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

PBRTV Mailbag December 1-12, 2000

I am trying to find the internet site for WBBG 970 AM. Do you know if they have a streaming site and if so where can I find it. Thanks John G (December 12, 2000)

Eric's Response: Well in case you've been looking under the wrong callsign it's WBGG. However, I do not think they have a website as of yet. You might want to call Fox Sports or Clear Channel's local offices in Greentree for more information.
ERIC, I WORKED AT WYEP IN THE MID TO LATE 70'S PRESENTING UNDER THE NAME JOHN HUNTLEY-MARSHALL AND LATER MY REAL NAME MAL REDING. I PRESENTED TWO SHOWS, OVER THE BLUE HORIZON AND LE CLAIRE LUMIERE. THEY WERE HAPPY DAYS. THE STEELERS WON THE SUPERBOWL THREE TIMES AND JIMMY ROACH WAS PROGRAMME DIRECTOR AND MORNING SHOW HOST AT DVE BEFORE BEING MUSCLED OUT DURING A STRIKE. IN FACT HE TRIED TO HIRE ME AT THE TIME BUT THINGS DIDN'T WORK OUT AND A WORK PERMIT WAS NEVER GRANTED. I ENDED UP PRODUCING AND PRESENTING A SYNDICATED RADIO SHOW, OVER THE BLUE HORIZON AT DVE AND WSHH BEFORE MOVING TO PHILLY, (WIOQ, WYSP AND WMMR). IN 1979 I RETURNED TO THE UK WHERE I BECAME A PRESENTER ON LBC (LONDON BROADCASTING) AND IN 1985 A CORRESPONDENT FOR THE NBC-THE SOURCE YOUNG ADULT RADIO NETWORK WHERE I REMAINED UNTIL 1997. SO THERE'S A POTTED HISTORY OF MY TIME IN PITTSBURGH AND U.S RADIO. REGARDS, Mal Reding (December 12, 2000)

P.S. IF YOU HAVE CONTACT NUMBERS FOR ANY OF THE FOLLOWING I'D BE GRATEFUL: JIMMY ROACH, TERRY CAYWOOD, PAT MALLOY, MARCY POZNER TREVOR (TERRY) LAY

Eric's Response: I have already told Mal where Jimmy Roach is, but if you can help out with any others, please send me an email and I will pass them along to him.
Since we're on a roll with AM chat . . . 1320 WJAS is playing a good deal of Christmas music - and a lot of it is music you won't here on a lot of other "standard" radio stations. Nice to hear. RT (December 11, 2000)
Eric, I'm 90 percent certain that David Newell (Mr. McFeeley) has held a non-performing behind-the-scenes job at WQED throughout his run as a character on Mr. Rogers. Also, I think it may be a stretch to say that Michael Keaton was a producer on the show. As I recall, he worked at WQED as a college student and may have been more like a production assistant who ran errands rather than someone who actually helped determine the course of the shows. VS (December 11, 2000)

Eric's Response: Actually David Newell has worked for Family Communications. The jury is still out as to what Michael Keaton did. I know he did do some start up work there, but what it was exactly, I'm not sure. I am sure it wasn't producer though...I THINK that was held by Paul Lally.
Eric, We all know that Mr. Rogers has retired from his long-running PBS kids show a few weeks ago. Will his show continue to air in reruns, or will PBS get rid of it completely? Also, in its early days, the show went by the weird title "Misterogers"(That was his name in the form of a compound word). Why was that? Also, they used the WQED facilities for the set of his living room. Also, I want to know about the future of Fred Rogers, and of the shows distributor, Family Communications, which is based in your home town of Pittsburgh. I also understand that one of the producers of the show, Michael Douglas, went on to a TV and film career as Michael Keaton. When exactly was Keaton producing "Mister Rogers," and when and how did he actually become Michael Keaton? Also, what will happen to Mr. McFeeley, the postman, and the castle puppets(e.g. King Friday the 13th)? Martin (Watched Mr. Rogers as a kid.) (December 9, 2000)

Eric's Response: Mister Rogers' Neighborhood will long be a part of PBS for now as I understand it. They figure he's a "timeless" figure to most children...and most children won't get to see every episode he's taped. The show went as "Misterogers" years ago. However, that wasn't when it was produced at Channel 13. My mind wants to say that was when he did it in Canada or even NBC...fuzzy memory on that one. Family Communications will continue to prosper. According to the Post Gazette, Mr. Rogers has a couple of years of engagements to keep among other things. Plus they market MRN memorabilia too. I'm sure the characters won't disappear totally. David Newell (Mr. McFeely) makes many appearances as well...so I doubt that anything more than the taping will disappear!
Eric, An engineer once told me that AM stereo can reduce a station's reach, which is why so many stations abandoned it rather quickly. That, coupled with the fact that most people don't have AM stereo receiving equipment and don't really care about it, could be a reason why WWCS would let it go. One other factor: if they're playing big bands/standards, a lot of that stuff comes from mono source material. VS (December 9, 2000)

Eric's Response: Good point! When was the last time KDKA was in Stereo?! Loooooooooooooong time back!
I've noticed that WWCS has also turned off it AM stereo... at least temporarily. I tuned to 540 the other day, while sitting in the Beaver Valley Mall parking lot, and the signal was very strong and clear, but in mono. I know my car radio isn't at fault because the stereo kicked on when I tuned to a rather faint WJR from Detroit. I hope they turn it back on! Cheers, Steve (Decenber 7, 2000)
Whats going on at 540 am? Are they trying to put a legitimate format on the air ? Music is unique...needs better air talent that can relate to the oldies! (December 6, 2000)

Eric's Response: There was something in the P-G at one point...and I don't think I highlighted it on the Hotline...that said the WWCS format was going to go mostly oldies. I know the station has had a change or two in management. Most of the daytime format matches Jack Wheeler's big band style with sports in the afternoon and oldies in the evening. The ethnic programming will run on the weekends. I guess the world broadcasting has gone the way of the DeSoto as well....
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