West Virginia Broadcasting Hall of Fame Announces Inductees

[CoolBreeze]

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (AP) -- Space journalist and pilot Jim Slade is among 14 television and radio pioneers named to the West Virginia Broadcasting Hall of Fame.

Slade covered the U.S. space program for 40 years for several national networks. He began his career at WCLG Radio in Morgantown in 1954 and is a graduate of West Virginia University. He also worked at WPBX Radio in Clarksburg and WAJR Radio in Morgantown.

Other inductees include Wallace Horn, who began the "Friendly Neighbor" show on WVOW Radio in Logan; and Richard "Dick" Hustead, a Clarksburg disc jockey who went on to own WBOY-TV and Radio and WHHY Radio in Huntington.

The induction ceremony will be held Sept. 26 at The Museum of Radio and Technology in Huntington.

[genlock]

But they named only three. A "tease"?

[Oldiesdude]

I know of two of them.

[Tim Tyler]

The call letters of AM 1470 that Dick Hustead owned in Huntington were WWHY not WHHY.

[Dave Allen]

For those unfamiliar with Wallace Horn and the Friendly Neighbor Show (I'm sure Nunley and Kidd Conley, if he is still living can back me up on it) you have know idea how unique the show is. Its a primarily bluegrass music show that for years was taped in Wallace's TV repair shop in Chapmanville. The show was taped on Tuesday nights, then played back on those old big ass reel to reel tapes Saturday mornings on WVOW from 8:30 to 9:30 am (they have since upgraded to cd quality!). The show has had the same basic sponsors since it debuted in 1967. The show is "taped live" with all the commercials being read live. Next to "Tradin' Post" it is far and away the most popular show on WVOW, much better than the shitty morning show they have. Wallace is an interesting old dude, for sure.
"

[tvchick]

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (AP) -- Space journalist and pilot Jim Slade is among 14 television and radio pioneers named to the West Virginia Broadcasting Hall of Fame.

Slade covered the U.S. space program for 40 years for several national networks. He began his career at WCLG Radio in Morgantown in 1954 and is a graduate of West Virginia University. He also worked at WPBX Radio in Clarksburg and WAJR Radio in Morgantown.

Other inductees include Wallace Horn, who began the "Friendly Neighbor" show on WVOW Radio in Logan; and Richard "Dick" Hustead, a Clarksburg disc jockey who went on to own WBOY-TV and Radio and WHHY Radio in Huntington.

The induction ceremony will be held Sept. 26 at The Museum of Radio and Technology in Huntington.

That article is full of mistakes. It's WPDX in Clarksburg...and Dick Hustead never owned WBOY-TV. And of course, as already mentioned, it's WWHY in Huntington.

A.P. - world class news service, indeed.

[Lester]

For those unfamiliar with Wallace Horn and the Friendly Neighbor Show (I'm sure Nunley and Kidd Conley, if he is still living can back me up on it) you have know idea how unique the show is. Its a primarily bluegrass music show that for years was taped in Wallace's TV repair shop in Chapmanville. The show was taped on Tuesday nights, then played back on those old big ass reel to reel tapes Saturday mornings on WVOW from 8:30 to 9:30 am (they have since upgraded to cd quality!). The show has had the same basic sponsors since it debuted in 1967. The show is "taped live" with all the commercials being read live. Next to "Tradin' Post" it is far and away the most popular show on WVOW, much better than the shitty morning show they have. Wallace is an interesting old dude, for sure.
"

Any audio on the 'net?

