PBRTV - Pittsburgh Area Radio/TV Mailbag PBRTV - Pittsburgh Area Radio & TV

PBRTV Mailbag August 1-9, 2001

As I live and breath, Skinny Kenny is still around! He's the man who hired Brother Matt when he was still in high school. He's also the guy who hired me as a glorified board op in 1966 because I knew how to cue records. As Brother Love (along with Raymond the Condemned) he allowed this Freak to crack open the mic. Remember, we are the ones who first brought Pittsburgh In-a-Gadda-Da-Vida. Good to hear the rumors are true that Ken is alive and well and living in San Diego. Brother Love still cares. And the Freak is still in the biz. Frank the Freak (August 9, 2001)
Eric, I have enjoyed reading looking at your sit the past few years! I am from Johnstown, but I have lived in Pittsburgh and now I am out in York, PA. I have always been amazed at how far 95.5 WKYE's signal gets out. I frequently listen to WKYE during the mornings in York, PA. WPGC in Washington, DC usually overpowers WKYE out here in Central, PA, but in the right spots WKYE sounds as clear as a local station. WKYE also can be heard clearly as far west at the Pittsburgh International Airport, and all the way up in Elmira, PA! That covers about 75% of PA! Amazing for such a boring station. Channel 19 has always had a low-budget "community access" look. My father knew some people at the station and took me to the studios back in the early 80's. The studio was just a tiny little building hidden on a dirt road on top of cover hill in Johnstown. The TV and FM antenna shared the same tower until the mid 80's and was located just a few feet from the studio. This building is still the studio of WNTJ AM and WMTZ FM. Channel 19 always had bad picture quality and the sound was even worse. I don't remember too much about WJNL in the early 70's since I was just a baby. In the later 70's they had the usual independent format with kids shows in the morning (New Zoo Revue, Speed Racer....etc.), religious shows during the midday(Jim Baker) and older syndicated shows in the evening (Beverly Hillbillies, Green Acres...etc.) I also remember watching the SHA NA NA show at 6:00 pm every night. In the early 80's they attempted a 6:00 news program which only lasted a few weeks. I wish I could find tapes of WJNL's news at 6. It was so bad it was funny. I think they just used there DJ's from both radio stations (1490 AM & 96.5 FM). They also attempted to run the Jerry Lewis Telethon locally in Johnstown. The live, local telethon was hilarious! I can remember they ended with just a few thousand dollars for the entire telethon!!!! One nice thing they did back in the early to mid 80's was provide a simulcast of NBC programming when the local WJAC affiliate (WJAC-6) carried the Pirates TV Network. They also carried alternate NBC NFL Football games when WJAC was showing the Steelers game. Nothing like this would ever occur with today's strict network agreement! Not too much changed when 19 changed to WPTJ. I believe they still had kids shows on in the morning and religious shows in the afternoon. I can't remember any of the prime-time schedule. I think it was mostly bad B movies through a national feed? They also had Dr. Gene Scott on overnight. This guy would sit in a chair and mumble all night. One thing that always hurt Channel 19 when it was a Johnstown station was where the Johnstown Cable Company would locate the station on the cable lineup. Back when cable was just channels 2-13, Johnstown Cable would put Channel 19 on Cable Channel 6. This made channel 19 almost unwatchable because of interference from WJAC-6's over the air signal. Later Johnstown Cable moved Channel 19 to Cable Channel 19 which also was an interference filled spot on the Johnstown Cable System. So most people with cable in Johnstown never could watch Channel 19 unless they tried to receive the over-the-air signal. Hope this helps you!!! Keep up the good work on the site!! Joe Esposito (August 9, 2001)
Eric, Greetings from San Diego. I discovered your page while surfing the net. It was great reading about radio in the Burgh, especially the Memory Section, since I spent a dozen years of my radio career in Pittsburgh and qualify as a "vague memory" to some. I’d like to fill in some early blanks regarding the uniquely wacky history of WZUM. I am eminently qualified to do so, since I am the guy who signed WZUM on the air in the summer of 1962 and remained there for a year and a half, before joining Sir Walter, Bill Powell and Porky at WAMO, which was then in Homewood. In 1961, my partner, Eddie King and I were working at WDRC in Hartford, when a friend hired us to do mornings at WZUM, a new station he would be managing in Pittsburgh, one of the first integrated format radio stations