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Saturday, May 21, 2011

WISR ~ Butler's Pioneer Radio Station


In 1941 WISR beamed its first radio broadcast.

12 comments:

Andy Shaffer said...

Does anyone remember the late Bob Kaufman? He was a wonderful announcer (and GM) who did the 12:15PM news for decades. My mom told me he announced my birth in 1948 on that program and later I had the chance to work with him in the early 1970s. He and Warren Ihlenfeld taught me radio news like I never knew. Mr. Kaufman would never let a parade go down Main Street without getting a mike and announcing it band by band. Wondered if others had memories of him?

Anonymous said...

My mother and father wouldn't let 12:15 go by without listening to the news. Everything else stopped while they tuned in to hear the broadcast while eating lunch.

Anonymous said...

My memory of Bob Kaufman was 'the voice' at the top of the news when someone died or was killed. With the first word or two out of his mouth, you instantly knew a tragic story was on the way. Mr. Kaufman was small town urbane and I don't mean that unkindly.

Anonymous said...

Dave Malarky has carried ''the voice'' into the 21st century

Andy Shaffer said...

Hey thanks all for your comments! And, I certainly agree with the last Anonymous about Dave Malarky, whose voice and style is so similar to Bob Kaufman's - carrying the "voice" into this century. I was working there also with Jerry Coleman and Paul Rex who were on the Opinion Program, and of course Mr. I (Ihlenfeld) who is so beloved in town. Thanks again...

Anonymous said...

Does anyone remember having their class spelling bee on the air. Probably 1945.

Anonymous said...

Yes, I do. Went down on the word "insurance".

Al Mohn said...

Well I'm not sure of the radio program but I do believe it was after school we kids used to go there and be part of Program. Does anyone remember the name of the program?

Anonymous said...

I remember going to the radio station after school for "Polly's Playhouse" (I think that was the name)---and we sang--Polly come out and play with me..."

Anonymous said...

Yes, there was a spelling bee program and I was on it. Must have been about 1949 and the word I missed was "photograph". See, I know how to spell it now. Don't remember what the prize was for winning. Anyway, a nice memory.

Anonymous said...

I remember that in 1949 I was taking guitar lessons from the Bridge school of music. We would go into the Butler Little Theater for a "group" broadcast of us beginners trying to play Hawain music. Pretty poor but it was experience I still remember !

Unknown said...

I remember going into WISR and watching Gene Brys do the morning show.