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South and Central Jersey Radio of the 70's

tverb said:
Well,Harry, I see you still have your same wittiness.
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Yeah...well some people say I have only half the wittiness I once had, which I guess would make me a half.....never mind

tverb said:
You may actually be seeing me in an Erickson Retirement commercial soon.
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That's really ironic because, with jokes like the one above, you may actually be seeing me in an Erickson Retirement HOME soon.
 
Harry the K,
It may be a rollin' race to Erickson. ???
Let's do lunch some time in June. I left you a PM here and on facebook.
Oh, I did open the NYT link; Hunsberger stayed another year. Age 90?
There was a big To-Do for him when he finally retired.
He still does "Meet Your Minister" on weekends. ah, WSNJ. Tom V
 
Cheeses. You have one long runnin' thread here. I'll come back and read it in detail soon. I caught radio fever as a teenager listening to George Michael, Dr Don, Long John and my favorite jock Don Cannon. I worked briefly at WDVL in the fall of 1975. Less said about that place the better! In the fall of '77 I went to work at WMVB. Mike Bowe had left for WMGK and college chum Glen Summers put in a good word for me. I was hired by John Runfolo to do six to midnight. Larry Giordano was music director at the time and Joe Coccaro held down the GM chair. When John left, Larry went to mornings and I moved to mid-day. Dave "Clark" held down afternoon drive at the time. Sunday nights I ran AT-40 and watched the meters for "Scotty's Unforgettables". I still have one of those AT-40 shows.

Larry G. left in '78 and Glenn Summers returned from college and took the PD chair. I recall Dave Clark leaving and Bobby "Brooks" taking his place. Hazel Morgan also departed and was replaced by Lori Forscutt, a Millville resident and Glassboro State grad. I think Rhonda Parkhurst was hired for nights when I went to mid-day. More Gassboro State grads showed up. Al "Moore" Mortka, Ken "Super Cooper" Kopakowski and the charming and talented Tobi Schwartz. I met Larry DiBona in there somewhere and was a member of the Cumerland County News Media Association for a while with Jim Servino and his wife. I recall having a few softball grudge matches with Jim and the WWBZ guys. There's more but I'll save it for another time.

I really had a great time at 'MVB but pursued the bigger paycheck. In January of '80 I left for WCOJ in Coatesville, PA. A 33% pay increase but a bad fit. I didn't last three months. After that I struck out for Vermont with a job at WCFR in Springfield. It was the best radio station I ever worked at and it was in a town of only 10,000.

I hear from the old crew occasionally. I saw Glenn a few years ago, '04 I think. Glenn, if you see this, my e-mail address hasn't changed. Last summer I had dinner with Al Mortka and Tobi Schwartz-Cassel and her family. We had a really great time talking about ye olde daze. Recently I stumbled into the website of another S.J. veteran. I swapped a few e-mails with Charlie Mills whom I recall hearing on the air but never met. He's in Tampa, FL area, I landed near Vero Beach, FL a few years ago. I tried radio again as a part timer but with Prophett and voice tracking it just isn't the same.

It's been interesting reading so far and I'll be back to read more. Thanks for this thread guys.

Bill "Simmons" Salati
 
HarrytheK1 said:
or maybe it was 7A...Hmmm....7A - OK, don't get excited man! It's 'cause I'm short I know. (Can any posters identify that obscure reference?)
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I've read it all and can't find anyone who recognized this. Pre intro to Daydream Believer on Monkees HQ (I think) Thank you Mike, Mickey, Peter and Davey.

A few more names I recall from my days in Cumberland County. From WDVL "Jersey Joe" Monforto, Joe Dawson and the late Sal Russomano AKA Sal Roberts and "Jumpin' Jim" Roberts. Sal was a real student of radio and died young knowing more than I'll ever learn. He always had a combo radio tape recorder and made and played airchecks of Jersey and Philly jocks. Dawson was a one man wrecking crew! I couldn't listen and not laugh. He went to Wilmington and then into the furniture business.

Back at WMVB, Tony Bracall and Joe McCulley were the sales team along with General Joe Cocarro. Joe left for a while and Tony took over the daily talk show. Joe may have been Scotch, not Irish. He had a habit of wearing plaids that you just couldn't look at without eye protection. We hired a guy right outta jock school with a first phone ticket. We needed a first phone on the payroll to look after our AM directional field readings. That was Rich Raimonde. He was a north Jersey kid, the accent left no doubt. We nicknamed him "The Midnight Mover" when he took over the night shift. The names Joe Gorgo and Nick Giorno come to mind also but I really had little if any contact with them. Two more names that have come out of the dark recesses of memory are Kenny Dichter, a real techie and "Art The Dart" Dichter. Both helped out John Runfolo with basketball and football games. Ken had a weekend airshift. First time I heard him he was spinning the Star Wars single and back announced the artist as "Mecko" rather than "Meeco". Dave Creamer was another college chum from Gloucester County College. He was a regular weekender and went on to bigger and better things including production at KYW.

