I got my first fm radio (it was fm only) for christmas in 1961. WNOW did simulcast on 105.7 and after am sign off it was pretty much free form with absolutly no spots at all I think they signed off at around 10pm. since you have an old survey sheet from WNOW...can you tell me the name of there morning man at the time? a funny guy who used a lot of drop ins off of Stan Freeburg commedy records. I ran into him at an NAB convention in Vegas in the 1980s and he was the owner of a chain of small market radio stations at the time. Now that I am old I can't remember squat. P>S> he also did a rock and roll saturday morning show on 1250 for a while. went head to head with Doc Daugherty on WORK from 9 to noon every week.
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WSBA MYTHS AND LEGENDS
- Thread starter bossjock 56
- Start date
If you want more information about Roy Bishop of WNOW-AM and WSBA-TV infamy, you might see
if these three people are still alive. First would be Channel 43's long time resident station artist, Don Kendig (or Kindig) who helped Roy design and put sets and backdrops for "Tales From The Tomb" together 1959 or 60. Then there were Jack Shuster and Glenn Winter who worked at both WNOW and WSBA in their time. Glenn went on to own WSHP in Shippensburg. I doubt that former WNOW brass Lowell Williams, Richard Burg or Will Groff are still
alive, though Lowell might still be. Those three men went to Elizabethtown to start up WEZN (later WEPN) and other calls out of e-town and Hershey.
That was concurrent with Williams' (Helm Coal Company's) sale of WNOW to William F. Rust in 1958.
if these three people are still alive. First would be Channel 43's long time resident station artist, Don Kendig (or Kindig) who helped Roy design and put sets and backdrops for "Tales From The Tomb" together 1959 or 60. Then there were Jack Shuster and Glenn Winter who worked at both WNOW and WSBA in their time. Glenn went on to own WSHP in Shippensburg. I doubt that former WNOW brass Lowell Williams, Richard Burg or Will Groff are still
alive, though Lowell might still be. Those three men went to Elizabethtown to start up WEZN (later WEPN) and other calls out of e-town and Hershey.
That was concurrent with Williams' (Helm Coal Company's) sale of WNOW to William F. Rust in 1958.
I never actually owned that survey. I saw it on the wall of a long gone collector record store....and that was back in the early 80's. As I recall, there were no times listed under the jock pictures. The only names I recall were Jack O'Roarke, who later became a network spotscaster, Dwayne Beck, and Leroy. Beck continued with the station into the country format. It claimed to be the official "regional" survey for York, Reading, and Allentown. Rust also owned WRAW in Reading and WAEB in Allentown.
I wonder why WAYNE TROUT has not been seen posting in here. That longtime and respected voice....(mostly news at WSBA, the nifty 910) saw it all. I think Wayne is still "with us". I saw his picture in an article about the "101 Ranch Boys" with whom he performed. Known-nationally, they did a live, weeknight show on the old WNOW-TV, Channel 49 circa 1954-55. I'll bet he has some humorous stories about the "western swing" groupies who hung outside the station while the boys fiddled, whooped and stomped inside the big broadcast building up there on Pleasureville Hill. Somebody let Wayne know about radio-info.com, will yew?
Wayne Trout, a true gentleman, was the news director at WSBA when I was there in the mid 1960's. He was replaced by Gene Burns - now at KGO in San Francisco. Wayne was a great guy, but Gene was an amazing character. After work into the early hours of the next day, Gene would hold court at Christopher's in downtown York where he would spout Latin and go on about Vatican conferences and then skewer the local political players. Our regular table would be crowded and hang on his every word. In the early hours, he would leave - firing up a Pontiac convertible parked mostly on the sidewalk and retreat to his small apartment with its piles of newspapers and magazines. We all joined the Moose Club so that after a huge country breakfast on Sundays we could repair to the Moose digs where drinks were served. It was a grand time.
J
John-Summers
Guest
loeper said:since you have an old survey sheet from WNOW...can you tell me the name of there morning man at the time? a funny guy who used a lot of drop ins off of Stan Freeburg commedy records. I ran into him at an NAB convention in Vegas in the 1980s and he was the owner of a chain of small market radio stations at the time. Now that I am old I can't remember squat. P>S> he also did a rock and roll saturday morning show on 1250 for a while. went head to head with Doc Daugherty on WORK from 9 to noon every week.
I have copies (not originals, unfortunately) of a couple of WNOW "Fabulous Forty" surveys from May 1961. Photos of the jocks were on the side, with no times listed. They were, from top to bottom: Dave Allen, Jack O'Rourke, Johnny Canton, Dave Burns, and Leroy, who's sticking out his tongue. I met Dave Allen at some sort of event in the 1980s. After WNOW he worked at WCMB in Harrisburg and was known as Jay Allen. I remember him from that station in the 1960s. He became sales manager there under his real name, Jacques Schmitt. (I think we can see why he changed his name for radio.) Incidently, the number one song for both of those weeks was "Mother-In-Law" by Ernie K-Doe.
