OFFBEAT: Radio icon "Uncle" Len Ellis back at mic for Columbia honor

Phil Potempa's daily entertainment news column.

Mick Jagger of The Rolling Stones talks with Ed Sullivan as Keith Richards looks on while on the set of 'The Ed Sullivan Show'

Ed Sullivan talks with British rock and roll singer Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones on the set of "The Ed Sullivan Show," in New York City in this Sept. 11, 1966 archive photo, which also captures Jagger's bandmate Keith Richards watching with arms crossed above his guitar.

Chicago WLS Radio DJ Larry Lujack

Chicago WLS Radio DJ Larry Lujack was a broadcast mainstay until he retired in 1987.

Radio DJ Larry Lujack's "Animal Stories" Show on WLS

Chicago Radio DJ Larry Lujack entertained listeners of all ages with his WLS broadcast show segment called "Animal Stories."

Radio program showcases State Police information

Catch the latest addition of the “Indiana State Police Road Show” radio program every Monday morning at your convenience.

Vaudeville star was popular with Calumet Region audiences

Think back over the past half century and identify the stars of electronic media. You’ll find that it’s surprisingly difficult to do.

"You Have to Dream Big" by Orion Samuelson

WGN Radio legend Orion Samuelson has written his autobiography detailing his 60-year Chicago radio career.

OFFBEAT: Psychic Irene Hughes bright as stars she consulted

Phil Potempa's daily entertainment news column.

Chicago Radio Legend Dick Biondi of WLS

Chicago Radio Legend Dick Biondi, 80, is a popular voice on WLS-FM with his overnight "oldies" music show.

WJOB in Hammond ready to celebrate 90 years of region radio fame

Jim Dedelow, owner of WJOB-1230 AM in Hammond, describes the regional radio station as "living history built on listeners."

East Chicago Newsman Frank Reynolds Broadcasting for WJOB

Newsman Frank Reynolds, of East Chicago, began his broadcast career holding a WJOB microphone in the 1950s for the Hammond radio station.

Hammond Bus with WJOB Advertising in the Late 1950s

A bus in Hammond features advertising for the WJOB radio sports coverage in the Region in the late 1950s.

WJOB Broadcast Area

WJOB-1230 AM still broadcasts from Hammond studios, reaching 2.5 million listeners in Illinois and 500,000 listeners in Northwest Indiana.

WJOB Radio Station in Hammond

WJOB radio station in Hammond has been at the same studio location at 6405 Olcott Ave. in the Woodmar neighborhood of Hammond since 1956.

Gene "Geno" Sferruzza Broadcasting from WJOB Studios in Hammond

Gene "Geno" Sferruzza does his morning show Wednesday with a live video feed to the station's website for WJOB radio in Hammond. The station is approaching its 90th anniversary on the air.

OFFBEAT: Final week for fantastic play based on life of Hank Willliams Sr.

Phil Potempa's daily entertainment news column.

OFFBEAT: Reader recommends watching 'entertaining friend' on 'Food Network Star'

Phil Potempa's daily entertainment news column.

Growing demand for bandwidth is changing public safety communications

Portage Police Chief Troy Williams uses his car police radio.

Growing demand for bandwidth is changing public safety communications

Public safety officers such as Portage Police Chief Troy Williams use the radio to communicate with their headquarters. Public safety agencies in the region must adopt a narrower bandwidth by the end of the year to meet a federal mandate.

Growing demand for bandwidth is changing public safety communications

Portage Police Chief Troy Williams uses his car's police radio. In an effort to manage the limitations of the airwaves, the Federal Communications Commission is requiring all public safety and industrial and business licensees use a narrower bandwidth by Jan. 1.