PITTSBURGH Pennsylvania
“2001 A RADIO ODYSSEY”

 by John R. Malicky

“This is KDKA of the Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing Company in East Pittsburg(h), Pennsylvania. We shall now broadcast the election returns.” Then the music begins and builds from Richard Strauss’ “Also Sprach Zarathustra” with the first movement, “Thus Spake Zarathustra”, also known as the theme from the movie, “2001, A Space Odyssey.” In between the crescendos, this passage was read, “From the pioneer broadcast station of the world and that first voice 80 years ago … to the voices of today and beyond,  to preserve our community’s achievement and recognize all who shall be known… the National Radio Club and the DX Audio Service present… Pittsburgh 2001, A Radio Odyssey!”

Thus, on Friday, August 31 at 8 PM, our official greeting was played and read to commence this year’s 2001 convention. We thank member Bonnie Starr whose idea from one year ago at Lima 2000 was to create our slogan and inspiration for this year.

So in a way, from KDKA’s first official broadcast on November 2, 1920, Pittsburgh has become a ‘radio odyssey’. Though many cities in the US have several great radio stations, Pittsburghers take pride to know we have KDKA and other fine stations. On behalf of those involved, I tried to how our best side with tours of various stations. For their efforts and permission, we thank KDKA’s Greg Jena, WJAS/WPTT/WSHH’s Phil Lenz, and WQED’s Paul Johnston for their cooperation on these tours. The connections are that KDKA was the first, WJAS is almost as old as KDKA and DX’er friendly, and WQED is community minded and the first public TV station in America. In all I hoped to provide an entertaining, enjoyable, and informative convention. From the excitement during most activities to the tour hosts involved, I think that was accomplished.

Through our contacts, two media services provided some mentions. From the August 8th Post-Gazette, staff writer Adrian McCoy wrote information while KDKA TV’s Community Reporter Dave Crawley arranged for a camera and a 20-second segment during Friday August 31st’s 5 to 6 PM news!

There were other features for our convention. With a creative idea, I was able to design a special commemorative 2001 odyssey shirt and magnet. In the colors of black and gold to honor gur Steelers, Pirates, and Penguins, the shirts had a radio antenna with spiraling waves. Inside the outer spiral were 16 local station call letters to represent those either licensed to the city of Pittsburgh or who identify with a community close to the city, To my best estimation, the 16 were listed according to the earliest on air date beginning with KDKA, KQV, etc. As a promotion, the magnet was designed in the shape of an old radio and the Topeka P.O. Box 5711 as a contact. The magnets were enclosed free in the- 13 piece ‘goodie’ bag and the shirts sold for $10 with 31 being sold, My hopes are that you’ll be able to acquire both of these through NRC Publications. Also, a special bulletin was copied and passed out to all local stations during the week leading up to Friday August 31. With special thanks for the bulletin from friend and new member Jim Orkwis, each station visited provided donations as long as a written letter with NRC stationery was presented to verify our convention. For the first time at any convention, Pittsburgh Vision Services and Judith Myers typed the schedule of events in Braille, which were passed out to our blind DXAS members. Also, to honor the wives of members and women of the club, each was given a pink or orange rose.

Many thanks to the following members either for their help and/or donations. My sincerest thanks and wishes start with John and Linda Bowker for their assistance with registration, name tags, audio recording, auction fund processing, and recommendations. They are two of the -finest people you’d ever want to know and be of assistance! Also, thanks to Ernie Wesolowski for videotaping and help, DXN Publisher Paul Swearingen for leading the NRC business meeting and auction, Scott Fybush for a fine last-minute speech after dinner Saturday night, Bruce Conti for an enjoyable phased-antenna demonstration Sunday night, Ben Dangerfield for an interesting talk Saturday morning, and even though they were unable to come, thanks for copies of the local AM bandscan tape and donations to Fred Vobbe, and donations for the auction from Mike Sanburn with the fine air-checks taped from stations around the country, and donations from Powell E. Way III, Dale Park, Wally Wawro, and anyone else I failed to mention. Finally, to local member Curt White my thanks for his assistance and in contacting local members.