J
John-Summers
Guest
Oops. I made a mistake. His name was John Allen, not Dave. Shoulda put my glasses on!
And then there was AL BETHEL. Another radio/tv pro from the 1950's. He read news on camera the very first week the old WTPA-TV, Channel 71 went on the air in 1953. (Yes, Channel SEVENTY ONE)! By 1957, Al was doing booth announcer and on camera duties at WLBR-TV, Channel 15 when it returned to the air after being dark for 3 years. By 1958, Al was
at WNOW-AM-FM-TV. Anbody know what Al Bethel went from there? Alot of people in the Harrisburg area will remember Al from having a first class dance band..a la BIG band. Al would have been a great morning show host as he was never at a loss of words when he had to fill time on camera. I remember him hosting a kids' talent show on Channel 15 (circa 1957) where a little ballerina threw up on camera right at the start of the show. Directors Jack Kirkwood, Jim Mack and Ross Kaufmann (later chief enginneer at WHP) could attest. I SAW that opus. Anybody remember Sid Brenner and Hy White on the original WLBR-TV before it went dark in '54? That was when WLBR radio and the newspaper were part owners of Channel 15.
at WNOW-AM-FM-TV. Anbody know what Al Bethel went from there? Alot of people in the Harrisburg area will remember Al from having a first class dance band..a la BIG band. Al would have been a great morning show host as he was never at a loss of words when he had to fill time on camera. I remember him hosting a kids' talent show on Channel 15 (circa 1957) where a little ballerina threw up on camera right at the start of the show. Directors Jack Kirkwood, Jim Mack and Ross Kaufmann (later chief enginneer at WHP) could attest. I SAW that opus. Anybody remember Sid Brenner and Hy White on the original WLBR-TV before it went dark in '54? That was when WLBR radio and the newspaper were part owners of Channel 15.
Some of first real competition that Top40 WSBA 910 had in the late 50's was from WLAN 1390 in Lancaster. A must for teenagers in the Red Rose City was listening to Guy Barry on Friday nights for his Top 40 countdown. Anybody remember what Guy Barry's real name was? According to folks at Stan's Record Bar on North Prince Street, he moved to Last Vegas after his notable WLAN stint. The next rock 'n roll DJ on WLAN 1390 was a beautifully-brash young man named Ron Beach. Ron may have convinced the Altdoerfers (Frank and son Sam) to really go-rock. Even in 1959, WLAN's longtime morning man Dick Sherban was doing a traditional type program with plenty of "standards". WLAN still had block programming. Anyway, alot of Lancastrians will remember Guy Barry. Really-cool...and in demand to do "record hops".
I do remember Ron Beach. When did WLAN go fulltime top 40? The first line-up I remember had Ron Beach in mornings, Ken Allen (Slotnick) in Middays. Bouncin' Bob Harrington in PM drive and Tony Montgomery at night. This was in the early '60s. They still had alot of clutter from ABC and other sources. Don McNeil's Breakfast Club in mid-morning, an hour of news in the evening, and a late night talk show called "Extension 39" at 11pm. Other names I remember frpom that era were Jim Hazeltine and Del Fletcher. Bob Dettrey and Chuck Raymond later joined the line-up around '63, I believe. Does anyone know who the original PD was? I think Dettrey took over around '66 and I believe Hazeltine was PD and in mornings right before that. A guy named Bob Reynolds took over mornings around 1966, with Dusty Rees taking over a couple of years later. Lots of memories from high above the State Store at 252 N. Queen St.
WLAN's greatest contribution to Americn radio may be the amazing Dick Orkin. You know...the fabulously-funny "CHICKEN MAN" who began begawking his way into our collective consciousness back in the 60's & 70's. And he's still regaling us today with commercial skits produced at his Hollywood chicken ranch.
I remember hearing Dick Orkin during his very first week on WLAN in the late '50. He sounded so nervous! But, eventually, that rich, smooth voice
settled down and the rest is history. The story (back then) was that Dick's brother , Bob got him in touch with the Altdoerfers. Bob was directing the Ephrata Star Playhouse. Some of the big name talent who came in to play summer stock quickly recognized Dick Orkin's stellar talent...(the man behind the velvety, compelling voice).
Another interesting voice at late 1950's WLAN was one Jim Forney. He and Orkin gave a patina of quality in the classic announcer style of yesteryear when "reading spots" was still de rigeur. Forney moved on to WSBA-TV and then one of the new stations that went on the air in Lebanon. I doubt that Art Greiner drove him out of the business..but, by the 70's Jim Forney seemed to drop off the radio radar. Did he start using another name? Anybody know what further fate or fortune befell Jim Forney?
