The full story of WOLF radio cannot be told without mentioning the diverse group of broadcasters who made up the on air lineup and others working outside the glass.
George Brewer was born in Elmira, NY, George attended Ithaca State College and worked at WOLF as well as other stations in New York and Michigan before moving to WPOP in Hartford to replace Roy Cooper on the 3:00-7:00PM shift.
On July 7, 1966, George broke the world's record (at the time) for the longest roller coaster ride at Riverside Park by going round and round 310 times over 12 1/2 hours. By that time he was hosting WPOP's wakeup show from 5:30-9:00AM.
George left WPOP for WIXY Cleveland and later worked at WIXZ near Pittsburgh. He was working in the promotions department of CBS Records when he passed away. George passed away in 1973.
Dale Dorman, along with Bud Ballou, one of Syracuses most popular night time disc jockeys. With Dorman and Ballou (now competetion at WNDR) constantly throwing jabs at each other, evenings were outstanding. Dorman would eventually leave for Fresno and San Francisco, California and later to Denver to work WITH Bud Ballou. They eventually ended up on competing stations in Boston, Dorman mornings on WRKO and Ballou evenings on WMEX. Until August 2003 he did afternoons in Boston on KISS 108FM.
Fred Winston spent 3 years in Pittsburgh from 1968 to 1971 after working at WOLF. Fred also did mid-days and mornings on KQV, with many of the id's voiced by Fred during his years there as well as in the 70's on WOLF.
Fred worked in Denver as well as in Omaha at KOIL and in Cleveland at WKYC. But Fred has spent most of his career in Chicago. He has worked at a couple of the most influencial stations in the midwest; WCFL and WLS. Fred also worked at WFYR, WMAQ, WJMK, WLUP and WPNT.
"Dandy" Dan Leonard was probably responsible for more record hops in Syracuse than any other DJ. He hosted The Teen Canteen where kids could see artists like Sam and the Twisters, Don Barber and the Dukes, The Monterays, Paul Anka and Bobby Rydell all for a buck!
According to the WOLF story, Dan Leonard came to Syracuse as a news director at WNDR in 1952 and became a disc jockey in 1957. Until 1963 he established himself as the "Dean of Syracuse Radio". Then in the late summer of 1963 'Dandy' Dan Leonard made the switch to WOLF.
Jim Davies (News) on the Fred Winston Show, November 23, 1964. [ LISTEN ] (7:25).
You'll hear Fred then Jim Davies an SU student at the time with bannerline news on the hour and half hour. Jim calls this an "interesting newscast because it features a lengthy actuality from former WOLF newsman Ed Clancy." Fred Winston departed the station in December of '64.
Dan Leonard and Bud Ballou were the "one-two" punch in Syracuse Radio with 87 percent of the total listening audience on WOLF in 1963 through 1964. It wasn't until Bud Ballou's departure that Leonard eventually left again in 1965 to return to WNDR as well.
Dan Leonard was honored in 1993 with the first Lifetime Achievement Award at the Syracuse Area Music Awards.
Young Marv.Here's an aircheck featuring Dandy Dan in December, 1964 on WOLF
[ LISTEN ] (10:08)
Your man Marv Albert was heard on WOLF in 1962 while attending Syracuse University from 1960 to 1963. He later graduated from New York University in 1965. This aircheck is from February 15, 6 to 7pm and opens with a Hank Greenwald report on the Syracuse Nationals (later to become the Philadelphia 76ers). [ LISTEN ] (32:33)
[ LISTEN ] (10:08)
Your man Marv Albert was heard on WOLF in 1962 while attending Syracuse University from 1960 to 1963. He later graduated from New York University in 1965. This aircheck is from February 15, 6 to 7pm and opens with a Hank Greenwald report on the Syracuse Nationals (later to become the Philadelphia 76ers). [ LISTEN ] (32:33)
Arlene Dee in May 1965. [ LISTEN ] (2:51)
Canadian born Arlene Dee was Syracuse's first full time female disc jockey and on WOLF. Even though she was only to last through the unfortunate format change, it was enough to make Syracuse radio history. This aircheck recorded the week of May 21st, 1965 features Dennis Rogers WOLF Bannerline News.
Jeff Lawrence on-the-air... [ LISTEN ] (25:04) and The Real Bob Sherman in July 1971. [ LISTEN ] (13:45)
After working at WOLF, Randy Brock seemed to follow in the footsteps of Bud Ballou working at WMEX Boston and KBTR Denver. He joined the WPOP News team in Hartford and was hired to be the Capitol Beat news reporter.
