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Does this Bring Back Memories?

Just replace the names of some of the iconic influences Dan mentions (in my case plug in names like Danny Neaverth, Jeff Kaye, Dan Ingram and Tom Snyder) and it's my story and everyone else's in this business.

But you know, those icons ought to be a continuing challenge and reminder to us not to coast...but to try to make things happen in our little slice of airtime. Who knows who might decide this business is worthwhile to join, as a result of something special we do one day?
 
That's some good writing from Dan O'Day and summarizes things nicely. I wonder how much of those terms and memories mean anything to guys who are 18-24 and looking for their first big gig. Hopefully, they understand the "heritage of the game" and realize they're not the first person to throw a 90 mph fastball in Double A.

Over the years the posters on this board have come up with some good memory-milesposts of their own. Must be one of the many reasons we come here. I've enjoyed so many of the rants, rips and raves. It's almost cathartic to read and post and find out what others' think about whatever gets people riled up.

This is the season when many of us say thanks to our friends and co-workers and recognize those who've gone before us. The business has changed dramatically over the years. Sure come a long way from learning how to edit at 3.75 ips on that ol' Webcor.

Over the years, like so many others, I've had the good fortune to work with some very good people who've taught me a lot about the business. I thank them for their contributions and helping me do what I do to this day to the best of my abilities, rarely great but always striving to be as good as I can be. Names like Charley, Brian, Al, Pat, Tom, Jim, Jeff, Lynn, Steve, Mike, Ted, Tim, Marty, Pat, Betty, Meg, Don, Marc, John, Bill, Dan, Carmen, Tony, Tom, Mary, Nick, Henry, Sandy, Ray, Jolene, George, Irv, Gail, Carl, Joe, Gary, Harv, Max, Frank, Larry, Jerry, Pam, Donnie, Joey, Johnny, Tommy, Sammy, Dave, Rob, Stan, Roger, Kevin, Ron, Eric, Anita, Greg, Todd, Bob, Ken, Reggie and Gordy come to mind.

It's almost as if the Beatles' "In My Life" should be rolling underneath... Thank you, all.
 
Wow - what a marvelous, marvelous piece by Dan O'Day. Thank you, Jim McGrath, for calling our attention to it.

For we broadcasters d'un certain age, we are a mosaic of our radio experiences and the fellow radio types who helped create them. Jim Pastrick, I'm happy to see my "Nick" (at least I think it's mine) in your honor roll. All those conversations, laughs and late nights with guys like you, Brian and Al are treasured pieces of my little radio heritage. (Like the nite alw dropped by my apartment on Grant St., and delivered a 10 minute soliloquy on the near-impossibility of taking xmtr readings at WWOL, because the freakin' meters were impossible to decipher)

Some guys become great programmers and GM's, others build a comfortable life in sales, but for me after more than 35 years, the absolute joy and thrill still is being on the air. I haven't been on since last January, but I'm sure I'll be on again somewhere soon enough.

It's still really, really important to me to sound good on the air - even when I happen to be working at a l'il coffee pot of a station. It's largely because I love the craft, and my own pride propels me to strive for excellence. But it's also because you guys are excellent, and I want to keep up and not embarrass myself ;)! Our careers may have taken different roads, but we share the same roots of desire to simply sound great.

So, at the next station, I'll open the mic, feel that familiar rush, and somewhere in my phones will be the faint echo of playin' the Buffalo Springfield on WSCB...or, drivin' up Elmwood hearing a screamin', smack-the-post Pastrick intro of Eddie Kendricks "Keep On' Truckin'" on KB-15...and the unforgettable hours-long laughter with you guys over beef on weck at The Locker Room!

Nick Seneca
 
(Like the nite alw dropped by my apartment on Grant St., and delivered a 10 minute soliloquy on the near-impossibility of taking xmtr readings at WWOL, because the freakin' meters were impossible to decipher)


Ah yes! I remember that apartment on Grant street well.
You'll be interested to know that is now a home for 13 families.

