Names from all over New Jersey

[HarrytheK1]

Here are some names, Dick Andrews, Kenny Lee, Tommy John (Chuck Rieger), Jerry Carroll...

Was that the Jerry Carroll, as in Dr. Jerry Carroll, and, even more famously, the never-to-be-forgotten pitchman for Crazy Eddie (even today, the most memorable commercials of all time - Sure the spots were cheap and tacky, but so what? Is there anybody who doesn't smile when they think of those spots?)

If it's the same Jerry Carroll, at which radio station(s) in NJ did he work?

 

[BobSmolarek]

Yes Jerry Carroll was at WJDM 1530 in Elizabeth, definately remember him there because I was floored when I heard him later at WPIX. He was there around say 1971, maybe 1970. He was there with Laura Scott, Wally Duquette, and Bill Schaefer.

 

[Big Jay]

Bill Schaefer has had quite a number of national voice-over accounts over the years...making him qualify as a person who could have a tribute of some kind.

Though I never worked there, WJDM had quite an alumni. Schaefer must have left OBM-FM just before I got there in 1970...or around that time. I was an overfed, long-haired leaping gnome at the time, one of the reasons I was fired from OBM-FM in early '72. One of the owners saw me at a Lakewood Little League game (my brother Keith was playing) and told the GM that my HAIR was too long!!! Combine that with the "not locking the front door" incident that I described on another thread or earlier in this one, and that's why my career almost ended in '72. Maybe it SHOULD have. Oh watch the snide remarks being posted now!

Ya know, looking at all of the people who moved on to careers in either NY, Philly, or LA...you see that a LOT of talent worked here in NJ at some point in their careers. Sometimes it was the other way around..some had the "big town sound" and ended up here for a myriad of reasons. Sometimes it's just fate.

BE BIG
Eric Burdon

 

[HarrytheK1]

Harry...After the snow removal biz went bust here in Florida I started a production business (millsmedia.net)
...I'm also involved in a group that owns an air conditioning company.
...What are you doing these days?

Charlie,

Well, after I heard your snow removal biz in Florida went under, I, like any astute businessman, took advantage of this hole in the market, and began my own snow removal business in the Sunshine State. It's been tough sledding (get it?), but I know this biz is gonna be really big. After all, I've got a monopoly down here. People are afraid of me. Nobody here is even thinking about getting into the business.

As far as that air conditioning company you've got a piece of...well, what charlatan gave you that piece of advice, Charlie? I can't believe you went for that one. I mean, c'mon, air conditioning in Florida? Ha! Like that might ever catch on. Don't you know people down there like it hot? Otherwise, why would they move to Florida? Sheesh!

On the other hand, I checked out your millsmedia.net website. It's terrific. That was a great picture of you (Why do radio people think photos of themselves will help them get work? Why would anybody who's hiring you for your voice care what you look like?) I don't remember the last time I saw you, but it looks to me like you've lost a lot of weight. It also looks to me like you've lost a lot of hair. I didn't really mean that. I meant to say it looks like you've lost all your hair.

But, seriously, the site looks great. Congratulations and best of luck with your business. Let me know if you ever need "I'm Just Wild About Harry" for a music bed.

BTW, after seeing your site, I now know why you were asking about Bill Bang.

I've got one other New Jersey radio name for you - Ken Howard Dichter. Remember Kenny?

 

[GlennSummers]

Jeez, Harry, that's the second time this week I've heard Kenny Dichter's name come up (We probably have exceeded some limit somewhere). My bud Bob (Bobby Brooks) Anthony and I were waxing poetic about some of the classic performers at WMVB in the late 70's and early 80's, and, of course, Kenny Dichter was one of them, along with Mike Bowe, Hazel "The Early Morning Haze" Morgan, John Runfolo, Bill Salati, Larry Giordano, Al Moore, Dave Creamer, Nick Giorno, and the usual gang of office staffers and managers. We also have fond memories of some of the WDVL gang, too: Joe Dawson, "Jersey" Joe Monforto, John "Sheridan" Speeney, and that office crew.
My dear departed friend Sal (Roberts) Russomanno would have loved this board and these threads. Many a summer day would pass at his dad's place on LBI listening to 'JRZ and "The Budweiser Beachcomber Show" at night.
Sorry, Jay...I'm strolling again.

 

[coops]

HEY WYNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN, i mean hey Glenn...There was a guy in the late 70s on WMVB who hosted a Satuday morning oldies show...He was really good...What was his name???? )))) Hope all is well with you!!

 

[GlennSummers]

Sorry about the miss there, Coops. "Saturday Solid Gold" had two lives from what I can recall. You and Joe "Aw, Jeez" Gorgo.
Just a couple of weeks ago I heard an "American Top 40" show on XM where Casey told the world that the show was heard on great radio stations like WMVB, which, IMHO, was a great station in the late 70's and early 80's. I believe my sister-in-law still has the actual records on that one.
All is well here and I hope the same for you, too.

