Category Archives: Audio

Archive, Jingles, Music

Time for Another Star Spangled Weekend

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It kicks off this Friday when for the 249th time, America the Beautiful, marks as only it can, the anniversary of this Republic’s founding in 1776.
As the centuries and decades tick away, the men and women of these United States stand ready to fire-up their grills as the Fourth of July has come to symbolize along with the various facets of history, hot dogs, hamburgers and an endless tradition of side dishes.
When it came to serving up first-class entertainment with dynamite air personalities and the American music classics, I honestly don’t believe that anyone ever did it better than the incomparable WNEW 11-3-0 in New York!
If you were a fan and/or admirer of that unforgettable New York radio station you no doubt remember your favorite air people whether they be air personalities or the well-versed WNEW News broadcasters. Make no mistake about it, a lot went into the record selections and just as much for the news department in writing those up-to-the-minute ‘casts that brought details on a wide variety of stories from down the street and yes, around the world!
From the Personal Archives of Edward C. Brown
Long ago we were reminded that we should never cry over spilt milk but yet it remains a difficult exercise to recall that “The WNEW Dream” lasted only 58 years and change from 1934 through December 11, 1992. Perhaps on the big screen of life that represented just a few nano seconds. However, for those of us who experienced it as listeners, enthusiasts, and/or station employees it was, indeed, a magical time!!!
Article contributed by Bob Gibson
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The Declaration of Independence declaring the separation of the American colonies from British rule was adopted by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, while the vote for independence occurred on July 2.

Declaration of Independence Transcript

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Jingles, Listener Comments

Our Fan Favorite

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We’ve Got Quite a Few Friends

WNEW AM had…has long standing relationships with their listeners, many spanning generations.

WNEW1130.com celebrates the memory of our fan favorite,

Dr. Leo S. Halpern
North Arlington, New Jersey

Growing up in Northern New Jersey in the 1960s my late father, Leo, was a Dentist. WNEW radio was playing in the waiting room for patients. That’s where I got my first exposure to Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and the entire entourage…naturally MCd by William B. Williams. Great time in music. All the best, Ted Halpern. <Dr. Halpern’s son>

I would like to recognize that Dr. Halpern was a freelance photographer for The Star Ledger and Morristown Daily Record. He won national awards and his work was exhibited at several museums…He also volunteered as a dentist for the St. Edmonds Home for Crippled Children in Philadelphia and the Unwed Mothers Florence Crittenden Home in Newark. He was a World War II U.S. Navy veteran, having served with the rank of lieutenant commander as ship dentist aboard the USS Randall.
New Jersey Jewish News
11-March 1999

©NJ.com

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History, Images, Promos

We Make You Feel Brand New

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Contributing Editor, Andy Fisher

New York Transit Museum. Photo Credit: Bernie Wagenblast

Your Metromedia Station in New York

Bernie Wagenblast, a veteran New York radio traffic and transit reporter, sent me this picture taken at the New York Transit Museum, located in the abandoned Court Street subway station in downtown Brooklyn. The museum displays many restored New York subway cars, complete with period advertisements. Bernie thoughtfully spotted this one and sent it to me. 

NY Transit Museum

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Postedit: In response to your comment, Mike Moss, here is a Julius La Rosa special, You make me Feel so Young

History, Jingles

WNEW – And, so it began

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Early style jingle. Tommy Dorsey esque late 1930s

..In 1933, Milton Biow, and Arde Bulova, manufacturer of watches, had recently acquired two small radio stations from the Amalgamated Broadcasting System. The ABS, formed by comedian Ed Wynn to challenge the three major radio networks, had failed, and Biow and Bulova took over five floors of studios at 501 Madison Avenue.
Ed Wynn’s initials are often said to be the source of NEW’s call letters. But retired engineer John Sarpaylic offers this first-hand account: “One Sunday morning I had to drive Mr. Biow and Richard O’Dea (owner of station WODA) to the new location in Carlstadt where they were building the transmitter. And the discussion was, what are we going to call this? Milton Biow said, ‘We haven’t had a station built in this area since 1928. I think the best call letters we could have are WNEW, which says new.  NEW in the metropolitan area. The NEWest thing in radio.'”

 

©Where the Melody Lingers 1984

The preceding is an excerpt from the book “Where the Melody Lingers On WNEW 1934-1984,” Nightingale Gordon, NEW YORK.

©”A Radio Station & It’s Mistress”  Marlin R. Taylor

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History, Jingles, Staff

There’s Only One

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….and most assuredly, there will never be another!  The reference is to WNEW 11-3-0 in New York which was the radio home to some supremely talented air personalities, aided and abetted by a stellar news operation!
Those voices that appeared between the records belonged to a fraternity of personalities who had one tradition: To offer amusing chatter and incisive comments about the records they played.
At the same time, those news broadcasters (some of whom still write for this website), did their level-best through sharp editing and impeccable writing to keep the New York metropolitan area informed up to the minute!
Sadly, that all came to an abrupt end thirty-two years ago on December 11, 1992 and was only amplified by the Nor’easter walloping New York, New Jersey and Connecticut at the time.
 As I have said before and meant sincerely, the heavens were weeping for what we will always recall as the Big W!