Now on with the show!

Our first day, Friday August 31st, opened with registration that began at 10 AM in the Edgar Thomson Room. The room is named for a local industrialist whose name also appears for the USS Works in Braddock, PA. Of note, we also wish to thank the Pittsburgh Greentree Radisson for their fine hotel, food, and assistance. Special thanks go to my coordinator, Convention Services Director, Ruth Ann Ryan, Bell Captain Bob Bittles, and Front Office Manager Colleen Bach! By 12:30 PM and with arrangements with the Radisson coutesy van, 10 members were taken to KDKA-1020 at One Gateway Center downtown off Ft. Duquesne Blvd. near Point State Park.: Four other members followed for a most enjoyable and well-received tour! Our tour host, Greg Jena, Director of Marketing and Promotion, guided us through the AM studios of which the building also houses TV 2 and UPN 19 WNPA. KDKA radio has been at Gateway One since May, 1956 when the building opened, and is now owned by Infinity. Three other co-owned FM stations, WBZZ, WZPT, and WDSY, are located in Foster Plaza Building 5 in Greentree, not far from the Radisson. The world’s pioneer station had several walls filled with local personalities’ pictures, past promotional items, pictures of the KDKA transmitter in Allison Park, banners, and at least 50 awards in past years for “Excellence In Broadcasting” presented by the “Pennsylvania Association of Broadcasters!”

Upon our arrival we were greeted by a TV 2 cameraman for the video during the late afternoon news! During our visit, we also met Program Director P.J. Kumanchik, and News Reporter Michael Whitely! Thanks KDKA for a great visit!

The KDKA tour, which lasted almost one-and-a-half hours, ended with two significant events and a third if I planned to make some remarks. The first was a special group photo outside Gateway yard. Thirteen members stood in front of a Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission plaque dated 1990 which read, “RADIO STATION KDKA World’s first commercial station began operating November 2, 1920, when KDKA reported Harding-Cox election returns from a makeshift studio at the East Pittsburgh Works of Westinghouse. Music, sports, talks, and special events were soon being regularly aired.” The second was a thunderstorm which just started as we climbed back aboard the Radisson courtesy van with Joe as our driver! The third and unplanned event would have been to honor the plaque laid into the sidewalk at Gateway – One and KDKA’s employee entrance which stated, “Pittsburgh’s Radio Station KDKA AM 1020 KDKA Radio Time Capsule Commemorating the 80th Anniversary of the World’s First Radio Station Placed: November 2, 2000 Open: November 2, 2050.” Special significance for myself as I did attend that historic placing of the new capsule and opening of the old one from 1970. It was also where I met Greg and many KDKA radio and TV personalities. Of note during our visit, Greg Jena did mention a special announcement would be forthcoming on Thursday morning, September 6, 2001 when morning host John Cigna would yield to a new morning personality. This would also be mentioned on their website at: www.kdkaradio.com. However Mr, Cigna let half of the mention slip on Tuesday, the 4th that he would cut back and Thursday we found out it was KDKA TV personality Larry Richert that would take over.

Upon returning to the Radisson, we would take cover from the downpour only to get soaked anyway for our next event! At 3 PMI a visit was arranged with Engineering Manager Phil Lenz for Renda Broadcasting Corporation’s WSHH-99.7/WJAS-1320/WETT-1360 at 900 Parish Street on the third floor. So while we did need some towels to dry off, Phil was performing some engineering duty in one of the studios and this on his day off! In the meantime, friendly receptionist Robin Walker-Williams and another employee let us sit in the corporate conference room drinking coffee, tea, and just having a good time! Eventually Phil, whom I’ve known for 8 years, came in and talked about all 3 stations. Of note was the topic I brought up and Phil elaborated on was the eventual move within a year of 1320’s 2 tower site in the city. Member Scott Fybush also wanted more information to perhaps write a story in an upcoming Radio World article. Finally making our way to tour all 3 studios, we came upon midday talk host Doug Hoerth on WPTT which member Mike Lantz had the pleasure to greet because Mike had talked to Doug before when Mr. Hoerth broadcasted in Miami! Even Mike’s dog Lexie was thrilled!

