WARM Revisited

[berniek]

In all the messages about WARM I didn't see Jerry Heller's name mentioned. The man was the number one source of morning news for the market long before 16. Also, WVIA did a nice little show a couple of years ago on the station, interviews with Terry, Lenny, Harry and others. Lots of great jingles as well..

 

[masterg]

The show was very well produced and written. And although Jerry was working at WVIA at the time, they didn't seem to give him a lot of play. Many of us felt that the show was far too narrow in it's scope, meaning that it concentrated on a a very brief period of time in what was a very long stretch of success. Put another way, there was life at WARM after The Sensational Seven, and a lot of really exciting radio right up through the mid-80s. Here's one for true local radio trivia fans - Jerry Heller actually anchored some Sunday night newscasts on WNEP wayyyyyyy back when, like maybe the mid to late 60s.






> In all the messages about WARM I didn't see Jerry Heller's
> name mentioned. The man was the number one source of morning
> news for the market long before 16. Also, WVIA did a nice
> little show a couple of years ago on the station, interviews
> with Terry, Lenny, Harry and others. Lots of great jingles
> as well..
>

 

[yonkstur]

> In all the messages about WARM I didn't see Jerry Heller's
> name mentioned. The man was the number one source of morning
> news for the market long before 16. Also, WVIA did a nice
> little show a couple of years ago on the station, interviews
> with Terry, Lenny, Harry and others. Lots of great jingles
> as well..
>
From one of the previous posts, re Jerry Heller
Bill Kelly came to
work in the WARM news department and Robert Oliver, a former newsman with
the station worked an air shift. Moving from news to programming sometimes earned jocks the scorn of news director Jerry Heller. Heller’s news department was the best in the area and he could not understand how anyone would want to leave it. Kitch Loftus, Mike Stephens, Kevin Jordan, Ray Maguire and a few others manned that news desk in the early 70s.
In the late 60s, Len Woloson, Pete Gabriel and
Jerry Heller joined the staff and enhanced its quality. Gabriel from Ohio,
Heller from St. Louis. Harry had gone on to KQV and then wound up at
WSBA in York.
Yonkstur

 

[yonkstur]

> The show was very well produced and written. And although
> Jerry was working at WVIA at the time, they didn't seem to
> give him a lot of play. Many of us felt that the show was
> far too narrow in it's scope, meaning that it concentrated
> on a a very brief period of time in what was a very long
> stretch of success. Put another way, there was life at WARM
> after The Sensational Seven, and a lot of really exciting
> radio right up through the mid-80s. Here's one for true
> local radio trivia fans - Jerry Heller actually anchored
> some Sunday night newscasts on WNEP wayyyyyyy back when,
> like maybe the mid to late 60s.

The show was a gem. It was a great piece of work. That
said, it could've been better. You're correct in the sense
that it was very narrow in scope and from what I understand
tightly controlled. There were many people who volunteered
information, themselves, pieces of memorabilia only to be
told it wasn't needed. Maybe they are planning other parts
to be produced later. There was a lot they covered but much
more they ignored. Again, most likely time and budget
constraints.

Yonkstur

>
>
>
>
>
>
> > In all the messages about WARM I didn't see Jerry Heller's
>
> > name mentioned. The man was the number one source of
> morning
> > news for the market long before 16. Also, WVIA did a nice
> > little show a couple of years ago on the station,
> interviews
> > with Terry, Lenny, Harry and others. Lots of great jingles
>
> > as well..
> >
>

 

[yonkstur]

> The show was very well produced and written. And although
> Jerry was working at WVIA at the time, they didn't seem to
> give him a lot of play.

During the membership drive, they introduced Jerry who
was behind the camera. He took a modest bow. But there were
only fleeting references to the WARM news department which
was like the gold standard for local news back then.

Yonkstur
>
>
>
>
>
> > In all the messages about WARM I didn't see Jerry Heller's
>
> > name mentioned. The man was the number one source of
> morning
> > news for the market long before 16. Also, WVIA did a nice
> > little show a couple of years ago on the station,
> interviews
> > with Terry, Lenny, Harry and others. Lots of great jingles
>
> > as well..
> >
>

 

[masterg]

> Moving from news to
> programming sometimes earned jocks the scorn of news
> director Jerry Heller. Heller’s news department was the best
> in the area and he could not understand how anyone would
> want to leave it.

