I grew up 100 miles south of Chicago in the corn and bean fields of Illinois and WLS was about the only station that we could get with rock music. All the jocks were great to listen to and animal stories always was good for a laugh.
From a tennessee old 60 yr old. My oldest brother Dave controlled our little nighttime radio. It was everynight wls chicago radio 89. We listened to nothing else. What memories. And John, they were some ladys who became women listening to you. According to our high school reunions,they havent forgotten about it either. Thanks john
WLS would come in loud and clear even way down in Dallas loved listening to John at night. I had to drive into work super early and would listen to Larry Lujack in the early morning on the way in.
I listened night after night to John from my bedroom in Cincinnati. He is a true legend. What a voice and presence. Such a shame that the "disc jockey" is a lost art.
I grew up just outside of Chicago, and loved listening to John Landecker. He was on during my favorite time to listen to the radio. This brings back so many good memories. On the full version of this video (its out there but the comments are turned off on the one I found), John talks about his kids having fun in the radio station. I can relate to that. My father was also a DJ at a smaller station outside of Chicago. It was really great fun going to the radio station on Saturdays or Sundays. We would have a blast. Every once in a while nature would call, and my dad had no choice. He told us what to do to make sure everything kept going smooth. Usually it was either start up the other turntable and play the next record, or push a button to initiate a commercial. There was obviously never any talking. But it was loads of fun for us. I was I think around 13 or 14 yrs old. My sister was about 17 or 18. If she came along, I was bumped from doing anything to help. So I was always glad when it was just me. This was back when DJ's actually did DJ stuff. Plus it was a smaller station so my dad could play anything he wanted. On WLS, they had to play pre-approved play lists, that were provided to them. So for example, Landecker here knew what he was going to play for his entire shift, before his shift ever started. I suspect if they did a request line, that would have been the only time a record played that wasn't pre-planned. In fact, John Landecker was the DJ who first played Styx in Chicago. Once they were approved to play Styx's records, Landecker welcomed them to WLS. Styx was from Chicago.
This movie was a big inspiration for me. I saw this while I was in school learning radio and it helped me decide which direction I wanted to go in. That was 25 years ago and I am no longer in radio but it still makes me smile and sends a chill or tow up my spin when John slams those posts with such ease. You see this and it really brings home how bad radio is today compared to then. Thanks for posting this.
As a teenager in the midwest in the late 70's, driving around town listening to WLS was the thing to do. I always wondered what the "penthouse" at WLS looked like...now we know. Thanks for posting this wonderful insight.
So, this is what it really was like, when I was a little boy listening in my bedroom waay back in 1977...WOW! This was the scene in the Studio as it went out live to us. Thanks for posting this. I can't believe it even exists! How? Why? Who shot it and for what purpose?? Although I'm very GLAD they did!
This is SO AWESOME!!!! I grew up in NW Indiana and listened every night as I drifted off to sleep. Thanks so much for sharing! It is so cool to see what he looked like back then.
I listened to this guy every night as a teenager. When I worked in radio, I was surprised at the amount of paperwork involved, but it was a great job while it lasted...we were all put out of work by the big mergers and automation, though...kind of a shame, really.
Two great legends! I listened every night while in Kansas City. I would drive to Oklahoma every other weekend and would listen all the way to Muskogee, Oklahoma. Nobody is better in radio than John "Records" Landecker and WLS!
Ahh, memories. Grew up listening to the BIG 89 WLS in the evening and through the night on my transistor radio from Pembroke Ontario Canada. Great Jocs and Yes, WLS was truly the Giant of the midwest. Thank you for this wonderful piece of retro therapy.
thank you so much for posting this. I grew up in Iowa and me and the whole nieghborhood would spend our nights out in the yard listening to WLS. All the jingles on here just bring back SOOO many memories. man if life was like it was back then. Used to love to listen to all the DJ's on WLS, JRL, Larry Lujack, Little Tommy etc. all of them. This just is so cool to be able to go back and get a glimps back into my youth.
Just now seeing what John Landecker looks like, after listening to him back in the late seventies, playin the hits of Rock n Roll, way out here in a small west Texas town. No wonder I was so sleepy in class, waiting for him to play that particular Stones, or Zepplin song before I dozed off!
