A
Shortwave Station from 485 Madison Avenue.
By Lou Josephs©.
In response to my WNYW Radio New York Worldwide school essay from
1969: ÒDxing Worldwide on WNYW- A radio show I likeÓ (posted at this web
address in 2004)I have received a nice response from Lou Josephs in April of
the same year, formerly of that station. He says:
ÓI saw your WNYW piece. It
amazes me at the amount of detail you have in there. I am going to work on a
history of international shortwave radio station WNYW, Radio New York Worldwide[1].
I worked there out of high school in 1969. I was hired at WNYW at the age of 17 by Irwin
Belofsky to handle the mail on weekends and also to work for the FM sister
station WRFM both housed at 485 Madison Avenue in New York City.
485 Madison Avenue, NYC. Unknown photographer.
My boss was a school teacher
by day and editor of the listeners club bulletin by night. Irwin was also the
promotion director of WRFM noted for the dial card campaign:
http://home.att.net/~charlene.sanzone/dialcard.htm
Drake SW-4A
WNYW had a Drake
SW-4A(co-created by GM Arch L. Madsen) in the programming office, of course I
had to show the PD how to tune in the station, as he had never used a shortwave
radio.
http://www.dproducts.be/drake_museum/sw-4a.htm
Perhaps you bought into the
hype and had one yourself?(Actually I still have a Drake SPR-4!-editor)
History
Here you will find a short
history of WNYW, its predecessors and its aftermath 1927-1979.
http://www.northernstar.no/wnyw3.htm
You might also like to
download and run this as a PowerPoint Presentation of the stationÕs history. To
download click on the link and to read it on the web you will need to write
this address in the access window of your browser:
http://www.northernstar.no/wnyw2.htm
Here is an early letterhead
of the New York City predecessor of WRUL and WNYW from:
http://uv201.com/Misc_Pages/letterheads_2.htm
From WRUL to WNYW
Here is an ad for WRUL from
the WRTH 66, just before Radio New York Worldwide changed to WNYW call letters
on June 1st, 1966:
Here then is the WRTH 66
entry for WRUL:
QSLs
I handled QSLs as part of my
job at WNYW. Here are a number of QSL cards from the station:
By 1947
WRUL was allowed back on the Hatherly Beach site with 25% of own broadcasting.
Here is a 1949 QSL card to Bertil Ericsson of Sweden provided by Swedish dxer
Henrik Klemetz.
This
1960 card to Pat Dyer is from
http://www.qsl.net/wa5iyx/images/60_wrul.jpg
This
1961 card to Colin Miller is from
http://www.antique-corner.com/SWLQSL/1us12.htm
WRUL QSL
card to Manfred HŸppelshŠuser, Germany 1964. From
http://www.online-club.de/~m-huepp/qsl/qsl_wrul.html
Change
to WNYW call letters June 1st, 1966. Who is the owner?
I wrote out this QSL card to JŸrgen KŸckelhaus in
Germany in the fall of 1969. From
http://www.online-club.de/~m-huepp/qsl/qsl_wnyw.html
A late
card from the spring of 1972. Who is the owner?
1973:
Family Radio takes over and the call changes. WNYW is no more.
Pennants
WNYW had pennants for a very
brief period. See
http://www.bcdx.org/banderines/
Dxing Worldwide
The program you wrote about in 1969 was a program for short wave
listeners, Dxing Worldwide.
Listen to a close of Dxing Worldwide from 1969, hosted by Larry
Yount, as well as Station ID and frequency announcements.
http://www.ibcworks.net/dxww.wma
Considering that one of my
jobs was to setup Dxing Worldwide, in your essay you have all the elements that
were a part of the format of the show.
I have a lot of the
production pieces for Dxing Worldwide. Les Marshak
http://musicradio.computer.net/marshak.html
is still in New York and is
one of the major free lance voice talents.
In 1973 I went on to do
commercial radio in the US in Titusville, Florida (WRMF), in 1978 to
Philadelphia(WZZD) and in 1979 to Boston(WROR-FM). From 1990 I was Program
Director of Deer Broadcasting owning some New England stations, and am a
correspondent for Media Network/Radio Nederland.
My full biography is at
http://cflradio.net/lou_josephs_bio.htm
You might like to read my
story ÒRadio the way it used to beÓ at
This has some sound clips.
