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Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia is a federally recognized, state chartered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization serving the Philadelphia Broadcast Community since January of 1962. |
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Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia is a federally recognized, state chartered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization serving the Philadelphia Broadcast Community since January of 1962. |
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Visit Our Website Often - http://www.broadcastpioneers.com
You should check the front page of our website often (link above) for important information!
Tune in to our YouTube Channel - http://www.broadcastpioneers.com/youtube
Our YouTube Channel has all our luncheons, exclusive interviews and archival material!
Check out our Facebook Page - http://www.broadcastpioneers.com/facebook
There are things on our Facebook Page that are NOT on our website (like our vintage photo of the week)
Go to our Twitter Account - http://www.broadcastpioneers.com/twitter
The Broadcast Pioneers Twitter Account has info and stuff not available elsewhere!
Go to our Instragram Section - http://www.broadcastpioneers.com/instagram
Here's another one of our social media sections. Visit it as often as you wish!
Please note that more than 2 months ago, we snail mailed your membership renewals. If you haven't paid by now, you are late. 20% of our members haven't sent their renewals in yet! Are you one of them? If you believe that you didn't get a renewal notice, please let us know and we'll send you another one (this time by e-mail).
If you joined in the past couple of months, you may have received a form, but you are not required to pay any dues at this time. The form will tell you whether there is an amount due. We sent the form so we could verify that all the info we have is still correct. The next membership directory will be printed before you know it.
WE DO NOT SEND YOU MULTIPLE NOTICES! THIS WILL BE THE ONLY NOTICE FOR RENEWAL THAT YOU WILL RECEIVE.
If you haven't already done so, kindly return your form and check at your earliest convenience. Please also note that on the form is an important little box that you can check if you would like to make a contribution. Our archival project is becoming an expensive thing to do. It costs us over $9,000 a year just to store all our archival material. That averages out to about $18 per member. If you can can afford it, please help us in this important project. We are a federally recognized, state-chartered charity with 501(c)(3) status. That means your gift is fully tax deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law. Your tax advisor will give you complete details. Any additional amount will be greatly appreciated! Large or small!
If you are not sure whether you paid your dues, e-mail us and we'll let you know whether you are up to date. We thank you for your continued support! It's people like you that make this a wonderful organization.
Our Digital Archival Project is in need of MII or D2 video tape machines. These should be in working or near working order. If you would like to donate any of these machines, please call us at (856) 365-5600 or send us an e-mail to pioneers@broadcastpioneers.com. Since Broadcast Pioneers is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, your donation of equipment may be tax deductible for federal tax purposes. We also may be able to use other equipment.
DIGITAL ARCHIVAL PROJECT NEWS:
VIDEO:
On Tuesday, July 22, 2014, members of Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia were invited to tour the CBS Broadcast Center at 1555 Hamilton Street in Center City. We saw the facilities of CBS 3, the CW Philly 57 and KYW Newsradio. Within the past several months of the tour, KYW Newsradio had joined its sister TV stations at this location. The tour was a little over 26 minutes long and has become a permanent part of the Broadcast Pioneers YouTube channel.
We thought that you might enjoy watching this as this is our most popular video on the Broadcast Pioneers' You Tube Channel. We have had over 83,000 people watch it.
(videos courtesy of Broadcast Pioneers VP Brad Seecof and Metramedia Broadcasting & Studios)
AUDIO:
Over the last couple of weeks, we have heard a lot about the moon landing, but what about the other events surrounding Apollo? Well, we're taking care of this here.
On Thursday, July 24, 1969, the Apollo 11 astronauts were returning from the first manned moon landing and they were getting ready to land in the Pacific Ocean. KYW Newsradio had been "All News" for a little less than four years.
Cut one is about a minute long and takes us from one anchor to the other. Bob Conville, formerly at WPBS, takes over from Don Budd, one of the station's original news anchors. It's 11 am.
Listen in Real Audio!
Listen in Windows Media!
Cut two is 55 and a half minutes long. It starts about 30 seconds before 11:30 am and continues to about 12:25 pm. Art Lane is the station's news anchor. Normally, anchors change every half-hour. However, on this cut, the anchors don't switch until 12:18 pm, after the sports. At that point, Bill Gregory takes over.
Listen in Real Audio!
Listen in Windows Media!
Cut three is 38 and a half minutes long and starts at 12:26 pm. Why is there one minute missing between the end of cut two and the beginning of cut three? That's the point when the tape was flipped over to the other side to continue recording and thus that minute wasn't recorded. This cut features a report by KYW Newsradio's Andrea Mitchell.