Bob Mitchell in the WOLF Control Room 1973.
Studio control room wall.
Rick & Oscar and the Chickenman.
WOLF's Judy Manzer interviews Richie Havens at Lowe Art Gallery.
Jim Sims and John Gardner at Steve Aloi Ford during the WOLF Mustang in the Air promotion.
The station was giving away Mustangs to lucky listeners in 1964.
1977 SOUVENIR SCORE CARD1,3,8,10 - Rick Gary 2,9,11 - Ron Bee 4,12,13
Charlie Brown 5,6,7 - John Gabriel 14 - Trish Royal 15 - Judy Manzer 16 - Jim Martin 17,18
Brother Vic 19 - Gary Martin 20,21 - Paul Kelly 22,25 - Carol St. John 23 - Don Bombard 24
Dave Drummond 26 - Terry Beacham 27 - Phil Wells 28 - Rick Charles 29 - Jim Sims 30 - Sandy Tams
Charlie Brown 5,6,7 - John Gabriel 14 - Trish Royal 15 - Judy Manzer 16 - Jim Martin 17,18
Brother Vic 19 - Gary Martin 20,21 - Paul Kelly 22,25 - Carol St. John 23 - Don Bombard 24
Dave Drummond 26 - Terry Beacham 27 - Phil Wells 28 - Rick Charles 29 - Jim Sims 30 - Sandy Tams
The following is a copy of info handed out to all jocks by Jim Sims in the "secret" meetings held in preparation for the roll-out of the new Rock format.
MUSIC POLICY GUIDE
Unless you are sweeping past the normal stop times, use only the songs indicated on the format clock (inside circle) at their designated times. If you are sweeping past the normal stop times, continue to follow the music in order up to the point at which you will be stopping (or to the point at which the next sweep starts if you don't stop at all) and THEN fill with "30's" until you reach that point in actual time. On Weekends, fill with "G" "30" etc. Use jingles that are appropriate and conform to the rules set up in the jingle usage guide. When in doubt about what jingle to play in a sweep, use a MORE MUSIC jingle.
If you must drop a song due to a time problem, drop a "30".
A "30" means just a song from the Top 30. The checksheet and/or stacks (whatever music system is used) should be divided into two groups, the first being the main stuff, ...everything that is a hit or is hot and moving up, and the other group being about a half a dozen of the songs that are on their way out and more important in midday than any other time. The second group should not be played more than twice an hour, and it is really not necessary for the drive and evening men to touch it at all.
Above all, these dead songs should not be used as a kickoff song out of the hour and halfhour I.D.s. It is up to the jock to achieve good balance in selecting '30's". He should make sure that he skips around the Hot 30 and doesn't play too many from either the bottom or top of the list.
A "HB" record is, obviously, a HITBOUND record. The only rule on hitbounds is that you should not repeat any hitbound in your show until you have played them all once. This also applies to the A group of "30s"
"G' means Golden. Once a Golden check system is set up do not play goldens that have already been played and checked off, regardless of hitline requests. A golden should also not be repeated on a Million Dollar Weekend. Vary your goldens from different bags of music. Vary the years from which you pick your goldens. If you go back more than 4 or 5 years for a golden, make the next one very recent.
Do not play the number one song except when called for as part of the feature ...Number One then - Number one now. And do not play double golden except when called for as a feature.
Unless you are sweeping past the normal stop times, use only the songs indicated on the format clock (inside circle) at their designated times. If you are sweeping past the normal stop times, continue to follow the music in order up to the point at which you will be stopping (or to the point at which the next sweep starts if you don't stop at all) and THEN fill with "30's" until you reach that point in actual time. On Weekends, fill with "G" "30" etc. Use jingles that are appropriate and conform to the rules set up in the jingle usage guide. When in doubt about what jingle to play in a sweep, use a MORE MUSIC jingle.
If you must drop a song due to a time problem, drop a "30".
A "30" means just a song from the Top 30. The checksheet and/or stacks (whatever music system is used) should be divided into two groups, the first being the main stuff, ...everything that is a hit or is hot and moving up, and the other group being about a half a dozen of the songs that are on their way out and more important in midday than any other time. The second group should not be played more than twice an hour, and it is really not necessary for the drive and evening men to touch it at all.
