite news|last=Thom|first=Dan|date=May 29, 2020|title=Schreiner leaves WAKR to do bowling for ESPN|pages=C1, C5|newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal|location=Akron, Ohio|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/8284321/denny_1986/|access-date=February 10, 2020|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=January 21, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220121204948/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/8284321/denny-1986/|url-status=live}}

Reportedly under pressure from the FCC,{{sfn|Ritchey|Miles|1993|p=45}} WAKR, WONE-FM and the other Summit/Group One radio stations were sold to DKM Broadcasting, a unit of Dyson-Kissner-Moran, on July 15, 1986, for approximately $60–65 million.{{Cite news|date=July 21, 1986|title=Changing Hands: Proposed|volume=111|page=62|work=Broadcasting|issue=3|id={{ProQuest|963279920}}|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1986/BC-1986-07-21.pdf|access-date=January 29, 2020|via=World Radio History|archive-date=January 29, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210129193943/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1986/BC-1986-07-21.pdf|url-status=live}} Employees found out about the sale when they were presented their paychecks; the notes also mentioned that negotiations had been underway between the two parties for six months.{{Cite news|last1=Dyer|first1=Bob|last2=Roane|first2=Marilyn Miller|date=July 16, 1986|title=Ga. firm to buy WAKR, WONE|pages=A1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/43959344/georgia_firm_to_buy_wakr_wone/ A12]|newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal|location=Akron, Ohio|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/43959356/ga_firm_to_buy_wakr_wone/|access-date=February 9, 2020|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=January 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220120233507/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/43959356/ga-firm-to-buy-wakr-wone/|url-status=live}} While expressing sadness at selling the radio group, Roger G. Berk asserted that Group One would enter a new direction in television production with their Creative Technologies, Inc. firm,{{sfn|Ritchey|Miles|1993|p=45}} along with computerized programming and consulting;{{r|DKM Buys WAKR}}{{Cite news|date=July 18, 1986|title=DKM Acquires Eight Group One Stations|pages=1, 8|work=Radio & Records|issue=644|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-RandR/1980s/1986/RR-1986-07-18.pdf|access-date=February 9, 2020|via=World Radio History|archive-date=January 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220120233458/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-RandR/1980s/1986/RR-1986-07-18.pdf|url-status=live}} the deal was later attributed as one made at the height of the junk bond frenzy of the mid-late 1980s.{{r|WAKR 50th Anniversary}} WAKR-TV was retained by the Berk family under the Group One name; a columnist for the Akron Beacon Journal jokingly mused, "does that mean that Channel 23 is now a group of one?"{{Cite news|last=Warner|first=Stuart|date=July 24, 1986|title=Warner's Corner: However you spell it, a new name is needed|page=C-1|newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal|location=Akron, Ohio|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/43959312/however_you_spell_it_a_new_name_is/|access-date=February 9, 2020|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=January 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220120233501/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/43959312/however-you-spell-it-a-new-name-is/|url-status=live}}

Summit/Group One had previously filed a trademark for the WAKR call sign on August 6, 1985, this trademark has since been cancelled.{{Cite web|title=WAKR Trademark - Registration Number 1374236 - Serial Number 73540909|url=http://trademarks.justia.com/735/40/wakr-73540909.html|website=trademarks.justia.com|publisher=Justia Trademarks|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200221041639/https://trademarks.justia.com/735/40/wakr-73540909.html|archive-date=February 21, 2020|access-date=February 17, 2020}} As the trademark rights were transferred to DKM, WAKR-TV was changed to WAKC when the deal closed on October 31; the Berk family invested the profits from the sale into the TV station.{{sfn|Ritchey|Miles|1993|p=45}} Due to the sale, WAKR and WONE-FM moved operations into a separate facility on the city's western side{{unbulleted list citebundle

|1={{Cite news|last=Dyer|first=Bob|date=April 3, 1987|title=WAKR and WONE radio will move this summer|page=B9|newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal|location=Akron, Ohio|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44369428/wakr_and_wone_radio_will_move_this/|access-date=February 15, 2020|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=February 15, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200215053342/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44369428/wakr_and_wone_radio_will_move_this/|url-status=live}}

|2={{Cite news|last=Dyer|first=Bob|date=August 29, 1987|title=No room for missing a beat|pages=A1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44828800/no_room_for_missing_a_beat_pt_2/ A5]|newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal|location=Akron, Ohio|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44828224/no_room_for_missing_a_beat/|access-date=February 17, 2020|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=February 17, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200217062645/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44828224/no_room_for_missing_a_beat/|url-status=live}}}} but otherwise maintained the same on-air presentation—so much so that WAKR made headlines when they began using a new sounder for their local newscasts the following October, retiring a teletype-based musical introduction that had been in use for over 30 years.{{Cite news|last=Dyer|first=Bob|date=October 31, 1987|title=After 30 years, WAKR has changed its tune|page=B6|newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal|location=Akron, Ohio|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/35937457/after_30_years_wakr_has_changed_its/|access-date=February 9, 2020|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=January 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220120233531/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/35937457/after-30-years-wakr-has-changed-its/|url-status=live}}

Less than three weeks after DKM Broadcasting announced that the company would undergo an initial public offering, the company announced a merger with cable television system operator Summit Communications Group on September 15, 1987, for $200 million, the deal closed the following January.{{unbulleted list citebundle

|1={{Cite news|last=Dyer|first=Bob|date=September 16, 1987|title=New owner for WAKR and WONE|pages=G6, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44830065/new_owner_for_wakr_and_wone_pt_2/ G20]|newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal|location=Akron, Ohio|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44829993/new_owner_for_wakr_and_wone/|access-date=February 17, 2020|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=February 17, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200217062703/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44829993/new_owner_for_wakr_and_wone/|url-status=live}}

|2={{Cite news|date=August 19, 1987|title=Broadcasting firm sets public offering|page=B6|newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal|location=Akron, Ohio|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44830440/broadcasting_firm_sets_public_offering/|access-date=February 17, 2020|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=February 17, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200217062642/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44830440/broadcasting_firm_sets_public_offering/|url-status=live}}

