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WPTS Retrospective

M

masterg

Out of complete curiousity, and my own memory being dulled a bit, does anyone care to comment about WPTS? What interests me right now is the pre-WARD radio station. What was WPTS like the last ten or so years before the sale? Who worked there? Who was PD? Was there a PD? Any stories, anecdotes, observations would be more than welcome.

It seems that whenever the reminiscing begins, WPTS somehow slips through the cracks, it seldom gets a mention. I have no idea what kind of numbers WPTS had, or if it had any at all, but I do remember it being an oldies station with some pretty decent jocks.

Any interest?
 
About 10 or 15 years ago I got their old tube powered Marti system (circa 60's), I think Ron gave it to me. It doesn't work but I've kept it (pack rat) in hopes of refurbishing it as a display item. It has a WARD sticker on it now put I'm pretty sure it dates back to WPTS. Imagine how many times "Kurlancheeks" and "Tire Giant" were broadcast on this thing!! (and how many polka remotes it went to). Jim Ward is one of the nicest radio guys I met in radio. By the way, the original production studio rack from WARD/WPTS is now the equipment rack at WEZX's Montage Mtn. site.

Kevin
 
In downtown Pittston, there was a sign painted on a building directing you to the WPTS studios! It may well still be there (it was 3 years ago)
 
I worked there the summer of 1973 during a summer break while I was in college. Rose Fiorini was the owner of the station. Al Castelli, Rose's son-in-law, was the GM/SM. Rick Shannon was the PD/traffic manager/jock. Milan "remain calm during the emergency" Krupa was the Chief Engineer. I believe McAndrews was there, as well as Scotty Young.

What I thought was really profound was that there were bars on the windows. The same kind you find in prisons. I always wondered if it was to keep us in, or the bad guys out.

I remember receiving a phone call during a weekend air shift from Al. He instructed me to look in one of his desk drawers for something or other. Much to my surprise, there was an automatic piston sitting prominatey at attention when I opened the drawer. At least I was assured he had our back covered on that dirt road off Foote Avenue.

The job didn't pay much, but you can't pay me enough to give up the memories of that 3 month experience. Some day I'll convey my memories of WBAX (circa 1972/Agnes Flood) on Route 11 Edwardsville when Merv Griffin owned it, and Jim Ward was the GM. Classic, and no voice tracking. How about an RCA audio board! It was the first one I saw with faders. It was in the sixties when they had their studios on East Jackson that they had a sign with "Color Radio" on it in front of the building.

BTW, I was told to use the air name "Robert W. Adams". At the time, Robert W. Morgan was at a major market station; I don't recall which one. Rich Shannon thought it would be good for the station. What's in a name? A rose by any other name...
 
This paragraph should read:

I remember receiving a phone call during a weekend air shift from Al. He instructed me to look in one of his desk drawers for something or other. Much to my surprise, there was an automatic PISTOL sitting prominatey at attention when I opened the drawer. At least I was assured he had our back covered on that dirt road off Foote Avenue.
 
BTW, I was told to use the air name "Robert W. Adams". At the time, Robert W. Morgan was at a major market station; I don't recall which one. Rich Shannon thought it would be good for the station. What's in a name? A rose by any other name...

I started hanging out at WPTS when I was 15. Rode my bike to Foote Avenue in Duryea and watched the "Fat Cat of Recordland" Paul Grimes do his show. Once in a while he let me read the weather. When I was in high school, it was a regular stop for me. In 1971 there was a morning man named Bob Serafin who had a contest called "Deejay for the day". I entered. Well it turned out there were only 2 winners, most likely 2 entrants. Me and a preacher's son from Scranton named Tim Kidwell. He had already graduated from Career Academy. We did the weather and news and were allowed to talk up 2 songs. Tim did Carole King's "It's Too Late", I did Beverly Bremer's "Don't Say You Don't Remember". I stunk, he was great. I knew I needed more practice or Career Academy. I was invited back for the week but when I got there on Tuesday, no Tim Kidwell. He had been hired by WSCR in Scranton. He of course took the name Tim Carlson and the rest was history.

WPTS was a mom and pop operation with a definite hierarchy. No one made a move without checking with "Mr". When he passed on (I have the prayer card somewhere) in '72 or 73, you had to check with "Mrs". I remember the flood of 72 when Governor Shapp came to address the area through the flood network. A diminutive man, Shapp was looked shocked when Al Castelli walked in the door and screamed to the bookkeeper, (Eleanor his wife, Rose's daughter) "profanity" "J,C" Eleanor, what are we havin' for dinner tonight?" It was a funny moment. Shapp was unfazed and I think thought Al was wanted by the Crime Commission.

I worked there weekends until May 73 when I went to WVIA FM. Worked with the late Norman David Cohen. The place was a little hut. But everyone had a title and a work area, ala Les Nessman WKRP. Rick Shannon was program director, Jerry Gilroy until he died in April 71 was "Chief Announcer", Milan Krupa, Director of Engineering, Paul Grimes News Director and John Fredrick (Frantic Freddie) Music Director. It was a trip and a half. But before you dare did anything, you had "to clear it with Mister". And then "Mrs". It was old time radio at its locally owned best. When Sam Liquori came back in 1975 when Jim Ward bought it, he looked around the control room and studios and found nothing changed. You gotta love that.

I have some old photos somewhere and if you google WPTS, the Fiorani's left their papers to Marywood or some local college and you can access that on the net. Oh and the jingle package, 3 seconds, "1540-WPTS."