 

[charliemills]

Harry,

Remember that afro I wore in those days? And yes I was weighing about 260 in those days - but i keep myself at 190 now...but the hair???? One day I bent over and it all fell off. If was ugly. I mean, just one big pile of hair. Terrible. But for that I thank my two daugters and the stressfree life of radio! YEAH!

Hey, Kenny Dichter emailed me about 2 years ago. He was doing a google and came across my name. He is doing great. You remember he was pretty much a tech geek - and that hasn't changed. If I remember right he is in Arizona and has a good job, possibly a part owner if I recall, and he sent me pics of his house. And do you remember RUSSELL GATES (Al Sergi)? He has done well too. He worked for the state police in Hammonton after radio as a dispatcher. He now owns a few small stations in West Virginia.

And thanks for the comments about my site!!

Charlie

 

[HarrytheK1]

I wish I had that '74 shot of me at 11-7 with hair down to my shoulders. You'd want to carress it too, just like the girls did...even if you don't bat for that "other" league..
Please don't hate me because I am beautiful.

Uhhh...Jay, trust me when I tell you being hated because you're beautiful is one thing you'll never have to worry about

 

[Big Jay]

Then as Oliver Hardy once said about Stanley.. "We're like two peas in a po--d.
Hmmph.
As Heckle once told Jeckle.. "Birds of a feather stick together".
As Simon said to Garfunkel.. "who are you again?"
As Maris said to Mantle.. "mine's bigger than yours".
As Opie said to Anthony.. "do we still work here?"
As Hilarie once said to Jay.. "you're such an dope".
(I had to get a Jersey radio reference in there somehow!)

And the signs said long-haired-freaky people needn't ought apply..
BE BIG
Tiny Tim

 

[HarrytheK1]

My bud Bob (Bobby Brooks) Anthony and I were waxing poetic about some of the classic performers at WMVB in the late 70's and early 80's

Actually, Glenn, WMVB's most classic performers were at the station during it's greatest days in the mid-70's. Oh, did I mention that's when I worked there?

BTW, is your bud Bob (Bobby Brooks) Anthony a/k/a Bob D'Ippolito?

 

[GlennSummers]

Harry, don't pull a muscle with that back-pat. I'm kidding.
I was there for my first go-round in late '76 after toiling away at 'DVL when John Runfolo was PD, but left shortly after to go back to college. A couple of weeks before graduation, Larry G. called me at school. He was going to leave the station and invited me back to take his place.
Bob Anthony/Bobby Brooks is that same Bob D'Ippolito. One Saturday morning a few years back while driving up to WOBM I heard that voice on The Breeze and there was no mistaking it.

 

[HarrytheK1]

Harry,

Remember that afro I wore in those days?

Hey, Kenny Dichter emailed me about 2 years ago...If I remember right he is in Arizona...And do you remember RUSSELL GATES (Al Sergi)? He has done well too. He worked for the state police in Hammonton after radio as a dispatcher. He now owns a few small stations in West Virginia.

Charlie,

I do remember that Afro. The first time I saw you I couldn't understand why Dr. J was leaving basketball to work for a small-town radio station. Then, when I found out that guy wasn't Dr. J, and that it was you...well...you can imagine my disappointment

I actually saw Kenny about a half-dozen years ago. I was in Phoenix, so I took a shot at looking him up, and, to my surprise, I found him. At that time, he was the Vice President - Technical Research and Developer National News Division (his actual title - I still have his busines card) for Westwood One - Metro Networks. With all the buyouts, mergers and consolidations I don't know if the company still exists today as it did then, but he was way up there in that company. They even let him work out of Phoenix, rather than the home office, which was then in Houston. I remember him telling me that he was on the road a great deal because he was their #1 tech guy and they wanted him to set up the Metro systems at the major radio stations, like WABC, that Metro signed up. He even became buds with Phil Boyce, the then (and now) PD at WABC, the most-listened to talk radio station in the nation.

I last spoke with him about three years ago, and as sometimes happened, we've lost touch since then. I'm hope he's doing well. He was the best tech guy in the world. There wasn't anything he couldn't do with computers and/or radio station equipment. Kenny did have some wacky ways about him, but he was a great guy, and had the biggest heart of anybody I know. Come to think of it, he may also have had the biggest stomach of anybody I know (with the exception of me, or course.)

