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VIDEO:
(Left to right) Ed Hurst and Joe Grady
Broadcast Pioneers' Persons of the Year Dinner
May 7, 1990
Broadcast Pioneers members Joe Grady and Ed Hurst were the hosts of the 950 Club, on WPEN, 950 on the AM dial. It was a DANCE show that aired afternoons ON RADIO between 1946 and 1955. Teens actually came to the studios and danced to the music, even though the program was on radio. The show eventually moved to television, and was the predecessor of American Bandstand.
Ed tells us that the team wanted to leave radio when WFIL-TV asked them to host Bandstand in 1952, but WPEN said no. They had a contract. Broadcast Pioneers Person of the Year in 1980, Dick Clark himself has credited Joe & Ed as being the model for his ever-popular "American Bandstand."
Joe Grady, who lived in Broomall, was born in South Philly (2nd and Wolf). As a kid, he and his father, a Navy Yard worker, would listen to a crystal radio by stringing a copper wire through two oatmeal boxes. Later, they built their own radio set. Joe was an avid ham operator with the calls W3FVW. In 1936, Joe was graduated from South Philadelphia Catholic High School, now St. John Neumann.
Grady's first radio job was part-time with WIP. He took the job while going to LaSalle College, attending on a theatrical scholarship. Grady was graduated in 1940 was a bachelor's degree in business. After school, he worked briefly at the Philadelphia Zoo and had a dance band. He played piano and organ. He landed his first full-time broadcast job as a radio announcer at WHAT. He later became Program director of that station. In 1945, he joined WPEN to do staff announcing but became a full-time radio announcer within a few months. It was at WPEN that Grady met Hurst, who joined the station a year later.
Ed Hurst was born 92 years ago in Atlantic City. Today, he lives not too far from that very location where he was born. In 1950, Ed married Sarajane (Cissie). Cissie was inducted into our Hall of Fame in 2010.
Ed began as a full time WFPG announcer and DJ at the age of 16 while a junior at Atlantic City High. He did all the remotes originating at shore points, including those for ABC Radio and Mutual Broadcasting.
In 1946, Ed joined WPEN here in Philadelphia as the co-host of the 950 Club, a show that quickly became number one. He and Joe pulled in 2,000 to 3,000 pieces of mail every week.
From 1952 to 1955, the team hosted "The Grady and Hurst Show" airing on WPTZ, Channel 3 in Philadelphia every Saturday morning from 11 am to 12 noon. This was in addition to their radio broadcasts.
In 1955, Grady & Hurst moved full-time into television working for a few years at Channel 12, then a commercial television station. That was the end of the WPEN broadcasts. Channel 12 went dark by the end of the fifties and later became the area's public television outlet. In 1958, the Grady and Hurst TV Show moved over to WRCV-TV, formerly WPTZ. There, they did a morning TV show for awhile.
By that time, they were the oldest DJ team in the United States. After 1960, Hurst continued working in broadcasting and Joe went into teaching. He taught homiletics and communications at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Wynnewood, PA. In July 1969, Grady was named chairman of the communications department at the school. He was also a lector in the church.
In 1980, Radio Station WPEN asked the two back to do a two-week air shift to promote the big-band, popular music format that the station was starting. And that two week air shift lasted 8 years. Joe retired permanently in 1988. Ed continued with his radio programs for three more decades, entertaining many new listeners.
The two won many awards. They were enshrined in Broad Street's "Walk of Fame" in 1993 and were named "Persons of the Year" by our organization in 1990 and six years later, in 1996, they both were inducted into our Hall of Fame.
The team's last television appearance was on WHYY-TV on March 6, 1999 when the station aired "Miss Patti Page, the Singing Rage." Grady and Hurst were on as guests. By the way, Patti Page was there too, in person. It was hosted by Broadcast Pioneers member Ed Cunningham and our CEO, Gerry Wilkinson, was one of the producers. It was the last time the Grady and Hurst would ever be on television.
