At "KB" and WBNY, the rock-jock rosters were dotted with the splendid talents of DAN NEAVERTH, TOM SHANNON, JOEY REYNOLDS, DICK BIONDI, PERRY ALLEN, LUCKY PIERRE, TOM CLAY, FRED KLESTINE, and RUSS "THE MOOSE" SYRACUSE. Remembering former Buffalo radio personality Don Berns who passed away on Sunday March 1, 2015. On July 4, 1958, Futursonic Radio was alive on WKBW. His brother, Carlos Carballada, briefly served as interim mayor of Rochester, New York in 2011 and currently serves as Rochester's commissioner of community and economic development. It almost happened! Steve Garrin was the producer and guest booker. With hope and dreams, I turned on the ever present transistor receiver. In 2014, the station was acquired by the prestigious E.W. Tom Shannon, a nationally known disc jockey who made his mark in local broadcasting in the late 1950s with the old WKBW-AM 1520, will retire March 31 as afternoon DJ at WHTT-FM 104.1, a rock. Don Weeks. He instead stated that, though he was comfortable being in the public spotlight, he did not feel an overwhelming need for it and felt that he retired at the right time. The club included a weekly newsletter and discounts from KB advertisers. PHOTOS: WGR turns 100-years-old! - Audacy As program director of WBNY, he shot the 250 watter from near obscurity into first place on both the Pulse and Hooper surveys. Now, more than 50 years later, WKBW-TV has broadcast tens of thousands of movies, local programs, and newscasts. But 370 miles away in Baltimore, the show showed up in the ratings as number 4. Tom could be seen every afternoon from 1965 until 1978, and weekends until 1995. The view of Seneca Street from the Cichons porch on Fairview Place. ", Over the years Sandy has changed stations, formats and hairstyles but feels that Buffalo was always a good fit, saying " I managed to pick places where my personality and the things I like to do fit.". by Contributing Editor April 27, 2023. "The Commander Tom Show" anchored the afternoons with a mix of cartoons and information with Tom Jolls and puppets "Dustmop" and "Mattie The Mod!" Shelton Square, featuring The Palace Burlesk and WWOL Radio. Please contactus at. Marissa Bailey: The former Channel 2 anchor-reporter is on the beach, the phrase that people in the media use after losing their job and not having another lined up yet. The first day was awesome, remembers Art Roberts. Either they werent well financed, or had daytime-only signals so weak that they couldnt be heard throughout the city and all the nearby suburbs. According to sources, her husband is a lawyer in Chicago. He's been inducted into three halls of famebut admits that early on, he did consider being a CPA instead of a radio broadcaster. As the outgoing public face of The Electric Company, Buffalo Bills offensive lineman Reggie McKenzie and his fellow guard Joe DeLamielleure were given plenty of credit for O.J. He had a nightly ritual wearing a purple robe lighting a purple candle on his purple radio while talking over his Night People" instrumental theme which was "Tarantula" by The Tarantulas. 1top single, I Want to Hold Your Hand.. In 1960, Capital Cities Communications purchased the station. Some of his regular voices included "Jack Armstrong" - All American boy; "Maude Frickette" - the 104 year old teenager; and "General Shelby Singleton Silvers Junior Esquire Y'all" - an older southern gentleman. The 25-year veteran of Buffalo radio and television has written five books and curates The Buffalo Stories Archives-- hundreds of thousands of books, images, and audio/visual media which tell the stories of who we are in Western New York. Keep reading with unlimited digital access. On this day, McKenzie dropped by the Buffalo studios of beautiful music WADV-FM to promote two jazz albums that were recorded in the Hotel Statlers Downtown Room. Never before, and never since, has a radio station been so dominant in Buffalo. Jack Armstrong - Buffalo Broadcasters Association In the 70s and 80s, it was difficult to spend a day in Buffalo and not somehow be graced by the voice, smile and personality of Clean Dan Neaverth, a true Buffalonian who never forgot his Seneca Street South Buffalo roots and proudly plied his trade among fellow Buffalonians proud to call him one of us. Either they werent well financed, or had daytime-only signals so weak that they couldnt be heard throughout the city and all the nearby suburbs. Local bands like the Buffalo Beetles, later renamed the Mods, enjoyed popularity and even their own records on the radio. KB and the city of Buffalo played such a special, memorable role in my checkered, disreputable life. The result was a frenzy in which people called each other asking, Is this the WKBW $200 mystery telephone number?. The studio was on rural Niagara Falls Boulevard, in a location which soon would be the home of Swiss Chalet for the next 50 years. 50 kW NBC sounded better to my sadly warped values. But it wasnt just radio Neaverth was also a TV weatherman on Channel 7 and later Channel 2. . McDonald's has closed its U.S. offices through Wednesday and told its corporate staff to work remotely as it prepares to announce a round of layoffs. Reynolds was reunited with his former WNBC radio sidekick, Jay Sorensen, as the program's announcer. They got a good gimmick and made it work.. The first broadcast on that snowy night was the James Cagney classic film, Yankee Doodle Dandy. Gotta be careful what you say on a 50,000 WATT radio station., In the latter part of the50sJohn Barrett and Perry Allen evolved a call letter-napping. Someone, as established in the promo spots, had stolen one of our Ws, recalls Allen. If you tuned to WBNY in the late 50s, you were likely to hear the voice of Daffy Dan Neaverth, Joey Reynolds (right), Fred Klestine and Henry Brach. Born in Boston, educated in suburban Philadelphia, Lawrence considered Washington, D.C. his home. In addition, a WKBW Community Bulletin Board was featured on all disc jockeys shifts which highlighted activities of local churches, schools and civic organizations. Narrated by Irv Weinstein, Instant KB was actually released on a single-sided album sized record for distribution sponsors on the local and national level. He spent a lot of time at the apartment occupied by Allen and his wife. KLIF was a marvelously successful station but, I couldnt have made a better choice. His family owned Lucki-Urban Furniture, sponsors of Jasinskis broadcasts from the 50s-90s. For that reason, KB owns a special place not only in Buffalos pop cultural lexicon, but also for thousands and thousands of fans, who just like the ones in Buffalo, fell asleep with their transistor under their pillow, wondering