Some of those are linked to here. YouÕll need Windows Media Player for Windows
or Mac to hear most of them. They are from the 30 minute documentary Media
Network on Radio Nederland Wereldomroep with Jonathan Marks that aired in 1985
with air checks of shortwave radio stations from what is now called the golden
era of the 60s, such as Radio Nederland Wereldomroep, Radio Sweden and
Radio New York Worldwide.
http://www2.rnw.nl/rnw/en/features/media/links/benefits.html
You will also hear in the
long clip the first promo I ever cut.
The first clip is from the month of December,1968.
http://www.ibcworks.net/sw.wma
Les Marshak voiceover king is the jock. Program material is music
from Joni Summer, ID: ÒThis is New York, WNYW serving over 46 Million listeners
with the Musical Sounds of today, and news up-to-the minute! New York City
weather is kinda bleak today, by 55 degrees right now, raining todayÉÓ Beatles
music and a CBS Radio Network ÒFace the nationÓ promo, into Classics IV music.
The
next WNYW clip
http://www.ibcworks.net/wnywsg.wma
is Steve Silverstein,
later Steve Grayson, with a piece of a ÒblackÓ radio operation, he was the
first of 3 hosts hosting Dxing Worldwide. It also features Jonathan Marks and a
recording I did at WROR Radio in Boston. RN and Radio Sweden cuts are also
here, before a short World Wide Hitparade cut from WNYW.
Then Les Marshak
http://www.ibcworks.net/wnywhp.wma
doing the Worldwide Hit Parade in 1969, this show I produced,
which in those days meant getting the content, the records and Les'
coffee. Here is a well known Global Medium jingle(ÒTake a portable
radioÓ)mentioning the Radio Veronica and the Polish Pathfinders Station hit
surveys. And the WNYW Hit Parade Pick of the week. with Marvin Gaye.
Dick London did weekend news, there's a clip at
http://www.ibcworks.net/wnywnews.wma
from June of 1969, Then
Caribbean Weather Watch. You also get to hear Tito and Joe Roberts doing IDs on
the Bi-lingual service IDs, Òdesde Nueva York.Ó
Then a cut from
Dxing Worldwide, hosted by Larry Yount.
http://www.ibcworks.net/wnywdxjul69.wma
This is from July 69, the
music under Larry is called Peace III, it was on Elektra records. ÒMusingsÓ
starts with a feature on BBC Masirah Island 1410.
Re-tune announcement and a
promo featuring Bert Kleinman WNYW PD at that time and his show International
mailbag is next. Bert was one of the first PD's of WPLJ an AOR-formatted FM
station in New York. Bert also made US international broadcasting history by
being part of the 1st call in program, the world wide phone-in, April of 1968.[2] Then Dxing
Worldwide again from October
of 1968 with Steve Grayson, featuring an ad for the Drake SW-4A radio.
http://www.ibcworks.net/wnyw1.wma
http://www.dproducts.be/drake_museum/sw-4a.htm
The next cut
http://www.ibcworks.net/rssw.wma
has an ID, CBS News promo and
WNYW sign off for Europe and Africa plus some pieces of transmissions to the
Americas still in English, including Ken Lang, also of WPAT Paterson, NJ,
a Les Marshak promo for
Worldwide Hit Parade and an ÒAll American SoundÓ jingle.
From September 1968, the end
of the radio documentary
British Pirate Radio-Dead Issue?
http://www.ibcworks.net/wnyw2.wma
A sign off follows. The cut
ends with the WNYW sign on. For this program
item, listen to this
recording[3]
http://www.northernstar.no/wnyw72.ram
(Real Audio) This sign on
uses a Robert Hall music track and runs 10 minutes then it's spliced several
times it's on a master reel that runs 30 minutes and was both in New York and
also could be run from Scituate. Another version:
http://www.northernstar.no/wnyw2.ram
Follow this link
http://www181.pair.com/otsw/Audio/WNYW.ram
(Real Audio) to Jerry BergÕs and John
HerkimerÕs ÒOn the ShortwavesÓ and a recording of WNYW during the Christmas
Season, it's slightly off speed but it does feature a Ken Lamb newscast and CBS
coverage of Apollo Eight. The last portion which cuts off features the
WNYW Christmas thank you to listeners.
