By many, but not all historians’ thinking, this could have been dubbed America’s Radio Day more than a century ago! That’s when the sound medium began finding its way from the assorted cobwebs of a laboratory eventually to what we can call Main Street, USA!
It was precisely 104 years ago that KDKA, Pittsburgh (November 2, 1920) was issued the first broadcast license by the predecessor of the Federal Communications Commission.
KDKA’s logo from the 1920s. Already they were known as broadcast pioneers.
Now all of these years later, that station at 1020 on the AM dial with a power output of the maximum-allowed 50-thousand watts, is very much alive and well! For that matter, so is Detroit’s WWJ which is reported to have first put out a signal a year earlier in 1919. Like KDKA, that Detroit all-news station is still in business, and like its Pittsburgh counterpart, is part of the radio company known as Audacy. Yes, radio preceded television, but don’t try to convince a true radio broadcaster that TV is better or more important than its sister medium!
Article contributed by Bob Gibson
Editor’s Note: Among Bob’s many prestigious credits, he was a news anchor for KDKA-AM during the late 60’s and early 70’s.
The following interesting and nostalgic piece of information is provided by radio history viewer, Mr. Steven Didovich, via a comment through WNEW1130.com. What timing, with the recent Jock of all Trades post, 01-Oct-2024.
Thank you so much for sharing, Steven.
—MCP—
This is about radio scheduling.
Because of NY Yankees World Series game 3 Monday night at Yankee stadium, the NY Giants-Steelers game on Monday night will move from WFAN 660/101.9 to WBBR 1130.
This will be the 1st Giants game on 1130 since December 1992 when WNEW 1130 ended.
Thanks to the concept of early voting, I’m done for another four years in terms of those top of the ticket entries!!
We all, presumably, want a first-rate democracy while maintaining our position as the best and strongest nation on Earth. Of course, how we go about achieving that is at the voting booth where each of us has one, and only one, chance to make our voice heard.
Whenever you do that, make the right choice, and if you’re not sure ahead of time, read and think about it some more, rather than calling a friend, as someone whose opinion you may think is golden, could differ from yours.
Good luck and may the best people win for them, us and the world!
Editor’s Note: Abstention because you don’t like either candidate is not an option. Find something you like about one…or dislike about one-make a choice, and VOTE. It’s your right. It’s your duty. usa.gov/voting-rights
Marv Albert worked as the lead radio voice for New York Giants football on WNEW-AM in New York from 1973 to 1976, succeeding Marty Glickman after Marty started broadcasting for the New York Jets . He also worked as a sports anchor for WNBC-TV in New York during this time. Albert has called the play-by-play of eight Super Bowls, nine NBA Finals, and seven Stanley Cup Finals. He has also called the Wimbledon Tennis Championships for TNT, and has worked as a co-host and reporter for two World Series.
Photo from the Archives of Stuart Zuckerman
Promotion Manager WNEW-AM
As the United States rounds the corner from the Republican and Democratic National Conventions, I am reminded of my first Presidential Convention–the 1972 RNC.
My memories, though, contain not one thought of politics or news. They were filled with dreams of Disney Land, and all points along the way as my courageous mother drove her four-children (between the ages of 10 and 14) down country from NY to FL to meet up with her husband, our father, who was working the RNC for WNEW.
By stark contrast, please enjoy The Conventions – 1968,
written by Edward Brown.
You will hear the reports and voices of Metromedia Network correspondents Al Wasser, Walter Rodgers, Jeff Kaman, Edward Brown, Dan Blackburn, Mike Eisgrau, Al Wyman and Jay Richards, and Vice President of News, Alan Walden.
Happy heavenly birthday, Edward Brown. Celebrating your life and your exemplary service and commitment to your listeners, and viewers, by bringing the truth of current affairs as only your writing, analysis, and voice could do. And, from all of us, the world is less bright without your shining light. (Sept 23, 1933 – Sept 15, 2023)
Edward Brown
Brown spent ten years (1965-1975) with WNEW Radio, N.Y. as newscaster and news analyst. He won AP and UPI awards for his commentaries on Watergate, and other influential issues of the time. Brown made frequent news analysis appearances on WNEW TV’s “10 O’ Clock News, and had assignments to Cuba for the Cuban Missile Crisis, and the Viet Nam negotiations in Paris.
Today is a hard day as it reminds us all that it’s been a year since we lost you. A year? How is that even possible, when each day without you can feel like an eternity. I hope you know how much you are loved and dearly missed.
Edward BrownEd & Jean
Edward C. Brown, of Sun City Center, FL, and formerly of New York, NY, passed away on September 15th, 2023 at his home with his family by his side, a week before his 90th birthday.
Dad’s heart overflowed with kindness, gentleness, caring, giving, love, and humility.
The Family of Edward Brown
I share with you now, a favorite song of Dad’s.
Marianne (Brown) Palmer
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Remembering This Site’s Founding Father!!
The ever-pensive and always fair Edward Brown is more than a little deserving of some meaningful ink at this juncture! Though not one to ever call attention to himself, it’s now been exactly one year since we lost this accomplished broadcast journalist, news analyst and friend on September 15, 2023, a week before his 90th birthday.
When it came to getting it said, Ed was a master storyteller, respected by his colleagues, and his listeners and viewers in a nearly half-century career that took him from suburban radio stations on Long Island before he stepped up to New York’s WMCA for a half dozen years and a full decade at WNEW. His tenure at the latter was punctuated by AP and UPI awards, particularly for his commentaries on Watergate. In addition, he made appearances on WNEW Television’s “Ten O’clock News” as an analyst. His superb writing and commanding voice also led to Edward winning a network position as an analyst for NBC’s News and Information Service, a news broadcaster on NBC Radio and an important contributor to NBC Radio’s 1976 election coverage.
Before he and wife, Jean, moved to Florida, Ed did his final news anchoring and on-air writing at WCHL Radio in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Ed’s retirement years were spent in Sun City Center, Florida and it was there, at home, where the spotlight on his labor of love focused on WNEW1130.com. Yes, that is this very site where you are seeing this remembrance and a wholesome outpouring of stories tied to that once-prestigious New York Radio Station.
I am delighted to be among a small group of gifted, retired broadcasters who are privileged to write for this web site and can only hope this flashback would have passed muster with Ed and his daughter, Marianne, who is our Editor!
