Stan Brooks in 1985/YouTube

If there were a Mount Rushmore symbolizing the best radio reporters in New York City history, Stan Brooks would have to be on that monument!

Legendary isn’t a strong enough word for Brooks.

Not just a New York institution, Brooks is a 1010 WINS All-News original. He is celebrating his 50^th year at WINS, having been hired as news director for the Top 40 format on Labor Day 1962.  A month later, Westinghouse bought WINS. FishbowlNY will have more memories from Brooks later this year to mark the golden occasion.  But 47 years ago today, WINS made the move to All-News, with Brooks leading the charge.

He recalls when Westinghouse acquired WINS, the station was the number-one rocker in New York, with an on-air staff that featured Murray the K., Stan Z. Burns, and Jack Lacy.

“But when Westinghouse bought [WINS] they’d never had a station in New York,” Brooks remembers. “And they had a big news operation around the world.

“The headquarters of Westinghouse Broadcasting was in New York, and I guess the executives didn’t feel good about it,” Brooks says. “They kept adding news to the station. Ultimately, it was incompatible. You couldn’t have lots of news and teeny-boppers listening.”

By late 1964, Westinghouse made the decision to add news around the clock: WINS would become the nation’s first All-News station. The timing was perfect for the flip. WINS was no longer a top-rated station, now trailing powerhouses WABC and WMCA.

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It may only be a mid-term elections, but don’t tell that to the many city TV and radio stations. Most stations, expecting a late night, are making plans for extended coverage on Tuesday night.

FishbowlNY has obtained details from various media outlets.

• WABC

The talk station will be live all night with Mark Levin, John Batchelor, and Doug McIntyre. Additionally, WABC will give listeners local updates every quarter hour from co-anchors Ken Duffy and Hilarie Barsky, with reporters in the field throughout the tri-state region.

The talk juggernaut with take major victory/concession speeches live, plus offer comprehensive election results on the Talk the Vote page at wabcradio.com.

The WCBS-AM and WINS plans after the jump. Read more