Listen in Real Audio!
Listen in Windows Media!
These cuts were mastered by Broadcast Historian (and CEO of Broadcast Pioneers) Gerry Wilkinson off the original tape recorded in 1969. Recorded at 3 and 3/4 ips, it was recorded on low price "Melody" brand recording tape. KYW Newsradio was fed into the left track and another news source fed into the right track. The right track was connected electronically to the tuner source. However, KYW Newsradio was recorded off air with a microphone in front of the speaker. We have equalized and reduced the background noise. However, we could do only so much without removing the teletype ticker (a tape recording) that KYW Newsradio used in the background.
These recording had some severe drop out problems. Actually, it didn't drop the audio to zero but just lowered the level to a just about an inaudible level. We have corrected this by manually raising the level at the drop out point. Most of these corrections were done so that you can't really hear the drop out anymore. The tape also had another problem. Over the years, the tape had warped slightly causing a change in the equalization as the tape passed by the playback head. The original tape sounded like someone was turning the treble-bass knob back and forth. Most of this is at the beginning of cuts two and three. We have again corrected for that. The biggest problem was that sometimes the equalization changed at the point where there was drop out. This too has been fixed. However, there are a few points where it may be noticeable to the trained ear.
This is the best tape (actually the only one known to exist) of this broadcast material. Sometimes we get communications from people asking why we didn't include a certain segment of missing material (like where the tape was turned over). The answer is almost always, "This is all we have." That's why there's material missing between the end of cut one and the beginning of cut two. It simply isn't on the tape.
While we hope that a cleaner copy of this recording will show up in the future, our experience is that as years go by, the number of tapes like this are reduced. People throw them out because they no longer have machines to play them. This is also why "The Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia" is doing our DAP, Digital Archival Project. We are transferring these historic recordings from analog tape to a digital format for long term storage.
Today's News Becomes Tomorrow's History!
(This is what our Digital Archival Project, DAP, is all about!)A LITTLE BIT OF BROADCAST HISTORY!
(left to right) Atlantic City Mayor Don Guardian and Broadcast Pioneers Hall of Famer Harry Hurley
on Harry Hurley Way, a street in Atlantic City, New Jersey
Wednesday, July 1, 2015IN TOUCH WITH OUR MEMBERS AND THE INDUSTRY:
Late in May, Member John Brown was rushed to Lehigh Valley Hospital in the Poconos after collapsing at his home. He was diagnosed with double pneumonia with a UTI. According to his wife Donna, “it was touch and go for the first few days.” He was put in a special unit until he was out of the woods. To help him regain his strength, he was sent to Saint Mary’s Villa, a nursing home and rehab center in Elmhurst, Pa. 37 days later, at the end of June, John is now home resting and feeling much better.
Member Ted Taylor (The Ultra T)
WIFI Radio
1966Joe Niagara Jr., son of Joe Niagara, Philly’s “Rockin’ Bird” on WIBG in the 50s and 60s, visited Ted Taylor’s “Good Old Rock ‘n Roll” show on the RDV Radio network (4 radio stations and the web) on July 24. Joe took calls from listeners and spoke of his Dad’s Philly radio experiences. The program was such a success that they actually extended the show because they were getting so many telephone calls. Young Joe said that the thing his Dad enjoyed the most was that being on the radio meant that he and his family (wife Evelyn, son Joe) could go out in public without being instantly recognized. “That worked until Dad opening his mouth and said something, then everyone knew who he was,” Joe laughed. In his seven-decades long radio career, Niagara worked at several Philly area stations. Born on July 4, 1927, Joe Sr. passed away in 2004. Taylor was on WIBF-FM while Joe was on WIBF-TV (now Fox 29) out of Jenkintown.
Entercom Philadelphia invited its listeners and local media to “Quest for the Best: Chocolate.” SportsRadio 94WIP (WIP-FM) on-air personality Glen Macnow hosted the event during which eight local establishments were showcased for their favorite chocolate creation. The event was in mid-July.
We received an e-mail from new member Vicki Gold Levi who told us: " I am the project manager and co-curator of the project, the Atlantic City Experience that just opened in the Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall. On view are vintage objects and costumes, an interactive timeline, touch screen kiosks, and historical videos all covering the colorful history of Atlantic City. In my opening day speech, I talked about why Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall is so important to me because my dad, Al Gold, had his photography studio there and I had my radio show there at 5 years old on WMID and was Bess Myerson’s page when she was Miss America."
Today's News Becomes Tomorrow's History!
