The recent diagnosis of ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease) (as of the time of writing this post) of WSAI-AM and WLW-AM Announcer Jim Scott is very sad.

WSAI-AM was put on the air in March, 1923 by the United States Playing Card Company.

Crosley had purchased WSAI-AM he United States Playing Card Company in May, 1928; mainly to move WLW-AM’s Transmitter Site to what was formerly WSAI-AM’s Transmitter Site in the Cincinnati suburb of Mason, Ohio. What was formerly WSAI-AM’s Transmitter Site remains WLW-AM’s Transmitter Site in Mason well into the present day.

Crosley would also allocate a portion of the property near the WLW-AM/WSAI-AM Transmitter Site in Mason as “Everybody’s Farm”, and as the name implies; would serve as a Public Farm for all residing in the area to utilize, and grow their own crops.

Moreover, Crosley would also erect the Transmitters of one of their Shortwave Radio Stations, WLWO-SW on the property across the street from the WLW-AM/WSAI-AM Transmitter Site in Mason.

In 1944, Crosley would sell WSAI-AM to Field Enterprises. Field Enterprises, in turn; would sell WSAI-AM to the Buckeye Broadcasting Company a year later in 1945. The Buckeye Broadcasting Company, in turn; would sell WSAI-AM to the Gordon Broadcasting Company in 1953. The Gordon Broadcasting Company, in turn; would sell WSAI-AM-FM to an entity called WSAI, Inc. in 1959.

In 1955, the Gordon Broadcasting Company was licensed by the FCC to put an FM sibling of WSAI-AM on the air; WSAI-FM in 1955. WSAI-FM would simulcast its AM parent until the early 1970’s, well after the FCC initiated the rule in the late 1960’s that FM Stations were to no longer simulcast the programming of their AM parents. WSAI-FM began to air programming separate from its AM parent in the form of a hybrid Top 40/Current Hit Radio and Oldies format.

By 1976, WSAI-FM would begin to air a Progressive Rock Format, while still retaining the WSAI-FM call letters. In 1981 the FM would change its call letters to WXKF-FM, and take a Country Music format. WXKF would then switch to CHR/Top 40 in the Summer of 1985, several weeks later in 1985; again change its call letters to WWNK-FM, and take an Adult Contemporary format.

The local WLW Radio Stations, and the WSAI Radio Stations would be reunited for the first time since 1944; when in 1987, Jacor Communications would purchase the local WLW Radio Stations, and the WSAI Radio Stations.

Jacor Communications would be absorbed into Clear Channel Communications. Clear Channel Communications, in turn; would be absorbed into the ever domineering IHeart Media.

Longtime Cincinnati Radio Talent Jim Scott Reveals ALS Diagnosis