WBPZ, WCMN, Zoo 92 and WSQV

[masterdarke]

I worked for Country 92 in Lock Haven from 1983 to 1984 and for WSQV in Jersey Shore from 1984 to 1985. Does anyone know what's going on at those stations these days? I worked with Randy Dorey and Greg Ruggers at Country 92 and Carl Krupa at WSQV. Any information would be appreciated.

 

[radioboss]

WBPZ (AM) 1230 is doing satellite Oldies (Z-Gold). WSNU (FM) 92.1 is doing Classic Hits. "92.1 The Mountain" has Randy Dorey programming and doing middays. Bill Baney is doing afternoons with other newcomers doing the other shifts. Mark Sohmer is still there doing the news.

The stations are now owned by John Lipez. John is the smug son of Harris Lipez, who died in the mid 90's. John is married again. He married a radio girl from Emporium, Jeanine. He also owns Renovo's only newspaper, "The Record" and markets them together.

WVRT (FM) 97.7 is doing CHR as Variety 97. It simulcasts with 99.7 FM in Mount Carmel. The station is now licensed to Mill Hall. This was done when the Mill Hall station (98.7 FM) moved to Pleasant Gap. The only stations in Jersey Shore are the Christian stations, WJSA (AM) 1600 and 96.3 (FM).

WSQV was for a short time an AM station in Berwick on 1280 AM. It's now WFBS.

What was your air name?

ZOO 92 was one of the best stations around. John just got scared of competing with the bigger stations in Williamsport.

Mark "the Shark" Williams and his brother Jeff "Holiday Owens" Schlesinger are both out of radio and own a music store in downtown Lock Haven.

 

[masterdarke]

I went by Steve Hammond and I worked for Mark at Zoo 92 from October 1988 through December 1988. When he held a meeting in the middle of December and said the station would be switching over to Hot Hits after the first of the year I turned in my resignation and moved back to Ohio. I'd had my fill of CHR when I worked for Michael Cruz at WSQV.

 

[ErikLane]

UPDATE:
The Schlesingers are now back in radio & still running their music store in Lock Haven. Search the FCC database for file number BALH-20100714ACN:
Voluntary Assignment of License
From: LIPEZ BROADCASTING CORPORATION
To: SCHLESINGER COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
Form 314

WSNU to flip calls soon & continue with a rock-based format. WBPZ to continue with Classic Gold format. Expect to see changes coming sometime in November, 2010.

The (Lock Haven) Express did a recent news story on the sale:
http://www.lockhaven.com/page/conte...lesingers-to-acquire-WSNU--WBPZ-stations.html

 

[GuyFry]

Speaking of WBPZ.....how many of you remember the old WBPZ-TV, Channel 32 in Lock Haven? The station operated during 1958 and 1959 only. Where were th studio and transmitter facilities? Was it an independent station, or did it have a network affiliation. This station would have had a rough go no matter who owned it or what they did. This was still years before congress mandated that all TV sets sold in the US be equipped with UHF tuners. Williamsport had the world's largest Cable TV system at the time. Did they even carry WBPZ-TV, or was this before the FCC;s must-carry rule for local stations? I would love to see some station artwork or print advertisements. Who were the on air talent? Are any still living? It took real courage to light this station up in 1958 after so many other UHF's had already failed. Maybe this was a case of "use it or lose it" meaning they could only hold a construction permit for so long. Their effort deserves remembering.

 

[Kelly Watts]

I remember WBPZ TV, I saw it a couple of times when I lived in Montoursville. My Neighbor Willard Mitcheltree was a TV repairman and could pick it up on an antenna. I don't believe TV 32 was on the Cable in Williamsport which I am sure led to its demise. When I worked at WBPZ AM/FM in 1967, Ray Reese, who was the Company Treasurer told me they lost close to a million dollars on that venture. I have no way of knowing for sure if that is correct or not. The other bit of urban legend that sticks in my mind is that the original tower site didn't get approved because of Allegheny Airlines and the closeness of the tower site to Lock Haven Airport. Again, I am not sure if that is true or not. I do know that the WBPZ TV building became the transmitter site for WBPZ FM. The only person, other than some of the old radio staff that I knew from WBPZ TV was a lady named Rory Reese (no relation to Ray) I believe she did a kids show called Riff, Ruff, and Rory. I would love to hear more about WBPZ and if what I believe to be fact actually is!