Wibbage Good Guys
Gimbels Thanksgiving Parade
Thanksgiving 1966

One of the original Wibbage Good Guys from WIBG sent us this photo. It came from Broadcast Pioneers member Bill Wright, Sr. Bill dates this picture from about 1965 or 1966. We know that Broadcast Pioneers member Dean Tyler left Wibbage in 1961 and returned in 1965. Therefore, the photo couldn't be from before 1965. Notice the ladies' dress in the front of the float which would make it after 1961 because the British invasion was already underway.

Tyler left Wibbage in 1968, so this snapshot can only be from 1965 through 1968. We'll yield to the judgment of "Uncle Billy," Bill Wright, Sr. and call it 1965 or 1966, unless someone can prove otherwise.

Well, someone did clear the date up. Broadcast Pioneers member Liz Matt e-mailed:

I can date this photo to Thanksgiving of 1966 specifically. That’s because the queen on the float is Miss Teenage Philadelphia of 1967, Donna Louise Battista, who he (Bill Wright, Sr.) had just crowned a month earlier (October 1966) at that year’s Miss Teenage Philadelphia pageant, co-sponsored by WIBG and Sears.

From the official archives of the Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia
Photo originally donated by Broadcast Pioneers member Bill Wright, Sr.
© 2008, Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia
All Rights Reserved

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