Cincinnati's first privately owned FM radio station started in Cheviot — WVAW-FM at 96.7 MHz. With studios and transmitter located on the second floor of the Cheviot Theatre Building, the station took to the air in September of 1947. John Strader put the station on the air with the help of his partner and chief engineer, George Waslo who hailed from the early days of WKRC.

Initially, the station was on the air from 3:00 to 9:00 p.m. with a format consisting of music, news and local sports. Unfortunately, WVAW was ahead of its time — frequency modulation or FM being brand new technology. At that point in time, word was circulating that yet another new technology was about to emerge upon the scene, that being television. FM receivers were not as yet easily obtainable for the listening public, thus the confusion, uncertainty and conservative nature of the Queen City area made the task of finding sponsors next to impossible. So with regret, WVAW went off the air about a year later.

The site of the old Cheviot Theatre Building is now a parking lot adjacent to Cappel's in the 3600 block of Harrison Avenue.