September Newsletter September Newsletter

2002-2003

September Meeeting Reception 12:00 noon Lunch 12:30 pm Bala Golf Club Ratecard $18 Members / $20 Non-members September 18, 2002 Phone 610-436-4217 Inside this issue:

Where did the summer go? It anchor, Ukee Washington, fellowship of your broadcasting Passages 2 was hot, and dry, but wonder- anchor, and Susan Schiller, buddies. It’s at Bala Golf Club ful, and it’s over and back to news director, will kick off the again this year - 12 noon re- business for the Broadcast Pio- 2002-2003 season of Pioneers. ception, 12:30 lunch. New Members and 2 neers of . Happenings

The date is September 18, the PLEASE, PUHLEEZE, don’t More Happenings 2 Have we got a great way to get third Wednesday, as usual. forget to call reservations back to business. We’ve n-i 610-436-4217. vited the good folks from Channel 3 to grace us with their You’ve gotta be there to enjoy presence, and Pat Ciarrocchi, the program, the lunch and the

ATTENTION BOARD MEMBERS

There will be a board meet- ing at 10:30 am at Bala Golf Club prior to the luncheon on September 18. Board Pat Ciarrocchi Ukee Washington Susan Schiller members please plan to at- tend. June Meeting Hall of Fame / Person of the Year

A great time was had by all at The Hall of Fame dinner com- and Program Director at WIP, If your name isn’t in the the June meeting of the Pio- mittee has selected the honor- WPEN and WMGK, Jerry newsletter it’s probably neers. One of the biggest turn- ees for this year’s dinner in No- Blavat, the Geator with the because you haven’t sent outs of the year was there for vember. has been Heater, of Geator Gold Radio information on your activi- speaker John Carlton who chosen as our Person of the and who goes all the way back ties to Paul Norton, 205 talked about his long career in Year for his many years as the to the original Bandstand with Ocean View Blvd., Lewes, broadcasting. John began as an only person to serve as princi- Bob Horne. DE 19958. E-mail Paul at [email protected], or phone actor in radio and TV and pal anchor on ABC, CBS, 1-302-645-8910. We need worked with Ray Walston at NBC, 6, 10 and 3. The Hall of you to keep it going. one point. Veterans in the busi- Fame inductees are: Diego Elected to our Hall of Fame, ness from WPEN and WFIL Castellanos of Puerto Rican posthumously, are Bill Bran- were there to give John a warm Panorama fame on Channel 6, some of KYW and AFTRA, and Ed Papazian who died in “Never slap a man who’s reception, as was Gene Crane Edie Huggins, long time stellar chewing tobacco.” office as President of the who filmed a segment for his 8 reporter on Channel 10, Dean am Sunday morning TV show Tyler, disc jockey at WIBG Broadcast Pioneers. Will Rogers on Channel 10. Passages

The last line of the last item indicates what and died of cardiac arrest on June 24. His Achievement Award of the PAB. a terrible summer it has been for Pioneers. pacemaker failed and was replaced the day Helene Sperka, widow of Hank Sperka, We lost our President, Ed Papazian, on before his death. A veteran of WWII and who lived in Stuart, Fl died at age 70 of Thursday, June 27. He was buried on the 45th Infantry Division, he was awarded cancer. She will be remembered as Chair- Monday, July 1. New President Bill Web- a Purple Heart and Bronze Star. Bill re- person of the Board of the Philadelphia ber graciously agreed to fill the terrific ceived the 1970 Sportscaster of the Year Advertising Club 1979-1981. (Thanks to void that was left by his loss, and Bill sent Award of the UP Hall of Fame, and the her friends Leila Brenner and Vicky out at the time a letter to all members AFTRA George Heller Award. Benedict Farber for information on which included an obituary. Thirty-five Dick Paisley, a Pioneers member, who Helene.) members and eight past Presidents of Pio- worked at WFIL, and was GM at WRCV neers attended the funeral. And our many Temple University Commu- died on August 16 at 83. He had been ill nications School members note with sad- We also lost Bill Bransome, who for many for some time. Dick was with Jan Savitt’s ness the passing of Delwyn Dusenbury, years did news and sports on KYW News- Top Hatters band when he was quite young 83, who taught TV and radio acting, and radio, and became a legend in Philadelphia and in WWII—he was in the US Navy. production. broadcasting. He was President of AFTRA Dick said his hero was Roger Clipp. Last and national board member. Bill was 84 year Dick was the recipient of the Life “When the chips are down the buffalo is empty.” Anon New Members and Happenings

