CINCINNATI

Cincinnati radio!

When I was a teen, WSAI was one of Cincinnati's two pop music stations.  WCPO was the other.  They were both on the AM dial - that's all we had in the 1950s going into the 1960s.

WSAI was created in 1923 by the president of U.S. Playing Card Company located in Norwood.  He wanted the station simply for one purpose; so that everyone could hear the carillon bells that were placed in the company's clock tower.  I'm led to believe that's all you could hear on that channel. One of my dad's brothers was a long-time employee there and brought us decks of cards once in a while.  U.S.Playing Card was the major supplier of cards in the country.  They are currently owned by a European Company and are located in Erlanger, KY. 

In 1928, the station was sold to Powell Crosley, the owner of powerhouse WLW.  Mr. Crosley called WSAI "Cincinnati's Own"  while WLW was known as the "Nation's Station".  Of course, the WSAI call sign is still in use - now it's an all-sports station.


Here is a picture of the U.S Playing Card manufacturing facility as it once stood in Norwood. 



Memories:  I played baseball and football in the park across from this building when I was growing up; Dorl Park.