Saturday, October 15, 2022

Bob E. Lloyd continued in the broadcasting business until retiring. He was acknowledged as "The Voice of Westchester " for the morning program. Bob was also a lifetime SAG member appearing in small parts in several Woody Allen films. Bob retired to Cape Cod Massachusetts to be close to his family. He and his wife Ethel were married for 72 years, leaving a legacy of 4 kids, three grandchildren and four great grandchildren. Ethel passed rather unexpectedly in June of 2021. Bob passed of a broken heart 9 days later.

My dad was shy of 97 years and did so much with his life. He was an old school gentleman and everyone adored him. He is greatly missed.

Cokie Hamm (e-mail)

Tuesday, August 23, 2022

My best memory of Mark Driscoll is a party at my cramped little apartment in East Hartford. Everybody was talking at the same time when Mark pulled out an egg from somewhere and mushed it down on the head of a guy in a wing chair next to him (I can't remember who it was) and the Yolk just dripped down the very surprised guy's face. We all stopped talking. Mark never failed to deliver. Best party I ever threw.

Ed Clancy (e-mail)

Thursday, March 18, 2021 Ed, Like many nearing the end of their life cycle I've written a book. Not about radio but would like to send you a copy. Hope you enjoy this Austin music history trip. Years are whizzing by, glad you are still there. From Woody, still here (e-mail)

Rose Clark, who was the traffic lady when I arrived at WPOP in 1970, passed away last Tuesday (10/25). She was 87 years old. I don't know how long she was at WPOP before 1970 but I wanted to pass along this sad news to those of you who may have known her.

Hal Whitney/Judge Harrigan (e-mail)

Saturday, October 15, 2016, 7:02PM

Sorry to report that one-time WPOP Good Guy Jim Meeker died of prostate cancer last weekend at the age of 78. He graced the Hartford airwaves from 1966-67. In recent years he had been involved in real estate appraisal in Kirkland, WA.

Ed Brouder (e-mail)

Sunday, August 28, 2016, 3:30PM

I'm sorry to report the passing of another WPOP Alumnus, Jim Horne. He died on January 14 of this year from an infection after surgery. Jim's time at WPOP was short (about three months in 1966-67) but he wrote a marvelous recollection of his time there for this website in 2002.

He spent many years at KDKA Pittsburgh before moving to New York City to pursue an acting career. Read his obituary from the Pittsburgh Post Gazette. There's also a nice tribute to him on the SAG/AFTRA site; Jim was a former president of the New York local.

Ed Brouder (e-mail)

Wednesday, August 3, 2016, 3:17PM

Hey there, fellow Hartford (or elsewhere in CT) Radio & TV comrades

As a public service (in case you didn’t see it on Facebook), I am passing along word about an event being organized by Ron Pell and Steve Parker. They’re using a ‘DRC anniversary as the excuse to get together, but this is a reunion for anybody who was involved in the biz. (I figured there was no need to do a separate WPOP reunion when we could just join forces.) If you’re an out-of-towner, I’m sending you this, just in case you’re going to be in the area. Hey, you still have time to plan a special trip. Here are the deets:

Ron Pell & Steve Parker present THE 2016 CONNECTICUT RADIO REUNION!!! Celebrate this day in CT Radio history, when WDRC gave birth to the BIG D! #1 FOR FUN - August 18, 1960 on Sunday, August 21, 2016, 2-5 p.m. The Place….HARBOR PARK (also known as the Mattabesett Canoe Club). The Price…FREE! FREE! FREE! With your FRIENDS from BIG D! (I buy mine….you buy yours….) (Heavy Echo) BE THERE!!! Ron Pell & Steve Parker “presently” don’t wear speedos or shave their legs. If questioned before, during or after Sunday, August 21, 2016 will deny any association with Whales of any sort. Pell & Parker, past BIG D employees and their families, friends and Connecticut radio fans are welcome. Buy at a Bedding Barn Near you.

