by
Vince Santarelli
by
Vince Santarelli
Internet Volume 7 - No. 2 Spring,
2008
Ah,
spring is here at last, although, all in all, it really wasn’t that bad of a
winter. This time I’d thought we’d play a little New York radio trivia.
Questions about things that have happened over the years. There are no prizes,
just having a little fun. I’ll give you the answers in the summer issue of
APPLE BITES. Question
number one is one of my favorites…….
1. Which New York disc jockey lost his
job a two different radio stations, to be replaced by the same new station both
times?
2.
Which station was the first Spanish FM in New York:?
3.
At which New York radio station did Herb Oscar Anderson work after he
left WABC?
4. At one point in the early ‘80’s WHN
had three former WCBS FM all-night disc jockeys on their staff. Name them.
5.
Dan Ingram’s Indian sidekick was Pronto. What was Pronto’s horse’s name?
6. What very famous NFL broadcaster
started his broadcasting career as a disc jockey at WCBS AM?
7.
What were the original call letters of station broadcasting on 103.5 FM?
8.
Three sets of New York call letters:
WRVR, WPOW, WQIV. What are they known as today?
9. Who were the original three new disc
jockeys on WWDJ when they changed from WJRZ country to Top 40?
10.
Four songs that are forever linked with happenings in New York radio.
Name the events associated with the following songs:
Up A Lazy River by
Sy
Zentner, 16 Candles by the Crests, Think About Love by Dolly Parton, and Imagine
by John Lennon.
11. Who
replaced Mel Allen in the Yankee broadcast booth in 1965?
12.
Nine names, what do they all have in common?
Harry Harrison, Ron Lundy, Dan Ingram, Bruce Morrow, Chuck Leonard,
Freddie Colon, Diane Pryor, Joe Causi and Hollywood Hamilton.
13.
Who was the “Leader of Lasagna Land?”
14.
Who was the first and only female disc jockey on WABC?
15.
When they last won a world championship, back in 2000, who was the
flagship station of the New York Yankees?
16.
Most disc jockeys had sign-offs that were distinctive parts of their
on-air act. Tell me who was famous for this sign-off, “Bye now, buy bonds. Love
you madly for all the things you are and you know what you are you little devil
you.”
17.
Whose telephone number was Plaza 2-9944?
18.
Who were the members of the Lewis & Clark expedition and on what station
did they hold forth?
19.
In 1972, Reggie LaVong left WWRL to join WNBC. What name did he use at
WNBC?
20.
What famous TV network host at one time worked at WAPP and WNEW FM?
21.
Who was the very first live voice heard on the all new 1050 WFAN?
22.
Who was the last disc jockey at WNBC before they became WFAN?
23.
Back in August of 1997, there were three former 99X disc jockeys serving
as program directors in New York. Name them.
24.
What was at Seventh Avenue and 17th Street?
25.
Who preceded Pat St. John as afternoon man at WPLJ?
26.
There are two sets of call letters that left and then returned to New
York on different radio stations. Name them.
27.
Who did Harry Harrison replace as morning man at WCBS FM?
28.
Whose zip code was “One double oh one nine.”
29.
What was WABC’s business telephone number when they were at 1330 Avenue
of the Americas?
30.
Name the Mets’ original broadcast team?
31.
Speaking of the Mets, what station was their very first radio home in
1962?
32.
What song did Dan Ingram call “The Porcupine Love Song?”
33.
What song did Dan Ingram call
“The Vatican Marching Song?”
34.
What was the very first song that George Michael introduced on WABC?
35.
What was the first song WHN played when they changed to country on
November 26, 1973?
36.
Who did Don Imus replace as morning man at WNBC?
37.
There have been eight different sets of call letters in use at one time
or another on 105.1 FM. Name them.
38.
When were Mike and the Mad Dog first paired together on WFAN?
39.
Who was the first newscaster heard on WINS when they switched to all news
on April 19, 1965?
40.
Pat St. John’s brother worked for WAPP in 1982. What was his air name?
And
there you have it. 40 questions on New York radio. I hope you’ve enjoyed
answering the questions. And maybe I’ve brought back a pleasant memory or two.