And follow this link
http://www.northernstar.no/WRUL11890Mar64.rm
To a recording (Real Audio)provided by Swedish veteran dxer Henrik Klemetz of WRUL on 11890
kcs from March 1964 with an ad of the World Radio TV Handbook.
Listen to the NAB-produced?
WRUL ÒGlobal MediumÓ presentation here:
http://www.northernstar.no/wrulglobalmedium.mp3
(DonÕt forget to use the
ÓbackÓ button after youÕve listened!)
The compilation is published
here solely for historical purposes with the generous help of Norman Barrington
In vain, we have tried to
track any copyright holder. All rights remain with that holder. In addition we
think with the ABC.
WNYW
logs in written form from 1968 and 1969 at
http://www.northernstar.no/norwegianradiodays.htm
Where
did the air talent come from? Well, WRFM of course, and WPIX, now WQCD 101.9 in
New York was the WNYW farm club, see how many of the WNYW staff that you remember worked also for WPIX.
Gunhard T.Kock and JŸrgen KŸckelhaus also provide some vintage
recordings of the Scituate station:
http://www.filatelia.fi/dx/sounds/wrul.wav
http://www.online-club.de/~m-huepp/kurz_ame.html
Take a listen to Dave
KernickÕs recordings of the station:
http://www.intervalsignals.net/sounds/usa-z-wrul_040447.ra
http://www.intervalsignals.net/sounds/usa-z-wrul_radio_new_york_worldwide_c1962.ra
http://www.intervalsignals.net/sounds/usa-z-wnyw_radio_new_york_worldwide_1968.ra
http://www.intervalsignals.net/sounds/usa-z-wyfr-ma_fdxa_c1976.ra
WNYW
Coverage map of Europe. From station brochure.
And finally, here is once
again the original
School essay from 1969:
Dxing Worldwide on
WNYW-
A radio show I
like.
What I most look
forward to on Saturday afternoons, is the radio program Dxing Worldwide. This
program, which starts half past 6, and lasts until seven, comes from radio
station WNYW, Radio New York Worldwide. Dxing Worldwide is one of the best
programs I ever heard.
Before I go on, I
have to define what Dxing is. DX is radio ÓhamsÓ language and means distance.
Some definitions also adds that the x means the unknown which I think is a good
point.
In other words, DX
stands for listening to unknown radio stations from far away. This is real
sport. Thousands of people around the world have really found something of
great value in the DX-sport. Via this they get into contact with most countries
in the world. When you turn the dial, you can go from Karachi to Rio De Janeiro
in less than a second. Since the sport is so valued and popular, many radio
stations, especially those on the Shortwave bands has own DX programs serving
as assistance and enrichment for listeners. DX-shows contain mostly only
reports from the listeners of important stations they have managed to hear. But
Dxing Worldwide contains much more than this. This show takes you from one side
of the Dx-spectrum to the other.
At 6.30pm Saturday
afternoon I am always in front of my radio. Sometimes it might be a bit
difficult to recveive WNYW, but generally speaking it comes in very clearly. A
radio listener fancies a clear identification from a given station, and WNYW is
clever at this. At precisely 6.30 you hear: ÓThis is WNYW, Radio New York
Worldwide, with studios in New York City, and transmitters in ScituatŽ,
Massachusetts, USA.Ó After this comes the theme tune of Dxing Worldwide. I like
this very much. It is a funny tune that leads the program into an easy manner
right from the start.
Les Marshak, the
program host is in the hot seat. ÓHello, all listeners in Europe and Africa,
here we are with Dxing Worldwide once again. I hope you have a good time
wherever you are just now, here in New York City we have great weather, with
sunshine this Saturday morning. Well, all the staff here at WNYW is ready to
get set, are you? We march right ahead with ÓMusings, part IÓ. What I fancy
most with Dxing Worldwide is this personal, friendly sound of Les Marshak.
Quite genuine is Les, and it seems he really hopes we have a good time wherever
we might be at this moment whether we might be in Sahara or as me, home in my
room in the middle of the Norwegian West Coast.
ÓMusings, part IÓ.
Is an item dealing with different episodes that have happened on radio stations
around the globe. Les tells about the snake who came into studio while the
newsreader read the news on BBC Radio I and 2.
