WRTI Luncheon, 2/13/98

WRTI Luncheon, 2/13/98

Ten of Us Were There

The following is written by Gerry Wilkinson....It all started out as a simple lunch between Walt Mocrytzki and myself. And then slowly, one by one it has grown to a larger luncheon. It was very ad hoc. We met at Metro Networks Headquarters at 3901 Main Street (across from Channel 48). After Walt gave us a nice tour of the facilities, we walked a couple blocks down to the neighborhood Farmer's Market for lunch. The date was Lucky Friday, February 13, 1998 at 12 noon. The following were there....

Bob Backman
Norm Childs (1959 WRTI Station Manger)
Ed Cunningham
Sue Ellis
Walt Mocrytzki
Mike Muderick
Fran Odyniec
Ed Sciaky
Judy Sciaky
Gerry Wilkinson

Charlie Tomlinson was a no show.

We took lots of photos. Here's 36 of them.

Photo #1 - A group photo outside Metro Networks.

Back row: Mike Muderick, Walt Mocrytzki, Fran Odyniec, Ed Cunningham, Ed Sciaky and Gerry Wilkinson
Front row: Norm Childs, Susan Ellis
The book Fran is holding features of a photo of Ron Wertheimer. Ron is standing in for Bob Backman who is still inside Metro Networks somewhere.

Photo #2 - In Metro Networks' news central. News Director Paul Perillo (extreme right) explains how their news system works to Susan Ellis, Ed Sciaky and Mike Muderick. Paul says, "Hit this button and there's your newscast. If that doesn't work, run last week's. Who will know?"

Photo #3 - In Metro Networks' traffic master control. (Left to right) Paul Perillo, Ed Cunningham, Bob Backman and Susan Ellis.

Photo #4 - At Metro Networks, they locked the doors on us. "We're friends of Walt Mocrytzki," said Ed Cunningham. "That's why they locked the doors," replied Mike Muderick. Norm Childs exclaimed, "Who?"

Photo #5 - Inside, Walt Mocrytzki greets Mike Muderick, Ed Cunningham and Norm Childs. Walt says, "How'd you guys get in... We have to get that lock fixed."

Photo #6 - Sue Ellis and Mike Muderick. Walt says, "Watch those hands, Mike."

Photo #7 - Norm Childs, producer of the early sixties' ATLANTIC GO PATROL chats with Walt Mocrytzki about traffic reports. "Heads means the road is clear, tails means a jam up."

Photo #8 - (Left to Right) Ed Cunningham, Mike Muderick, Susan Ellis and Fran Odyniec. Announcer on the intercom, "Walt Mocrytzki has left the building."

Photo #9 - Close Up of Ed Cunningham. Ed says, "What do you mean, you want "ZHEEEE" to be the new slogan for the fundraiser?"

Photo #10 - Close Up of Mike Muderick. Mike says, "Water Buffalo got like that from too many years dealing with SCIAKY ONE-STOP."

Photo #11 - Mike Muderick wants a re-take. "And here's my imitation of Charlie Chan."

Photo #12 - Fran Odyniec says, "What About Me?" A good close-up of Fran. "The preceding was a paid announcement."

Photo #13 - (Left to right) Ed Sciaky, Judy Sciaky, Walt Mocrytzki, Norm Childs, Susan Ellis and Mike Muderick. Walt says, "What do you mean Wilkinson didn't tell you about the $5 admission charge?"

Photo #14 - Ed Sciaky talks to Metro's Operations Manager as Judy Sciaky looks on. "Now in between Traffic Reports, play a Billy Joel record followed by a Springsteen cut. Then a spot for "Sciaky One-Stop, located in Thomas Hall."

Photo #15 - (Left to Right) Judy Sciaky, Mike Muderick, Susan Ellis, Norm Childs and Walt Mocrytzki. Walt says, "Look up in the sky...."

Photo #16 - Norm Childs talks to Walt Mocrytzki. "With the GO PATROL in the sixties, to get the helicopter sound, I just beat my hands against my chest. I learned that from Dr. D."

Photo #17 - Glen Barton preparing his 1 pm WPEN newscast. Glen was doing news on WFIL, Famous 56 when they were the "King of Philadelphia Rock."

Photo #18 - (Left to right) Mike Muderick, Walt Mocrytzki and Ed Sciaky. Walt says, "What do you mean when they did a traffic report, Wilkinson leaned over and yelled ZHEEEEE into the microphone."

Photo #19 - Mike Muderick views the different Metro Networks' cameras. Mike says, "What kind of camera mount bolts do you use? Can I have one? Make that two?"

Photo #20 - Walt Mocrytzki watching Mike Muderick in Metro's Master Control for Traffic. Walt says, "God, Muderick just took a screwdriver out of his pocket."

Photo #21 - (Left to right) Norm Childs, Mike Muderick, Ed Cunningham, Ed Sciaky and Bob Backman. This little area is Metro's Master Control for Traffic. Ed says, "Look, they have a Pentron, too."

Photo #22 - Mike Muderick says, "Hey, I forgot all about the Pentron. I think I have one in my garage."

Photo #23 - Bob Backman thinks, "Hey, this is a great backdrop for an Infomerical."

Photo #24 - Judy Sciaky says, "One of my earrings fell into their pot of coffee."

Photo #25 - Joni Young of Metro doing a traffic report live on WHAT. No relation to Walt, he's WHO?

Photo #26 - Paul Perillo explains the Metro Networks' news setup to Ed Sciaky, Ed Cunningham, Mike Muderick and Fran Odyniec. Mike says, "When we didn't have a band-aid, I would just wrap quarter inch Shamrock tape around my finger."

Photo #27 - Susan Ellis' Thought for the Day. "What do you say to the Devil when he sneezes?"

Photo #28 - Ed Sciaky says, "Wilkinson said that he didn't know the difference between an elephant and a mail box. I better get my letter back from him."

Photo #29 - Fran Odyniec thinks "Wonder if Express Traffic wants to buy some of this info."

Photo #30 - Norm Childs ponders, "Boy, this group is really strange."

Photo #31 - Ed Cunningham says, "Muderick told me not to let Wilkinson give me any coffee. