WCGO

The station began broadcasting on September 29, 1947, and held the call sign WNMP. WNMP operated during daytime hours only, with a power of 1,000 watts. Block programming was aired in its early years."[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1948/1948-10-25-BC-Chicago.pdf AM Histories]", Broadcasting — Telecasting. A Continuing Study of Major Radio Markets: Study No. 7: Chicago. October 25, 1948. p. 20. Retrieved March 22, 2019. In 1959, the station adopted a classical music/light music format."[https://books.google.com/books?id=vh4EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA140 WNMP Skeds Classic Fare]", Billboard. April 13, 1959. p. 2. Retrieved March 22, 2019. In 1960, the station was sold to Harry H. Semrow and his brother Otto Semrow for $325,000."[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1960/BC-1960-10-03.pdf Changing hands]", Broadcasting. October 3, 1960. p. 66. Retrieved March 22, 2019.Heise, Kenan. "[https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1987-11-24-8703280625-story.html Harry Semrow, County Tax Official]", Chicago Tribune. November 24, 1987. Retrieved March 22, 2019. The station aired an easy listening format in the 1960s and carried Northwestern Wildcats football."[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/60s/1963/Billboard%201963-12-21.pdf Listeners the Final Answer?]", Billboard. December 21, 1963. p. 36. Retrieved March 22, 2019."[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/60s/1965/Billboard%201965-10-16.pdf Stations By Format]", Billboard. October 16, 1965. p. 62. Retrieved March 22, 2019."[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/60s/1966/Billboard%201966-11-19.pdf Stations By Format]", Billboard. November 19, 1966. p. 38. Retrieved March 22, 2019. In December 1969, the station was sold to Alan H. Cummings and Buddy Black for $875,000."[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1969/1969-12-01-BC.pdf Changing Hands]", Broadcasting. December 1, 1969. p. 40. Retrieved March 22, 2019.

The station's call sign was changed to WLTD on November 2, 1970. WLTD aired easy listening music, old-time radio shows, and specialty talk shows.Duston, Anne. "[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/70s/1972/BB-1972-06-10.pdf WLTD Places Emphasis on Old-Time Radio Shows]", Billboard. June 10, 1972. p. 21. Retrieved March 22, 2019. On May 2, 1970, Chuck Schaden's first Those Were The Days program aired on WNMP.Feder, Robert. "[https://www.robertfeder.com/2015/07/24/chuck-schaden-returns-to-thrilling-days-of-yesteryear/ Chuck Schaden returns to his thrilling days of yesteryear]", RobertFeder.com. July 24, 2015. Retrieved March 22, 2019."[http://www.speakingofradio.com/7422-2/ TWTD Archive – May 2, 1970]", Speaking of Radio. Retrieved March 22, 2019. It continued on WLTD until 1975, when the station changed format.

In 1975, the station was sold to Kovas Communications for $400,000, and adopted a beautiful music format."[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1975/1975-11-17-BC.pdf Ownership changes]", Broadcasting. November 17, 1975. p. 71. Retrieved March 22, 2019.[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1976/C-1%20%20Broadcasting%20Yearbook%201976.pdf Broadcasting Yearbook 1976], Broadcasting, 1976. p. C-59. Retrieved March 22, 2019."[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Station-Albums/Chicago-Trib-1979-Mar-About-Chi-Radio.pdf Stations, everywhere: a listeners' guide to the AM and FM bands]", Chicago Tribune Magazine. March 4, 1979. p. 37. Retrieved March 22, 2019.

On April 9, 1979, the station's call sign was changed to WONX. The station switched to a Spanish language format.[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1981/Ca%20Facilities%20of%20Radio%201981%20A-M.pdf Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook 1981], Broadcasting & Cable, 1981. p. C-70. Retrieved March 22, 2019.[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1985/B-Radio-AL-to-MT-BC-YB-1985.pdf Broadcasting/Cablecasting Yearbook 1985], Broadcasting & Cable, 1985. p. B-82. Retrieved March 22, 2019. Programming in other languages were also aired over the years.[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1990/B-Radio-AL-MT-BC-YB-1990.pdf The Broadcasting Yearbook 1990], Broadcasting & Cable, 1990. p. B-98. Retrieved March 22, 2019.[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1995/B-Radio-AL-MT-YB-1995.pdf Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook 1995], Broadcasting & Cable, 1995. p. B-123. Retrieved March 22, 2019.[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/2000/D-Radio-AL-MT-BC-YB-2000-2.pdf Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook 2000], Broadcasting & Cable, 2000. p. D-136. Retrieved March 22, 2019.[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/2008/Radio-AL-MT-BC-YB-2008.pdf Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook 2008], Broadcasting & Cable, 2008. p. D-185. Retrieved March 22, 2019. In 1982, the station added nighttime operations, running 2,500 watts.[https://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/comment.pl?Application_id=47991&File_number=BL-19821006AE Public Notice Comment – BL-19821006AE], fcc.gov. Retrieved March 22, 2019. It used a four-tower directional array at night.[https://transition.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/amq?list=0&facid=35447 AM Query Results: WCGO], fcc.gov. Retrieved March 22, 2019. In 1997, the station's daytime power was increased to 3,500 watts."[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-M-Street/M-Street-Journal/M-Street-1997-06.pdf Construction Permit Activity]", The M Street Journal. Vol. 14, No. 22. June 4, 1997. p. 3. Retrieved March 23, 2019.