in the country. Eddie and I were to be the white guys. WZUM was scheduled to commence broadcasting in March, 1962. The operating license was owned by Rollins Broadcasting, the company which was building the station. When Eddie and I left our Hartford job and arrived in Pittsburgh, we found the "WZUM Building" atop a steep ravine. It fronted Ewing Road, a narrow wooded back thoroughfare between Crafton and Carnegie. The "building" itself was nothing more than a shell and raw wood framework. No broadcast equipment. No offices. No control rooms. No interior wall. No paycheck. The completion of the building proved to be an extremely slow process. Since we were a former night club comedy team, Eddie and I contacted a few agents and hustled up gigs at the Twin Coaches and several other Pittsburgh area clubs, so we were able to wait it out. While we waited, Jimmy Psihoulis, who worked for a Top 40 station in Wheeling, acted. He was hired to spread the word and line up accounts in advance of the day we went on the air. Before long, the guy who hired us was fired and Psihoulis named, General Manager. Finally, in July, I signed WZUM on the air. Eddie King and I worked Morning Drive, Bill Hall, from Detroit, did mid-days and Buddy Lowe, came in from Texas to do PM Drive. Bob Curti, a Pittsburgher, also pulled an air shift, until he joined the Navy. We called the station, "The Big Zoom". Jimmy Psihoulis and Buddy Lowe had an instant, major personality conflict and Buddy returned to Texas. Big Bill Lee came from Chicago to replace him. In May of 63, Bill Lee and I rented the Syria Mosque and presented James Brown and the Famous Flames, plus Tammi Montgomery (before she became, Tammi Terrell). It marked the first Pittsburgh theater appearance for James and The Flames. During a fierce after-hours programming dispute with Psihoulis, my partner walked out. I stayed, with the understanding that I would do afternoon drive. Psihoulis and I shook hands to seal the deal. I called myself, "Skinny Kenny". Bill Hall was replaced by, Wild Bill Curtis, a terrific DJ, from Philly. "Three D" Lee Dorris, Al Gee, Tony Quinn, Andrea Griffin, Milt Nixon and Terry Lee all worked at WZUM, during the first two years. I was on the air at WZUM when President Kennedy was assassinated. Out of respect, all the Pittsburgh music stations dropped their formats and played classical music until after the funeral. Psihoulis handed me a Beethoven LP from our production library and told me to play it and read bulletins. Then he left. I sent everyone else home and stayed on the air with that damned LP for six hours. In retrospect, it was the worst day of my forty year radio career. I saved all the wire copy and it still gives me chills to read it. One day, Jimmy Psihoulis said he wanted me to return to the morning show. I reminded him of our handshake agreement promising, no morning show. He told me to take it or leave it. I left. By noon, thanks to a door-opening personal recommendation from Bill Roberts, at the time, a top Promotion Manager for several major labels, I was hired as Operations Director of Dynamic Broadcasting. I programmed the Dynamic stations in Boston, Buffalo and Miami, as well as "The Double WAMO". Later, we moved from Homewood, to new studios in the old MGM Building, on the Boulevard of the Allies and I was named, Vice-President of programming. The original WAMO (WHOD) studios became headquarters and studio for the new, Dynamic Cablevision. As BROTHER LOVE, on WAMO-FM, it became my pleasure to introduce Underground, Psychedelic and Album/Rock radio to Pittsburgh, but the 60’s are another story. Somewhere along the line, I heard that Jimmy Psihoulis came to own all, or part of WZUM. Word was, he was backed by, or in partnership with the owners of National Record Mart. Fact is, work on WZUM was well under way, when Psihoulis arrived on the scene from Wheeling and was hired as a salesman. I have the first WZUM newspaper ad and some other memory stuff, which I shall forward to you in the near future. In any event, it’s comforting to know that WZUM remains on the air. Over the years, nice people have worked hard and good music has originated there. I salute those who currently supply the spark of life and wish them well. Ken Reeth (August 9, 2001)

Eric's Response: WZUM's old location remains there, however it was last used under the WPLW religious moniker. (If anyone would like a tour, I'll be happy to conduct them.) WZUM is broadcasting out of the White Oak neighborhood nowadays and is owned by Michael Horvath. The only name I remotely recognize out of the list mentioned is Bob Curti. Bob is the weekend morning host on WSHH these days and has had past stints in town including the original WPNT and maybe even WJOI.
