Thursday,
June 5, 2008, 7:32 AM
Ed-
Sounds
fun! My e-mail is below, or wclx@madriver.com. Thanks.
Rock on. Holler and I used to call POP the "Boss
of Newington", or was that New England?
Chip
Hobart (e-mail)
Wednesday,
June 4, 2008, 7:25 PM
Ed:
Here
is an update on me. I will officially retire from
radio on June 30th, 2008. Forty-seven years in the
biz; 30 in country radio.
I remember the day so well when Kennedy was shot.
I had just gotten off the air at 10AM, and was sitting
in Doug China's (Charlie Douglas now) office. Can't
remember if he was in the office or not. He usually
followed me on the air from 10-12. Anyhow, our news
director ran in (can't for the life of me remember
his name; this was 1963; you might be able to look
it up). He said "something strange is going on.
UPI (might have been AP) was sending down their
usual batch of mid-day RECIPES, and somebody on
the line kept interrupting with the word "BUST";
happened several times. Finally, they stopped recipes
to find out what the bust was, and that was when
we first heard that Kennedy had been shot. Went
home (at that time, my wife and I lived near Hartford
H.S.) and started watching the coverage on TV. Next
morning, it was classical music; nothing but classical
after Kennedy died. That was on a Friday. All weekend,
my wife and I kept up with the coverage on TV. We
finally went to bed late Saturday night, as I recall,
to get some sleep. Imagine our surprise when we
got up on Sunday morning and Jack Ruby had shot
Oswald. At first, we couldn't figure out what the
hell was going on....it was surreal, to say the
least.
Sorry we can't make the reunion.
Tiger
Tom Allen (e-mail)
Friday,
May 30, 2008, 2:55 AM
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)
Tuesday,
April 22, 2008, 7:39 PM
Hey
Ed ,
Just
now lookin` around and , somehow , you know how
it is, WPOP and me.. cool , you know what especially
caught my attention ? When I moused over the picture..The
picture changed ........... Then and now ( more
or less ) Now here is my ? to you ......
Which
one of these Guy`s would you rather hang out with
?..... Ahh..... Hartford... Of Course .... Her Name
Was Jennie Alexandria ...............
Lee
Baby Simms (e-mail)
Tuesday,
April 22, 2008, 9:30 AM
ED...
MY
NAME IS GEOFF BELL. I GREW UP IN AND AROUND RADIO
IN THE GREATER HARTFORD AREA...I WAS VIRTUALLY RAISED
AT WHAY (LATER
WRCH etc..) FROM 1957 TO 1969. OVER THAT 12 YEAR
PERIOD, MY DAD, CHARLIE BELL WORKED AT THE STATION
IN VARIOUS CAPACITIES (MANAGERIAL & SALES). I KNEW
ALOT OF THE "ORIGINAL" CREW IN THOSE DAYS WHEN IT
WAS LOVINGLY REFERRED TO AS "MUSIC MANSION." MY
STEPDAD, HERMIE DRESSEL, ALSO WORKED THERE. HE HAD
A JAZZ SHOW, AND WAS THEIR PROGRAM / MUSIC DIRECTOR.
AS
FAR AS WHEN & WHERE...THE STATION WAS AT 22 GROVE
HILL UNTIL (+/-) FEB. 1966. I BELIEVE THE FM-STEREO
(100.5) WAS MAYBE '65 (?) AND MOVED TO FARMINGTON
IN 1966. I REMEMBER THE MOVE AND KNOW FOR A FACT
THEY WERE AT LEAST THERE BY THE SPRING / SUMMER
OF 1966. I USED TO GO TO THE STATION WITH MY DAD
ON SATURDAY MORNINGS THEN, & I GOT "RAIN" & "YELLOW
SUBMARINE" FROM THERE IN 1966, IN FARMINGTON.
IT
WAS A GREAT PLACE TO GROW UP...FOND MEMORIES OF
THE CREW, AND GETTING STACKS OF 45 RPM RECORDS FROM
THE LATE 50's TO LATE 60's. THEY DIDNT PLAY ALOT
OF WHAT CAME IN SO I GOT LOTS OF HITS ALL MARKED
"PROMO." LOTS OF BOB DYLAN, PAUL REVERE & THE
RAIDERS, AND PETER, PAUL & MARY.
***THIS
IS EVERY RECORD COLECTOR'S DREAM. ONE SUMMER DAY
IN 1967, MY DAD LET ME LOOSE IN THE RECORD LIBRARY
AND SAID: "OK, FROM HERE DOWN, ANYTHING YOU WANT."
WELL NEEDLESS TO SAY, THERE WERE SHELVES OF ALBUMS
& 45's THAT NEEDED A NEW HOME AND WHAT HOME BETTER
THAN MINE? EVERYTHING YOU CAN THINK OF: "THE VELVET
UNDERGROUND", TO THE "LOVIN' SPOONFUL,", TO THE
"BYRDS".. AND EVERYTHING ASIDE & IN BETWEEN. TWO
REAL "STAND OUTS:" AN ORIGINAL 'D.J. COPY' OF "LISTEN
TO ME" BY BUDDY HOLLY ON CORAL W/ A BLUE LABEL.
I STILL HAVE IT AND THE FIRST MONKEES SINGLE W/
PROMO MATERIAL & PICTURE SLEEVE...AND OF COURSE,
AGAIN, TWO SINGLES BY THE BEATLES!!!
ITS
FUNNY WHEN I DRIVE ON GROVE HILL TODAY, I CAN STILL
IMAGINE THE STATION THERE. ALL THE CREW IS GONE
& MOVED ON BUT THE MEMORIES ARE FOREVER!!!!! I REMEMBER
WHEN THE HOUND WAS ON WHAY. MY DAD KNEW GEORGE LORENZ
WELL.
ANYWAY...JUST
THOUGHT I'D SAY HELLO, AND ADD MY MEMORIES. AS I
CAN REMEMBER I BELIEVE THE CALL LETTERS STOOD FOR
"What's
Happening Around You."