On April 10, 2009, the previous WCGO on 1600, also owned by Kovas, was taken off the air."[http://chicagoradioandmedia.com/news/8868-wcgo-being-purchased-by-william-pollack WCGO Being Purchased By William Pollack]", Chicagoland Radio and Media. May 11, 2017. Retrieved March 22, 2019. On April 13, 2009, WONX's call sign was changed to WCGO. With 1600 now vacant, the new WCGO was able to increase its daytime power to 7,000 watts."[https://www.allaccess.com/net-news/archive/story/56227/wcgo-goes-dark-wonx----now-wcgo----ups-power WCGO Goes Dark, WONX -- Now WCGO -- Ups Power]", All Access Music Group. April 13, 2009. Retrieved March 22, 2019. In 2014, the station's daytime power was increased to 10,000 watts."[https://licensing.fcc.gov/cdbs/CDBS_Attachment/getattachment.jsp?appn=101618574&qnum=5120©num=1&exhcnum=1 Engineering Report Covering Request for Construction Permit on Behalf of Kovas Communications, Inc. For WCGO (AM) 1590 Kilohertz Evanston, Illinois]{{dead link|date=January 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}", Charles A. Hecht & Associates, Inc. January 2014. Retrieved March 23, 2019.[https://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/app_det.pl?Application_id=1642384 Application Search Details – BL-20140618ABP], fcc.gov. Retrieved March 23, 2019.

WCGO began airing talk programs in September 2014, with local shows hosted by Franklin Raff and Geoff Pinkus, as well as Dana Loesch's syndicated program.Feder, Robert. "[https://www.robertfeder.com/2014/08/29/broadcast-museum-to-honor-rich-svengoolie-koz/ Broadcast museum to honor Rich 'Svengoolie' Koz]", RobertFeder.com. August 29, 2014. Retrieved March 22, 2019. On April 6, 2015, Milt Rosenberg began hosting a program on the station.Feder, Robert. "[https://www.robertfeder.com/2015/04/03/milt-rosenberg-to-host-new-midday-radio-show/ Milt Rosenberg to host new midday show on WCGO]", RobertFeder.com. April 3, 2015. Retrieved March 22, 2019. As of 2023, its programming is multilingual: Weekend programming includes Legal Eagles with William Pelarenos, The Dave Ramsey Show, The Assyrian Cultural Foundation: The Guiding Voice with Ninos Nirari, The Chicago Wine Report with Chip Dudley, Tom Hall, and Lainie Petersen, Domingo Felices with Frank Camacho, and Dialogo Politico with Robert Ameneiro. Weekdays features Korean Christian programming weekday mornings, Russian language programing via Radio NVC weekday afternoons, and Multiformat Network show highlights in the evenings. Overnight programming is Coast to Coast AM with George Noory.[https://www.wcgoradio.com/our-schedule Schedule], WCGO. Retrieved March 22, 2019.

In 2017, the station was sold to William Pollack for $3 million."[http://chicagoradioandmedia.com/news/8868-wcgo-being-purchased-by-william-pollack WCGO Being Purchased By William Pollack]", Chicagoland Radio and Media. May 11, 2017. Retrieved March 23, 2019.[https://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/app_det.pl?Application_id=1765970 Application Search Details – BAL-20170512AAE], fcc.gov. Retrieved March 23, 2019. In 2019, WCGO became the flagship station of the national SmartTalk Radio Network.

Pollack sold WCGO to Jorge Rodriguez's Ambiente Clasico LLC for $675,000 in 2023; Ambiente Clasico had been leasing the station's overnight programming. WCGO's real estate was separately sold to Rodriguez in a $150,000 deal.{{cite news |last1=Venta |first1=Lance |title=Station Sales Week of 9/1 |url=https://radioinsight.com/headlines/258248/station-sales-week-of-9-1/ |access-date=June 21, 2024 |work=RadioInsight |date=September 1, 2023}}

{{RadioTranslators

| call1 = W240EH

| freq1 = 95.9

| watts1 = 250

| class1 = D

| fid1 = 202249

| city1 = Evanston, Illinois

| coord1 = {{coord|42|1|19.1|N|87|42|40.2|W|region:US-IL_type:landmark|name=W240EH}}

}}

{{Reflist}}

{{AM station data|35447|WCGO}}

{{Chicago Radio}}

{{News/Talk Radio Stations in Illinois}}

CGO

Category:Talk radio stations in the United States

Category:Korean-language radio stations in the United States

Category:Evanston, Illinois

Category:Radio stations established in 1947

Category:1947 establishments in Illinois