Having read each post of this extended thread, I really missed a lot of fun at the central Jersey shore. Looking forward to more of your adventure stories!
 
HI to friends, mentors and influences from Jersey shore radio in the 70s! Bob Sorrentino here! Have stayed in
touch with Jay & a couple of friends from WJRZ. Started in '76 at 11-7 with GREAT mentors like Jay, Joey Reynolds,
Charlie Roberts. After their departure I worked with Harry Kalisch, "World Famous"-Jerry Kristafer,George Benson,
"Tom Rivers"(Bob Heiney),Garrett Glaser and the wonderful Joyce Reynaud. Some coworkers & friends from WBJB also went to 11-7, WJRZ & some to WPST (Drew Williamson,Steve Biro,Judy Mueller). Someone told me
I hold a record as NJ's youngest morning man(19 years old at JRZ), but I STILL am proud of the fact that 11-7
launched a doo-wop oldies show in '76! It was friend George Benson who told me "Bobby, you're
a great kid and I like you...so take my advice..GET OUT OF THIS BUSINESS!) Now who could refuse a guy who
sidelined as "Zappo, the magic clown"? Waited a few years to take his advice though. From JRZ(and some
great work with Ron Stevens(Stekeur), Big Jay, Mike Brophy(now in Boston?),AJ Brooks,Tom Rivers(again),
Art Sarnosky,and many others) I moved on to WPST. (ultimately with my soon to be ex-wife, Patrice McCarron).
(GREAT times with Jay,Lee Tobin,Tom Taylor,Phil Simon,Andre Gardner). Moved to Denver in 1980 and remained on air through 1987. Do I miss it? Sometimes. Especially when I hear CRAP both here and during visits to the Garden State. What a fantastic experience those 12 years were! Worked with real pros and FOR some horrible owners!
Have enjoyed reading these posts not only from those of you I knew, but those who were at 11-7 while I was
just a listener in high school.Remarried for 24 years, 2 kids and enjoying 29yrs in theWest. God bless you all!
 
Thank You for the mention Bob, WJRZ Radio along with Bob Wick at WYRS Radio is who I got my start with. The Bob's could not have been better people to be influenced bye. Altou there was plenty of radio to learn and go around at WJRZ Bob was the one who got steered into the right direction. the names I remember was Dan Collins (Pilot of the helicopter, and evening guy), Lance Debock, Brent McNally,Jay Laurie, Mike Brophey, AJ Brooks, Art Sarnosky, Greg Koziar, Mike Moran, Jerry Baletta, Mark Yalden(Super Guy), Charlie MaGill, Krin Westhoven, Patrice Mc Carron, Eric The Engineer, and so many others went thru the doors at the time. I resigned in '83, got a job with Tom McNally, let him beat the crap out of me mentally as a really young announcer(I do not recommend starting radio as young as I did, 16). Dick Green(Owner) Ray Holbrock was the GM(awesome Christmas parties), Regis McKenna, Steve O’Brien (The PD), Tom O Rouke, Linda Michaels, Mike Sherman(He was good to me),Tom Williams, Tom Collins(later on)(this was the days of 20 dollars a holler radio) and last but not least Pinky Kravitz. WMGM Radio was reel to reel automation(TM Century music and announcers at the time it was ROCK 104). But then got the on the straight and narrow and worked with Ken Brown at WMID(Wonderful teacher of radio) (this was right after the "Jersey Giant Days) also Paul Dustin-Richard, Russ Edwards(Great Guys), Stephan Ha-rarry, Tony Harris, Andy Volvo, Tony McRee, Nate allen the engineer, Pat Parsons the GM(He was good to me). The FM at the time was WGRF "The Jersey Mermaid) Drake Chanault reel to reel automation. Gary Lane Left for Hawaii. Mr. Johnstone was gone.

Some more? Al Branka, Johnny Barrab, Spyder McGuire, Allison Wing, Jimmy Stritch, Nick Taty(Both Club DJ's who was on the air) Brian Toft(2 PD's working side by side at the same time, it was a terrible idea) Russ Monroe, Belinda Bainbridge, Vi Trofa, and the great Mike Ferriola who made everything keep going on no budget. Built everything
good person to hob nob with. ohhh yeah King Arthur....loved headphones...massive collection.

