WCFL, broadcasting at 1000 AM, was named after the Chicago Federation of Labor and stood among the nation’s first non-commercial radio stations—owned and operated by its listeners. Its first transmitter was installed on Chicago’s Navy Pier, where the Federation leased the North Tower for ten years at just $1 per year, making the station available for city broadcasts. Studios were initially located at the pier, but harsh winters in 1926–1927 often made them inaccessible.

To remain self-sustaining, the Federation added a shortwave station at the Navy Pier site, planning to use WCFL Radio Telegraph to help offset costs. By 1927, WCFL had relocated to 623 South Wabash Avenue (today part of Columbia College Chicago). In 1928, the station purchased land in Downers Grove for a new transmitter, breaking ground there in 1932.

For decades, WCFL carried general entertainment programming, but by the late 1950s, it shifted toward popular music. In November 1957, the station famously banned all Elvis Presley records from its playlist. Between 1963 and 1965, WLS was Chicago’s only Top 40 station—a rarity among major cities. That changed in 1965 when WCFL adopted the Top 40 format, sparking a fierce rivalry with WLS.

From 1966 to 1970, WCFL produced six “branded” record albums. During its “SuperCFL” era, personalities like Larry Lujack and Art Roberts joined the station. Jim Stagg provided coverage of the Beatles’ 1965 and 1966 U.S. tours, traveling with the band, while British DJ Paul Michael hosted a weekly British Countdown beginning in 1965. WCFL also championed local talent with Ron Britain’s Chicago Countdown on Sunday evenings, spotlighting Chicago-area groups.

By March 1976, after two years of declining ratings, WCFL abruptly abandoned its Top 40 format for The World’s Most Beautiful Music, leaving WLS once again as Chicago’s sole AM Top 40 station.

Today, WCFL is a non-commercial FM station based in Morris, Illinois, serving the western suburbs with a Christian adult contemporary format, owned by the University of Northwestern – St. Paul. In 1990, the station revived the WCFL call sign and adopted an oldies format branded “Super CFL,” using slogans and jingles reminiscent of its Top 40 heyday. The original WCFL-FM staff included Gary Rivers, Bob Zak, Tom Kapsalis, Don Beno, and Jeff Andrews, with playlists focused on hits from 1965 to 1979.

Meanwhile, the 1000 AM frequency is now home to WMVP, a sports radio station affiliated with ESPN, featuring coverage of the Chicago White Sox and Bears.

Jocks (or on-air personalities) over the years:

The WCFL lineup across the years featured a rotating cast of Chicago radio personalities. In 1966, the station showcased Jim Runyon, Joel Sebastian, Dick Williamson, Jim Stagg, Ron Britain, Barney Pip, and Sid McCoy. By early 1967, Jerry G. Bishop joined alongside Sebastian, Williamson, Stagg, Britain, and Pip. Through 1968 and into 1969, Bishop, Sebastian, Williamson, Stagg, Britain, Pip, and Dick Biondi carried the schedule. In July 1970, Clark Weber, Robert E. Lee, Biondi, Scotty Brink, Larry O’Brien, Ron Britain, Bob Dearborn, and Lillian Thomas appeared. By February 1971, Weber, Lee, Jerry Kaye, Biondi, O’Brien, Dearborn, Steve York, and Thomas were on air, with Art Roberts replacing Weber later that year. From early 1972, Roberts, Lee, Kaye, Biondi, O’Brien, Dearborn, and York were featured, and by mid-1972, Roberts, Dearborn, Larry Lujack, Ron O’Brien, Larry O’Brien, and Dick Shannon filled the slots. In October 1972, Dearborn and Larry O’Brien shared mornings, joined by Roberts, Lujack, Ron O’Brien, Kris Erik Stevens, and Shannon. Early 1973 brought Dearborn and Tom Murphy in mornings, followed by Murphy, Dearborn, Lujack, Ron O’Brien, Chuck Knapp, and Shannon, with Knapp later replaced by Dick Sainte. In 1974, Murphy, Dearborn, Lujack, Dr. Brock, Sainte, Shannon, and weekend host Bill Taylor were heard, shifting later that year to Dick ’n Doug, Dearborn, Lujack, Johnny Driscoll, Taylor, Shannon, and weekend host Don Giraldeaux. By mid-1975, Murphy, Dearborn, Lujack, Ron O’Brien, Driscoll, Shannon, and weekend host Tim Kelly were on air. In early 1976, Dick ’n Doug, Dearborn, Lujack, Driscoll, Kelly, Shannon, and weekend host Jim Bernard Hebel filled the schedule. Finally, in March 1976, WCFL’s last Top 40 lineup featured Driscoll, Dearborn, Lujack, Kelly, Shannon, Hebel, and weekend host Michael Scott.