|3={{Cite news|date=February 8, 1988|title=Changing Hands 1987: Groups|id={{ProQuest|1014723926}}|volume=114|page=66|work=Broadcasting|issue=6|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1988/BC-1988-02-08.pdf|access-date=January 29, 2020|via=World Radio History|archive-date=January 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220120233500/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1988/BC-1988-02-08.pdf|url-status=live}}}} Unrelated to former owner Summit Radio, Summit Communications Group was controlled by the family of C. Boyden Gray; Gray publicly severed his ties to the company and other related business interests following media scrutiny after his appointment as White House Counsel to President George H. W. Bush.{{Cite news|last1=Ullmann|first1=Owen|last2=Thompson|first2=Mark|date=February 7, 1989|title=Bush defends Tower, two others: Integrity the issue, and president insistent|page=A3|newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal|location=Akron, Ohio|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44341629/bush_defends_tower_two_others/|access-date=February 14, 2020|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=February 15, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200215053337/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44341629/bush_defends_tower_two_others/|url-status=live}} As a consequence of a restructured contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers Radio Network that gave the NBA franchise priority over all other teams,{{Cite news|last=Pluto|first=Terry|author-link=Terry Pluto|date=October 1, 1988|title=Tait has made changes in Cavs' radio and TV setups|page=C2|newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal|location=Akron, Ohio|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44365134/tait_has_made_changes_in_cavs_radio/|access-date=February 15, 2020|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=February 15, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200215053339/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44365134/tait_has_made_changes_in_cavs_radio/|url-status=live}} WAKR declined to renew their contract for the Akron Zips at the start of the 1989 football season, resulting in game coverage being moved to WZIP; this ended a relationship that had been in place since the 1950s.{{Cite news|last=Seaburn|first=John|date=June 17, 1989|title=Akron U sports to be on different station|pages=C1–[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44353820/akron_u_sports_to_be_on_different/ C3]|newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal|location=Akron, Ohio|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44353720/akron_u_sports_to_be_on_different/|access-date=February 14, 2020|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=February 15, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200215053342/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44353720/akron_u_sports_to_be_on_different/|url-status=live}}

{{Quote box

| quote = I think I did some good work here. I have four statewide awards to show for it. I can walk out of here with my head up and a lot of friends... I don't feel anything but good about the people I have worked with and the job I have done here.

| author = Don Ursetti{{r|Ursetti fired}}

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At the start of 1989, Summit purchased two stations from the FCC-ordered breakup of Fairlawn-based GenCorp's RKO General: WKSC-FM in Chicago on January 4 for a combined $21 million,{{Cite news|last=Fernandez|first=Robert|date=January 4, 1989|title=RKO sells station in Chicago|pages=B4–[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44344600/rko_sells_station_in_chicago_pt_2/ B8]|newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal|location=Akron, Ohio|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44344472/rko_sells_station_in_chicago/|access-date=February 14, 2020|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=February 15, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200215053341/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44344472/rko_sells_station_in_chicago/|url-status=live}}{{efn|Due to the way that the FCC ordered the divestiture of RKO General's broadcast properties, Summit Communications Group paid RKO General a total of $13.5 million, and four parties that had previously challenged the broadcast license to WFYR were paid $7.3 million.}} and WEPN-FM in New York City on May 10 for a combined $50 million.{{Cite news|date=May 10, 1989|title=GenCorp gets OK to sell radio stations|page=D7|newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal|location=Akron, Ohio|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44344046/gencorp_gets_ok_to_sell_radio_stations/|access-date=February 14, 2020|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=February 15, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200215053343/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44344046/gencorp_gets_ok_to_sell_radio_stations/|url-status=live}}{{efn|As was the case with WFYR's sale, Summit Communications Group paid RKO General $32.5 million, and paid a total of $17.5 million to competing applicants for WRKS-FM's license.}} Following published reports that Summit would soon divest WAKR and WONE-FM as a result of the RKO General station purchases, Summit reached a deal to sell both stations to Ragan A. Henry's U.S. Radio for $13 million on June 5, 1989.{{unbulleted list citebundle

|1={{Cite news|last=Dyer|first=Bob|date=June 6, 1989|title=Sale reported of WAKR and WONE radio|page=B5|newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal|location=Akron, Ohio|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44339249/sale_reported_of_wakr_and_wone_radio/|access-date=February 14, 2020|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=February 15, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200215053341/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44339249/sale_reported_of_wakr_and_wone_radio/|url-status=live}}

|2={{Cite news|last=Dyer|first=Bob|date=February 19, 1989|title=Listeners to vote on new call letters|page=F2|newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal|location=Akron, Ohio|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44770900/listeners_to_vote_on_new_call_letters/|access-date=February 16, 2020|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=February 17, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200217062658/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44770900/listeners_to_vote_on_new_call_letters/|url-status=live}}

|3={{Cite news|date=June 19, 1989|title=Changing Hands|volume=116|page=63|work=Broadcasting|issue=25|id={{ProQuest|1016925379}}|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1989/BC-1989-06-19.pdf|access-date=January 29, 2020|via=World Radio History|archive-date=January 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220120233501/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1989/BC-1989-06-19.pdf|url-status=live}}}} An African-American, Henry purchased both stations under one of multiple partnerships and groups he had controlling interest in, FCC regulations set up to encourage minority ownership permitted him to own up to 14 AM and 14 FM stations.{{Cite news|last=Gnoffo, Jr.|first=Anthony|date=September 4, 1989|title=Fine-tuning a strategy for radio buying|pages=1-D, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/35526088/ragan_henry_part_2/ 6-D]|work=The Philadelphia Inquirer|location=Philadelphia, Pennsylvania|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/35526058/ragan_henry_part_1/|access-date=February 12, 2020|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=February 12, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200212221028/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/35526058/ragan_henry_part_1/|url-status=live}} Despite having received approval by the FCC and after having announced multiple subsequent purchase agreements, the sale of WAKR and WONE-FM did not close until the following January, due to issues securing financing for the actual payment.{{Cite news|last=Dyer|first=Bob|date=December 24, 1989|title=Buyer snaps up stations, but Akron sale drags on|page=B2|newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal|location=Akron, Ohio|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44350047/buyer_snaps_up_stations_but_akron_sale/|access-date=February 14, 2020|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=February 15, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200215053358/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44350047/buyer_snaps_up_stations_but_akron_sale/|url-status=live}}