Well, like we said, Joe Grady and Ed Hurst were our "Persons Of the Year" in 1990. Walt MacDonald of the Go Patrol fame videotaped the event and has delighted us by donating a copy. Thanks, Walt. You can watch their entire remarks right here.
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AUDIO:
Broadcast Pioneers member John DeBella started doing crazy stuff in broadcasting while he was at his college radio station. It was like the Morning Zoo but even more out there. DeBella is currently a Philadelphia air personality on 102.9, WMGK-FM. Born in Queens, DeBella did his early work at WLIR before coming to the Delaware Valley.
In the early 1980s, DeBella headed “The DeBella Travesty” and introduced “the Dare to be Different” new wave WLIR format. While at the station, John became friends with singer Joan Jett and received a gold record in promoting Jett's "I Love Rock and Roll".
DeBella was part the brains behind WMMR's “Morning Zoo,” with former WLIR personality Mark "The Shark" Drucker (later of KYW Newsradio fame). He was number one in the morning ARBs throughout most of the decade in the 80s. Every year, he hosts the "DeBella DeBall," which was held on December 7th. Promos included President Franklin Roosevelt speaking the words that it is "a date which will live in infamy.
John says that his favorite musician was Peter Gabriel and he enjoyed discussing Gabriel's many hits on the air. While being popular on WMMR, DeBella did on-air voice-overs for the WTAF-TV (Channel 29) cartoon blocks.
In 2002, he returned to radio hosting, working with WMGK (now sister station to WMMR). His show runs from 6 am to 9 am and features sidekick Jen Posner and producer Rob Calvert. DeBella closes the broadcast with "Have a great day, Philadelphia. Don't take any crap from anybody."
John DeBella was inducted into our Hall of Fame in 2014. The next year, his Morning Zoo sidekick, Mark Drucker was inducted into our Hall of Fame.
On September 30 of 1993, John DeBella decided it was time to leave WMMR. He was doing afternoons at the time. Here's a brief excerpt what he said that day.
(Audio donated by John Hendricks. John donated many hundreds of hours of Philadelphia radio airchecks, which he personally recorded off air, to our archival project. We have digitally enhanced the audio for better sound quality.)
Dean Tyler, a Broadcast Pioneers member, has been in Philadelphia broadcasting for many decades. In reality, he’s Dudley Tyler Finch.
Ty Finch began his broadcasting career on the air at WAMS, Wilmington, while attending the University of Delaware where he majored in Biology (Pre-Veterinary Medicine). He went into broadcasting full-time, working at radio and television stations in Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
In 1960, he made his Philadelphia debut at WIBG (Radio 99) and became “Dean Tyler.” These were some of the glory days at “WIBBAGE", where Dean workeside by side with some of the most dynamic personalities in Philadelphia radio history.
Dean’s career then led him to such radio stations as WHN (New York), WJBK (Detroit) and then back to WIBG. In 1969, Dean settled in at Metromedia’s WIP Radio here in Philadelphia for the next eight years.
Again, Tyler continued to work with outstanding radio talent at one of the successful stations of its time. Then Dean transferred to the historic sister station WNEW in the Big Apple where he programmed for over the next two years.
Next he became a consultant and program director at the legendary KLIF in Dallas, Texas. Dean returned to Philly in 1980 as WFIL Radio’s Program Director. Again, he was working with some of the area’s best radio personalities.
In 1983, Dean Tyler joined WPEN Radio and took it to the number one radio station in the format in the entire country. There, he put together another radio “dream team” of on-air talent. Dean took on additional duties as manager of MOR programming for the parent company, Greater Media, in 1985.
In 1987, he was named Operations Manager of WPEN and sister station WMGK, and then became Vice-President and General Manager of both stations in 1989. During his later years at WPEN, Dean returned to his roots and co-hosted the morning show with Elaine Soncini while still managing the station, until his retirement in December 2000.
