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Post by dgriffin on Dec 7, 2010 1:17:20 GMT -5
WPTR may still be broadcasting at 50 KW. Now days with all the interference on the AM band it's hard to tell, and 1540 is not a great frequency to begin with. They always were very directional. I could never get them in the Utica area but as I traveled north they came in. Back in the day they came in the Old Forge area like a local station especially at night. Don't forget there is a station in Syracuse on 1540 they are protecting. WKBW, now WWKB also, sounds weak on 1520. I can hardly get them at all less than 60 miles from their transmitter. Once again, all the crap and interference on the AM band that wasn't there 40 years ago. Well, WPTR AM (actually, WDCD) is licensed at 50 KW, I'll grant you, but they certainly don't sound like it, even right in Albany. Plus, their advertising is to local Christian audiences ... or was, the last time I checked. Hard to believe they'd spend what I estimate would be an extra $10,000 per month for electricity just to piss off the neighbors with interference. You might enjoy the following wiki articles on PTR and KBW. They brought back memories. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WDCDen.wikipedia.org/wiki/WWKBwww.allaccess.com/net-news/archive/story/82540/boom-boom-brannigan-dead-at-82 Boom Boom BranniganPS: we're just now coming out of the solar slump. Reception should be improving over the year or so. |
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Post by bobbbiez on Dec 7, 2010 19:49:05 GMT -5
 Dave, I have a dear friend, Lou Barile, who is a long time radio announcer and has quite a few websites about Utica's history. One has some history on past radio stations. You might like to check it out. Just search, Utica Am Radio History 
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Post by dgriffin on Dec 7, 2010 19:52:28 GMT -5
Yes, I've seen it. Great site! Lou must have a photo of himself with every single music business personality from the Fifties and Sixties!
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Post by bobbbiez on Dec 8, 2010 0:38:55 GMT -5
Yep, Lou has been around since the buggy days. Something I said to him at his testimonial. ;D Lou was my mentor in politics and in speaking and at that time I was in the process of starting the Adoptive Parents Organization in this area and Lou was on the radio and helped me get it off the ground successfully. Being good friends with him my daughter (who at the time was Miss Central New York Teenager) and I had the honor of being asked to speak at Lou's testimonial when he retired and we decided to "roast" him because the other speakers were being way too nice to him. We brought up his very long history of serving the city of Utica and at the end of our speech, with the Mayor's permission, we officially named and crowned Lou as the one and only, "Mr. Greater Utica," banner, trophy, crown and all. Needless to say the place went crazy and Lou said it was something he would always remember. He a great guy with one hell of a voice. I think I'm pretty safe when I say he is one of the pioneers of radio in the Utica area. 
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Post by dgriffin on Dec 8, 2010 8:19:31 GMT -5
Yup, and that's a nice memory. For both you and Lou.
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Post by kit on Dec 9, 2010 20:31:10 GMT -5
When I was a senior in high school I did a science project on the Audio-Slide Synchronizer, an invention of Tony Marturano from Rome, NY (quite an interesting contraption). He and Lou Barile were partners in the invention of the apparatus. It was rigged up to a Wollensak reel-to-reel tape recorder and worked very well if assembled correctly. Sadly, the cassette recorder came out shortly thereafter, thereby replacing the old reel-to-reel, and the project never went anywhere. Too bad. But I remember those good old days. Both Lou and Tony were perfect gentlemen and gave this young kid a break, for which I'll always be thankful. Great guys - both of them.
Another guy I remember from way back when was Jimmy Nucco (I'm not sure of the spelling). Anybody remember him? What can you tell me?
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Post by bobbbiez on Dec 9, 2010 21:33:47 GMT -5
Kit, my Dad was friends with Jim Nuccio, who also was friends with Lou. All I remember is he lived in E.Utica when I was little but I think eventually the family moved to N.Utica and he has a son or is it a nephew Joe (member of the Bandella Brothers) around my age. Joe still lives in N.Utica but Jim has long passed away. Not sure if that's the same one you knew.
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Post by bobbbiez on Dec 9, 2010 21:35:52 GMT -5
Yes, I've seen it. Great site! Lou must have a photo of himself with every single music business personality from the Fifties and Sixties! ..............and 40's. ;D Lou is up there in age. Much older then us but still going strong as ever. |
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Dave, I have a dear friend, Lou Barile, who is a long time radio announcer and has quite a few websites about Utica's history. One has some history on past radio stations. You might like to check it out. Just search, Utica Am Radio History 
