Chuck Schaden signing off WDCB-FM (90.9), but 'Those Were the Days' will continue

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Posted by chicagomedia.org on April 24, 2009 at 14:45:44:

HOMAGE TO BENNY | Host of nostalgic radio broadcasts signing off after 39 years

April 24, 2009

LEWIS LAZARE Media & Marketing columnist

After a hugely productive and heavily nostalgia-laden 39 years in broadcasting, Chuck Schaden will sign off for the last time as host of his long-running radio show "Those Were the Days" on June 27, though the show itself will live on.

Schaden's final broadcast on College of DuPage-owned WDCB-FM (90.9) will air live from the Morton Grove Civic Center and will be staged as an "open house" for Schaden's fans. The final program will consist of highlights from Schaden's nearly four-decade-long run helming "Those Were the Days," which re-airs great radio programs from the 1930s, '40s and '50s -- programs that featured many talents now considered show business legends, including Bob Hope, Edgar Bergen and Jack Benny.

Schaden has tapped Steve Darnall to replace him as host, and Ken Alexander, who has worked alongside Schaden as on-air announcer, will continue working with Darnall. Hosting "Those Were the Days" will be Darnall's first foray into the radio business, though he is quite familiar with the rich reservoir of material Schaden celebrates weekly. Four years ago, Schaden sold his Nostalgia Digest Magazine to Darnall, who for many years had listened to -- and loved -- "Those Were the Days." Schaden says Darnall will have no trouble handling "Those Were the Days" because he already knows so much about the old-time radio material.

Schaden was under no pressure to retire, but he felt his 39th anniversary in radio was the right time to do it. Why? Well, as you might suspect, it's partly an homage to one of his favorite radio icons, Jack Benny, who famously celebrated his 39th birthday some 41 times. Plus, Schaden turns 75 two days after his final broadcast. "That's 10 years after I would normally have bowed out," said Schaden.

Over nearly four decades "Those Were the Days" was heard on only three radio stations. The show debuted in 1970 on the defunct WLTD-AM (1590) in Evanston, then moved to the former WNIB-FM before it was sold, and finally to WDCB in 2001.

(Chicago Sun-Times)

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: Chuck Schaden signing off WDCB-FM (90.9), but 'Those Were the Days' will continue : HOMAGE TO BENNY | Host of nostalgic radio broadcasts signing off after 39 years : April 24, 2009 : LEWIS LAZARE Media & Marketing columnist : After a hugely productive and heavily nostalgia-laden 39 years in broadcasting, Chuck Schaden will sign off for the last time as host of his long-running radio show "Those Were the Days" on June 27, though the show itself will live on. : Schaden's final broadcast on College of DuPage-owned WDCB-FM (90.9) will air live from the Morton Grove Civic Center and will be staged as an "open house" for Schaden's fans. The final program will consist of highlights from Schaden's nearly four-decade-long run helming "Those Were the Days," which re-airs great radio programs from the 1930s, '40s and '50s -- programs that featured many talents now considered show business legends, including Bob Hope, Edgar Bergen and Jack Benny. : Schaden has tapped Steve Darnall to replace him as host, and Ken Alexander, who has worked alongside Schaden as on-air announcer, will continue working with Darnall. Hosting "Those Were the Days" will be Darnall's first foray into the radio business, though he is quite familiar with the rich reservoir of material Schaden celebrates weekly. Four years ago, Schaden sold his Nostalgia Digest Magazine to Darnall, who for many years had listened to -- and loved -- "Those Were the Days." Schaden says Darnall will have no trouble handling "Those Were the Days" because he already knows so much about the old-time radio material. : Schaden was under no pressure to retire, but he felt his 39th anniversary in radio was the right time to do it. Why? Well, as you might suspect, it's partly an homage to one of his favorite radio icons, Jack Benny, who famously celebrated his 39th birthday some 41 times. Plus, Schaden turns 75 two days after his final broadcast. "That's 10 years after I would normally have bowed out," said Schaden. : Over nearly four decades "Those Were the Days" was heard on only three radio stations. The show debuted in 1970 on the defunct WLTD-AM (1590) in Evanston, then moved to the former WNIB-FM before it was sold, and finally to WDCB in 2001. : (Chicago Sun-Times)

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