Above all, these dead songs should not be used as a kickoff song out of the hour and halfhour I.D.s. It is up to the jock to achieve good balance in selecting '30's". He should make sure that he skips around the Hot 30 and doesn't play too many from either the bottom or top of the list.
A "HB" record is, obviously, a HITBOUND record. The only rule on hitbounds is that you should not repeat any hitbound in your show until you have played them all once. This also applies to the A group of "30s"
"G' means Golden. Once a Golden check system is set up do not play goldens that have already been played and checked off, regardless of hitline requests. A golden should also not be repeated on a Million Dollar Weekend. Vary your goldens from different bags of music. Vary the years from which you pick your goldens. If you go back more than 4 or 5 years for a golden, make the next one very recent.
Do not play the number one song except when called for as part of the feature ...Number One then - Number one now. And do not play double golden except when called for as a feature.
Nick Caplan says he can remember hearing the DJ’s voices on the radio as a young child. The radio station was 1490 WOLF. This is where Nick heard bands like the Beatles, Three-Dog Night, and Chicago. Like everybody else his age, he wanted to be a Beatle. So he pestered his parents until they bought him a guitar. Nick set out to learn the songs he was hearing on the radio. But people still asked, “what are you going to do when you grow up?” Nick would answer, “I want to be a Disc Jockey.” When Nick was 20, radio became his target. “Sick Nick” worked at 1490 WOLF for three and a half years, until it was sold. |
Nick |  |  |
Nick Caplan with Kathy Rowe: Kisses For Charity, 'presenting' a contest winner at Uncle Sams...and in front of the WOLF Pepsi van.
Randy left Hartford for Philadelphia where he worked for WFIL, WPEN and KYW. As of 2/2/03 he was news director at WNPV in Lansdale, Pennsylvania just outside of Philadelphia. Ed Clancy joined WPOP in 1966 after his tenure at WOLF. Ed did several different shifts before becoming morning anchor in 1969. In 1970 Ed joined the staff of Senator Tom Dodd.
Through most of 1972 Ed stepped out of his role as newsman to host a program called Women's Glib on WPOP. Ed played a few records in between phone calls from women sharing their innermost thoughts on sex.
After leaving Hartford for good, Ed moved to New Orleans where he worked at WGSO, WTIX and WWL. He also hosted the morning show at WSMB in New Orleans for a number of years.
Dale Dorman behind the mic on September 24, 1971. [ LISTEN ]
Dorman came to Boston in 1968, working at WRKO for 10 years, then came a stop at WOLF. He worked at KISS 108 for over 20 years and finished his career at WODS.
Dale Kelly was PD at WOLF in 1962-63 before going off to wear Uncle Sam's green uniform. Dale says "WOLF went through some major changes when Joel Fleming was eased out as GM and Ev Wren took over. He wanted to create a different sound, and I was about to be drafted so we parted ways. I hired George Brewer at WOLF and gave Fred Winston his first job in the biz. Bud Ballou and I were roommates when I was at WOLF." Dale got back into radio in 1967 at KMBY, Monterey, CA. He later went to KNEW, Oakland, and KNBR and KGO in San Francisco before getting out of the biz in the mid-70s.
The WOLF Burger King Bombers 1977
(L-R Top) Rick Gary, Bill Kachur, Don Ryan Brown, Chet Andrews, Charlie Brown, John Shroeder, Steve Bedworth, Dave Drummond
(L-R Bottom) Tina Bee, Debbie Brown, Cathy Gary, Ron Bee, Renee Mueller, John Bedworth
(Absent from team photo) Rick Charles, Carol Volmey St. John, Judy Manzer, Danny Ancona
(L-R Top) Rick Gary, Bill Kachur, Don Ryan Brown, Chet Andrews, Charlie Brown, John Shroeder, Steve Bedworth, Dave Drummond
(L-R Bottom) Tina Bee, Debbie Brown, Cathy Gary, Ron Bee, Renee Mueller, John Bedworth
(Absent from team photo) Rick Charles, Carol Volmey St. John, Judy Manzer, Danny Ancona
WHO WORKED AT WOLF? Here is the list: Don Bayley, Don Bombard, Howie Castle, Windy Craig, George L. Davis, Dale Dorman, Lee Goodman, Gerry Kelly, Peter King, Jeff Laurence, Dusty Rhodes, Mike Shannon, Duane Wadsworth, and Bob Whitney.
Some materials found on this page were originally published by the following: WOLF1490