I wasborn and spent the first 22 years growing up listening to WLS with Larry Lujack and John Records Landecker. I remember one Labor Day I was watching the Telethon, when John came on the local segment and had a contest if you called into the station. I called in and talked to him. I can’t reme
I also, along with dylanpresley below, worked on this short film as a Columbia College student. It was shot around Xmas 1976 or January 1977. I worked on the sound crew.
Picked up "Records Really Is My Middle Name" written by John. I am about half way through the book. Intimate look in to his life as an air personality. Definitely worth the read if you're from this era when WLS was king of the airwaves.
There was not much to listen to locally out in the hinterland of N.W.Tennessee back in the seventies. I remember most of us tuned our car radios to WLS soon as it propagated in at night.
Cool old clip of a young John Landecker. Where did you get the "1977 clip of unknown purpose and origin." Amazing what comes up on youtube. Maybe John will post and tell all.
I grew up 100 miles south of Chicago in the corn and bean fields of Illinois and WLS was about the only station that we could get with rock music. All the jocks were great to listen to and animal stories always was good for a laugh.
From a tennessee old 60 yr old. My oldest brother Dave controlled our little nighttime radio. It was everynight wls chicago radio 89. We listened to nothing else. What memories. And John, they were some ladys who became women listening to you. According to our high school reunions,they havent forgotten about it either. Thanks john
WLS would come in loud and clear even way down in Dallas loved listening to John at night. I had to drive into work super early and would listen to Larry Lujack in the early morning on the way in.
I listened night after night to John from my bedroom in Cincinnati. He is a true legend. What a voice and presence. Such a shame that the "disc jockey" is a lost art.
I grew up just outside of Chicago, and loved listening to John Landecker. He was on during my favorite time to listen to the radio. This brings back so many good memories. On the full version of this video (its out there but the comments are turned off on the one I found), John talks about his kids having fun in the radio station. I can relate to that. My father was also a DJ at a smaller station outside of Chicago. It was really great fun going to the radio station on Saturdays or Sundays. We would have a blast. Every once in a while nature would call, and my dad had no choice. He told us what to do to make sure everything kept going smooth. Usually it was either start up the other turntable and play the next record, or push a button to initiate a commercial. There was obviously never any talking. But it was loads of fun for us. I was I think around 13 or 14 yrs old. My sister was about 17 or 18. If she came along, I was bumped from doing anything to help. So I was always glad when it was just me. This was back when DJ's actually did DJ stuff. Plus it was a smaller station so my dad could play anything he wanted. On WLS, they had to play pre-approved play lists, that were provided to them. So for example, Landecker here knew what he was going to play for his entire shift, before his shift ever started. I suspect if they did a request line, that would have been the only time a record played that wasn't pre-planned. In fact, John Landecker was the DJ who first played Styx in Chicago. Once they were approved to play Styx's records, Landecker welcomed them to WLS. Styx was from Chicago.
He could pass for Dennis DeYoung’s brother.
Listened to WLS, driving at night drinking a few beers, on backroads in Oklahoma. Back in the 70s.
Nothing takes me back like WLS does.
Listened to him in southeast Missouri in the 70s. Mostly came in at night.
Man, this is great.
This movie was a big inspiration for me. I saw this while I was in school learning radio and it helped me decide which direction I wanted to go in. That was 25 years ago and I am no longer in radio but it still makes me smile and sends a chill or tow up my spin when John slams those posts with such ease. You see this and it really brings home how bad radio is today compared to then. Thanks for posting this.
As a teenager in the midwest in the late 70's, driving around town listening to WLS was the thing to do.
I always wondered what the "penthouse" at WLS looked like...now we know. Thanks for posting this wonderful insight.
I grew up on John and boogie check!!! Love this
I remember calling this station back in 1975 when the call-ins were open! I loved this station! His voice was so calming!
Listened to him in Joplin, MO.
I went to sleep listening to this guy as a kid!!!
With my headphones on. 😂
I grew up listening to John on WLS. I never knew how good-looking he was!!
Listened to WLS throughout the 70's from Youngstown OH, John Landecker was a gem.
awesome clip I remember growing up listening to the WLS in the 70s. great station and great music too
So, this is what it really was like, when I was a little boy listening in my bedroom waay back in 1977...WOW! This was the scene in the Studio as it went out live to us. Thanks for posting this. I can't believe it even exists! How? Why? Who shot it and for what purpose?? Although I'm very GLAD they did!