(This is what our Digital Archival Project, DAP, is all about!)
A LITTLE BIT OF BROADCAST HISTORY!
(left to right) Al Owens and member Vicki Gold (Levi), one of the youngest DJs in the country
"Views By Vicki"
Atlantic City Convention Hall
WMID Radio
1946
Did you know... Bill Kuster became the full-time, permanent, primetime weatherguy on Channel 3, KYW-TV on Tuesday, August 24, 1965. That was his first day on the air in that position. It was with no fanfare. Why? Read on.
(Left to right) Jim Leaming, Vince Leonard and Dick Goddard The decision was made swiftly because their current weatherguy, Dick Goddard, quit in the station's parking lot and never returned to the building. Broadcast Pioneers member Rex Polier was the Evening Bulletin's TV Critic and at one time, the organization's newsletter editor. He said:
The reason the station wanted Dick to stay until Friday, September 10th was that would be the last day of the old news format. On Monday, September 13th, "Eyewitness News" would premiere in the 6 pm and 11 pm timeslots. That would be a good time to institute a new weatherguy. But Goddard would have none of it. The Eyewitness News half-hour format started at 12 noon on Monday, August 30th with Broadcast Pioneers member Marciarose Shestack and newcomer from Cleveland, Tom Snyder. Polier added:
Member Al Primo (the creator of Eyewitness News) writes us:
Now, back to our story. Member Vince Leonard (Eyewitness News' prime anchor) continues with the story:
Member Dave Neal who produced the Eyewitness Newscasts in the seventies told us that Alan J. Bell, VP of General Manager of KYW-TV didn't like the Kuster Kids. Bill used drawings of children to illustrate how to dress them in the morning. So Bell told Neal to kill the kids and come up with something new. Well, the Kuster Garden was Dave's creation. Bell thought Neal was nuts, especially when he came in one morning to find all the evergreen bushes pulled out of the soil and vegetables growing there. Bell's unhappiness was an understatement. Member Herb Clarke (who was Kuster's competitor on Channel 10) tells us:
For a time, both Kuster on WGAL-TV and Clarke on WCAU-TV dressed as an Atlantic serviceman and did the weather in that getup. Goddard, by the way, had a wonderful career back in Cleveland after this, becoming the evening weathercaster for WJW-TV for forty years.
Member Dr. Francis Davis (the meteorologist on Channel 6 at the time) writes to us that there were real differences in the three weather forecasts on 3, 6 and 10. He said that Kuster's low key program was based on a friendly, conversational style. He said that it was very easy to listen and view. More like the guy next door. Wally Kinnan, the Weatherman, was with Channel 3 here in Philadelphia for years. But Al Primo really didn't care for his air presence. So, Primo traded Kinnan for Goddard. We talked about this is more detail in our March 2009 "Did You Know" column. The Philly General Manager who was going to Cleveland loved Kinnan. Al pulled a fast one. He offered to trade Kinnan for Goddard, and "just to make it fair," said Primo, "I get a minor league guy." Like who, they asked. Al said, "Oh, I don't know. Let's say Tom Snyder." Incredibly, the GM immediately agreed to the deal. Bill Kuster was one of the most loved people ever to be part of "Eyewitness News," both by others at the station and the general public at large. Bill was inducted into Broadcast Pioneers' Hall of Fame two years ago. A sidebar to this whole thing is that Broadcast Pioneers member Tom Moran was just finishing his DJ work on KYW Radio. They were going all news and Moran was out of a job. Well, Tom applied for Bill's old booth announcing shift and got it. One evening after the early evenings news, Kuster went to dinner and returned to kill a little time in the announce booth with Tom Moran. The engineer said to Moran that there was a call for him on line one. He picked it up and a voice said, "Hi Tom. This is Dick Carr." Dick was the PD at WIP Radio. Moran, thinking it was a joke, was about to tell Carr that he could go to a very unsunny place. But before he could, Kuster yanked the phone away from Tom and said, "Hi Dick. This is Bill Kuster." Well, it turned out that Bill verified that it was Carr and Dick offered Moran a full-time gig at WIP Radio. Moran's total TV booth announcing work lasted 6 weeks. This regular monthly column is written and researched by Gerry Wilkinson |
Our special thanks go to TUTV - Temple University Television and The Kal & Lucille Rudman Media Production Center. They have underwritten a grant to be used to fund two years of all our newsletters. That's until December 2019. We thank them so much for their support! |
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WE REMEMBER:
Longtime Broadcast Pioneers member Bob Kravitz passed away on Tuesday morning, July 30th. He worked almost an entire half-century in our industry. He has served on our Board of Directors since 2007. Service and interment were private. The family asked in lieu of flowers that donations can be made to the charity of the donor's choice.
