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Dearly departed radio stations/formats

I'm surprised this thread has lasted this long with no one mentioning WADV. I don't think there was a more unique radio station in the history of Buffalo broadcasting. It's format was one of a kind. It wasn't beautiful music like WBNY-WJYE. It wasn't middle of the road or standards. And it wasn't jazz. Plus, announcers like Fred Klestine, Pat Vincent and others made it work. And in my family, the polka show with Dan Lesniak was regular fare every Saturday and Sunday. Funny! It was always my father's radio station. "Turn it off, Dad, I want to listen to KB!" Just when I was starting to appreciate its uniqueness in my mid 20s, WADV went away -- forever! Yes, the station became WYRK, which was obviously a wise move at the time as it grew to become a perennial number one. But this radio guy fondly remembers the "dearly departed" WADV!
 
Those "First In Stereo" jingles were pretty neat for an FM... although I believe the Hound really was first in stereo with WBLK until the stereo generator went pfffft and the station reverted to mono. Even in mono, FM sounded clean. One thing about 'BLK in the early days, you could hear it everywhere. I often wonder if that was due to engineering excellence or a combination of planning, luck and no other stations within the third adjacency either side. Maybe Bill Desing could fill us in. But as to WADV, yes, it was quite the station.
 
Obviously, I'm a little partial here having been among the WADV crew, but I can't help but think that the ADV sound would still pull a sizable audience in this market. Unfortunately, most of the programing today is done by people who can't appreciate that music.
 
Glad to see that WADV is being remembered in this thread and I am also glad to see that Voice Man Jack has jumped in.

I remember being thrilled out of my mind when Nancy Lesniak hired me to follow Jack Horohoe.

I feel confident that WADV's format would blow away Swing 1270 today. ( When Bob Wells left 1270 HLD I took his afternoon drive shift.)

Funny, I did not appreciate it at the time, but the Lesniak's allowed each of us to pick all of our own music for our respective shows.

We all knew the format and I for one had a great deal of fun going through the music library before every shift to select my albums.

Does anyone give their air talent that ability anymore?

God, I miss those penthouse studios in the Rand Building!
 
I wish I'd had an FM radio when I lived in Buffalo. From the little snippets of airchecks and comments I think WADV would have been an interesting station even to my then young ears.

As for the Rand Building, now there is a radio topic all in itself. Through history that place has been home to a lot of radio stations! WKBW, WGR, WJYE, WYRK, WECK and maybe others. I wonder if the more recent stations are using what was the WKBW and WGR studios or if they are on other floors? Does anyone have that information?
 
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