Radio Shows at the York Fair

[Tracy from York]

Does anyone have any good memories of radio shows you did broadcasting from The York Fair?

 

[BigBob]

Ah yes...I have a picture of me sitting in the WNOW booth (after we signed off the air since we were a daytimer) still playing music for the crowds and giving away whatever we were that day (probably bumper stickers). I believe it was 1977 or 1978. I also have a picture a year or so later with Jim Cooke (I'm Bob Michaels) with the group Chic (remember "Freak Out").

Thanks for jarring the old memory bank!
BM

 

[Alan Criswell]

Ah yes...I have a picture of me sitting in the WNOW booth (after we signed off the air since we were a daytimer) still playing music for the crowds and giving away whatever we were that day (probably bumper stickers). I believe it was 1977 or 1978.

Do you recall the start and end dates of WNOW and its County format?

I also have a picture a year or so later with Jim Cooke (I'm Bob Michaels) with the group Chic (remember "Freak Out").

Sure. Bernard (bass) and Tony (drums) died within the last ten years.

Cooke's worked for most York stations, some at least twice; I worked with him at two.
I last heard him on 98.5 The Peak during the first half of 2005.

 

[BigBob]

Boy, I sure don't remember WNOW's country dates. It was that way when I started in the building in 1977...and when I left in 1987. Sorry.

I spoke with Jim about a year ago when I visited the area...and he was working inside WYCR then.

 

[Rockin Rob]

Sure. Bernard (bass) and Tony (drums) died within the last ten years.

Don't forget Tony was a member of the Power Station. And we all know what happened to Robert Palmer.

Tony Thompson had to be one of the most underrated drummers in history. He had a style and sound all his own. If you heard a drum fill, you could almost tell it was one of his.

I'm sorry, we were talkin' about...?

 

[grandoleopry]

Regarding WNOW and its country format years;
The station began as Top 40; owned by HJ WILLIAMS
Company they put it on the air. Sold to William Rust
station began run as country station in 1963, consistent
til 1985 when call letters and format changed to WOBG
Oldies But Goodies. Stations WQXA/WNOW Sold to HGF
Corporation "Harold Fulmer" 1984. OBG Lasted 3 Years.
In 1988 Station changed back to country under WXKU
Kix Country; spent about 2 years as Kix then went middle
of the road for about 6 months when HGF had financial
difficulties and began selling off and in the case of WXKU
began simulcasting with WQXA FM that lasted until mid
90's when station went middle of the Road again, until
aquired by Citadel in 1997 ; then took on Stardust Format
Stardust till 1999. The station then took on "Real Country"
format til was sold 1 year ago to Bob Wilkins Wilkins
Communications. Thats the story in a nutshell.
I think this is pretty accurate as I was the Station Mgr. there
under the 6 years of the Real Country era at the then
WQXA-am Which is now WYYC ...This station probably holds
the record for the most call letter changes in the Market.

 

[Alan Criswell]

Boy, I sure don't remember WNOW's country dates. It was that way when I started in the building in 1977...and when I left in 1987. Sorry.

Another query: Circa '77, was the air staff using a grey, 4-rotary fader LPB control board?

 

[Alan Criswell]

Sure. Bernard (bass) and Tony (drums) died within the last ten years.

Don't forget Tony was a member of the Power Station. And we all know what happened to Robert Palmer.

Right.

Tony Thompson had to be one of the most underrated drummers in history. He had a style and sound all his own. If you heard a drum fill, you could almost tell it was one of his.

Like Nile Rogers with his trademark funky guitar style.

I'm sorry, we were talkin' about...?

Chic, not to be confused with Sister Sledge.

 

[Alan Criswell]

Regarding WNOW and its country format years;
The station began as Top 40; owned by HJ WILLIAMS
Company they put it on the air. Sold to William Rust
station began run as country station in 1963, consistent
til 1985 when call letters and format changed to WOBG
Oldies But Goodies. Stations WQXA/WNOW Sold to HGF
Corporation "Harold Fulmer" 1984. OBG Lasted 3 Years.
In 1988 Station changed back to country under WXKU
Kix Country; spent about 2 years as Kix then went middle
of the road for about 6 months when HGF had financial
difficulties and began selling off and in the case of WXKU
began simulcasting with WQXA FM

I remember hearing Hot 105.7 on 1250 AM...

that lasted until mid 90's when station went middle of the Road again,

Not sure, but 1250 spun automated '70s Oldies when I was there in 1993.

until aquired by Citadel in 1997 ; then took on Stardust Format Stardust till 1999.

Telemedia bought the AM and FM in 1994 or early 1995. Like you mentioned, they
sold both stations [and WRKZ] to Citadel in 1997.

The station then took on "Real Country"
format til was sold 1 year ago to Bob Wilkins Wilkins
Communications. Thats the story in a nutshell.
I think this is pretty accurate as I was the Station Mgr. there
under the 6 years of the Real Country era at the then
WQXA-am

TM? Hey, it's Alan R. Where'd you land after WQXA?

 

[grandoleopry]

Yo Big Al

ONE OF MY FAVORITE AIR GUYS FROM MY CLASSIC COUNTRY DAYS
AT WOYK.
I AM STATION MGR. AT WHVR...BEEN HERE FOR A YEAR....BROUGHT
THE REAL COUNTRY NETWORK ALONG....AFTER 6 YEARS AT CITADEL
ITS GREAT TO WORK FOR LOCAL OWNERS....IN A BRAND NEW FACILITY...
GIVE ME CALL.....

 

[Alan Criswell]

Yo Big Al

ONE OF MY FAVORITE AIR GUYS FROM MY CLASSIC COUNTRY DAYS
AT WOYK.

I remember a four-month stint in '93, then I returned in '96 to do production work,
along with fill-in shifts ('96-'98).

WOYK's Classic Country air staff included Woman#1 (news), Teddy G, Slim Walker,
Chuck Edwards, Gus X, Doug Patton, Woman#2 (PTer), Ramblin' Jack Quigley, Carl
Smith, The "something" Cowboy, TJ, Wayne Harper, Brian Householder, El Bowman,
Brett Fadley, Hal Raymond, Rick X, Dave Crockett, Tom Jackson, Joe Live.

Of course, the most beloved WOYK AT was Slim Jim Walker.

I AM STATION MGR. AT WHVR...BEEN HERE FOR A YEAR....BROUGHT
THE REAL COUNTRY NETWORK ALONG....AFTER 6 YEARS AT CITADEL
ITS GREAT TO WORK FOR LOCAL OWNERS....IN A BRAND NEW FACILITY...

One of the engineers here mentioned the improvements...

GIVE ME CALL.....

Alright. I'll have to tour the place one of these Mondays.

 

[AllHart]

Does anyone have any good memories of radio shows you did broadcasting from The York Fair?


Yes, I did many shows at the York Fair when I had SportsTalk. The fans would drop by to talk Penn State football and the Orioles, among other topics.

Curt