WSAZ serves its core audience

[genlock]

WSAZ is going to start an on-air obituary broadcast.
11:45 am on WSAZ and 1:15 pm (I think) on MyZ.
I am sure it will be a paid announcement.
Let's see if they can keep from cracking up when
someone nicknamed "Coon-Dawg" or "Stinky" passes away.
Who will be the solemn voice who is detailed for the reading
of the announcements?

[Mr. Tom Jones]

I'm surprised WVMH didn't think of this first.

Gotta give the boys at Gray Television credit for figuring out how to vacuum up a few more bucks. Seems to me there were a few radio stations in the Carolinas doing this years ago.

[lastone]

Next they'll be doing 'fire alarm' announcements like we did in Williamson in the 60's & 70's.

"A fire has ben reported at_________ . Please do not go to the scene of the fire. Watch out for fire equipment rushing to the location! Again a fire has been reported at________. This message brought to you by....(Big Sandy Superstores! Where you can replace you fire damaged furniture and appliances for less!)"

[David Paleg]

America's Most Wanted: The Jaywalkers Edition

[Greg Goodfellow]

I think WDTV in Bridgeport/Clarksburg already does this with info on screen and no voice.

[amayo]

This has been a staple on lots of smaller market radio stations for decades. My Grandparents used to listen to "Funeral Notices Of The Air" on WDNE in Elkins when I was a kid. It was actually appointment listening for them! Not to mention I did this in my first gig at WMOA in Marietta too. AND you're absolutely right when you say it's tough to keep a straight face.
The fun thing is trying to decide how to describe death without using the words Died, death, or any otherwise direct term. I seem to recall using "departed this life" quite a few times!

[Scott Reppert]

Right, Greg. DTV is just straight graphics and text with mellow piano music behind it, aired during local news.

WMBS in Uniontown has the full blown "what the heck am I reading?" version:

"Richard Yslivch, known to friends as 'Polka Dick', passed from this life on Thursday, August 12. Service will be held at the Harding Funeral Home with internment following at Shadyside Gardens".

[CoolBreeze]

In my early years I worked at a station in Spencer WV. Hometown, homespun. A little bit of everything. Gospel early in the morning, POP music from the 50s/60s late morning, Country in the afternoon, Rock at night.

But my favorite segment was noon to 12:30 when the owner had his own live show; "The Dale Brooks Martha White Cornbread And Biscuit Hour". This guy looked and sang like Burl Ives. He wasn't too bad, but those songs were... well... "shoo fly pie and apple pan dowdy" stuff.

A funny thing happened right before one of his shows when I had to do a commercial live. We always did the Charlie Stahlman spots live. Charlie had a huge house up on a hill with an even bigger basement where he sold remnants of everything you can imagine, especially fabric. This basement had no floor... it was basically dirt. So the hook was "Charlie Stahlman, the store with no floor!"

On this morning I didn't proofread the copy because it was always the same for the most part.

So in my most enthusiastic and professional radio voice I bellowed... " CHARLIE STAHLMAN INVITES YOU TO COME ON OUT AND SHEET THE BED!.. THAT'S RIGHT! 500 POUNDS OF SHEET REMNANTS HAVE JUST ARRIVED AND THEY MUST GO!.... blah blah.... SO COME ON OUT AND SHEET THE BED AT STAHLMANS, THE STORE WITH NO FLOOR!"

I barely made it through the spot without cracking up. Considering the time and place, that was one hell of a borderline commercial. Charlie wrote it, and Dale Brooks approved it. I read it for a week.

What was the topic again??

[EZ103.3FM]

I remember hearing obituaries on WELD-AM in Fisher/Moorefield/Petersburg when visiting my mother's side of the family. I think my late uncle Jack Hose read them. Without a daily paper and of course no Internet that was about the only way to know that someone had died and when they were being buried.

[amayo]

That's absolutely correct. It also seemed to happen alot in towns with only an afternoon paper like Elkins.

As for commercial reads during the obituaries...most if not all were sponsored by funeral homes or flower shops.

[Dave Allen]

The obits are far and away one of the most popular segments we do (well next to Jay Nunley"s news).

[Cameron]

.

[weaver]

The obits are far and away one of the most popular segments we do (well next to Jay Nunley"s news).

Hallburn's obit will be pretty popular, I suspect.