While WAKR celebrated their 50th anniversary in October 1990 with fanfare, the station was also starting to deal with declining ratings outside of morning drive and significant budget cuts under U.S. Radio.{{r|WAKR 50th Anniversary}} Sports director Don Ursetti was dismissed on March 30, 1990;{{Cite news|last=Dyer|first=Bob|date=March 30, 1990|title=Ursetti fired from WAKR sports job|page=B3|newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal|location=Akron, Ohio|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44360418/ursetti_fired_from_wakr_sports_job/|access-date=February 14, 2020|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=February 15, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200215053351/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44360418/ursetti_fired_from_wakr_sports_job/|url-status=live}} the next day, the station announced it had declined to renew its affiliation with the Cleveland Indians Radio Network.{{Cite news|last=Dyer|first=Bob|date=March 30, 1990|title=WAKR turns off Indians broadcasts|pages=B1–[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44363935/wakr_turns_off_indians_broadcasts_pt_2/ B3]|newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal|location=Akron, Ohio|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44363622/wakr_turns_off_indians_broadcasts/|access-date=February 14, 2020|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=February 15, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200215053343/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44363622/wakr_turns_off_indians_broadcasts/|url-status=live}} WAKR returned to the Indians Radio Network for the following season.{{Cite news|date=January 30, 1991|title=Indians games back on WAKR|page=C8|newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal|location=Akron, Ohio|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44363087/indians_games_back_on_wakr/|access-date=February 14, 2020|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=February 15, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200215053354/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44363087/indians_games_back_on_wakr/|url-status=live}}{{efn|name=WAKR Indians|WAKR has been affiliated with what is now the Cleveland Guardians Radio Network from 1951{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/45112672/wakr_will_broadcast_all_of_indians/|title=WAKR Will Broadcast All Of Indians' Games|date=March 4, 1951|newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal|location=Akron, Ohio|access-date=February 20, 2020|via=Newspapers.com|page=1|archive-date=February 20, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200220193611/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/45112672/wakr_will_broadcast_all_of_indians/|url-status=live}} to 1966, from 1968{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/45106721/wakr_radio_back_on_tribe_baseball/|title=WAKR Radio Back On Tribe Baseball Network|date=January 26, 1968|newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal|location=Akron, Ohio|access-date=February 20, 2020|via=Newspapers.com|page=A-19|archive-date=February 20, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200220193610/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/45106721/wakr_radio_back_on_tribe_baseball/|url-status=live}} to 1978, from 1979{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/45109851/wakr_to_air_tribe_games/|title=WAKR to air Tribe games|date=January 28, 1979|newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal|location=Akron, Ohio|access-date=February 20, 2020|via=Newspapers.com|page=D11|archive-date=February 20, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200220193613/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/45109851/wakr_to_air_tribe_games/|url-status=live}} to 1989, and from 1991 to the present day.}}

File:Adam Jones and Bob Allen.jpg

On May 31, 1991, a date later referred to as "The Friday Massacre" by personality Bob Friend,{{r|WAKR 1994 Return}} WAKR abruptly dropped all music programming in favor of talk radio.{{Cite news|last=Dyer|first=Bob|date=June 2, 1991|title=WAKR gives ax to DJ, 2 others: Popular Adam and Bob morning team split up|page=A1|newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal|location=Akron, Ohio|url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=NewsBank&req_dat=1082885C71926A79&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F0EB62CD8E17D7522|url-access=subscription|access-date=February 3, 2022|via=NewsBank}} such a format change had been discussed before by station management, but research did not justify it at the time.{{r|WAKR 50th Anniversary}} Among the personalities dismissed were Friend, WAKR program director Bill Hart, and Adam Jones, while Jones' co-host Bob Allen was retained to host the morning-drive news program.{{Cite news|last=Love|first=Steve|date=February 26, 1994|title=Fans to get back their old WAKR: New owner will revive format that many listeners have missed, including five hours of Bob Friend|pages=C1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/43946593/wakr/ C6]|newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal|location=Akron, Ohio|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/43945233/fans_to_get_back_their_old_wakr/|access-date=February 8, 2020|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=January 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220120233532/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/43945233/fans-to-get-back-their-old-wakr/|url-status=live}} The Spring 1991 Birch Survey—completed after the format change—showed The Adam and Bob Show tied with Stan Piatt at WNIR for the number one ranking in morning drive.{{Cite news|last=Dyer|first=Bob|date=July 7, 1991|title=Sportscasters can't guess at the facts|pages=D1–[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44378218/sportscasters_cant_guess_at_the_facts/ D7]|newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal|location=Akron, Ohio|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44378098/sportscasters_cant_guess_at_the_facts/|access-date=February 15, 2020|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=February 15, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200215072813/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44378098/sportscasters_cant_guess_at_the_facts/|url-status=live}} Despite this, the station's overall ratings had been on a substantial decline from the mid-1980s onward due to increased competition from FM stations. General manager Fred Anthony noted that WAKR benefited from listeners tuning in whenever major news events took place, and the music selections had become incidental.{{r|Akr19910602pA1}} Friend regarded the firings as beneficial to WAKR's bottom line, especially after having become part of the U.S. Radio chain, a claim Anthony refuted.{{Cite news|last=Dyer|first=Bob|date=June 4, 1991|title=Ousted vets at WAKR are shocked|page=C1|newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal|location=Akron, Ohio|url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid%2Finfoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=NewsBank&req_dat=1082885C71926A79&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F0EB62CDA18A32075|url-access=subscription|access-date=February 3, 2022|via=NewsBank|archive-date=August 10, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220810201823/https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=NewsBank&docref=news/0EB62CDA18A32075&f=basic|url-status=live}}

