WRJN Radio Station

WRRS Now WRJN, Racine Journal News, May 3, 1928
WRJN advertisement in the Racine Journal News, March 2, 1931

Timeline:

  • Broadcast from Hotel Racine, 1927 to almost 1938
  • Switched from 1370 khz to 1400 khz in 1941 (per Janet Hoff Karkow)
  • Broadcast from above the bank, to late 1957
  • Victory Avenue to the present (per Janet Hoff Karkow)

Janet Hoff Karkow posts: In response to the post about “Party Line” on WRJN, here are five of the hosts at the 70th Anniversary show in 1996. They are Kay Dawson, Sue Poulsen, Cathy Larsen, Debbie Thogersen and Caroline Peacock. Party Line was started in 1957 by Helen Thomas. She was replaced by Sandy St. John. The show ended around 1997. The Helpful Hints index cards, unfortunately, no long exist.
Janet Hoff Karkow posts: Before all the homes, and the radio station itself as of late 1957, a transmitter building and the tower existed. Engineers stayed there, while the programs took place downtown.
Janet Hoff Karkow: Transmitter building made to blend in. This was Mt Pleasant.
WRJN advertisement in the 1964 Racine City Directory. I like the boast that WRJN reaches 90% more daytime homes than any other Racine County radio station.
WRJN advertisement in the 1964 Racine City Directory. I like the boast that WRJN reaches 90% more daytime homes than any other Racine County radio station.
Janet Hoff Karkow: The newspaper owned WRJN at that time [1952-1953], and participated in community helping events. Donald Karkow was Tom’s father, but we never heard about this effort. Maybe an internal effort for the “welfare” of the employees? Millie French was the long time office manager of the radio station.