Be Big Be a Builder

[Mark Giardina]

* This came from a former co-worker of mine who once worked for Gordon Brown at WSAY. He asked me to post it for those who might not know the meaning behind the phrase "Be Big, Be A Builder.
Giardina



The impression your friends and others have of you is based on what you do... to teach... to create... to accomplish... or to build... whether you dig the trench for the foundation for a building; whether you lay the last brick on its top; whether you work with a pick and shovel, or with the tools and the machines, or in the offices or sell the products or services of industry... whether you grow, prepare or harvest the very food we eat... whether you are are a homebuilder: raising, teaching or educating your family or others how to become a builder... no matter what you are or what you do, if you are a builder, you are one to be long remembered. Those who attempted to destroy the pyramids of Egypt were despised and soon forgotten... those thousands who labored to build them will never be forgotten..........Be Big.....Be a Builde

 

[Bob1370]

IIRC, wasn't this said to be some kind of homily from a Masonic ritual?

Whatever the origins, I'll always think of the joker who said on the air, "Be Big--Be A Building!"

 

[Mike Sheridan]

IIRC, wasn't this said to be some kind of homily from a Masonic ritual?

Whatever the origins, I'll always think of the joker who said on the air, "Be Big--Be A Building!"

I wonder is that was intensional or a freuding sloop? (ouch) ;D

 

[Silkie]

"I won't be wronged, I won't be insulted and I won't be laid a hand on. I don't do these things to other people and I expect the same from them." - John Wayne in "The Shootist."

I LOVE THAT!

 

[Savage]

Another blast from the GPB past: does anyone remember Brown's regular and periodic on-air rants about "jitney" buses?

At some point Brown stayed in old-time Atlantic City, NJ, which until the 1950s had signature little short buses (!) that would take you anywhere in the city for a regular fare instead of running on fixed routes like traditional city transit buses. The "jitney" system appealed immensely to Brown's offbeat personality and he would periodically run what today would be called "advertorials" demanding that Rochester's city leaders consider jitney buses to augment, if not replace, city bus lines. Characteristically GPB thought personalized bus service in a city of Rochester's size made sense. (I could almost imagine Brown might similarly demand "jitney fast-ferry service" which could zip you over to Sodus, Niagara-On-The-Lake, Toronto or some isolated lakefront cottage for a couple of bucks.)

It was vintage head-scratcher programming heard from time to time on "Rochester's Hi-Fi Music and News Station."

 

[barman]

A friend once told me that the WSAY FCC public file documents were typed using "brown" typewriter ribbon...as in Gordon P. "brown".

 

[Play Freebird]

Those who attempted to destroy the pyramids of Egypt were despised and soon forgotten... those thousands who labored to build them will never be forgotten...

But does this apply to Midtown Plaza?

Victor Gruen must be spinning in his grave; he reportedly considered Midtown his finest work.

http://mall-hall-of-fame.blogspot.com/2008_05_01_archive.html

 

[Mark Giardina]

You have to admit that Gordon Brown was unique. Strange but unique.

 

[warsaw35]

Isn't he the president of England now?

 

[cee]

"Be Big, Be A Builder"

Then there is the bizarro world version of Gordon Brown, where the DJ's must read the famous Homer Simpson line:
"Trying Is The First Step Towards Failure"

 

[barman]

A friend of mine went to their East Avenue offices to audition for a job way back in the day. I believe he said it was a woman program director who auditioned him, can’t remember the name. Anyway, she told him one of the conditions for employment as air talent there was no previous experience, “so we won’t have to unteach any bad habits”.

 

[Bob1370]

IIRC the program director/overall operations manager of the station in the Gordon Brown days was a woman named Sybilla Reber. I've heard varying stories about her, but the only thing I can confirm from people who worked for her is that she was a rather formidable, memorable woman. I think Bill Flynn, who's now a producer at WHAM and WHYK and used to be my tech director at WXXI-AM, would be a good source for more info.

 

[TheBigA]

At some point Brown stayed in old-time Atlantic City, NJ, which until the 1950s had signature little short buses (!)

FYI...they still have jitney buses in AC. And they have wicker push carts on the boardwalk. Anything for a buck.

The thing about the jitney is it was privately owned...sort of like a cab rather than a bus. Then again, the buses in most towns used to be privately owned too.