WOOK (AM)
The Federal Communications Commission had previously granted a construction permit to attorney Lawrence J. Heller on February 13, including a 50-watt synchronous amplifier to give the station full metropolitan coverage.
[13] The local of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers asked the FCC to reconsider approving the WINX-WOOK swap because United's non-union staff had replaced the former WINX's union technicians.
[16]: 13 Hal Jackson, who had started his career at WINX[17] with a show titled "The Bronze Review" and was laughed at when he proposed to the Post that it cover Homestead Grays Negro league baseball, launched the first regular African American-hosted program in Washington over WOOK (when it was at 1590[18]).
In 1962, WOOK moved into a new, purpose-built radio and television studio at 5321 1st Place NE, and WOOK-TV channel 14 took to the air on March 5, 1963.
The station ceased broadcasting on February 12, 1972, as United faced mounting legal challenges to its various licenses and consequent financial reverses.
[24] In 1969, the Federal Communications Commission designated Washington Community's challenges alongside WOOK's and WFAN-TV's license renewals for hearing.
[26] In one program, broadcast over WOOK on June 8, 1969, a preacher was cited as saying, "I know the Lord blessed through the 82nd Psalm and the 7th verse", when 782 had been the winning number in the local undercover lottery on May 26.
[30] When it became clear that 1340's license was doomed, Eaton opted to sacrifice the Spanish-language programming airing at 100.3 FM to move WOOK's intellectual unit there.
[1] However, as April 22, 1978—the final day of broadcasting for the WFAN license—loomed, Hispanic leaders in metropolitan Washington were left to evaluate their options; they attempted to purchase WGTB, which Georgetown University was selling at the time, but the University of the District of Columbia acquired the station, rendering the backup offer from the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington—which would have run the station as a Spanish-language outlet—moot.