Announcement of Bobby's passing came after this newsletter was finished but we just had to add a little something about him. He was inducted into our Hall of Fame in November of 2016. That banquet is where these photos were taken.
Member Marc Howard called us and suggested that we ask for underwriting from our members and others for a few scholarships in memory of member Bob Kravitz. This was not our idea. It belongs to Marc Howard, but we do wish it was ours. Thanks Marc.
We would need a total of $3,000 in funds. Marc told us that he would take the first step and that a check was in the mail. The next day, we received a check from Marc and Susan Howard in the amount of $1,000. That's enough to underwrite one full scholarship in memory of Bob Kravitz. That scholarship along with any others will be awarded in April of 2020.
Would like to be a part of this? We would welcome your contribution. You can be next to donate. No contribution is too small or too large. Send your check to Broadcast Pioneers, P.O. Box 2886, Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004. Write "the Bob Kravitz scholarship fund" in the memo part of the check. All checks should be payable to Broadcast Pioneers.
This is one way where Bob can continue to touch future broadcasters like he has for decades. Bobby, we love and miss you.
Bob's Bio:
Broadcast Pioneers member Bob Kravitz began his career with the original Evening and Sunday Bulletin in 1963 while he was a student at Philadelphia’s Olney High School. He worked for the Feature Department making sure the daily comics were slated for the right days in the paper.
He also helped research a column called Channel Chat for Rex Polier and Frank Brookhauser. His Musicianship was mastered playing the violin at the age of four. He became one of the youngest Concert Masters of the Philadelphia Public School system in first grade.
While attending Temple University, Bob was hired in 1967 by the WFIL-TV News Department, which now is WPVI-TV, Action News, as a Sound Technician.
The best photographers in the city taught him editing and photojournalism. At the age of 21, Bob was the youngest photojournalist on the streets of Philadelphia. This was the beginning of a forty-three year career conveying to viewers on the ground and in the air what he was seeing through the lens of his camera.
Being a News Photographer, Bob has seen the best and worst of human nature. He has traveled all over the world and collected many awards for his work. Kravitz has been with a king, queen, murderers and heroes. He covered the Gulf war in 1991 and both Move Family stories. Bob was also an Aerial photojournalist for KYW (CBS 3), NBC 10 and Fox 29 in the last ten years of his career.
In 1972, Bob was blessed when he and Susan Block were married. He still refers to her, today, as his first wife.
Bob’s avocation dubbed him, “The Singing Cameraman.” He has been singing and acting since the age of six. He has starred in productions of “Finnian’s Rainbow,” “West Side Story” and “Music Man.” Tevye, in “Fiddler On The Roof” was his signature role. Bob also sings Opera. He has performed in productions of “La Traviata,” “Madame Butterfly,” and “Carmen.” He has written and performed three Cabaret shows. “Opera/Broadway Review,” “Al Jolson Review” and “Tevye From Anatevka.”
Bob’s acting and singing has put him on the stages of Academy of Music, Shubert Theater, Academy of Vocal Arts, Merriam Theatre, Cheltenham Playhouse and the Society Hill Playhouse. Bob was honored to sing the National Anthem for the Freedom Medal ceremony at the July 4th celebration in Philadelphia and Immigration Swearing in ceremonies in Philadelphia for two years.
Bobby was on the Board of the Young Variety and now serves on the Board of Directors for Broadcast Pioneers and at the Kennedy House where he and Susan reside. Bob became the first Photojournalist to be inducted into the writer’s society, The Sigma Delta Chi.
Bobby also became Standardized Patient for Hahnemann Hospital and College of Osteopathic Medicine. He feigns a sickness. This helps doctors and nurses develop their diagnostic qualities.
His latest endeavor is working with the Cancer Hope Network, helping people around the world who are coping with bladder and/or prostate cancer. Six years ago, Bob underwent surgery for these two conditions and understands only too well that people need help and support in dealing with the aftermath. People need to know that life goes on and these conditions must not limit or define you.
WE WILL MISS YOU, DEAR FRIEND!
A LITTLE BIT OF BROADCAST HISTORY!