The diligence of Membership Chair Dorie this year. Dave Shayer is a new member the Manayunk Brewery and Restaurant in Lenz has continued the gusher of new and worked at the WFIL stations and Manayunk on December 6, 2002. Every- members. Kathy Taras Earley who was WDVR. Ralph Gaudio of the G Boys one ever associated with WFIL is invited to commercial spokesperson for RCA on the who appeared many times on Captain this gala celebration from 4:30 to 9:00 p.m. 11 o’clock news with Gunnar Back on Noah’s Magical Ark is now a member. Call Tom for more information at 215– WFIL, among many other acting and TV In her note renewing his membership, 487-6500 hosting assignments. Joseph P. Earley, Sherry Parker, Paul Parker’s wife, says he A great fan of Captain Noah (AKA Carter Mr. Rivits, on Channel 3, an actor, writer, had a massive stroke in April and was Merbreier) has constructed a replica of the producer has joined our group. Bob taken to Jefferson Hospital after a tracheot- original “ARK” built by scenic designer Cirillo, who is a stage manager at KYW - omy and losing his ability to speak. He Nat Elkitz of WFIL-TV in 1969. Maria L. TV Channel 3 we hope will soon join us at was “The Question Mike” on WFIL, and Bilbrough, 29, made the model complete meetings, and Johnny Lerro, President of then spent thirty years with WINS in New with its signature sail, binnacle, puppet M-C Produce Co, Inc. Matt McGuigan York, from which he retired. He is con- stage and working Dutch-doors and formerly of WIBF Jenkintown, PA and tinuing his convalescence. “magic” window curtains. It was displayed Frank Stone of Please Touch Museum are for the first time at the June meeting of the new members, as is disc jockey legend Hy Tom Monaghan is hosting, once again, a WFIL Family Reunion on December 6 at Pioneers at Bala where Maria joined Cap- Lit who celebrates 50 years in broadcasting tain and Mrs. Noah.

More Happenings

Congratulations to Pioneers website de- girl. Longevity is in his family as his par- bler. Kal sponsors scholarships for police signer Gerry Wilkinson on the award by ents were in their 90’s when they died. men and women at Camden County Col- Time Magazine’s website for Honorable We have reports that member George lege and at the Philadelphia Community Mention in the category of Best Info Web- Koehler, former GM of the WFIL stations, College. He also provides funds for schol- site. It was in an article by Richard Corliss will be moving to Ohio to be near his chil- arships for firemen and women at Holy entitled: “The First Annual That Old Feel- dren and grandchildren as soon as he Family College ing Awards.” It was also selected as the crosses all the T’s and dot’s the I’s. He Alan Jay is a first time Grandpa, thanks to “Site of the Week” (July 26, 2002) by the will be missed by all his friends in the Pio- daughter Ellen and son-in-law Adam. Alan Special Libraries Association. neers. and his wife Judy welcomed the 8 lb. 11 oz Austin Culmer, 76 visited his Aunt Lena Kal Rudman received the Semper Fidelis Seth Reuben July 26. At that size Alan recently. She is 101 and lives in Nassau, Award from the Marine Corps Law En- hopes he grows up to be an NFL or NBA the Bahamas. Austin came here some forcement Foundation on July 29 at an millionaire, which would allow Alan to years ago and married a event at Oak Terrace Country Club in Am- stop working...at age 95, he says.

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