Dear Eric: Regarding the 7/13 post that said that the FCC is worthless for anything but fines for Stern and EAS, I'd like to add that they're also good for busting "pirates" which in these days of corporate radio represent about the only "fun" radio left on the air, and the only radio that often really IS in the "public interest, convenience, and necessity," that is, until they are caught. It's a crying shame that the FCC couldn't see through Keymarket's smokescreen about providing new radio service to Burgettstown and Duquesne and allowing them to move the only commercial FM services from Steubenville and Charleroi, thus depriving the latter of local radio service (the fact that AM stations remain in those locales is irrelevant with nearly 80% of the audience being on FM. Keymarket isn't going to serve these new markets any more than they've served the old - they're going after Pittsburgh, and the FCC has to be out of touch with reality if it believes otherwise. It's also a shame that the FCC let Keymarket buy WPQR (which has been testing the last month or so and now is running a test program identifying as WPKL) when the owners of WMBS also were interested, but this is in keeping with what your writer said about the FCC coddling accountants. As for format, on the morning of July 16, they were simulcasting WOXX from the Meadville area, but later that day, they went back to the test announcements and instrumental music. From a Jason Togyer Trib column about WMBS from a while back, it seems like they would have programmed it locally as the article made WMBS appear to be a well run LOCAL operation. I can't say - the station is stuck with antiquated technology (AM) while I've long ago switched to the (potentially) high fidelity of FM for all of my radio listening. I say "potentially" because most FM stations are making a mockery of the capabilities of this transmission system, intentionally putting out far poorer quality audio that what it can deliver. Believe it or not, there's an FCC rule stating that "precaution must be taken so as not to substantially alter the dynamic characteristics of programs" but, well, see the comments about the FCC above. (August 9, 2001)

Eric's Response: Another thing we could say is that there is no enforcement of the fact that a radio station's main duty is to inform the public! Sure they are all required to have the EAS, but you could be killed by a tornado before someone comes on the air and tells you about it. It COULD be due to automation or it could be due to the fact that it can be considered a "tune-out" factor. BULL! Tell me about the storm before it gets here! Sure, TV stations will show you a map with the "absolute path" of the storm, but some of us don't have a TV everywhere we are. Oh brother....
