Carl Amari

A new weekly showcase for classic programs from radio’s golden age, hosted by veteran Chicago broadcaster Carl Amari, is coming to Tribune Media news/talk WGN AM 720.

Starting April 12, “The WGN Radio Theatre with Carl Amari” will follow “After Hours with Rick Kogan” and air from 11 p.m. Sundays to 2 a.m. Mondays. The new addition replaces the weekend show hosted by Patti Vasquez, who moves up to full-time on weekdays.

In addition to featuring classic radio drama and comedy, Amari will present live trivia and occasional newly produced content that celebrates “theater of the mind,” according to Todd Manley, vice president of programming and content at WGN.

WGN Radio Theatre

It’s a comeback of sorts for the 51-year-old host, producer and syndicator, who often appeared as a guest with legendary WGN late-night host Eddie Schwartz. Amari later hosted a radio adaptation of “The Twilight Zone” drama series that aired at midnight Saturdays on WGN.

From modest beginnings in the basement studio of his family’s Schiller Park home, Amari built an empire on old-time radio. His credits included creating and syndicating such series as “When Radio Was,” “Radio Movie Classics” and “Radio Super Heroes.” He sold his first company, Radio Spirits Inc., to Audio Book Club in 1998 for $12 million.

“I’ve been listening to WGN radio for over 40 years,” Amari said Wednesday. “As a fledgling broadcaster in my early 20s, ‘Chicago Eddie’ Schwartz often had me on his show, where I’d present classic radio episodes of ‘The Shadow,’ ‘Jack Benny,’ ‘Suspense,’ ‘Gunsmoke,’ ‘Inner Sanctum’ and many more.

“Sitting across from Eddie and watching him skillfully work the broadcast board while taking calls and interviewing guests, I dreamed that one day I might have my own show on WGN radio where I could present classics from the golden age of radio.  I couldn’t be more thrilled with this opportunity and I can’t wait to begin.”