ALL
THE BEST,
GEOFF
BELL (e-mail)
Sunday,
April 20, 2008, 10:33 PM
Ed:
Thank
you so much for writing, I am so sorry that its
taken me so long to write back but I have been swamped,
as you can imagine.
Thank
you for your kind words, its really great to read
your posting on the site. Its really awesome that
he inspired you as much as he did us. I know he
really appreciated those with the same love for
broadcasting.
He
was an amazing man & father - and as you know he
had a great memory.. amongst other fantastic traits.
I hope you are doing well, we are just trying to
swim through our sea of emotions over here.
Best,
Devon
Armstrong (Jack's
daughter)
Saturday,
March 29, 2008, 7:40 PM
Ed,
Both
your sites are great. Jack Armstrong was the best
and he is sadly missed. I remember him most from
WPOP and WKBW. Anyone who wants to SEE Jack as he
was should check out the nine minute clip on YOUTUBE
from the WIXY 1988 Reunion Weekend. He is awesome
there as he always was. YOUR LEADER will live on
here and everywhere reminding us all what was so
good about Radio not so long ago.
Marty
Zeldis (e-mail)
Thursday,
March 27, 2008, 3:30 PM
Ed,
Wow!
The guy was one of the best I'd ever heard. Though
I followed him at POP, I first heard "Jackson W.
Armstrong" when he was doing nights on WKYC in Cleveland.
I was a kid in Kansas City (which was DX heaven,
being in the middle of the country) and heard him
blasting through the night. First song: Everlasting
Love" by Robert Knight (not the redo by Carl Carlton)
I also caught him in Denver when he was at KTLK.
Ray
Dunaway (e-mail)
Wednesday,
March 26, 2008, 10:07AM
I still can't believe our leader is gone. Jack was
one of the greatest. I stole a lot of stuff from
him in my early days in the biz. God Bless you Jackson!
Uncle
Johnny (e-mail)
Monday,
March 24, 2008, 8:31PM
A HUGE loss for all that knew him. Personally..I
knew him from 1968 with WPOP-Hartford...Ken Wolt
had the vision to get him on the air. What a guy!
Thanks for the great radio Jackson...we'll watch
the gorilla for you:)
Markus (e-mail)
Mark
Driscoll Productions
Monday,
March 24, 2008, 7:13 PM
I met Jack in SF when he was at KFRC..nice guy.
I knew his work, he was great but I didn't know
till now that he worked at POP.
Thanks.
Jerry
Gordon (e-mail)
Monday,
March 24, 2008, 6:54 PM
Ed,
You
really hit home here. Jack Armstrong was my hero
and THE REAL NEAL had a lot of Jack Armstrong in
him.
By
the way, I am doing mornings on XTRA 99 in Gloucester,
play by play sports on WLQM and am the track announcer
at Langley Speedway in Hampton.
Neal Steele (e-mail)
Monday,
March 24, 2008, 5:51PM
hi ed.. thanks for sending that along.. (jack armstrong)
was one of my early influences, and i am so sad
i never got to meet him.. thanks for keeping the
site going.. great memories..
grease
(e-mail)
Tuesday,
February 26, 2008, 2:46PM
Anyone know where I can find the first 2 WPOP albums
(Pop Explosion and Hear Here) or who might have
them available for sale? My aunt had given those
2 records to my Mom back in the early 70s and I
recall them fondly growing up in New Britain. I
remember the little station on Cedar Street especially
when walking down the train tracks between there
and Twin City Plaza on the New Britain/Newington
line. I still have a turntable and would enjoy hearing
them again but I am also planning on using the album
cover art as part of a display on a wall in our
new addition. Wonderful memories. Thanks for having
such a terrific website..
Bob
Nadolny (e-mail)
Ed's
reply: I see these all the time on Ebay; anyone
have a copy they want to sell to Bob?
Wednesday,
January 9, 2008, 9:10AM
Hey, nice web site. I didn't work at WPOP but was
at WTIC in late 70's and knew lots of the folks
then. Do you have any [way to] trace of one of the
salespeople working then, probably in 1979...young
woman named Nancy Keyes? Would love to track her
down.
I
last heard she might be married to a guy named Fox
in Pittsfield, but no joy on looking that up. Any
help would be appreciated. Thanks.
Greg
Gilmartin
MYSTV Studios
32 Taugwonk Spur, A5
Stonington, CT 06378 (e-mail)
Ed's
reply: Can anyone help Greg?
Monday,
August 20, 2007, 11:25AM
Ed,
I
was still at WHAY in New Britain when the Hound
Dog came to us on tape although we did meet once
or twice but can't say if it was at WPOP or WHAY....most
likely the latter. On occasion he would be in the
studio....late, late...going live but not very often.
His theme, a haunting R&B type instrumental recorded
by a local very good young band, and it was called
the Sound of The Hound....on Candy label...the product
of one of our local record distrubutors....the very
one that made tv deejay Jim Gallant very comfortable
with one of the first color TVs in the area and
a nice Buick convertible and who knows what else.
Don
Blair (e-mail)
Monday,
June 11, 2007, 10:49AM
I'm trying to locate Barbara Bodnar who was with
WPOP in 1968 as Continuity Chief. She worked with
Terry McKay at the same time, according to your
website.
I worked with Barbara at the American Forces Philippines
Network in 1965 and continued to be an Armed Forces
Radio and Television broadcaster until 1997. Appreciate
your help.
Sincerely,
Richard and Nutam Walters
Parker, CO (e-mail)
Ed's
response: Barbara seems to be among the missing;
can anyone help?
Friday,
April 13, 2007, 10:12PM
Ed
Just checking in with an update. In August, 2006,
I sold WLMI (FM), in Kane, the icebox of Pennsylvania.
I have since retired to Lancaster, PA, where the
alarm does not go off at 4:50 am. I'm not doing
any radio now, but don't rule it out. I love visiting
your website, because it brings back so many (mostly)
fond recollections.
Chuck Crouse (e-mail)
Wednesday,
March 7, 2007, 8:28PM
I just found your website and was glad to get information
on Bill
Winter's career. I noticed in his bio, that
his time at WALT in Tampa, Florida was not mentioned.