APPLE BITES CALENDAR FOR
APRIL
BIRTHDAYS
3 - Bob Lewis - WMGM, WABC, WABC
FM, WCBS FM, WNEW FM
5 - Gary Stevens - WMCA
5 - Bryan Wilson - WABC, WHTZ
7 - Freddie Colon
- WKTU, WRKS, WQHT, WQEW, WKTU, WSKQ, WTJM,
WNEW FM
8 - John R. Gambling - WOR, WABC
9 - John B. Gambling - WOR
11 -
Gil Gross - WPLJ/WABC
12 -
Dan Neer - WNEW FM, WAXQ, WFNY
15 -
Art Ford - WINS, WNBC, WNEW, WPIX FM
16 -
Milton J. Cross - Voice of the Metropolitan Opera (1931 - 1973)
16 -
Anita Bonita - WHTZ, WNEW, CBS Sports, WDBZ, WYNY
17 - Ed
Osborne - WCBS FM
17 -
Alipio Coco Cabrera - WCAA
18 -
Todd Pettengill - WPLJ
19 -
Maria Milito - WAXQ
20 -
Richard Neer - WNEW FM, WFAN
20 - Ed
Osborne - WCBS FM
22 -
Alex Sensation - WSKQ
25 -
Jim Nettleton - WABC
25 -
Edward R. Murrow - CBS Radio News
27 -
Charlie Burger - WKTU
27 -
Herb Barry - WLTW
28 -
Rosemary Daniel (Size 9) Wife of WCBS FM's Dan Daniel
29 -
Marc Coppola - WAXQ
30 -
Bea Wain - WMCA, WABC
30 -
Ted David - WPIX FM, ABC Radio Network, WNSR, CNBC TV
DEATHS
8 - Gene Klavan - WNEW -
2004
9 - Sandy Becker - WWRL, WNEW -
1996
10 -
Long John Nebel - WNBC - 1978
10 -
Eddie O’Jay - WLIB, WWRL - 1998
15 -
Pat Parson - WCBS - 2004
20 -
Jim Donnelly - WNEW, WCBS - 2002
22 -
Gene Edwards - WMGM, WTFM, WQEW - 2001
23 -
Howard Cosell - ABC Radio Sports - 1995
24 -
Steve Lundy - WNBC - 1999
25 -
Roger Troutman - WRKS - 1999
26 -
Bob Dayton - WABC - 1995
27 -
Edward R. Murrow - CBS Radio News - 1965
28 -
Enoch Gregory (The Dixie Drifter) - WWRL - 2000
RADIO ANNIVERSARIES
1 - WOR FM (98.7) signs on as
W71NY - 1941
1 - WWDJ switches from rock
to religious - 1974
2
- CBS becomes first 24-hour radio network - 1973
3 - Murray the K leaves WNBC -
1974
3 - WSKQ (620 AM) changes call
letters to WXLX - 1995
7 - WNEW FM plays 2-millionth song
(God Gave Rock & Roll To You - Argent) - 1986
8
- Gary Stevens starts at WMCA - 1965
9 - Pat St. John starts at WPLJ -
1973
9 - WBGO (88.3 FM) changes format
to Jazz - 1979
9 - WDBZ becomes WBIX (105.1) -
1998
10 -
AFTRA strike ends - 1967
10 -
The short-lived “Blink” format debuts on WNEW FM (102.7) - 2003
11 -
Norm N. Nite starts at WCBS FM - 1973
11 -
Scott Shannon starts at WPLJ - 1991
12 -
WTJM (105.1 FM) switches call letters to WWPR - 2002
12 -
Don Imus last show at WFAN - 2007
13 -
Music ‘Til Dawn with host Bob Hall premiers on WCBS (880 AM) - 1953
14 -
WPIX FM switches from new wave back to pop - 1980
17 -
WRFM (105.1) switches from beautiful music to soft rock WNSR - 1986
17 -
Last broadcast of the Mutual Broadcasting System - 1999
19 -
WINS drops Top 40 and goes all news - 1965
21 -
David Lee Roth does last show at WFNY - 2006
22 -
Soupy Sales starts at WNBC - 1985
22 -
Paul “Cubby” Bryant starts at Z-100 (WHTZ 100.3 FM) - 1996
28 -
WEVD (1050 AM) changes call letters to WEPN - 2003
30 -
First “Arthur Godfrey Time” on CBS Radio - 1945
30 -
Last “Arthur Godfrey Time” on CBS Radio - 1972
30 -
WOR moves to 111 Broadway - 2005
APPLE BITES CALENDAR FOR
MAY
BIRTHDAYS
1 - Mike Fitzgerald - WCBS FM,
WLTW
1 - Al Meredith - WCBS FM ND
2 - Steve O'Brien
- WABC, WYNY and elsewhere!