Lee Gordon (e-mail)

Sunday, May 22, 2016, 9:18PM

Hi Ed, Lots of great names...great old friends on your list. Who knows how many of them are still with us. I can never forget the day when our dear friend and WPOP colleague Lou Terri was killed in a car crash on one of our area highways. He was the best. As for myself....84 years and counting....great wife and great kids. Time for me to get going on a reunion as urged by Billy Hennessey of WTIC fame. He is telling me to include him when I can convince Del Raycee and Bob Scott to join us for a get-together before its too damn late! He’s absolutely right. Don Blair, Venice, Florida. We...those mentioned here...are all Floridians....so why can’t we do the deed? Laziness I guess.

Don Blair (e-mail)

Saturday, April 16, 2016, 11:04AM

Hi Ed,

I dreamt about WPOP radio last night and "saw" some of the crew from the early 70's when I worked there. I just got caught up online and saw that Frank Holler had passed, he was such a nice guy. I was primarily the day receptionist but filled in for various office staff during vacations, and also worked while I was in college for a while during Frank's evening shift. What a fun time we had, and what a great radio station. Thanks for taking me down memory lane.

Pat Jefferson Jackson, aka "Tiger on the phones" with Frank Holler (e-mail)

Wednesday, April 6, 2016, 6:39AM

Love this site! I was lucky enough to find a copy of the second WPOP album (the original Hear Here), back in the early 70s. How it wound up here in Pasco, Washington, I’ll never know! Since then, all these years later, I’ve found the first 3 albums (including a still sealed copy of the first one! – it’s since been opened. Yellow vinyl.) Somebody asked me about the 4th album, “Connecticut Graffiti”, but I couldn’t really provide any answers (since the photo on the website is none too good). Can you tell me what the actual name of the album was, catalog number (I already know it was on Post Records) and what songs were on it? (Like I said, it’s a lousy photo. Sorry.) Any info would be greatly appreciated! Thanks! Best wishes,

Jerry Withers (e-mail)

Monday, October 19, 2015, 9:04AM

Although I worked briefly at WPOP in 1970 (weekend 20/20 newsman) and 8 years at WDRC as Bob Marx, I never worked with Frank but knew of him and heard him on local Hartford radio. Another from our era has passed from this world to the next.

Bart Mazzarella (e-mail)

Sunday, October 18, 2015, 10:19PM

Wow, Ed. That's terrible news. I have been a friend of Franks since his WPOP days. We worked together at Q107 in Washington in the mid 1980's.We last spoke in April about the Hartford radio reunion. He was so excited about it.GOD bless you, Frank. I'll listen to some Lee Baby airchecks and smoke a fatty for you!

Uncle Johnny (e-mail)

Friday, October 16, 2015, 8:19PM

Sad to lose such a talent! RIP Frank!

T.J. Lambert (e-mail)

Friday, October 16, 2015, 8:19PM

Thank you so much for the notification. This one hits me hard.

Bob Paiva (Bob Marshall) (e-mail)

Friday, October 16, 2015, 5:43PM

Ed:

Wonderful young guy who came in as a record librarian. Was Mike Heid for Good Guy Basketball while the real MH was Terry McKay. How fitting that Frank replaced Terry McKay on the air later on weekends when I went to Philadelphia.

Mike Heid (e-mail)

Friday, October 16, 2015, 5:43PM

A couple of weeks ago I came access a 1970 era Holler air check on line. Amazing, he was such a pro and a great person. Listening reminded me that the station always sounded major market. Such great radio emanating from a swamp.

As a teenager, I crossed paths with Frank at the station just before and after his tour of duty in Vietnam. He had a positive inspiration on my early career that remains with me to this day.

Please forward any arrangement info as it becomes available.

Thanks, Bill Vassar (Bobby Brooks/Michael Murphy) (e-mail)

Friday, October 16, 2015, 4:48PM

OMG. That was the last time I saw him, as well. He seemed in great spirits but spent a lot of time at home in production. A wonderful person an American Vet who needed more TLC. Very saddened. We had a wonderful conversation, that day. He wanted to put his excellent taped collages on the air. I’d like to help get that done.

Clark Smidt (Bobby Branigan #2) (e-mail)

Friday, October 16, 2015, 4:44PM

You all must remember and most of you knew Frank Holler from his WPOP days in the late 60's and early 70's. He was also PD and air personality at WDRC-FM in the 80's. Newington Police have confirmed that Frank died last night at his home. I don't have any more details right now. I worked with Frank at WPOP and I always thought he was a "Good Guy." Last time I saw him was at the WPOP 45th anniversary of the change to All-News.