He went to WALT after he left WHAP in Hopewell,
VA and worked for Dick Oppenheimer at both stations.
Bill did such a great job at WHAP that Mr. Oppenheimer
asked him to come to Tampa with him. After WALT,
Bill went to WLCY in St. Petersburg, Florida.
I
met him in 1961 in Hopewell, VA. He was a very talented
young man. It is sad that his life ended so early.
It was great to see the picture of him. He hadn't
changed a bit from the time that I knew him. Thanks
for the memories.
Cecelia
(e-mail)
Tuesday,
November 28, 2006, 2:55PM
Ed!! Excellent work (as usual)!!!!
After
talking with with Del Raycee over the weekend and
giving it some thought, I was coming to the same
conclusion that you did...that the move to "Top
Forty" at WPOP was an evolutionary process from
'56 to '59.
That
last newspaper ad that you mentioned from January
of 1959 still has a thing called "Connecticut Ballroom"
which to me sounds suspiciously like a "Big Band"
segment. That, along with the Yankee Network Food
Show, indicates to me that this still wasn't Top
Forty in its purest form.
To
me "Top Forty" means playing the most popular songs
from a tight playlist over and over again in a defined
format. I'm thinking along the lines of the format
invented by Todd Storz and Gordon McClendon. This
is the team type Top 40 format where all the air
personalities worked together as a branded group
like "Good Guys" or "All Americans."
By
1959 stations around the country were copying the
Storz-McClendon format and I'm sure WPOP did the
same. I'm from Long Island and the earliest version
of this format that I remember was WMGM in NYC around
1958. WINS was playing some rock but the format
definitely didn't meet the definition described
above.
If
I find some time over the holidays, I'm going to
go to the Hartford Public Library and look through
the 1959 editions of the Hartford Courant. Maybe
I'll come across a screaming headline...."WPOP Adopts
Top 40 Format."
Hal
Whitney (Da Judge) (e-mail)
Friday,
November 17, 2006, 7:44PM
hey!...
just tripped over this site, and I am digging it-so
many memories!...
I
now live in ATLANTA-family of 5...
but
I was raised on the New Britain - Newington border.
I would ride my bike down to WPOP quite a bit...the
joint was like MECCA for me...
I
was more of a WPOP fan than WDRC...BIG fan of GRIFFIN,
TERRI, SIMMS...
I
am sending your site to a number of friends who
would truly enjoy this!...
I
cant begin to tell you how wonderful this site is.
Life was sure simpler back then...and I feel almost
transposed with thoughts of my 9 volt transistor
and my family...(not in that order...well, maybe
in that order!)...
Hey
THANKS AGAIN-this is tremendous!
Tom
Ekwurtzel (e-mail)
Thursday,
September 21, 2006, 9:08PM
Hi...
I
was reading the Crumpet
Caper page, and I don't remember there being
a fued involved..but it was a long time ago. I do
remember I was drafted to be an agent because they
were running out of trips to London and they thought
a newsman would be more difficult to figure out
than a jock. For your edification, and use in the
website if you would like, I submit my column from
the December 12, 1997 Kenner Star (New Orleans
suburb):
Ed
Clancy (e-mail)
"TRAVELING
WITH “FATHER CLANCY"
As a good Catholic boy, I am aware that many mothers
of same, at one time or another, think about their
sons becoming priests. Frankly, my mother never
mentioned the subject to me, but I have always wondered
what she would have thought about one episode of
my life that gave me a chance to see things from
the other side of the collar.
In
the late 1960's I toiled for a radio station in
Hartford, Connecticut, WPOP. (It’s now an all talk
station, although at the time we were rock and roll
oldies. It sort of brings to mind the inexplicable
use of the name “Jazz” in Utah. But I digress).
Some
brilliant marketing mind at the station decided
we were we going to conduct a listener contest called
“The Crumpet Caper,” and the grand prize would be
an all expenses paid trip to London, England. (Incidentally,
we were not aware until the contest was well underway
that the term “crumpet” was not used in mixed company
in England, although by today’s standards its probably
quite tame).
It
seems that all the listeners had to do was listen
for clues to the whereabouts of a WPOP “personality.”
“Personality,” meant DJ, disc jockey, on-air talent,
celebrity, etc. It certainly did not mean “newsman.”
Well,
it transpired that either our listeners were extremely
crafty, or our clues were extremely easy. I suspected
the latter. We apparently had only four trips to
London to give away and in less than two weeks we
had three winners. The brass was very nervous. These
contests are supposed to last several weeks to cover
the ratings period. Ratings periods were important
to us because they determined who was number one
in the market and who was dog meat. The WPOP plan
was to use the lavish giveaway to boost the station
from dog meat status. But if your contest is over
in two weeks, the listeners no longer have a unique
reason to listen to your station, and go back to
the one they tuned in before your contest came along.
The
program director came to me and said, “Ed, we have
a problem. We’re running out of personalities. I
want you to disappear for a few days and be a ‘mystery
celebrity.’”
“But
I’m a newsman, not an airhead air personality!”
“We’ll
pay you extra.”
Logic
always worked with me. I disappeared. Barbara Bodnar,
the lady who was organizing the contest, came to
me and asked, “What do you want to be?”
“Be?” I replied.
“What
disguise to you want?”
I
decided I wanted to be a Catholic priest. I don’t
know why, but I was intrigued with being someone
I knew I could never really be. And so, Father Clancy
was born.
Since
I was obliged by the rules of the contest to use
only public transportation, one of our conspirators
borrowed a friend’s taxi cab and I was chauffeured
all over the Insurance City in a faded orange contraption.
I was able to stay in the best hotels (no private
homes), and at regular intervals I phoned the radio
station to give a new clue. These clues, by the
way were so vague and useless that we were able
to stretch the contest out for a couple of weeks.
My
stint as a Catholic priest was one of the more enlightening
periods of my life. I remember how, when I would
walk into a store or restaurant, eyes would turn,
ladies would smile, children would giggle and people
would take a step back to let the “priest” come
through.