Every once in a while, I still exhange e-mail with Russell (Al Sergi) Gates. I even wrote something about him on the South and Central Jersey Radio of the 70's subject thread on the New Jersey radio-info page. For those of you may have missed those comments, let's take another look at them...coming up right now:

"...while working at (the police dispatcher) job he bought a radio station in West Virginia. He sold it less than 10 years later and then bought a 50,000 watt FM and its AM for a song and dance. He fixed it up, started making lots of money and now owns 6 stations on 10 frequencies in central WV. His stations are very involved in their communities and Al still does air work as he gets ready to retire."

It's good to know that somebody figured out how to successfully play the radio game.

Harry

P.S. Oh...one more South Jersey radio name: Joe McCulley

 

[lancedebock]

Hey, I'm STILL cute! (in an older sort of way)! While I'm here...its time for a shameless plug. Station Imaging anyone? Voiceovers? Check out my site www.lancedebock.com for demos...

Lance

 

[HarrytheK1]

Harry, don't pull a muscle with that back-pat...
I was there for my first go-round in late '76...
Bob Anthony/Bobby Brooks is that same Bob D'Ippolito. One Saturday morning a few years back while driving up to WOBM I heard that voice on The Breeze and there was no mistaking it.

Glenn,

I'm sorry it's taken me so long to respond to you but I've been laid up with a bad back. Maybe I pulled a muscle.

I don't know any of the names you mentioned in your post, but were Joe "The Crow" Coccaro (who would say "Don't piss on me and call it rain" every other sentence) and Harriett (who was one of the best people I ever met) there when you were?

Also, I'm not sure if I agree with you that Bob had an unmistakable voice. The first time I heard him on the air I mistook that voice for a seven year old's That was probably his first job, though, so he was just a kid learning his way, and, thinking back, he actually may have been only seven years old at that time. Is his uncle still the mayor of Vineland? Come to think of it, I think that's the reason he got the job in the first place.

 

[Big Jay]

Harry...I didn't know you did enough physical activity to GET a bad back! Kidding of course.

Lance...if not mistaken it was either that promo or another one that Jay put together that omitted ME, and that led to me freaking losing it to Joe and Brent. I knew then my days were numbered there when they seemed to do NOTHING to prevent it!

And to make matters worse, the official reason I was almost denied unemployment bennies? They claimed I broke FCC rules and regulations..meaning I may have missed a meter reading once. It was likely during the hurricane and the trailer we were broadcasting from before the building was finished actually TIPPED while we were on the air. I can't remember if I was on or Bob Sorrentino at that moment...but the water washed out the huge bricks that held up the trailer.

Boy what we went through there. Thank goodness I DID eventually leave JRZ back in '76, AFTER they TAPED all of my RECORDS that I let them use because they didn't HAVE any!!! Don't get me started...ok...I'm started. What a sack of %#$^ that was.. They hired me back for a week, taped it all, then let me go. Boy was I glad, as I got the job at WPST a few weeks later, and my career was UPWARD from that point on.

And to think that I thought they were my pals!! I talked with them countless times about what the station should be, even helping them with the call letters in the K-MART record department on Rt. 37. But ya live and learn. I know you were there a long time, and it was long after I was gone, but my experience was mind-boggling during that summer of '76. I was let go just days after returning from my honeymoon in Hawaii. Nice LAI greeting to come home to. I was laid alright. I never did get to the bottom of WHY they let that guy Laurie get a free pass on trying to get even with me for telling him to "GET OUT" of WHLW when Jim Rodio almost bought it from Seymore Abrahamson. I've told that story a lot about Laurie coming up the HLW and telling me that the station SUCKED and that when HE was going to be the PD, all of us would be fired, etc... I almost decked the guy but he was a big fat oaf...so it wouldn't have been a fair fight. I just told him to leave. Then when he saw me the first day at JRZ, he almost had a stroke. So leaving me out of promos was just HIS way of retaliation. Sorry that he died, but man...that guy had issues. BIG issues. Sad looking back.

Oh and one more note. I'm so sorry to hear about the passing of WOGL's Big Ron O'Brien. Check the Philly board for that. VERY talented jock.

BE BIG
Jay

 

[HarrytheK1]

Hey, I'm STILL cute!

Yeah...sure you are :

Your website is very well done, though, and you sound excellent on the demos. Your testimonial writers are pretty impressive names and companies, too.

Continued good luck with your business. It seems like you're already doing very well.

 

[GlennSummers]

Harry: Joe C. and Harriett were there, and so was the aforementioned Joe McCulley. Joe Mc would love to take the listener on a trip through the "fall decorated countryside" on the way to Gentilini Ford or Mae's Seabreeze Tavern.

 

[HarrytheK1]

Harry...I didn't know you did enough physical activity to GET a bad back!

Well...actually...I think I strained a muscle when I was bending down to pick up a potato chip that had fallen on the floor. But it's OK. I got it within the three-second rule. Ya never want one of those suckers to go to waste.

 

[amfmsw]

Which muscle were you pulling?