Eric, I don't have any specific information on WPTJ's schedule, but your reader may be interested to know that Channel 19 has one of the most convoluted histories of any UHF station. Originally Johnstown's ABC and CBS affiliate, and on Channel 56, WARD-TV (then co-owned with WARD-AM-FM in Johnstown) moved to Channel 19 in 1970, where it was WJNL-TV for more than a decade. WJNL-TV later changed to independent WFAT, then WPTJ, then (after being dark for several years) returned as WTWB with the WB Network (simulcasting low-power WBPA in Pittsburgh), then changed calls to WNPA and successfully petitioned the FCC for a change in city of license to Jeannette PA, which made it a "must-carry" station on Pittsburgh's cable systems. (The FCC database indicates that WJNL-TV changed to WFAT on 3/1/83, WPTJ on 8/6/88, WTWB on 1/1/95, and WNPA on 9/2/97.) Channel 19 was later acquired by Paramount, creating an incredible profit for owner Venture Technologies Inc, which bought the dark TV station for a five-figure fee and sold it for $38 million! Today, owned by Viacom and sister to KDKA-TV, WNPA acts as Pittsburgh's UPN affiliate, even though its over-the-air signal is practically unwatchable in the city (they might have been better off buying Channel 8 instead). Regards, Clarke Ingram. (August 9, 2001)
(Regarding Eric's musings): Most people (like me) hate pledge break time on WQED and other PBS stations. The only saving grace is that they put on good programming (like the doo wop specials) that make it somewhat bearable. The problem is that the ONLY time they put on these specials is during pledge break weeks. Talk about misleading! WQED isn't the only one that does this, as PBS has specials made up just for beg-a-thon time. So why should I (or anyone else) give money to local PBS stations when they don't have the programming I want until they beg for money again in a few months? (August 8, 2001)

Eric's Response: Well then they wouldn't be public stations with quality programming!
I was using the "seek" button on my car radio to re-set all my buttons when it stopped at 99.3. They were playing classical music a la WQED-FM, which is unusual for any station higher than 91 on the dial so I listened for a moment. After the selection, a voice said "Testing", some mumbled call letters I couldn't make out, and "Uniontown". The signal came through clear and strong in Washington, PA. It appears Uniontown is getting a new FM station. Any advance word on format? (August 8, 2001)

Eric's Response: Hang on. It's not a "new" FM station per se. It's a station that's been through a very big "custody debate" over the last several years. 99.3 has been known as WPQR Connelsville/Uniontown. WPQR and its AM sister WCVI have been a part of an ownership debate (as well as several FCC violations) which caused the commission to cancel the licenses for the stations, thus they have been off the air. The stations were "auctioned" off and they've been bought up by "the Froggy people" Keymarket (either them or Forever Broadcasting...I always get them confused!) The violations are being cleaned up and who knows what the new formats will be, but we'll soon find out I suppose.
Eric, I have a question about WPTJ-TV(Channel 19, back in the late '80's)? What kind of programs were aired on WPTJ, and when did that station go off the air? (It returned in early 1996 as WTWB, a WB affiliate, then moved from Johnstown to Pittsburgh to become UPN affil WNPA). (August 7, 2001)
For those of us who may be interested, it appears that WZUM has gone "back to the Oldies", since they have been playing Oldies every time I've tuned them in over the past week or so, with the exception of weekend ethnic/gospel shows. Some of this is obvously replays of previously aired Oldies programs, but it still beats that six-hour "Smooth Jazz" loop I heard about a thousand times. Check it out - they're certainly playing a very eclectic collection of "Pittsburgh Oldies." Enjoy! Clarke (August 7, 2001)