As
I walked down the street, middle aged women would
come up to me and say, “Bless you Father.” It dawned
on me then that I better not get caught doing anything
un-priestly.
I
was rather good at holding my own whenever I became
involved in any theological discussion. It’s amazing
how many people want to talk religion when you’re
a priest. But I almost lost it when a woman came
running up to me wanting me to hear her confession.
I started to panic. I hadn’t prepared for this one,
and had no idea what to do. Finally I mumbled something
about being a “beginner,” and not licensed to hear
confessions. I escorted her to the nearest Catholic
church and into the confessional. Luckily the green
light was on.
The
most memorable moment, however, was when I was sitting
in the back of the taxi, and a drunk staggered over
to the cab. He peered into the back window, putting
his nose right up on the glass, and yelled as loud
as he could, “GOD BLESS YOU, FATHER. KEEP UP THE
GOOD WORK. IT’S TOO LATE TO HELP ME.” And he stumbled
down the street.
I
told Barbara I wanted out. I was not cut out to
be a priest. So we started making the clues a little
easier and finally got a winner. I seem to remember
a gorgeous young woman coming up to me yelling,
“I found Ed Clancy! I found Ed Clancy!” It was at
that moment I was truly sorry I was a priest.
The
experience taught me a lot of things, but chief
among them: being a priest is a lot more than wafers
and wine. It’s committing yourself and your soul
to other people, sometimes not so savory people.
It’s not like radio, where you go on the air, do
your show or report your news, put in five or six
hours and go home. I learned that when you’re a
priest, you’re “on” 24 hours a day. And your audience
is literally “in your face.”
When
I finally returned to work the next Monday, Barbara
called me into her office. “You did a great job,
“ she said. I beamed. “Next week you’re a Monsignor.”
I think if we hadn’t run out of free trips to London,
I would have been.
Sunday,
August 27, 2006, 12:51AM
Addressed to Lee
Gordon:
My
name is Rosemarie Thibeault and Augie Santana was
my dad. Having Goggled my dad's name I came across
your lovely tribute to my dad. I cannot tell you
how very much those words meant to myself and the
rest of his family who loved him so very much and
are still having a hard time believing that he has
left us. My dad was indeed a wonderful man and I
do not know of anyone who ever met him that didn't
like him. My children and grandchildren just adored
him, he was their Pop.
Beside
the time he spent with his family he was happiest
down at the station, he just lived and breathed
that building. I remember as a youngster going down
there in the evenings when he was working on some
project or another to have dinner as a family. When
my brothers were maybe 10 and 12 he would take them
along with him on the weekends to rebuild the catwalks
that led to the towers. They would come back dirty,
wet and tired but so happy!
The
quote you mentioned; How goes the battle for men's
minds and women's bodies was one of his favorite.
The last time I heard it was about a month before
he passed. I had gone to see him at the end of a
very long day and seeing the weariness on my face
he said,"So Sissy, (his pet name for me), how goes
the battle for men's minds and women's bodies! He
knew it always brought a smile to my face. Please
have no doubt that although his obit may have been
brief it wasn't out of lack of respect but simply
due to shock. We were in no way ready for him to
leave us. I would like to reassure every one knew
him that he went peacefully and without pain. All
of us who loved him were able to say good-bye and
tell him it was okay to go, that we would be alright.
The picture we put in the paper is our favorite,
if you could view the whole photo you would see
that it was taken at the station. He was sitting
at one of the consoles with a mike in front of him.
Once again I would like to say thank you for your
kind words, they meant a lot to us.
Sincerely,
Rose Thibeault (e-mail)
Friday,
July 21, 2006, 11:53AM
I have just become acquainted with the WPOP website,
and saw the list of former talent, plus a picture
(?) of myself. Jack "Brooks" was NOT a Korean War
Veteran. He was a World War II vet who served in
Korea in 1945 and 1956, first as a heavy weapons
specialist, but later as the morning man on Armed
Forces Radio, Souel, Korea. There he was the "Jack
the Bellboy". Returned from Korea, back to school,
on to WWNH, Rochester, NH, then to WCCC where he
worked for 9 years before joining WPOP. He was hired
by Del Raycee and Zoppi, and worked along with Don
Blair, Morton "Doc" Downey, Jr., Joey Reynolds,
Lou Terri and in the newsroom Paul Scott (Stockman),
John Swope, Mike Lawless and Mike McClellan. I was
in the newsroom when the first Kennedy assassination
bulletin came in. Lou Terri was on the air.
You
got everything else right. Sorry about the photo.
It obviously was a copy of a copy of a copy of a
promotional shot in the days when WPOP used me to
sell to the advertisers.
Jack
Brooks (Broitman) (e-mail)
Monday,
June 19, 2006, 1:40PM
Dick Heatherton was the "King of Kielbasa Country".
Ken Griffin used to play requests for "New Britski"
Uncle Johnny (e-mail)
Friday,
June 16, 2006, 5:19AM
and the memories started coming back...
Does
anyone know which DJ claimed the title "King of
Kielbasa Country" and was he the same one who called
"New Britski, the white sox capital of the world?"
...Spots for "Flingo East and Flingo West."
And
finally, is there a roving copy of Joey Reynolds's
"Wild Weekend" which he scarfed from WKBW when he
came over?
You
know, I could never tell that WPOP was a 5Kw'er
and WDRC was a 50. We just kept popping the car
radio buttons for the best tunes. Thanks for the
great site!
Roger
Kolakowski WESX 1230 AM (2003-2006) (e-mail)
Friday,
May 26, 2006, 6:08AM
Has any heard from or know the whereabouts of Linc
Holmes? I know a close relative that is looking
for him.
Thomas
McHugh (e-mail)
Monday,
May 22, 2006, 8:58AM
Hi Ed:
I
just came across the WPOP website. I worked as an
engineer at the xmtr in Newington from about April
1956 to Oct 1958 and then again from Oct 1962 to
about March 1964. I was in the USCG from Oct 58
to Oct 62.
