Former Johnstown broadcaster Adam Bittinger has passed. He came to town as a weatherman on Channel 6 then went back to radio to do talk on WJNL with a program called Adam's Rib. He was then elected to the State House, got into some type of trouble and was booted out. Seems like I remember it was the old ghost employees scam. In view of this, how he ever became a police officer in Key West is a complete mystery! But that's what the story in the Tribune Democrat said!
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Adam Bittinger Passes
- Thread starter DXDXDX
- Start date
Adam Bittinger was one of a number of colorful characters to be found in west-central Pennsylvania radio throughout the days between World War II and the collapse of steel in Johnstown and coal in the hinterlands around Johnstown. Others included Ron Stephenson on WJAC TV and Radio, who also moved on to public office, and such owners as Cary Simpson at the Allegheny Mountain Network and the late Bill Bland in Barnesboro (where he also served for a time as mayor) and in Johnstown. Sadly, Johnstown today is a forgotten broadcast market, one of many in Southwestern Pennsylvania. God rest Mr. Bittinger's soul.
Yes, Ron Stephenson was certainly part of the glory days! I wouldn't describe him as a "character". He was like a "god" in tv news back then. Many say he was hard to get along with and at times he was a bit testy. He always treated me very well. As a newly hired broadcaster in my first months of my first job I saw him waiting at a red light on Main Street in Johnstown. I introduced myself as working in the radio end of WJAC and he warmly welcomed me and we shared a few minutes together walking down the street...him in his expensive suit and me in my jeans.
Almost forgot...I watched Adam do his first tv weather on WJAC. I didn't know who he was, just a new guy who was especially nervous. John Moorhead was hanging around so I asked him, "Who is that guy?". (Back then anybody who was male to me was a 'guy'.) Moorhead got a little testy with his response by telling me: "That GENTLEMAN is Adam Bittinger"!
The Dave "fellow" was or is Dave Smith. I don't know if he's still around. I do remember when an opening occurred at WARD, it came down to him or me and they chose him. But he was a good guy. Haven't heard anything about him for years.
Jim Daly? Wow, talk about a voice...probably the BEST VOICE ever to work in Johnstown radio. He came from WRTA by way of New York. I remember "listening in" on a conversation he had with the PD of the old WUOK in Cumberland. The phone was wired into the concole in such a way you could put the phone in cue and "listen in" on any conversation without picking up the phone or anybody knowing! Yes, this even worked when the offices were downtown and the studio was on the mountain. Anyway, Daly was working at WJAC when he was lured away by WJNL (formerly WARD). He was talking to the WUOK PD looking for a job, but claiming to be making the astronomical amount of $200 per week in 1971! No, I take that back. He was lured away from WJAC, didn't last long at WJNL and called looking for a job. I got his phone number from the conversation and called him later offering to give him my stack of recent "Broadcasting" magazines. He wanted to meet me in some cheap strip bar. I don't remember if I met him there or not. Anyway, I called him some months later and asked him if he got a job and he said "No" and got back into writing x-rated paperbacks. I don't know if he was serious or not. One day I was listening to WTAE-1250 in Pgh and heard what I thought was a familiar voice. Kept listening and thot for sure it was Daly but something didn't sound quite right. It was John Garry. Garry sounded like a "rougher version" of Jim. more...more....
Jim Daly? Wow, talk about a voice...probably the BEST VOICE ever to work in Johnstown radio. He came from WRTA by way of New York. I remember "listening in" on a conversation he had with the PD of the old WUOK in Cumberland. The phone was wired into the concole in such a way you could put the phone in cue and "listen in" on any conversation without picking up the phone or anybody knowing! Yes, this even worked when the offices were downtown and the studio was on the mountain. Anyway, Daly was working at WJAC when he was lured away by WJNL (formerly WARD). He was talking to the WUOK PD looking for a job, but claiming to be making the astronomical amount of $200 per week in 1971! No, I take that back. He was lured away from WJAC, didn't last long at WJNL and called looking for a job. I got his phone number from the conversation and called him later offering to give him my stack of recent "Broadcasting" magazines. He wanted to meet me in some cheap strip bar. I don't remember if I met him there or not. Anyway, I called him some months later and asked him if he got a job and he said "No" and got back into writing x-rated paperbacks. I don't know if he was serious or not. One day I was listening to WTAE-1250 in Pgh and heard what I thought was a familiar voice. Kept listening and thot for sure it was Daly but something didn't sound quite right. It was John Garry. Garry sounded like a "rougher version" of Jim. more...more....
I often wondered whatever happened to Jim. He was fantastic on the air. I asked Tom Daren awhile back and he said he was unaware of whatever happened to him. J. J. Jefferson is Marty Radovonic of WJAC-TV. John E. Gelormino bought the old WJNL from the George Gartland family. Gelormino owned Jonel Construction Company and had zero radio experience. He moved the studios to Main Street in Johnstown where passersby could watch the guy on the air.
The old WARD had such notables as Bernie Shedlock, Art Walter, news writer Frank Jordan, Bill Santoro, Al Bird, C.E. John Kershesky and of course Joe Cavanaugh. Joe did a noon time man on the street program from in front of W. T. Grant's store on Main Street. WARD also had a teletype machine installed in a window where you could watch it work.
The old WARD had such notables as Bernie Shedlock, Art Walter, news writer Frank Jordan, Bill Santoro, Al Bird, C.E. John Kershesky and of course Joe Cavanaugh. Joe did a noon time man on the street program from in front of W. T. Grant's store on Main Street. WARD also had a teletype machine installed in a window where you could watch it work.
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