Yonkstur

I'll arrange something to access the photos for you guys.
 
ColorRadio said:
I believe McAndrews was there, as well as Scotty Young.
Click to expand...

Well ... Let's See ... I Didn't Start In Radio Till 1976 And That Was At WEJL. I Can't Swear To The Fact,

But I Think Scotty Was Still At WSCR In The Summer Of '73.
 
Kevin - that old Marti unit you were talking about.... is it the brown "woodgrain" one that looks like a homemade job? If it is, that was still running when I left WARD in 1994!
 
I'll arrange something to access the photos for you guys.


Hi guys, no luck locating Mr. Fioranni's prayer card but I think he died in July of 72. I did find some photos of the WPTS staff circa March 1970. You can access them by going to this link:
http://authordavidyonki.blogspot.com/.
I'll park them in my author blog for a few weeks since the third book keeps on getting kicked back. So there's really nothing to talk about yet on that site.

Yonkstur
 
Superb, Yonk! Love the newspaper ad. Cohen and Gilroy both gone young, any idea on what happened to them?

Frantic Freddie? His chronology in this market is a bit muddled to me. FWIW, I always thought he was WPTS then WSCR, but considering his presence in a 1970 ad, I'd say I am totally wrong. He was at WSCR when I was in high school in your beloved 1968.
 
The Fioranis were pioneers in local radio. Mrs. Fioroni used to do program from her home studio on Clay avenue,
she would interview guests from the community,My mother and father were both guests on the show when they
were members of UNICO in the 196os.
Joe Middleton,Tom Welby,and 'Banana' Joe Montione all worked there at one time.
 
Mrs. Fioroni used to do program from her home studio on Clay avenue,
she would interview guests from the community,

And when Mr. Fiorani was alive, they did it together. I nervously engineered a few of those shows. Anyone who started in broadcasting worked at WPTS. The honor roll would rival WARM's or WILK's.

yonkstur
 
Cohen and Gilroy both gone young, any idea on what happened to them?

Gilroy died suddenly in April of 1971. His good friend Joe Middleton might remember from what. A minor flap occured after his death when his widow put an ad in Billboard saying she was an assnt. Chief Announcer. Never got the job she applied for. Norman Cohen I think died in the late 70s. Guy worked as a beauty supply rep, always a sharp dresser. One time at Vispi's I heard someone conned some "pretty young thangs" (who are now grandmas!) into thinking he was a double for Dustin Hoffman. The guy always brought huge lunches with him for his Sunday show. It would be not uncommon to see him swigging a pepsi (this was pre plastic liter) between records.

Frantic Freddie? His chronology in this market is a bit muddled to me. FWIW, I always thought he was WPTS then WSCR, but considering his presence in a 1970 ad, I'd say I am totally wrong.

Not wrong. He was on WSCR 66 through 69. The story goes Tom Rice was not happy with his moonlighting with his band. He shuttled back and forth between the two as I remember it, not of course at the same time.

Yonkstur
 
masterg said:
Superb, Yonk! Love the newspaper ad. Cohen and Gilroy both gone young, any idea on what happened to them?

Frantic Freddie? His chronology in this market is a bit muddled to me. FWIW, I always thought he was WPTS then WSCR, but considering his presence in a 1970 ad, I'd say I am totally wrong. He was at WSCR when I was in high school in your beloved 1968.
Click to expand...

Freddie was at WSCR first, then he had his band. The SCR basement was full of his LP that never sold. Freddie was let go by the late Vince Alberts for stealing from SCR letterhead or memo pads so that stoy goes. Gotta love the biz!!!!! The late Scotty Young was working at BAX by 1973 with Bill Stuart.
 
warmland said:
masterg said:
Superb, Yonk! Love the newspaper ad. Cohen and Gilroy both gone young, any idea on what happened to them?

Frantic Freddie? His chronology in this market is a bit muddled to me. FWIW, I always thought he was WPTS then WSCR, but considering his presence in a 1970 ad, I'd say I am totally wrong. He was at WSCR when I was in high school in your beloved 1968.
Click to expand...

Freddie was at WSCR first, then he had his band. The SCR basement was full of his LP that never sold. Freddie was let go by the late Vince Alberts for stealing from SCR letterhead or memo pads so that stoy goes. Gotta love the biz!!!!! The late Scotty Young was working at BAX by 1973 with Bill Stuart.
Click to expand...

That basement WAS full of those LP's...I heard during the "Q" days, they tried to give them away as frisbees. I still had several original sealed copies from that basement. My last one I gave to WICK when they were doing "Goodtime Oldies" A few cuts were used.
 
This may sound stupid but...didn't Jerry Gilroy call himself Cranberry Gilroy when he played country music?

Yes, Jerry did Country from 10 am to 11am. And he was known as "Cranberry". It wasn't until the late 60s that WPTS went all Oldies and Top 40 combined. Mornings had The Sacred Heart Hour and then Beautiful Music. Then country from 10 to 11. Then Sam Liquori or Rick Shanon did Oldies Double Play until 1pm. Jerry Gilroy returned at 1 and then at 2PM Paul Grimes came on with Oldies and gave way to the Polka Guy Pan Jozef who was on from 445pm to signoff. As I said, (and maybe Joe Middleton or Sam might remember the year) but by 1969, WPTS went all Oldies, no polkas but kept the Sacred Heart show on Mon. Wed and Fridays at sign on.

Yonkstur
 
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