I
remember Phil Zoppi (station Manager), Lou Terri
(DJ), Doug Ward (DJ), Mike Lawless (DJ) and the
engineers Rogers Holt (Chief Eng), Chuck Ripley,
Auggie Santana, Jim Geer, Lew House, Wayne Mulligan
and Don Muckle (Chief Eng - replaced Holt).
When
I first started working at the xmtr in early 1956
I was only 19 years old. It was quit a thrill working
at a ROCK station. Some of the DJ's would refer
to me as the "teenage" engineer.
I
remember one Sunday morning when I opened up at
the xmtr (we were not 24 hrs then). We had been
on the air for about 2 or 3 hours when a minister
of one of the Hartford churches delivered a tape
recording I was to play later on that day. It was
a very windy day and the wind slammed the door and
the vibration knocked us off the air. All sorts
of lights started flashing and relays banging. It
turned out that one of the 891R modulator tubes
shorted out. It had about 10000 hrs on it so I guess
it was about time.
I
have fond memories of those days. I didn't find
out about the reunion until is was over. I'm sorry
I missed it.
Neil
Fitzgerald (e-mail)
Tuesday,
November 22, 2005, 9:58PM
We looked up Zoppi and found your site, if you notice,
when you search Zoppi , some clown my dad hired
,refers to him as a affable sales- type with MAFIA
UNDERTONES. IF YOU HAPPEN TO KNOW HIM I'D SURE LIKE
TO SUE HIS ASS. MR. ZOPPI PASSED AWAY AT AGE 62
, JULY 1978 . MAKING WPOP A SUCESS WAS NO EASY TASK
, AND TO CONTROL THAT LIST OF DJ'S DURING THAT TIME
PERIOD WAS A STATION MANAGERS NIGHTMARE .
Nancy
Zoppi (e-mail)
Sunday,
November 13, 2005, 1:46PM
Hi Ed...
Hope
everything is well up there in the Great White North.
I don't mean to rub it in (well, maybe just a little),
but it's sunny and about 80 here in Florida.
I
just wanted to keep you updated. I have an new web
site. My old site is still up on the web, but
it has no demos on it, so therefore is useless.
I'm
strictly doing my VO business now, and building
a nice client base. It's really amazing what can
be done these does with the internet. I just finished
the first spot of a campaign for a client in South
Africa!
Also,
I did a spot a while ago for Radio Disney for a
children's book character called Captain Underpants.
Aahhh, the things we do to make a living. Again,
I hope all is well, and keep me posted on any big
changes up there (IE: reunions, etc.).
Take
care,
Bill
Blizard (e-mail)
Sunday,
October 31, 2005, 8:47PM
Hi Ed!
Great
job on the WPOP Website. I enjoyed the articles
and bios on all the POP jocks/staff.
I
remember listening to WPOP when my brother was the
Program Director. I would also listen to their sister
station WIOF.
And
you might want to add WFAN/NEW YORK CITY for the
bio on Lance Christian. I remember hearing him host
a few shows on WFAN several years ago using the
name Sebastian. Keep up the great work.
Stephen
Springfield (e-mail)
Just
came across the reunion notice via the WDRCOBG website.
I worked at 'POP in 1971 right out of CCSC for about
6 months as an engineer with Augie Santana as chief.
I remember we spent the better part of the summer
heaving rocks in the brook between the two towers
in Newington to shore up the embankments to prevent
further erosion of the ground radial system. I hope
Augie is still around, and if so, please give him
my best regards. I do remember those days quite
vividly, with the Gates BC5P2 main transmitter and
the old Westinghouse 5HV which had a real sweet
sound. Given the somewhat short notice, I don't
think I'm going to be able to attend, but if Augie
or even if Doug Wardwell makes it, please give them
my warmest regards. I'm going to have to look up
Doug in Rhode Island one of these days! He was my
"boss" at CCSC-TV for a few years!
Since
my days at 'POP, I've been at (the old channel 27)
WSMW-TV in Worcester, (the old channel 6) WTEV in
New Bedford, MA, and for the past 26+ years here
at channel 7 (now WHDH) in Boston and have survived
three owners so far!
Hope
1410 is still alive and well and hope the reunion
goes well too!
Steve
Cohn, Senior Engineer / Air Operations WHDH-TV Boston
(e-mail)
Sunday,
May 29, 2005, 2:11PM
Hi Ed:
Enjoyed
the trip 'down memory lane' today as I sit way out
here in Rancho Mirage, CA (Palm Springs area). I
used to listen to WPOP in Willimantic where I grew
up and worked for a while there as a reporter for
The Hartford Times while in college.
Believe
an old pal of mine named Bob Mills was a WPOP guy
in the mid-60s...think he was on-air, or even sales
for a while?? If anyone knows or recalls Bob (we
used to vall him "General Mills") Mills, he or she
can email me.
Charlie Barrett (e-mail)
Publicist for NBC's THE TONIGHT SHOW STARRING JOHNNY
CARSON
1984-1992
Wednesday,
May 18, 2005, 9:06AM
Ed,
Blair
again. Revisiting your WPOP site.....what an awesome
body of work and, for the likes of us, incredibly
interesting. A note or two.
Kal Kolby came to Channel 30 as a news anchor after
Barry Barents....or maybe even to do weekend anchoring....not
positive...but he was there....talked like he had
a mouthful of marbles....but there he was for a
relatively short time. This had to be around 1965...as
I was getting ready to head for NYC. I felt he gave
the channel a real come down.
As
for the book mention you so kindly give us.....you
might note that Splashdown is about all 31 oceanic
recoveries...not just Apollo 11 although that was
certainly the biggie.
Did
I ever write to tell you that a bandleader, who
appeared at Lake Compounce, wrote a book about his
long career and included a picture of the Hartford
deejay and station personnel crowd in his book....is
still blowing the horn and leading a young big band
down here? Leon Merian lives in or around Sarasota.
We've been to hear him several times and he just
recently played a big band date at our Venice Little
Theater. He's in his early 80's and is the trumpet
heard on the sound track of the film Ben Hur.
Don Blair (e-mail)
Friday,
April 22, 2005, 1:46PM
Ed,
Bless you...for thou shalt bring old deejays together
and they shall break bread and recall old times.
