The Wayside Theater Radio Program

Background

Chicago's CBS-owned and operated (O&O) WBBM was one of the three major Radio network-owned and operated Chicago stations to originate quality programming throughout Chicago and surrounding states. WMAQ, Chicago's NBC affiliate also orginated a great deal of local and regional programming throughout the area. WGN, Chicago's Mutual Broadcasting System affilate also orginated a great many Radio features that went national in time. WENR was the newcomer O&O, the Chicago Key Station for The Blue Network (ABC). Among WBBM's many locally originated programs were:

• 1933 Jack Armstrong, the All-American Boy
• 1938 Manhattan Mother
• 1939 Knickerbocker Playhouse
• 1939 Manhattan Mother
• 1938 The Parker Family
• 1938 Wayside Theater
• 1940 A Brighter World
• 1942 The First Line
• 1945 Those Websters
• 1945 America In the Air
• 1945 Five After the Hour
• 1945 Island Venture
• 1945 American Family News
• 1950 Cloud Nine

Founded in 1923 by Harry Leslie 'Les' Atlass, WBBM first broadcast local election returns as the second licensed amateur radio station in Lincoln, Illionois--designated '9FDC. ' Quickly expanding from his initial transmitting power of 10 watts to 200 watts, Les Atlass acquired permission to use the call letters 'WBBM' for his 200 watt broadcasting station; the initials reportedly representing "We Broadcast Better Music." Though 200 watts may seem relatively small power, it was enough in 1923 and 1924 to be picked up from coast to coast.

After selling his produce company to Armour & Company, Atlass subsequently dismantled the broadcasting equipment on his property in Lincoln, Illinois in preparation for a move to Chicago. Atlass simply broadcast out of his basement in Chicago for the following two years.

WBBM returned to the air in Chicago for the first time on February 24, 1925, broadcasting from the Broadmoor Hotel on Chicago's North Side. WBBM began broadcasting three days a week with mostly jazz. By the late 1920s WBBM had become the first Chicago station to accept commercial advertising. CBS acquired the station in 1928 as a CBS O&O station. WBBM added a 5,000 Watt FM frequency in 1941 and a Television station in 1953.

During WBBM's programming development heyday of the late 1930s and throughout the 1940s WBBM originated numerous public service, drama, variety and soap opera programs for airing throughout the Midwest, many of which were picked up by CBS for national broadcasts.

The Chicago Motor Club

Motor clubs became popular around the turn of the 20th Century. By 1899 several motor clubs for both motorized bicycles and early steam-powered automobiles had spring up around America's largest metropolitan areas. Southern California's Automobile Association was incorporated in 1900. New York's Automobile Club of America had been founded in 1899. The Chicago Motor Club, founded in 1906, had its nexus in the Chicago Motorized Cycle Club of the late 1900s.

From the October 30th 1899 edition of the Daily Gazette:

     General Avery D. Andrews has the distinction of being the president of the first automobile club in this country. The club was recently organized in New York with 33 charter members.  It is to be known, as the Automobile Club of America.  There is a similar organization in London with about 500 members, and the Paris Automobile club, which has been in existence for nearly two years, is a most flourishing affair.
     It costs $100 to become an active member of the Automobile Club of America. The membership is to be limited to 400, just the number of those whom Ward McAllister included in New York's exclusive society.  Honorary and associate members may be elected without limit.
     A clubhouse is to be built and a storage house for vehicles will be secured.  Club runs will be held and repair stations will be established.  The club contemplates the holding of an automobile exhibition some time during the coming winter.  It is expected that this function will rival the New York horse show, as if is intended to make it a society affair.  When the club is in good working order, it will try to influence legislation in favor of automobilists and will demand from park boards privileges equal to those extended to other pleasure vehicles.  The club will also superintend the exhibit of American automobiles at the Paris exposition.
     Among the charter members of the club are several rich New York merchants, two or three noted physicians, a wealthy brewer, a famous magazine editor, an army officer and numerous prominent society men.  It goes without saying that all the members are rich men, for automobiling is essentially the sport of the rich.

In 1902 the several regional automobile clubs and organizations convened in Chicago to form the Automobile Association of America (AAA). From their inception, America's automobile clubs--and their international counterparts--lobbied, cajoled and organized for improvements in the roads of the era, driving regulations, automobile insurance and mapping the highways of the era.

WBBM and The Chicago Motor Club inaugurate Wayside Theater

Wayside Theater was a classy little drama anthology notable not only for its ensemble cast of legendary Golden Age of Radio performers but also for its excellent scripts. Olan Soulé and Patricia Dunlap anchored most of the ensemble pieces, aided by Brett Morrison of The Shadow fame, Ken Christy, Bill Bouchey, Forrest Lewis, Herb Butterfield, and Lesley Woods among others.

Wayside Theater premiered on September 11th 1938 on Sunday evenings at the dinner hour throughout the Midwest and as far as Pennsylvania and Texas. The Chicago Motor Club was greatly expanding their post-War membership of the era, and aggressively promoted its insurance services, car-buying program, roadside assistance and vacation planning.

Series Derivatives:

Notes on Provenances:

The most helpful provenances were newspaper listings.

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