Archive page for 1210 AM WPHT "The Big Talker" in Philadelphia.
Pictures, audio, and related information collected over the years.
This page is under construction/unsorted
Related material is on the Audio Page
Old station logos
WPHT finally added their own website 3/8/2002 thebigtalker1210.com
WPHT adds Glenn Beck on 1/14/2002
Talk Rage Promo
WPHT has changed the lineup on January 14, 2002
Imus - 6-9
Beck - 9-12
Rush - 12-3
Katz - 3-7
Cramer - 7-8
Dom - 8-10
Rollye - 10-1
Bell - 1-6
Fridays will continue with Sid Mark evenings at 7.
Previous - Dr. Laura - 9 to noon - taken off September 11, 2001.
Brief History:
Originally went on the air in May 1922.
Founded by Wilson Durham, a Philadelphia electrician, in his shot on 1936 Market Street. (250watts)
Sold in 1924 for 25K to Ike Levy and Daniel Murphy (Philadelphia lawyers)
Became part of the newly formed CBS (Columbia Broadcasting System in 1928.
Sold in 1946 to David Stern (Publisher), who sold it the next year to the Bulletin (Philly newspaper). The Bulletin later sold it back to CBS.
After flirting with news and talk through the 80's the station ceased talk on 8/15/1990 at 1:05 pm, just before former mayor Frank Rizzo was to go on the air and right after Clark DeLeon finished up. Yearly average ratings before this were 1985 - 3.7 | 1986 - 2.8 | 1987 - 2.9 | 1988 - 3.2 | 1989 - 3.6 | to mid 1990 - 2.9
Then the station assumed the identity of WOGL-AM and simulcast most of WOGL-FM's signal except for sports.
Changed again on 3/18/1994 to WGMP (The Game) - sports format.
In August of 1996, it reverted to a talk format under the calls of WPTS. Those calls were changed to WPHT sometime in September 96 (?).
WGMP - For a short time 1210 went all-sports as WGMP (The Game) on March 18, 1994, going head to head with WIP 610 AM and losing big. Here's a 12-second promo from that time.
Technical:
Predicted Coverage Area for 1210, daytime map
More technical info on 1210 from Radio Locator
Billboard put up on I95 4/1/2002
Spring 2002 brings new marketing line ... "Talk Radio with a Pulse"
Frank Rizzo publicity shot from WCAU 1990
Picture provided by Mike Ross
Police commissioner John Timoney, Sid Mark, and Daily News Columnist Stu Bykofsky
Kathy from San Antonio (PhillyTalk contributor Alex's MIL) visits Glenn Beck's studio with us.
Archive page for Jack McKinney
Past Favorite Hosts and fill ins
Michael Smerconish - Weekdays 5 to 7 PM or till the Phillies start. - MAS Talk website - Trial lawyer and former Regional Administrator and Federal Housing Commissioner in the Bush administration. Michael was on the air from January 1998 thru November 2001. Archive Page for Michael Smerconish.
Chuck Darrow - Entertainment writer, South Jersey Courrier Post.
John DeBella - 3 to 5 pm - Aired October 98 thru July 99. At the same time he worked at sister station WYSP.
Debra Luray aka "Ruby Cheeks" went to WYSP.
Steve and Amy - 3 to 5 PM. Steve Martorano worked at WIP, WWDB and PhillyTvNews. Amy Kaplan went to all news KYW.
Jay and Hilarie - noon to 3. Jay Soreson also worked at NJ101.5 and again with Hilarie at WWDB (until 11/00). Hilarie Barsky went to Metro News Service for WWDB and then joined Jay afternoons at 3. jayandhilarie.com
The Sturdy Beggars - Jerry and Joe Long
Harry Kalish - former weekend Public Affairs Host
From the WCAU days - Former Mayor Frank Rizzo.
G. Gordon Liddy - 7 pm to 10 pm. (1-800-GGLiddy) - show dropped in May 2000
Rich Levin - PC Talk (ended his show on this station in June 2001)
Scoot, Nancy Glass, Don Lancer