Hi Paul...yes I remember you well and would love to know what you're up to...also the great WEEP/WDSY marketing team that included Paul Kress, Mike Civiletti, TJ Feola, Greg Perich and others. Oh, to go back in time for just one more broadcast from the 3 Rivers Regatta! Or to make the long trip down 51 to the State Music Theatre in Uniontown for an Oak Ridge Boys or Ronnie Milsap concert...(We used to record the country shows long before it became fashionable to do so)....or to watch Art Pallin broadcast from the KDKA Rainbow Machine! Bill White is now PD at WBT/Charlotte...Keith Abrams, last I heard was PD at an oldies station in Salt Lake City...and I'm sorry to say that we all lost a dear friend when Sharon Lee passed away in 1997. She had been at several Tampa stations before coming to Detroit in the mid 80's...where she enjoyed success at WWWW, WKQI WLTI & WDRQ. I'd look forward to an email...Mardit5@aol.com...if you like! (August 7, 2001)
Re: WEEP mailbag posting. Bill White now PD at WBT-AM, Charlotte. -- Michael Kunkle (August 7, 2001)
Newsblues tip........"Is KDKA-TV giving its successful "Hometown Advantage" campaign the boot, and re-imaging itself a la other CBS O&O news operations??? A demo I got in the mail from voice artist Mitch Phillips, dated fall 2001, contains the following sample........ "In Pittsburgh, something important will happen today....when you need to find out the facts...to find out who has the answers...it's all here on CBS 2 NEWS...seven days a week." This would mark a major change for Pittsburgh's Channel 2, which has touted its "Hometown Advantage" slogan since the mid-90's, and has always used its heritage call letters in promotions. The station is also in the midst of unveiling a new 10 p.m. newscast on sister UPN 19. This would be Pittsburgh's third newscast at 10. The others are on WPGH-TV (Fox) and PCNC, the Pittsburgh Cable News Channel which is run by WPXI-TV (NBC)." I'm a former Pittsburgher, and would be very interested to see if KDKA would comment on this........(August 7, 2001)

Eric's Response: It was apparent to me last night when I caught a portion of KDKA News that the graphics and music were different. I honestly didn't notice that they called it "CBS 2 NEWS". I also took a peek at the news on WNPA last night. It had a very nice set and naturally it looked like KDKA News...in fact it was even announced, "Live from the KDKA Studios in Gateway Center..."
First off, this is a great site. It is nice to see a site dedicated to the TV industry in Pittsburgh. I have two entries for your "Where are they now?" page: Mike Stone - former weatherman at WTAE-4 is now at WKYC-3 Cleveland doing weather for the weekday morning and noon newscasts. Jacque Smith - former weekend anchor and reporter at KDKA-2 is now at WJW-8 Cleveland where she performs the same duties. Jeff Kitsko (August 7, 2001)
Greetings, Barry! (Ref: Barry Mardit formerly of WEEP/WDSY) Long time, no speak! This is Paul Beran. (Remember me??) Here's what I know: Not too long after you left, Jonathon and Terri broke up. Terri, at last report, is still on the air on San Francisco's only Country station. Jon, however, a/k/a Jim Berrila, owns and operates a Cleveland hobby shop specializing in model railroads. I recently visited him -- he looks good! Keith James is in the ad agency biz here in Pgh, and seemingly doing well! I'd like to know how Keith Abrams, Bill White, and Sharon Lee are. Can you update? (August 6, 2001)
Jason (Togyer), I'm a longtime lurker on PBRTV. There's been more than one thread of conversation I've been tempted to comment on. The time has come. So I read your column shortly after 9am Saturday and... damn... you have your very own not-ready-for-fall-semester show early Saturday. It pays to check PBRTV on a regular basis. I'll set the alarm next week. Although I missed your show I did make it to the Regatta. That's a yearly show they say ya gotta go and see. Point Park was a sea of food booths offering $2 bottles of 99-cent water. Interspersed in the dual line of food booths were "no obligation" offers for a "free gift" just for trying a low-interest credit card. And everywhere were people wearing "Froggy" stickers. Why were there so many Froggy fans wandering Point State Park? I found out when I passed their booth. Yellow police tape blocked off a portion of the grass where the Air Force skydivers had just landed. That meant a squeeze past the Froggy booth, where an overeager intern attempted to place a sticker on my shirt (to win prizes in the park, I was told). I respectfully declined. Frank the Freak (my non de plum for this list, and onetime radio name) (August 6, 2001)

Eric's Response: Oh those overeager interns...I was always the calm one!