We also met Hank Baughman who works at the stations and “Wish” midday host Dan Dunlap. The programs for each station are as follows, WJAS with nostalgia and live up to 3 PM, WPTT with local talk, now “The Point.” or “get to the point”, and WSHH with adult contemporary.

Friday evening August 31st had three events, two planned and one just arranged that week. Returning from WJAS thanking Phil, Robin, Dan and everyone, a short carpool trip ended just a few minutes ahead of a 5:05 PM tasty Pietro’s pizza party! Six extra large pizzas were ordered, 96 cuts, and within 30 minutes only 2 were left! (And after Paul Swearingen finally arrived after chasing lost baggage, none remained, cold or not.) I guess they were mmmm good! I arranged through Pietro’s which is about 3 miles away because of the owner Pete who became a friend and was son-in-law to local oldie personality “Mad Mike” Metrovich who passed away almost one year ago October 31. Thanks to Pete for the fine pizza and thanks next to Ken Young, Board Member and representative of PARS (Pittsburgh Antique Radio Society) who gave a fine talk on our local club, which collects and acquires old tube radios and keeps the history of Pittsburgh radio alive. I arranged Ken’s visit through PARS President Bonnie Novak who wasn’t able to come, but offered for us Ken’s visit and a ten-minute tape of WWSW-970 jingles from the 1940s sung by Bing Crosby!

Just before the event at 8:10 PM, I decided to open this year’s convention with the theme music and passage along with greetings from four veteran radio local personalities. From the days and weeks before, I was able to interview and record greetings for our convention beginning with Slim Bryant, then Steve Conti, Bill Cardille, and finally Jack Bogut. Famous for “Slim Bryant & The Wildcats” on KDKA from 1941-1959, playing country music, Slim is still going strong at age 92 and arrived in Pittsburgh by accident as his band was touring and ran into the WWII gas shortage, remaining 60 years to the day August 10th, 2001! I caught up with Slim on August 11th, and we had a fine visit including the room in the basement of the Dormont suburb bookstore where he still teaches guitar! Next was CE Steve Conti of KQV-1410 who has been at the station since 1966 and remarked KQV’s 80 year celebration coming up in the fall of 2001! Then a back-to-back visit at WJAS on Tuesday August 28th to interview “Chillie Billie” Cardille who’s on 10-3 PM, and Jack Bogut who begins his morning show at 6-10 AM. Both are very delightful gentlemen who have much ‘claim to fame.’ “Please call me Bill” Cardille was the regular host 30 some years ago on then WIIC TV 11 with Chiller Theater and is one of three local media persons enshrined in the Pennsylvia Broadcasters Hall of Fame, while Jack Bogut began his radio career in his native Montana at KDBM-1490, KCAP-1340, KBMN (now KGLT), KGHL-790, in Utah at KALL-910, then coming to KDKA in 1968 to take over the morning show until 1983 when Mr. Bogut went over to local WTAE-1250, then later to WSHH, briefly retiring and then returning to WJAS in 1997.

Jack even had a potential sitcom ready to go on ABC in the late 1980’s, called the “Big Sky Cafe.” Mr. Bogut best describes radio as, “the theater of the mind,” and still has these and many more anecdotes during his morning show. Thanks to these fine fellows for following felicitations!

Following the greetings was a salute to those members in attendance and for two that could also been saluted. First to our longest member Kermit Geary who joined the NRC 12 weeks after the club started in 1933 with 68 years and 6 months membership, 6,554 verifications and counting, including picking one up at WKHB-620 and celebrating a 60 year wedding anniversary on September first with wife Charlotte who was also attending and who noticed my misspelling of WBGG on the convention shirt as it was printed “WBBG”. Anyway, congrats Kermit and Charlotte! Next was Ben Dangerfield, a 43-year member, who was born and raised in the ‘Burgh in 1922; then 20-year member John Bowker who was in broadcasting for 58 years; then Jerry Starr, a 39-year NRC vet including NRC Board Member, AMS Editor including AMS DXAS Editor and Corporate Production Manager for Cumulus Broadcasting-Ohio; next, Jerry Bond, NRC member since 1964 and the person who took me to my first convention in Louisville 1982; then writer, Radio World columnist, and editor for Radio Watch, 10-year member Scott Fybush; and finally to Bruce Conti, an NRC member for 25 years and editor for DXAS DX Digest and Popular Communications contributor! Lest we forget, Ernie Wesolowski, NRCer for 42 years who helped with NRC Omaha 1959 and 1992 and has videotaped NRC conventions over 11 years; Paul Mount, a 27-year member and who co-wrote the NRC’s 50th anniversary book, and finally I almost overlooked our publisher Paul Swearingen; how many years in the club and publisher Paul?! (26/13! -pls.) Still, I could have saluted several more members like Ray Arruda, Chris Cuomo, George Greene, Dave Marthouse, Frank Merrill, Al Merriman, Mike Lantz, Wayne Ryan, George Sherman, Bob Smolarek, Robert Stonier, Bill Swiger, Dave Whatmough, and Martin Wishnewitz. Or a salute to all!

At approximately 8:10 PM, the stage was set for Rick Harris, Chairman of the ‘Conrad Project.’ I only got to know Rick in the last few months and through his generosity was able to present a slide show with a taped narration on this project. Briefly, the Conrad Project is named for Dr. Frank Conrad who experimented and built 8XK, the forerunner of KDKA. Then through a series of events, Dr. Conrad was able to receive a license from a random ship-to-shore calls which became KDKA. The world’s first commercially-licensed station, KDKA, was granted on October 27, 1920. All the experiments and later the station itself came from Dr. Conrad’s garage next to his home on Penn Avenue in Wilkinsburg. Of course, the first offical KDKA broadcast on November 2nd came from atop the ‘K’ Building at Westinghouse’s East Pittsburgh Manufacturing plant in Turtle Creek. Leo H. Rosenberg of Westinghouse’s publicity department read that first announcement concerning the Harding-Cox election returns. The studio and transmitter was a shack on the roof of the 8-story building. At that studio for a short time and several other places in the area KDKA commenced regular broadcasts before moving its actual studio into downtown Pittsburgh. However and for history’s sake, Dr. Conrad, a Westinghouse engineer who held over 200 patents, and his garage, began the birth of commercial radio. Later as the years passed, the home became the Wilkinsburg Elks Lodge, and then in 1972, the garage was neglected and on the verge of demolition. However, through the efforts of Rick, Alice Sapienza-Donnelly and many others, the garage was saved, but no instance of recognizing it as a museum or moving it to another location.

Finally, this past mid-March through mid April, 2001, a group called the National Museum of Broadcasting led by Rick and Alice was able to save the garage removing it piece by piece and placed in storage. There were enough funds to do this, but not save the house except for some mantel pieces and other small items. In this month of August, 2001, the National Geographic Channel was in Pittsburgh to document this garage saving event and interview Ms. Donnelly for a special to air on their channel November 2, 2001, the 81st birthday of KDKA. We do hope any or all our members will tune in to hear this story. Thus the ‘Conrad Project’ continues in the efforts that someday a museum will be created for the garage! Rick’s presentation was enthusiacally received by the members and he has let it be known that I will be his direct contact for the NRC if any new information for the ‘Conrad Project’ is updated. We had hoped to record Mr. Harris’ presentation, but due to copyright designation, this did not occur. Once again as Jack Bogut suggests, “its a theater of the mind!” Anyway, thanks Rick and much success to establish a KDKA museum!

With the storm front passed, we began a new month on Saturday, September 1st with bright blue skies. ‘Ole blue eyes himself’, Ben Dangerfield entertained the members and myself with a discussion, “Through the Years Down Memory Lane” describing how it was to be raised and grow up listening to and experiencing early Pittsburgh radio during the 1930’s and 40’s. Ben’s half-hour time limit actually went almost an hour towards 11:30 AM, but it was ours to hear and treasure Ben’s unlimited speech! Thanks, Ben, and thanks to all who decided to go on our next venture which was an abbreviated and self-narrated tour of our brand-new home for Pirate baseball, the “jewel of the North Shore”, PNC Park. I only alloted 15-20 minutes for a brief walk around the park, as the team’s tourist department scheduled inside tours only on weekdays. So we saved $6.00!