Heller had no say as to who did what, nor did the employee who may have been shuffled around. The WARM news director's position was largely one of being totally subordinate to the program director, who was totally subordinate to the GM. That aside, there is no question that WARM's news department was undeniably the best in the market, then and now.

 

[masterg]

> There were many people who volunteered
>
> information, themselves, pieces of memorabilia only to be
> told it wasn't needed. Maybe they are planning other parts
>
> to be produced later. There was a lot they covered but
> much
> more they ignored. Again, most likely time and budget
> constraints.
>
> Yonkstur


Well, Yonk, the way many of us see things, time and budgetary considerations had nothing to do with it. This show was the creation of a former WARM employee who is now affiliated with WVIA. It was more of a showcase for his years at WARM, and those of a few handpicked buddies of his. And the focus of the show, as we've both indicated, was very narrow. More former WARM people were left out of this thing than were included. And it's not like the whereabouts of many were unknown, a pile of them are still in NE PA. Too bad, the show could've easily been a series and included so many interesting faces, voices, and occurences. I doubt you can find ten people who could name The Sensational Seven, but most locals in their 40s, 50s, 60s, could recite a long list of those who jocked at WARM in the '70s and '80s.

 

[yonkstur]

> > Moving from news to
> > programming sometimes earned jocks the scorn of news
> > director Jerry Heller. Heller’s news department was the
> best
> > in the area and he could not understand how anyone would
> > want to leave it.
>
> Heller had no say as to who did what, nor did the employee
> who may have been shuffled around.

Yeah but Heller made you (at least me anyway) think he was
the King of the Hill there. Pretty slick.

Yonkstur

 

[yonkstur]

> >>
> Well, Yonk, the way many of us see things, time and
> budgetary considerations had nothing to do with it. This
> show was the creation of a former WARM employee who is now
> affiliated with WVIA.

Very insightful. And very correct, not to mention
couragious truth telling!!
Building a series around the thing could've been a
real money maker too.

Yonkstur

 

[NEPAstach]

> > In all the messages about WARM I didn't see Jerry Heller's
>
> > name mentioned. The man was the number one source of
> morning
> > news for the market long before 16. Also, WVIA did a nice
> > little show a couple of years ago on the station,
> interviews
> > with Terry, Lenny, Harry and others. Lots of great jingles
>
> > as well..
> >
> From one of the previous posts, re Jerry Heller
> Bill Kelly came to
> work in the WARM news department and Robert Oliver, a former
> newsman with
> the station worked an air shift. Moving from news to
> programming sometimes earned jocks the scorn of news
> director Jerry Heller. Heller’s news department was the best
> in the area and he could not understand how anyone would
> want to leave it. Kitch Loftus, Mike Stephens, Kevin Jordan,
> Ray Maguire and a few others manned that news desk in the
> early 70s.
> In the late 60s, Len Woloson, Pete Gabriel and
> Jerry Heller joined the staff and enhanced its quality.
> Gabriel from Ohio,
> Heller from St. Louis. Harry had gone on to KQV and then
> wound up at
> WSBA in York.
> Yonkstur
>


Speaking of Robert "Bob" Oliver. I had heard that he passed away some time ago. Does anyone know if this is true. I remember he was "let go" from WARM by George Gilbert due to saying something about a local even that was mentioned in the papers saying the kids trashed up the ground. WARM policy was not to make mention or state opinions and Oliver was fired. He was working 7 days a week at that time due to money problems also.

Also about 10 years ago, I saw Ray Maguire and he was out of the business and was driving a truck. One of the most talented people in the business and he was very fed up with radio and got out.

 

[NEPAstach]

> > >>
> > Well, Yonk, the way many of us see things, time and
> > budgetary considerations had nothing to do with it. This
> > show was the creation of a former WARM employee who is now
>
> > affiliated with WVIA.
>
> Very insightful. And very correct, not to mention
> couragious truth telling!!
> Building a series around the thing could've been a
> real money maker too.
>
> Yonkstur
>
Bill Kelly came from WMLP AM in Milton. Back in those days it was more of less a good training ground for many jocks. Double GG would take a trip down 81 to 80 and listen to the station to see who was the best jock and then offer them a job. Bill Stewart worked at MLP and also Chris "Starr" O'Brien at one time. The station was then co-owned by Vic Michael, also a Scranton native I believe.

