UPDATE:
July 21, 2008
By
now, most of you should have heard about the plan
to commemorate the presumed 50th anniversary of
full-time rock 'n roll on WPOP in Hartford with
a reunion to be held on Saturday, August 16, 2008
at a location and starting time still to be determined.
There
currently is no agenda, no special program, no audio-visual
presentation planned for this get-together and it
is not limited to people who worked at WPOP in the
music days or any other time. Anyone who ever worked
at WPOP or any of its sister stations -- WIOF, WYSR,
WMRQ, WHCN, WKSS, WWYZ, WPHH, WURH -- is encouraged
to attend, as is anyone who worked in radio or TV
in Connecticut or Western Massachusetts, or is pals
with someone who did.
So
by now you're probably asking yourself, "Who's gonna
be there?" Well, based upon responses that have
come to me or to Ed so far, here's the rundown:
Planning/Hoping
to Attend:
Jay Allen, Pat Atkinson, Pat Aureli, Paul Bailey,
Susan Bailey, Barry and Claudia (Feeney) Bernstein,
Jim Bleikamp, Eric Blinderman, Randy Brock, Jack
(Jack Brooks) Broitman, Ed Brouder, Bill Buller,
Brian Caldwell, Tracy Carman, Stew Crossen, Jeff
Curtis, Joe D'Ambrosio, Chuck Dube, Matt Fleury&
Irene O'Connor, Greg Gilmartin, Gary Girard, Lee
Gordon, Bill Hennessey, Jeff Hugabone, Nancy Keyes
Ingram, Irene (Shub) Lefland, Beth Lockwood, Tom
McCormack, Dick McDonough, Jay McSorley, Jean Napper,
Country Paul Payton, Ron Pell, Brett Provo, Tammy
Rabbett, John Ramsey, Jay & Anita (Brown) Schultz,
Jim Shannon, Dave Shovlin, Rick Sullivan, Delcie
Mullin Thibault, Hal (Judge Harrigan) Whitney
Would
Like to Be There But Not Sure Yet:
Ann (Zdebski) & Leo Barrieau, Rochelle Berliner,
Gene Evans, Bob (Bob Scott) Goldberg, Dave Nagel,
Phyllis Parizek, Steve Parker, Jackie Quinn, Norm
Thibeault, Andy Zeldin
Probably
Can't Make It:
Sue Ahearn, Tom Allen, AJ Austin, Don Blair, Ann
Block, Joel Cash, Bob Cohen, Bob Craig, Bill Davies,
Mark Driscoll, Scott Gray, Ken Margolfo, Andrea
Pasquale, Bill Pearse, Jim Scott, Kim Sprague, Charley
Steiner, Bruce Stevens, Bill Vassar, Mike Watt,
Michael Weinfeld, Donna & Bruce Westman, Ken (Dan
Clayton) Wolt
(Got
a Reply But They Didn't Really Say):
Dick Heatherton, Chip Hobart, Mike Moss, Steve O'Brien
With
Us in Spirit (but sadly, no longer around to join
us in person):
Rob Branham, Terry Clark, Merv Griffin, Bob Krowka,
Charlie Parker, Kelly Parker, Al Pellegrino, Augie
Santana, Dick Springfield, Lou Terri
If
we haven't heard from you yet, please do let us
know so your name can appear in the next reminder
(and, more importantly, so we can get a handle on
how big a crowd we're going to have and can select
a location accordingly). We look forward to seeing
you on the 16th.
Lee
Gordon (e-mail)
May
30, 2008
Back
in 2005 we decided to commemorate the 30th anniversary
of the end of rock 'n roll on WPOP with a little
impromptu get-together. It was so much fun, we decided
we ought to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the
beginning of rock 'n roll on 'POP -- whenever that
was. The nearest anyone could figure, that transition
took place in 1958 so this is the year.
Based
upon an earlier survey, it has been decided that
the best time to hold our 50th Anniversary Reunion
would be late summer, but not too close to Labor
Day. So, barring widespread protest, the date will
be Saturday, August 16, 2008 at a location
to be determined. Once we have a good idea how many
people plan to attend, we'll pick a place and send
out an announcement. Most likely we'll choose an
outdoor venue as well as an indoor alternative in
case of bad weather.
At
this time there is no agenda, no special program,
no audio-visual presentation or anything else requiring
special preparation, unless somebody wants to volunteer
to put something together. It's just going to be
old (and not so old) radio people getting together,
swapping war stories, reminiscing about the good
old days, and renewing old acquaintances or making
new ones.
The
mythical anniversary of rock on WPOP is the catalyst
for this event, and we'd like to see as many WPOP
veterans as possible, but this is by no means limited
to "Good Guys" and their ilk. Anyone who worked
at WPOP or any of its sister stations -- WIOF, WYSR,
WMRQ, WHCN, WKSS, WWYZ, WPHH, WURH -- is invited.
But why stop there? Anyone who worked in radio or
TV in Connecticut or Western Massachusetts, or is
pals with someone who did is encouraged to join
in. And if you know someone who fits the above criteria,
spread the word.
So
there you have it. You have about two and a half
months to clear your calendar and make your travel
plans. Once you are reasonably sure you can make
it or you can't, please let me know (either way)
so we can figure out where to hold this extravaganza.
And if you'd like to volunteer to help out, you
are more than welcome. Hope to see you there.
Lee
Gordon, Reunion Committee Member (e-mail)
