The Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia

(Left to right) Joel A. Spivak & Mayor Frank Rizzo
WCAU Radio
circa 1974

Many of us remember Frank Rizzo (Sr.) not only as a two-term mayor of Philadelphia, but as a radio talk show host on WCAU (AM). However, this photo and ad are from before his radio talk days as host. During the mid-seventies, he was weekly featured on WCAU Radio on "Ask the Mayor."

While some many think of it as a radio edition of "Tell it to the Mayor" which aired over WFIL Radio and TV in the mid-fifties through the mid-sixties, it was not. The Channel 6 broadcast had the viewers phone in questions and they were placed on 3x5 cards and read on the air by an announcer.

The WCAU program was live (well, on a six second delay) and the callers could actually talk with the mayor. If Rizzo didn't give a proper response (or at least what the caller thought was a proper response), they could go back and forth with the Mayor. It was rarely dull and always interesting.

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