This is SO AWESOME!!!! I grew up in NW Indiana and listened every night as I drifted off to sleep. Thanks so much for sharing! It is so cool to see what he looked like back then.
I listened to this guy every night as a teenager. When I worked in radio, I was surprised at the amount of paperwork involved, but it was a great job while it lasted...we were all put out of work by the big mergers and automation, though...kind of a shame, really.
Filling out those BMI logs were a pain in the rear. Tried to stay away from those Isley Brothers songs.
Two great legends! I listened every night while in Kansas City. I would drive to Oklahoma every other weekend and would listen all the way to Muskogee, Oklahoma. Nobody is better in radio than John "Records" Landecker and WLS!
love the AM sound. On stormy nights with the static and all. In Oklahoma WLS the station to listen to back in the day
Ahh, memories. Grew up listening to the BIG 89 WLS in the evening and through the night on my transistor radio from Pembroke Ontario Canada. Great Jocs and Yes, WLS was truly the Giant of the midwest. Thank you for this wonderful piece of retro therapy.
thank you so much for posting this. I grew up in Iowa and me and the whole nieghborhood would spend our nights out in the yard listening to WLS. All the jingles on here just bring back SOOO many memories. man if life was like it was back then. Used to love to listen to all the DJ's on WLS, JRL, Larry Lujack, Little Tommy etc. all of them. This just is so cool to be able to go back and get a glimps back into my youth.
WTG, leezamix...thanks for the great throwback to what was then, one of the nation's BEST music stations (*on analog AM*).
;)
.
Just now seeing what John Landecker looks like, after listening to him back in the late seventies, playin the hits of Rock n Roll, way out here in a small west Texas town. No wonder I was so sleepy in class, waiting for him to play that particular Stones, or Zepplin song before I dozed off!
This man is the reason I got into radio
PERIOD!
me too....as a small town announcer I would tell the public to blame John if I goofed up
"Don't be nervous, don't be rocky ... " - thank you, Arbogast & Ross.
He’s back! WGN AM weekday evenings around 8 pm!
I wasborn and spent the first 22 years growing up listening to WLS with Larry Lujack and John Records Landecker. I remember one Labor Day I was watching the Telethon, when John came on the local segment and had a contest if you called into the station. I called in and talked to him. I can’t reme
I saw this film two years before it was produced and it is still great!
Wls. Was it in northern Indiana in back in the day
I had no idea what this dude looked like when I listened to WLS in the early 70's. He look(ed) like Michael Ontkean back then.
I also, along with dylanpresley below, worked on this short film as a Columbia College student. It was shot around Xmas 1976 or January 1977. I worked on the sound crew.
Nice! Listed to “Records” many a night in a one-light western TN town in the early 70s.
Man,this brings back soo many memories!
And it's extra cool because I knew the guy who wins the phone contest!!
"Disco Duck... made for and by animals..." lol
love the old WLS reverb! Larry Lujack was hte best!
Picked up "Records Really Is My Middle Name" written by John. I am about half way through the book. Intimate look in to his life as an air personality. Definitely worth the read if you're from this era when WLS was king of the airwaves.
There was not much to listen to locally out in the hinterland of N.W.Tennessee back in the seventies. I remember most of us tuned our car radios to WLS soon as it propagated in at night.
This is from a 1978 educational film titled DISC JOCKEY that was distributed by Learning Corporation of America. Possibly just for classroom use??
I can’t remember winning the contest, but it was great talking to John. I really miss him and “Super Jock”.
He’s on WGN am week day evenings around 8pm
Why does radio, tv, and music have to SUCK so bad now!!!
In full monophonic sound yet!?!?
Cool old clip of a young John Landecker.
Where did you get the "1977 clip of unknown purpose and origin."
Amazing what comes up on youtube.
Maybe John will post and tell all.
My brother graduated from Lakeland College in broadcasting 1976
From the rock of Chicago, WLS plays more hit music!
@chicagofilmarchives I first saw this years ago while i was studying radio-TV at Lakeland College in Mattoon, Il...
Boogie check
Senior year in High School at Mendel Catholic High school
Disco freaking duck!
RLM?
Who else is here after watching his daughter on Sneaky Pete?