Don Powers, John Patrini, Richard Lee Harvey(just some of those I built stations for or with).

These are just some of the names with people I worked with or worked for.

33 years later still on the air & either started or flipped 6 stations mostly by myself with my own 2 hands. And still in my 40's.

I will either build a couple more or re=start some new format ideas I have many new ideas combing with radio a couple other business that will generate cash if the radio station is running low at the time, as far as cash.

Radio has gotten so much better. More laws to protect the workers from really being treated like ____. On an over all ratio I think there was 80% great broadcasters and 20% really terrible to either work for or with. And many new ideas combing with radio a couple other business that will generate cash if the radio station is running low at the time, as far as cash.
 
I think the WMID timeline is a little off there, but that happens with time. The GM was Pat Parrish, who left in early '83 to go to WENY NY (Howard Green O&O) when Mrs. Griffen sold the station. He was replaced by Harry Sparks. The CE was "Neat" Nate Rosenthal (N2ADD), who became a lifetime friend of mine, and am in regular contact. The PD was Steve Heydt. And one big name missing from that era of WMID folk...Don Williams and 'Night Talk'. The traffic director became my wife of 25 years now!
 
My south Jersey radio memories: mid to late 70s
WMID....Jackson T Chase The Top 40 station
WOND..mid 70s...Sped up records...Tom McNally on at night
WCMC AM/FM Simulcast, Phillies Baseball on the FM, Live nightime broadcasts from Aqua Circus on the boardwalk MOR Sunday night Opera show
WSLT---First as MOR, then "Oldies"...Bouncing Bubbly Bob Everland, Jay Pappas, Chris McCoy (MGK & B101 fame)..Future Gold cuts Top 40 later A/C songs as Future Gold
WSLT FM---Beautiful Music Shame the oldies format couldn't have been full time here Fall HS Football with Tom Williams
WFPG---CBS News, MOR
WFPG FM Beautiful music by day, simulcast AM on overnights "Beachcomber Show"
WLDB-----Country music, NBC Monitor Programming
WMGM---Automated Top 40 (TM) late 70s..not sure what it was before that
WGRF---Drake Chenault A/C Hit Parade mid to late 70s
WAYV---Beautiful music, Soft Rock late 70s...on top of Ritz Hotel

Lots of summers at the shore listening to lots of radio
 
My favorite stations were WSLT 1520 with oldies, WFPG 96.9 with the Budwieser Beachcomber show at midnight, WAYV 95.1 Disco 95, WCMC 1230 playing big variety of music, WJRZ 100.1 coming on the air, WOBM 92.7 soft rock, WGRF 99.3 with Hit Parade....to name a few. Does anyone have any airchecks from the good old days?
 
Yes...I had forgotten the Beachcomber Show was sponsored by Budweiser.

One memory of WSLT-----This would have been around 1974------Doing a live broadscast in Avalon outside a 5 & 10 cent store (Hoys)
You could see the records warping in the hot Jersey sun.
 
South Jersey radio of the late '60s through the '70s represents some of the greatest memories I have of falling in love with the medium, and I'm still looking to collect airchecks, station ID jingles, and especially, commercial jingles which aired on radio stations in South Jersey.

Prior to 1966, growing up outside Philly and listening to a very sleepy lethargic WIBG, I didn't realize how much fun it was to live in a town with two very hot and competitive Top 40 stations...until my annual trip to Ocean City NJ with my family, and witnessing the battle between WMID at 1340, and, their competitor, WOND, next door at 1400. I loved everything about it...great jocks, great imagery, and if you like listening to commercials, your dial was set to the right stations.

My love for small radio stations that sound big has endured...and I'm looking for any remnants of Jersey radio commercial jingles and/or airchecks.

A couple of years ago, I contacted Gary Fisher who presently owns WMID, to ask if I could rummage through the basement at 1825 Murray Avenue to go through commercial dubs and possible lost copies of ID jingles. This was to have been an archeological dig for someone like me ( I pictured myself in a haz-mat suit, power washing reels of tape lined up along the dead end street on Murray Avenue) only to learn that the building located opposite the old studios and transmitter was demolished as an environmental hazard...and with it, a generation of great audio from my youth probably went with it.

