590 MIGHTY MEMORY #553

UPDATE

ON APRIL 23rd, WARM RADIO RETURNED TO THE AIRWAVES. THERE WERE NO COMMENTS FROM MANAGEMENT. BUT THE MIGHTY 590 AND TRUE OLDIES ARE BACK.....WHERE THEY BELONG!

590 MIGHTY MEMORY #554

PHOTO INDEX: GEORGE GILBERT CIRCA 1958 AND WARM TOP 40 EARLY SURVEY SHEET.

AN AUDIO MEMORY

Subject: A WARM Goodbye

This was the song WARM used as their # 1 song for the year, 1958 when they had their 20th Anniversary show in early June of 1978. #1_Song_With_GG_&_Tommy_Edwards(58).mp3.
It only seems fitting that George Gilbert who was there at the beginning & near the end of WARM's run as we knew it would be on this outtake with the #1 song from 1958, the year they went top 40 radio & which kept them on top for the next 20 years or so.
I recorded this when it happened back in 1978 & for me it is a final tribute to a radio station that EVERYBODY loved back at a time when radio was king. So enjoy, reflect & reminisce one more time to WARM The Mighty 590 , The Original Sensational Seven (DJ's) and to all who were a part of the history from that era. So long WARM.

Gene Forbes

590 MIGHTY MEMORY #555

OBIT



WARM Radio, born in 1940, having come into adulthood in 1958 at the age of 18 as the landmark rock and roll station for a generation was officially declared dead on Wednesday, April 15th, 2009. WARM spent its childhood in Scranton, moved to the center of the Wilkes Barre/Scranton radio market in its legendary years in the small town of Avoca and entered its declining days at 600 Baltimore Drive, Plains Twp. Causes of death were neglect of its power source, changing tastes in music and technology as well as low revenue. Surviving are thousands of avid listeners and fans who grew up with WARM Radio. There will be no calling hours. Private services are up to citizens of WARMland's collective memories and individual schedules.



FROM THE TIMES LEADER'S JERRY LYNOTT:

PLAINS TWP. – WARM, the AM-radio station synonymous with Northeastern Pennsylvania, is off the air after broadcasting news, music and sports for more than 50 years.
The station has been silent and a posting on its Web site thanked listeners for their support. “We love you and we’ll miss you,” it read.
Calls to the Citadel Broadcasting Co.-owned station were not returned Wednesday. “WARM is done,” said Sam Liguori. “Unless there’s a miracle they ain’t coming back.” Liguori, 72, of Forty Fort, hosted a Saturday polka show. He said the station’s backup transmitter had failed. “It’s a big technical problem that would cost a lot of money” to repair, he said.
Listeners found static when they tuned in to the station’s 590 kHz frequency for the past week. Unable to give a final sendoff on the air, Liguori thanked his audience and sponsors. “I hope the four hours a week that I was on the air put some joy in your life. That was my goal,” he said Wednesday. At its height in the 1950s, ’60s and ’70s, WARM, known as “The Mighty 590,” featured on-air personalities playing the latest Top 40 rock ‘n’ roll records. They populated their shows with signature characters and their antics entertained listeners well beyond the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre area on the strength of its 5,000-watt transmitter.
The station changed hands, formats and locations. It billed itself as the “True Oldies Channel” with a playlist containing some of the songs WARM’s “Sensational Seven” disc jockeys spun on 45-rpm records in its Avoca studio. “We had a talented bunch of guys,” said Harry West, 79, of Kingston. He worked at the station from September 1959 through July 1992 and then moved around to other local stations. “To this day I will be someplace and somebody will know me by my jingle,” West said of the catchy intro to his show. The shows were fun. The station was popular. And it won’t be duplicated. “The format was, there was no format,” West said.
Still, the station must adhere to Federal Communications Commission rules. WARM’s owner must give notice of an extended disruption of service for up to 30 days because of events beyond the control of the station owner. “They don’t have to notify us for 10 days,” said David Fiske, an FCC spokesman. If the station fails to broadcast for 12 consecutive months, its license expires, according to FCC rules. Should it come to that, Joe Nardone Sr. said he would have plenty of good memories.“They’re the one who introduced rock ‘n’ roll to the valley,” he said. The station also helped Nardone promote music shows at the Sans Souci Park. He said he did some clandestine market research back then to make sure he attracted big crowds. Nardone said he would send out people with flashlights to the parking lot to shine the lights on the radios inside the cars. “We wanted to know what they were listening to,” Nardone recalled. Nine out of 10 of the radios were tuned to WARM, he said.
Jerry Lynott, a Times Leader staff writer, can be contacted at 570 829-7237.
This blog/site, 590 FOREVER will continue to chronicle the historical aspects of WARM RADIO.

590 MIGHTY MEMORY #556

PHOTO INDEX: THE LATE HARRY KALAS AND TOMMY WOODS AND SON, CIRCA 1980, AND HARRY KALAS IN PHILLIES BROADCAST ATTIRE.

