WRDZ (AM)
| City | La Grange, Illinois |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | Chicago metropolitan area |
| Branding | Polskie Radio |
| Frequency | 1300 kHz |
| First air date | October 11, 1950 |
| Format | Polish |
| Power | 4,500 watts day 4,000 watts night |
| Class | B |
| Facility ID | 28309 |
| Transmitter coordinates | 41°40′29″N 87°45′45″W / 41.67472°N 87.76250°WCoordinates: 41°40′29″N 87°45′45″W / 41.67472°N 87.76250°W |
| Callsign meaning |
We're Radio DiZney (Former owner and affiliation) |
| Former callsigns | WTAQ (1950–1998) |
| Owner | Walter Kotaba (Polnet Communications, Ltd.) |
| Sister stations | WNVR, WKTA, WEEF |
| Webcast | Listen live |
| Website | polskieradio.com |
WRDZ (1300 AM) is a Polish language broadcast radio station licensed to La Grange, Illinois, serving the Chicago metropolitan area. The station, which began broadcasting in 1950, is owned and operated by Walter Kotaba's Polnet Communications.
The station's original call sign was WTAQ, with the letters meaning "Western Towns Along the Q." The "Q" referred to the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad, which ran through the center of the station's coverage area. WTAQ first went on the air on October 11, 1950. The station was originally owned by La Grange Broadcasting Co. The station initially ran 500 watts and operated during daytime hours only.
WTAQ was a brokered time station and was branded "Chicago's Personality Station". The heart of this format was weekend ethnic polka programs, serving the large Eastern European population around Chicago. "Lil Wally" Jagiello, Uncle Henry Cukierka, Chet Schafer, Chet Gulinski, Eddie Blazonczyk, Johnny Hyzny, Eddie Korosa, Eddie Arenz, Art Schlaman, Jim Marwood, John Psczola, and many other polka shows made their home there.
In June 1984, William Wardle and Ralph Faucher purchased the station for $1,640,000.
In 1985, Lotus Communications Corporation purchased the station for $3,000,000, and it became a full-time Spanish language station. The station adopted a Spanish language adult contemporary format as "Radio Fiesta". In the late 1980s, the station's branding was changed to "La Mexicana", and the station broadcast a música norteña format. The station's "La Mexicana" format was simulcast with several other stations Lotus Communications owned. During the station's period as a Spanish language station, it carried the Spanish-language broadcasts of the Chicago White Sox.
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