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600 Baltimore Drive - Class of 1996

A

arehkopf

Guest
My post on another thread gave me an idea. Where is the final Susquehanna Broadcasting class of '96 now? I truly enjoyed my short nine months there, and just about everyone in the building.

I'll start...Left WARM to go back to Dame Media to help put BOB 94.9 on the air and do some reporting for WHP. Now I'm at WPOC in Baltimore, coming up on nine years as News Director for Clear Channel here.

Who else is out there? Love to hear from you all...

Bill Rehkopf
 
Weren't you at KSB? How long?

I still can't get past the fact that Susquehanna vacated this market completely.
 
I was at KISS for exactly one year...started 12/30/91 and Al Dame took me to Harrisburg in late December of '92.

I did a bit character on Chrisman's show for years after, though...Steve from Turbotville. Did a song and dance routine in his live shows all the way up to 2000. Had a blast, and have some great friends as a result.
 
I agree that Susquehanna's leaving after 38 years was surprising.And now they are no more in any market having sold to Cumulus last year.
 
Bill,
Your query about 1996 is of interest. Can you list the alumni and where they are now? It's a long time ago!
 
MrRF said:
Bill,
Your query about 1996 is of interest. Can you list the alumni and where they are now? It's a long time ago!
Click to expand...

Well, I'd love to...but I don't know much, hence my original inquiry.

I know that Kid Kelly, Billy Hammond, Danny Ocean, Mike Edwards and a few others have thrived in the major markets.

Those I lost touch with include just about everyone in the WARM newsroom...Paula, Elizabeth, Ellen, etc. Also would love to hear the whereabouts of some of the off-the-air folks too, like the office staff, sales, etc. I especially remember our receptionist Mary Ellen as one of the nicest people in the world.

Hopefully a few of you are out there...Hey na...
 
arehkopf said:
I was at KISS for exactly one year...started 12/30/91 and Al Dame took me to Harrisburg in late December of '92.

I did a bit character on Chrisman's show for years after, though...Steve from Turbotville. Did a song and dance routine in his live shows all the way up to 2000. Had a blast, and have some great friends as a result.
Click to expand...

Gary started doing my favorite, Howard Smith from Shunk, not on his own show, but one someone else's. I was there at the beginning and remember Gary coming to the realization that Howard was a genuine commodity, and from that day forward he used the character on his own show exclusively. Then there's Rodney, or as he morphed into, Rodney The Boy. Rodney was based entirely on a very real person, an engineer.

I'm hearing that Chrisman is bringing back the stage show this year.

WARM's decline is pathetic, hard to believe, and for many who left the market years ago, impossible to believe. I keep in touch with a few WARM survivors scattered across the country, most of them are astonished at how the place completely crumbled. Now, when you say Ellen, which Ellen do you mean?
 
I last saw Gary at Melanie Apple's funeral. He told me that a live show wasn't out of the question, but there were lots of hurdles to overcome. I'm waiting for the phone call...any chance to do old Sinatra songs with a 10 piece band is worth the drive north!

And it's Ellen O'Brien I'm speaking of. Technically, she wasn't on the WARM news staff, as she was exclusive to Frankie on Magic; but she lended a hand on some things from time to time.
 
And it's Ellen O'Brien I'm speaking of. Technically, she wasn't on the WARM news staff, as she was exclusive to Frankie on Magic; but she lended a hand on some things from time to time.
Click to expand...

Sorry to be obtuse, but what was Gary's connection to Melanie?

Ellen O'Brien is still around, still doing radio; her name popped up here on one of these threads recently. I thinks she's voice tracking at maybe WNAK?

The other Ellen was Kelly(Ellen Lutsak)Reed. I have no idea where she is. Spoke with her ex-husband not long ago, even he doesn't know.
 
Mary Ellen was another victim of Lyra and his henchmen. She was fired from route81 several months ago. Probably knew too much! :eek:
 
You know...it took until just this minute to realize who "Lyra" is. Doh! Must be a little slow today.

Melanie worked for a short while with Gary at KISS, and was the long-running character "Rita From Milton" on the show.

Thanks for the update on EOB...and Kelly Reed, as best you could.
 
1 time, not at band camp. Lyra cleared house at a station..only having to rehire the JANITOR because he was the only one who could get the automation to come back on line. True story...but I heard it from Lyra. :)

The Mary Ellen receptionist you speak of...was that "Scary Mary Ellen" the red head? I didn't even know she left Citadel. Sorry to hear of her canning at Wrong Route 81. She was treat. :)

One thing I think is being over looked is that "out of towners" come to market 69 with dollar signs in their eyes thinking they'll make BIG bucks, only to be shot down. Believe it or not W-B/Scr is a HIGHLY COMPETITIVE market (Once ranked in the top 10 roughest markets by R&R) with limited advertising assets spread way to thin (4 or 5 TV Stations, 4-5 Newspapers, lots of radio stations) that is ruled by a super power TV station that sets the rates way too low. Word on the street says Larry Wilson of Citadel was SO disappointed.
 
We used to call her "Scary Ellen", but that was a term of endearment, believe me. She was an absolute gem to work with.

I don't know if or when she left Citadel. She may, for all I know, still be there.

I didn't come to WB/Scranton with dollar signs in my eyes, that's for sure. I came because of the Susquehanna reputation, the local management at the time (Jim Loftus, Mike Edwards, etc.) and the chance to try to help WARM step up its news game against WILK. I wish we would have had the chance to keep at it, as we were making some nice strides.

Slightly off topic, but whatever became of Jimmy Connors? Hizzoner called me on my first day to wish me well, and after my last to do the same. Yeah, he was a politico, but I appreciated the gestures, especially the latter, as he didn't have to do that.
 
Slightly off topic, but whatever became of Jimmy Connors? Hizzoner called me on my first day to wish me well, and after my last to do the same.
Click to expand...

Jimmy went on to become the #2 guy in Governor Rendell's local office, then located up on Baltimore Drive, oddly enough. That office has since relocated to Scranton. Best I know, he is still there.
 
Terry died August 11th, 2006. I was just in my first year at Rock 107 in sales when all the changes started to come to Baltimore Drive. If memory serves me correctly, I believe Jim Loftus still was on contract but relegated to a back office where he enhnced his computer skills. This happened toward the end of the summer. (In June, Susquehanna obtained the old WARD and then WKQV AM and FM either on a lease or straight sale. I was the board op doing Nascar races on Sunday. This particular day I was filling in for the Polka guy and I remember Chet the engineer coming in to the old Magic Studios in the old WARM building and switching on the Phillies to 1550. What they did with it after that June day, I don't know.) Anyway, Loftus later joined 107 in early 1997 as GM. Tim Durkin, the DOS came up in Nov. of 96 and brought half the sales staff with him. I believe there were no major staff changes at Magic or even WARM at first. (Citadel started the decline with WARM). WARM still carried the Phils and Eagles too in the latter part of '96.
Mary Ellen was the recpetionist for many years and was a joy to interact with when you picked up dubs. Last fall, I helped my good friend and former Citadel survivor Pat Thomas do some politicals for WNAK and Lite 94. (Pat's the Sales Manager). Anyway, Mary Ellen was there doing traffic. She married the world famous Freddy from the Bear and then the thing the Bear turned into, I believe they call it the "X". Freddy now works in promotions for the SWB Yankees and does a great job.
Mary Ellen and her entire family were always a class act. If she's no longer at Rt. 81, shame on them.

Yonkstur
 
Thanks for the Mary Ellen update! Glad to hear she's married off!

I knew vaguely of Terry's passing, but wasn't quite sure of the details. In the short time that I was at WARM, Terry was my biggest fan. He kept in touch after I left, and the last I heard from him was a nice e-mail message about two years ago.

Tim Durkin...great guy. He is the one (along with Kid Kelly) who gave me the nickname "Walter" (as in Cronkite). Wouldn't surprise me that the sales folk would follow him up to 107.

And sadly, I do remember when Jim Loftus was relegated to that rear office in the back hallway. Happily, though, he quickly regained his feet and is once again on top of his game. He is one of two GM's that I have worked for that I would have walked through Hell for.

Thanks all, for the updates...keep 'em coming!
 
I was somewhat part of the 1996 clan. Bill may remember me as the board op for the Drive @ 5 and the Ron Allen Sportsline show. And the one he wanted running the board on election night.

Jim Loftus is VP/General Manager for WOGL in Philadelphia.

Kid Kelly is working for Sirius. Danny Ocean is working in the Philly area.

Mike Edwards (Uncle Hard Ass) went to San Fran for a while after WB/SCR and then was in D.C. (not Dickson City ;D ) for a few years. Not sure where he is now.

I'm working for CC in Philly as Imaging/Commercial Production Director.

yonkstur said:
She married the world famous Freddy from the Bear and then the thing the Bear turned into, I believe they call it the "X".
Click to expand...

The Bear turned into Z-Rock 95-7. The "X" was 93-7 X which was previously Cat Country 94.
 
Munch...you were and are still the man!

Yonkstur...fuzzy memory, but I knew you, yes?

OK...here are some more names to toss out from the class: Stan, Yvette, Pam, Avery and Darryl.

We could start a whole 'nuther thread on the sales folks...
 
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