I wonder, Nick, if there was ever a more unlikely Country Music staff than you, me, Jim Santella and Jim Sotet, among others, who washed up on the beach of WWOL AM & FM
 
Nick Seneca said:
I'm happy to see my "Nick" (at least I think it's mine) in your honor roll.
That would be you. Hope all is well!

alw said:
I wonder, Nick, if there was ever a more unlikely Country Music staff than you, me, Jim Santella and Jim Sotet, among others, who washed up on the beach of WWOL AM & FM

We should note the contributions of Wally Wasik, aka David R. Snow, Program Director of WWOL AM/FM. Long before there was WYRK (a fine station in its own right) there was Country music on WWOL and guys like you who loved the music and the people who listened to it. IMHO, David R. deserves a place in the Buffalo broadcasters HOF. At the very least, he deserves to be recognized and known to the posters and readers of this board.

Phoner: Hey... can ya play Moe Bandy, "I Can Still hear The Music In The Men's Room" or George Jones' "He Stopped Loving her Today." Thanks.
 
As long as you folks are reminiscing, wasn't WWOL-AM a Top 40 station before it switched to Country? When did the format change to Country occur and how long did WWOL stay with the format? As I understand it, WWOL-FM became WNYS in the early 80's and changed format to CHR.
 
Hi Andrew....

I don't believe WWOL was ever a full-format top-40 station as was "Future Sonic" WKBW in the late '50's, but rather, had individual hosts who played rock 'n' roll. Much of 'OL's broadcast day back then and even into the mid-60's consisted of religious and ethnic programming.

One notable host was an air personality named Guy King, best remembered for a stunt of broadcasting from atop a billboard or hotel in downtown Buffalo and causing traffic jams. I don't recall the details. Anyone?

I used to have a scrap of a Buffalo Evening News radio-TV page from 1955. The WWOL morning man was Fred Klestine. Stan Jasinski was also in the lineup, along with a bunch of religious programs.

By the way, another WWOL alumnus is none other than Casey Kasem! I can't place the year, but I know he was there.

I think the station's first foray into country music was around '65, when Ramblin' Lou was on the air from 2PM 'til sign off. At that time, around the age of 13, I clearly remember listening to Don McNeil's Breakfast Club from ABC Radio on the big 1120. Paul Harvey news was also on the station, and still, tons of religious and ethnic programming.

Around 1968, Lenny Rico was playing country music in the morning, and Lou Schriver had country in the afternoon, and I believe the midday was still full of miscellaneous stuff.

At one point around this period (not sure when), Danny McBride and Lew Brown hosted a non-country morning show on WWOL.

WWOL became a full-time country station around 1971, when Jerry Adams took over as PD. A terrific, terrific country enthusiast and PD, he later went on to KFDI in Wichita, and I always wondered what became of him. Anyone?

Even though WWOL was not a major player in Buffalo radio, from the early to mid-70's the station had some really great air personalities - notably Michael Scott (a/k/a Joe Gallagher) who went on to a great career at WGY and is still heard weekends there. Also "Jack Daniels" who'd come from WUBE in Cincinnati, and Jon Wailin. These names are likely forgotten by many of those who read this board, but I was workin' there, remember them well, and still hold their on-air performance in high regard.

In the late 70's, WWOL-FM 104.1 became WACJ, but I'd left town by then and don't have a clear recollection of its format or evolution to WNYS. Anyone?

To Jim Pastrick:

I agree with you about David R. Snow. Country did not have a high profile in Buffalo back then as it does now, but for the era - the 1970's - David R was The MAN. The country listeners loved him, and he was clearly the most identifiable personality on the station. He was pretty much a title, artist and call letters guy, but there was something about his on-air presentation that just connected with country fans.

I sometimes hung out with David, and often witnessed the adulation when he'd get up on stage at the Club Utica or Club Romway and belt out "Your Cheatin' Heart."

David happened to be at one of the lower-tier stations in Buffalo, but nevertheless, he was a STAR in the genre. Personally speaking, I'd love to see him in the Buffalo Broadcasters Hall Of Fame. I'm sure it would mean a lot to his family.

Nick Seneca
 
To pick up where Nick left off…. WWOL Winter/Spring 1978: David R Snow was PD, Steve Mitchell in production.

On WWOL-AM (all country) AM drive was Steve Ryan; midday was Ken Johnson; PM drive was Jeff ??