where the hell Lackawanna was. John Zach: 50 years on Buffalo radio airwaves - ampoleagle.com Over the years Sandy has changed stations, formats and hairstyles but feels that Buffalo was always a good fit, saying " I managed to pick places where my personality and the things I like to do fit." Buffalo's Pop Culture Heritage | Buffalo's Radio & TV | Buffalo's Neighborhoods | Parkside | Family & Genealogy | &c, &c, &c:Reflections from Steve's desk, All Content Buffalo Stories LLC | Contact Steve, Steve Cichons podcast: Wonderin How I Got Here, Buffalos Past By Steve Cichon in The Buffalo News, Talks, Seminars, & Workshops by Steve Cichon, &c, &c, &c: reflections from Steve's desk, Buffalo in the 70s: Reggie McKenzie & Fred Klestine, Buffalo in the 60s: Beatlemania in the Queen City, Buffalo in the 70s: Danny Neaverth, one of Buffalos greatest pop culture stars, Stan Jasinski on WKBW, Christmas Day 1954. It starts with The Perry Allen show, with an Irv Weinstein KB Pulsebeat Newscast with some of the great writing and style Irv would become known for in Buffalo over the next 40 years. (Buffalo Stories archives). Copyright 2018 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Clues were given each hour and the first person to dial the mystery number was to receive the cash price. Apr 5, 2019. Some images and text used throughout the site are protected by individual copyright holders. He spent much of his retirement in Whispering Pines, North Carolina before returning to Buffalo in 2014.[2]. . He returned to WWKB (formerly WKBW) in 2003 astheir morning man (6-10 daily) rejuvenating that station's ratings. It was fifty years ago to the day that Sandy was first heard on the airwaves of WKBWradio. Strictly from a Buffalo point of view, in the late 50s and early 60s, KB was one of many stations cranking out the music and antics that made for great rock n roll radio. The late newsman Ed Little wouldremember being in the room as packages containing female lingerie were opened; sent from Maryland by an obviously big fan. The proof is in a quick search of WKBW on your favorite search engine. What helped him decide his career path was he says he wanted to entertain people and didn't want to wear a tie. But 370 miles away in Baltimore, the show showed up in the ratings as number 4. Thats especially true when you consider what Oats said in one of his priceless TV interviews, -- after signing what turned out to be a meaningless contract extension -- that he would be at UB unless some other school came in with something crazy. Alabama came through with something crazy at around $2.5 million a year. Fred Klestine and Jeff Kaye, WKBW, late 1960s. For my first two months in Buffalo, I nearly lived in Dick Lawrences office. Click image to learn more. Azar signed the station on with the words, "Ladies and Gentlemen, WKBW-TV Channel 7 is on-the-air!" WKBW-AM History. Azar died March 25, 2021, at age 91 at Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital in Williamsville, New York, following years of old age-related decline.[7][2]. War of the Worlds 1973: The broadcast featuring an intro by Jim McLaughlin, Ron Baskin-KB Radio News, and Shane!- KB Radio Music. He is followed by another top flight personality, Dick Biondi, who was most recently with WHOT, Youngstown, Ohio. (Buffalo Stories archives). It is unlikely she would return to Buffalo TV. He writes about Buffalos pop culture history. Christoforosreturned to her New England area home and has taken a job in public relations in Watertown, Mass. Under the guidance of Dick Lawrence, Director of Programming, Promotions and Publicity for the station, KB made a drastic change in its format by virtually eliminated all previously carried programs, both network and local, and substituting what Lawrence called, ultra modern broadcasting techniques designed to entertain, inform and serve the greatest majority of the radio audience.. wkbw; Scripps Local Media Click image to learn more. [5], Azar also served as a color analyst on WKBW's (now WWKB) radio broadcast of the Buffalo Bills games, play-by-play man on the Bills preseason games televised on WKBW-TV and an intermission host on Buffalo Sabres hockey games televised in the 1970s on Ch 7. Forgotten Buffalo featuring Tommy Shannon WKBW After that, he continued at several venerable stations, including WKBW in Buffalo, New York, WNBC and WOR in New York City, KQV in Pittsburgh, KMPC and KRTH in Los Angeles, WPOP and WDRC in Hartford, WIXY in Cleveland, and WIBG and WFIL in Philadelphia. Stan Barron calling play-by-play action at Memorial Auditorium on WKBW. The Kings Ball was the easy part, we had over a thousand people outside that the fire marshal would not let in. That is a very odd position for a news station to take and makes you wonder what the station was worried about. Its aim was to set a high moral standard for Buffalo youth and safe driving pledges, something that would be attractive to advertisers afraid that the new sounds would promote juvenile delinquency. [2], Azar denied rumors that he retired from WKBW in 1989 at 60 years old because of the station's change in ownership (from Capital Cities Communications to Queen City Broadcasting) nor any contract-related disputes. steve@buffalostories.com The series ended on April 25, 2011. She recently became a public relations manager at the Martin Group. Poor Clint, foiled again. BUFFALO, NY Its funny the way memories begin to haze. http://www.staffannouncer.com/kbhalloween/mccartney.mp3, Jeff Kaye, Dan Neaverth, Stan Roberts and the K-Big DJs added gasoline to the Paul is dead fire with Paul McCartney is alive and Well Maybe?, http://www.staffannouncer.com/kbhalloween/dontturnaround.mp3. 0. Hengerers was selling Beatles records and wigs. (Sharon Cantillon/Buffalo News). Paul McCartney during his 2015 show at First Niagara Center. All outside as well as on air references confined station identification to KBW. Azar also hosted Buffalo Bandstand, a local franchising of American Bandstand, and on at least one occasion substitute hosted the national show in place of Dick Clark. http://blog.buffalostories.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/KB61sm.mp3. It was not until after Beatlemania swept the nation that they acknowledged that it was a mistake to not bring them in. Rick Azar - Wikipedia More importantly to local television, it is losing a quote machine. Reynolds made a cameo appearance on the ill-fated Buffalo Night in America broadcast on WBBZ-TV in July 2012. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. BUFFALO, NY For me, hearing the name Stan Jasinski conjures up images of my grandfather, sitting on his South Buffalo porch listening to cassette tapes of polka radio shows he had taped the previous weekend. One night I got mad at my boss who had just come home from his honeymoon. WHERE ARE THEY NOW?: FINDING THE TOUGH ONES - Buffalo News Sandy says he was prepared for the first day fifty years ago, but Stan Roberts advised him to rent furniture, adding "he didn't exactly say I know you're going to make it big here." James Patterson will stay local to start his professional football career, while Justin Marshall will begin his pro career with the Atlanta Falcons. As many of the smaller stations in Buffalo were churning out rhythm and blues music all day, at night, for Buffalo and the entire eastern seaboard, the Hound Sound was around.. (Buffalo Stories archives). WKBW Radio - Buffalo Stories Archives & Blog Through the years, WKBW-TV changed ownership and location. The new format included a large amount of public interest information and services. The day: November 30, 1958. Stations like WBNY, WWOL, WXRA, and later WYSL and a host of others were capturing the imaginations of young people in Buffalo. He exited WNBC at the end of February 1987 and was replaced by Alan Colmes. Most of these recordings played several times through the years, starting in 1967 and running through the late 70s. http://www.staffannouncer.com/kbhalloween/wotw71.mp3. CASTING NEWS: Faith Mangope & Brighton Mhlongo join The Morning Show Television/radio personality and former professional goalkeeper, have joined the show's hosting team as it moves to be simulcast daily on Etv and eNCA from May 1st. First appeared on album form from the industry periodical Programmers Digest., Steve Cichon writes about Buffalos pop culture history. Back at the studio, KB was broadcasting the details of the first of several promotional stunts designed to create immediate interest in the new format. The writing and production stands up almost 50 years later, and gives the listener a true sense of the talent that went into playing the hits on KB. Learn how and when to remove this template message. WKBW-TV signed on and continues as one of the top ABC affiliates in the country. The Joey Reynolds Show was a resounding Number 1 in Buffalo. All contents of this site 2020 byForgotten Buffalo. K-BIG Feature #2: Visit the history WKBW Radio Studios located at 1430 Main Street. From 1958 to 1988, Al Lafler had his hand on the rudder of the production sound that allowed KB to stand head and shoulders above the rest. Schanz landed a job at WXYZ-TV in Detroit, the nation's No. She has told her social network followers that she is considering her next step while being paid through June 1. His old friends and former co-workers gathered in the studio at WBEN930amto congratulate Sandy Beach on a half century of Buffalo broadcasting. Even though The Hound was on KB in 1955, his sound was not reflective of the station by any means. For three weeks prior to July 4th, a teaser campaign was used to stimulate interest in the arrival of audio activity when Future Sonic Radio comes to Buffalo. Local newspapers carried story after story about the impending big change at WKBW. Nearly 43,000 people died in U.S. traffic . #KgopoloReports . During his time in Buffalo, he and fellow DJ Danny Neaverth recorded a novelty single entitled "Rats in My Room" (an expanded and rearranged cover of a Leona Anderson song of the same name). Some personalities are so renowned and celebrated just one name will do. Stan Jasinskis Complete Christmas 1954 broadcast on WKBW Radio, with the Paderewski Singing Society. K-BIG Feature #1: Forgotten Buffalo Celebrated the 50th Anniversary of KB's Format Change to Top 40. Baffos bar on Main Street. Don Yearke, known as Don Keller the Farm Feller back in the early 60s on KB, was recognized along with his KB Litter Box by a fan in Southern Pennsylvania. The young lady who won lived 100 miles from Buffalo. Sandy Beach was in the original broadcast in 1968, Jack Armstrong was in the 1971 version, and Shane in 1973. He was also the color man on Buffalo Bills broadcasts alongside Van Miller. Leverage your professional network, and get hired. 25 overall in NFL draft, Former waitress sentenced to 2 to 5 years in prison in $50,000 lottery scheme, M&T to relocate 400 employees as it sheds 12% of local office space because of remote work, Tracking UB football's undrafted free-agent signings: LB James Patterson to join Bills for rookie camp, WR Justin Marshall heads to Atlanta, UB releases salaries for men's, women's basketball assistants and support staff, New UB men's basketball coach George Halcovage III gets 5-year contract with annual base salary of $325,000, UB women's basketball hires former Buffalo State standout Jacey Brooks as associate head coach, Five things to know about Buffalo Bills seventh-round pick Nick Broeker, Five things to know about Buffalo Bills seventh-round pick Alex Austin, Five things to know about Buffalo Bills fifth-round pick Justin Shorter, New Buffalo Bills guard O'Cyrus Torrence talks about his play. While Reynolds' present persona can be considered mellower by comparison, he still retains a loyal audience. With an eventual 50% of the marketshare, KB quickly blew all of the much smaller competitors out of the water. (Buffalo Stories archives). [2] Such was Azar's popularity that one of the sports anchors hired to replace him (the unrelated Jerry Azar) was chosen specifically because his last name was also Azar.[2]. Amstrong was born John Charles Larsh in December 1945. Biondi, known by many as the Wild Itralian had a legendary temper. In the simplest of terms, after decades of economic depression and war, young people of the late 1940s had less responsibility, more economic freedom and a growing segment of pop culture being cultivated to employ and take advantage of that free time and free cash. Fox News Parts Ways With Weekend Host Dan Bongino - Variety It is hard to believe anyone would criticize him for taking a job that pays three times as much as UB could afford and that sets his family up for life. Girls scream for The Beatles on the big screen at the Paramount Theatre, March, 1964. What helped him decide his career path was he says he wanted to entertain people and didn't want to wear a tie. Youll also hear from Russ Syracuse, Johnny Barrett, Art Roberts, and Dick Biondi. Buffalo News archives. For the last fifteen years he's been a talk show host at WBEN930am. Here hes on KBs lawn with Clint Churchill Jr., WKBW General Manager Al Anscombe, KB Polka Beehive host Stan Jasinski, salesman Jim McGrath and Roger Bakerwho, after returning to KB from WBES-TV, dabbled in sports but focused on sales. Today’s top 47 Registered Nurse jobs in Paris, le-de-France, France. Henry Ford didnt invent the automobile, he was just the first to make the same car available to everyone. Having the good fortune of working with top talent I knew that the station was headed for the top. Prior to coming to WKBW, Azar was an actor and musician in New York City, as well as a staff announcer for NBC in New York, leaving New York City after failing to secure long-term employment there. With its clear-channel 50,000 watt signal, KB was heard all over the eastern half of North America. writing about the people, places, and ideas that make Buffalo unique and special. Buffalo Radio - Buffalo Broadcasters Association It was . George Hound Dog Lorenz, the Godfather of rock n roll radio (not just in Buffalo, but PERIOD) first plied his trade in Western New York at Niagara Falls WJJL, as early as 1951. Tom Clay, one of many disc jockeys to use the name Guy King on WWOL, was arrested after his playing Rock Around the Clock over and over again, while perched atop a billboard in Shelton Square. Remembered as one of Buffalos most beloved sports broadcasters, Stan Barron was also a disc jockey through most of his time in Buffalo radio, including his turn as WKBWs Clock Watcher. @stevebuffalo. Oats was always a terrific interview. He was less a DJ and more like a talk show host. Fueled by the notion of carving out a demographic niche among Buffalo teens and very young adults, the little 250-watt station went rock and roll in a bold move that would soon change the . The concept of the American Teenager as we know it today is a relatively new one. Michael Brocia hosted music and news in Italian on Saturdays on WKBW. Over 600 imitation firecrackers were distributed to the audience, each one containing either movie passes, Elvis Presley dog tag jewelry, gift certificates for free records, ball point pens, cigarette lighters, pocket notebooks and checks valued at $1.52 or $15.20. Azar wrote a memoir, "Tales From Azar's Attic". Dick Lawrence came to Buffalo with almost 14 years of broadcasting experience under his belt in May, 1957, from Omaha, Nebraska where he was News Director of Todd Storz KOWH. New Summer Internships jobs added daily. Starting in the mid 50s, and running through the mid 70s, its fair to say cumulatively, that nighttime KB disc jockeys like George Hound Dog Lorenz, Dick Biondi, Tommy Shannon, Jay Nelson, Joey Reynolds, Sandy Beach, and Jack Armstrong enjoyed more listeners on a single radio station during that clear-channel time in the evening, than any other station in the country. He signed the station on with the words, "Ladies and Gentlemen . Before Top 40 came to KB, Stan Barron hosted the Morning Clockwatcher show, live each morning outside the Main Street studios. Off the air, he was a coffee-swilling funnyman who was one of everyones favorite co-workers. Jacey Brooks will join Bulls head coach Becky Burke's staff as an associate head coach. Neaverth, perhaps with his boyish good looks and demeanor, evaded arrest for his stunt. Independence Day, July 4th, heralded the arrival in Buffalo of FutureSonic Radio, the catch-phrase given to WKBW to its brand new, fast-paced, imaginative music-news-service operation. One boy from Cardinal OHara High School was convinced that it was The Beatles weird looks more than their musical ability thatmade them popular. (Buffalo Stories archives). My proudest promotional moment was when the audience voted me KB King, recalls Art Roberts. [1] Reynolds' broadcasting career started on TV in Buffalo at WGR TV 2 and he worked at various stations, including at WNBC. At WBNY, Neaverth would pull a rooftop like event similar to Guy Kings, throwing candy out to passersby. The names change, but from Frank Sinatra to Justin Bieber, rigid-minded adults cant understand all the swooning over (some singer) with (some bizarre haircut, bizarre dance, etc.). He found superb vehicles not only for his own talent, but also put the stars of KB in situations where they could shine brightest. When you browse the blog here at Buffalo Stories LLC, youre bound to not only relive a memory but also find some context for our pop culture past and see exciting ways how it might fit into our regions boundless future. The new KB also introduced a service unique to the market with meteorologist Louis Allen. Yes, the dial was indeed properly clicked in on 1520. Program director Dick Lawrence asked Allen to show up to KB prior to the 4th. Using ultra modern production methods, ambition and his own fertile idea factory, Lawrence accomplished what many considered would be almost impossiblethe duplication of his successful methods of operation that were still being used with effect on another WBNY. WKBW-TV was also one of the first stations to travel with the Buffalo Sabres hockey team in the 1970s, broadcasting select games, and is a supporter of the triple A Buffalo Bisons baseball team. It was a McClendon station. If you ever read this Mike Im sorry I missed I could have improved your looks. I say that affectionately Mike is a genius in radio programming., Dick lasted on the staff for two years before getting fired. Zach's radio career began at WKBW Radio in September 1961, when he was hired by a news director who would later become a fixture on local television screens, Irv Weinstein. Id been offered a gig, at the same time, from KLIF in Dallas. It was fifty years ago to the day that Sandy was first heard on the airwaves of WKBWradio. That station was attempting to move into a more talk intensive full service format with music taking a backseat but was still heard. In Denver, Colorado, he hosted a radio-television simulcast on KOA-AM, and launched (and hosted) the first nationwide satellite radio programming featured on more than 35 radio stations coast-to-coast. "Rocketship 7" kicked off the day with host Dave Thomas and "Promo The Robot!" His big break came in 1966, when he joined WIXY Radio in Cleveland. Prior to coming to WKBW, Azar was an actor and musician in New York City, as well as a staff announcer for NBC in New York,[4] leaving New York City after failing to secure long-term employment there.[2]. It played for over an hour, during which the station management arrived, police and paramedics showed up (in case Joey was incapacitated). From the earliest days of the internet, Steve has been writing, digitizing, and sharing the stories and images of all the things that make Buffalo special and unique. After the war, Baker returned to Buffalo and read the news on WKBW Radio, but eventually moved into the general manager's office at the short-lived Buffalo UHF pioneer WBES-TV, where he also read the news.