Along with an extended newscast block in afternoon drive, and an hour-long newscast at noon, WAKR picked up The Rush Limbaugh Show on a one-hour tape delay (it had been added to the lineup several weeks before the format switch){{r|Akr19910602pA1}} and a local talk show hosted by Bill Hall. Announcer Dave Milo was assigned to host a nightly sports program, and Anthony promised to restore the station's coverage of high school sporting events.{{r|Akr19910602pA1}} The Larry King Show, which WAKR had carried in overnights since 1978,{{efn|WHLO carried The Larry King Show from January to August 1981.{{unbulleted list citebundle

|1={{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44970588/24hour_whlo_starts_monday_adds_king/|title=24-hour WHLO starts Monday, adds King|date=January 3, 1981|newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal|location=Akron, Ohio|access-date=February 19, 2020|via=Newspapers.com|page=A7|archive-date=February 19, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200219060724/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44970588/24hour_whlo_starts_monday_adds_king/|url-status=live}}

|2={{Cite news|last=Bianculli|first=David|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44973479/larry_king_not_silenced_long_here/|title=Larry King not silenced long here|date=August 14, 1981|newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal|location=Akron, Ohio|access-date=February 17, 2020|via=Newspapers.com|page=B5|archive-date=February 17, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200217213614/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44973479/larry_king_not_silenced_long_here/|url-status=live}}}}}} was retained; after King moved his talk show to late afternoons in February 1993, WAKR took both Rush and King's programs live, cancelling the noon and afternoon news blocks and dismissing four staffers.{{Cite news|last=Dyer|first=Bob|date=February 4, 1993|title=WAKR cuts news staff, programming: talk shows kill midday and evening newscasts|newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal|location=Akron, Ohio|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/43945265/wakr_cuts_news_staff_programming/|access-date=February 8, 2020|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=January 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220120233503/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/43945265/wakr-cuts-news-staff-programming/|url-status=live}} Hall left the station on April 29, 1993, after undisclosed "philosophical differences" with station management,{{Cite news|last=Dyer|first=Bob|date=May 1, 1993|title=Talk-show host signs off WAKR|newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal|location=Akron, Ohio|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/43945785/talkshow_host_signs_off_wakr/|access-date=February 8, 2020|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=January 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220120233503/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/43945785/talk-show-host-signs-off-wakr/|url-status=live}} his replacement in the late-morning timeslot was Dan Gaffney.{{r|WAKR 1994 Return}}

WAKR and WONE-FM were once again sold on August 4, 1993, to WQMX owner Gordon-Thomas Communications, Inc., headed by Thom Mandel; Gordon-Thomas also announced a pending name change to the Rubber City Radio Group.{{Cite news|last=Dyer|first=Bob|date=August 6, 1993|title=Reporter likes view from Ohio TV perch|pages=D1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/43945712/broadcast/ D5]|newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal|location=Akron, Ohio|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/43945744/reporter_likes_view_from_ohio_tv_perch/|access-date=February 8, 2020|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=January 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220120233503/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/43945744/reporter-likes-view-from-ohio-tv-perch/|url-status=live}} Like the Berk family before him, Mandel's family had industrial roots; Thom's father Morton Mandel founded what would become Premier Industrial Corporation in 1946, now a part of Premier Farnell.{{Cite news|last=Dyer|first=Bob|date=August 6, 1993|title=WQMX purchases 2 radio rivals|pages=C1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44826614/wqmx_purchases_2_radio_rivals_pt_2/ C20]|newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal|location=Akron, Ohio|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44826410/wqmx_purchases_2_radio_rivals/|access-date=February 17, 2020|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=February 17, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200217062646/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44826410/wqmx_purchases_2_radio_rivals/|url-status=live}} With an estimated value of $9.3 million, including a five-year non-compete preventing U.S. Radio and Ragan Henry from purchasing any other stations in the Akron market,{{Cite news|last=Dyer|first=Bob|date=September 18, 1993|title=WONE, WAKR cost buyer $9.3 million: Records show Mandels bought no-competition accord|newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal|location=Akron, Ohio|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/43945294/wone_wakr_cost_buyer_93_million/|access-date=February 8, 2020|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=January 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220120233504/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/43945294/wone-wakr-cost-buyer-93-million/|url-status=live}} the deal closed that December 6, with Mandel directly taking over station operations that day.{{Cite news|last=Dyer|first=Bob|date=December 18, 1993|title=Family now owns three top stations, Mandels rearrange management lineup at WAKR and WONE under yet another ownership change|pages=C1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/43951494/broadcast/ C6]|newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal|location=Akron, Ohio|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/43951449/family_now_owns_three_top_stations/|access-date=February 8, 2020|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=January 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220120233537/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/43951449/family-now-owns-three-top-stations/|url-status=live}}

File:The Akron Radio Center.jpg in Akron's Wallhaven neighborhood, serves as the current studio facilities for WAKR, along with co-owned WONE-FM, WQMX and WNWV.]]

{{Quote box

| quote = I love radio. I learned the hard way that the older you get, the more difficult it is to find a job... you can be terrible, but if you're around for 23 years, people will love you.

| author = Bob Friend{{r|WAKR 1994 Return}}

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Following extensive research and studies commissioned by Thom Mandel, WAKR reverted to their previous full-service format on February 25, 1994.{{Cite news|date=March 11, 1994|title=Street Talk|pages=18|work=Radio & Records|issue=1034|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-RandR/1990s/1994/RR-1994-03-11.pdf|access-date=January 29, 2020|via=World Radio History|archive-date=January 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220120233503/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-RandR/1990s/1994/RR-1994-03-11.pdf|url-status=live}} Dan Gaffney's show, Rush Limbaugh and Larry King were all dropped from the lineup and replaced with a restored extended noon newscast and music blocks hosted by Bob Allen and Bob Friend in late mornings and afternoons; Dave Milo's sports program was retained.{{r|WAKR 1994 Return}} Mandel said of the changes, "I saw a boo-boo and I tried to fix it... people were still bemoaning the loss of their radio station. I'm in business to give them what they want", and described the music selections as "the good stuff" from the 1950s through the 1970s.{{r|WAKR 1994 Return}} Along with Milo's program, national talk shows from Bruce Williams and Jim Bohannon aired in the evening and overnight hours.

Due to increasing difficulties with landing advertisers and sponsors for the music blocks, the station went back to a talk radio format on August 4, 1997,{{unbulleted list citebundle

|1={{Cite news|date=August 5, 1997|title=News, talk will replace Maxx, Friend on WAKR|pages=B12|newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal|location=Akron, Ohio|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44758174/news_talk_will_replace_maxx_friend_on/|access-date=February 16, 2020|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=February 17, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200217062645/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44758174/news_talk_will_replace_maxx_friend_on/|url-status=live}}

|2={{Cite news|last=Taylor|first=Tom|date=September 10, 1997|title=Format Changes & Updates|volume=14|page=2|work=The M Street Journal|publisher=M Street Corporation|issue=36|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-M-Street/M-Street-Journal/M-Street-1997-09.pdf|access-date=January 25, 2020|via=World Radio History|archive-date=January 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220120233503/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-M-Street/M-Street-Journal/M-Street-1997-09.pdf|url-status=live}}}} resulting in Friend departing for a second time, while Christy Maxx, who joined the station the year before, was reassigned within the Rubber City cluster.{{r|Dreams Fade 1997}} Unlike the station's first time with the format, WAKR's lineup was almost entirely syndicated, including America in The Morning hosted by Jim Bohannon, ESPN Radio's The Fabulous Sports Babe, and Cincinnati-based humorist Gary Burbank; the locally based newscast blocks in morning drive and noon were retained.{{r|Dreams Fade 1997}} Burbank's show was eventually replaced with ESPN's The Tony Kornheiser Show and an afternoon program hosted by former WAKC sports anchor Phil Ferguson.{{unbulleted list citebundle

|1={{Cite news|last=Pluto|first=Terry|author-link=Terry Pluto|date=January 11, 1998|title=Local sports talk is harder to hear|page=C2|newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal|location=Akron, Ohio|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44725239/local_sports_talk_is_harder_to_hear/|access-date=February 16, 2020|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=January 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220120233505/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44725239/local-sports-talk-is-harder-to-hear/|url-status=live}}

|2={{Cite news|date=August 2, 1998|title=This Week's Radio Program Schedule: 1590 WAKR (Advertisement)|newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal|location=Akron, Ohio|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/12024728/channels_8298/|access-date=February 9, 2020|via=Newspapers.com}}

|3={{Cite web|title=Welcome to Akron's News and Sports Authority! 1590/WAKR|url=http://www.wakr.net/index.sht|website=WAKR Akron, Ohio|publisher=Rubber City Radio Group, Inc.|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19980614135612/http://www.wakr.net/index.sht|archive-date=June 14, 1998|access-date=January 27, 2020}}}}

WAKR dropped the majority of talk programming from the lineup on September 7, 1999, and switched to a satellite-fed adult standards format using Westwood One's AM Only service; Phil Ferguson was moved to morning drive, while Bob Allen was moved to the noon news block.{{unbulleted list citebundle

|1={{Cite news|last=Thomas|first=George M.|date=September 4, 1999|title=WAKR to add music to news-talk format: Featured singers to include Sinatra, Streisand|page=B7|newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal|location=Akron, Ohio|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/43946618/wakr_to_add_music_to_newstalk_format/|access-date=February 8, 2020|via=Newspapers.com}}

|2={{Cite news|last=Taylor|first=Tom|date=September 1, 1999|title=Format Changes & Updates|volume=16|page=2|work=The M Street Journal|publisher=M Street Corporation|issue=35|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-M-Street/M-Street-Journal/M-Street-1999-09.pdf|access-date=January 27, 2020|via=World Radio History|archive-date=January 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220120233528/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-M-Street/M-Street-Journal/M-Street-1999-09.pdf|url-status=live}}}} Coincidentally, "AM Only" program director Chick Watkins worked at WCUE and WCUE-FM (96.5) as program director from 1956 to 1970, and had like duties for Cleveland's WHKW from 1970 to 1982; his reappearance led some listeners to believe that he was doing his on-air work in Akron, while in reality he was at the Westwood One studios in Los Angeles.{{Cite news|last=Thomas|first=George M.|date=February 3, 2000|title=Familiar voice in Akron is Chick Watkins: Radio personality spins classics from LA studio|pages=D1–[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44302562/familiar_voice_in_akron_is_chick/ D2]|newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal|location=Akron, Ohio|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44302327/familiar_voice_in_akron_is_chick_watkins/|access-date=February 12, 2020|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=January 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220120233545/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44302327/familiar-voice-in-akron-is-chick-watkins/|url-status=live}} The network "AM Only" programming also resulted in Jerry Healey unofficially returning to the station, as Healey was the format's weekend late evening host dating back to when it launched under the Transtar Radio Networks name.{{r|Jerry Healey obits}}

File:WAKR logo.png

{{Quote box

| quote = Keeping the flame of 1590 WAKR, a vital and historic radio station burning brightly is not a job, it's a privilege. Add to that I get to compile and manage a library of songs we all grew up with, well, just try to drag me out of here.

| author = Chuck Collins

| source = WAKR website bio{{r|Collins blog}}

| align = left

| width = 250px

| qalign = left

| salign = left

}}

The station formally dropped all satellite programming on August 30, 2006, in favor of an all-local lineup, centered around Chuck Collins in late mornings, Bob Allen in middays, and Tim Daugherty in afternoons, respectively; Ray Horner—host of the morning news program since December 2000—was retained.{{Cite news|url=https://www.main-st.net/tattlers/060901.pdf|title=Rubber City Radio|last=Kay|first=Tom|date=September 1, 2006|work=The Main Street Tattler|access-date=January 27, 2020|issue=35|volume=32|page=2|archive-date=October 19, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131019212037/http://www.main-st.net/tattlers/060901.pdf|url-status=live}} A market veteran who previously worked as production director for WMJI in Cleveland and as program director for WAKS in Akron,{{Cite web|url=http://chuckcollinsmysteries.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=95&Itemid=53|title=The Author|last=Collins|first=Chuck|website=The Radio Murders|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130829010326/http://chuckcollinsmysteries.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=95&Itemid=53|archive-date=August 29, 2013|access-date=February 20, 2020}} Collins was hired as WAKR's program director in 2006, then promoted to operations manager for the three-station group in October 2007.{{Cite web|title=Collins Promoted To OM At Rubber City Radio Akron Cluster|url=https://www.allaccess.com/net-news/archive/story/30904/collins-promoted-to-om-at-rubber-city-radio-akron-|date=October 5, 2007|website=All Access|publisher=All Access Media Group|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200128042636/https://www.allaccess.com/net-news/archive/story/30904/collins-promoted-to-om-at-rubber-city-radio-akron-|archive-date=January 28, 2020|access-date=January 28, 2020}} WAKR also evolved its playlist to an oldies format at this time, while Bob Allen moved from afternoons to weekends before retiring on February 23, 2010.{{unbulleted list citebundle