(Left to right) Marc Howard, Vernon Odom, Jim O'Brien, Jim Gardner & President Jimmy Carter
in the WPVI studios during the 1980 Presidential campaign
Wednesday, September 3, 1980
Photo originally donated by Vernon Odom
Massive graphic restoration by Broadcast Pioneers historian Gerry Wilkinson
During the 1980 U.S. Presidential election, the incumbent, Jimmy Carter visited the Action News studios for a taping of Channel 6's news interview program, "Action News Issues and Answers."
Jim Gardner was named PERSON OF THE YEAR by the Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia in 1996. Gardner, Jim O'Brien and Vernon Odom are all inductees into our HALL OF FAME.
On Wednesday, September 3, 1980 President Jimmy Carter was in Philadelphia. He had left the White House at 10 am that day via the helicopter Marine One. That vehicle brought the Chief Executive to and from Philadelphia. He didn't use Air Force One.
President Carter spent the day visiting sites in Philly. His last visit before WPVI was the Zion Baptist Church at Broad and Venango. According to President Carter's "diary of the day," it only took ten minutes to drive the seven miles from the Church to the television station.
The President arrived at WPVI-TV at 2:41 pm that Wednesday afternoon where he was greeted by three people from Channel 6. They were: Larry Pollock, General Manager, Charles Bradley, Program Director and Alan Nesbitt, News Director. Then the President was ushered into a prep room for make-up. At 2:57 pm, he entered the studio where the half-hour program proceeded to be recorded with no stops. Six minutes after the program was finished, he was in his motorcade where he went to the Naval Base in South Philly for the return trip to Washington, DC.
THIS AND THAT! Little Bits of Information....
(left to right) Member Ed Harvey with Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. When our dear friend Harry Kalas (our 2004 Person of the Year) was a kid growing up in Chicago, you think that maybe he was a Chicago Cubs or White Sox fan, but his favorite team was the Washington Senators. Wanna know why? Well, his dad took young Harry to Comiskey Park where their seats happened to be behind the visiting Senators dugout. Mickey Vernon (who hails from Marcus Hook) picked up Harry during a rain delay and took Kalas into the team's dugout meeting the entire team and even got a free ball. And speaking of baseball, if you're an old timer, do you remember this? By Saam was telling people at Broadcast Pioneers that he was well know for starting his baseball broadcasts (more than 8,000 of them) with "Hi Everybody. This is By Saam." Then he recalled with a smile, the one time he was distracted and got it wrong by saying "Hi By Saam, this is everybody." In the old days, By told that story many times, but every time he still got a laugh. By was inducted into our Hall of Fame in 1993. While we are dealing with baseball broadcaster stories, we have to tell you this one. When WPHL carried the Phillies game, the announcers would promote some of the local Channel 17 shows when there was a moment with nothing going on. The year is 1980. Well, Phils' Whiz Kid Richie Ashburn was on air and starting pushing the Carol Burnett TV Show. He mentioned some of the regulars on the show, Harvey Korman, Tim Conway and Carol Lawrence. There was just one problem with all that. Carol Lawrence was the original star of "West Side Story." Richie should have said Vicki Lawrence. Sidebar: Vicki and Carol are not related and neither had the real last name Lawrence. Former WIBG disc jockey Jerry Stevens (who just joined Broadcast Pioneers) told this story decades ago. His real last name is Salvato. And he said that he was proud to be Italian. Early in his career, he was working at a small station in Florida and was told he should change his name. He walked into the air studio to begin his shift when the jock preceding him said, "Next up, Jerry Stevens." And thus, that's how the WIBBAGE star got his name. George Skinner was the original host of the Mr. Rivets program. Originally called "Let George Do It," it was quickly changed when it was discovered that there was a nation show with the same name. Becoming "Let Skinner Do It," George found himself on against himself. While doing his program on WPTZ, Channel 3, Skinner was also appearing on local CBS affiliate, WCAU-TV. He was on the network's "Strike It Rich" show doing a filmed commercial for Colgate. Of course, George Skinner wasn't the only one seen on national spots. WCAU-TV newscaster John Facenda was seen doing some cigarette commercials (Philip Morris) on the crime show, "Public Defender." The show aired on CBS for 15 months with 69 episodes. We have several of these shows complete with the Facenda spots in our archives. Those filmed spots also ran on other network programs. Member John Facenda was our Person of the Year in 1971. In late 1950, Member Sally Starr made 20 sides for Rainbow Record in the big apple. While Sally may be remembered for her hugely popular show on Channel 6, she also had a fabulous singing voice. Over the years, she cut many sides with some local success. It didn't take much to get Sally to sing a tune or so. Sally was inducted into our Hall of Fame in 1995. |
THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES:
WFIL & WIBG. the early rockers, PART ONE!
