PBRTV - Pittsburgh Area Radio/TV Mailbag

PBRTV - Pittsburgh Area Radio/TV Mailbag PBRTV - Pittsburgh Area Radio & TV

PBRTV Mailbag November 11-30, 2005

Former KDKA newsman John Haidar (correct spelling) died about 10 years ago of a heart attack. Although he had an acting career before he came to Pittsburgh in the late 1960s, he was not on "Soap." Vic (November 30, 2005)

What became of KDKA radio newsman John Hadar. Prior to KDKA I think he was a regular on a TV Soap. MG of Key West, FL (November 30, 2005)

Regarding: http://www.pbrtv.com/jan163104.html, Mr. Eisenhauer lives in Maine and his son is now in college. (November 30, 2005)

I'm not a religious fanatic, but from time to time, I used to visit Channel 40 to see what was on one of their locally produced programs. I know that they have suspended production on most of them due to their commitment to "Pastor Greg." I know they need money and have gone with commercials, but look at some of the products they are pitching! To go along with this, they now have their own locally produced infomercials. For what? Snake Oils! "Getting Together" used to be an enjoyable program with the mix of subjects and personalities, but now "Focus 4," whatever that means, seems to have only foreign ministers and preachers as guests, who do nothing to hold the interest of watching the program. To top it all off, behind the scene employees are constantly on. They have no TV presence at all, no TV voice or personality, are boring in their presentations, and should just stay behind the scenes. Again, I know the station or ministry needs money to support its projects, but they are getting some bad programming advice, in my opinion. They need to get more "local" in their presentations, which would make them more interesting and might capture surfers like me once in a while. Contrary to Channel 40's thinking, there is still a lot of "family" programming such as situation comedies, and movies on commercial TV. What they need is some "unique" programs, which they once had. (Forget the pitches for Oils, Creams, and Pills. You are ruining your integrity, fleecing the people, and turn anyone with common sense totally off! It might be good money, but you are compromising your reputation.) Mike Smalley (November 30, 2005)

Eric, You and your readers may already know this, but if you life west of Pittsburgh, you can hear Bob and Tom on 93.3FM WNCD out of Youngstown, OH. The station reminds me a lot of the old WRRK. They even boradcast on the web. I didn't like the old WRRK and I really don't like this new BOB FM, but I thought it was worth passing this note along to anyone incase they wanted to try and get Bob and Tom. Thanks! Chris. (November 30, 2005)

Found your website. Very exciting. From 1969 to 1971 I was a reporter and news anchor at KDKA radio. Also was at WJAS until moving to WWJ-TV (now WDIV) in Detroit. Later at WBBM-TV Chicago. On television journalism staff of Columbia College Chicago since 1979, and Vice President of Cavalcade Communications Group, Inc, Chicago, a television and radio production company. Roger Schatz (November 30, 2005)

Hi Eric I too stumbled onto your site searching (and hoping) for some kind of revival for the real WRRK. I really miss Bob and Tom. I can't imagine what the station was thinking when they let them go. Has there been any word on what kind of feed back the new format has received? I have banned the new Bob FM and know several others who have done the same. (November 30, 2005)

Pittsburgh's local full time 24/7 internet only radio station at http://www.wrtro.com, (WRTRO) "Retro 24.7 Radio - 60’s & 70’s" has just celebrated it's 5th anniversary. An added programming note, the station will not be programming their annual 48 hour non stop "Christmas At Home" music special this year. According to their media information e-zine web page, "The New Deja’vu." The holiday special has broadcast on the station for the past 4 years. This year station management has decided to no longer broadcast the special due to the very large, crowded market of full time Christmas formatted music radio stations, terrestrial, satellite as well as internet stations. So for those radio listeners that find that their favorite music stations format has been temporarily replaced with full time Christmas music for the holiday season. (WRTRO) "Retro 24.7 Radio" will be keeping with their current 60’s and 70’s format through the holiday season. Starting on December 18th they will be mixing some 60’s and 70’s Christmas music into their format. The mixing of Christmas music will last from December 18th through Christmas day. (November 28, 2005)

Since the morning I tuned in for my 1.5 hours of laughter I have been waiting to vent my spleen on the authors of the format change at WRRK. Never have I been so close to "road rage" as the morning I tuned in to hear "the birth of Boob." I tried the next A.M. in hopes that S.I.D.S. had afflicted "Boob." WHERE AND WHEN IS BOB AND TOM??? I tune in from 3WS and assorted other stations to hear whether you have regained your senses. So far. No luck. I will continue monitoring Boob so that I can get a handle on his, her, it's sponsors. I will use the info to let them know that I will go out of my way to avoid purchasing anything from them or their affiliates. I will also attempt to influence anyone who will listen. I would be remiss in not mentioning Battle-Nini. I enjoy them on my return trip. So Boob. Don't go away mad, just go away. Steve Owens (November 28, 2005)

I usually like to listen to Jack, Carol and Chris on WJAS for my drive in the morning but like something a bit more my age for the drive home. Pittsburgh has lacked a really good format, but I tried bob fm the other day. The format is really diversified but not annoying, but IT SOUNDS LIKE A FRIGGIN' MUSAK!!! They need to hire some local talent and get Pittsburgh in the mix as soon as they can. (November 24, 2005)