HARRY KALAS

A major part of WARM Radio history was the broadcasting of Philadelphia Phillie games. An intregal part of that era was Harry Kalas as the lead broadcaster of the National League team. We have two tributes from past WARM personalities Tommy Woods and Michael Neff.

Hi Folks

It was very sad to hear that Harry Kalas, the Philadelphia Phillies announcer passed away....here's a picture of my son Tommy, Harry and me taken back in the 80's.
Tom

AND FROM MICHAEL NEFF:

Editor -Philadelphia Phillies fans were shocked and saddened on Monday by the abrupt passing of "The Voice of The Phillies." An energetic 73, Harry Kalas was in the broadcast booth preparing for a game in Washington DC as the Phillies were about to face the Nationals. It was to be a game he would not describe. You've heard Harry Kalas many times, and, perhaps, were unaware. He was the Voice of NFL Films, Campbell's Soup, GMC Truck,Westwood One network football games and other radio-TV appearances. Like baseball broadcasters Vin Scully, Jon Miller, Harry Caray, and John Sterling, Harry Kalas had one of those "lazy Sunday afternoon" announcing styles making the National Past Time so enjoyable on the RADIO. All was well with the world when Harry's silky voice came gently booming through the speaker. He focused on the game and provided insightful analysis in his banter with his broadcast partners ... most notably the late Richie Ashburn. As a life-long Phillies fan, I grew up listening to games with the legendary By Saam and Bill Campbell on W B P Z in my hometown of Lock Haven, Pennsylvania. Many nights, a tiny transistor radio accompanied our group of aspiring ballplayers while we played Strat-O-Matic Baseball, the board game replicating our boyhood passion for the sport. The year Harry joined the broadcast crew, somehow, the game itself sounded "modernized." To our ears, it was a great merger of tradition with a fresh, new approach. Harry Kalas will now be announcing games in a distant ballpark, at present, we cannot hear. One day, we will. Until then, whenever I catch a Phillies home run call, I will fondly remember his signature ..."It's Outta Here!" The wonder of baseball Harry Kalas inspired will always be here, too.

Michael Neff

590 MIGHTY MEMORY #557

PHOTO INDEX: LEN WOLOSON WITH "BATMAN", A PROMO POSTER OF THE ORIGINAL WARM SENSATIONAL 7 FROM 1959, (LEN IS ON THE BOTTOM LEFT) AND A RECENT PHOTO OF LEN WOLOSON.

REMEMBERING LENNY

The local newspapers picked up on the passing of former WARM legend Len Woloson. Here is the announcement that ran in the papers today:

Len Woloson

WARM Radio's "Morning Mayor" of the '60s, '70s passes away.

Len Woloson, affectionately known in Northeastern Pennsylvania for many years as "The Morning Mayor" for his much-loved, hugely popular morning radio show on WARM Radio, passed away Sunday, March 22, 2009. His common-man combination of skit humor, the characters he invented and the more traditional DJ work in the emerging years of rock 'n' roll made him an early pioneer of the style so often used in radio in the decades since. In fact, Len was one of the Sensational Seven, a collection of leading DJs at WARM Radio so strong that they quickly piled-up listener rating points rarely seen at one station since. Though he worked in much larger metropolitan areas, like Detroit and Los Angeles, and was a featured personality of ABC Radio in the '60s, it was his WARM years in particular that so many in the radio industry remember most fondly. Len was born Feb. 18, 1930, in Hanover, and was raised in Nanticoke. After serving in the Air Force, Len was employed as a manager by Ford Motor Co. in Dearborn, Mich. While at Ford, he met and soon thereafter married Marian Jeffers, the love of his life to whom he was married for nearly 56 years. At the age of 28, Len embarked on a dramatic change in career path, becoming a rock 'n' roll disc jockey/broadcaster/ radio personality. His passion and talent for entertaining proved rewarding for Len, and ultimately, many millions of his devoted listeners throughout the country. Len started in broadcasting at WPTS, a small station in Pittston, where he served as the only disc jockey/broadcaster. Len then became the original "All Night Satellite" at WARM, which served the greater Scranton and Wilkes-Barre listening public. There, he refined his skill in weaving character and "skit" humor while presenting the day's then modern music, rock 'n' roll. He also had the pleasure of meeting and promoting young up-and-coming entertainers such as Paul Anka and Chubby Checker. After a brief stint in Providence, R.I., Len returned to the Detroit metropolitan area, assuming the entertainment name "Pat Mad Cap Murphy." He achieved top ratings in the multi-million listener market at the ABC owned and operated WXYZ radio, where he broadcast for nearly five years. While in Detroit, he hosted numerous "sock hop dances," hosting many "new" Motown performers, including Diana Ross and the Supremes, the Temptations, "Little" Stevie Wonder and Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels. He also had the pleasure of "on air" interviews with members of the Beatles and the Dave Clark Five, as well as hosting promotional events with other entertainers, such as Adam West of television "Batman" fame. Len moved on briefly to broadcasting in the Los Angeles area, but soon was again beckoned to his Pennsylvania roots. In 1969, amid much fanfare, Len returned to "WarmLand" and WARM Radio, assuming the important 6 to 10 a.m. broadcast slot. It was at that time he was quickly proclaimed the "Morning Mayor of WarmLand." In 1971, Len and his family moved to Las Vegas, Nev., where he enjoyed broadcasting at radio stations KDWN and KENO, as well as co-hosting weekend night movies on local Las Vegas television. Len then moved into sales and eventually retired to enjoy the "WARM" weather of Las Vegas for the remainder of his life. Len is survived by his wife, Marian; his children, Ken Woloson and Debbie Gitelman and their spouses, Mary Woloson and Paul Gitelman, all of Las Vegas; his sister, Julia Wolosonovich; his brother and sister-in-law, Myron and Carol Woloson, all of Nanticoke; and his four grandchildren, Kristina, Kayla, Michael and Katherine. He is also survived by Tippy, a beagle mix and one of many dogs whom he had enjoyed (and who enjoyed him) during his lifetime. Len's final resting place will be the Southern Nevada Veterans Cemetery in Boulder City, Nev. Services will be private. The family has requested, in lieu of flowers, that donations be made to the Nathan Adelson Hospice of Southern Nevada or Keep Memory Alive, the foundation for the Lou Ruvo Alzheimer's Institute. If anyone would like to share any remembrances of Len or share a personal note to the family, you may e-mail those remembrances or personal notes to kwoloson@nevadafirm.com and they will be conveyed to his family.