4 - Gene Klavan - WNEW, WOR
4 - Ed Baer - WMCA, WHN, WYNY,
WCBS FM
5 - Ted Brown - WOR, WNEW, WMGM,
WNBC
6 - Sandy Jackson - WLTW
7 - Cheryl Santarelli - wife of
APPLE BITES
editor Vince Santarelli
7 - Win Elliot - Voice of New York
Rangers
7 - Jim Lowe - WNEW
7 - Tony Mascaro - WPLJ MD
8 - Bill Lee - WQHT, WKTU, WCBS FM
9 - Ken Dashow - WAXQ
10 - Scott Muni - WMCA, WABC, WOR FM, WNEW FM, WAXQ
10 - George Taylor Morris - WWDJ, WPIX FM
10 - Bob Buchmann- WAXQ (PD)
16 - Bobby Konders - WBLS, WQHT
17 - Vic Latino - WKTU
19 - Michael and Patrick Harrison - sons of Harry Harrison
20 - Stan Lomax - WOR sports
21 - Jack Kratoville - WLTW
22 - Mike Breen - radio voice of New York Knicks
23 - Ed Salamon president of Unistar (former PD of WHN)
24 - Valerie Smaldone - WLTW
25 - Lindsey Nelson - voice of the Mets 1962 - 1978
25 - Rosko - WNEW FM, WQIV, WBLS, WKTU
26 - Romeo - WHTZ
29 - Frank Morano - producer of WABC’s Curtis & Kuby & Sat. Nite Oldies
30 - Herb Oscar Anderson - WABC
31 - Ross Britain - WABC, WHTZ
DEATHS
3 - Robert Alda - WEVD (Father of Alan
Alda) - 1986
7 - Don McNeill - ABC Radio Breakfast
Club - 1996
9 - Paul Sherman - WINS - 1983
10 - Ed Jordan - WABC staff announcer - 2004
17 - Long John Wade - WCBS FM - 2006
19 - Henry Morgan - WMCA, WOR, WNBC - 1994
20 - “Pretty” Patti Harrison - wife of Harry Harrison - 2003
31 - Arlene Francis - WOR - 2001
RADIO ANNIVERSARIES
3 -
Beautiful music WTFM changes to Album WAPP - 1982
7 - Dan Ingram does his last show
at WABC - 1982
7 - WYNY (107.1 FM) drops country
format - 2002
8 - Top 20 Countdown debuts on
WCBS FM - 1982 (year was 1963)
8 - Rhumba 107.1 debuts on 107.1
FM - 2002
9 - Alan Freed does last show at
WINS - 1958
9 - Start of automation on WRFM
(105.1) - 1967
10 - The music dies at WABC - 1982
14 - Ron Lundy starts at WCBS FM - 1984
15 - Peter Tripp of WMGM found guilty of 35 counts of “commercial bribery” -
1961
17 - WJRZ Country becomes WWDJ Top 40 - 1971
18 - Bobby Jay starts full time at WCBS FM - 1986
19 - Alan Freed, Mel Leeds and Tommy Smalls indicted on payola charges - 1960
20 - WRCA becomes WNBC (660 AM) - 1960
20 - Dennis Quinn starts at WPIX FM (101.9) - 1971
22 - Dave Herman starts at WNEW FM (“Hello It’s Me” - Nazz) - 1972
24 - WFNY switches back to rock format - 2007
25 - Champaine starts at WBLS - 1983
26 - Dan Daniel starts at WCBS FM - 1996
26 - WNWK (105.9) changes from multicultural to Spanish - 1998
27 - WCAA switches to “Reggaeton” format as “La Kalle 105.9 - 2005
28 - WINS (1010 AM) - WMGM (1050 AM) Charles DeGaulle prank - 1958
29 - Jack Spector starts at WMCA - 1961
29 - NBC’s “News & Information Service” signs off - 1977
31 - WFNY switches call letters back to WXRK - 2007
APPLE BITES CALENDAR FOR
JUNE
BIRTHDAYS
1 - Paul “Cubby” Bryant- WHTZ,
WKTU
5 - Dennis O’Mara former WCBS FM
Afternoon Traffic Reporter
5 - Eric Wellman - WAXQ (APD/MD)
6 - Larry Berger - WPLJ (PD)
7 - Quincy McCoy - WKTU, WXRK,
WNEW, WQCD, WBLS
9 - Jessica Ettinger - WYNY, WWPR,
WPLJ, WLTW, WBBR, WINS
10 - B.
