WIRL
WIRL (1290 AM, nicknamed "Good Time Oldies 1290 & 102.7") is a radio station broadcasting an oldies music format. Licensed to Peoria, Illinois, USA, the station serves the Peoria area and broadcasts in AM stereo. The station is currently owned by Alpha Media.
Current programming
WIRL features local air personalitiy Lee Malcolm in the morning. The station has a noon farm and agri-business show weekdays. The station carries St. Louis Cardinals baseball.
History
WIRL began broadcasting February 18, 1948, on 1290 kHz with 5 KW power (full-time). It was licensed to Illinois Valley Broadcasting Company with studios in the Jefferson Building in Peoria.
WIRL was most famous as a Top 40 radio station from 1960 until approximately 1984. WIRL was successful immediately as a Top 40 station, as the only competition was daytime-only WPEO 1020 AM. Popular disc jockeys were Robyn Weaver, Lee Ranson, Jerry Barr, Jim French, "Old Weird" Tim West, Bill McCluggage, Lee Malcolm, Wayne R. Miller, Howard Taylor, Pete Stewart, VLJ, Charlie O'Day, John Sebastian Bachman,Ann Holub, Dave Phillips, Steve Young, Scott Robbins, Ron Thorn,Mark Wainwright and many more. For many years WIRL broadcast Bradley University basketball games with Mort Cantor as the play by play man.