I remember hearing Dick Orkin during his very first week on WLAN in the late '50. He sounded so nervous! But, eventually, that rich, smooth voice
settled down and the rest is history. The story (back then) was that Dick's brother , Bob got him in touch with the Altdoerfers. Bob was directing the Ephrata Star Playhouse. Some of the big name talent who came in to play summer stock quickly recognized Dick Orkin's stellar talent...(the man behind the velvety, compelling voice).
Another interesting voice at late 1950's WLAN was one Jim Forney. He and Orkin gave a patina of quality in the classic announcer style of yesteryear when "reading spots" was still de rigeur. Forney moved on to WSBA-TV and then one of the new stations that went on the air in Lebanon. I doubt that Art Greiner drove him out of the business..but, by the 70's Jim Forney seemed to drop off the radio radar. Did he start using another name? Anybody know what further fate or fortune befell Jim Forney?
I think WLAN was one of the first stations to air "Chickenman" in the mid 60's. I remember Jim Forney appearing briefly around '81 or '82 doing afternoon drive on 1270 WLBR. He seemed to be over qualified for the position and didn't stay long. Did he ever work for WHP?
You may be right about Jim Forney doing a stint at WHP radio before, after or between stints in Lebanon. And, yes, he was cerebral and not using all his talents doing afternons at WLBR in the 80's.
I did hear something once about Jim going to WHP. It may have been just as the teime of longtime utility men like Ed Gundaker were retiring. His voice would have fit right in with the still-classic announcer style prevailing at that prestige station
Remember the deep voices of early WHP-TV anchor Joe Harper..and his cross-town rival Don Wear at WTPA-TV? Remember good guys Jim English and Sandy Fouts at WHP radio and television in the 50's and 60's? And Mac Mc Cauley and Don Ross over at Channel 71.
I did hear something once about Jim going to WHP. It may have been just as the teime of longtime utility men like Ed Gundaker were retiring. His voice would have fit right in with the still-classic announcer style prevailing at that prestige station
Remember the deep voices of early WHP-TV anchor Joe Harper..and his cross-town rival Don Wear at WTPA-TV? Remember good guys Jim English and Sandy Fouts at WHP radio and television in the 50's and 60's? And Mac Mc Cauley and Don Ross over at Channel 71.
Back when their AM and FM transmitters were on top of the Harold's Furniture and Lancaster Newspapers buildings...WGAL Radio (1490 AM and 101.3 FM ) was Lancaster's powerhouse in a certain sense. For more than two decades, GM Ken Kreider, PD By Kintzer, on air chatter Gladys Mummaw were household words.
Community goings-on were heralded by a clanging bell and "The Town Crier" yelling, "hear ye, hear ye".
Duke Kneipp did an hour of jazz in the afternoon and Jim Rees did 2 hours of classics late at night.
Ed Wickenheiser, Paul Heil and Pete Van Buren were
in there when stations were starting to make their news product more than just "rip and read".
Fred Klein (aka Fred King in other incarnations elsewhere over the next 20 years) started out at WGAL AM1490. His sister was Joan Klein of early WGAL-TV, fame when they were on Channel FOUR.
Some of you may remember Jim Cox, John Mc Alarney, Paul Rodenhauser, Ann Herr, Marijane Landis, Ann Herr, Dave Brandt, Nelson Sears, Kay Cuskey, Leo Kelly, Frank Whelan, Chuck Zink (as "Uncle Josh"), Bill Saylor and weatherman Bill Kuster who got fired for saying a certain snowstorm was a "pain in the ass". The next week he was hired by Channel 3 in Philadelphia. Channel 4 also did a local, live nighttime quiz show called "Stump Your Neighbor" with questions posed to a panel of local lumianries. But, mediocrity and amateurism were still written all over a generally-hokey on air product until Steinman finally sold the station in 1979. Subsequent owners have made Channel 8 finally look pretty darned good.
If WGAL-TV had not been so "Dutchy" and ridiculous in its early years, low power Channel 71 (seventy one) WTPA-TV and then Channel 55 WHP-TV might not have survived. Newhouse might have pulled the plug if they didn't finally get Ch. 27, where their signal went much farther. Even with a 50 ft. mast on top of a 3 story house, WTPA was snowy in northwest Lancaster.
If WLAN's Altdoerfers had not stalled putting it on their air...(finally giving up their construction permit for Ch. 21, WHP-TV might still be on Ch. 55.
Too bad WCMB-TV failed shortly after the DuMont network shut down in 1955 or '56. Not enough people had UHF converters and not alot of syndicated programming was available then. To wit, WDEL-TV (later WPFH and then WVUE-TV failed to make it as an independent station on channel TWELVE out of Wilmington.
