WSBC transmits with 1,000 watts. Its transmitter site is on North Milwaukee Avenue at West Catalpa Avenue in Chicago.[6] It shares its tower with sister stationWCPT (820 AM).
WSBC features programming aimed at ethnic communities including Russian, Ukrainian, Latino, Italian, Latvian and Irish. Hosts buy time on the station and may offer their services or seek donations during their shows.
WSBC was first licensed on June 26, 1925,[7][8][9] to the World Battery Company at 1219 South Wabash Avenue, transmitting on 1430 kHz.[10] Its call sign stood for "World Storage Battery Company".[8][9][2][11] In 1926, its frequency was changed to 1040 kHz and in 1927 it was changed to 1290 kHz.[7]
Following the establishment of the Federal Radio Commission (FRC), stations were initially issued a series of temporary authorizations starting on May 3, 1927.[12] In addition, they were informed that if they wanted to continue operating, they needed to file a formal license application by January 15, 1928, as the first step in determining whether they met the new "public interest, convenience, or necessity" standard.[13] On May 25, 1928, the FRC issued General Order 32, which notified 164 stations, including WSBC, that "From an examination of your application for future license it does not find that public interest, convenience, or necessity would be served by granting it."[14] However, the station successfully convinced the commission that it should remain licensed.
On November 11, 1928, the FRC implemented a major reallocation of station transmitting frequencies, as part of a reorganization resulting from its implementation of General Order 40. WSBC was assigned to 1210 kHz, sharing time with WCRW and WEDC.[15] Its studios and transmitter were located at the New Southern Hotel (later known as the Hotel Crillon) at 13th and Michigan Avenue.[7]
Since the station began broadcasting, it has featured a wide variety of ethnic programming.[16] The Sousa Archives and Center for American Music holds the Frank Scheibenreif Slovak, Czech, and Romi Sound Recording Collection, ca. 1930-1950.[17] This collection includes 1,001 recordings, including 753 78-R.P.M., 140 45-R.P.M., and 108 LPs; and one book documenting Eastern Europe music prior to World War II, principally from Czechoslovakia and used by Scheibenreif for the WSBC show, "Slovak American Radio Review."
WSBC hired the nation's first full-time African-American radio announcer, Jack Cooper, who on November 3, 1929, began hosting The All-Negro Hour, a vaudevillesque entertainment program.[18][19]
On April 1, 1933, Gene Dyer purchased WSBC from C.J. Gordon, who had operated it since August 1932.[20] At the time, Dyer also owned WGES in Chicago.[20] In 1936, the station's studios and transmitter were moved to the West Town State Bank Building at 2400 W. Madison.[7] Its frequency was changed to 1240 kHz in March 1941, as a result of the North American Regional Broadcasting Agreement.[7]
In 1944, WSBC was sold to the J. Miller Advertising Agency for $100,000.[21] In 1954, the station was sold to Louis Lee for $180,000.[22] In 1976, control of the station was passed to Louis Lee's son, Danny Lee.[7][23]
In 1996, WSBC's owners purchased WCRW for $564,375, plus $160,000 for a non-compete agreement.[24][25] WEDC ceased broadcasting in 1997. WSBC began broadcasting from WEDC's transmitter site and it began full-time operations.[26][27]