We also saved our time as it became well spent upon our next stop in the city’s Oakland section and home to our public broadcaster, WQED-89.3/WOED-13/WQEX-16. Located at 4802 Fifth Avenue, our host was Paul Johnston, Community Broadcasts Manager and midday 12-3 PM host on “All Classical 89.3”! As all of the 22 members and guests arrived by car within 15 minutes of each other, we began the tour of the large concrete building, ‘The Bayer Broadcast Center for the Arts’, around 1:30 PM. All of the doors except for the back were electronically alarmed, so it became necessary to enter that way. On a personal note, I’ve greatly enjoyed classical music for over 23 years and have found Mr. Johnston to be a very interesting and informative personality, much like our tour, and rate his ‘broadcast voice’ to be in the ‘top 5’ if not the best locally. Our previous agreement was to have Paul come to the Radsson, but this worked even better! On that morning, I was surprised to-learn that the station’s repeater, WOEJ-89.7, was doing a remote at a summer festival in Johntown, PA. Still, it was entertaining for Paul and our members to hear and/or see the stations. Some highlights included Mr. Johnston’s description of ‘Mr. Rodger’s Neighborhood’ set for this is the last year for the kind and generous Fred Rogers show produced for children. We also came upon Studio A and B for TV 13 and 16 while downstairs we descended to find 89.3 home of “the original oldies!” An impressive record library of old albums and the current music on CD’s can be accessed at any time. The station even has a recording studio complete with a baby grand piano. All the equipment is up to date far removed from the day 89.3 signed on January 25, 1973. The stations rely on a paid staff, hundreds of volunteers, and thousands of benefactors through pledge drives 2-3 times a year.

WQED Pittsburgh, the parent company, is nationally-, if not internationally-known, and has under its ownership Pittsburgh magazine, “On Q Magazine”, a locally produced TV information show, and has a direct line of contact and records Pittsburgh Symphony broadcasts. 89.3 also produces local recordings of classical music over speakers in the city’s three subway stations downtown and at Pittsburgh International Airport.

WQED TV’S producer and writer Rick Sebak has 25 videos of Pittsburgh and statewide places, events, and themes including his latest, “Something About Oakland” of which the video opens at my cousin’s store, “Groceria Merante!” I’m in negotiations with Rick to produce ‘Something About the NRC!’ Anyone can access the FM at www.wqed.org/fm. Our final gathering was a group photo with Paul outside the station, shot by two women walking by (hey, sign ’em up!), and in front of the designated plaque, “STATION WQED Television station, located here, opened April (l) 1954, as first community-sponsored educational television station in America. In 1955, it was the first to telecast classes to elementary schools.” Thank you, Paul, and WQED for a ‘Bach to reality’ tour!

Nearing 3 PM and a scheduled event, plus the enthusiastic interest from member Bruce Conti, three cars arrived at our next destination, Dr. Conrad’s old home. Located about three miles east of WOED in Wilkinsburg, the wrecking ball will come soon for the house as it’s to be replaced by a larger Wendy’s (Wendy’s?!) restaurant as the smaller one is across the street. The plaque which was mounted on a pole in front of the house is gone, but I was able to photograph it on July 7 and made a copy in the bulletin on the back page for all attendees. Thus it stated, “FRANK CONRAD (1874-1941) At his garage workshop here in 1919-1920, Conrad made broadcasts over his amateur station, 8XK, which introduced the concept of commercial radio and led to the start of KDKA. For 37 years a Westinghouse engineer, he held over 200 patents.”