|1={{Cite web|title=VIDEO Remembering WAKR's Bob Allen|url=https://wakr.net/news/item/162364-video-remembering-wakr-s-bob-allen|last=Esposito|first=Edward L.|date=April 4, 2017|website=wakr.net|publisher=Rubber City Radio Group, Inc.|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170409142013/https://wakr.net/news/item/162364-video-remembering-wakr-s-bob-allen|archive-date=April 9, 2017|access-date=February 14, 2020}}

|2={{Cite web|title=Bob Allen retires|url=http://www.adamjones.info/stories/c-adambob2.htm|last=Jones|first=Adam|date=May 16, 2010|website=www.adamjones.info|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130118022904/http://adamjones.info/stories/c-adambob2.htm|archive-date=January 18, 2013|access-date=February 14, 2020}}

|3={{Citation|title=1590 WAKR's Bob Allen retires|date=February 23, 2010|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=93EuSJ34zFo|type=YouTube|publisher=AkronNewsNow|access-date=February 14, 2020|archive-date=November 14, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201114071816/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=93EuSJ34zFo&gl=US&hl=en|url-status=live}}}} WAKR commemorated their 70th anniversary in 2010 by reviving many of their classic jingles from the 1960s and 1970s, while also airing montages and airchecks from past personalities.

{{Quote box

| quote = I always thought Chuck's strength was being positive, making people feel good about where they're working and what they're doing, and then he came back and tried to add onto that positive image... positive energy but yet continue to help you do better at your job, and feeling better as a person.

| author = Ray Horner

| source = on Chuck Collins{{r|HornerPD}}

| align = right

| width = 250px

| qalign = left

| salign = left

}}

Chuck Collins took an extended medical leave from the station in July 2013 after the discovery of a brain tumor.{{Cite news|last=Heldenfels|first=Rich|date=July 24, 2013|title=The Heldenfiles: Collins Recovering|language=en|page=D3|newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal|location=Akron, Ohio|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/51906809/the-heldenfiles-collins-recovering/|access-date=February 10, 2020|via=Newspapers.com}} Collins had suffered symptoms for several months before the diagnosis, including a brief moment of partial paralysis in-studio, which was previously mistaken for hypertension.{{Cite web|title=Personal Journal: Chuck's Challenge Featured|url=http://www.akronnewsnow.com/daily-diggs/item/96631-personal-journal-chucks-challenge|last=Collins|first=Chuck|date=July 23, 2013|website=AkronNewsNow.com|publisher=Rubber City Radio Group, Inc.|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130728005503/http://www.akronnewsnow.com/daily-diggs/item/96631-personal-journal-chucks-challenge|archive-date=July 28, 2013|access-date=February 20, 2020}} A mystery writer on the side who published The Radio Murderers: The Collectors in 2011, intended to have been the first book in a series,{{unbulleted list citebundle

|1={{Cite news|last=Heldenfels|first=Rich|date=February 16, 2013|title=Radio vet pens novel, a mystery, for series|pages=E1–[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44307348/radio_vet_pens_novel_a_mystery_for/ E2]|newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal|location=Akron, Ohio|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44307145/radio_vet_pens_novel_a_mystery_for/|access-date=February 14, 2020|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=January 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220120233530/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44307145/radio-vet-pens-novel-a-mystery-for/|url-status=live}}

|2={{Cite news|last=McIntyre|first=Barbara|date=February 13, 2011|title=Book's complex plot involves on-air murder|page=E3|newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal|location=Akron, Ohio|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44306280/books_complex_plot_involves_onair/|access-date=February 14, 2020|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=January 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220120233530/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44306280/books-complex-plot-involves-on-air/|url-status=live}}}} he chronicled his surgery and subsequent treatments in an e-book memoir, RoBBing Mind: How Attitude and Intention Helped Prevent a Fate Worse Than Death.{{Cite news|date=May 22, 2015|title=Radio's Collins dies of cancer|page=B6|newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal|location=Akron, Ohio|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44310184/radios_collins_dies_of_cancer/|access-date=February 20, 2020|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=February 20, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200220193611/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44310184/radios_collins_dies_of_cancer/|url-status=live}} Collins ultimately never recovered and died less than two years later.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cleveland.com/metro/2015/05/chuck_collins_top_akron_radio.html|title=Radio's Chuck Collins dies from cancer he chronicled|last=Feran|first=Tom|date=May 22, 2015|website=cleveland.com|publisher=The Plain Dealer|location=Cleveland, Ohio|language=en|access-date=February 10, 2020|archive-date=May 22, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200522220507/https://www.cleveland.com/metro/2015/05/chuck_collins_top_akron_radio.html|url-status=live}}