One of the promotional items used by WFIL, Famous 56
Member Bob Charger has the distinction of being on WIBG its last day and being the last afternoon drive Boss Jock on Famous 56, WFIL We asked Bob to share some memories with us.
Some of this, he has shared with his viewers on his television show, Charger & Co. on RVNTV. He tells us:
The 100th anniversary of U.S. radio broadcasting will be celebrated in 2021. The first radio station in Philadelphia came on the air in early 1922. All were on the AM dial.
In the beginning, radio stations signed on for only a few hours in the day. Some stations shared time with others. WFI & WDAR, for example. As time moved on, the two merged and it became known as WFIL.
(Left to right) Hy Lit, Frank X. Feller, Joe Niagara, Bill Wright, Sr.
Jerry Stevens, Rich Rumer (manager of the Spectrum) & Dean Tyler
at the WIBG Reunion at the Spectrum in Philadelphia
1987
Beginning in the late 1940s the radio announcer began serving as a platter player or the term we now know, Disc Jockey. Of course, there were some exceptions to this rule as some DJ shows date back into the thirties, and even before.
Playing records seemed to be a cost effective way to continue to broadcast and still make money. Television was beginning to enter homes in volume across the USA.
With rock & roll evolving in the 1950s, many stations were reluctant to introduce that kind of music to their audience.
Bob Horn had a successful radio program called “Bandstand” that later moved to TV. The radio version of Bandstand and the very early TV editions were still playing people like Nat King Cole and Rosie Clooney. For a time, both the radio and television Bandstand shows played watered down versions of rhythm & blues songs.
Eventually, the actual, original versions started to get air play. WIBG was sold to Storer Broadcasting. It was basically tossed in to finalize the sale of the Herron TV station in Wilmington, Channel 12, then a commercial station.
Storer flipped formats and started playing rock & roll. Their top personality in the early days, many believe, was South Philly’s own Joe Niagara.who ruled the airwaves with his night time teen program.
For almost a decade, WIBG achieved whopping ratings. .Down the dial at 56, WFIL was another story. Walter Annenberg owned WFIL AM & FM and Channel 6, then known as WFIL-TV.
Walter kept running into George Storer of Storer Broadcasting. Rumor has it that Storer kept teasing Annenberg about how powerful WIBG was. Walter went back to his people and said, “I want to beat WIBG, no matter what it cost.” That’s the rumor and since none of us were there, it remains that, rumor – but it’s a good story whether it’s true or not.
Well back to what we know, Annenberg’s people looked into the situation and the next thing we know, here comes the Pop Explosion. It’s September 1966. WFIL a faster pace, more uptempo rock station.
WFIL had ads in Walter’s newspapers. The station did giveaways. Listeners had a chance to win $1,000. There were daily giveaways. This went on for months. Meanwhile, WIBBAGE, according to Big 99 former jock Bill Wright, Sr., was running 18 minutes of commercials per hour. WFIL had some non-stop music sweeps. Some say this was planned. Others say, it was because they couldn’t yet sell all the time. Within a short period of time, Wibbage was losing ground and WFIL were gaining most of those listeners. They stopped calling themselves WIBBAGE and were The Big 99, WIBG. That station never recovered.
Famous 56, WFIL soared to #1 and never looked back. Promotion after promotion, contest after contest, WFIL became the radio industry standard. People from other markets came to Philadelphia and stayed in hotels and did nothing much other than listen to Famous 56 and take notes.
WFIL & WIBG. the early rockers, PART TWO!
The formula was simple. A fast moving format with action DJs, known as the WFIL Boss Jocks. The original line up was:
Chuck Browning, Morning Drive
Jay Cook, Housewives (later termed as Mid-day)
Jim Nettleton, Afternoon Drive
George Michael, Evenings
Dave Parks, Late Evening
Frank Smith, OvernightsAs the years went by, other notable personalities arrived from around the country. There was Long John Wade, Dr Don Rose, J J Jeffery, Dan Donovan and Jim O Brien.
Late in 1972, Dr. Don has surgery and has to leave the airwaves for many months.
And in the fall of 1972. Joe Niagara became their new morning man. In May 1973 Dr Don returns to Famous 56 and Joe Niagara was gone.Don Rose leaves WFIL in September of that year for San Francisco and Joe Niagara was offered a position on WCAU-FM playing the music he first introduced back in the 50s on WIBG.
Around this time WFIL began to slip in the ratings. FM radio penetration was begriming to take hold. It was only a few years earlier that FM came into its own playing rock music.