Now to further satisfy our quest, our odyssey, we headed east about 4 miles on Penn Avenue splitting from route 8 onto Greensburg Pike, a very small sign almost missed by the head vehicle. With Rick Harris’ directions, two cars turned right at Perry Street, one block past the yellow brick school office building while Ernie Wesolowski made the turn one street before. No matter, as Ernie would go back Sunday the 2nd with our publisher Paul Swearingen. For the first time ever, I visited a local site I never knew existed and with little fanfare, but yet as the plaque read, “PIONEER SHORT-WAVE STATION On this site in 1923, Westinghouse opened a special radio facility to experiment with long-distance transmissions. Led by Frank Conrad, engineers here demonstrated the vital role of high-frequency shortwaves in sending broadcasts around the world.” With the building in the background, a different plaque on a large stone read, “FOREST HILLS – WESTINGHOUSE RECREATION CENTER Donated to the People of Forest Hills by CBS/Westinghouse Electric Corporation This historic location was the site of the first worldwide radio broadcasts by KDKA in the 1820s, and the earliest transmissions of electronic television images. It later served as a popular recreation center for Westinghouse employees and retirees, for over 70 years. Dedicated June 19, 1999″ This almost too-quiet setting had in fact been a gathering place as well as a historical one. This is also the site the National Museum of Broadcasting would hope to rebuild and relocate Dr. Conrad’s garage, but they need the Forest Hills community to rescind control of the building for this to happen. Our final destination which I only found on July 7th was about 2 miles down the Pike to the old Westinghouse East Pittsburgh plant. The sprawling works is almost vacant except for a few businesses now known as Keystone Commons.

With a left turn and circling the block, I directed 4 members to the site of the first KDKA historic broadcast and another eerie feeling, but also quite nostalgic! Here before us were 2 plaques, one placed atop the other by electronic engineers and this one, ‘This plaque marks the historical location of RADIO STATION KDKA The world’s first commercial radio station and the site of the first and most famous broadcast, the Harding-Cox election returns on November 2, 1920 Erected on Jdne 17, 1977 by the Turtle Creek Bicentennial Commission and Westinghouse Electrical Corporation under the Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission Historical Sites & Landmarks” The holy grail had been found, our odyssey was complete! Behind the plaques and still standing, but completely closed was the 8 story ‘K’ Building, and somehow you could even more sense a chilling feeling or was it just the wind?! In any event, our journey today was complete, and now to the NRC Dinner!

Returning to the Radisson, five standard convention events occurred as they do normally, but all important and enjoyable, plus an added one in the late evening. First was the ‘state of the union address’ or the NRC Business Meeting conducted by Paul Swearingen, filling in and doing a commendable talk. Simply put, the NRC is healthy, but dues are going up and the AM Log Book was almost done, but was not released yet, so as always, thanks Wayne Heinen and crew! Next was the group photo in the hotel miniature golf courtyard, the photographer was my friend and Pittsburgh (Hail to Pitt!) college buddy, Dan Emerick!

Next at 6 PM was dinner and musical interludes in the Stephen Foster Room, a buffet style dinner enjoyed by all! Next was our speaker, Scott Fybush, notified just a few minutes earlier, apologies for the unexpected request, but a really informative and enjoyable talk on the current state of radio and satellite radio, thanks Scott! My original guest would have been legendary local personality, Mr. Bill Brant. Bill was in local radio and some TV for 45 years beginning in 1942 at WJPA-1450, WWSW-970, KDKA radio and TV and the forerunner, WDTV-3, then finally at WJAS retiring.in 1987. Still a musician, Bill had throat surgery a week before and was not allowed to speak. In between, we met a friend of Scott’s, Mr. Ray Rosenblum, a local media broker. Ray buys and sell radio stations and is the son of W Issac Samuel Rosenblum of WISR-680 Butler, PAI thanks for visit Ray and let’s sign him up! Following Scott’s speech, we returned to the Thomson Room for a drawing of 2 door prizes, a 50/50 raffle with $64 won by Ray Arruda, and the always infamous NRC/DXAS Auction! Again, Paul Swearingen served as auctioneer and this host served as the hostess, or assisted Paul! The two-and-a-half-hour auction wrapping up around 10:45 PM netted $508.06 and all proceeds have been sent to NRC Treasurer Dick Truax.

Two highlights as Richard Lucas won a KDKA short sleeve with collar shirt and Dave Marthouse of WODY-1230 won the KDKA 80th anniversary CD, plus many people bid a few bucks to win some, “crap!” Following the auction, Curt White hosted a DXpediton outside the hotel.