Thanks to your untiring efforts.....Bob
(Goldberg) Scott and yours truly were able to
break the bread....breakfast at a popular restaurant
near Hartford (I had flown up to attend a friend's
funeral) and then head back to my daughter's house
for more nostalgia and chuckles. It was a truly
excellent visit and he really promises that next
time he and the wife are in our area they will stop
in. The funeral was for a former member of the rock
band I managed for a few years in the sixties. Thanks
to the practice of having record distributors reps
bring acts to your record hops....Freddie Boom Boom
Cannon heard my "kids" at one of those outings and
decided then and there that they would back him
on his next record...Buzz Buzz A Diddle It....probably
written by Bob Crewe and/or Frank Slay. It got into
the 30's on Billboard. He made some money but Slay
and Crewe sent us a bill for the studio time. I
wrote back suggesting they put their bill where
the sun don't shine. End of story. All is well here
in warm, sunny Florida. Our book is in a second
printing and looking at a third around mid-year.
And
thanks again for your website and all your good
work.
Don
Blair, Venice, Fl. (e-mail)
Saturday,
February 12, 2005, 11:28PM
Hi,
Thought
I would correct some of the information published
about myself. I left WPOP, in Hartford, in 1972,
and joined WJJD, in Chicago. I became the 12 noon
to 3 p.m. host, which lasted until I was invited
to join WMAQ's "gonna make me rich", in 1975, doing
the 10 to 3 p.m. shift. Worked with some great people,
including Bob Pittman, creator of MTV, and Lee Sherwood,
who was our morning show host, and P.D.
In
1975, I moved to St Louis to do the morning show
on Country Music, WIL, in St Louis. In 1977 decided
to try programming, and joined WSLR, in Akron, as
morning show host & pd. In 1981 I rejoined my former
boss at WIL, Wally Clark, who had moved to KSD,
in St. Louis.
From
1981 until 1996 I worked for Gannett's KSD, which
ultimately became KUSA for a brief period until
Gannett sold the properties.
Since
that time I have worked in the auto business, and
am currently employed at Sinclair Lincoln Mercury,
in the St louis area as a sales manager.
I
never worked in Rochester, and that must have been
someone else using the same name. Best wishes!
Bill Coffey (it is my real name) (e-mail)
Sunday,
January 16, 2005, 1:33AM
I
used to listen to WPOP back in the 50's and 60's
all the time. I'm 61 now so I grew up as the rock
era became huge and POP had all the tunes. I accidentally
came across your site when a group called Ron and
the Rattletones popped into my head. I clicked on
and remembered that there song "Doug's Drag" was
a DJ theme way back when on POP. This is a great
site! Thanks for the memories. Wish I still had
that 45.
Bruce
Heselton (e-mail)
New Britain, Ct.
Friday,
May 14, 2004, 4:58:12PM
Ed,
I
ran across your name while searching the i-net for
info on Fred Lowery [known
as Bruce Hayes on WPOP].
I knew Fred passed away several years back but I
never could find anything lengthy on it and no obits.
I was one of Fred's admirers. I used to listen to
him when he anchored, along with Paul Henderson,
at WFIL radio in Philly. I tuned in just to hear
Fred anchor the afternoon 'casts at FIL. He was
great. I followed him to Mutual Radio and that was
a real treat for me. I never met Fred and never
saw him so I don't know what he looked like. I auditioned
for a news writer position at WFIL when he was there
but I never saw him, only Paul Henderson. That was
a treat.
I miss hearing both Fred and Paul. Not much good
on radio these days. Thanks for your help.
Tom
Wahl (e-mail)
WEAR-TV
Pensacola, Fl.
Sunday,
May 9, 2004, 12:42:12PM
Hi
Ed,
A
friend of mine told me about this site a couple
of days ago. Since then it's been fascinating reading
about the people I worked with or knew of and how
they're doing; also saddening in finding out that
some have passed on so young.
I'm
currently living in Waterbury and, like Al Bundy,
I'm 'married with children'. (5 of them).
In
the mid 90's, when WIOF changed format (again),
and let everybody go, I said to myself "That's it".
I did not want to subject the family to the life
of a gypsy. I wanted the kids to stay in the same
school district. My wife, Lesa, and I both work
in retail, for Bloomingdales. It's not a glamourous
job but offers something radio rarely does --stability.
When
our youngest daughter is finished with high school
in three more years, Lesa and I want to move to
Florida. If a radio job became a possibility down
there it would be enticing, as long as I didn't
have to read flash cards. There are times when I
miss being on the air, but I'll never miss reading
those flash cards. Everyone saying the same thing,
the same way, at the same time of the hour, it's
predictable and boring.
Anyway,
thanks for your time. You've done an incredible
job with this site and I plan to visit it often.
God
bless and keep up the excellent work.
Ric
O'Connor (e-mail)
Sunday,
May 2, 2004, 1:25:14PM
My
dad called himself "The Grand-daddy" of the Good
Guys, also known as "Lovable Lou Terri." He was
definitely lovable and we miss him terribly. Upon
his death in 1989, my family donated his service
flag to the station for a memorial. Does anyone
know if that flag is still around? If it is not
on display, we would love to have it back.
Thanks so much!
Donna Gualtieri Dell'Arcoi (e-mail)
Friday,
April 2, 2004, 1:27:38PM
Hi
Ed,
I just wanted to say hello and thank you for putting
up such a great site. My father, Joe Barbarette,
worked at the station in the early 70s. I wasn't
born until 1977, so this site is the *only* place
where I can hear my dad's voice from his radio days.
It's really cool. :~)
Peace,
Mary Barbarette (e-mail)
Thursday,
March 11, 2004, 7:02:48PM
Hello...
Never worked at WPOP, but listened frequently at
night on the skip in Levittown PA outside Philadelphia.
To help you in updating, I'm writing to inform you
of the passing of two jocks listed on your amazing
site.
Larry
Hall, who moved on to WCBM, WCAO and others( I worked
with him there) died last year from ALS.