Due to his departure from the station, WAKR slowly moved back to a talk radio format for a third time. On February 24, 2014, the station added a local midday program hosted by news anchor/reporter Jasen Sokol,{{Cite web|title=JMC alum to host his own radio show|url=http://www.kentwired.com/ksubuzz/article_68808916-aa38-11e3-a4a1-0017a43b2370.html|last=Inglis|first=Heather|date=March 12, 2014|website=KentWired.com|publisher=Kent State Student Media|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200127233215/http://www.kentwired.com/ksubuzz/article_68808916-aa38-11e3-a4a1-0017a43b2370.html|archive-date=January 27, 2020|access-date=January 27, 2020}} The Dave Ramsey Show, and a nightly sports program hosted by Brad Russell.{{Cite web|title=WAKR Adds New Local Show With Jasen Sokol|url=https://www.allaccess.com/net-news/archive/story/127056/wakr-adds-new-local-show-with-jasen-sokol|date=February 21, 2014|website=All Access|publisher=All Access Music Group|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150131004853/http://www.allaccess.com/net-news/archive/story/127056/wakr-adds-new-local-show-with-jasen-sokol|archive-date=January 31, 2015|access-date=January 27, 2020}} Former WHBC host Sam Bourquin joined WAKR that November, replacing Dave Ramsey,{{Cite web|title=Sam Bourquin moves to WAKR in Akron|url=https://www.cantonrep.com/article/20141111/sports/141119854|last=Porter|first=Todd|date=November 11, 2014|website=The Canton Repository|location=Canton, Ohio|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200127233221/https://www.cantonrep.com/article/20141111/Sports/141119854|archive-date=January 27, 2020|access-date=January 27, 2020}} and later teamed up with Russell to co-host the Sam & Brad Show. Ray Horner was eventually promoted to program director for WAKR as Collins' successor in June 2016.{{Cite news|last=Heldenfels|first=Rich|date=June 10, 2016|title=WAKR's Horner keeps job, adds title|pages=B1–[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44308364/wakrs_horner_keeps_job_adds_title/ B3]|newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal|location=Akron, Ohio|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44308107/wakrs_horner_keeps_job_adds_title/|access-date=February 14, 2020|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=January 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220120233530/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44308107/wakrs-horner-keeps-job-adds-title/|url-status=live}}

The station reverted to a full-service/soft adult contemporary music mix branded as "Soft Hits 93.5 FM" on January 24, 2020; coinciding with the switch, midday host Jasen Sokol left the station to join WJCU in a management capacity, while Sam Bourquin, Brad Russell, Ben Thomas, and Aaron Coleman were all dismissed.{{r|Soft AC flip}}

Local music personalities heard on WAKR include Sandy Bennett (Middays), Tim Daugherty (Afternoons), Nick Anthony (Evenings/Overnights), with Sue Wilson, Rick Allen, and Jeanne Destro on weekends. Ray Horner hosts the morning-drive news program and serves as Program Director as well.{{unbulleted list citebundle

|1={{Cite web|url=https://wakr.net/personalities|title=Personalities|website=wakr.net|publisher=Rubber City Radio Group, Inc.|language=en-GB|access-date=February 14, 2020|archive-date=February 14, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200214030738/https://wakr.net/personalities|url-status=live}}

|2={{Cite tweet|number=1222889074249342976|user=1590WAKR|title=Did you know that Tim Daugherty has a show on WAKR? Listen to him Monday thru Friday between 9am-2pm!|author=WAKR|date=January 30, 2020|access-date=February 9, 2020}}

|3={{Cite tweet|number=1223290169962508289|user=1590WAKR|title=Did you know that Lynn Kelly is on WAKR Monday thru Friday between 2pm-7pm?|author=WAKR|date=January 31, 2020|access-date=February 9, 2020}}}} WAKR is the Akron affiliate for the Cleveland Browns (shared with sister station WONE-FM), Cleveland Cavaliers, Cleveland Guardians{{efn|name=WAKR Indians}} and Ohio State Buckeyes radio networks.{{unbulleted list citebundle

|1={{Cite web|url=https://www.clevelandbrowns.com/media/radio?campaign=sf:fanshare:facebook|title=University Hospitals Cleveland Browns Radio Network|website=www.clevelandbrowns.com|publisher=Cleveland Browns|language=en-US|access-date=January 27, 2020|archive-date=January 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220120233547/https://www.clevelandbrowns.com/media/radio?campaign=sf%3Afanshare%3Afacebook|url-status=live}}

|2={{Cite web|url=https://www.nba.com/cavaliers/broadcast|title=Broadcast: Listen|website=NBA.com|publisher=Cleveland Cavaliers|language=en|access-date=January 27, 2020|archive-date=January 15, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200115005804/https://www.nba.com/cavaliers/broadcast|url-status=live}}

|3={{Cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/indians/fans/radio-affiliates|title=Indians Radio Affiliates|website=MLB.com|publisher=Cleveland Indians|language=en|access-date=January 27, 2020|archive-date=January 28, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200128133155/https://www.mlb.com/indians/fans/radio-affiliates|url-status=live}}

|4={{Cite web|url=https://ohiostatebuckeyes.com/sportsnetwork/|title=Ohio State Buckeyes Radio Broadcast Team and Affiliates|date=August 20, 2018|website=Ohio State Buckeyes|language=en-US|access-date=January 27, 2020|archive-date=January 8, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200108025817/https://ohiostatebuckeyes.com/sportsnetwork/|url-status=live}}}} Horner served as the lead play-by-play voice for WAKR's high school sports broadcast coverage until high school programming ceased in the mid-2010s.{{Cite news|last=Thomas|first=George M.|date=October 22, 2010|title=Memory makers|pages=A1–[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44309083/memory_makers_pt_2/ A4]|newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal|location=Akron, Ohio|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44308787/memory_makers/|access-date=February 14, 2020|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=January 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220120233532/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44308787/memory-makers/|url-status=live}}

Public affairs programming on Sunday mornings includes the audio portion of Forum 360, produced with the Jewish Community Center of Akron and WNEO/WEAO.{{unbulleted list citebundle

|1={{Cite web|title=WAKR - AM Station Profile - FCC Public Inspection Files|url=https://publicfiles.fcc.gov/am-profile/wakr/issues-and-programs-lists/abf0ca9b-0b29-1b90-9038-6a069701733a/|website=publicfiles.fcc.gov|publisher=Federal Communications Commission|access-date=February 14, 2020|archive-date=January 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220120233556/https://publicfiles.fcc.gov/am-profile/wakr/issues-and-programs-lists/abf0ca9b-0b29-1b90-9038-6a069701733a/|url-status=live}}

|2={{Cite web|title=Forum 360: Fun Month In January|url=https://www.jewishakron.org/news/current-news/forum-360-fun-month-in-january|date=January 28, 2020|website=www.jewishakron.org|publisher=Jewish Community Center of Akron|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200522190059/https://www.jewishakron.org/news/current-news/forum-360-fun-month-in-january|archive-date=May 22, 2020|access-date=February 14, 2020}}