590 MIGHTY MEMORY #558

PHOTO INDEX: LEN WOLOSON WITH TONY BENNETT, A 1969 PROMOTIONAL PHOTO WHEN WOLOSON RETURNED TO WARM AS "THE MORNING MAYOR", WOLOSON BEING GREETED AT THE AIRPORT BY WARM STAFF, A 1970 WARM SURVEY SHEET AND A BIO PICTURE USED IN HIS BROADCAST CAREER.

LEN WOLOSON DIES

Former WARM Radio employee Joe Middleton broke this news on the NEPA Radio Board about Len Woloson.

Len Woloson, a native of Nanticoke and an original member of the WARM "Sensational Seven", passed away in Las Vegas, NV. Len had been ill for a few yrs. and was under Hospice care.

Len joined WARM as the initial over nite personality known as" The All Night Satellite"from midnght till six in the orbit that clicks. Len joined WARM from WPTS in Pittston. Len later moved on to other markets, including Detroit where he worked at ABC's WXYZ, under the air name of Pat Murphy. Len returned to WARM as the Morning Mayor in 1970. He left WARM in Spring of 1972 just missing the Agnes Flood . In Vegas his first radio gig was with KENO. He worked at other Vegas outlets too. In addition he was used as a swingman on KMBC in L.A. Len is survived by his wife Micky and two children. Another wonderful talent silenced. May he rest in peace.

WARM TRIBUTE

WARM Radio, operating as True Oldies Channel did a tribute to the one of the station's founding fathers. Brian Hughes produced it.

THAT BEAUTIFUL CHILD!!!!

He was fond of saying he was "the winner of the Honeypot beautiful child" contest. Len Woloson it can be argued was a real beaut! I never met the man but felt I knew him from his on air antics at WARM Radio. He was a master of the radio drop ins where he'd use hundreds of sound effects records to make a gag run just right. Before computers and high tech, Woloson used his hands and guile to pull off a radio production each and every day. Even in his later years, he never seemed to lose the buoyancy that was a hallmark of his personality. On that wonderful radio documentary produced by WVIA TV, Woloson exclaimed, "We would've worked for free at WARM. If we had to, we'd work at the A&P and do it for nothing. But thank God we didn't have to do that". One by one, the building blocks of WARM are disappearing. But we have memories. And Len Woloson gave WARM listeners a ton, in Act I as The All Nite Satellite and again in Act II as the Morning Mayor.

At the end of his Morning Show, Woloson sometimes ended with a version of this song:

And finally, to the winner of the Honeypot Beautiful Child contest, a closing musical tribute.

590 MIGHTY MEMORY #559

PHOTO INDEX: BOB WOOD, AKA CHRISTOPHER SKY.

THE NAME GAME

Bob Wood came to the Mighty 590 in the early 70s loaded for bear. He was going to one of WARM's latest talent editions that would keep WARM competitive into the decade of the 70s. However, when Bob got to WARM, doing 3 to 7PM was a guy named Bob Woody. He had to change his name or else WARM might get the reputation for having a "wood-en" lineup. So Bob became Christopher Sky who soared week nights 7PM to Midnight.