On a beautiful Sunday morning, September 2, there were several enjoyable events as the exhausted host almost slept through all of them! We began with a delicious NRC/DXAS Breakfast Buffet in the Foster Room which was actually 30 minutes longer past 9:30 AM. The breakfast was followed by the DXAS Travellog hosted by John Bowker in the Thomson Room. Five DXAS members participated plus a potential new member, Paul Blais, made it six! The frequency John chose was 670.

Next was a Verbal DX Quiz hosted by John and myself which turned out to be too easy for most. Then free time as several members took rides on the Gateway Clipper fleet on Pittsburgh’s 3 rivers. In the meantime, I had hoped to arrange some spaces on “Just Ducky Tours” which narrates a tour of the city from land and water, but this did not occur and my apologies. Later in the day, an impromptu ‘NRC Roundtable’ took place with interviews from always interesting Clarke Imgram who noted local changes including WPIT-730 picking up Dr. Laura and local talk and his release from WJJJ-104.7 “The Beat”, Dave Marthouse co-owner of WODI-1230 always with a laugh or a compliment or praising spam (!), Larry Stolar or Larry ‘Steele’ named after ‘The Real’ Don Steele by friend Dave as both could rival any local morning team, Bob Antoniuk who’s a high school sports fan and does announcing on WGHT-1500 NJ, and finally a kind gentleman from Cincinnati, Clarence Cordrey.

Our final convention event was an extremely interesting and informative demonstration of phased antennas for reception of transatlantic signals by Bruce Conti. Across the hall, the Heinz Room was secured for Bruce’s demonstration which consisted of running two long-wires 230′ out the sliding glass door and attached to his Drake R8. It was noted reception would have been better if a room on the 6th floor was reserved so the wires could have run down from a higher distance. However, in between all the hotel noise and slop from WAM0-860, Bruce nabbed Croatia 1134, France-l62, St. Pierre-l375, and a likely het from Slovakia-l098.

Though to best describe conditions tonight according to Frank Merrill, “Nor-way tonight!” Thanks Bruce for an enjoyable session!

Our gratitude goes to many people, but to mention a few now go to Paul Kemp-Pittsburgh Convention Bureau, Fred Osterman at Universal Radio, Inc., Fair Radio Sales, and Antique Radio Supply, ‘All Ads Up’ silk screeners, Judi Castelli Killen at Jones Associates for the magnets, Sheri Rusiski of the Pittsburgh Pirates, Larry Berger for 2 psas on WYEP-91.3, Dave Crawley at KDKA TV 2, my friends, and all of you members who attended and – those that could not attend. Best of success to my friend and roommate, though not this year, to Chris Cuomo for his attempt to host NRC 2002 in Birmingham, AL. Our decision was not complete when we departed. Thanks to all and God Bless America.

73s, John Malicky
NRC/DXAS Pittsburgh 2001 “A Radio Odyssey”

Attendees:

  • PA: Mr. & Mrs. B. Dangerfield, Mr. & Mrs. K. Geary, C. Ingram, J. Malicky, J. Orkwis, C. White, D. Emerick
  • NJ: R. Antoniuk, P. Mount, R. Smolarek, Mr. & Mrs. R. Stonier MA: Mr. & Mrs. R. Arruda (wins the first-time-in Pittsburgh award)
  • ON: P. Blais, J. Calleyal P. Ryan, D. Whatmough
  • NY: J. Bond, S. Fybush, R. Lucas, L. McCusker, M. Wishnewwitz
  • FL: Mr. & Mrs. J(L Bowker, M. Lantz MD: R. Clark
  • NH: B. Conti
  • OH: C. Cordreyl G. Greene, Mr. & Mrs. J. Starr AL: C. Cuomo KY: M. Dunn TN: D. Jones
  • VA: D. Marthouse, A. Merriman MN: G. Sherman CT: L. Stolar
  • KS: P. Swearingen
  • WV: Mr. & Mrs. B. Swiger
  • WA: S. Weisbeck (wins the unoffical NRC/DXAS Award for Furthest Attendee)
  • NE: E. Wesolowski