John
Marion also has died. Prior to his Catholic radio
ministry at WTMR-AM in greater Philadelphia, John
was a newscaster at CBS Owned WCAU-AM in that city.
Kevin
Fennessy, President
WFBS Radio 1280, Berwick PA (e-mail)
Thursday,
March 11, 2004, 1:39:46PM
Ed,
I'm not sure that you can help me but I'll try to
explain my dilemma in a very short synopsis. Back
in the later 1960's (1967-1969) I used to listen
to WPOP exclusively. Anyway, the radio station played
a song back in those days by a gruop called, "The
Peoples Choice". The name of the song was Lost and
Found. I purchased a 45 rpm of that recording that,
unfortunately, was recently broken. It was on the
Phillips label. Since it was one of my favorite
songs of all time, I have been desparately trying
to find a replacement. It seems that no matter where
I search, this group and/or song never existed!
Can you help me find another copy? I would appreciate
any assistance you can render.
Jack
Giacomi (e-mail)
Ed's
response: Can anyone help Jack get a new copy?
Friday,
November 22, 2003, 11:39:10AM
Hello,
It has been 5 years since my stroke. I turned 60
in October. As you may already know, I am retired,
and after we sold the station 4 years ago we bought
a house in Florida where we live in the winter.
It’s on a lake (with resident alligators) in a very
nice "over-55" gated community. Englewood is just
south of Venice in southwest FL. We are 2 miles
from Manasota Key which has 4 beautiful beaches.
I am happy and I feel good. I continue to recover
well from the stroke. My wife has helped me over
the past 5 years with my speech recovery, and I
still attend speech therapy sessions. We keep busy
every day and go out to lunch 3-4 times a week.
We miss our smooth jazz format, so we now enjoy
several channels on XM satellite radio with contemporary
jazz as well as an upbeat classic gold channel.
We have XM in our car, boat and both houses, although
there are two smooth jazz stations here in Ft. Myers
and Tampa. We still live in Stonington, and enjoy
time on our boat "SaltAire" in the summer. Our little
dog "Docker" is 6-1/2 now and still keeps us smiling.
I hope all is well and let me know what's new with
you. Stop by if you are in our area, either CT or
FL.
Best
regards,
Gary Girard (e-mail)
Tuesday,
September 23, 2003, 9:35:38AM
Hi
Ed,
Hey, I just realized I'm on two sites created by
you and I want to write to thank you for remembering
that I was once part of two of the greatest radio
stations ever!
When
I was growing up in New Britain as Bart Mazzarella
I dreamed of one day taking my place beind the mighty
mic at WPOP as one of the "Good Guys" but as fate
would have it I was hired by news director Paul
Lockwood as a weekend newsman doing 20/20 news (as
Bob Marx). Big Bill Love was one of the guys I enjoyed
working with along with fellow newsman Robert Michael
Walker who broke me in. Unfortunately I didn't fully
appreciate the position and was unavailable for
weekend duty on more occasions than Paul could stand
and I was summarily dismissed!
As
a schoolboy in New Britain I always heard of the
heated rivalry between WPOP and The Big "D" and
of course I had the privilege of working at both
stations ('DRC as a mid-day jock for 8 years '75-'83).
Incidently, Bob Paiva was instrumental in helping
my band, The Detroit Soul, record a hit single,
All Of My Life in '67 and he got Ken Griffon
involved in the studio as well as promoting the
record on The Big 14! In those days we were living
the movie, "That Thing You Do". What a magical time
starring bigger-than-life people in Hartford . It
was truly the golden age of radio and regrettably
we will never see it ever again.
Thanks
Ed for keeping our radio memories alive with your
dedication and hard work!
Bartman, WSCF - Christian FM Vero Beach, Florida.
(e-mail)
Tuesday,
August 19, 2003, 8:15:10PM
Hi
Ed,
My
name is Mark Johnson. I'm a PD up in North Conway,
NH, WMWV its a Triple A format up in the White Mountains.
I
just wanted to thank you for this great tribute
to my favorite radio station growing up in New Britain,
WPOP. I liked DRC but loved POP as a kid and have
fond memories of it. Mostly I was a fan from 1968
thru the end in 1975 with the Greaseman. Thanks
again for this great site.
Mark
Johnson (e-mail)
Tuesday,
August 14, 2003, 3:45:52PM
Just
writing to give you props on the WPOP archive site.
I currently work at WPOP. It almost kind of sad
to see how huge an AM radio station was and is not
simply a talk sprts bottom rated station. That may
change with the recent syndication of the jaxx show
but even still. Great site very informal. I liked
it.
Michael Czarnecki (e-mail)
Tuesday,
June 3, 2003, 2:28:04PM
Ed:
With
malice toward none, I've always been a WPOP listener
and prefer the POP web site over the Big D. WPOP
had a "progressive edge" over DRC in it's programming,
some of it's on air talent and was handicapped with
a weak radio coverage area.
Jim
Shannon, Avon, Ct (e-mail)
Monday,
May 19, 2003, 5:13:22PM
Ed,
Interesting Tribute site !!! As I recall, I worked
at WPOP from August 1962 until June 1963. That was
during my Junior year at Trinity College. After
graduating in June of 1964, I joined the staff of
WHAY (changed to WRCH in 1965) as News Director
and did some freelance TV and radio work in Connecticut
until 1966. Other than a short stint at WROW in
Albany in 1969, I was out of broadcasting until
December of 2002.
In addition to the Christian Business Review weekly
television show, I am currently in the process of
transitioning from being in sales to doing sales
training at the Sandler Sales Institute. To see
the Press Release on Christian Business Review,
click
here. To view a 6-minute segment from the show,
copy and paste the following URL into your browser:
mms://media1.enterzone.com/CBR/V/cbr.wmv
Regards,
Fred
Herdeen (e-mail)
Tuesday,
April 15, 2003, 2:25:22PM
Hi,
there!
I happened to find your website about the WPOP Jocks
and thought I'd bring you up to date on Jack Kelly.
His real last name was spelled Szczepanik.
He was born in Buffalo and started his radio career
in the early 1950s at WUSJ in Lockport, NY. From
there it was on to WWOL in Buffalo where he used
the name Vic Bell. In 1958 he went to WKBW
to do the all-night Spotlite Serenade and then stayed
on when KB went "Futursonic" on July 4, 1958. After
that he was in Rochester and then ended up back
in Buffalo at WBNY. When WBNY was sold to McLendon,
he was there for a brief time doing the beautiful
music format before working for Mohawk Airlines
and then ending up in Hartford. After Hartford,
he ended up back in Buffalo at WMMJ and then back
to WYSL, which had now become a rocker. When he
went to WYSL, he started using the name Sean
Grabowski. He was there until March 1970 when
he moved to WGH in Norfolk/Newport News, VA and
then WNOR in Norfolk. After that he went to Milwaukee
where he was with WRYT. After that he ran a Broadcast
School in Milwaukee and even spent a couple years
as the P-A man for the Milwaukee Brewers. He died
in January of 1980 in Milwaukee.
Jack
also worked for Zach Land at WSPR and used the name
Bob Allen. He loved Hartford and hoped to
end up back there one day, but it never happened.
How
do I know this? He was one of my closest friends.
He married my wife's roommate and was my son's Godfather.
I think it's great the way you have researched so
many of the WPOP Good Guys. I spent a lot of years
in radio in Buffalo, Louisville, Norfolk-VA Beach
and Richmond and it is always good to see there
are others who still have the "Broadcasting Bug."
I'm still doing some radio and TV, but only as a
sideline. I appreciate your website.
Dick Harman (e-mail)
Sunday,
December 8, 2002, 12:54:56AM
I
noticed a photo of Mike Lawless, who worked with
me (or, I worked with him) at WICC when he did news,
and WJZZ when he did music. Don't know where he
is now, but I do remember that his theme on FM,
doing jazz, was a piece called "The Outlaw." That's
it; nothing more from here.
Tom
Carten (lotsa stations, lotsa years) (e-mail)
Friday,
December 6, 2002, 1:14:32PM
Dear
Ed,
I am shocked and amazed at the archival work you've
done to create this website. Certainly wish all
the stops I made during radio days had one. (Of
course in the case of Lee Simms that would require
a large staff).
Although only briefly at WPOP, it was a vivid existence
with Lee Baby, Woody Roberts, Bill Bland, Bill Winters,
Bob Paiva, Ed Clancy and other reprobates all under
the command of the estimable Joe Amaturo.
Mr. Amaturo never really "got me", I think. Woody
told me once he wanted to fire me until one night
we hosted a Beach Boys concert at Bushnell Auditorium.
The B.B.'s were late, not there at showtime, and
Bill Bland and I ad-libbed our way into a long meandering
story about chili recipes, as I remember, until
their plane landed. We were able to get the sold-out
house laughing and that so impressed Joe that my
job was safe.
I got the job there through Pat O'Day who was National
P.D. for Seattle, Portland, Spokane Radio (Danny
Kaye) which owned WUBE in Cincinnati where I had
been canned by some new genius trying to improve
ratings...or actually GET some. (WUBE could not
be heard in 25% of the market due to it's weak signal
and 1230 on the dial). Pat recommended me to Woody
and I left my lovely Cincinnatti girlfriend, packed
my "64 Rambler and headed to Hartford. I left at
night, got as far as Cleveland and stopped at a
Holiday Inn on Euclid Ave. I had car trouble and
couldn't go any further and during the night they
relieved me of everything in it.
When I came to Hartford, after having my car robbed
of all my possessions in Cleveland, I literally
had the clothes on my back and some laundry the
thieves left. A quick trip to Robert Hall with what
was left of the 100 dollars I had negotiated for
moving expenses kept me from freezing to death in
the approaching Connecticut winter. I moved into
the same motel Lee Baby was living in on the Newington
Turnpike, (Woody was at a nicer one next door),
which had the thinnest walls I've ever encountered.
How they were up to building code, I'll never know.
But that's another story.
We
were a motley crew in those days. We hung together
almost every evening chasing the local flora and
fauna, and sampling the local wines. I think I lived
on clam chowder and alcohol. One night we decided
to order a tribute cocktail indigenous to various
cities we'd worked in. Tequila Sunrise for San Antonio,
a Pina Colada for Miami, etc.,etc. I think I made
it to about the sixth etc. (a shot and beer for
Buffalo), but I was young and seemingly indestuctible.
There
was a Chinese restaurant we liked to favor with
a western motif called "The Round-Up" where we cooked
up the name "Cannonball" for me. Woody thought a
colorful nick-name might help. He was wrong, but
otherwise was a sharp fellow and had that certain
"Carny" side to his character that a good radio
guy needed then. He was sick one morning and Lee
Baby took his show, announced his passing, and did
a memorial show for him playing "some of Woody's
favorite sides" with a tear in his voice.
My
main claim to fame as a jock on WPOP, I think, is
the fact that I once fell into the swampy creek
that ran by the studios and getting a strange fungus
on my hands. I was wandering around outside waiting
for the sandwich truck to pull up. The studios themselves
were something between WW II quonset hut and 60's
draft board and actually just a pre-fab looking
addendum to the transmitter shack.
By the way, Tom Shovan was there also then working
in continuity. Someone told me when he left they
found old food caches squirreled away in his office.
He was a huge guy. WDRC had Joey Reynolds and the
Wade Brothers at each end of the drive times. The
feeling at "POP in those few brief months I was
there was one of David going up against Goliath.
And there was a fair amount of flexibility from
Woody as to being creative on your show. He would
definitely fall into "Personality Programming" niche
as a P.D. But just before I left they hired that
consultant (Graham ?) who was much more rigid and
harder-formatted. Also big-time game guy. Cash calls,
etc.
I see that I am rambling on and haven't even gotten
to the Lee Simm's boa constrictor that he kept in
his motel room story or the offer J. Amaturo made
to keep me on when I left. (No money, but he emphasized
the fact that Hartford had four distinct seasons,
I am not kidding). My weird pal Rex Miller offered
me a "buddy offer" to come to WNOX, Knoxville to
do mornings which turned out to be another swamp.
As
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