Jay Thomas, 92.3 WKTU New York | September 1, 1983

92.3 New York WXRK WKTU




Jay Thomas at the 1992 Emmy Awards

The station at 92.3 has a rich history, going back to 1948 when it first signed on in the 48 mHz band. Since 1985, the station has more or less been some form of hard rock station. Much of that time it was known as K-Rock, and for a time Howard Stern was syndicated from this station.

Let’s go back before K-Rock. WKTU was made famous during its Disco format in the late 1970s. It was the station that first beat MusicRadio 77 WABC in 1979. By 1983, however, Top 40 music was being played on FM radio on a number of stations. WHTZ “Z-100” began in 1983. WPLJ moved from Album Rock to a Rock/Top 40 hybrid, and 92-KTU had moved from all-Disco to a Rhythmic based CHR format featuring current hits and a number of disco songs the station played during its late-70s heyday.

Here’s Morning Show Host Jay Thomas. Thomas came from WXLO “99X” after that station’s demise and flip to WRKS “Kiss 98.7” Jay Thomas fans will note, he is just as full of wit and sarcasm as his previous morning gig! The contest on Thomas’ show this particular day is the ‘mugging’ contest. As in, ‘have you ever been mugged’? Listeners were supposed to call in when they hear the sound effect of Thomas being ‘mugged’. Ok, it sounded more like he’s walking barefoot on a bed of hot stones haha.

Other things. Robin Sagon does news. Jay Thomas takes care of traffic and weather. Lots of time checks heard here, and modern programmers take note: Commercial breaks consist of just three units maximum! It was a different time.


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