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From the Vault

The Last Day of NBC Ownership of WMAQ-AM
January 29, 1988

Curator's note: This piece by Rich Samuels originally aired on WMAQ-TV's 4:30 new on January 29, 1988. On that date, ownership of WMAQ-AM was passed from NBC to Group W. There was considerable anxiety that day among WMAQ staffers over personnel cutbacks the new owner planned to implement. Featured in this piece are Don Vogel (now deceased), Bill Cameron (now with WLS-AM), Jim Hill (now deceased), Harry Volkman, Dick Kay and 24-year-old Roe Conn (who is presently Chicago's top-rated radio talk show host). There are also scenes of the old Merchandise Mart studios, including 1966 video of Studio D shortly before it was converted from a radio to a television studio. The narration track of this piece did not survive in the version I have. But it's not essential for the enjoyment of this video clip.

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