Comments on: "Polkas, Bartels and Some Dusty LPs." Or, "Remembering WARD-AM." http://www.scottsanfilippo.com/2010/01/polkas-bartels-and-some-dusty-lps-or-remembering-ward-am/ Curmudgeon @ Large Sat, 11 Feb 2012 07:09:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Johnny Randolph http://www.scottsanfilippo.com/2010/01/polkas-bartels-and-some-dusty-lps-or-remembering-ward-am/#comment-103 Johnny Randolph Sun, 29 Aug 2010 00:02:00 +0000 http://www.scottsanfilippo.com/?p=1605#comment-103 I worked for Jim & Sam as a part-timer in the fall of 1981. I was one of the last announcers on the air, before the talk format took hold. After that, I worked Polka Weekends for a while, until I hooked up with Scranton Broadcasters (WGBI AM & FM & WDAU-TV.) Great pictures of the studio, and I hope the attached air checks bring a smile to you. Johnny Randolph http://www.archive.org/details/JohnnyRandolphAirCheckWARDPittstonPA1 http://www.archive.org/details/JohnnyRandolphAirCheckWARDPittstonPA2 I worked for Jim & Sam as a part-timer in the fall of 1981. I was one of the last announcers on the air, before the talk format took hold. After that, I worked Polka Weekends for a while, until I hooked up with Scranton Broadcasters (WGBI AM & FM & WDAU-TV.) Great pictures of the studio, and I hope the attached air checks bring a smile to you.

Johnny Randolph

http://www.archive.org/details/JohnnyRandolphAirCheckWARDPittstonPA1

http://www.archive.org/details/JohnnyRandolphAirCheckWARDPittstonPA2

]]> By: Dave Gallo http://www.scottsanfilippo.com/2010/01/polkas-bartels-and-some-dusty-lps-or-remembering-ward-am/#comment-102 Dave Gallo Tue, 13 Jul 2010 02:11:47 +0000 http://www.scottsanfilippo.com/?p=1605#comment-102 Old radio in central pa! I was at BRX in the mid 80's when Paul Grimes ran the joint. Got to work with the Bill Brady, did nights and weekends with Nikki and John Garcia. Was working there when Challenger exploded. Got to do mornings after the station caught on fire one morning. Had a pretty good run doing the "Solid Gold Sunrise" there. It was a more honest radio then, not the mega corp sanitized thing they do now, Old radio in central pa! I was at BRX in the mid 80′s when Paul Grimes ran the joint. Got to work with the Bill Brady, did nights and weekends with Nikki and John Garcia. Was working there when Challenger exploded. Got to do mornings after the station caught on fire one morning. Had a pretty good run doing the “Solid Gold Sunrise” there. It was a more honest radio then, not the mega corp sanitized thing they do now,

]]> By: Rockin' Rich Nordheim http://www.scottsanfilippo.com/2010/01/polkas-bartels-and-some-dusty-lps-or-remembering-ward-am/#comment-101 Rockin' Rich Nordheim Tue, 30 Mar 2010 06:49:35 +0000 http://www.scottsanfilippo.com/?p=1605#comment-101 Scott thanks for remembering me. Glad to see you're doing well. Jim was also great for inventing sales packages at the Monday Morning Sales Meetings But let's remember who was the best @ selling. I saw Jim have very little info yet still sound like an expert on that business. Some of the others that make a mark on the talk format in the mid-80's were Ed Walison, Rob Neyhard, Bob Murphy and Kay Tracy whose husband was the engineer for Rock 107 at the time. She was a great talent and wrote great copy but unfortunately she didn't get along with Joe Gries and he found a way to get her out the door. Scott thanks for remembering me. Glad to see you’re doing well. Jim was also great for inventing sales packages at the Monday Morning Sales Meetings
But let’s remember who was the best @ selling. I saw Jim have very little info yet still sound like an expert on that business. Some of the others that make a mark on the talk format in the mid-80′s were Ed Walison, Rob Neyhard, Bob Murphy and Kay Tracy whose husband was the engineer for Rock 107 at the time. She was a great talent and wrote great copy but unfortunately she didn’t get along with Joe Gries and he found a way to get her out the door.

]]> By: Scott Sanfilippo http://www.scottsanfilippo.com/2010/01/polkas-bartels-and-some-dusty-lps-or-remembering-ward-am/#comment-100 Scott Sanfilippo Mon, 29 Mar 2010 19:00:54 +0000 http://www.scottsanfilippo.com/?p=1605#comment-100 Hi Rich, Good to hear from you! I remember you quite well. Some great memories of WARD out there! The Garage Sale where you could sell a size 8 blue dress for $3 but no hand guns! Or Sam in the morning with the talent line with people calling in either singing or having their dog bark. Jim is the only guy I knew who could have an idea for a format change at 3pm in the afternoon and make it happen by 7am the next morning!! Hope you're doing well. Hi Rich,

Good to hear from you! I remember you quite well. Some great memories of WARD out there! The Garage Sale where you could sell a size 8 blue dress for $3 but no hand guns! Or Sam in the morning with the talent line with people calling in either singing or having their dog bark. Jim is the only guy I knew who could have an idea for a format change at 3pm in the afternoon and make it happen by 7am the next morning!! Hope you’re doing well.

]]> By: Rockin' Rich Nordheim http://www.scottsanfilippo.com/2010/01/polkas-bartels-and-some-dusty-lps-or-remembering-ward-am/#comment-99 Rockin' Rich Nordheim Mon, 29 Mar 2010 04:23:11 +0000 http://www.scottsanfilippo.com/?p=1605#comment-99 Great pictures! The studio looks the same as when I was there 1981-1985. Which was WARD's heyday. When I started May 1981 as a account executive we were still @ the bottom of the ratings. We had Sam Ligouri in the morning with news and of the ever famous garage sale 9-10. Then came the beginning the WARD's savior. How could we ever forget the "Coping Connection" hosted by Jim Ward. It truly was unique. Many times he would literally being crying when listening to people's problems then do an about face with one of his famous live spot that sometimes ranged from 3-5 minutes. The rest of the day was playing adult contemporary music until sign off (Still 1,000 watts daytime then till about 1985). Some of the DJ's were Maggie King, Norm Hill, Clint Morris and Chet Newhart. But things took off in late 1981 when Andy Thomas was added. Although he and Jim did not see eye to eye; he helped the station received unpredented ratings. In the winter of 1982 we finished 6th out of about 23 stations. Joe Gries came along as Sales Manager and added high school and college sports. In 1983 Polka Weekend was added with Jolly Joe leading the way and overall the station did not leave the Top 10 until Jim added the network talk in the summer of 1985 shortly after I left the station. Although Jim was erratic in his decision he was great to work for and miss him dearly. I learned a lot from him that I still practice to this day. Great pictures! The studio looks the same as when I was there 1981-1985. Which was WARD’s heyday. When I started May 1981 as a account executive we were still @ the bottom of the ratings. We had Sam Ligouri in the morning with news and of the ever famous garage sale 9-10. Then came the beginning the WARD’s savior. How could we ever forget the “Coping Connection” hosted by Jim Ward. It truly was unique. Many times he would literally being crying when listening to people’s problems then do an about face with one of his famous live spot that sometimes ranged from 3-5 minutes. The rest of the day was playing adult contemporary music until sign off (Still 1,000 watts daytime then till about 1985). Some of the DJ’s were Maggie King, Norm Hill, Clint Morris and Chet Newhart. But things took off in late 1981 when Andy Thomas was added. Although he and Jim did not see eye to eye; he helped the station received unpredented ratings. In the winter of 1982 we finished 6th out of about 23 stations. Joe Gries came along as Sales Manager and added high school and college sports. In 1983 Polka Weekend was added with Jolly Joe leading the way and overall the station did not leave the Top 10 until Jim added the network talk in the summer of 1985 shortly after I left the station. Although Jim was erratic in his decision he was great to work for and miss him dearly. I learned a lot from him that I still practice to this day.

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