History of Detroit Radio

37 thoughts on “History of Detroit Radio”

1. “Rock N Radio” was a 2 hour review of valued Detroit personalities featured one night on WDET-FM Wayne State University. This came ater a friend and I had visited Art Vuolo at his EMU dorm back in 1969 or so. Art gave us his tapes to dub off for this production
   and we all had fun putting it all together. Eventually Art came up with his 12 hour “History of Detroit Radio ” and I salute Art for this hallowed series and hope all is well. Great job.

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2. I’d like to hear a recording of Lee Alan saying goodnight on his wxyz show from the 60’s. He said something like, “If I made you smile …” . Can’t remember the rest. He always played I Can’t Get Started With You by Frank Sinatra. I almost cried every time I heard that. I miss Lee Alan and the radio show.

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   1. Hello Jim

      Please thank Lynda for the kind words.

      Of all the comments from all the years and all the shows, those about the closing with Mister Sinatra are the most frequent.

      So many thousands seem to recall…even the words.

      There was then, and still remains a love affair between us.

      Please see that Lynn and others are made aware of this site:

      http://www.leealancreative.com/close Speakers On.

      The entire closing is there plus a little more.

      This is very special. I have never posted this before now.

      Just as a thank you all those who remember. . . .

      Kindest Regards

      Lee Alan

      “On The Horn”

      ” If we don’t remember who we were, we won’t know who we are”

      Ronald Wilson Reagan

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      1. I have been trying for months to get info about lee Allen and if I can somehow get some recordings of his show. It would really make my life a bit more happier before I leave this world. Thanks for any help!

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3. MY DAD – EUGENE H KONSTANTYNOWICZ – WAS ONE OF THE PIONEERS OF DETROIT RADIO – BROADCASTING IN POLISH AND ENGLISH AT WEXL – WJLB – WJBK – … HE IS THE FOUNDER OF MICHIGAN AVENUE AS PULASKI HIGHWAY – FREEDOM FESTIVAL WITH DETROIT AND WINDSOR AND MUCH MORE. MISS DETROIT AND HURT TO SEE HOW IT HAS FALLEN. JERRY JACOB – ANNCR AT WKMH IN THE 60’S JUST DIED IN BAY AREA.

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   1. Gene, I just learned that my great uncle Thaddeus (Ted) Konstantynowicz had an hour long polish radio show on back in the day. He lived in Sterling Heights Michigan. Would love to know more!

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      1. I remember Ted when he did some work for my dad at WJLB but can’t put a date on it.

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   2. Gene,
      I was one of his engineers at WJLB. Your dad was a fine man, always dressed very dapper. I worked with Ted too.
      Peter Walsh
      Palm Springs, Ca (2023)

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      1. Hello, I am looking for any and all recordings, interviews and pictures of Leroy G. White. If you have any or can point me in the right direction it would be much appreciated.
         Thanks for all the info

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4. What does wham-O and radio have in common?

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   1. I know who i am, but do you know who you are? its just radio folks, whats all tge fuss???????

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      1. Whats all the fuss??

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5. Kristine – just saw your comment about Ted. Must have had a radio show after dad died in 1966 and after Mr. Jan Marion Kreutz – dads radio partner – ended the program on WJLB. By then I had disconnected from the radio business and had my own business career in Detroit before relocating in 1980 to Southern California.

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   1. From: Lora Brown

      Hi, Gene!

      Robin Walker was my first real “crush”! I met him after he relocated to Cincinnati, Ohio and I fell in love. His picture on this website is old school, compared to the way he looked in 1966 as he had long blond shoulder length hair and long fingernails!!!!! He must have re-invented himself! What a trip!

      I’m pretty sure I know you. Do you have a wife named “Cheri”? We worked together at the Community Blood Bank in Rancho Mirage, CA.

      Cheers

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      1. 01/2019 Just saw his by accident – remember yoou and yes – Cheri is still my one and only

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   2. Hi, Gene!

      Re: DJ Robin Walker WUBE Radio, Cincinnati

      I met Robin after he relocated from Detroit to Cincyand he was my very first “crush”…I was 19 at the time. and he was a jock with WUBE. His pic on this website is totally the opposite as he had long shoulder length blond hair and long fingernails! What a trip!

      I think I know you, Gene. Your wife and I used to be friends while we worked at the Community Blood Bank!

      Cheers
      Lora

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6. This is Art Vuolo’s “History…”, isn’t it? I still have a copy on reel tape he sold me when we lived next door to each other just off the Eastern Michigan University campus.