Is there anything in your collection you'd be willing to share? here's my wish list:

1) WMID CRC Jingles series 47, 1967
2) WOND Gwinsound jingles from 1963
3) WNJH jingles from Atwood-Richards
4) WCMC jingles from CRC, circa 1964
5) Copper Kettle Fudge jingle
6) Stanley Restaurant jingle
7) Watson's Restaurant jingle
8) First National Bank jingle ( at first national bank see your action man, he'll show you better banking if anyone can)
9) Mc Carthy Ford jingle
10) Cramer's Buy Rite jingle ( why pay more for groceries, why strain your pocket book, at cramers buy rite supermarket, take a look..)
11) Cliquot Club jingle aired on WOND

If you'd be willing to share any of this, I'd really appreciate it. When I started in radio in Trenton in 1970, I thought doing daytime on WMID was the finest thing you could do with your life...and wanted to be on the air in that city. My kingdom for any of the above!
 
How about the Zaberers (sp) commercials that WCMC ran in the 60s & 70s. Spots ran pretty heavy and really soumded dated by the late 70s.
 
I got a copy of Zaberer's when I worked at WAAT in Trenton NJ, which probably had trade there. Vunderbar..( pop!), Ahhhhh!
 
"For the best in fudge, you be the judge, try Copper Kettle fuuuuuuudge..." :D

Then there was the Starnes' Shop-Rite donut from the seventies with the guy telling the kids to sing along when he wiggled his nose; that one always struck me as kinda creepy... :-\
 
stev...WFPG did indeed carry the Budwieser Beachcomber Show. I listened in PA in the late 60's when the FM band was empty and tropo brought it in clear as a bell...live from the Steel Pier. It was hosted sometimes by "captain' Johnny Struckel, Chuck Kramer and some others with summertime 'surprise' guests, one of the acts appearing on the Pier.

Some years later, I hosted the show on WGRF, with a different Annheiser product every 15 minutes: Bud, Michelob, Busch, Natural Light etc, each tagged 'distributed in Atlantic, Cape May and Cumberland Counties by the Harrison Beverage Company, Pleasantville."...making each spot :65, all rotating on two 7.5 minute carts which loved to draggggg and shhuddeer. Meanwhile the 'bee-doop be-dop" of Mutual's Larry King next door at WMID.
 
Yeah Jim. I remember the Starnes Shop Rite jingle as well. Yes..in retrospect, it was kinda creepy.

Another memory I have is remembering hearing a commercial for Jamesway on WCMC promoting a live broadcast featuring the WSLT Gold cadillac. How bizarre is that?
 
I had the pleasure of working with Bigjay, Harry the K, Classic Puker and all of your favorite cartoon pals for a while at WHLW Lakewood ("11-7") during its halcyon Joey Reynolds period. I did overnights (it was a daytimer).

OK, I was the copywriter and occasional fill-in, but it was terrifying to go on the air when everyone else was so damn funny and my voice still hadn't changed. I did a very brief stint at another station up the shore which was more my speed: WHTG Eatontown, which at the time was located in the home of the folks who owned it! The format was elevator music, you would just track entire sides of LPs by 1001 Strings and Montovanni, read some wire copy, and track another LP. It was still in mono. If you listened long enough, you came down with mono yourself. On time I dressed up one of those half-hourly newscasts with a phoned-in actuality from our "correspondent" in Lakewood -- "H. Abraham Carstairs" --- a/k/a Harry Kalish from 11-7. Bob Barry and Walt Golden were not available for comment.

Imagine a daytimer which not only had a full compliment of personalities but three, count 'em, three news guys. As was pointed out sometime last year (I tuned in late), we even had a graphic artist on staff who designed clever print ads for the station which never actually ran anywhere as far as I know. I shared an office with that guy but I can't remember his name, which is odd, since I remember the entire World Famous litany:

"Well, OBVIOUSLY, I am the humble, honest, modest superduper star of the Jersey shore, I'm World Famous. Sometimes this dude is lewd, crude and rude and you love it! 'Specially on my Phoney Telephone, at 364-fifty-eight-thirty. I say 'eleven,' you say 'seven,' and broadcasting history is made!" Put THAT on an index card, Sparky!
 
And at sunset.....

"It's that time again. SINE-OFF! SINE-OFF! S-I-N-E-O-F-F! SIGN-OFF sign off SIGN-OFF That's SINE-OFF. S-I-N-E-O-F-F."
 
The mention of WCMC and Starns Shoprite brought this to mind -
I was doing mornings on WMGM and I got a call from the engineer and
1/3 owner of WCMC AM/FM/TV, Carl Owen ... asking me if I could play
the Starns Shoprite commercial so he could record it off the air and save the
salesperson a drive from Wildwood to Pleasantville (and $1 in tolls)
to pick up the tape.

So I gave him a nice " 3 2 1 " a second of space and hit it.
 
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