(Note, not affiliated with the Buffalo Broadcasters Association or BuffaloBroadcasters.com)
May 22, 2012 marked the 90th anniversary of modern broadcasting in Western New York. In 1922, the Federal Telephone & Telegraph Company signed on its radio station WGR for regularly schedule broadcasts. Studios and transmitter were located on top floor of their building located at 1738 Elmwood Avenue.
From a published report in the Buffalo Evening News, May 22, 1922: "WGR is the highest powered broadcasting station between Schenectady and Detroit and is said by radio experts to have by far the highest percentage of efficiently in the country. The station has been attractively arranged and furnished. The broadcasting room is hung with heavy gray drapes. These are not only pleasing to the eye but necessary to kill off any ring or echo that might interfere with the broadcasting as they improve the acoustics. There is an adjoining lounge and waiting room comfortably arranged with wicker furniture."
The first day’s programing included an address and prayer by the Rev. Michael Ahern, President of Canisius College, a concert by the Yankee Six Orchestra, a discussion on the growth of Buffalo business by Albert Kinsey, President of the Chamber of Commerce and a presentation on the advantages of a college education by Dr. Julian Park, from the University of Buffalo.
Although tradition holds that WGR was Buffalo's first radio station, the reality is that station WWT signed on the air earlier, April 16, 1922, but ceased broadacsting on October 2, 1922. With WGR's sign-on, we celebrate 90 years of uninterrupted broadcasting.
Vintage radio: Recordings from the early days of Buffalo Broadcasting are rare. These two clips from the 1940s are some of the earliest recordings to have survived.
A joint project to celebrate Buffalo & Western New York!
WE NEED YOUR BUFFALO PHOTOS!!
Pics of Buffalo Broadcasters, Amusement Parks, Stores, Restaurants....
Click image above to visit Steve Cichon's StaffAnouncer.com.
Click image above to learn more about Forgotten Buffalo & Tours
Did you have your picture taken with Commander Tom at the Erie County Fair? Do you have a Grandparent who worked in Buffalo radio or TV during the “golden age” of broadcasting? Do you have an autographed picture of a local DJ from a high school sock hop collecting dust in your attic? If you do, two of Buffalo’s foremost “pop culture” historians need your help for a series of upcoming projects.
Steve Cichon, creator of StaffAnnouncer.com and Marty Biniasz, co-founder of ForgottenBuffalo.com, are asking for Western New York’s assistance as they search for images, artifacts and ephemera related to Buffalo radio & television. Items collected are to be used in future book, display and web based projects.
“We are looking for personal snapshots, studio publicity photos, letters, marketing rate sheets, membership cards, advertisements…just about anything that might assist us in telling the story of Buffalo broadcasting,” said Biniasz.
Pictures submitted will be considered for inclusion in an upcoming book project titled “Images of Buffalo Broadcasting.” The publication, currently being written by local historian Marty Biniasz, is to be published by Arcadia Publishing under its nationally successful “Images of America” series. A fall 2011 release is anticipated.
A second published project to be released during late 2011 and being written by WBEN anchor/reporter Steve Cichon is “Irv! Buffalo's Anchorman.” Through photos and stories the book will chronicle the life of Buffalo's most beloved media personality. Irv’s relationship with sports anchor Rick Azar and weatherman Tom Jolls, the longest running anchor team in American broadcasting history, will be emphasized as the trio became part of the historical and pop-culture identity of Western New York.
"There are plenty of staged publicity shots of most of these broadcasters," says Cichon. "But especially in Buffalo, the people we've watched on TV and listened to on the radio are really a part of our families. What better way to celebrate our special relationship than with our own actual snapshots and other documents."
Items collected will be scanned, documented and returned to their owner. The community can also following submission guidelines on the historian’s websites for options to scan and submit images on their own. People are asked to visit www.ForgottenBuffalo.com or www.StaffAnnouncer.com for information on how they can share items from their personal collections. Submission guidelines and contact information is posted on each site.
HOW CAN YOU PARTICIPATE?
E-MAIL:Scan your photos at a minimum of 300 dpi. Send to ForgottenBuffalo@aol.com. Include a detailed caption if you can.
PHONE: Have a question? Call us? 716-435-3678. In many local cases, we can pick up photos, scan and return in the same day!
WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR:Right now, we're collecting radio and TV photos, but as you comb your collections, set aside other classic Buffalo shots as well. Whether it’s a picture of Gramps drinking a Simon Pure, your brother checking out the AM&As windows, you and your cousins having fun at Fantasy Island or Crystal Beach, or just a photo that shows some great Western New York scenery, We'd love to see it! You can follow the submission steps above. You will receive photos credits in any of our web & book projects.
ALL PHOTOS TO BE RETURNED IF REQUESTED. PHOTO CREDITS TO BE INCLUDED.
Marty & Steve on Tour!
Buffalo News - Dec 7, 2010 - Click on image to read.