On WWOL-FM (country/light pop blend), AM drive was Dale Mussen (went to WYRK around 1981 and is still on mornings – wow, what a run); middays was David R; PM Drive was Vonnie (with a V).

By the summer of 78, management shook things up and decided they couldn’t afford to have Steve full time in production. So he replaced Vonnie on FM - that lasted about three weeks. A kid named Mark Swarts took over in production and replaced Steve Ryan on AM in the AM.

Around 1979 Paul Butler took over as PD and a series of format changes on FM began: All country (automated), calls changed to WWOR.

Ken Johnson took over as PD of AM; David R got the ax. Later, around 81, Ken went to WYRK and started the great Western New York country music love affair.

Enter Ron Rice as PD (around 1980?) – changed FM to oldies, calls WACJ – CJ 104 (the mix may have been a little too varied - - - - you’d hear Andy Williams’ Days of Wine and Roses back to back with Foreigner’s Cold as Ice). I think it was at that point when we tried automation using cassettes!!! It didn’t help the ratings.

Later, a six month stint at competing with Joy brought a beautiful music format with vocals and crooners. The jocks were local but the music was from FM 100 out of Chicago. Keith Luke did mornings; I think the rest of the day was automated.

Enter Al Ruscito as PD (1982) and FM changed to WNYS. Originally, it was going to be a service from New York with local drop ins. But that fell through so they decided to bring in the big names. Phil Cordus was hired for coordinating the service. He fired me and two weeks later they fired him when they decided to dump the service. WNYS, Hot 104: Jim Cook, Joey Reynolds, Sandy Beach, and a screamer, Johnny “Rock n’ Roll” Ringo.

At that point they started to simulcast AM-FM……
 
Nick Seneca said:
WWOL became a full-time country station around 1971, when Jerry Adams took over as PD. A terrific, terrific country enthusiast and PD, he later went on to KFDI in Wichita, and I always wondered what became of him. Anyone?

Are you sure 'OL didn't flip to country full time before '71? I don't doubt your historical recall, but I could swear WWOL AM-FM was doing wall-to-wall country around '67 or '68. I can remember my father listening to WWOL-FM (which was in mono) on the big ol' GE console stereo which featured a great AM & FM section and a record changer. The stereo was about as big as a coffin, gracefully positioned below the living room picture window. That puppy had a big 12 inch woofer and two tweeters per channel and it cranked! I modified the turntable with a custom-cut felt platter so I could perfect my slip-cueing technique. That poor turntable! If it were human, its treatment would have been described as cruel and inhuman punshment.
 
Are you sure 'OL didn't flip to country full time before '71? I don't doubt your historical recall, but I could swear WWOL AM-FM was doing wall-to-wall country around '67 or '68.

Yes, I think they were. I remember getting my first AM/FM radio in '67(graduation present, what else would a future radio geek want from Mom & Dad). I remember listening to WWOL-FM playing country. I recall the signal as being very bad. Hard to believe back then most of their listeners preferred WWOL-AM. I also recall the FM leasing out some unusual leased time programs(probably in the late evening hours on the weekend). I recall listening to - and remember this was 1967 - a local black political activist who supported George Wallace for President....I guess this guy was already nostalgic for the days of segregated rest rooms and drinking fountains.
 
Ya wanna go way back?

I can remember when OL was above the Palace Burlesque theater on Main Street (this was late 50's). At that time they were doing rock..or what could be considered rock...does Guy King strike a familiar ring? I can recall running for coffee for some of the jocks. One of the other guys hanging around the station looking for a break was a "chubby kid" from the West side named Joe Pinto who aspired for the big time. Pinto later became known as Joey Reynolds.

As a full blown radio station junkie, I would follow some of these guys on remotes. I recall a guy named Jack West. I would join him at remotes at drive-ins and along the boardwalk at Crystal Beach. As a 17 year old kid...I couldn't get enough of radio and actually hang'n with "the guys on the radio". I am sure my peers had thought I was weird...but in those days it was my life.

I can recall standing for hours and watching the likes of Frank Dill, Bernie Sandler and Jack Eno broadcasting from a trailer in the parking lot of a Loblaw or NuWay supermarket. Hoping for a chance to meet them and get a couple of tips.

Those were some great times.

Never in my wildest dreams did I ever imagine that I would work with some of my idols. Years later at WEBR I had the pleasure of working along side Bernie Sandler, Fred Klestine, Jack Sharpe and Jack Eno. My carreer in radio ended over 30 years ago....but it was still nice knowing that the punk kid who hung aroung the old WWOL studios had made it...kinda.
 
Re: WWOL question

"Enter Ron Rice as PD (around 1980?)"

I find it hard to believe that Ron was ever a Program Director.
Sales Manager probably?
 
mrswarts said:
I stand corrected. Paul Butler, Ron Rice and Al Ruscito were General Managers (GM) not PD. Sorry.


Not A Problem!

I saw him today and he looked like he had made WAYYYY too much money to have ever been involved in programming.
 
Tom Clay was the jock (as Guy King) on WWOL who climbed the billboard at Shelton Square and caused much consternation.
I think the legendary Frank Ward was the longest tenured Guy King. Other early "names" who worked at OL included Bruce Bradley, who later worked at WBEN & then at WBZ; Freddie Klestine, a Buffalo legend; Bill Hopkins
(as Vic Bell) who went on to work for years in Cincinnati; Dick Purtan (straight out of Syracuse University) who still is the King of Detroit mornings.
I worked with Frank & Freddie at WWOL in 1957 (as Tab Smith).....still the "funnest" year in my entire career!
 
A few observations: Good to see new posters contributing to threads. WWOL had a lot more country caché than most people give it credit. I remember hearing WWOL AM & FM as a full country station in Buffalo around 1969. It was owned by Rust-Craft, the greeting card company and later a company based in Pittsburg.

Ramblin Lou may be Mr. Country in these here parts, but David R. Snow was every bit the country gentleman and advocate for country music and country radio. I once met him at a local shindig and he was a delightful ambassador of country music... bought me a Rolling Rock. To me, Snow was a better radio personality and seemed to have a stronger connection to the listeners than Lou. (Don't waste your energy flaming me, it's just the way I heard it when I listened.)

There also was a guy named Bobby Knight who did mornings on WWOL. Wonder if he, like his college namesake, threw chairs or simply resorted to cart tosses?

I tried to get the lowdown on WWOL's flip to the country format from the Buffalo Broadcasters site, but there was no mention of it.

Also missing was the WNYS-FM flip to Hot 104 and the subsequent call letter change to WHTT, followed by the change to Classic Hits which occured sometime in the Fall of 1986, IIRC. So was the call letter progression: WWOL AM & FM; WWOL-AM & WACJ (FM); WWOL-AM & WWOR (FM); WNYS AM & FM, WHTT AM & FM?

-9-
 
JimPastrick said:
Are you sure 'OL didn't flip to country full time before '71? I don't doubt your historical recall, but I could swear WWOL AM-FM was doing wall-to-wall country around '67 or '68.

That may very well be, Jim - other posters above concur. I'm not entirely sure of all the dates I'd given.

A lot of great info in this thread - thanks to all who've written!

Nick Seneca
 
cee said:
I remember listening to WWOL-FM playing country. I recall the signal as being very bad. Hard to believe back then most of their listeners preferred WWOL-AM.

LOL! Yep - I was a part timer there in the early 70's, usually working Fri and Sat overnights on FM. Once I got called for a last-minute emergency fill-in on weekday PM Drive. "Oh my god! AM???? Am I good enough to do this??????"

Well, it turned out OK. I handled the music and those Patti's Daily Racing News race results just fine.

1120 was a daytimer, of course, and when summer brought a 5:45 AM sign on (FM simulcast), that was a big deal for me as a Midnight to 6 guy to have my 15 minutes of AM fame.

Regarding the FM signal: I believe it was 17kw until the mid-70's when it became 50KW.

Nick Seneca

p.s.: Are you ever amazed by the minutiae we have rattling around in our heads? The tons of miscellaneous details of questionable value we seem to remember? The humorist Dave Barry called it "Brain Sludge." He said it was incredible that on a given day he couldn't remember where he'd left his car keys, but nevertheless could recite the entire lyric of "The Ballad of Jed Clampett"
 
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