He held a patent for an early photoelectric cell that automatically dimmed automobile headlights for oncoming traffic at night,[13] and also designed a five-speaker public address system for Western Electric.

[14] Akron Beacon Journal publisher John S. Knight publicly showed skepticism in his column that the commission would even grant the permit, and could not justify the need for a third station.

[17] Berk appealed the decision, claiming that the commission ignored testimony from Akron officials and leaders desiring a third station,[18] and after securing statements of support from 34 different civic, religious and community organizations in the city, the FCC reversed itself on August 8, 1939, granting the permit.

I can't say we need it ... WJW and WADC filed protests against the ruling and requested a rehearing, along with two other stations that operated on the proposed 1530 kHz frequency: KITE (the former KXBY) and WBRY in Waterbury, Connecticut.

[21] At a final review set forth by the commission on October 25, 1939,[22] WJW's counsel stated that the station either made profits of less than $900 a year or had been operating at a loss since 1936, having paid out most of their income on employee salaries.

[24]) After the proceedings, sources close to the FCC told the Beacon Journal that the commission had been changing its focus to awarding permits unless there was an engineering issue and was no longer taking economic arguments into account.

[27] Future Peter Gunn co-star Lola Albright joined WAKR after graduating from high school as a receptionist before finding additional work at WTAM in Cleveland.

[41] After leaving WAKR for a brief stint at WJW, Richards starred in the Weathervane Playhouse stage production Yes and No before moving to Los Angeles, a chance meeting with two Hollywood press agents prompted him to go to the Warner Bros. Burbank studios.

[45] In addition to mornings, Fazzin provided color commentary for Akron Zips football games,[46] announced Soap Box Derby finals for the station,[47] and hosted various other daytime programs.

Fazzin left the station on January 11, 1952, to pursue freelance work in New York City, leading Beacon Journal writer Art Cullison to predict, "don't be surprised if you see his face on some network video programs.

[50] Even with his popularity, Freed was reportedly fired temporarily in 1948 for violating studio rules,[c] later accounts suggested it was due to his failure to show up for several days in a row.

[55] After one show, Berk sued Freed to enforce a non-compete clause preventing him from working at any station within a radius of 75 miles (121 km) from Akron for a full year.

[61] Just before leaving the station for WMCA in New York City in May 1958,[62] Muni was honored by the Akron Junior Chamber of Commerce as "Man of the Month" for hosting a sock hop that benefited a local children's home.

When reporting about Greer's departure from the station and noting the alumni that already had preceded him, Akron Beacon Journal writer Dick Shippy commented, "...whoever does the picking at WAKR must have the right formula.

[71][72] In April 1946, Akron Beacon Journal publisher John S. Knight, who had been previously critical of the efforts to establish WAKR, purchased a 45 percent interest of Summit Radio Corp. for an undisclosed amount; no changes in management or operations came with this transaction.

[8] While initially based at the First Central Tower,[87] and with a UHF mast affixed to the top of the building,[88] WAKR, WAKR-FM and WAKR-TV moved the following year to new studios at the former Copley Theatre, which only had existed as a theater between March 1947 and October 1952.

[101] WAKR-TV amassed a "seven figure" operating deficit from 1953 until the move to channel 23[102] and lost significant amounts of money for the majority of its existence; Summit Radio relied on profits from WAKR to keep the TV station solvent.

[114] Locally, WAKR-FM had entered into separate programming with an easy listening format in the late 1960s; a power upgrade and placement on WAKR-TV's new tower in November 1967 was concurrent with adding coverage of Kent State Golden Flashes basketball games.

[117] Summit/Group One vice president Alfred G. Grosby expressed regret that it did not occur sooner, as the FM station was already boasting a strong audience and advertiser base, WAEZ was chosen by the staff after analyzing a computer query of all available call signs.

[125] He left WAKR in November 1973 to focus on broadcast productions and sports commentary,[126] notably developing and holding a patent for "Quickie Golf",[121] but returned in March 1976.

The station hired the duo of Adam Jones (Robert Ocepek) and Bob Allen (Gorden Van Waes) for morning drive on August 21, 1978, after previous work at WQUA in Moline, Illinois and WPTF in Raleigh, North Carolina.

[133] As part of a viral marketing campaign, Jones and Allen went around the city wearing t-shirts emblazoned "Adam and Bob", handing out two-dollar bills and pairs of concert tickets to the general public.

[142] Denny Schreiner also served as WAKR and WAKR-TV's sports director prior to joining ESPN as lead play-by-play voice for their PBA Tour coverage.

[149] As the trademark rights were transferred to DKM, WAKR-TV was changed to WAKC when the deal closed on October 31; the Berk family invested the profits from the sale into the TV station.

[160] Despite having received approval by the FCC and after having announced multiple subsequent purchase agreements, the sale of WAKR and WONE-FM did not close until the following January, due to issues securing financing for the actual payment.

[161] While WAKR celebrated their 50th anniversary in October 1990 with fanfare, the station was also starting to deal with declining ratings outside of morning drive and significant budget cuts under U.S.

[4] Sports director Don Ursetti was dismissed on March 30, 1990;[156] the next day, the station announced it had declined to renew its affiliation with the Cleveland Indians Radio Network.

General manager Fred Anthony noted that WAKR benefited from listeners tuning in whenever major news events took place, and the music selections had become incidental.

[181] A mystery writer on the side who published The Radio Murderers: The Collectors in 2011, intended to have been the first book in a series,[188] he chronicled his surgery and subsequent treatments in an e-book memoir, RoBBing Mind: How Attitude and Intention Helped Prevent a Fate Worse Than Death.

[2] Local music personalities heard on WAKR include Sandy Bennett (Middays), Tim Daugherty (Afternoons), Nick Anthony (Evenings/Overnights), with Sue Wilson, Rick Allen, and Jeanne Destro on weekends.