 

[masterg]

Ray Maguire was/is one of the finest voices ever in this market. Great guy, huge talent, marvelous pipes, smart, great writer, sense of humor. Ray was NYC, LA, Chicago material, no question about it.

Bob Oliver died well over 25 years ago, perhaps much closer to 30 years. Many would remember him as the voice of Gertrude Hawk Chocolates, work he continued to do for some time after his departure from WARM. Oddly, I do believe spots of his ran for years after his death. Seems to me that from WARM he landed in Providence, RI, where he opened an ad agency. I thought he had one of the greatest "soft-sell" voices in the biz, very warm and friendly.

I don't doubt he was fired for expressing a negative opinion, that sort of thing was forbidden at WARM, which for many years had an unwritten policy of its jocks being as sterile as possible. "Be brief, be bright, and play the hits." That was the code by which many succeeded or failed there. Lots of vanilla, never any chocolate - offend no one was the golden rule. Even Harry West, who could tell a trashy joke with the best of them, NEVER made an off-color/offensive remark on the air. Oh, well, okay, there was the semi-famous(and by now largely forgotten)BJ incident, but it was purely accidental.





>
> Speaking of Robert "Bob" Oliver. I had heard that he passed
> away some time ago. Does anyone know if this is true. I
> remember he was "let go" from WARM by George Gilbert due to
> saying something about a local even that was mentioned in
> the papers saying the kids trashed up the ground. WARM
> policy was not to make mention or state opinions and Oliver
> was fired. He was working 7 days a week at that time due to
> money problems also.
>
> Also about 10 years ago, I saw Ray Maguire and he was out of
> the business and was driving a truck. One of the most
> talented people in the business and he was very fed up with
> radio and got out.
>

 

[yonkstur]

> Ray Maguire was/is one of the finest voices ever in this
> market.

Right about that. His deep voice was the perfect mix
for Jerry Heller's midwest modulations. Funny guy too
who could give you a satirical slant on the events of the
day in the newsroom. But on the air, he was the
straightest of arrows.
> Bob Oliver died well over 25 years ago, perhaps much closer
> to 30 years.

My first memory of Bob Oliver was doing news live at 55
under the name Robert Oliver. He did a weekend gig and
the listener response was so overwhelming they moved
him into programming. This effort was aided by columnists
who wrote about how good his weekend show was as well as
calls coming into the station.
Many would remember him as the voice of
> Gertrude Hawk Chocolates, work he continued to do for some
> time after his departure from WARM. Oddly, I do believe
> spots of his ran for years after his death.

True, those spots were generic enough to run a very long
time along with the jingle tag line, "from the kitchens of
Getrude Hawks for chocolate/candy lovers everywhere".
Seems to me that from WARM he landed in Providence,
RI, where he opened an ad agency. I thought he had one
of the greatest"soft-sell" voices in the biz,
very warm and friendly.
>
> I don't doubt he was fired for expressing a negative
> opinion, that sort of thing was forbidden at WARM, which for
> many years had an unwritten policy of its jocks being as
> sterile as possible.>
>

Here's a question for debate, did the jocks make WARM or
did WARM make the jocks? My wife and I have this discussion
about Harry West who is regarded as a broadcast icon here
because he had the 6AM to 10AM morning shift when WARM was
in its heydey. Now I love Harry, always have. He was
responsible for me getting interested in radio along with
a cousin of mine. My wife said that I first became interested
in Harry's style when I was in the fourth grade, implying
that Harry sometimes could broadcast to a fourth grade level.
Here's the question, were Harry and the WARM guys in the right
place at the right time, (therefore meaning that had Guy Randall
or Don Bruce been there would they have achieved icon status) or
was there a major contribution by the jocks to the success of
WARM?