Hal Whitney (e-mail)

Wednesday, June 10, 2015, 7:02PM

Hello, Media Friends,

Once upon a time, WPOP was one of the country's legendary Top 40 radio stations, but at the end of June, 1975, that came to an end when the format changed to All News, all day, every day.

So, on Saturday, June 27, 2015, we will commemorate the 40th anniversary of "the day the music died." Let's get together at the Mattabessett Canoe Club (a/k/a Harbor Park) in Middletown, CT starting at around 1 PM and continuing until we all run out of gas (history suggests that could be around 6 or 7, possibly later).

As in past get-togethers, there will be no speeches or presentations, no special programming, no admission fee (unless the restaurant decides to charge one) and no food and drink provided. If you want to eat or drink, just order and pay for it just like any regular restaurant/bar customer, because that's what we are. However, this is important: since we are not paying for the use of the facility, we can't prevent them from serving their other restaurant customers. If any of us are sitting at a table long after we have finished a meal or are nursing a drink and they say they need the table to seat other diners, please relinquish it. Believe it or not, restaurants mainly make their money from the food, not from the bar, despite what you may pay for your beverage.

Some of you may have seen this already on Facebook, or you may be nowhere near Connecticut, or you may not have ever worked at WPOP or any of its FM sister stations. Doesn't matter. If you're on this mailing list, you either worked there or know someone who did, or have been a member of the media in Hartford or elsewhere. So you're invited. And feel free to spread the word. By the way, if you did ever work at 'POP or one of it's sisters, are on Facebook, and are not yet a member of the WPOP Alumni Group, feel free to go to ask to join.

Lee Gordon (e-mail)

Saturday, May 23, 2015, 3:38PM

I worked in sales at WGTH having gone there from WTHT in February 1954 and stayed at WGTH until some time in June or July 1954 and brought a number of former WTHT accounts including Arthur Drug whose jingle I authored, also State Savings Bank, etc. Station manger was Fred Wagonvoord. Sales manager was John Kinsella and fellow sales guy was Phil Zoppi whom had known previously as a friendly competitor.

Click the link and scroll down to the very bottom of the page that opens and you will see my WTHT business card. Sorry my WGTH business card is lost.

You might also find miscellaneous Hartford radio memorabilia from the participants in this program emceed by Bill Hennessey which I put together a while ago. The radio content starts about 5 minute into the show.

Best,

Al Cohen
Newington CT (e-mail)

Saturday, May 23, 2015, 10:18AM

From channel 18 building on Asylum to 600 Asylum to Over the Connecticut Bank on Asylum.......

Del Raycee (e-mail)

Monday, February 16, 2015, 7:01AM

Ed:

Due to the tepid response, I'm dropping my efforts to organize a radio reunion. Thanks to all those who did respond. I'm sorry it didn't work out.

-=Hal Whitney (e-mail)

Monday, January 5, 2015, 4:12PM

Ed,

I’m In! This is really a Top 40 event. How about a Pirate Radio Barge on the CT. River or a “mystery” lake. Happy New Year to All.

Clark Smidt (Bobby Branigan #2) (e-mail).

Monday, January 5, 2015, 12:30PM

Ed,

This coming June 29, 2015 marks 40 years since the music died on WPOP.

Lee Gordon and I have been thinking about getting a "reunion" together to celebrate that anniversary.

If you were a WPOP jock, newsperson, engineer, salesperson, administrator, or you are a good friend of one of those folks, or if you were a friendly competitor back in the day (WDRC, WCCC, WHCN, etc), we'd like you to make plans to attend the reunion.

June 29th falls on Monday this year so the event would actually be held on Saturday, June 27th. Putting the word out now allows folks to make plans well in advance.

No plans yet on where the event would take place. We'd like to get an idea first of how many would be attending. But definitely somewhere in the greater Hartford area.

Please let us know ASAP if you think you'd be able to attend. Thanks!

Hal Whitney (Da Judge) (e-mail)

ED's NOTE: Click here for info on the 2005 & 2008 reunions

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