WKDN

WKDN may refer to:

WKDN (AM)

WKDN (950AM, "Family Radio") is an American radio station licensed to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and serving the Philadelphia market. WKDN is owned and operated by Family Stations, Inc. and broadcasts a Christian format.

History

Early years

WKDN began broadcasting as WPEN on April 19, 1929, originally as a 250-watt station on 1500 kHz. The frequency was previously shared by the Pennsylvania School of Wireless Telegraphy's WPSW, which went on the air in 1926, and Bethayres-based WALK, which launched in 1927; both stations were acquired by William Penn Broadcasting and merged to create WPEN. In its early years, it was known for Italian-language programming, and was co-owned with another major Italian-oriented station, WOV in New York City. Beginning in November 1929, Sunday Breakfast Rescue Mission broadcast their Sunday morning services from their 800 person homeless shelter and soup kitchen. The most notable speaker was Percy Crawford who spoke consistently to the crowd of homeless men. In the 1930s, WPEN moved to 920 kHz, sharing time with WRAX until the two stations merged in 1938. WPEN then went to 950 kHz in the NARBA frequency shifts of 1941. During the mid-1940s, the station was owned by the Philadelphia Bulletin newspaper; in 1948, the newspaper bought the more powerful WCAU and sold WPEN to the local Sun Ray Drug Store chain. As entertainment programming moved from radio to television, WPEN evolved into a popular music format in the early 1950s. The music at that time consisted of artists such Perry Como, Frank Sinatra, Doris Day, Mills Brothers, Tommy Dorsey, Bing Crosby, Peggy Lee, Nat King Cole, Pat Boone, Tony Bennett, and many others. At this time, a show called the "950 Club" began as well.