Greetings from Michigan! My name is Barry Mardit...AKA Glen Barrie Midday Air Personality/Program Director of 1080 WEEP. (1978-1981). I Have been in Metro Detroit since leaving WEEP (January 1982)... Longtime Program Director at W4 COUNTRY ...WWWW (106.7) Detroit...1982-1994 I have programmed WODJ (107.3) Grand Rapids (Oldies) Now reunited with WWWW (102.9) Ann Arbor/Detroit (also W4 Country) Glad to have found your Website... You should know that former WEEP/WDSY News Director/Anchor Jeff Gilbert (from that era)...is a popular news reporter for Infinity's 950am WWJ/Detroit...often heard on CBS Radio Network news reports...He is also host of the "Car Chronicles" feature heard on that station and other CBS affiliates. I know the whereabouts of many other former Pittsburgh broadcasters as well! Not sure if they are "hiding" for some reason! Remember the following?--
Jon & Terry Rhodes (husband & wife morning team)
Jay Stevens (Middays)
Glen Barrie (Middays)
Keith James (PM Drive)
Sharon (Lee) Foster (PM Drive)...she was also on WDSY ("Daisy")
Bill White (Weekends)
keith Abrams (Weekends)
Jeff Gilbert ( News)
Dave Berner (News)
Regards, Barry Mardit (August 4, 2001)
When I said that Channel 4's color lacked depth, I meant to say that the color looks faded. My interests lie in radio, not television, so I apologize for my ignorance. --Steve (August 3, 2001)
Dear Eric: As an interested observer, I'd hope that your Mailbag correspondent who complained of Channel 4 having a lack of "depth" of color would give a more "in depth" explanation as to what he means. Thanks. (August 2, 2001)
RELAX.............FROGGY IS A MEDIA SPONSOR FOR THE THREE RIVERS REGATTA!(August 1, 2001)

Eric's Repsonse: Well of course! That would explain why it was at Broadcast Plaza...that's also the home of U.S. Events and Marketing...the operating body behind the Regatta!
Looks as if Clear Channels new FM in Northeast Ohio is about to sign on anyday now at 107.5. According to Clear Channels website, the calls will be WFXJ, and according to the FCC's website, they just filed for those calls on 7/30. (The frequency is currently assigned the calls WCUZ.) They already have the FXJ calls on an AM in Florida. It will be called WFXJ-The Fox 107.5......Bob and Tom in the Morning....Great Classic Rock All Day. How do I know that?? The station, which isn't even on the air yet, is sponsoring x number of days during the beginning of August at the Great Lakes Medieval Fare south of Ashtabula, OH. The station will penetrate a nice chunk of Erie and Crawford counties. So, a new classic rock station, with Bob and Tom in the morning and the soon to sign on Planet @ 93.9 with new rock and who knows what morning show. There will certainly be more choices than ever in this area for new and classic rock lovers. (August 1, 2001)





































Hello, I'm the person who has put together the transmitter map for Eric. Here's the scoop on 92.1 - it's licensed to Washington and Jefferson College and broadcasts 13 watts from an antenna that's 56 feet above ground level. Attached is a plot of a closer-in view of where the tower should be. Since this is likely a station run by students, its schedule may not be 24/7. The license was renewed in 1999, so I don't think W&J has shut it down. Hope this helps! Dave Loudin (August 1, 2001)
ERIC, I WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR HELP. I AM TRYING TO GET ENOUGH ITEMS SUCH AS AIRCHECKS, MUSIC SURVEYS, ETC. TO START A WZUM TRIBUTE WEBSITE, SOMETHING SIMILAR TO JEFF ROTEMAN'S KQV WEBPAGE. WHILE OBVIOUSLY THIS STATION WAS NOWHERE NEAR AS BIG AS KQV OR WIXZ, IT DEFINITELY HAD A CULT FOLLOWING AND I THINK SOME PEOPLE WOULD ENJOY RELIVING SOME MEMORIES OF "SWEET 16" IN THE LATE 60'S. IT ANYBODY HAS ANYTHING TO OFFER THEY CAN EMAIL ME AT djmike123@hotmail.com ANY HELP IS APPRECIATED. (August 1, 2001)
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