WAIT (AM)  WAIT (850 kHz) is a silent AM radio station licensed to Crystal Lake, Illinois and serving the Chicago metropolitan area. It was purchased by Newsweb Corporation in 2003. WAIT is licensed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) as a Class D station and broadcasts only during daytime hours. The station was off the air from sunset to sunrise to protect KOA in Denver, the Clear-channel station on 850 kHz. Because of its northwest suburban location and directional pattern, WAIT could be heard in Rockford, Illinois and Janesville, Wisconsin in addition to the Chicago Media market. The station began broadcasting on October 1, 1965, holding the call sign WCLR, which stood for "Crystal Lake Radio". The station originally ran 500 watts during daytime hours only. The station was owned by George DeBeer, Lynn Renne, and Art Thorsen. The station aired easy listening music, along with local news and high school football games. In 1969, the station was purchased by Mal Bellairs, a WBBM personality, for $350,000. Bellairs changed the station's call letters to WIVS, standing for "wives", reflecting the station's programming aimed at housewives. Under Bellairs ownership, the station aired middle of the road (MOR) music, as well as talk, cooking, gardening, and sports programming. In 1981, Bellairs sold the station, along with 105.5 WXRD in Woodstock, to Katy Communications for $838,000. Mal Bellairs would continue to host a music and talk show on the station until March 11, 1985, when WIVS began airing a country music format using programming fed by the Satellite Music Network. In 1985, WIVS's power was increased from 500 watts to 2,500 watts. In April 1986, the original WAIT at 820 kHz, which was best known for its beautiful music format in the 1960s and '70s, changed its call letters to WCZE, branded "Cozy" radio, and began airing a soft adult contemporary format. In May 1986, 850 picked up the WAIT call letters, while continuing to air its Satellite Music Network fed country music format. In 1988, the station was sold to Crystal Lake Radio, along with 105.5 WXET in Woodstock, for $1.6 million. The new owners replaced the country music format with a full service format, with oldies music comprising approximately 70% of its schedule, with the remainder devoted to programming of local interest, along with old time radio and ethnic programs on weekends.