Connecticut Radio Memories - Episodes 3 & 4

Summary:

EPISODE 3 – Radio Under the Umbrella Part 1 – The radio stations of the Travelers Insurance Company (WTIC AM and FM)

EPISODE 4 – Radio Under the Umbrella Part 2 – More stories from the radio stations of the Travelers Insurance Company (WTIC AM and FM)

Details:

EPISODE 3 – Radio Under the Umbrella Part 1 – The Radio Stations of the Travelers Insurance Company In 1925, the Traveler’s Insurance Company ventured into the radio business by launching WTIC AM. What would grow into Connecticut’s only 50,000 watt AM station was initially a public service and public-relations effort by the Travelers. In this episode, we look at the early programming of WTIC and then look at several well-known personalities from the station’s history including Ben Hawthorne (it’s first morning man), the great Bob Steele (it’s longest running morning man, familiar to millions over the decades), and many others including Floyd Richards, Dick Bertel, Bob Ellsworth, Bruce Kern, Ross Miller, Jean Colbert, Ed Anderson, George Malcolm-Smith, and Fred Wade. We also take a look at some of WTIC’s news people, and the stories they’ve covered over the decades. Includes commentary from: Arnold Dean, Floyd Richards, Dick Bertel, Bill Hennessey, Bob Ellsworth, Bill Henry, Charlie Bagley, Bill Flower, Bryant Thomas, Dana Whelan, Bob Dunn, Bob Paine, Barbara Manstan, Fred Mahoney, Kay Mahoney, Bob Scherago, Wayne Mulligan, Fred Swanson, Mike Rice, Phil Steele, Leo Barrieau, Fred Pearson, John Reno, Chris Francis, Larry Titus, Dewey Dow, Richard Price, Greg Gilmartin, Dick Zwirko, Geoff Bell, Ted Dalaku, and Jeff Hugabonne. Includes archival audio of: Bob Steele, Floyd Richards, Bob Ellsworth, Dick Bertel, Lou Palmer, Ben Hawthorne, Ross Miller, Bruce Kern, Ed Anderson, Jean Colbert, Ed Corcoran, Bernard Mullins, Larry DeBear, Brad Davis, Jim Thompson, Al Terzi, Joe Girand, Bill Hanson, Alan Sagal, Norm Peters, Bryant Thomas, Angela Dias, Walt Dibble, Peter Stoner, Governor John Lodge, Gertrude McCaulliffe, Walter Cowles, Guy Hedlund, Fred Wade, and Bob Tyrol.

EPISODE 4 – Radio Under the Umbrella Part 2 – More Stories From the Radio Stations of the Travelers Insurance Company In this second episode devoted to WTIC, we look at several of their other well-known personalities including Arnold Dean, Bill Hennessey, Brad Davis, Robert E Smith, Art Johnson, as well as other aspects of the station’s programming during the Travelers era including its classical music format on FM, its sports coverage, farm programming, and the Travelers Weather Service. We also hear stories from the station’s engineers about challenges they’ve faced over the years, and we hear about the Travelers sale of WTIC and the subsequent format changes. Includes commentary from: Arnold Dean, Bill Hennessey, Brad Davis, Floyd Richards, Dick Bertel, Bob Ellsworth, Charlie Bagley, Bill Henry, Lani Jurev, Bill Flower, Ted Dalaku, Phil Steele, Bryant Thomas, Chris Francis, Ray Dunaway, Dick Zwirko, Bob Dunn, Fred Pearson, Chuck Albert, Kay Mahoney, Bob Scherago, Wayne Mulligan, Dan Blume, Greg Gilmartin, Jeff Hugabonne, Larry Titus, John Reno, and David Kaplan. Includes archival audio of: Bob Steele, Arnold Dean, Bill Hennessey, Brad Davis, Robert E Smith, Art Johnson, Peter Lee Anderson, Lani Jurev, Bruce Kern, Dick Bertel, John Birchard, Bill Henry, Floyd Richards, Jim MacDonald, John Erikson, Barbara Allan, Milt Barlow, Charlie Bagley, Frank Atwood, Don Tuttle, Bill Clede, Scott Gray, George Ehrlich, Herman Taylor, Al Jackson, Paul Morency, Bill Lenke, Bill Corsair, Ted Dalaku, Tom McCarthy, Ray Dunaway, Joe McCormick, Artie Shaw, Ted Williams, and Dana Whelan.