590 MIGHTY MEMORY #540

PHOTO INDEX: THE LATE MANNY GORDON.

MANNY AND WARM

A big part of my childhood at Christmas time was being terrified that our Christmas tree would burn the house down. My father was kind of like the dad on "The Christmas Story" so things sometimes were jerry rigged. Every year, I dutifully waited for the Manny Gordon Christmas tree recipe which kept the tree moist and less brittle. Through the years, Manny Gordon was on the radio so much you'd think he was a member of the WARM staff. Even after his retirement from the Forestry Department, Manny would be on WARM joshing with Harry West or Len Woloson or George Gilbert on various charities he ws involved with at the time.
Manny Gordon died last week at the age of 97. He lived a very good life of enjoyment. His mantra was "Enjoy Enjoy". With Manny's life, we in WARMland did. We enjoyed Manny to the Max.
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590 MIGHTY MEMORY #541

PHOTO INDEX: THE SCRANTON FAMILY FROM THE COVER OF LIFE MAGAZINE, JUNE 1964.

WARM AND THE GREAT CAMPAIGN

It was 1964, a scant half year after John Kennedy, the President of the U.S. was killed. Midway through '64, the name of Pennsylvania Governor and WARMland native William Warren Scranton's name was being bounced around as a possible nominee for the Republican Party. Although Barry Goldwater led in the delegate count, many of the moderate Republicans wanted a more left of center voice. William Scranton, the progressive Republican Governor of the Commonwealth fit the bill. Scranton was unsure about running until Senator Goldwater voted against the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Scranton, whose family virtually founded the GOP in the state was outraged that the party of Lincoln had as its possible nominee a man who voted to deny basic rights and dignity to all Americans. In mid June he jumped into the race for President. WARM Radio had reporters, Jack Donniger and Terry McNulty in Atlantic City to follow the proceedings. Special interviews with local delegates were featured. WARM also followed the convention via their UPI News Service with veteran reporter Pye Chamberlain providing minute by minute coverage. WARM of course kept its music format humming but the Scranton effort was not that far off the radar. A promo ran constantly that stated: "Did the Governor start too late? Or is Bill Scranton, WARMland's hometown boy poised to pull an upset in Atlantic City. Stay tuned as WARM News takes you there as it all unfolds". Scranton needless to say did not get the nomination but the coverage of his bid by WARM Radio made for an exciting political summer.
And in that political summer, here was one of the top songs played on WARM.

590 MIGHTY MEMORY #542

PHOTO INDEX: MAN ON THE MOON.

WARM AND THE MOON

WARM Radio, in the summer of '69 promoted its news operation as the lunar landing approached. Utilizing UPI News, WARM had special reports during each newscast and broke in with bulletins as needed. On the night that man first landed on the moon, WARM suspended local programming (it was a Sunday night so it was no big financial loss for sales) with UPI coverage.

HERE'S WHAT WE WERE LISTENING TO ON WARM:



AND OF COURSE, WARM PLAYED THIS OLDIE FROM 1965.

590 MIGHTY MEMORY #543

PHOTO INDEX: WARM HURRICANE GUIDE FROM 1969. (CLICK TO ENLARGE).

STORMY WEATHER

Forty years ago WARM Radio actually published a Hurricane Guide. When I heard about Tropical Storm Carlos making its way therough the seas last week I thought of this piece of WARM trivia. Apparently WARM decided to put out this guide for travelers as well as an aid in planning summer road trips. Little did the powers that be at WARM realize that in 1972 a tropical storm named Agnes would wreck havoc on parts of WARMland. A song WARM played, "Stormy" by Dennis Yost and the Classics 4.

590 MIGHTY MEMORY #544

PHOTO INDEX: SUMMERTIME FUN ADS ON THE BACK OF WARM SURVEY SHEETS AND MC TOMMY WOODS. (CLICK TO ENLARGE).

SUMMER CONCERTS

Many people who remember WARM readily point to the concerts at Rocky Glen Park for summertime fun. WARM day was held toward the end of summer and drew thousands of people. But during the summer, WARM promoted cncerts featuring various artists at places like Pocono Downs, San Souci Park and Hanson's Amusement Park. WARM was the summertime clearinghouse for information on the hot groups and of course summertime fun. Here's one of the featured bands, Cannibal and the Headhunters:

Also, here from Allentown is Jay and the Techniques:

And then there were The Dells:

590 MIGHTY MEMORY #545

PHOTO INDEX: FIREWORKS.

WARM AND THE 4TH

WARM Radio in its heydey celebrated the Fourth of July in a very low key manner. WARM, prior to the big day would run contests like giving away charcoal and picnic supplies but by and large, WARM conveyed the image that on the 4th, it was "family" time. And WARM Radio, wanted to be part of the family. Promos urged listeners to take WARM to the State Park, the beach or on that ride to a 4th of July celebration. WARM never sponsored a fireworks event but did everything it could to piggy back and promote others big explosive events. This weekend, WARM True Oldies Channel is promoting the "Great American Road Trip" as a celebration of music and this great country. What better way to think back to the good times of rock and roll then to travel down Route 66: