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Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia is a federally recognized, state chartered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization serving the Philadelphia Broadcast Community since January of 1962. |
September Afternoon Luncheon |
Meet and Greet at 12 noon Lunch served at 12:30 pm Ratecard: $28 per person |
Please reserve now! |
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Visit Our Website Often - http://www.broadcastpioneers.com
You should check the front page of our website often (link above) for important information!
Tune in to our YouTube Channel - http://www.broadcastpioneers.com/youtube
Our YouTube Channel has all our luncheons, exclusive interviews and archival material!
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There are things on our Facebook Page that are NOT on our website (like our vintage photo of the week)
Go to our Twitter Account - http://www.broadcastpioneers.com/twitter
The Broadcast Pioneers Twitter Account has info and stuff not available elsewhere!
Go to our Instragram Section - http://www.broadcastpioneers.com/instagram
Here's another one of our social media sections. Visit it as often as you wish!
DIGITAL ARCHIVAL PROJECT NEWS:
VIDEO:
Broadcast Pioneers member Gene Crane
WCAU-TV
1982
In our video archive, we have a 45-minute video tape presentation done by WCAU-TV during 1982. It celebrates the 30th anniversary of the WCAU Building on City Avenue. Our copy is on High Speed VHS tape and has no opening or closing. We do not yet know for sure whether this was something that was aired or just distributed in house. However, one time Broadcast Pioneers Board Member Dick Kearney told us that, as far as he remembers, this was made for strictly in house distribution.
On this tape, we hear from those employees who were with the station when the new building opened in May of 1952. The last person on the tape was Gene Crane. We present here that segment of the tape.
Watch with Real Video!
Watch with Windows Media!
AUDIO:
Sixteen years ago this month, Broadcast Pioneers had member Jack Whitaker as a speaker. For 26 minutes, Jack talked about his career. This is audio that was pulled off a VHS tape we made of the luncheon. At that time, we were not professionally recording our luncheons (like we do now), but just making a record of the event. However, we consider ourselves lucky to have any recording. The microphone was several feet away from Whitaker. We digitally enhanced the recording the best we could. We thought you might enjoy this audio this month.
Listen in Real Audio
Listen in Windows Media Format
Audio recorded and edited by Broadcast Pioneers CEO Gerry Wilkinson
(Note: this recording, enhancement and editing was back when Gerry's hearing was fine)
A LITTLE BIT OF BROADCAST HISTORY!
(Left to right) Katy Jurado, Grace Kelly and Alan Scott
WCAU-TV, Philadelphia
(the actresses were in town to promote their new movie, "High Noon")
1952
IN TOUCH WITH OUR MEMBERS AND THE INDUSTRY:
This Saturday, September 7th from 12 noon to 2 p.m., Broadcast Pioneers member Ed Eisen will be at a book signing at the Willow Grover Barnes & Noble store. He's be signing copies of his latest book, Front Row Seat, his memoir. In this work, he devotes a full chapter to former Broadcast Pioneers President John Roberts, who was Ed's professor at Temple University. Roberts was our Person of the Year in 1988 and inducted into our Hall of Fame in 1996. He was our President during 1992 through 1994.
"Hello, you." Last month, our Broadcast Pioneers newsletter had an article about the Eyewitness News team and how member Tom Moran was a booth announcer there at the station but only for 6 weeks. Why? Because he went to WIP Radio. He was there for 17 years.
Member Eddie Collins has been selected by East Coast Music Hall Of Fame, as a 2020 nominee for induction to the 'Best Music Maker-Historian & Advocate' category. Eddie says, "I am humbled, and honored to be considered for such a distinctive honor, the work of CEO Tommy Pettilo to preserve our music, and to educate all for generations to come is truly remarkable!' Eddie is being recognized for his 57-year career as musician, radio personality, promoter and music journalist.
Comcast (at least in Philadelphia) is offering on Channel 190, FeTV. Note that the program guide on Comcast calls this "Leased Access." Anyhow, FeTV airs old TV shows. You'll have to go to the FeTV website to find out what's on. However, yesterday, they just finished the last episode of "The Lone Ranger" that starred John Hart.
Many of our members only know Clayton Moore as the Lone Ranger. But for season 3, the Ranger was played by John Hart. There were 52 episodes which starred Hart. The following year, all 52 episodes were reruns and the next year, 1954, the Lone Ranger returned with new episodes and Clayton Moore returned as the Lone Ranger. By the way, only the last season (39 episodes) was shot in color. All others in black and white.
Hart played Jack Armstrong in the 1947 movie serial and also starred in the 1957 TV Series, "Hawkeye and the Last of the Mohicans." According to the Los Angeles Times, Moore was replaced over a contract dispute. And for those of you who just love trivia, John Hart appeared in two episodes as a guest star (as a bad guy) when Moore played the Lone Ranger. They were episodes entitled, "Rifles and Renegades" and "Sheriff at Gunstock." Both were in season one of the program.
Our CEO Gerry Wilkinson and his wife, Michele (who is the proof reader for this newsletter) just returned from 9 days in Boston. They went on a whale watching trip (New England Aquarium) and saw 30 whales. Even the people running the trip were impressed. Gerry said, by the way, that Boston had the worse traffic he had ever seen. No matter what time of day, the Interstate roads were bumper to bumper. To go 37 miles, it took over 3 hours. And don't think the roads aren't wide. They are at least 4 lanes in each direction. By the way, driving along I-95, you can pass Needham, MA (19 miles outside Boston). It's the home of WCVB-TV, Channel 5 in Boston. You can see the building and its tower from the road. You can also view many other station towers. The area is sort of like our Roxborough.
On Saturday evening, Broadcast Pioneers Board Member Michael Nise, producer of "Dance Party USA" and "Dancin' On Air" was honored when he received the Smooth Groove Heritage's 2019 Lifetime Appreciation Award. Michael was inducted into the Broadcast Pioneers' Hall of Fame in November of 2013. His father, Frank Nise was inducted three years earlier. Michael has served on our Board of Directors for 13 years.
A LITTLE BIT OF BROADCAST HISTORY!
Gene Crane
Grand Chance Roundup
CBS-TV, Broadcast originated live from WCAU-TV
1949
Did you know... Hot TV News (from a "Front Row Seat")
Before the era of Action News, rating wars and teleprompters, folks would sit for hours Sunday nights to watch a Temple University speech professor tell them what was happening. His name was John Roberts and in 1959, the tall, erudite gentleman of mellow voice, urbane wit and the easy ad lib taught me about the fickle business of television when I sat in his class as a freshman. He was the dean of Channel 6’s Weekend Report once vying for viewers with that other John across the street. Yes, that's John Facenda on Channel 10.
Professor John Roberts with students in a speech class I was 18 when I first met John Roberts. His gait was ramrod straight and his voice, incredibly sonorous. Roberts had been performing on TV for 11 years. He had been replaced by a younger face, one of his students. He was considered by industry moguls as a good hit-man in his half-hour weekly public affairs forum that eventually evolved into the station’s 15-minute nightly news format. Those were the pre-happy-talk days of television. And Roberts would appear before the cameras armed with a pleasant smile and a bounty of late-breaking news ripped from the station’s clatter of non-stop teletype machines. There was no news film and an occasional still picture.
(Part of the cast) Clair Cole in right front and John Roberts behind her) The heat was so intense in the studio “you could see the beads of sweat pouring down my forehead,” Roberts told me. For a business with a fickle reputation, he amassed a tenure that spanned 19 years at the station. When I sat in his class John was performing regularly before another kind of audience, live audiences of hundreds of students like me seeking an entrance into a business almost as impenetrable as copping a role in a Broadway show. Years later when I interviewed him as a reporter at The Philadelphia Bulletin, he was 63 and continued to pack a full house at the school and radio station he founded and directed, Temple’s School of Radio, Television and Film, then the country’s largest with a class of 1,300.
Member John B. Roberts (off air) “Sure, I loved those days at Channel 6,” my old professor told me. “But you’re not going to find me sitting down and sulking about what was. I’m the kind of person when I finish one phase of my life, I find other exciting things to do.” Roberts’ first love since 1946, he told me, was teaching. And when a former student, Charles Burke, replaced him on Channel 6’s Weekend Report in 1970, Roberts said he could only smile and feel a sense of pride. I lost touch with my old professor for two decades until one day I wound up sitting at the same table with him when I joined Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia, a 500-plus member organization dedicated to collecting and promoting information about the broadcast industry.
(left to right) Members John Robert & Jane "Pixanne" Norman John was president of the state-chartered organization for two years and inducted into its Hall of Fame in 1996. He died at age 94 in a retirement community in Rydal. I never knew that until I read his obituary in The Inquirer. It turns out Marion and I live just across the street. This column is written this month by Board Member Ed Eisen (Photos selected & prepared for use by our CEO, Gerry Wilkinson) |
Our special thanks go to TUTV - Temple University Television and The Kal & Lucille Rudman Media Production Center. They have underwritten a grant to be used to fund two years of all our newsletters. That's until December 2019. We thank them so much for their support! |
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A LITTLE BIT OF BROADCAST HISTORY!
Broadcast Pioneers member Jane Norman (at extreme left)
Temple University
circa mid-fifties
WE REMEMBER (TWO LEGENDS):
Jack Whitaker, 95, passed away during mid-August. Jack was a longtime member of Broadcast Pioneers. Please see more about Jack in our "Thanks for the Memories" Section (which is below). We have heard that there will be a memorial service sometime in the fall. No other information is available at this time.
Jack's obit in the Philadelphia Inquirer
8 days after Jack's death, we saw the passing of another longtime member of Broadcast Pioneers, Gene Crane, who was 99. Gene passed away in Mexico (where he lived) from complications from an earlier fall. At Gene's request, there will be no funeral. We have heard from his son David Crane (creator of the TV Series "Friends" and "Episodes") and his step-daughter Susan Lerner Heckles. The family asks in lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Gene Crane Memorial Fund, Broadcast Pioneers, PO Box 2886, Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004. See additional information about Gene below in our "Thanks for the Memories" section.
Gene's Obit in the Philadelphia Inquirer
THIS AND THAT! Little Bits of Information....
(left to right) Ukee Washington & member Dave Michaels The press was reporting in 1989 that Philadelphia High School Junior Seth Green who was 16 at that time was back from appearing in two episodes of ABC-TV's Mr. Belvedere. He went to Lamberton in the Overbrook Park section of Philadelphia. Green now lives in California. Carol Reed was "The Weather Girl" on WPTZ, now known as KYW-TV. She was a singer and had her own music and variety program, "Carol Calling" on the station. The show was on Saturday evenings after the 11 pm newscast. Channel 3 called her "Philadelphia's First Lady of Television." A few years later, she went to WCBS-TV. Twelve years later, her 5 minute weather program was dropped by the station in favor of incorporating the weather inside the station's newscasts. She passed away a few years later in her mid-forties. If you ever watched her on either station, you know she always ended the weather with "Have a Happy." When asked one time what that meant, she simply said to have a happy whatever you are doing. On September 23, 1956, WCRV-TV, Channel 3 (then owned by the Peacock Network, NBC) began broadcasting 15 hours of local color programming including "Let Scott Do It" with Mr. (Joe Earley) Rivets; Pat Landon's 2:15 pm newscast; Pete Boyle at 6 pm and the 11 pm news with Taylor Grant and Judy Lee doing the weather. NBC was owned at the time by RCA who made a big investment in color television sets. No one would buy color TVs if there were no shows to watch. Stoney McLinn started writing sports professionally in 1909. He ended up on WIP Radio for many years as their ever popular sports guy. In the forties, Stoney was the station's Sports Director and an icon in the City of Brotherly Love. In the fall of 1932, Blayne Butcher joined the WCAU announcing staff coming from WLW in Cincinnati. He replaced Owen Cunningham who left announcing to become the station's assistant studio manager. At the same time in Chicago (at WJJD) a young Gene Autry took over a daily early morning radio spot. He was billed as "The Yodeling Cowboy" from Oklahoma. Philadelphia's legendary disc jockey Hy Lit was on WHAT Radio in the fall of 1956. One of the top acts was "The Three Friends" who had a big doo-wop hit, "Blanche." They appeared on Hy's program to plug their hit record. When Lit went to play the record, it was nowhere to be found. The answer was easy. The group sang their smash single live on the air. They appeared on his show for almost an hour. Nelson Eddy appeared on most of the radio stations in Philly while he lived here. In the mid-thirties, he was on "The Newton Coal Hour" on WFI Radio (later merged with WLIT and became WFIL). He got $25 per appearance. That's about $480 in 2019 money. He stayed on the show for two years. |
THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES:
A Little About Jack Whitaker!
(Left to right) members Jack Whitaker, Bill Campbell and Bill's wife, Jo
(Bill was that year's Person of the Year)
Broadcast Pioneers Banquet
Bala Golf Club, Philadelphia
November 21, 2008
Jack Whitaker (who was a longtime member of Broadcast Pioneers) was born on Sunday, May 18, 1924 right here in Philadelphia. While most of the world will remember Jack for his television work on CBS and ABC, Philadelphians know Whitaker as the Channel 10 sports guy working with such well known Broadcast Pioneers members John Facenda and Herb Clarke.
Whitaker grew up in a neighborhood called East Germantown and went to Northeast Catholic High School where he was graduated in 1943. Four years later, he was graduated from St. Joseph's College, now St. Joseph's University in Philly.
Whitaker's first broadcasting job was in Pottsville, Pennsylvania at a 250 watt station for $32 a week. From there, he went to Allentown and a 1,000 watt station. Jack Whitaker came to the WCAU stations, owned at that time by the Evening and Sunday Bulletin newspapers, in 1950. There, he did sports reports and play-by-play for the Philadelphia Eagles and the New York Giants football teams.
(Left to Right) Herb Clarke, Tom Brookshier, Gene Crane, Jack Whitaker, Jack Downey, Ken Williams and Dick Kearney
The Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia Luncheon
Wednesday, September 17, 2003
At one time during his Channel 10 career, a new General Manager came to town and cancelled all the sports reports because "only 9% of the people had an interest." Jack was under contract so they turned him into a weatherman and Jack did the early evening reports while Herb Clarke did the 11 pm forecasts. This lasted only a short time and the station put sports back on the schedule and moved Jack back into sports.
Jack started doing CBS-TV sports broadcasts in 1961 while at Channel 10. He joined the network full-time the next year where he was the host of the CBS Sports Spectacular telecasts plus other reporting. Many say that Jack is best known for his horse racing and golf broadcasts. He was one of the announcers of the first Super Bowl telecast on January 15, 1967 in Los Angeles. He also hosted the NFL Today pre-game broadcasts.
(Left to right) unidentified male and members Tom Brookshier, Jack Whitaker and John Facenda
(No idea who they were following)
1963
In 1966, Jack hosted a prime time game show called "The Face is Familiar" which was a summer replacement show for CBS-TV. The program aired from May 7, 1966 to September 3rd of that year. The program had two teams. Each team had a celebrity and an audience contestant. The concept was to identify scrambled photos of well known people. The winning team could receive up to $700.
During 1982, Jack went over to ABC-TV where he was a reporter for ABC News and ABC Sports. In 1979, Jack won an Emmy for "Outstanding Sports Personality." He also won the Maryland Jockey Club's Hilltop Award for racing coverage. In 1976, he was named "Best Sports Announcer" by Sports Illustrated magazine. During 1997, Whitaker was named into the American Sports Association Hall of Fame. In 1981, Jack was named "Person of the Year" by our organization and inducted into our Hall of Fame in 2003. In 2001, he was inducted into the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Hall of Fame and in 2005, he was inducted into the Saint Joseph's University Athletic Hall of Fame.
A Little About Gene Crane!
Gene Crane (left) & Bill Hart (right)
"On Chestnut Street" TV Show
WCAU-TV, 1622 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia
1948
With 63 years in broadcasting, Broadcast Pioneers member Gene Crane has been involved in nearly every aspect of television and radio broadcasting. His last assignment before retiring from WCAU was reporting on senior issues for NBC 10 News. Gene began his broadcast career in 1941 as an announcer at WJTN Radio, while attending Syracuse University in Jamestown, New York. While at WJTN, Gene did color for some Class D baseball games. One of Crane's colleagues was Rex Marshall, who went on to the networks. After Jamestown, Gene Crane joined WAGE radio as a news reporter while a Senior at Syracuse University, until the outbreak of World War II.
After serving a four-year stint in the United States Army, he moved to Philadelphia in 1946, and became a radio announcer for WCAU. However, shortly after coming to Philly, the station had to let him go because of returning soldiers from the armed services that were guaranteed the return of their job. Crane landed at WIP with John Facenda. Several months later, there was an opening at WCAU and Gene returned. He was hired back at the rate of $44 a week by Stan Lee Broza, program director of WCAU Radio and our first president. In 1947, Gene married his first wife, Joan.
In 1948 when WCAU-TV went on the air, so did Gene. In 1948, WCAU-TV came on the air from their facilities at 1622 Chestnut Street in Center City Philadelphia. The new station needed programs and one easy (and cheap) idea was Man on the Street interviews.
In November of 1948, WCAU-TV started a new hour-long television program called "Homemakers' Matinee." It aired from 2 to 3 pm, Monday through Friday. "Homemakers' Matinee" was, in reality, three different shows. From 2 pm to 2:30 pm, it was the "Cinderella Weekend" segment. Then at 2:30, there was a 15 minute piece called "Homemakers at Home" and the last fifteen minutes was a part entitled "On Chestnut Street" with Gene Crane and Bill Hart. When Cinderella Weekend became a separate program, Alan Scott was the host and Gene was the show's announcer.
(left to right) Broadcast Pioneers members Mike Quinn and Gene Crane
Election Night Coverage (on the set)
WCAU-TV, Channel 10, Philadelphia
Tuesday, November 4, 1964
The hour-long broadcast had a live studio audience (they were there for all three segments or shows) and originated from the WCAU-TV studios in center city Philadelphia at 1622 Chestnut Street. This picture is from the "On Chestnut Street" segment.
Gene had three children's shows for CBS-TV between 1949 and 1955. They all originated from WCAU-TV; they were: Grand Chance Roundup, Candy Carnival and then Contest Carnival. Over the years he has anchored and reported for WCAU, along with hosting a daily talk show from July 6, 1953 through 1957. First Husband and Wife talk show in 1952 called Mr. & Mrs. In June of 1954, the program was 15 minutes long and was on from 9 to 9:15 am. Product of that first marriage…greatest achievement (according to Gene) …David!!!
During the 60's and 70's Gene trekked to New York regularly for commercial work. He did spots for Gulden's Mustard, Welch's Grape Juice, Bumble Bee Tuna, Mogen David Wine and several different versions of the Bradley Games.
Gene has also produced syndicated features in the 60's and 70's and M.C.'d High School Quiz show for New York Times Cable in South Jersey. Gene played the part of the Mayor of Philadelphia in the movie "Rocky III.” Gene did commercials for many, many years and for ten years, he was the spokesman for Acme in the Delaware Valley market. Because of his longevity in broadcasting, he is a candidate for the Guinness Book of Records. Gene has been on the air on the SAME station for 57 years.
After a highly successful half-century tenure with WCAU, Gene chose to retire in April 1994, thus reducing his weekly responsibilities. Gene continues to be recognized for his outstanding community and civic accomplishments. Just recently, the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences honored Gene Crane at the Mid-Atlantic Emmy Awards. He was given the prestigious Governor's Award.
(Left to right) Joan Crane and Gene Crane
on the set of the "Mr. and Missus." Show
WCAU-TV, Channel 10
Bala Cynwyd, PA
1953
(Photo originally donated by member Anthony DiFlorio)
Captain Kangaroo premiered on CBS-TV on Monday, October 3, 1955 (it was previously a local NYC show), but it wasn't seen in Philly until Monday, February 20, 1956 when Channel 10 picked up the daily funfest. At that time, WCAU-TV was owned by the Philadelphia Evening Bulletin newspaper and the station thought it was much more profitable to run its local program instead of the network fare. The local telecast, by the way, was called Mr. & Mrs. and starred our own Gene Crane with his first wife, Joan. Also on the broadcast was Broadcast Pioneers member Bill Campbell with sports, Chef Albert with cooking tips and Jack Valentine (of "Action in the Afternoon" fame) with some songs. In the latter days of Mr. and Mrs., Charles Shaw did the News, Carney C. Carney (aka Carny C. Carny) and Willie the Worm kept the children interested. Bill Campbell still did the sports and the Tommy Ferguson Trio (also from "Action in the Afternoon) replaced Jack Valentine.
FYI, "Mr. & Mrs." (parents of David Crane, producer of "Friends") moved to the 7:55 to 9 am time period when Captain Kangaroo joined the WCAU-TV schedule. Channel 10 took the west coast feed of Captain Kangaroo while other CBS affiliates on the east took the earlier feed meant for our time zone. Previously, "Mr. and Mrs." ran daily from 7:55 am until 9:30 am (the 95 minute format started in August of 1955). Willie the Worm followed from 9:30 am to 9:55 with Gene returning for five minutes of local news at 9:55 am. When the Captain joined the Channel 10 lineup, "Mr. and Mrs." was shortened from 95 minutes to 65 minutes. Willie the Worm was eliminated as a daily local show and incorporated into the Cranes morning program along with Carny the Clown.
On January 28, 1957, the storytelling portion of Mr. and Mrs. was "radically" changed. They got an elaborate set for their "new Storybook Land" and each day they concentrated on a different town in "their land." "Adventure Town" and "Animal Town" were among the places they visited via stories. They were appropriately garbed for each visit, as were Carny C. Carny and Willie the Worm, who helped to the tell the tall tales.
Gene Crane on "Candy Carnival"
WCAU-TV
April 12, 1953
In March of that same year, Gene & Joan Crane confirmed that they were expecting "a visit from the stork." One Wednesday, she turned up in maternity clothes on the show and confirmed what many viewers suspected, that she was "with child." A press article reported that the couple was on "Cloud 9." The article continued that she would remain with the show for as long as she felt comfortable and would return two or three months after the birth. However, after David's arrival, Joan didn't return to the airwaves.
The show became a Gene Crane vehicle called "Top o' the Morning." Captain Kangaroo also went in at 8 am on Channel 10 joining the rest of the east coast. Gene's show started at 8:55 am, after the Captain was finished. Keep in mind that the Kangaroo show was only 55 minutes long so that local stations could insert local news. "Top o' the Morning" aired from 8:55 to 9:30 am. By the summer of the next year, 1958, the "Top o' the Morning" program moved to 9:25 to 9:55 am followed by five minutes of local news with Charles Shaw. In the earlier time period, that newscast was a part of "Top o' the Morning."
On Friday, November 21, 2003, Gene Crane was honored as "Our Person of the Year." He was inducted into the Broadcast Pioneers' Hall of Fame in 1995. Gene and his third wife, Jean lived in Mexico where they did volunteer work with the poor. Gene passed away on August 26, 2019.
Gene passed away in Mexico (where he lived with his third wife, Jean) from complications from an earlier fall. At Gene's request, there will be no funeral. We have heard from his son David Crane (creator of the TV Series "Friends" and "Episodes") and his step-daughter Susan Lerner Heckles. The family asks in lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Gene Crane Memorial Fund, Broadcast Pioneers, PO Box 2886, Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004.
A LITTLE BIT OF BROADCAST HISTORY!
WPEN Radio Ad
Spring 1944
OUR HATS OFF TO YOU FOR GIVING:
We usually thank those who made an extra contribution when sending in their dues here. However, since we don't have employees, many of our people were away on vacation and dealing with other matters. We will catch up with this and thanks those who contributed in next month's newsletter.
It is not too late to make a contribution to the Bob Kravitz Memorial Scholarship Fund. Those who have done so, thank you. But you can still make a contribution to this memorial. Send any contributions to the Bob Kravitz Memorial Fund, Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia, PO Box 2886, Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004. We will thank those contributors in next month's issue of this newsletter.
We are a federally recognized, state chartered charity with a 501(c)(3) status. Contact us at (856) 365-5600 or e-mail pioneers@broadcastpioneers.com for more details. Your gift to Broadcast Pioneers will help us and may lower your federal income tax. That's win-win, isn't it?
Special Thanks for the gift of Appreciated Stock: (a federal tax advantage for the giver)
Member Sylvia Kauders - $5,159.45 (used for the scholarships listed below)
Special Thanks (in alphabetical order) for contribution of $1,000 or more to our DAP, Digital Archival Project:
Member Jerry Del Colliano - $1,500
The Shunfenthal Family (in memory of Sherri Shunfenthal's father, Les Waas) - $2,000
Member Marlin Taylor - $2,000
A member who prefers not to be identified publicly - $1,000
Special Thanks (in alphabetical order) for contribution of $1,000 or more into our General Fund to be used where needed:
Member Brad Seecof and Metramedia Broadcasting & Studios - $1,000
The Sylvia Kauders Foundation - $10,000
A Member who wishes to remain anonymous - $1,000
Special Thanks (in alphabetical order) for April 2020 Scholarships:
The Harry Hurley - Hurley in the Morning Charity - 2 scholarships (for a Stockton University student)
Member Sylvia Kauders - 1 scholarship (from a bequest for 5 yearly scholarships running until 2024)
Member Kal Rudman - 5 scholarships (for Temple University students)
Member Marlin Taylor - 2 scholarships
Special Thanks (in alphabetical order) for a contribution of $500 or more to our DAP, Digital Archival Project:
Member Elliot Abrams - $500
Members Robin and Ira Adelman - $500
Member Priscilla Fox - $500 plus another $500 for our scholarship fund
Member Bill Kelley - $750
Member Art Moore - $500
Armitage Shanks (not their real name) - $500
Bequests in their Will:
Member Sylvia Kauders passed away recently. In her will, she bequest to the Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia, the amount of $5,000. This funding is to be used to underwrite one scholarship per year until gone. These scholarships will start in the year 2020 and continue until 2024. From a previous gift, Sylvia has underwritten one scholarship a year starting in 2015 and continuing until 2019.
Member Dave Shayer passed away last year. In his will, he bequest to the Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia, the amount of $5,000. This funding is to be used to underwrite our archival project which was dear to Dave's heart and soul.
If someone underwrites a complete scholarship and we'll give them credit in the electronic newsletter until the scholarship is awarded. The gift of appreciated stock of $2,000 or more) will be thanked in our "Thank You" column for two years. If someone donates $1,000 or more and we'll list them in our "Thank You" column for a year. If someone gives a donation of $500 or more and we'll list them in our "Thank You" column for six months. They can select how we use the money: for our archival project, for scholarships or for our general fund to be used as needed.
More Thanks:
A growing portion of the revenues that fund the different activities of the Broadcast Pioneers comes from donations. This includes our archival project and our scholarship program. Now we are making it even more beneficial for our donors. Broadcast Pioneers is now able to accept gifts of appreciated stock, which provides a significant tax benefit to you. By giving appreciated stock (stock which is worth more now than what it cost when it was purchased), the giver can get a charitable contribution tax deduction based on the current market value of your stock. At the same time, they avoid the capital gains tax that would arise if they simply sold the stock. So if someone would like to support our educational mission or our archival project and save money on taxes too, they could consider making a gift of appreciated stock. We are a federally recognized, state chartered charity with a 501(c)(3) status. Contact us at (856) 365-5600 or e-mail pioneers@broadcastpioneers.com for more details.
Many of us are over 70 and a half years old. If someone is, they can donate directly to Broadcast Pioneers from their IRA Account. If they take a distribution and then donate to us, they would have to pay federal tax on the distribution. By donating directly to us, they pay no tax and we get the full amount. Remember, this donation must go directly to us in order for the giver to avoid paying income tax. This direct donation may also prevent the donor from going into a higher tax bracket. That's always good. The donor should always contact tax advisor about this and get complete details.
Thanks so much for everyone's support.Our address is Broadcast Pioneers, PO Box 2886, Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004, (856) 365-5600. Our e-mail is: pioneers@broadcastpioneers.com
A FINAL THOUGHT....
"Shortly after KYW Radio switched to all news, a lady called the station and spoke with me. She asked if I could play a specific record for her, and I told her, 'Sure, we'll get it on right after the news.'"
Dick Covington
2002
Please contact us by e-mail at pioneers@broadcastpioneers.com or by mail to: Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia, PO Box 2886, Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004. Your stories are important, to you, to us, and your colleagues. Contact us today and we’ll include your story in the next newsletter! |
© 2019, Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia
All Rights Reserved
Newsletter Editor is Gerry Wilkinson
Newsletter proofreader this month is Michele Wilkinson
The e-mail address of the Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia is pioneers@broadcastpioneers.com
For luncheon reservations call (856) 365-5600 or e-mail us at: rsvp@broadcastpioneers.com
