Forgotten Buffalo: Historic & Hip...

Ed Tucholka was one of the most popular broadcasters in Buffalo radio history. Tucholka began his career in 1926 as a member of the “Morning Boy Choristers” on WGR. He moved on to become staff announcer from 1937-1957 at WEBR Radio. Memorable programs at WEBR included duties hosting the “Noon Day Review” from 1941-45, reviewing for listeners where local servicemen were and how they were doing. From 1948-1953, he was the host of “Uncle Ed’s Children’s Hour.” Mr. Tucholka was once voted one of the top five broadcasters in the nation, thanks to his work at WEBR. He also hosted such popular shows as “This is My County,” a program which was advertised as featuring “music from all nations, human interest stories and interesting facts.” The show was on the air early Sunday afternoon in 1953. It truly was the “golden age of radio.” Programming on Sunday nights during this era featured a line-up of “The Shadow,” “True Detectives,” “nick Carter,” and “Squad Room.” Mr. Tucholka joined WBEN in 1958 where he served in a series of positions including announcer, disc jockey and program director through 1966. Although he formally retired in 1978, Ed continued at WHLD Niagara Falls as a part time programmer and broadcaster. His fans’ loyalty to him was equaled only by his to them. A group of fans founded the Ed Tucholka Club, and another his junior fan club. He often traced his skills as an ad-libber to the days when he manned the public address system at Buffalo’s Sattlers’s Department Store. She sounded off on the bargains of the day, aped mothers of lost children and generally kept things moving without benefit of script. One of Ed’s favorite shows was his eight-year association with the “Continental Airs” which aired every night except Saturday on WEBR. The show came directly from the “Polish Village,” one of Buffalo’s most attractive and original restaurant nightclubs.