Dean Tyler was inducted into our Hall of Fame in 2002 and was our "Person of the Year" in 2012. Airchecks of Dean's work while with WIBG are rare. However, we have one when Dean was filling in one evening for Ray Gilmore from 10 'til 2 (the thing to do). The date is June 21, 1965.
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(Audio donated by Broadcast Pioneers member Charlie Mills. While Charlie and his wife, member Ivory Blackwood, live in Florida, they are still active with Broadcast Pioneers. Over the years, Charlie has donated hundreds and hundreds of pieces for our archives.)
Today's News Becomes Tomorrow's History!
(This is what our Digital Archival Project, DAP, is all about!)
A LITTLE BIT OF BROADCAST HISTORY!
(Left to right) Dave Roberts, Dita the dog, David Boreanaz
Seal Team TV Show
on location in the mountains of Northern California
Dita the dog is part of the cast
2018
Dave Roberts is, of course, the famed former Action News weathercaster. His son, David Boreanaz seems to have a hit TV show (yes, another one) on his hands, SEAL Team. The second season starts on Wednesday, October 3rd at 9 pm. Dita plays the role of Cerberus on the show. We understand that David and Dita have become fast friends.
IN TOUCH WITH OUR MEMBERS & THE INDUSTRY:
Some interesting news here in our market. KYW-TV changed networks on their sub-channel, 3.2. Over the Labor Day weekend, they went from carrying Decades TV to Start TV. Decades is jointly owned by CBS Television Stations, a division of CBS Corporation, and Weigel Broadcasting and has been telecasting for three and a half years. They carry old TV shows like Our Miss Brooks, I Married Joan, Donna Reed and clips from the old Ed Sullivan shows. Start TV is owned by Weigel Broadcasting and carries more recent shows from the 80s to a few years ago. They have programming like: Medium, Cold Case, The Closer, Early Edition and Touched By an Angel. Start TV also took over (at least in Philadelphia proper) channel 244 on Comcast.
Now if you want to still watch Decades you can. It's now on sub-channel 2.6. That's WDPN-TV. Why don't those call letters sound familiar? Well, before September 4th, it used to be KJWP. They are a commercial TV station operating on Channel 2 out of Wilmington (and broadcasting into the Philadelphia market). A few years ago, the station was sold to Maranatha Broadcasting, which owns Channel 69 (WFMZ) in Allentown. WFMZ is on many of the cable outlets in our area. Right now, Decades doesn't seem to be on Comcast, at least in Philadelphia proper. However, in communications with Decades, they state that they plan to be on Comcast shortly. You have to watch Decades over the air. By the way, if you like old TV shows (like Ozzie and Harriet), WDPN also carries RetroTV on sub-channel 2.5. RetroTV is not on Philadelphia Comcast. You need to view that also over the air.
One more thing. WPSG-TV, Channel 57, sister station to KYW-TV, is now running Comet TV on one of its sub-channels. WPHL-TV (as of yesterday, October 1st) was also running Comet on sub-channel 17.4. They run old science fiction TV shows and movies. Space 1999 just started on the channel last month. It joined Stargate, the Outer Limits and a bunch of old 50s sci-fi movies. Well, Comet now has closed captioning both for cable and over the air. A year or so ago, it wasn't there. .
(Left to right) Broadcast Pioneers members Pat Delsi, Diego Castellanos and Bernie Prazenica
(Pat is our president, Diego has been on our board for 15 years.
Bernie Prazenica is the President and General Manager of WPVI, 6 abc)
Main Lobby, WPVI, Philadelphia
Friday evening, September 29, 2017
(Photo taken by Gerry Wilkinson, who is our CEO)
Broadcast Pioneers member Diego Castellanos has retired from WPVI, 6 abc. The station did a four and a half minute tribute to him on Sunday morning, September 16th. He had been with the station for nearly a half century as the host of "Puerto Rican Panorama." Last September, WPVI hosted a celebration of his days at 6 abc. It was attended by 50 of his closest friends and associates including Pat Delsi and Gerry Wilkinson.
Puerto Rican Panorama is the longest, continuous, English language program focusing on Hispanic issues and Latin culture. Not in Philadelphia. Not in Pennsylvania. Not in the United States but the longest running show of its type in the world. Diego was inducted into our Hall of Fame in 2002. Castellanos recently resigned from our board because of health issues. The show was given a 13 week trial and lasted almost a half century.
One of the living icons from the Eyewitness News team has joined Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia. She's Beverly Williams, who was one of our speakers at the last luncheon, a Tribute to Vince Leonard. She was with KYW-TV, Channel 3 for several decades. She was also a reporter for CNN based in Atlanta for a half dozen years. We are thrilled have her as part of our organization.
Broadcast Pioneers member Bob Pantano passed the torch to legendary figure Kenny Gamble a couple weeks ago. It was at the 64th Annual Hero Thrill Show. Bob was last year's Grand Marshall and Kenny was the Grand Marshall for this year. Performing at the event was our very own Kenny Jeremiah, founding member of the Soul Survivors.
“As great of an honor as it was last year to be named Grand Marshall and follow in the footsteps of past honorees like Sylvester Stallone and Burt Young,” says Pantano. “I’m just as excited to be on hand to welcome Kenny Gamble to this rare group of distinguished personalities. Kenny has meant so much to me and my career, and helping to shape my musical tastes in general. His musical genius has been integral in helping to power my radio show to No. 1 in the market, and his music has been a big part of my sound for four decades. It’s very special.”
Member Skip "Memory Lane" Clayton, host of Racing Wrap on WBCB Radio, has written a new book: "So You Think You're A Philadelphia Flyers Fan? Stars, Stats, Records, And Memories For True Diehards." This new book will be out this month and tests and expands your knowledge of the Flyers. The Flyers book comes out a year after Clayton'last book, "So You Think You're A Philadelphia Eagles Fan?"
Broadcast Pioneers member Blaise Howard
Broadcast Pioneers Annual Banquet
The Hilton City Avenue, Philadelphia
Friday evening, November 21, 2014
(Blaise was inducted into our Hall of Fame that evening)
He's back! Broadcast Pioneers member Blaise Howard has returned to More FM, WBEB. He's their new General Sales Manager at the station. For two decades, Blaise was Vice-President and General Manager of More FM.
Broadcast Pioneers member David Yadgaroff, Senior Vice-President and Marketing Director, Entercom Philadelphia, said:
“We are thrilled to bring Blaise back to WBEB as the station formally joins the Entercom family. For decades, Blaise led WBEB’s sales strategy and success. He’s the perfect candidate to lead the station’s multi-platform sales effort.”
Broadcast Pioneers member Blaise Howard was inducted into our Hall of Fame in 2014. Blaise said:
“I can’t wait to start this new chapter with Entercom, and be a part of the team led by Dave Scopinich and David Yadgaroff. I am excited to take a step forward with a company so positive about our industry, and so committed to the growth of Radio.”
Dave Scopinich is the Director of Sales. He oversees the overall advertising sales business for the six Entercom radio stations, Eagles and Phillies play by play, digital business and live events and experiences.
If you want to cover Central Pennsylvania, Seven Mountains Media's radio group is one of your first stops. They own 31 radio stations in the region. Well, the group's principal, Kristin Confer Cantrell has just appointed Broadcast Pioneers member Jim Loftus as their Chief Operating Officer. Jim will be based in State College.
"Lights for the Cure" is a join effort of CBS 3 and Susan G. Komen® Philadelphia. It's turning the skyline across the region pink for the 17th year in a row in recognition of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and as a reminder for women to schedule their annual mammogram.
Throughout the month of October, buildings and landmarks across the region from the Battleship New Jersey in Camden to the Bethlehem Steel Blast Furnaces in the Lehigh Valley will turn their exterior lighting pink to promote the cause. Since its launch in 2002, the "Lights for the Cure" campaign has utilized the airwaves of both CBS-owned stations in Philadelphia, CBS 3 and The CW Philly, to generate awareness.
“We’re so grateful that the community continues to back this campaign. It is a testament to how the region takes care of its own, displaying its support of the many families dealing with this disease with such a grand gesture,” says Brien Kennedy, President and General Manager of CBS 3 and The CW Philly. “From the Race for the Cure on Mother’s Day to Lights for the Cure in October, the stations have been dedicated to the fight against breast cancer for almost three decades.
(Left to right) Broadcast Pioneers member John Brown and his wife, Donna
in front of the Wall of Honor just before the presentation
Bensalem High School, Bensalem, PA
Saturday, September 29, 2018
Member John Brown, the Dean of Philadelphia traffic reporters, received the Distinguished Alumni Award from Bensalem High School this past Saturday. It is awarded to those graduates who have distinguished themselves by their achievement in their careers. John told us: I "enjoyed my High School Years. Bensalem provided me with the tools to continue learning at a higher level."
In 1971, John attended Bucks County Community College as a journalism major. While at BCCC, he worked at WBUX-AM, doing mid-days as a DJ. He has also worked as a DJ at WBCB-AM, WTEL-AM and WIOQ-FM.
Brown started reporting on traffic in Philadelphia in 1979, eventually becoming program director and then VP of operations for the reporting service, working for a time in Chicago and then back in Philadelphia. Adding to his extensive resume, Brown graduated from Mississippi State University’s broadcast meteorology program in 2001.
In 1981, 25-year-old Sam Katz moved to New York City to work in the promotion department of the number one radio station in the country. After four years at three major stations, her dream was to become a disc jockey. Member Sam Katz's book about her experiences with sexual harassment and emotional abuse is off the presses. It’s a massive, 12” x 12”, 480-page, hardcover coffee table book. "Ask Me How This Happens: a script, a scrapbook, a memoir" by Sam Katz designed by Christina Eliopoulos, Sam Katz, & Ken Barrows. Only 150 copies have been printed, and each will be inscribed and hand numbered. Price is $300 each. Contact info for Sam is available in our membership directory.
For three years, Anthony Gargano has hosted the morning gig on WPEN-FM, the Fanatic (97.5). Well, now he goes to middays with Jason Myrtetus. Marc Farzetta, a co-host/producer at WIP for 13 years, moves into the treasured morning drive slot of 6 to 10 am. Joining him will be William "Tra" Thomas. This all takes effect this coming Friday.
Check out Broadcast Pioneers member John Primerano performing a harvest of great songs. There's also a segment celebrating Italian-American Heritage Month. The date is Sunday, October 14th for a 5 pm dinner with the show to follow. It all takes place at the Tiffany Diner Restaurant in their Banquet Room, 9010 Roosevelt Blvd., in Philly. Tickets are $35. Call 215-677-1843.
NBC10 Philadelphia and Telemundo62 announced that Lucy Bustamante has joined the news team as a morning anchor and reporter. She joins Broadcast Pioneers member Tracy Davidson and Vai Sikahema on the anchor desk weekday mornings on NBC10 News and provide daily reports on Noticiero Telemundo62 from 6 to 7 am. Fluent in Spanish, Lucy is the daughter of Cuban refugees who migrated to the U.S. in 1969. Born and raised in New Orleans, Lucy’s bilingual reporting and anchoring skills will be utilized on both NBC10 and Telemundo62.
Today's News Becomes Tomorrow's History!
(This is what our Digital Archival Project, DAP, is all about!)
The Cambria Athletic Club was located on the corner of Somerset Street and Kensington Avenue in Kensington (Philadelphia) It operated for a half century until 1963. This advertisement was, of course, for a live broadcast. Channel 12, then a commercial TV station, owned by the same people who owned WIBG, had no video tape machines at that time. Boxing on television at this time was very popular. The Gillette Cavalcade of Sports was a smash on NBC for Friday evenings. The program was also carried live on WATV (Newark, NJ, serving NYC). Harron which owned the station also tried their best to syndicate it to a few regional stations in Pennsylvania. The series of telecasts started in March of 1956.
Broadcast Pioneers Board Member Emeritus Dick Kearney, 93, passed away peacefully at his home yesterday morning at 1 pm. He was surrounded by his family.
He attended LaSalle College High School until he was lured away with a full football scholarship to Brown Prep. Dick joined the Navy after high school and was a sonarman in World War II, serving on a destroyer escort in the Pacific theater. After the war, he took his Navy electronic experience and his GI Bill and earned an electronics technician degree from Temple University. At this time he also served as First Sergeant, Headquarters Battery, 166th Field Artillery, Pennsylvania National Guard.
Dick came to WCAU TV in 1950 just two years after Philadelphia’s third television station went on the air. Living with his new wife Angie in Philadelphia’s West Oak Lane, he commuted to WCAU’s studios at 1622 Chestnut Street. Two years later in 1952, WCAU moved to Bala Cynwyd occupying a new state-of-the-art television center. The station claims that it is the first building in America constructed specifically for broadcasting. Dick was involved in that move and was part of the original crew operating the modern equipment.
To be closer to the new studios, Dick moved his family, now with two sons, to Havertown in 1954. His new home was seven miles from the WCAU studios, a distance Dick knows well because in the days of live television Dick walked to work when it was impossible to drive during many of the large snowstorms of the early ‘60s.
In the early days of the Bala Cynwyd studios, Dick was in the original crew of “Action in the Afternoon” a live show starring Jack Valentine that was broadcast on the back lot of the new studio. It was live on the CBS television network. The set was somewhat secluded because back then the area around the complex was wooded, but the occasional overhead aircraft could be heard. Also telecast from the back lot was the morning farm show with Bill Bennett. Dick’s sons, now numbering 3, would wake up early in the morning to hear the banter and see the antics of Bill Bennett and his technical crew.
In his 40 years at WCAU-TV, Dick Kearney was an integral part of much of the television history made there, from the Facenda newscasts to Ed McMahon’s Home Highlights Show, and the children's shows, such as Gene Crane, Gene London, and Pixanne.
Three years ago, in 2015, Dick Kearney was honored by becoming a Board Member Emeritus of our organization. Previously, he had served for a decade and a half on our Board of Directors. On Friday evening, November 20, 2015, Dick Kearney was inducted into our Hall of Fame.
Broadcast Pioneers member Dave Stanley started out at member Mel Gollub's station, WIFI. Then he moved into country radio and finally into television, anchoring news at KYW-TV, Channel 3, here in Philadelphia. Today, Dave is retired and living in North Carolina. We asked Dave to do some writing for our newsletter. He agreed and it's presented in three parts. The first installment was last month, the second one this month and the final episode in November. Dave tells us about his friend, Bob Backman:
Broadcast Pioneers member Bob Backman’s big break came in the early 70’s as one of the “good guys” on country music station, WRCP. Located in what looked like a row house at 2043 Locust Street in downtown Philadelphia (aka the Rittenhouse Ranch), it was owned by the Rust Craft Greeting Card Company.
The call letters originally described as meaning “Rust Craft Philadelphia” came to be known as “Real Country Power.” And broadcasting with 50,000 watts powerful, indeed, it was. A big city sound with some very talented personalities and Bob Backman was right up there with the best of them.
However, for Temple grad/Broadcast Pioneers member, Bob Backman, (aka) The Real Bob Steele, country music and its many fans were, well, a learning process.
Member Bob Backman (The Real Bob Steele)
during his WRCP Days
(when he used to do some singing)
“I’ll never forget when I first came to WRCP and they brought me out on stage at one of those big shows and I raised my hat to wave at the audience, my long hair came out and fell down all over my face. All of a sudden there was the sound of nothing. Dead silence from 10, 000 country fans.”
Despite the hair, Bob Backman built a sizable audience and a solid name for himself; A name that would change yet again, from The Real Bob Steele to Cool Bobby B, when he switched from country to Doo Wop.
But before he could be the “Cool” Bobby B, he had some personal challenges he had to overcome. “Being naturally quiet and shy, I had to force myself to be outgoing. Especially in sales and management, but I'm glad I did.”
After a few stops along the way, Bob Backman now finds himself much in demand. From behind a desk as a business owner and manager, to behind a microphone as a radio personality (both Internet and syndicated), to on-stage as a MC, not to mention his civic duties, Bob's schedule is somewhat mind-boggling.
Members Gene Arnold & Bob Backman
Broadcast Pioneers Rock & Roll Luncheon
Bala Golf Club, Philadelphia
Wednesday, March 18, 2015
(Photo donated by Broadcast Pioneers Board Member Bob Kravitz)
(FOOTNOTE: Both Bob and Gene will be inducted into our Hall of Fame next month)
Though to ask him, it’s all rather routine with days beginning at 6AM and going into the evening hours, six and sometimes seven days a week. Here’s just a partial list. He’s president of, WRDE-TV, NBC COAST TV, which is the NBC affiliate in Rehoboth Beach, DE (the Salisbury, MD market). He’s Host/Producer for the DooWop Stop, a 3-hour radio show on SiriusXM (and syndicated across the country), He hosts oldie concerts. Bob is the Fund Raising Chairman for the Lewes DE Senior Activity Center and when time permits, he’s involved with the Rotary Club.
So much going on, so many accomplishments, you have to wonder if there is anything Bob Backman would have done differently. Says Bob, “Nothing. It has been a long crazy trip, full of surprises.”
Ditto that for Mike Bove, another successful former broadcaster and very proud member of Broadcast Pioneers who also sits on its Board of Directors and he can sing up a storm. Mike is our subject for next month.
Next month, Dave concludes with his memories about Mike Bove, who has served on our Board of Directors for the last three and a half years. You may also remember Mike as an original member of "The Tridels." Their records were played on WIBG back in the sixties.
The Beginning of WMMR
By Member Allan Hotlen
Broadcast Pioneers member Allan Hotlen, a Philly native, marched out of Temple University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Communications clutched in his hot little hand more than 50 years ago.
In between, that hand would put songs to paper recorded by show biz giants like Englebert Humperdinck, Al Martino, Wayne Newton and the Four Aces. Allan also had a hand in writing and producing hundreds of jingles for radio stations around the country.
His radio business journey began with his first job as an on-air personality at WMID in Atlantic City. It was onward and upward with on-air jobs at WBCB, Levittown-Fairless Hills, WRCV AM (before it went all news as KYW), music director at WIP (BS - before sports), then PD at WIP (1967 to 1969) and General Manager at WPEN from 1969 to 1970.
Then it was up the New Jersey Turnpike for a three-year stint as operations manager at WHN, New York. Back in Philly in 1973 as director of News and Programming at WCAU-AM.
After a while, the West Coast beckoned and across the country he flew to management jobs at KNBR and KYW and KSFO in San Francisco. Allan capped a life long rise in broadcasting as Vice President of Bonneville stations in San Francisco. Allan now lives in Florida.
Allan wrote for us his memories of the very beginning of WMMR Radio. It was originally WIP-FM and simulcast whatever what on WIP (AM). The FCC prevented FM radio stations from simulcasting their sister AM stations at the beginning of 1967. For awhile, most stations just ran some kind of automated programming but eventually, they realized that there might actually be a profit in running separate and interesting programming on the FM band. WIP-FM was one of this city's first FM outlets broadcasting as early as 1942 as W49PH. Their 1941construction permit was for W47PH but the call letters were changed when the government reallocated the FM dial (the first of two times). They became WIP-FM in 1943. The, they became WMMR during 1966 and started the progressive rock format two years later. With that history out of the way, we asked Allan Hotlen to pick up the story. He wrote for us:
Members John DeBella and T. Morgan
in the WMGK Radio Studios, Bala Cynwyd
Summer of 2017
(John DeBella was inducted into our Hall of Fame in 2014)
(T. Morgan was inducted into our Hall of Fame in 2017)
(Photo taken by Broadcast Pioneers Board of Director Member Michael Muderick)
Metromedia decided (dictated? I don’t remember) that its FM stations should play what was then called “underground" music. The call letters WMMR (We're MetroMedia Radio) might've been chosen by corporate.
Dick Carr was VP/GM. He asked me to handle the transition. I knew very little about this “new” music, but it was impossible to ignore its growing power and influence. Two blocks of Sansom Street (19th to 21st?) had become the “headquarters” of the burgeoning counterculture. Head shops, clothing (“Hippie wear”), record shops, etc.
And even though that little enclave was only a couple of blocks from our studios and my nearby apartment on Rittenhouse Square, it was not a place I could identify with, except socially and politically. I wasn’t into the cultural aspects of all that. (I understood the lifestyle really well, although, as i noted above, I didn’t live it.) So I listened to lots of albums and immersed myself in that “underground" music as much as I could while still programming WIP.
Members Judy and Ed Sciaky
(Ed spent 4 decades in Philadelphia radio including time at WMMR)
at Tulum Historical Site, near Cancun, Mexico
(Ed Sciaky was inducted into our Hall of Fame in 2005)
We wanted to begin with one show, a nighttime show. I think the original hours were 8 pm to Midnight. Not sure. I tried to find someone to host the show. Not real easy back then. There was one guy whose tape sounded perfect . He had a “mellow” (the word wasn’t yet overused) voice. A terrific voice, really. And he’d enclosed a photo (yes, it was an 8 x 10” glossy) showing that he had “the” look." Long hair, walrus mustache, shirt that looked more like a blouse. He was working at a station in Asbury Park. I asked him to come in for an interview. He did. I hired him right away. Dave Herman. Obviously, the hiring of Dave Herman DID work out for us.
I remember listening to Dave's first night on “The Marconi Experiment.” Early in the first hour, Dave said something like, “before that, Linda Rosenstadt and The Stone Poneys.” I thought to myself, “Uh-Oh. What have you done?” But that was the last time I had to call Dave while he was on the air and the last thing I remember Dave getting wrong.
So many of the early “underground” bands had what were then unusual names: Fairport Convention, Big Brother & the Holding Company, Velvet Underground, Mothers Of Invention, etc. I thought it’d be wise to give Dave’s show a name (that didn’t tie us to him, if he turned out to be a mistake or if he left for a more lucrative job). Can’t explain how, but the name “The Marconi Experiment” came to me instantaneously. As I remember, Dick quickly agreed that it worked.
The second on-air person I hired was Pat McCall. Pat and I are still in touch., He lives on the west coast of Florida; makes a living as a free-lance announcer and as an actor. I don’t remember which time slot Pat filled.
Jack Rattigan, a great guy with whom I’d worked at WRC, was hired as the Sales Manager of ‘MMR. (I think that was his title. Not sure.)
I don’t remember much else about the beginning of WMMR. I left Metromedia soon after (a huge career mistake!) before the programming on WMMR was underground music around the clock. What a terrific job my successors did, especially, of course, the dedicated (‘MMR-only) programmers. I rightly take very little credit for the station’s success. But I’m still proud that I got the whole legend started and thanks to Dick Carr.
Our first president Stan Lee Broza, host of the famed "The Children's Hour" broadcast for 30 years, started in broadcasting on January 28, 1925. Broza recalled almost three-quarters of a century ago, that in the early days, all program originated from the very same studio. Remotes were fun too. Stan Lee was known for the story how he was the announcer on program after program. He would just about end the program (but not quite) at the studio, and then have the engineer continue the music for another 6 minutes before the next program started. Why? Because Broza, ran out of the door, boarded a passing trolley and rode to a remote location, jumped off the trolley and ran in the door at a local night club. From the remote location, he would say goodbye to the ending program, do the station break and start announcing the next program
