On July 2nd, the Continental Congress voted in favor of Lee’s resolution for independence in a near-unanimous vote (the New York delegation abstained, but later voted affirmatively). On that day, John Adams wrote to his wife Abigail that July 2 “will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary
July 4th Fireworks, Washington, D.C. Carol M Highsmith, photographer
Festival” and that the celebration should include “Pomp and Parade…Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other.”
On July 4th, the Continental Congress formally adopted the Declaration of Independence , which had been written largely by Jefferson. Though the vote for actual independence took place on July 2nd, from then on the 4th became the day that was celebrated as the birth of American independence.
Unanimous Declaration of Independence 1776
Did you know? John Adams believed that July 2nd was the correct date on which to celebrate the birth of American independence, and would reportedly turn down invitations to appear at July 4th events in protest. Adams and Thomas Jefferson both died on July 4, 1826—the 50th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence.
Mike Eisgrau is no stranger to the media or to public relations. For over ten years, Mike was the director of public affairs for the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center of New York. He was responsible for all public relations and print and broadcast media contact, including acting as the spokesman for the premier, world-class convention facility and as the PR contact with major government, trade show management and convention center officials from around the world.From the other side of the news desk, Mike has a career’s worth of experience as a reporter, editor and news director in both radio and television. As broadcast news editor for WWOR-TV in New Jersey, Mike was responsible for “Magazine” or “Enterprise” news stories produced by a staff of more than a dozen reporters. As news and copy editor for “Good Day New York” for WNYW-TV, Mike was responsible for writing and editing hourly and half-hourly newscasts on Fox TV’s New York morning show. For over twenty years, Mike served as a reporter, editor and news director for WNEW Radio News in New York, one of the nation’s premier local broadcast newsrooms of the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s. He covered major local and national stories, including the funerals of Robert Kennedy and Martin Luther King, Jr.; the Democratic and Republican conventions; state gubernatorial and presidential candidates on the campaign trail; and the 1969 Woodstock music festival. Mike holds a BA in Literature and Speech and Drama from Cornell University and an MSJ in broadcast news from the Medill from Northwestern University.
Thanks for posting your dad’s wonderful commentary*. I remember its original airing very well. I had just returned to the station after three years in the Army and 16 months with the Metromedia station in Philadelphia, WIP. One of my jobs was writing your dad’s 6:00 and 7:30 newscasts.
I was also a newlywed; my Jersey-girl wife was the daughter of a crusty old Italian-American butcher, Stanley Cozza, who rarely had anything good to say to anyone about anything. He was, however, a
Sharon Cozza Fisher and Stanley Cozza
long-running fan of WNEW, his loyalty dating back decades, and because I had gone to work for his favorite radio station, I could never do anything wrong.
Over the years, WNEW’s music policy drifted away from the American standards that had made its reputation, and Stanley drifted with it. Fortunately, he didn’t blame me for the changes, and, a decade later in 1979, when the standards returned to the station, Stanley returned with them. The radio in his grocery store in East Orange went on — tuned to WNEW — when he opened the place in the morning, and it stayed there all day. Ted Brown was a special favorite.
By then, I had left WNEW 1130 — but not the premises — to do the morning news on WNEW-FM, working in the same newsroom, if not on the same frequency. When I left at Christmastime in 1981 for NBC, where I would spend the rest of my career, WNEW 1130 had
Ann Reinking
just circulated a snazzy poster with Broadway star Ann Reinking striking a pose, and as a farewell gift, a whole bunch of staffers autographed the back of it, saluting the big fan, my father-in-law Stanley Cozza.
It’s been sitting in a box for lo these many years, but here it is. I have transcribed the autographs from the back of the poster.
Stanly Cozza WNEW signatures
Thanks again, so much, for your loyalty to the station we all loved so much and the staff who made it great.
Best regards, Andy Fisher
*Editor’s Note: The commentary to which Mr. Fisher refers was posted Feb 6, 2024, and written for broadcast on WNEW-AM February 13, 1970 by Mr. Edward C. Brown.
— — — —
INSCRIPTIONS ON WNEW 1130 POSTER FOR STANLEY COZZA
Stanley – Thank you and Merry Christmas – Tom Whalen
Stanley! We like the music here too! (Especially those of us with a little gray hair!) Keep listening – Happy Holidays! Mike Prelee, News Director
To Stanley – The young lady on the other side is Ann Reinking. I’m sending her to you on Arbor Day. Be prepared – William B.
To Stanley You were my “best” call in the past 175 years. Stay tuned — or come in and work with me!! Best, Ted Brown
Stanley – Glad you like our station, we appreciate your listening. Now what can we do about Andy? Best wishes, Bob Hagen
Stan – My man – I hear that you are cool & dig purple. Warmest regards Al Jazzbeaux Collins
Stanley – You are obviously a gentleman with cultured taste and refined judgment when you pick a station to listen to… but… have you had a hearing check-up lately? Merry Christmas John Kennelly
From one with ALL gray hair — for Stanley Steamer — Bruce Charles —
To Stanley Cozza… Thanks for listening to our hard-working WNEW news team… Best wishes, Mona Rivera
Dear Stan, In reference to the above by Mona Rivera, the true “hard work” is that of the listener. You must be a very hard worker. Best of everything from the Bald One, Charles Scott King
TO STAN – Christmas full time – the year around for you from a part-time milkman – Gordon Hammett
I found this photo of Guy Lombardo at the WNEW mic in the July 1986 issue of Good Old Days magazine. Lombardo and his Royal Canadiens was billed as “the sweetest music this side of heaven.”