Mitchell Reed - WMCA
11 -
Peter Tripp - WMGM
12 -
Marv Albert - THE Voice Of The Knicks And Rangers and now the Nets
14 -
Gus Gossert - WCBS FM, WPIX FM
16 -
Jay Sorensen - WNBC
16 -
Alan Ross - WPIX FM, WPAT, WNSR, WMXV, WYNY (Y-107)
21 -
Moire Mason - WWFS (GM), WCBS FM (GM)
21 -
Joe Rosati - WHTZ
22 -
Lee Arnold - WJRZ, WHN, WQEW, WNSW
23 -
Michael Baisden - WRKS
24 -
Jack Sterling - WCBS, WHN
24 -
Don Davis - WMCA (Don Baldwin - WINS)
25 -
Ron Lundy - WABC, WCBS FM
26 -
Rick Sommers - WLTW, WNEW FM
26 -
Tanya Simpson - WRKS
26 -
Michael Baisden - WRKS
26 -
Diana King - WBLS, WTJM, WRKS
30 -
Lori Jordan - WCBS FM Afternoon Traffic Reporter
DEATHS
4 - Bob Fitzsimmons - WHN, WNBC,
WNEW - 1993
9 - Jack Lacy - WINS - 1996
10 -
Lindsey Nelson - Voice Of The Mets - 1995
12 -
Ted Cott - WNYC, WNEW (PD), WNBC (GM) - 1973
15 -
Ronnie Grant - WWDJ - 1985
16 -
Mel Allen - Voice Of The Yankees - 1996
18 -
Nick Charles - WPIX FM - 2006
22 -
Rick Sklar - WABC PD - 1992
22 -
Rick Shaw - WXLO - 1998
23 -
Freddie Robbins - WOV, WHN, WINS, WABC, WNEW - 1992
26 -
Stan Lomax - WOR - 1987
29 -
Scott Robbins - WPIX FM - 2002
RADIO ANNIVERSARIES
1 - WRCA Changes call letters back
to WNBC - 1960
1 - Don Imus starts in radio at
KUTY (Palmdale, Ca) - 1968
2 - Alan Freed starts at WABC -
1958
2 - Bobby Jay starts the “New York
Oldies Party” on WCBS FM (later known as
“Juke Box Saturday Night”) - 1995
3 - WCBS FM (101.1) changes to the
“Jack” format - 2005
4 - WNBC FM (97.1) switches format
to “The Rock Pile” - 1973
4 - WNWK changes call letters to
WCAA - 1998
5 - WHOM (Spanish) becomes WKTU
(Mellow) - 1975
8 - Dan Ingram does last show at
WCBS FM - 2003
12 -
Monitor debuts on the NBC Radio Network - 1955
12 -
WABC and WPLJ sold to Citadel Broadcasting - 2007
14 -
Blue Network becomes the ABC Radio Network - 1945
14 -
WNJR changes call letters to WNSW - 1999
15 -
NBC Blue Network becomes ABC - 1945
16 -
Bob-A-Loo joins WABC - 1962
17 -
Joe McCoy leaves as PD at WCBS FM - 2004
18 -
NBC’s Monitor program expands to 8 AM Saturday to Midnight Sunday -
1955
18 -
WNBC FM becomes WNWS - 1975
19 -
WMCA begins using “The Good Guys” - 1962
23 -
Don McNeill debuts as host of The Breakfast Club - 1933
29 -
Wolfman Jack does last show at WNBC - 1974
29 -
Joe McCoy starts as WCBS FM PD - 1981
30 -
WPLJ switches from AOR To Top 40 - 1983
EDITOR'S NOTE
There’s something that’s been bothering me for quite some time and I think I
just have to get this off my chest. On the one hand, it is wonderful that we
have WCBS FM back, even though it’s not the old WCBS FM that we all knew and
loved. But they’re back and doing very well at what they do. However, there are
some things on the station that absolutely scream “WE ARE CHEAP!” Has anyone
noticed that the only jocks with jingles are those that had them before the flip
to Jack. Dan Taylor, Bob Shannon and Pat St. John. Everybody else has those God
awful sonovox shouts that they probably did in their own production room. I
know, I know, the average listener doesn’t even notice and probably doesn’t give
a hoot. But to a trained radio ear, they sound terrible. Come on CBS, spend a
few bucks and get name jingles for Bill Lee, Ron Parker, Jeff Mazzei and all of
the weekend folks. Not only would it sound better, it would make the station
more consistent. Oh, and voice tracking the overnight? I know, once again the
average listener doesn’t know about it and doesn’t care, but I can’t help it.
It’s terrible. Nothing against Jeff Mazzei, the concept just doesn’t make it.
You know what’s going to happen some day? The Mets will play another of their
marathon, extra-inning ball games at Shea one night and we won’t be able to get
the final score from CBS FM because there’s no one there. All joking aside, and
this is to every other New York station that voice tracks the over nights. Voice
tracking is something they do in small and medium markets. It’s not something
that should be done in New York City. What would Long John Nebel say, or Charlie
Greer for that matter. Some of the best memories of New York radio come from the
all night shows of the past. The Milkman’s Matinee springs to mind. Ah well, we
have our memories. And I’m probably just beating my head against the wall. But
it feels so good when I stop. Remember, the answers to all 40 questions will be
in the next issue of
APPLE BITES
in the summer.
Vince Santarelli
Editor
Apple Bites is written and
maintained by Vince Santarelli.
If you have suggestions for additions or comments you can e-mail Vince at
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