I just want to check in & let others know that I am out of WRRK. Not too many others have reported it for 1 reason or another, but thanks to R&R for getting the word out. All Access never posted the news nor did the local papers, but I am out of WRRK. I am looking for either PT or FT work & can be reached at (412) 835-6578 or Jbpfab@aol.com. Thanks..... Peace, John Pfab/ex-WRRK morning show producer/sports/weekend on-air talent (November 24, 2005)

Eric, Kurt Russell, former all-night DJ on KDKA in the 1960s, passed away on April 18, 1979 at the age of 49. (November 17, 2005)

hey eric just wanted to let you know I have listened to both jack and bob fm both of them stinkI read a lot of of complaints about rrk changing my question is where are all of those dedicated WOMP FM listener is there another web site that is like yours or do you have another site that covers Ohio stations any help would be greatly appreciated THANK YOU Cliff H. Wood (November 16, 2005)

Since this is the second "change" in 96.9 in less than a year, and some personalities are gone, any idea whatever became of Judge and Bonnie on the older 96.9 that changed last year. Thanks! Terry (November 16, 2005)

Eric's Response: While PBRTV was under the watch of my assistant, he found a story about Bonnie who has been doing some volunteer work in association with her church. The story can be found in the McKnight Journal.

Hi Eric, Many many years ago I was lucky enought to land a part time job as a janitor at a small daytime radio station in Hazleton,PA.After all the cleaning was done I got a chance to play with the control board since the sttaion was off the air by then.My dreams of becoming a DJ were finally realized when our most popual announcer came down with a case of the hives.I was the only other person who knew how to work the control board! That lead to some 6 years of DJ work at one station or another,a move into news and then on to TV where I've ben a reporter with WYOU TV in Scranton for the past 25 years.The guy who got the hives and,thus,got me on the air,was Ralph Lockwood,a fellow Hazleton native.I came accorss a web site which suggested that Ralph was working at a station in Pittsburgh. Yes? No? If so where and do you have a contact address? Thanks for your assistance! (November 15, 2005)

Eric, I was thrilled this weekend when I was about 20 miles south of Youngstown and was able to get BOB clearly. I thought it was great. A friend and I were out running errands and listened for about a half hour. I am a fan. We need BOB or JACK in Youngstown. I think BOB reminded me of WFFM the long time precursor to WRRK. But whether it works or not, the fact is that while there are some vocal adamant listeners, the numbers just weren’t there. It’s gone. Move on. Like the country song says, Life is about change, nothing ever stays the same. Scott Baird (November 14, 2005)

Hi Eric, I just want to say that I really dislike BOB FM a lot. It's annoying to hears such a hodge-podge kludge of mismatched songs on the same station. Based on what I've read on yes.com of what they've played on Bob, I like most of the songs. But it's jarring to hear them jammed together the way they are. If I'm in the mood for classic rock, that's what I'm in the mood for. I don't want to hear disco. If I'm in the mood for disco music, then I tune in a station that plays disco music. I'm willing to bet a small sum of money that Bob-FM will do better in the ratings for one or two books, then will tank to even lower than WRRK's ratings used to be. The novelty factor will give the station a quick burst of ratings, but the novelty factor will wear off quickly. (November 14, 2005)

Just found this website and I'm thrilled. Hope it will continue for a long time. I'm living in Key West, FL but I was raised in the Greensburg area. Spent many nights listening to Pittsburgh radio with my Motorola transistor. One of my favorite DJ's was on KDKA overnight - Kurt Russell who went on to Chicago. If you have any info on his current location I would like to know. Thanks Michael Gaudiano (November 13, 2005)

Hi Eric, I just want to say that I enjoy the new BOB FM a lot. It's nice to be able to hear all kinds of variety on one radio station. I noticed looking at the yes.com playlist for star 100.7, they are adding about 1 or 2 songs an hour from the 70's. Do you think star is doing that to try and compete with BOB FM? Thanks, Todd (November 12, 2005)

I happened upon your website while searching for some glimmer of hope that WRRK would be coming back. (I've listened to 97 since "back in the day" when it was Magic 97 with the Saturday morning show sponsored by Beacon Auto.) They had the best classic rock in the Pittsburgh market (unlike 93.7, 102.5, and everyone else who has come and gone's versions of rock). We went through this "scare" around last Christmas when the format was sketchy for a month or two, but everything seemed to work out -- for a while. Could that happen again? My "scan" button is getting a workout in the meantime. I'm happy to see that responses to this site are pretty much against Bob -- at least someone around here has some sense! Jeff H. (November 12, 2005)

Hello My name is Stephanie McElrath. I live in Greensburg Pennsylvania. I wrote to pbr tv before about my feelings about b-94 changing in June of 04. Now I'm writing my feelings to vent about loosing wrrk. First of all I'm livid because I am totally visually impaired. I can't read print I'm totaly interested in radio. I'm quite tired of people complaining about why I care so much about my favorite radio stations and to everyone else they're just stupid immaterial things such as th jocks loosing their jobs. My question is I want to know if anyone knows where everyone from wrrk like Mike Webber, Steve the man rohen, etc all are? I'm also angry because everyone at wrrk treated me very nicely and just because I have a physical disability I was treated no differently than anyone else. Also I'm angry because everyone there was very nice to me and I don't fair their kindness results in blowing out their jobs. Also this is the second station I've lost since I lost my other favorite radio stations of wrrk and b-94. I'm frustrated because I'm tired of finding radio stations I like and nice jocks and then they're always gone. I mean I know Bob and Tom aren't local people but I want to know and wonder where everyone else who is local is. THanks for listening to my opinions and feelings about everything (November 12, 2005)

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