WMDI-FM 1977 Picnic at Horne's Campground

Ad in Erie Daily Times, June 4, 1977.

The WMDI-FM summer picnic was held June 5, 1977 at Horne's Campground.

Seven artists were scheduled to perform:
Jon Peterson Group
Thieves
Michael Hamilton
Clover
The Shaker Band
Logan's Creek
Dark Town Poker Club

Dark Town Poker Club included Tom Buford, Gary Olson, Scott Anderson, Steve Bodie, Paul Matthews and Dan Bachmaier. The band released a self-titled album on Jeree Records which listed a contact address in Findley Lake, Chautauqua Co., NY.

This article tells about the formation of WMDI-FM:

http://oldtimeerie.blogspot.com/2012/06/wmdi-fm-erie-pa-started-by-pentagon.html

WERG-FM Erie, PA Heavy Metal Show Nov. 6, 1984 Richie Van Halen Survey

Richie Van Halen WERG Heavy Metal Show Survey 11/6/1984

You can listen live to Mix 94.1 Canton's Best Mix and hear Kathy and Rik every morning from 6 to 10 a.m. But did you know Rik got his start in Erie, PA when he was a student at Gannon University? It's true!

Here's a survey from the 'Heavy Metal Show' from Nov. 6, 1984, when Dio topped listener requests with "The Last in Line" and Van Halen topped Richie's weekly faves with "Hot For Teacher." Gotta love Rich's comment about Helix (Barforama!).

Richie Van Halen was also a DJ at WMDI-FM around 1980, but it must have been when he was in high school. It's great to see someone making a living doing what they love. Long live rock!

Check out Rik's blog: http://www.mix941.com

WMDI-FM Erie, PA Started by Pentagon physicist?

WMDI-FM started by Pentagon physicist?

WMDI article was published in the Erie Press on Dec. 12, 1970

Was WMDI-FM, Erie's underground rock station, really started by a physicist who worked at the Pentagon? Yes, it really was.

Donald Mikovch built a station at the intersection of Waterford Road and Route 86 in Erie County, Pennsylvania in the winter of 1970. According to the Erie Press, WMDI was "the new home of soft, velvet sounds and hard, in-depth reporting." 

WMDI was owned by Mikro-Dawn, Inc. It's officers included Donald Mikovch, president, Conrad Clark, VP, Ronald Lang, treasurer and Wanda Mikovch, secretary. 

William Stanley was news director, Art Desin was advertising and sales manager. Keith Brown, Bernie Nitoff, G. Randall Stoddard and Leo Kehs were the on-air announcers. 

WMDI-FM 102.3 transformed into the 'stoned stereo' station that played underground rock and hard rock tunes in the mid-seventies.

Micro-Dawn Inc. sold WMDI-FM to Ron Seggi in the summer of 1980 for $465,000. "Seller is principally owned by Donald L. Mikovch, who has no other broadcast interests. Buyer is owned by Ronald, Guy and Sam Seggi, brothers (one-third each). Ronald owns Erie, Pa., advertising and public relations company. Sam and Guy operate construction business, also in Erie. They have no other broadcast interests. WMDI is on 102.3 mhz with 3 kw and antenna 400 feet above average terrain." -Broadcasting, Aug. 4, 1980, p.54.

Seggi later moved the station to Peach Street in Erie, PA and changed the format to MOR.  

Enjoy more fun facts and photos of historic Erie, Pennsylvania at: Old Time Erie