Article contributed by Bob Gibson

WNEW-AM on-air roster (partial) originally posted 12/10/2012
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History, Jingles, Listener Comments

December 11, 1992 Listener Memory

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December 11, 1992 – A sad day in the NY tri-state area, as WNEW last crossed the airwaves. WNEW was an extraordinary station and the memory resonates deeply with its listeners. For this reason, we are able to flip the sad to glad as I share with you a listener memory, sent in by Mr. Kevin Haynes.

 

My Mom had the kitchen radio tuned to WNEW morning, noon and night for my entire childhood, from toddlerhood in Brooklyn to getting ready for school on Long Island in the mid-1960s and beyond. 

I fondly remember Klavin & Finch, William B. Williams, Ted Brown (my favorite!) and sportscaster Chip Cipolla, who once told a hilarious story about getting a piece of fan mail addressed to Gypsy Polo. 

To this day, I still recall a couple of the station promos as well as the jingles for Chicken Delight and Robert Hall (“School bells ringing/children singing/It’s back to Robert Hall again…”) 

I recorded WNEW’s final two hours to preserve the memories, bid adieu to a New York institution and share the fond farewell with Mom.

–End–

Mr. Haynes, Kevin, donated a digitized version of his long held cassette of the last two-hours of programming, saying,

“…I’m delighted to give it a new, loving home.”

Thank you Mr. Haynes, for your contribution.

 

This website cannot accommodate the size of those files, so, here are a few cuts from each of the 1 hour recordings.

If you are interested in hearing them in their entirety send your request to editor@wnew1130.com.

Cassette 1.  Dec 12, 1992  Mark Simone and guests
6:00 pm – 7:00 pm

Lena Horne

Jim Lowe

Sinatra

Cassette 2. Dec 12, 1992  Mark Simone and guests
7:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Ted Brown

Tony Monte & John Pizzarelli, Jr sign off / Jingles

Jim Harlan

Final on-air words and song, including some jingles

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Archive, Promos, Sports, Staff

Jock of All Trades

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Marv Albert worked as the lead radio voice for New York Giants football on WNEW-AM in New York from 1973 to 1976, succeeding Marty Glickman after Marty started broadcasting for the New York Jets . He also worked as a sports anchor for WNBC-TV in New York during this time. Albert has called the play-by-play of eight Super Bowls, nine NBA Finals, and seven Stanley Cup Finals. He has also called the Wimbledon Tennis Championships for TNT, and has worked as a co-host and reporter for two World Series.

Photo from the Archives of Stuart Zuckerman
Promotion Manager WNEW-AM

Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame

Marv Albert

 

Audio, Gallery, Staff, Uncategorized

1957 Hit Parader featuring Julius La Rosa

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From Bill Diehl’s Magazine Rack

 

Julius La Rosa
WNEW AM 1970’s

Julius La Rosa was hired as a disc jockey on WNEW in 1970. That’s when I got to know him while working as a newscaster on the station. Off the air Julie was great to know-personable and willing to talk

Bill Diehl & Julius La Rosa
Bill Diehl & Julius La Rosa

about his time with Arthur Godfrey when he was fired in 1953. Godfrey said later it was because Julie lacked humility, but what really angered ‘the old redhead’ was La Rosa had hired an agent, a big no-no-no because Godfrey wanted total control over his so-called ‘little Godfrey’s’.

Firing La Rosa backfired. Ed Sullivan immediately hired La Rosa for appearances on his “Toast of the Town.” During the summer of 1955, La Rosa had a three times a week TV series on CBS. In ’56 and ’57 he hosted summer shows as a seasonal replacement for Perry Como. Shortly after leaving Godfrey La Rosa had several hit records, including “Eh Compari” and “Domani.”

Domani 1955

Hit Parade 1957
Hit Parader 1957

Years later when I got to really know Julie we talked about his career and Godfrey. Julie said, “As an entertainer he was the best salesman in the world. I was a 20-yr-old kid in the Navy from Brooklyn and Godfrey gave me a golden opportunity to be on his shows. Happy memories? Are you kidding?! There was a year and a half of total and complete joy, I mean look at me ma, that kind of thing. I was doing what I had one day dreamed I would do.”

 

Hi Parade 1957Julie told me that after the firing <he> met Godfrey in his office, “offered my hand in friendship and he rejected it.” Godfrey died in 1983 at 79. “Now that he’s gone,” said La Rosa, “I shall pray that he will rest in peace.” La Rosa said they met briefly once on Fifth Avenue walking in different directions. “I took his hand and said, you’re looking well, and he said thank you. And I said, you better watch it, or they’ll make an item of us.”