The Famous 56, Boss Jocks
Outside the WFIL Studios
(clockwise from lower left) Dave Parks, Dr. Don Rose, Long John Wade, Jim Nettleton, Jay Cook and George Michael)For years, the FM dial was filled with soft strings piano and classical songs. As early as 1967, WIFI 92.5 FM began playing rock & roll songs and first introduced the album rock format with Broadcast Pioneers board member T Morgan.
By 1973 WIFI was playing very similar music as WFIL but in FM stereo. The problem with WIFI was their signal was not as strong and was not easy to pick up in certain areas. Some FM receivers came with AFC (automatic frequency control) which locked in the station, so it wouldn't drift or change volume. WIFI is today known as WXTU.
On Saturday, September 10 1977, WIBG came to an end. The final day began with member Bob Charger doing overnight (12 midnight to 6 am), George “Go Go” Benson (6 am to 12 noon) and Hy Lit (12 noon to 6pm). Joe Niagara joined Hy on the phone in the final last minutes. At 6 pm signed off the air. It wasn't till October 1 1977 that WIBG became WZZD.
Meanwhile at WFIL, they softened the music and presentation. Some believed that they were trying to now pull in listeners from the adult powerhouse, 610 WIP. They didn’t make a lot of inroads.
Now into the 80s, a format change was due for WFIL. They switched to country. That was not as successful as was hoped by ownership.
The Famous 56, Boss Jocks
Outside the WFIL Studios
October 1966Finally on Labor Day Weekend 1983, WFIL returns with the songs that they originally played when they were brand new. Today, we would call them an oldies station.
“It was great to hear the music again on WFIL but the presentation was not the same,” said Bob Charger who felt the station didn’t give the radio personalities the small freedom that the original format had.
Bringing back two of the finest former WFIL afternoon personalities Jim Nettleton. & Dan Donovan, the station tried to regain its old glory. The Philadelphia Inquirer stated that eventually Nettleton left because of station cost cutting measures.
Bob Charger arrived at Famous 56, WFIL. Kevin Fennessy was the program director and general manager Bruce Holberg heard my first break on the air. He calls Kevin and said that Charger sounds just the way WFIL should sound. “Wow, what a compliment, said Charger.
The final line up was mornings with Kevin Fennessy; Steve o Brien mid-days; Bob Charger Afternoons and then basketball or paid programming.
On April 7.1987, WFIL was sold to the owners of WEAZ, David Kurtz and Jerry Lee. They went with a satellite feed with an oldies format. Bob tells us that he was the last voice heard on WFIL as a rock station. He said, “First on your dial at 56, This is the Voice of the Sixers, WFIL, Philadelphia.”
A LITTLE BIT OF BROADCAST HISTORY!
Lake Powell, Arizona
By the way, many people don't know that Broadcast Pioneers member Austin Culmer was an amateur photographer. He was a mainstay on talk radio at both WCAU Radio and WWDB.
OUR HATS OFF TO YOU FOR GIVING:
We would also like to thank all the members who sent in an extra contribution this month when they renewed their dues. They are: Jerry Del Colliano, Brooks Saint Ives, Louis Beccaria, Elaine Skypala, Bob Backman, Dorie Lenz, Nicky DeMatteo, Robert Loudin, Cindy Keiter, Douglas Fearn, Henry Chmielefski, Louis DiCrescenzo, Bill Roswell, Sheree Goldflies, Charlie Mills, Ivory Blackwood and Kevin DeLany.
It takes several days to process incoming mail. So, if we didn't thank you for your extra contribution this month, it probably arrived too late to make this issue. We'll thank you next month. We appreciate all contributions. Thank you!
We would also like to welcome to our membership, two new memberships. They Jerry Stevens and Vicki Gold Levi. Special thanks to Vicki for the extra contribution that she sent us.
We have 500 members, but we could always welcome more. If you know someone who you think would like to become a member, kindly let us know.
We are a federally recognized, state chartered charity with a 501(c)(3) status. Contact us at (856) 365-5600 or e-mail pioneers@broadcastpioneers.com for more details. Your gift to Broadcast Pioneers will help us and may lower your federal income tax. That's win-win, isn't it?
