Bill Bransome in 1959

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In 1959, three WCAU Radio personalities went up into the sky in balloons. They were Ed Harvey, Doug Arthur (whose real name we believe to be Lex Smith) and Bill Bransome. Pictured in the balloon is Broadcast Pioneers member Bill Bransome.

Broadcast Pioneers member Bill Bransome e-mails: "The three of us went up from an airport in Audubon, Pa., now the site of the George Washington Country Club. The idea was to see who would travel the greatest distance. A thunderstorm threatened and we all landed early! I came down in Harleysville at the intersection of 63 and 113. Arthur landed somewhere in the woods Northeast of Audubon, and Harvey landed inside the walls of Graterford Prison!!! The guards had their machine guns and rifles zeroed in on what they thought it was an attempted escape effort!!! Everybody got back home unscathed!"

From the official archives of the Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia
Photo originally donated by Broadcast Pioneers member Bill Bransome
All Rights Reserved

The e-mail address of the Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia is pioneers@broadcastpioneers.com