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Longtime Philadelphia Radio Legend Bill "Wee Willie' Webber has passed away.

Q

qtpieislit

Longtime Philadelphia Radio Legend Bill "Wee Willie' Webber has passed away this morning. Bill most recently was our Chairman at the Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia. He also was holding court at 1340/WHAT-AM. See more here. broadcastpioneers.com


Bill began his career in the 50's at WPEN AM and quickly moved to WFIL AM where he became involved in a new thing called television at WFIL TV. Se his Biography here. broadcastpioneers.com/billwebber.html
 
I remember Wee Willie from TV when I was growing up late 60s very early 70s. The wife sang as a young kid on that same TV show.
He was, fairly recently, a host on WHYY's Things That Aren't There Anymore. If there's yet another volume of this show, I hope Wee Willie is mentioned. A big part of local Philly broadcasting that isn't here anymore.
 
This is truly sad news. Bill's shows were always entertaining and you could just tell he enjoyed every moment her was on the air. I believe he holds the record while at WIP for most Cash Call winners.
 
I remember watching Wee Willie Webber on Breakfast Time on Channel 6 and he would feed a black ceramic cat bank with coins everyday. The cat would meow until he fed it the coins. Also Elmo Wiffleweather, the little guy riding a uni-cycle on a wire would bring him the weather forecast.

Of course, I enjoyed Wee Willie later on WIP in the era of Ken Garland. Bill Webber, seemed to be having the time of his life doing that show on WIP, much like Ken Garland. Those two guys just made you feel good. They had fun, you had fun, the station made money, now there's a great formula for great radio.

There are certain names that are Philadelphia radio/TV. Bill Webber's is one of those names.
 
This is an iconic loss. I remember summer drives back from the Jersey Shoreto the Delaware Valley on weekday mornings and listening to Wee Willie on WIP. Yes, Ken Garland, Tom Moran, and Wee Willie were having the time of their life on WIP in the 70s. Of course, enjoyable in later years on WPEN as well. RIP Wee Willie!!
 
I had the distinct pleasure of working with him for a few hours at a time on a couple of telethons on Channel 17 several years ago. He was the most gracious host, and gave this guy with the jitters a calming lesson on just talking as if I was IN their living room. That served me well as the jitters went away and also gave me a lasting lesson on RADIO broadcasting. I now imagine I'm WITH listeners as they go through their busy days.

Mr. Weber IS a Philly icon. I met him again at a few Philadelphia Broadcast Pioneers luncheons. He remembered helping me through my time on the telethon, and knew me from various stations in and out of the Deleware Valley. He's one of the great names of the history of broadcasting in Philly.

Rest in peace.

BE BIG!
Jay
 
Very shocked to hear of Willie's passing. I just heard him on WHAT a few days ago. I used to listen to him on WPEN when it was Oldies 950. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family and his collegues.
 
My middle school radio club went to WIP on Rittenhouse Sq. on a field trip in 1975. Wee Willie was on the air, spotted us, smiled, and gave us a friendly wave. I don't remember if we met him or not but each of us did get to take home a newly released single, randomly given out IIRC. I got Michael Martin Murphey's "Wildfire".

RIP Bill. Say hello to Astro Boy for us.

ixnay
 
One of the clearest memories of growing up in South Jersey (before I discovered rock and roll radio) was riding in dad's car listening to WIP and those great announcers like Wee Willie. He was smooth as silk and it just sounded like he didn't have a care in the world and that drew you into his show. Absolutely one of the best. RIP Bill.
 
As a kid, Bill Webber was always welcomed in our car and home. And when dad finally bought a TV with UHF in 1965 (B&W of course, color hadn't been 'perfected' yet), the first thing I did was an end to end dial spin of 14-83. There is where I discovered Hy Lit on Club Seventeen, and Wee Willie Webber's Cartoon Club! I was in heaven. All that, and we finally bought radio with FM, and could now listen to WIBG on 94.1 with no static!
 
MikefromDelaware said:
There are certain names that are Philadelphia radio/TV. Bill Webber's is one of those names.
Click to expand...

There's another star shining brightly in the heavens. Our legends are leaving us at an alarming rate. Truly the end of an era.
 
I was so shocked when I saw his picture on the TV Sunday while at a restaurant., with the dates. So even though I couldn't hear the sound, I knew that meant he had passed.

Enjoyed Bill on WIP and these days on WHAT. So sad to see another great one leave us.
 
I was very sad to hear of Bill's passing. I only got to meet him once, while I was standingoutside the unaircondition studio's of channel 17 in Wyndmoor maybe it was 1967ish. Bill came downstairs from his tiny studio and outside to get some air. Everybody started saying "Hi We Willie"! He signed some autographs and was very gracious. Not annoyed in any way that he was on a break. His greatest asset was his smooth as silk delivery and he had the ability to make you feel part of his life. RIP Bill!
 
I don't know much about Wee Willie, I am young tho.. I'm sorry to hear about this and my thoughts go out to his family!, RIP Wee Willie!.. I'm sure nothing will be the same with out you!
 
I completely forgot about this, as a young technician in the early 70's I worked for "service America" which was primarily a TV/Appliance repair company owned by RCA. As part of a Promo, we were told to visit WIP DJ homes and repair any TV and appliances (for free) and the DJ would then go on the air and basically say what a great job we did. I was sent to the Webber household and did convergence and adjustments on 2 TV's but was insulted when his wife asked me to repair an iron. I did install a new cord which solved the problem and admit to having, lets say an attitude about repairing an iron, (at the time I just got my FCC license) which I know Mrs. webber sensed and relayed my attitude to Bill, but when I heard the add, live on WIP Bill was his usual gracious self, but wonder to this day if it was told the story with clenched teeth!

RIP Bill
 
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