At "KB" and WBNY, the rock-jock rosters were dotted with the splendid talents of DAN NEAVERTH, TOM SHANNON, JOEY REYNOLDS, DICK BIONDI, PERRY ALLEN, LUCKY PIERRE, TOM CLAY, FRED KLESTINE, and RUSS "THE MOOSE" SYRACUSE. Remembering former Buffalo radio personality Don Berns who passed away on Sunday March 1, 2015. On July 4, 1958, Futursonic Radio was alive on WKBW. His brother, Carlos Carballada, briefly served as interim mayor of Rochester, New York in 2011 and currently serves as Rochester's commissioner of community and economic development. It almost happened! Steve Garrin was the producer and guest booker. With hope and dreams, I turned on the ever present transistor receiver. In 2014, the station was acquired by the prestigious E.W. Tom Shannon, a nationally known disc jockey who made his mark in local broadcasting in the late 1950s with the old WKBW-AM 1520, will retire March 31 as afternoon DJ at WHTT-FM 104.1, a rock. Don Weeks. He instead stated that, though he was comfortable being in the public spotlight, he did not feel an overwhelming need for it and felt that he retired at the right time. The club included a weekly newsletter and discounts from KB advertisers. PHOTOS: WGR turns 100-years-old! - Audacy As program director of WBNY, he shot the 250 watter from near obscurity into first place on both the Pulse and Hooper surveys. Now, more than 50 years later, WKBW-TV has broadcast tens of thousands of movies, local programs, and newscasts. But 370 miles away in Baltimore, the show showed up in the ratings as number 4. Tom could be seen every afternoon from 1965 until 1978, and weekends until 1995. The view of Seneca Street from the Cichons porch on Fairview Place. ", Over the years Sandy has changed stations, formats and hairstyles but feels that Buffalo was always a good fit, saying " I managed to pick places where my personality and the things I like to do fit.". by Contributing Editor April 27, 2023. "The Commander Tom Show" anchored the afternoons with a mix of cartoons and information with Tom Jolls and puppets "Dustmop" and "Mattie The Mod!" Shelton Square, featuring The Palace Burlesk and WWOL Radio. Please contactus at. Marissa Bailey: The former Channel 2 anchor-reporter is on the beach, the phrase that people in the media use after losing their job and not having another lined up yet. The first day was awesome, remembers Art Roberts. Either they werent well financed, or had daytime-only signals so weak that they couldnt be heard throughout the city and all the nearby suburbs. According to sources, her husband is a lawyer in Chicago. He's been inducted into three halls of famebut admits that early on, he did consider being a CPA instead of a radio broadcaster. As the outgoing public face of The Electric Company, Buffalo Bills offensive lineman Reggie McKenzie and his fellow guard Joe DeLamielleure were given plenty of credit for O.J. He had a nightly ritual wearing a purple robe lighting a purple candle on his purple radio while talking over his Night People" instrumental theme which was "Tarantula" by The Tarantulas. 1top single, I Want to Hold Your Hand.. In 1960, Capital Cities Communications purchased the station. Some of his regular voices included "Jack Armstrong" - All American boy; "Maude Frickette" - the 104 year old teenager; and "General Shelby Singleton Silvers Junior Esquire Y'all" - an older southern gentleman. The 25-year veteran of Buffalo radio and television has written five books and curates The Buffalo Stories Archives-- hundreds of thousands of books, images, and audio/visual media which tell the stories of who we are in Western New York. Keep reading with unlimited digital access. On this day, McKenzie dropped by the Buffalo studios of beautiful music WADV-FM to promote two jazz albums that were recorded in the Hotel Statlers Downtown Room. Never before, and never since, has a radio station been so dominant in Buffalo. Jack Armstrong - Buffalo Broadcasters Association In the 70s and 80s, it was difficult to spend a day in Buffalo and not somehow be graced by the voice, smile and personality of Clean Dan Neaverth, a true Buffalonian who never forgot his Seneca Street South Buffalo roots and proudly plied his trade among fellow Buffalonians proud to call him one of us. Either they werent well financed, or had daytime-only signals so weak that they couldnt be heard throughout the city and all the nearby suburbs. Local bands like the Buffalo Beetles, later renamed the Mods, enjoyed popularity and even their own records on the radio. KB and the city of Buffalo played such a special, memorable role in my checkered, disreputable life. The result was a frenzy in which people called each other asking, Is this the WKBW $200 mystery telephone number?. The studio was on rural Niagara Falls Boulevard, in a location which soon would be the home of Swiss Chalet for the next 50 years. 50 kW NBC sounded better to my sadly warped values. But it wasnt just radio Neaverth was also a TV weatherman on Channel 7 and later Channel 2. . McDonald's has closed its U.S. offices through Wednesday and told its corporate staff to work remotely as it prepares to announce a round of layoffs. Reynolds was reunited with his former WNBC radio sidekick, Jay Sorensen, as the program's announcer. They got a good gimmick and made it work.. The first broadcast on that snowy night was the James Cagney classic film, Yankee Doodle Dandy. Gotta be careful what you say on a 50,000 WATT radio station., In the latter part of the50sJohn Barrett and Perry Allen evolved a call letter-napping. Someone, as established in the promo spots, had stolen one of our Ws, recalls Allen. If you tuned to WBNY in the late 50s, you were likely to hear the voice of Daffy Dan Neaverth, Joey Reynolds (right), Fred Klestine and Henry Brach. Born in Boston, educated in suburban Philadelphia, Lawrence considered Washington, D.C. his home. In addition, a WKBW Community Bulletin Board was featured on all disc jockeys shifts which highlighted activities of local churches, schools and civic organizations. Narrated by Irv Weinstein, Instant KB was actually released on a single-sided album sized record for distribution sponsors on the local and national level. He spent a lot of time at the apartment occupied by Allen and his wife. KLIF was a marvelously successful station but, I couldnt have made a better choice. His family owned Lucki-Urban Furniture, sponsors of Jasinskis broadcasts from the 50s-90s. For that reason, KB owns a special place not only in Buffalos pop cultural lexicon, but also for thousands and thousands of fans, who just like the ones in Buffalo, fell asleep with their transistor under their pillow, wondering where the hell Lackawanna was. John Zach: 50 years on Buffalo radio airwaves - ampoleagle.com Over the years Sandy has changed stations, formats and hairstyles but feels that Buffalo was always a good fit, saying " I managed to pick places where my personality and the things I like to do fit." Buffalo's Pop Culture Heritage | Buffalo's Radio & TV | Buffalo's Neighborhoods | Parkside | Family & Genealogy | &c, &c, &c:Reflections from Steve's desk, All Content Buffalo Stories LLC | Contact Steve, Steve Cichons podcast: Wonderin How I Got Here, Buffalos Past By Steve Cichon in The Buffalo News, Talks, Seminars, & Workshops by Steve Cichon, &c, &c, &c: reflections from Steve's desk, Buffalo in the 70s: Reggie McKenzie & Fred Klestine, Buffalo in the 60s: Beatlemania in the Queen City, Buffalo in the 70s: Danny Neaverth, one of Buffalos greatest pop culture stars, Stan Jasinski on WKBW, Christmas Day 1954. It starts with The Perry Allen show, with an Irv Weinstein KB Pulsebeat Newscast with some of the great writing and style Irv would become known for in Buffalo over the next 40 years. (Buffalo Stories archives). Copyright 2018 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Clues were given each hour and the first person to dial the mystery number was to receive the cash price. Apr 5, 2019. Some images and text used throughout the site are protected by individual copyright holders. He spent much of his retirement in Whispering Pines, North Carolina before returning to Buffalo in 2014.[2]. . He returned to WWKB (formerly WKBW) in 2003 astheir morning man (6-10 daily) rejuvenating that station's ratings. It was fifty years ago to the day that Sandy was first heard on the airwaves of WKBWradio. Strictly from a Buffalo point of view, in the late 50s and early 60s, KB was one of many stations cranking out the music and antics that made for great rock n roll radio. The late newsman Ed Little wouldremember being in the room as packages containing female lingerie were opened; sent from Maryland by an obviously big fan. The proof is in a quick search of WKBW on your favorite search engine. What helped him decide his career path was he says he wanted to entertain people and didn't want to wear a tie. But 370 miles away in Baltimore, the show showed up in the ratings as number 4. Thats especially true when you consider what Oats said in one of his priceless TV interviews, -- after signing what turned out to be a meaningless contract extension -- that he would be at UB unless some other school came in with something crazy. Alabama came through with something crazy at around $2.5 million a year. Fred Klestine and Jeff Kaye, WKBW, late 1960s. For my first two months in Buffalo, I nearly lived in Dick Lawrences office. Click image to learn more. Azar signed the station on with the words, "Ladies and Gentlemen, WKBW-TV Channel 7 is on-the-air!" WKBW-AM History. Azar died March 25, 2021, at age 91 at Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital in Williamsville, New York, following years of old age-related decline.[7][2]. War of the Worlds 1973: The broadcast featuring an intro by Jim McLaughlin, Ron Baskin-KB Radio News, and Shane!- KB Radio Music. He is followed by another top flight personality, Dick Biondi, who was most recently with WHOT, Youngstown, Ohio. (Buffalo Stories archives). It is unlikely she would return to Buffalo TV. He writes about Buffalos pop culture history. Christoforosreturned to her New England area home and has taken a job in public relations in Watertown, Mass. Under the guidance of Dick Lawrence, Director of Programming, Promotions and Publicity for the station, KB made a drastic change in its format by virtually eliminated all previously carried programs, both network and local, and substituting what Lawrence called, ultra modern broadcasting techniques designed to entertain, inform and serve the greatest majority of the radio audience.. wkbw; Scripps Local Media Click image to learn more. [5], Azar also served as a color analyst on WKBW's (now WWKB) radio broadcast of the Buffalo Bills games, play-by-play man on the Bills preseason games televised on WKBW-TV and an intermission host on Buffalo Sabres hockey games televised in the 1970s on Ch 7. Forgotten Buffalo featuring Tommy Shannon WKBW After that, he continued at several venerable stations, including WKBW in Buffalo, New York, WNBC and WOR in New York City, KQV in Pittsburgh, KMPC and KRTH in Los Angeles, WPOP and WDRC in Hartford, WIXY in Cleveland, and WIBG and WFIL in Philadelphia. Stan Barron calling play-by-play action at Memorial Auditorium on WKBW. The Kings Ball was the easy part, we had over a thousand people outside that the fire marshal would not let in. That is a very odd position for a news station to take and makes you wonder what the station was worried about. Its aim was to set a high moral standard for Buffalo youth and safe driving pledges, something that would be attractive to advertisers afraid that the new sounds would promote juvenile delinquency. [2], Azar denied rumors that he retired from WKBW in 1989 at 60 years old because of the station's change in ownership (from Capital Cities Communications to Queen City Broadcasting) nor any contract-related disputes. steve@buffalostories.com The series ended on April 25, 2011. She recently became a public relations manager at the Martin Group. Poor Clint, foiled again. BUFFALO, NY Its funny the way memories begin to haze. http://www.staffannouncer.com/kbhalloween/mccartney.mp3, Jeff Kaye, Dan Neaverth, Stan Roberts and the K-Big DJs added gasoline to the Paul is dead fire with Paul McCartney is alive and Well Maybe?, http://www.staffannouncer.com/kbhalloween/dontturnaround.mp3. 0. Hengerers was selling Beatles records and wigs. (Sharon Cantillon/Buffalo News). Paul McCartney during his 2015 show at First Niagara Center. All outside as well as on air references confined station identification to KBW. Azar also hosted Buffalo Bandstand, a local franchising of American Bandstand, and on at least one occasion substitute hosted the national show in place of Dick Clark. http://blog.buffalostories.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/KB61sm.mp3. It was not until after Beatlemania swept the nation that they acknowledged that it was a mistake to not bring them in. Rick Azar - Wikipedia More importantly to local television, it is losing a quote machine. Reynolds made a cameo appearance on the ill-fated Buffalo Night in America broadcast on WBBZ-TV in July 2012. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. BUFFALO, NY For me, hearing the name Stan Jasinski conjures up images of my grandfather, sitting on his South Buffalo porch listening to cassette tapes of polka radio shows he had taped the previous weekend. One night I got mad at my boss who had just come home from his honeymoon. WHERE ARE THEY NOW?: FINDING THE TOUGH ONES - Buffalo News Sandy says he was prepared for the first day fifty years ago, but Stan Roberts advised him to rent furniture, adding "he didn't exactly say I know you're going to make it big here." James Patterson will stay local to start his professional football career, while Justin Marshall will begin his pro career with the Atlanta Falcons. As many of the smaller stations in Buffalo were churning out rhythm and blues music all day, at night, for Buffalo and the entire eastern seaboard, the Hound Sound was around.. (Buffalo Stories archives). WKBW Radio - Buffalo Stories Archives & Blog Through the years, WKBW-TV changed ownership and location. The new format included a large amount of public interest information and services. The day: November 30, 1958. Stations like WBNY, WWOL, WXRA, and later WYSL and a host of others were capturing the imaginations of young people in Buffalo. He exited WNBC at the end of February 1987 and was replaced by Alan Colmes. Most of these recordings played several times through the years, starting in 1967 and running through the late 70s. http://www.staffannouncer.com/kbhalloween/wotw71.mp3. CASTING NEWS: Faith Mangope & Brighton Mhlongo join The Morning Show Television/radio personality and former professional goalkeeper, have joined the show's hosting team as it moves to be simulcast daily on Etv and eNCA from May 1st. First appeared on album form from the industry periodical Programmers Digest., Steve Cichon writes about Buffalos pop culture history. Back at the studio, KB was broadcasting the details of the first of several promotional stunts designed to create immediate interest in the new format. The writing and production stands up almost 50 years later, and gives the listener a true sense of the talent that went into playing the hits on KB. Learn how and when to remove this template message. WKBW-TV signed on and continues as one of the top ABC affiliates in the country. The Joey Reynolds Show was a resounding Number 1 in Buffalo. All contents of this site 2020 byForgotten Buffalo. K-BIG Feature #2: Visit the history WKBW Radio Studios located at 1430 Main Street. From 1958 to 1988, Al Lafler had his hand on the rudder of the production sound that allowed KB to stand head and shoulders above the rest. Schanz landed a job at WXYZ-TV in Detroit, the nation's No. She has told her social network followers that she is considering her next step while being paid through June 1. His old friends and former co-workers gathered in the studio at WBEN930amto congratulate Sandy Beach on a half century of Buffalo broadcasting. Even though The Hound was on KB in 1955, his sound was not reflective of the station by any means. For three weeks prior to July 4th, a teaser campaign was used to stimulate interest in the arrival of audio activity when Future Sonic Radio comes to Buffalo. Local newspapers carried story after story about the impending big change at WKBW. Nearly 43,000 people died in U.S. traffic . #KgopoloReports . During his time in Buffalo, he and fellow DJ Danny Neaverth recorded a novelty single entitled "Rats in My Room" (an expanded and rearranged cover of a Leona Anderson song of the same name). Some personalities are so renowned and celebrated just one name will do. Stan Jasinskis Complete Christmas 1954 broadcast on WKBW Radio, with the Paderewski Singing Society. K-BIG Feature #1: Forgotten Buffalo Celebrated the 50th Anniversary of KB's Format Change to Top 40. Baffos bar on Main Street. Don Yearke, known as Don Keller the Farm Feller back in the early 60s on KB, was recognized along with his KB Litter Box by a fan in Southern Pennsylvania. The young lady who won lived 100 miles from Buffalo. Sandy Beach was in the original broadcast in 1968, Jack Armstrong was in the 1971 version, and Shane in 1973. He was also the color man on Buffalo Bills broadcasts alongside Van Miller. Leverage your professional network, and get hired. 25 overall in NFL draft, Former waitress sentenced to 2 to 5 years in prison in $50,000 lottery scheme, M&T to relocate 400 employees as it sheds 12% of local office space because of remote work, Tracking UB football's undrafted free-agent signings: LB James Patterson to join Bills for rookie camp, WR Justin Marshall heads to Atlanta, UB releases salaries for men's, women's basketball assistants and support staff, New UB men's basketball coach George Halcovage III gets 5-year contract with annual base salary of $325,000, UB women's basketball hires former Buffalo State standout Jacey Brooks as associate head coach, Five things to know about Buffalo Bills seventh-round pick Nick Broeker, Five things to know about Buffalo Bills seventh-round pick Alex Austin, Five things to know about Buffalo Bills fifth-round pick Justin Shorter, New Buffalo Bills guard O'Cyrus Torrence talks about his play. While Reynolds' present persona can be considered mellower by comparison, he still retains a loyal audience. With an eventual 50% of the marketshare, KB quickly blew all of the much smaller competitors out of the water. (Buffalo Stories archives). [2] Such was Azar's popularity that one of the sports anchors hired to replace him (the unrelated Jerry Azar) was chosen specifically because his last name was also Azar.[2]. Amstrong was born John Charles Larsh in December 1945. Biondi, known by many as the Wild Itralian had a legendary temper. In the simplest of terms, after decades of economic depression and war, young people of the late 1940s had less responsibility, more economic freedom and a growing segment of pop culture being cultivated to employ and take advantage of that free time and free cash. Fox News Parts Ways With Weekend Host Dan Bongino - Variety It is hard to believe anyone would criticize him for taking a job that pays three times as much as UB could afford and that sets his family up for life. Girls scream for The Beatles on the big screen at the Paramount Theatre, March, 1964. What helped him decide his career path was he says he wanted to entertain people and didn't want to wear a tie. Youll also hear from Russ Syracuse, Johnny Barrett, Art Roberts, and Dick Biondi. Buffalo News archives. For the last fifteen years he's been a talk show host at WBEN930am. Here hes on KBs lawn with Clint Churchill Jr., WKBW General Manager Al Anscombe, KB Polka Beehive host Stan Jasinski, salesman Jim McGrath and Roger Bakerwho, after returning to KB from WBES-TV, dabbled in sports but focused on sales. Today’s top 47 Registered Nurse jobs in Paris, le-de-France, France. Henry Ford didnt invent the automobile, he was just the first to make the same car available to everyone. Having the good fortune of working with top talent I knew that the station was headed for the top. Prior to coming to WKBW, Azar was an actor and musician in New York City, as well as a staff announcer for NBC in New York, leaving New York City after failing to secure long-term employment there. With its clear-channel 50,000 watt signal, KB was heard all over the eastern half of North America. writing about the people, places, and ideas that make Buffalo unique and special. Buffalo Radio - Buffalo Broadcasters Association It was . George Hound Dog Lorenz, the Godfather of rock n roll radio (not just in Buffalo, but PERIOD) first plied his trade in Western New York at Niagara Falls WJJL, as early as 1951. Tom Clay, one of many disc jockeys to use the name Guy King on WWOL, was arrested after his playing Rock Around the Clock over and over again, while perched atop a billboard in Shelton Square. Remembered as one of Buffalos most beloved sports broadcasters, Stan Barron was also a disc jockey through most of his time in Buffalo radio, including his turn as WKBWs Clock Watcher. @stevebuffalo. Oats was always a terrific interview. He was less a DJ and more like a talk show host. Fueled by the notion of carving out a demographic niche among Buffalo teens and very young adults, the little 250-watt station went rock and roll in a bold move that would soon change the . The concept of the American Teenager as we know it today is a relatively new one. Michael Brocia hosted music and news in Italian on Saturdays on WKBW. Over 600 imitation firecrackers were distributed to the audience, each one containing either movie passes, Elvis Presley dog tag jewelry, gift certificates for free records, ball point pens, cigarette lighters, pocket notebooks and checks valued at $1.52 or $15.20. Azar wrote a memoir, "Tales From Azar's Attic". Dick Lawrence came to Buffalo with almost 14 years of broadcasting experience under his belt in May, 1957, from Omaha, Nebraska where he was News Director of Todd Storz KOWH. New Summer Internships jobs added daily. Starting in the mid 50s, and running through the mid 70s, its fair to say cumulatively, that nighttime KB disc jockeys like George Hound Dog Lorenz, Dick Biondi, Tommy Shannon, Jay Nelson, Joey Reynolds, Sandy Beach, and Jack Armstrong enjoyed more listeners on a single radio station during that clear-channel time in the evening, than any other station in the country. He signed the station on with the words, "Ladies and Gentlemen . Before Top 40 came to KB, Stan Barron hosted the Morning Clockwatcher show, live each morning outside the Main Street studios. Off the air, he was a coffee-swilling funnyman who was one of everyones favorite co-workers. Jacey Brooks will join Bulls head coach Becky Burke's staff as an associate head coach. Neaverth, perhaps with his boyish good looks and demeanor, evaded arrest for his stunt. Independence Day, July 4th, heralded the arrival in Buffalo of FutureSonic Radio, the catch-phrase given to WKBW to its brand new, fast-paced, imaginative music-news-service operation. One boy from Cardinal OHara High School was convinced that it was The Beatles weird looks more than their musical ability thatmade them popular. (Buffalo Stories archives). My proudest promotional moment was when the audience voted me KB King, recalls Art Roberts. [1] Reynolds' broadcasting career started on TV in Buffalo at WGR TV 2 and he worked at various stations, including at WNBC. At WBNY, Neaverth would pull a rooftop like event similar to Guy Kings, throwing candy out to passersby. The names change, but from Frank Sinatra to Justin Bieber, rigid-minded adults cant understand all the swooning over (some singer) with (some bizarre haircut, bizarre dance, etc.). He found superb vehicles not only for his own talent, but also put the stars of KB in situations where they could shine brightest. When you browse the blog here at Buffalo Stories LLC, youre bound to not only relive a memory but also find some context for our pop culture past and see exciting ways how it might fit into our regions boundless future. The new KB also introduced a service unique to the market with meteorologist Louis Allen. Yes, the dial was indeed properly clicked in on 1520. Program director Dick Lawrence asked Allen to show up to KB prior to the 4th. Using ultra modern production methods, ambition and his own fertile idea factory, Lawrence accomplished what many considered would be almost impossiblethe duplication of his successful methods of operation that were still being used with effect on another WBNY. WKBW-TV was also one of the first stations to travel with the Buffalo Sabres hockey team in the 1970s, broadcasting select games, and is a supporter of the triple A Buffalo Bisons baseball team. It was a McClendon station. If you ever read this Mike Im sorry I missed I could have improved your looks. I say that affectionately Mike is a genius in radio programming., Dick lasted on the staff for two years before getting fired. Zach's radio career began at WKBW Radio in September 1961, when he was hired by a news director who would later become a fixture on local television screens, Irv Weinstein. Id been offered a gig, at the same time, from KLIF in Dallas. It was fifty years ago to the day that Sandy was first heard on the airwaves of WKBWradio. That station was attempting to move into a more talk intensive full service format with music taking a backseat but was still heard. In Denver, Colorado, he hosted a radio-television simulcast on KOA-AM, and launched (and hosted) the first nationwide satellite radio programming featured on more than 35 radio stations coast-to-coast. "Rocketship 7" kicked off the day with host Dave Thomas and "Promo The Robot!" His big break came in 1966, when he joined WIXY Radio in Cleveland. Prior to coming to WKBW, Azar was an actor and musician in New York City, as well as a staff announcer for NBC in New York,[4] leaving New York City after failing to secure long-term employment there.[2]. It played for over an hour, during which the station management arrived, police and paramedics showed up (in case Joey was incapacitated). From the earliest days of the internet, Steve has been writing, digitizing, and sharing the stories and images of all the things that make Buffalo special and unique. After the war, Baker returned to Buffalo and read the news on WKBW Radio, but eventually moved into the general manager's office at the short-lived Buffalo UHF pioneer WBES-TV, where he also read the news. Bupa Schedule Of Fees 2021,
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