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HyLitRadio Remembers February 3, 1959, Rare Pictures, Analysis & Probable Cause.
- Thread starter qtpieislit
- Start date
Re: HyLitRadio Remembers February 3, 1959, Rare Pictures, Analysis & Probable Cause.
I always thought it was Dion who was involved in the coin flip. I didn't know about the issues regarding the pilot, Roger Peterson.
I was only 7 in 1959, but still remember seeing the news on TV. It was only the beginning of a bad year for rock 'n' roll music and the radio stations that played it. Not only did you have the loss of three of rock 'n' roll's brightest stars, you also had the payola scandals.
Death rock songs, usually dealing with teen agers dying, started charting, notably Mark Dinning's #1 hit, Teen Angel. The biggest casualty of the payola scandals had to be Alan Freed, who in November 1959 did his final broadcast on New York radio. Tom Donohoe fled WIBG Philadelphia for KYA San Francisco.
I always thought it was Dion who was involved in the coin flip. I didn't know about the issues regarding the pilot, Roger Peterson.
I was only 7 in 1959, but still remember seeing the news on TV. It was only the beginning of a bad year for rock 'n' roll music and the radio stations that played it. Not only did you have the loss of three of rock 'n' roll's brightest stars, you also had the payola scandals.
Death rock songs, usually dealing with teen agers dying, started charting, notably Mark Dinning's #1 hit, Teen Angel. The biggest casualty of the payola scandals had to be Alan Freed, who in November 1959 did his final broadcast on New York radio. Tom Donohoe fled WIBG Philadelphia for KYA San Francisco.
G
gunsmoke
Guest
Re: HyLitRadio Remembers February 3, 1959, Rare Pictures, Analysis & Probable Cause.
Wasn't the "Rockin' Bird" involved also, I think he fled to some LA station maybe KHJ with his good buddie Lloyd Thaxton, who had his own TV show in LA and was syndicated here on WKBS. It would be nice to hear some old airchecks of the "Bird" on that station. IMHO, Joe was the best jock anywhere, anyhow, and forever, nobody can ever touch his style and mannerisms, he was the greatest.
Wasn't the "Rockin' Bird" involved also, I think he fled to some LA station maybe KHJ with his good buddie Lloyd Thaxton, who had his own TV show in LA and was syndicated here on WKBS. It would be nice to hear some old airchecks of the "Bird" on that station. IMHO, Joe was the best jock anywhere, anyhow, and forever, nobody can ever touch his style and mannerisms, he was the greatest.
Re: HyLitRadio Remembers February 3, 1959, Rare Pictures, Analysis & Probable Cause.
Joe Niagara went to KBIG Los Angeles in 1960, before returning to WIBG two years later. The 1957 volume of the Cruisin' series was a great re-creation of Joe on WIBG, which had him selling you a "bigger than life Muntz TV" and a '57 Ford. After the Joe Niagara theme song ("Swing those records....let's go Joe!"), Joe yells "If you're ready, this rockin' bird will fly!", then leads right into Dale Hawkins' Suzie Q.
Not sure where I saw it, but I read that in the summer of 1961, WIBG had about a 25 rating by day and a 33 at night! No one else in Philly was competing with WIBG and WABC New York was still finding it's way.
Joe Niagara went to KBIG Los Angeles in 1960, before returning to WIBG two years later. The 1957 volume of the Cruisin' series was a great re-creation of Joe on WIBG, which had him selling you a "bigger than life Muntz TV" and a '57 Ford. After the Joe Niagara theme song ("Swing those records....let's go Joe!"), Joe yells "If you're ready, this rockin' bird will fly!", then leads right into Dale Hawkins' Suzie Q.
Not sure where I saw it, but I read that in the summer of 1961, WIBG had about a 25 rating by day and a 33 at night! No one else in Philly was competing with WIBG and WABC New York was still finding it's way.
G
gunsmoke
Guest
Re: HyLitRadio Remembers February 3, 1959, Rare Pictures, Analysis & Probable Cause.
WIBG did have the largest audiance for any station anywhere from 60-66, I have an aircheck of Joe saying..."The Joe Niagara show, now broadcasting to the largest and nicest listening audiance in the Delaware Valley, Pulse and Hooper rated, 9 out of every 10 radios are tuned to the Rocking Bird"...now that is some audiance, no station can even come close...If you want a copy get back to me and I can find a way to send it...I am not computer savay as they call it...LOL...I think Pulse and Hooper were rating services back in the 60's. I must admit though I did switch to WABC now and then to see what was on their charts, but never when Joe was on...They broke BI and Surf music before WIBG, which was more Philly soul/motown oriented, I guess that is why WFIL exploded on the scene they played less soul and more BI, but there was no other like the Bird.
WIBG did have the largest audiance for any station anywhere from 60-66, I have an aircheck of Joe saying..."The Joe Niagara show, now broadcasting to the largest and nicest listening audiance in the Delaware Valley, Pulse and Hooper rated, 9 out of every 10 radios are tuned to the Rocking Bird"...now that is some audiance, no station can even come close...If you want a copy get back to me and I can find a way to send it...I am not computer savay as they call it...LOL...I think Pulse and Hooper were rating services back in the 60's. I must admit though I did switch to WABC now and then to see what was on their charts, but never when Joe was on...They broke BI and Surf music before WIBG, which was more Philly soul/motown oriented, I guess that is why WFIL exploded on the scene they played less soul and more BI, but there was no other like the Bird.
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