|3={{Cite web|title=Ace Epps|url=https://bmecommunity.org/staff/ace-epps/|website=BMe Community|language=en|access-date=February 14, 2020}}{{Dead link|date=June 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}}} Originally titled Civic Forum of the Air, Forum 360 has aired weekly on WAKR since June 4, 1961, and has been simulcast on television throughout its entire run.{{unbulleted list citebundle

|1={{Cite news|last=Shippy|first=Dick|date=June 4, 1961|title=That 'Export' Image|page=7D|newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal|location=Akron, Ohio|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44577216/civic_forum_of_the_air_debuts/|access-date=February 15, 2020|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=February 16, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200216053435/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44577216/civic_forum_of_the_air_debuts/|url-status=live}}

|2={{Cite news|date=June 9, 1963|title=Civic Forum Marks Anniversary|page=11F|newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal|location=Akron, Ohio|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44577428/civic_forum_marks_anniversary/|access-date=February 16, 2020|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=February 16, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200216053435/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44577428/civic_forum_marks_anniversary/|url-status=live}}

|3={{Cite news|last=Dyer|first=Bob|date=January 24, 1992|title=WUAB sportscaster to add intergalactic responsibilities|page=D2|newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal|location=Akron, Ohio|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44579035/wuab_sportscaster_to_add_intergalactic/|access-date=February 16, 2020|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=February 16, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200216053436/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44579035/wuab_sportscaster_to_add_intergalactic/|url-status=live}}}}

On June 5, 2019, WAKR began broadcasting on a low-power FM translator, W228EL ({{Frequency|93.5|FM}}).{{Cite news|date=June 14, 2019|title=WAKR can be found on AM and FM dial|language=en|page=A2|newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal|location=Akron, Ohio|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/51904182/wakr-can-be-found-on-am-and-fm-dial/|access-date=January 27, 2020|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=August 10, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220810201856/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/51904182/wakr-can-be-found-on-am-and-fm-dial/|url-status=live}} This translator was one of up to 873 applications initially filed by AM stations nationwide in 2018 as part of the FCC's "AM Revitalization" program.{{Cite web|title=Looking At The 873 New Translator Applications|url=https://radioinsight.com/headlines/122972/looking-873-new-translator-applications/|last=Venta|first=Lance|date=February 7, 2018|website=RadioInsight.com|publisher=RadioInsight|language=en-US|via=RadioBB|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180330211503/https://radioinsight.com/headlines/122972/looking-873-new-translator-applications/|archive-date=March 30, 2018|access-date=February 18, 2020}} The transmitter for W228EL is located in Akron's West Akron neighborhood on a tower utilized by WONE-FM and several other stations.{{Cite web|title=Stations Sharing This Tower...|url=https://www.rabbitears.info/tower.php?request=site&asrn=1047963|website=RabbitEars.Info|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170812032258/http://rabbitears.info/tower.php?request=site&asrn=1047963|archive-date=August 12, 2017|access-date=February 18, 2020}}

{{RadioTranslators

| call1 = W228EL

| freq1 = 93.5

| city1 = Akron, Ohio

| haat1 = 177

| watts1 = 210 (Horiz.)
250 (Vert.)

| class1 = D

| fid1 = 202752

| coord1 = {{coord|41|03|53.00|N|81|34|59.00|W|region:US-OH_type:landmark_source:FCC}}

}}

{{notelist}}

{{Reflist}}

{{Refbegin|indent=yes}}

• {{Cite web |url=http://www.alanfreed.com/wp/archives/archives-1943-1949-radio-broa/ |title=Archives: Radio Broadcast (1943–1949) |last=Freed |first=Judith Fisher |date=November 4, 2010 |website=AlanFreed.com |language=en-US |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200127233216/http://www.alanfreed.com/wp/archives/archives-1943-1949-radio-broa/ |archive-date=January 27, 2020 |access-date=February 19, 2020 }}
• {{cite book |author=Price |first=Mark J. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WRQfCgAAQBAJ |title=Lost Akron |year=2015 |publisher=The History Press |location=Charleston, SC |pages=165–168 |isbn=9781625851079 |access-date=February 7, 2020 |archive-date=January 21, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220121205148/https://books.google.com/books?id=WRQfCgAAQBAJ |url-status=live }}
• {{cite journal |last1=Ritchey |first1=David |last2=Miles |first2=Thomas |title=WAKR Radio: A History |publisher=The University of Akron |date=October 1993 |url=https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED367977.pdf |journal=School of Communications |access-date=February 7, 2020 |via=Education Resources Information Center |archive-date=March 4, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170304063502/http://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED367977.pdf |url-status=live }}
• {{cite book |ref={{harvid|FCC|1966}} |access-date=December 25, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220121205201/https://books.google.com/books?id=L0IvZ7hIoBcC |archive-date=January 21, 2022 |url-status=live |author=United States |first=Federal Communications Commission |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=L0IvZ7hIoBcC |title=Federal Communications Commission Reports: Decisions and Reports of the Federal Communications Commission of the United States: Volume 4, Second Series, July 1, 1966 to September 30, 1966 |year=1967 |publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office |location=Washington, D.C. |pages=533–535 }}

{{Refend}}

{{Refbegin||indent=yes}}

• {{cite AV media |access-date=February 13, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081015002203/https://woub.org/tv/video-akrontv-doc.html |archive-date=October 15, 2008 |ref=Russo |date=April 1, 2008 |last=Russo |first=Cheri |url=https://woub.org/tv/video-akrontv-doc.html |title=Akron, Ohio: The City Where Commercial Television News Went to Black |location=Athens, Ohio |type=Television production |language=en |publisher=WOUB-TV}}{{Refend}}

• {{Official website|http://www.wakr.net/}}

{{AM station data|43871|WAKR}}

• {{Commons category-inline|WAKR}}
• {{Cite web|url= https://cdbs.recnet.com/corres/?doc=46674 |title= History Cards for WAKR|publisher=Federal Communications Commission}} (Guide to reading History Cards)
• {{FCC-LMS-Facility|202752|W228EL}}
• {{FXL|W228EL}}

{{Akron Radio}}

{{Adult Contemporary Radio Stations in Ohio}}

AKR

Category:Radio stations established in 1940

Category:1940 establishments in Ohio

Category:Soft adult contemporary radio stations in the United States

Category:Full service radio stations in the United States