FAVORITE RADIO PERSONALITY IN CENTRAL PA!!!

[Sonny London]

Interesting you say that. Wes Shore is now John Beaston at WINK 104/Cumulus Harrisburg. And guess what he's doing? The news!!!! <chuckle>

Since I was only in the area for about seven years, and therefore just a blip on the radio radar, I have a limited perspective on my top five, and they're going to be somewhat Dame-centered. But here they are, in no particular order:

1. Bob Durgin - Quite simply, the best communicator in town. Give me a physical break! I loved filling in for you, brother.

2. Jed Donahue - A brain full of sports knowledge, and seamless play-by-play. It's always an adventure working with Jed.

3. R.J. Harris - Staying power, likeability and a good guy to have on your team.

4. Tod & Nancy - Played "Harvey Taylor" with them when we put BOB on the air in December, '96. Learned a lot from both, and had a ball.

5. Al Dame - Through the thick and thin, my loyalty was always to J. Albert. Sit in his office and let him talk about radio and instantly feel great about what you do for a living. I will always be in his debt for where I am today.

Bill Rehkopf
93.1 WPOC-Baltimore

Bill---no Wes Shore in there? Remember the day you went into the Bob studio to let that jerk know that there was a flood warning and he should get it on the air right away, and he went into one of his little rants? I recall him saying something to you to the effect of, "I don't care if cars are floating down the G**damn street...I'm not reading a stupid flood warning!!!"

All I can remember thinking is: One: I wish you would've puched the little sissy, and Two: how we LIVED IN A RIVER TOWN where flooding was taken very seriously! But he was Wes Shore. Nobody was gonna tell HIM what to do.

 

[JOCKSTAR]

Bill Rehkopf - 93.1 WPOC-Baltimore should be thanking the person who turned down the POC job. That's why he is where is he today. That's right Bill: someone turned turn the job and that's why you are working there.
Just setting the record straight.

 

[hopeland36]

Currently, I have no idea. ALL-time? How about Pat Kain!

I definately second that. He was way before his time and unforutnately radio has taken a road that I dont know if they will ever be ready for his talent.

 

[hopeland36]

What about that dreamy Aaron Price on FM97?

 

[arehkopf]

Bill Rehkopf - 93.1 WPOC-Baltimore should be thanking the person who turned down the POC job. That's why he is where is he today. That's right Bill: someone turned turn the job and that's why you are working there.
Just setting the record straight.

If you want to be specific, there were actually several who turned the WPOC job down before I got the gig. The job originally was contracted through Shadow-Metro, with no promise of ever joining the station itself. I was told some folks had turned the gig down because of that. I took a chance anyway, and it has paid off. After three years, I eventually became a CC employee. The experience has been like nothing else, and I've had the chance to learn from some good people.

You're absolutely right, Jockstar. I should be, and I am grateful for the chance to be at WPOC. I appreciate your pointing that out. Thanks, and best of luck.

Bill

 

[marketweis]

"Interesting you say that. Wes Shore is now John Beaston at WINK 104/Cumulus Harrisburg. And guess what he's doing? The news!!!! <chuckle>"
-------------------------

Yes, the irony of Beaston doing news - if you know the guy - is pretty funny.

And to Mr. Rehkopf getting the POC job because someone else turned it down...you make it sound like he should be ashamed or something that he wasn't their first choice. I had one of my best jobs in this business by being the employers 2nd choice.

 

[JOCKSTAR]

Yes, you're right.....hats off to any employee who was ever a 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th or whatever choice for a job. Bill made the best of his opportunity - as he pointed out - and and not only survived in his job, he's thriving in it and deserves his due amount of credit and respect for that. Making a go of it in radio - especially these days - is a super human feat in itself!

 

[TODDMAYOR]

rehkopf is @ wpoc because he deserved it. since his departure from cc harrisburg...in my humble opinion ...no one and i mean no one has been able to light a candle to the way he delivered a newscast and researched it. i also admired his work as the pio for cumberland county. bill..you are missed in central pa!!!

 

[Alan Criswell]

PBanner... Pattie Banner?

Yep...It's me...How have you been?

Good, for the most part.

I miss my Central PA radio days & friends! I'm now in southern California, co-hosting mornings in Riverside-San Bernardino on KOLA 99.9!

I'd enjoy consistently decent weather, lemme know if they need a midday or evening jock. 8)

 

[Alan Criswell]

(can't remember his name...was it Captain Conners?)

Wonder what ever became of ol' Captain Connors? At 98YCR, he worked overnights five-plus years,
then 7-midnight after the slot was vacated by The Ugly DJ.

Also, he hosted "The York Top 30 Countdown," Saturday mornings.

 

[Alan Criswell]

In the Top 40/CHR realm, Bob Ditto (a/k/a Sky King & Shotgun Johnny Ringo) was one of the best sheer talents ever to hit the air in Hbg/York. Crazy... but, man, he had the chops.

Bob (as Johnny Ringo) was one of my influences, along with Casey Kasem and "WKRP in Cincinnati."

In the AC arena, Rod Burnham of WSBA--and the creator of WGTY, if I'm not wrong--should have a spot in the Hall of Fame, too. Production wizard... but a great on-air jock, as well.

I can still hear some of his production: "KIDDIE, town!" Then there was the WGTY ID with the saloon
Country music bed, it was something like: "50,000 watts of continuous Country favorites for the York,
Adams region, and AAAALL of Central Pennsylvania... Country 108, WGTY, Gettysburg!"

 

[karlyle]

Captain Connors left 98YCR to do mornings at a station in North Carolina...was teamed with a female down there and used another moniker....he was unceremoniously let go about a year or so ago and had come back into this area looking for a gig, but lost track of him since then!

 

[Alan Criswell]

Captain Connors left 98YCR to do mornings at a station in North Carolina...

Typing of Captains, Harrisburg/York/Lancaster has had its share of radio Captains:
Captain Connors (98YCR), Captain John Lawrence (98YCR), The Captain (Q106)...

 

[BulkEraser]

Captain Connors left 98YCR to do mornings at a station in North Carolina...

Typing of Captains, Harrisburg/York/Lancaster has had its share of radio Captains:
Captain Connors (98YCR), Captain John Lawrence (98YCR), The Captain (Q106)...

...Captain Dave (WKBO)

 

[Alan Criswell]

Captain Connors (98YCR), Captain John Lawrence (98YCR), The Captain (Q106)...

...Captain Dave (WKBO)

Okay, jox with no-name names: The Ugly DJ (98YCR, Q106), Number One Son (The Edge/The X)...

 

[gwjr67]

I was "The Round Mound O' Sound". Now there's a keeper.....geez.

 

[jackandcoke]

Lot of 98/YCR references. I always enjoyed J.J. Randolph's schtick on YCR--lot of energy. Last time I heard he was selling cars... or real estate.

 

[cadillac-jack]

My favorite personality (other than myself) was Toby Knapp at WLAN. He had major market chops, and I was glad to hire him nearly 10 years ago as OM at WLAN. That crazy bastard had mayor Smithgall in his back pocket, and you gotta love that.

 

[SteelRocker]

What have you been up to these days Cadillac Jack? Used to listen to you and a female (can't remember her name) back in the 1990s in the mornings. I'm in Pittsburgh, so forgive me if you're still out that way.

 

[Pastywhitethighs]

I used to like The Ugly DJ when he was on YCR. That cat had great phone calls.