Guy Lombardo
Starting in 1929 Lombardo broadcast live from the Roosevelt Hotel Grill until 1959 when he switched to the Grand Ballroom of the Waldorf Astoria hotel, <where he played until 1976.>
I’m thinking this photo was at the Roosevelt. –Bill Diehl–
Guy Lombardo orchestras were heard on WNEW beginning in the station’s earliest days when Martin Black’s “Make Believe Ballroom” featured Lombardo orchestra recordings. Lombardo also headlined many live big band specials on WNEW including the live 1967 New Years Eve show featuring the orchestras of Duke Ellington and Count Basie and MCd by Ted Brown. –ECB–
This poem, by Valerie Ward, is a call from the past, whispering the duty of peace into the present, urging us to live in a way that makes their sacrifices a foundation for a better tomorrow. Remembering the sacrifice with a depth of gratitude and solemnity-honoring those who laid down their lives.
…The common soldier, in his silent grave,
Speaks through the ages, his story we keep.
His sacrifice, a nation’s soul to save,
In our hearts’ vault, where memories sleep deep.
Our words, a bridge from past to present tense,
A tapestry of valor, pain, and grace.
Through verse, we offer homage, reverence,
To those who rest in time’s eternal embrace.
So let our sonnets soar, our stories weave,
In honor of the ones who rest, we grieve…
Columbia University students taking over the campus in pro-Palestinian demonstrations regarding Gaza reminds me of another time on the same campus 56 years ago.
In 1968 students again took over the campus—that time actually barricading themselves in buildings—even taking over the President’s office—to protest American involvement in the Vietnam War.
Print and broadcast reporters had been on the scene for a couple of days. I had just returned from vacation in my first year working for WNEW Radio News. No sooner had I entered my apartment in Forest Hills than the phone rang. It was the desk. “Get over to Columbia U. —the students have taken over the buildings”. So, late at night, I raced to the campus and, sure enough, some students had taken over President Grayson Kirk’s office and several other buildings. The NYPD was outside the gates.
About 1:30AM I was inside when a guy I knew named Jacques Nevard slammed me against a building. Jacques was the DCPI (Deputy Commissioner for Public Information). He was trying to protect me for, seconds later, a phalanx of cops swarmed through the gates and across the campus, grabbing and sometimes beating students and working to clear out those buildings.
1968 Columbia University Protesters
The next day student protest leader Mark Rudd held a news conference. I and other radio, TV and print reporters were there. (picture—I’m second from right—note the WNEW flag).
Jacques is gone now, but I won’t forget that night I reported for WNEW News on an Ivy League campus—especially since, just six years before, I had graduated from Cornell and had gone to get my Masters in Broadcast Journalism from Medill at Northwestern in Chicago. The experience that night taught me stuff I’d never learned in the classroom.
2011 WNEW 1130 reunion at Trattoria Dopo Teatro in Manhattan. It was a wonderful night, full of blessed memories of when we were all much younger. <Submitted by Andy Fisher>
From the archives of Andy Fisher
Front row: Mike Eisgrau, Mike Prelee, Arlene Prelee, Teresa Cambridge-Rice, Barbara Bohannon, Lorry Diehl, Naomi Stein, Marlene Sanders, Ed Brown, Jean Brown Second row: Alan Walden, Mike Forrest, Ray Rice, Bill Diehl Third row: Maria Forrest, Barbara Wasser, Mrs. Wasser, Al Wasser Fourth row: Phyllis Carr, Dick Carr, John Bohannon, Mike Stein, Andy Fisher, Mort Crim, Renee Crim, Sam Hall
Trattoria Dopo Teatro -Since Closed-
125 W 44th St, New York, NY 10036
It was circa 1974. Over the previous two years, I had worked as Promotion Manager for fledgling UHF TV stations in Boston and San Francisco. My job was to promote re-runs of old TV series and movies. I wanted to work at a radio or TV station that broadcast live content.
I moved to NYC without a job and interviewed at a number of stations. John V.B. Sullivan was instrumental in hiring me.
I was 26 years old, and enthralled by the caliber of the staff, both the deejays, and the news reporters. (But, the music they were playing was NOT geared to my demographic.)
I still remember the ad campaign I created for the Gene Klavan morning show, which was starting to get stiff competition from WNBC’s Don Imus. It was geared to attract a younger demo that was commuting to Manhattan for their jobs.
The print ads and billboards carried the double entendre headline,
“Klavan Gets You Off in the Morning”
Which was clarified by a big photo of guys in suits getting “off to work” (as if on a race track).
Sincerely,
Stuart Zuckerman
PS- after leaving WNEW, I moved to the ad sales side of the business, and mid-career switched to PBS, getting sponsors for national programs.