[genlock]

http://www.huntingtonnews.net/local/090 ... ffame.html

[DosPrompt]

Fourteen radio and television pioneers are to become members of The West Virginia Broadcasting Hall
of Fame at the fourth annual induction ceremony on Saturday, September 26, 2009 from 5:00 to 7:00
p.m. The ceremony takes place at The Museum of Radio and Technology located at 1640 Florence
Avenue in Huntington. Attendance to the event is by invitation only.
Tom Resler, committee chairman says the hall of fame truly represents the great legacy West Virginia
has in the broadcasting industry. “These inductees have created a rich diversity of programming at radio
and TV stations across the state. This year’s class of 14 along with the previous years’ inductees
represent West Virginians who have been an important part of the lives of viewers and listeners in the
region and even across the country.”
A portion of the museum was renovated to house the hall of fame with support from the Foundation for
the Tri-State Community and the Cabell County Commission. The museum, founded in 1991, features
hundreds of radio and TV exhibits and maintains a library of broadcasting history. The museum is open
Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Sundays from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.


The members of the fourth class of inductees into the West Virginia Broadcasting Hall of Fame are:
Gilbert "Gil" Brooks -A Pioneer in Radio & TV 1st News Anchor in Charleston
Ray Brooks -WHIS-TV -Circle 6 Ranch- Snoop & Scoop Show 19 yrs, First cameraman WHIS-TV. Production
Manager 40 year career
George "Mickey" Curry -From switchboard operator to studio floor person, director, producer and program
director
Calvin "Randy Jay" Dailey -Owned WFGM, Fairmont, & stations in Parkersburg, Ravenswood
Doug "Dougger" Hoffman -Radio legend. WKWK, Wheeling; WXIL, Parkersburg; WFGM; Fairmont, WETZ
New Martinsville.
Wallace Horn -started "Friendly Neighbor show" in 1967 broadcasts on WVOW - continues today
Richard "Dick" Hustead -Clarksburg DJ invented The Sky Castle remotes from drive-ins, went on to station
ownership including WBOY radio and TV. Also owned WWHY radio in Huntington and out of state properties.
He started Husco Cablevision...the first Cable TV company in the Tri State Area..
George M. Hutchinson -Huntington broadcaster began as staff announcer at WSAZ, was also program director
and chief announcer at WCMI, Ashland KY, and program director of WHTN, Huntington.
Dave McLain -Born David Poole, he was DJ & Program Director when WTCR was twice named CMA Station
of the Year
Bob Miller -WKEE and WGNT DJ once won BILLBOARD MAGAZINE's Air Personality of the Year
Rod O'Dell -WWNR radio Beckley 1960 - 85 DJ, sales, General Manager - also WJLS, WVJO
Bert Shimp -WSAZ radio DJ & Program Director also did TV later. Very active Huntington community leader
Jim Slade -He has broadcast his space chronicles on ABC-TV and Radio, CNN, NBC Radio, Mutual, the
Westinghouse Broadcasting system and the Voice of America. CNN reporter
Eddie Walters -Highly respected and talented engineer at WHEZ radio in Huntington and WTCR, Ashland, KY

[genlock]

Ray Brooks -WHIS-TV -Circle 6 Ranch- Snoop & Scoop Show 19 yrs, First cameraman WHIS-TV. Production
Manager 40 year career.

I used to watch this as a kid. Was this guy scoop or snoop?

[genlock]

George "Mickey" Curry -From switchboard operator to studio floor person, director, producer and program
director.

Curry also played "Merlin the Monster" on Captain Steamboat.

[MusicMiller]

Dick Hustead was basically responsible for Gary "Music" Miller.

In 1971, when I was still in high school, I called his radio talk show ("Talk Back") on an irregular basis, One time, on the air, he asked me what I wanted to do for a living. Not really knowing at that point, I answered "Well, I think what you do might be fun". He told me to call his secretary and gave me her number.

I called, and she told me to meet Dick for lunch in some dark, smoky bar called the "Thouroughbred" or "Saddle" Club, I can't remember which, the following Saturday. I remember being scared to death when I walked into the place...I was only in my mid-teens.

Hustead was an imposing figure, and had a Mr. Glick from "Glick's Colony House" (I'm sure one of David and Billy's relatives) with him. After lunch, where he did very little talking to me, he said, "Be at the station Monday morning by 5AM. You start working for me Monday...we'll do a split shift so you can finish your schooling".