Special Thanks for the gift of Appreciated Stock: (a federal tax advantage for the giver)
Member Sylvia Kauders - $5,159.45 (used for the scholarships listed below)
Special Thanks (in alphabetical order) for contribution of $1,000 or more to our DAP, Digital Archival Project:
Member Jerry Del Colliano - $1,500
The Shunfenthal Family (in memory of Sherri Shunfenthal's father, Les Waas) - $2,000
Member Marlin Taylor - $2,000
A member who prefers not to be identified publicly - $1,000
Special Thanks (in alphabetical order) for contribution of $1,000 or more into our General Fund to be used where needed:
Member Brad Seecof and Metramedia Broadcasting & Studios - $1,000
The Sylvia Kauders Foundation - $10,000
A Member who wishes to remain anonymous - $1,000
Member Priscilla Fox - $1,000
Special Thanks (in alphabetical order) for April 2020 Scholarships:
The Harry Hurley - Hurley in the Morning Charity - 2 scholarships (for a Stockton University student)
Member Sylvia Kauders - 1 scholarship (from a bequest for 5 yearly scholarships running until 2024)
Member Kal Rudman - 5 scholarships (for Temple University students)
Member Marlin Taylor - 2 scholarships
Special Thanks (in alphabetical order) for a contribution of $500 or more to our DAP, Digital Archival Project:
Member Elliot Abrams - $500
Members Robin and Ira Adelman - $500
Member Priscilla Fox - $500 plus another $500 for our scholarship fund
Member Bill Kelley - $750
Member Art Moore - $500
Armitage Shanks (not their real name) - $500
Bequests in their Will:
Member Sylvia Kauders passed away recently. In her will, she bequest to the Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia, the amount of $5,000. This funding is to be used to underwrite one scholarship per year until gone. These scholarships will start in the year 2020 and continue until 2024. From a previous gift, Sylvia has underwritten one scholarship a year starting in 2015 and continuing until 2019.
Member Dave Shayer passed away last year. In his will, he bequest to the Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia, the amount of $5,000. This funding is to be used to underwrite our archival project which was dear to Dave's heart and soul.
If someone underwrites a complete scholarship and we'll give them credit in the electronic newsletter until the scholarship is awarded. The gift of appreciated stock of $2,000 or more) will be thanked in our "Thank You" column for two years. If someone donates $1,000 or more and we'll list them in our "Thank You" column for a year. If someone gives a donation of $500 or more and we'll list them in our "Thank You" column for six months. They can select how we use the money: for our archival project, for scholarships or for our general fund to be used as needed.
More Thanks:
A growing portion of the revenues that fund the different activities of the Broadcast Pioneers comes from donations. This includes our archival project and our scholarship program. Now we are making it even more beneficial for our donors. Broadcast Pioneers is now able to accept gifts of appreciated stock, which provides a significant tax benefit to you. By giving appreciated stock (stock which is worth more now than what it cost when it was purchased), the giver can get a charitable contribution tax deduction based on the current market value of your stock. At the same time, they avoid the capital gains tax that would arise if they simply sold the stock. So if someone would like to support our educational mission or our archival project and save money on taxes too, they could consider making a gift of appreciated stock. We are a federally recognized, state chartered charity with a 501(c)(3) status. Contact us at (856) 365-5600 or e-mail pioneers@broadcastpioneers.com for more details.
Many of us are over 70 and a half years old. If someone is, they can donate directly to Broadcast Pioneers from their IRA Account. If they take a distribution and then donate to us, they would have to pay federal tax on the distribution. By donating directly to us, they pay no tax and we get the full amount. Remember, this donation must go directly to us in order for the giver to avoid paying income tax. This direct donation may also prevent the donor from going into a higher tax bracket. That's always good. The donor should always contact tax advisor about this and get complete details.
Thanks so much for everyone's support.Our address is Broadcast Pioneers, PO Box 2886, Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004, (856) 365-5600. Our e-mail is: pioneers@broadcastpioneers.com
A FINAL THOUGHT....
After winning 8 games in a row; “We (the Eagles) go in to play Cleveland on one of those Lake Erie afternoons; the wind was blowing and it was snowing. The fans (in Cleveland) hated us so much that they threw beer cans at us with the beer still in them. They really wanted to hurt us."
Tom Brookshier
January 19, 2005
Broadcast Pioneers Luncheon
Please contact us by e-mail at pioneers@broadcastpioneers.com or by mail to: Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia, PO Box 2886, Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004. Your stories are important, to you, to us, and your colleagues. Contact us today and we’ll include your story in the next newsletter! |
© 2019, Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia
All Rights Reserved
Newsletter Editor is Gerry Wilkinson
Newsletter proofreader is Michele Wilkinson
The e-mail address of the Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia is pioneers@broadcastpioneers.com
For luncheon reservations call (856) 365-5600 or e-mail us at: rsvp@broadcastpioneers.com
