Erie Radio Schedule August 1974

This Erie Radio Schedule appeared in the Erie Morning News in August of 1974. Being a long-time fan of local radio, I recognized quite a few of the disc jockeys listed here, such as Frank Martin ("The Morning Mayor"), Ronnie Gee (Ron Seggi), Joey Stevens (later a TV weatherman), Bill Shannon, Tim Earl (another TV weather forecaster) and Ken Olowin.

WERG was the new kid on the block, broadcasting on 89.1 FM. It later moved from 89.9 to its present home at 90.5

A couple of the stations had early sign off times; WMDI cut out at 1 a.m., while WQLN and WERG went off at 2 a.m. WHYP would sometimes unintentionally sign off during the day, and the needle would be stuck in the locked groove at the end of a record for minutes on end.

One of my favorites was Al Knight, or Big Al Knight, All Night, Every Night. I think the interns must have cut their teeth on the overnight shift putting in carts of the pre-recorded voice of "Al Knight" occasionally between songs.

I can still hear some of the jingles in my head. Fun times!

Enjoy more fun facts about the history of Erie, Pennsylvania at: Old Time Erie

I Wanna Rock- Debbi Lyon's FCC Radio Permit 1980

Debbi's FCC Radio Permit. ©2012 Debbi Lyon

My life changed for the better when I got a little red, white & blue transistor radio. The kind that took a nine volt battery and had one earphone that wedged uncomfortably into my little ear. If I fell asleep listening to the radio, as I often did, the battery was dead before morning. So my parents had to constantly buy me new batteries.

The dial was tuned to WJET-AM and I anxiously awaited my favorite songs....But wait, I already told you about that here: http://oldtimeerie.blogspot.com/2012/05/wjet-am-1400-erie-pa-surveys-1975-and.html

When I finished eighth grade, I decided I was going to be a disc jockey. I practiced and practiced with my little tape deck and a record player. Let's hope these tapes never see the light of day.

What did I need to do to get on the radio? I learned that I couldn't just walk in off the street, run the board and pop in the cart. No, I had to get a license (I don't remember if it was Jim Cook, John Minton or A.J. Miceli who told me this). I sent away for my FCC Restricted Radiotelephone Operator Permit. And I waited, and waited, for what seemed like eternity.

Then one day, my card showed up in the mail. Of course, I thought I was on my way to the big time. I was a typical fourteen year old kid with delusions of grandeur. I was convinced that I could have my own show on WERG-FM, which broadcast from the basement of the Zurn Science Center.  I was about to get my heart broken in a big, big way. Since I was not a student at Gannon University, I could not get a shift on the radio. And without an aircheck tape my career at WJET was doomed.

I never did jumpstart my radio career. Looking back, it's probably a good thing I didn't. Radio ain't what it used to be. Guess you'll have to settle for my closing announcements at the Blasco Library every Wednesday night between eight and 8:30.

WJET-AM 1400 Erie, PA Surveys 1975 and 1977

WJET-AM 1400 Surveys 1975 and 1977

WJET-AM 1400 Top 40 survey from Jan. 29, 1975, "Lady" by Styx, and survey from July 28, 1977.

When I was a kid, I was glued to my little transistor radio. It was red, white & blue and it was tuned to WJET-AM 1400. With the white earplug that only went in one ear. I was nine and I had already outgrown the records that I used to cut off of cereal boxes, like "Sugar Sugar" by the Archies, or "Bare Necessities" from Jungle Book. I had new, real records to wear out on my little record player, specifically "Lady" by Styx, which was #11 on the chart for the week of Jan. 29, 1975. This was in the days before I had a tape recorder, so I had to wait for the actual song to play on the radio, which meant I had to call the radio station to request the song. And I had to call a lot. (Luckily, this was before caller I.D.) 

I had a lot of favorites. Just ask my sister. My favorites became her favorites, like it or not. I was older than her. So she learned to love "The Night Chicago Died" and "Hooked on a Feeling," (the ooga-chaka version). You get the picture. So, my favorites from the Jan. 29, 1975 survey include "Don't Call Us" by Sugarloaf, "Chevy Van" by Sammy Johns and "Bungle in the Jungle" by Jethro Tull. 

Moving forward, to the survey on the right from July 28, 1977, another of my all-time favorite songs; "Strawberry Letter 23" by the Brothers Johnson. "How Much Love," "Barracuda," "Handy Man," "Don't Stop," "Christine Sixteen," "High School Dance," "Jet Airliner," "Boogie Nights." 

The absolute best thing about this era? We moved to 22nd and Ash, which means I was just a few blocks away from 1635 Ash Street...the home of WJET!!!! OMG!!!! I don't know how many times I walked by that station trying to get a glimpse of the D.J. And I would actually go inside the studio once a week to get the new survey. And then high-tail it out of there.  

I eventually built up the courage to go in the studio, while the D.J. was on the air...But that's another story for another day. You can read about it here: http://oldtimeerie.blogspot.com/2012/07/i-wanna-rock-debbis-fcc-radio-license.html