From '71-'74, I did news, the evening "Penthouse Serenade", and an occasional fill-in for Dick doing "Talk Back" when Hustead was busy, or inebriated, or both.

In '74. Gary Miller became Gary "Music" Miller when I started working Top 40 for Charlie Dunlap at WCMI in Ashland.

And that, my friends, is my Dick Hustead story. And, it's my story. This is first time since 1971 there hasn't been a bidding war for me; this is the first time since '71 I've ever had to look for work, needed a resume...this whole out of work thing is a new experience for me.

And as for the poster in the ratings thread who said KEE sounds better now than it ever has, I guess that's the topper to R.I.P. - Gary "Music" Miller - 1978-2009. Nobody appears to be hiring in radio anymore, but this almost 40 years veteran would give his eye teeth to have a gig..especially doing oldies or A/C.

Keep me in mind, employers out there. Nice talking to you all again.

[MusicMiller]

Oh, and the 1978-2009 reference should have been the years I was on KEE...only 31.

[genlock]

Public radio in Charleston hires from time to time.
Just change oldies or A/C to Nazi funeral music on resume'.

[Lester]

Never a better example of radio eating its young.

Good luck, Gary. Short of owning a radio station that could hire you, let me know if there is anything we can do.

[Bob Campbell]

Wow, what a great story.
For my money, KEE is a shadow of its former self.
Of course, I'm a 30 year vet looking for work too, so what do I know?
Best of luck Mr. Miller.

[Hoosier Daddy]

Best of luck, Gary. KEE sounds weak and flat without you.

[MusicMiller]

Thanks, all, for your support. Everyone knows I'm available and looking...I just pray something opens up in my chosen field (the prospects of that look very dim). Radio has quickly found out that what once could be done by 8 people can now be done by 2. That means radio jobs are going the way of the elevator operators....

I can't help but be reminded of an original Star Trek episode called "The Ultimate Computer". The crew of the Enterprise (200+ of them) is replaced by a computer, and only about 8 people are left on board. Fortunately, for those 2 or 300 years in the future, the computer can't make distinctions between warships and harmless cargo freighters, or harmless war games, or something...anyway, it screws up and kills a bunch of people that it wasn't supposed to. So it doesn't last that long.

The "ultimate computer" leaving us with voice-tracking and syndication bodes very poorly for the future of live, local broadcasters in radio. I never thought I'd live long enough to see someone regularly pre-record an afternoon drive show; I always felt it was a shift that would always need to be done live as people drive home. The radio audience seems to be fooled by all the bells and whistles a station can create to make a show sound live. Now, even when a local personality is used, there's only perhaps a 25% or less chance outside of morning drive that that person's really doing the show at that time. Chances are, they did it yesterday...or the day before. Even "live" contests can be staged in advance, or by the jock who runs in for a mere five minutes and takes a winning caller, and then runs back out again. The only thing in someone like me's favor is the incessant busy signal the listener gets when he tries to call the station; this apparently isn't enough to either push for support of local jocks or deter the audience listening.

If my experience has taught anyone anything, it's to not take your gig for granted (if not working for yourself). My dad taught me that if you become well known, well respected, and do well at your job, you will be rewarded. I've proven that's not always the case.

Thanks again for the kind words. I answer all e-mails at garytvfan@aol.com, and I hope all of you have a terrific New Year!

GMM (post edited to correct typos I didn't catch early enough)

[David Paleg]

W.Va. Broadcasting Hall of Fame names 9
By The Associated Press
November 4, 2011

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. -- Retired "Mountain Stage'' executive producer Andy Ridenour is among nine people named to the West Virginia Broadcasting Hall of Fame.

Ridenour also is a former news director and public affairs director for West Virginia Public Radio.

The other 2011 inductees announced Friday by the hall of fame are Bob Aaron, Claude Jones, Tom Murphy, Sam Poland, Shawkey Saba, Norman Knight and Jack Williams.

An induction ceremony will be held Nov. 19 at The Museum of Radio and Technology in Huntington.

[Oldiesdude]

Who is the 9th. ?