December 3, 1934
PhillyHappened on this day when KYW first broadcast in Philadelphia, Mayor Joseph Hampton Moore said of the move:
The KYW call letters are among the best known in the radio world. With its removal from Chicago to Philadelphia, KYW will provide the radio listening public of the surrounding territory with an additional chain program as well as outstanding local programs.
KYW Radio came on the air at 4:30 pm in Chicago on November 11, 1921. It was the 7th station on the air in the United States and was owned by Westinghouse and the Edison Company.
Its studios in 1934 were located in the WCAU Building, 1622 Chestnut Street in Center City Philadelphia.
The current KYW format began on September 21, 1965 when the station was converted into one of the first all-news stations in the country. KYW’s signature elements were shared with WINS (New York based sister station) such as the distinctive teletype sound effect playing in the background, and the slogans “All News, All the Time”, “The Newswatch Never Stops”, “Listen 2, 3, 4 times a day” and “You give us 22 minutes, we’ll give you the world”.