Yonkstur
> > Speaking of Robert "Bob" Oliver. I had heard that he
> passed
> > away some time ago. Does anyone know if this is true. I
> > remember he was "let go" from WARM by George Gilbert due
> to
> > saying something about a local even that was mentioned in
> > the papers saying the kids trashed up the ground. WARM
> > policy was not to make mention or state opinions and
> Oliver
> > was fired. He was working 7 days a week at that time due
> to
> > money problems also.
> >
> > Also about 10 years ago, I saw Ray Maguire and he was out
> of
> > the business and was driving a truck. One of the most
> > talented people in the business and he was very fed up
> with
> > radio and got out.
> >
>

 

[NEPAstach]

> > Bob Oliver died well over 25 years ago, perhaps much
> closer
> > to 30 years.
>

Question: Did he die of a heart attack? What was his cause of death. I don't think he was all that old?

 

[masterg]

Great idea for a thread, Yonk, maybe we should start a new one on whether WARM was the station of the stars, or was WARM the star. Guy Randall was at WARM for at least 2-3 years, circa 1981 or so. He was fired on what came to be known by those of us who were there as Axe Wednesday. It was a dark day in the history of WARM. Those fired included Guy Randall, Mark Thomas, Jim Gannon, and Pete Mitchell. I do sense I'm missing someone here, and I'm sorry to have forgotten, it was a watershed event in WARM's final years of glory. Not one of those dismissed deserved it, there wasn't an ounce of justification for firing any of them. Axe Wednesday was the handiwork of a corporate meddler who was trying to get himself noticed, which he apparently thought "shaking up" WARM would accomplish. Instead, it only served to further demoralize an already demoralized operation. As you may know, Guy passed away several years ago. He was a fine gentleman. Guy was one of those rare individuals who never, and I do mean never, said a bad thing about any other human being. Guy fell on some hard times after being sacked at WARM, and I don't believe he ever worked in radio again.








> >
>
> Here's a question for debate, did the jocks make WARM or
> did WARM make the jocks? My wife and I have this
> discussion
> about Harry West who is regarded as a broadcast icon here
> because he had the 6AM to 10AM morning shift when WARM was
>
> in its heydey. Now I love Harry, always have. He was
> responsible for me getting interested in radio along with
> a cousin of mine. My wife said that I first became
> interested
> in Harry's style when I was in the fourth grade, implying
>
> that Harry sometimes could broadcast to a fourth grade
> level.
> Here's the question, were Harry and the WARM guys in the
> right
> place at the right time, (therefore meaning that had Guy
> Randall
> or Don Bruce been there would they have achieved icon
> status) or
> was there a major contribution by the jocks to the success
> of
> WARM?
>
> Yonkstur
> > > Speaking of Robert "Bob" Oliver. I had heard that he
> > passed
> > > away some time ago. Does anyone know if this is true. I
> > > remember he was "let go" from WARM by George Gilbert due
>
> > to
> > > saying something about a local even that was mentioned
> in
> > > the papers saying the kids trashed up the ground. WARM
> > > policy was not to make mention or state opinions and
> > Oliver
> > > was fired. He was working 7 days a week at that time due
>
> > to
> > > money problems also.
> > >
> > > Also about 10 years ago, I saw Ray Maguire and he was
> out
> > of
> > > the business and was driving a truck. One of the most
> > > talented people in the business and he was very fed up
> > with
> > > radio and got out.
> > >
> >
>

 

[NigelWick]

Wrong... Guy later worked at WEJL and WEZX. Pete Mitchess replaced Jim Gannon. Pete got fired a couple years later.



