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Midday Music Man

Audio Clips

Tapes supplied by Gerry Wilkinson. Excerpted and posted by Jerry Klein

To hear any clip, click on the icon at the start of the description.

One of the staples of the WRTI-FM broadcast schedule over the years was a mid-afternoon program of the "popular" music of the day. The Spring 1959 Program Log lists a half-hour program called "Midday Melodies," hosted by Gene Pompeii and Barry Magarick. In the Fall of 1964 and Spring of 1965, the schedule featured "Midday Magic," from 2:30 to 3:55 (punctuated by news at 3:00). In the Fall of 1965, "Midday Magic" was shrunk back to 25 minutes as a diverse variety of other programs filled the afternoon schedule. In the Spring of 1967, the half-hour pop program was called "FM in the PM." In 1967-68 and 1968-69, it had expanded again into a 2½ hour program called "Midday Music Man." Some of the scheduled hosts for "Midday Music Man" were:

Here's a "Midday Music Man" promo (voiced by Shelly Davis) from the Spring of 1968.

Gerry Wilkinson found in his archives airchecks of "Midday Music Man" from two Fridays in Spring 1968. Gerry was the engineer/producer, and as indicated, the Friday host was Walt Mocrytzki. Consequently, the program was nicknamed "Midday Mocrytzki." Here are some excerpts:

March 29, 1968
		Walt intros the traffic report from the "Pacific Stop Patrol" with "John Carlton Fredricks" (played by Ed Sciaky). (For those who weren't there, the leading real traffic report in Philadelphia at the time was the Atlantic Go Patrol with John Carlton; and Carlton Fredericks hosted a syndicated talk show on Channel 6 during this era.) 3 minutes 36 seconds.
		Another report from the "Pacific Stop Patrol," followed by the actual Atlantic Go Patrol jingle. (Historical note: this was one day after the reopening of the six-month old Spectrum, which had been closed on March 1 after the wind blew the roof off, forcing the Flyers to play their "home" games in New York, Toronto and Quebec.) 3 minutes 17 seconds
		Walt invites Ed Sciaky to promo his folk music show, "Broadside," featuring an interview with Paul Stookey of Peter, Paul & Mounds... er, Mary. 2 minutes 26 seconds.
		Walt and Ed announce the winner of an improptu call-in "Name That Tune" contest. 1 minute 27 seconds.
		Walt and Ed critique the show's live studio orchestra and chorus, and Walt reads a humorous(?) news item. 1 minute 56 seconds.
May 10, 1968
		The opening of the show, with sound effects courtesy of Gerry Wilkinson. 3 minutes 22 seconds.
		Walt does the time and weather. 1 minute 11 seconds.
		Walt segues from on song to another with a WRTI-FM "Trying Better" promo (voiced by Bruce Smallwood). 39 seconds.
		Walt reads the list of upcoming community activities (Community Bulletin Board promo voiced by Jerry Klein). 2 minutes 7 seconds.
		Ed Sciaky hijacks the show while the Faculty Senate meets upstairs for reasons not disclosed. 4 minutes 36 seconds.
		Weather, Sciaky and a "Broadside" promo. 5 minutes 24 seconds.
		More silliness with Sciaky. 2 minutes 27 seconds.
		Again with Sciaky, already. 1 minute 12 seconds.
		Walt and Ed doubleteam a U.S. Savings Bond PSA. 1 minute 30 seconds.
		News item: Thailand bans hippies. Commentary by Sciaky. 1 minute 42 seconds.
		Wrap up and closing theme (but then, nothing ever goes as planned). 1 minute 57 seconds.

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