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7. How do i find mention of Martha Jean “The Queen
   Steinberg pn this site? She moved to Detroit in 1963 and was on-air personality on WCHB, then on the WJLB where she became iconically known for taking over the airwaves for 48 hours straight, saving lives during the riots (which she called) The Rebellion of ’67. She went on to own her own radio station in Detroit in the late 90’s becoming the first woman to own her own stand-alone AM radio station in the nation, WQBH Radio 1400, AM. She stand with: J.P McCarthy, Ernie Harwell, DIck Purtain, and Sonny Elliot. Can you direct me to where I can read about her contribution to the History of Radio in Detroit on this site. After all, she was a sensation, a ldeader and truly the VOICE FOR THE CiTY championing civil rights issues for women and the disfranchised and recognized even by the Harrisburg, PA House of Representatives and the Senate as such two years ago.

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8. Discovered dad’s Polish Varieties radio program is still bring broadcast after 85 years by the current owner of the program – comes out of Dearborn and U of M has a Facebook page titled People of Chene Street or something similar … I know dad would br delighted and proud.

   Google my name to find me in California – if you wish –

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   1. My dad was from Poland and listened to “Polish Varieties” when your dad was on. In the ’80s, I worked at the station that broadcast the show under Jurek Rozalski at WPON, Pontiac. I was a board operator and did some news there. Happy Holidays!

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9. I remember all the old DJ’s that’s in my DNA !!! Just like Detroit Iron. You had to live/ grow up here to understand!! The songs from the 50’s & 60’s also part of my DNA Knowbody can take that away from you !! Loud and Proud !!!

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10. Are there any recordings of THE QUEEN in the archives at WCHB from 1964 to 1966?

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    1. Hi Diane, I have been looking for ANY WCHB or WJLB materials for the website and I had even tried to reach out to Jay Butler on Facebook (2 years ago I messaged him there he never did reply), in hopes of possibly obtaining of such materials he might have we would love to archive here as well. By chance Diane, do you have any recordings of your mother in your possession or do you know of anyone we can direct this attention to as well? Look forward in hearing from you. 🙂

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    2. As Kevin Sanderson would say,, “He wants your Soul!”,,, that means YOU Art! And the rest of ya! HAPPY EASTER – Resurection Sunday 2023 AD! of our Lord and Savior lives forever so Jesus display this for our eternity especially ,, so come to Pancake Breakfast at St Paul UMC Bloonfield Hills ,, right! (Lol) have a great time too. Our church has not made radio yet btw

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11. Whnd (honey radio) should come back on the air, & use both the former antena site used for old womc & former wexl respecfully and the entire building complex near woodward heights!! Yes “the vic” is alive and kicking!

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12. Hello there,

    I’ve left two posts on the website re Robin Walker. Could someone please tell me what happened and if he is still with us?

    Much appreciated,
    Lora Brown

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    1. Robin Walker a.k.a. Bob Franklin is still alive and well (to my knowledge) and living outside of Louisville, KY. I personally tried on several occasions to get him to come back to town for several of our famed Motor City Radio Reunions…but he never did. I knew him at WJBK in Detroit and WIBM in Jackson, MI and even at 13 WIFE in Indianapolis in 1968.

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13. Who was the Detroit-area pop DJ who first used the iconic phrase: “On the rad-ee-o Daddy-o.”? Name was ,Herb or Herbie something

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    1. Bill, not certain, but the one DJ’s name which come to mind — Leroy G. White — he was a disk jockey heard on WJLB in the early-mid 1950s in Detroit, and it has been said the teens loved him on the radio back when. Or, were you thinking of Ernie Durham?

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14. I am proud the program my dad started in 1930 is still on the air 90 years later … AND in a foreign language [Polish]. Would love anything with his voice on it … Gene in Palm Desert @ aol …

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    1. Eugene, my grandmother worked with your dad at the radio station, WJLB. With her own special talents, Sophie Habrowski, wrote many short plays in Polish to present during the program. She also taught at several Polish Schools in and around Wayne County to keep the Polish Culture alive. Her son, Julian, was my father.

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15. here’s a tribute to Mike Whorf
    https://oembed.libsyn.com/embed?item_id=16810784

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16. What’s the difference between radio at a 100,000 watt radius and 2021 digital run? A marconi award,,,

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17. I was a radio producer on WDTR 90.9 FM Detroit Public Schools Radio Station in the late 80’s early 90’s under Mary Wilks aka Elon Eloni Wilks who produced “Teen Profile”. Our radio station was taken and given to Wayne State University by the Emergency Manager and our broadcasts are gone or maybe not. My Program was ” The African Worldview”. How can I find out where the broadcasts went?

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    1. Check with the Chicago Broadcast museum

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18. 107.5 FM The New WGPR Jazz With Rosetta Hines In 9/16/2005 on 4/24/2023 at 9am.

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19. Who cut the cheese?

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