> Great idea for a thread, Yonk, maybe we should start a new
> one on whether WARM was the station of the stars, or was
> WARM the star. Guy Randall was at WARM for at least 2-3
> years, circa 1981 or so. He was fired on what came to be
> known by those of us who were there as Axe Wednesday. It
> was a dark day in the history of WARM. Those fired included
> Guy Randall, Mark Thomas, Jim Gannon, and Pete Mitchell. I
> do sense I'm missing someone here, and I'm sorry to have
> forgotten, it was a watershed event in WARM's final years of
> glory. Not one of those dismissed deserved it, there wasn't
> an ounce of justification for firing any of them. Axe
> Wednesday was the handiwork of a corporate meddler who was
> trying to get himself noticed, which he apparently thought
> "shaking up" WARM would accomplish. Instead, it only served
> to further demoralize an already demoralized operation. As
> you may know, Guy passed away several years ago. He was a
> fine gentleman. Guy was one of those rare individuals who
> never, and I do mean never, said a bad thing about any other
> human being. Guy fell on some hard times after being sacked
> at WARM, and I don't believe he ever worked in radio again.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> > >
> >
> > Here's a question for debate, did the jocks make WARM or
>
> > did WARM make the jocks? My wife and I have this
> > discussion
> > about Harry West who is regarded as a broadcast icon
> here
> > because he had the 6AM to 10AM morning shift when WARM
> was
> >
> > in its heydey. Now I love Harry, always have. He was
> > responsible for me getting interested in radio along
> with
> > a cousin of mine. My wife said that I first became
> > interested
> > in Harry's style when I was in the fourth grade,
> implying
> >
> > that Harry sometimes could broadcast to a fourth grade
> > level.
> > Here's the question, were Harry and the WARM guys in the
>
> > right
> > place at the right time, (therefore meaning that had Guy
>
> > Randall
> > or Don Bruce been there would they have achieved icon
> > status) or
> > was there a major contribution by the jocks to the
> success
> > of
> > WARM?
> >
> > Yonkstur
> > > > Speaking of Robert "Bob" Oliver. I had heard that he
> > > passed
> > > > away some time ago. Does anyone know if this is true.
> I
> > > > remember he was "let go" from WARM by George Gilbert
> due
> >
> > > to
> > > > saying something about a local even that was mentioned
>
> > in
> > > > the papers saying the kids trashed up the ground. WARM
>
> > > > policy was not to make mention or state opinions and
> > > Oliver
> > > > was fired. He was working 7 days a week at that time
> due
> >
> > > to
> > > > money problems also.
> > > >
> > > > Also about 10 years ago, I saw Ray Maguire and he was
> > out
> > > of
> > > > the business and was driving a truck. One of the most
> > > > talented people in the business and he was very fed up
>
> > > with
> > > > radio and got out.
> > > >
> > >
> >
>

 

[masterg]

You're right, Guy did work at WEJL and WEZX. Ray Maguire was ND there at the time. Steve St. John also spent some time there during that same period. And to make the circle complete, Jim Davey landed there as GM after being removed from WARM, also the result of the same corporate meddler mentioned earlier. I don't however, remember Pete Mitchell ever working dayside at WARM, unless it was a temporary thing.

 

[NEPAstach]

> You're right, Guy did work at WEJL and WEZX. Ray Maguire
> was ND there at the time. Steve St. John also spent some
> time there during that same period. And to make the circle
> complete, Jim Davey landed there as GM after being removed
> from WARM, also the result of the same corporate meddler
> mentioned earlier. I don't however, remember Pete Mitchell
> ever working dayside at WARM, unless it was a temporary
> thing.
>


I think Steve St. John left WARM to become a policeman in the area. He was very disgusted with radio.

 

[NigelWick]

Mitchell never worked dayside. When Pete replaced Gannon, Jim was on the evening shift. The pairing with Harry in the morning was a mistake from the word "go." Harry was a solo act, as long as he had his mail order joke service subscriptions. Is the "Electric Weenie" still in business?





> You're right, Guy did work at WEJL and WEZX. Ray Maguire
> was ND there at the time. Steve St. John also spent some
> time there during that same period. And to make the circle
> complete, Jim Davey landed there as GM after being removed
> from WARM, also the result of the same corporate meddler
> mentioned earlier. I don't however, remember Pete Mitchell
> ever working dayside at WARM, unless it was a temporary
> thing.
>

 

[NigelWick]

Steve is a lieutenant in the WBPD, and a damn good one.



> > You're right, Guy did work at WEJL and WEZX. Ray Maguire
> > was ND there at the time. Steve St. John also spent some
> > time there during that same period. And to make the
> circle
> > complete, Jim Davey landed there as GM after being removed
>
> > from WARM, also the result of the same corporate meddler
> > mentioned earlier. I don't however, remember Pete
> Mitchell
> > ever working dayside at WARM, unless it was a temporary
> > thing.
> >
>
>
> I think Steve St. John left WARM to become a policeman in
> the area. He was very disgusted with radio.
>