In an earlier post, someone mentioned Wee Willie Webber in a post about the elder Mr Altdoerfer's ability to judge talent. He signed on WEEU-TV, Ch. 33 in Reading in 1953..and then signed it off less than years later. Over at ill fateed WHUM-TV, Channel 61, Paul Barclay (later radio's "Night Mayor") was the principal on camera personality..hile Jack Gounder was the most visible personality on WEEU-TV. Both of these men lasted for decades on the Reading station's radio affiliates.
South Central Pennsylvania has had no shortage of people who thought they had talent and foisted themselves on a long-suffering public...to the frequent embarrassment of station management..and I use the term "management" loosely.
Community goings-on were heralded by a clanging bell and "The Town Crier" yelling, "hear ye, hear ye".
Duke Kneipp did an hour of jazz in the afternoon and Jim Rees did 2 hours of classics late at night.
Ed Wickenheiser, Paul Heil and Pete Van Buren were
in there when stations were starting to make their news product more than just "rip and read".
Fred Klein (aka Fred King in other incarnations elsewhere over the next 20 years) started out at WGAL AM1490. His sister was Joan Klein of early WGAL-TV, fame when they were on Channel FOUR.
Some of you may remember Jim Cox, John Mc Alarney, Paul Rodenhauser, Ann Herr, Marijane Landis, Ann Herr, Dave Brandt, Nelson Sears, Kay Cuskey, Leo Kelly, Frank Whelan, Chuck Zink (as "Uncle Josh"), Bill Saylor and weatherman Bill Kuster who got fired for saying a certain snowstorm was a "pain in the ass". The next week he was hired by Channel 3 in Philadelphia. Channel 4 also did a local, live nighttime quiz show called "Stump Your Neighbor" with questions posed to a panel of local lumianries. But, mediocrity and amateurism were still written all over a generally-hokey on air product until Steinman finally sold the station in 1979. Subsequent owners have made Channel 8 finally look pretty darned good.
If WGAL-TV had not been so "Dutchy" and ridiculous in its early years, low power Channel 71 (seventy one) WTPA-TV and then Channel 55 WHP-TV might not have survived. Newhouse might have pulled the plug if they didn't finally get Ch. 27, where their signal went much farther. Even with a 50 ft. mast on top of a 3 story house, WTPA was snowy in northwest Lancaster.
If WLAN's Altdoerfers had not stalled putting it on their air...(finally giving up their construction permit for Ch. 21, WHP-TV might still be on Ch. 55.
Too bad WCMB-TV failed shortly after the DuMont network shut down in 1955 or '56. Not enough people had UHF converters and not alot of syndicated programming was available then. To wit, WDEL-TV (later WPFH and then WVUE-TV failed to make it as an independent station on channel TWELVE out of Wilmington.
In an earlier post, someone mentioned Wee Willie Webber in a post about the elder Mr Altdoerfer's ability to judge talent. He signed on WEEU-TV, Ch. 33 in Reading in 1953..and then signed it off less than years later. Over at ill fateed WHUM-TV, Channel 61, Paul Barclay (later radio's "Night Mayor") was the principal on camera personality..hile Jack Gounder was the most visible personality on WEEU-TV. Both of these men lasted for decades on the Reading station's radio affiliates.
South Central Pennsylvania has had no shortage of people who thought they had talent and foisted themselves on a long-suffering public...to the frequent embarrassment of station management..and I use the term "management" loosely.
Percy Platypus was on of my earliest memories of WGAL-TV. Marijane Landis was host. What was that phrase they used to intoduce cartoons......"letter flicker"? As long as we're having "geaser moments" and remembering stuff from way back, there was a 580 WHP nightime staff announcer who hosted "Nightwatch" around 1960-61, who used the air name Mayfe Nutter. I doubt it was his real name. It was one of those crazy air names that didn't really fit the personality type. I later heard this name again used by a recording artist of some type. Perhaps a country artist in the 60's? Probably not the same guy. All this was well before the late Olin Harris hosted that shift.
I remember listening to Gladys Mummaw on WGAL-AM with my mom when I was little and waking up listening to Pete Van Buren for years.
When I first got into this business after college I remember bragging to my parents that I had met Bob Dettrey (another name from my childhood) and By Kintzer (who everyone in Lancaster knew)
Do you think that 10-15 years from now there will be kids graduating college and getting excited to meet those of us who are in the business today?
When I first got into this business after college I remember bragging to my parents that I had met Bob Dettrey (another name from my childhood) and By Kintzer (who everyone in Lancaster knew)
Do you think that 10-15 years from now there will be kids graduating college and getting excited to meet those of us who are in the business today?
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