Another time a young
boy in Chicago started his own radio station. He transmitted with the great
power of 45 watts! WRFN, Rado Suburbia was on the air every Fridday evening,
and had three listeners sending in requests per phone! The boy had to demolish
all the equipment and got a warning from the authorities. Such small episodes
are typical of Dxing Worldwide.
Les Marshak is quite
new as program host. At the end of March this year Steve Grayson quit. He has
been the host for 4 years. Just before he quit, he put in a new spot in the
show, called ÓRemember time.Ó Les does a great job here too. He reads old
reports from listeners about stations they have heard, maybe 30 years old.
It is very
interesting and exciting to hear what they heard. European listeners might hear
Radio Tokyo and KDKA in Pittsburgh. I think ÓRemember timeÓ belongs to Dxing
Worldwide. This is a good feature.
After this the spot
I am waiting most for every time, ÓÉthis is when I touch that magic buttonÓ and
turn over to Roy Patrick, in Derby, England.Ó Roy is the leader of one of the
biggest DX-Clubs in Europe and his job at DX-ing Worldwide is to tell the
latest news from Europe, as well as to play a rare recording. He played Radio
Americas, 1165 kcs Swan Island and Radio Senegal, Dakar 764 kcs. But the nicest
bit was when Steve Grayson hosted the show and we were treated to hear what
happened the night of the 15th of August 1967, when Radio Caroline continued
its transmissons after the so-called pirate stations were stopped in England. I
am for ÓFree radioÓ, so I recorded what Roy played. We hear the Caroline djs
lead by Johnnie Walker sing. ÓWe shall overcome.Ó Then a short speech by
Johnnie why Caroline wonÕt give up, and then he says: ÓCaroline belongs to
you,Ó, Caroline is yours, and Caroline loves you.Ó Steve added after Roy
Patrick had finished: ÓEvery time I hear that recording, it brings a chill up
and down my neck.Ó
Maybe somebody will
say this is childish. Say want you want, the Caroline-guys gave up something to
ensure than the station should remain on the air as they had to move abroad. Roy
with the latest Dx-news from Europe is also one of the items why I fancy this
show.
After this a jingle.
This is a little song advertising the station it was played on or for radio
generally Jingles is one of the best parts of radio, thatÕs why I also enjoy
Dxing Worldwide. The Global Medium jingle set is often used.
WNYW is a commercial
station, so here follows a short commercial spot. Many people are against radio
advertising, and there might be good reasons for this, but the commercials on
WNYW sounds OK as it gives real information about the advertised products.
Every Dxer is
interested in the coming DX-conditions, and Ópropagation reportÓ tells us how
they have been the last week. I miss a propagation forecast though.
An interview also adds
to the programme quality. I remember especually an African radio person from
Southern RhodesiaÕs ÓRadio Jacaranda.Ó It is interesting to hear how they make
radio programs in Africa. You have to cater for all, both the village families
with their transistor to the rich, white family on the other side of town with
their large radio cabinet. Everybody is to be served.
Some news from the
electronic field follows. In this item you have the latest news of new radio
sets and radio parts. Les does a great job here too.
The time is now fast
approaching 7, and it is time to close the show. But first Les reads some listeners letters from
many parts of the world. Then the theme tune goes on the air. Les says goodbye,
and says see you next week. Maybe he also tells a little story to add little
spice to the closing.
Then Dxing Worldwide
is over for this week, and people in large parts of the world turn off their
radio sets. Once again they have just as I listened to the radio show they
enjoy most, Dxing Worldwide.
And WNYW crosses to
the jingle and newscast from American Information Radio News.
References
for those wanting to dig deeper in the history of Scituate, WRUL/WNYW and its
predecessor W2XAL New York:
http://www.scituatehistoricalsociety.org/
http://www.worldofradio.com/dxld4134.txt
http://radiodx.com/spdxr/kdka_shortwave.htm
http://members.aol.com/jeff1070/1931sw.html
http://members.aol.com/jeff560/chronotv.html
http://www.broadcasting101.ws/earlytv.htm
http://www.bostonradio.org/bri/v06/msg05704.html
http://hem.bredband.net/nygtor/ostfold/313.htm
http://www.dxlc.com/nordx/fred.html
http://www.norgeslexi.com/krigslex/n/n5.html
(Time
Nov.9th,1942)
http://members.aol.com/jeff560/1946news.html
http://www.shafr.org/newsletter/2002/sep/covert.htm
http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/bayofpigs/chron.html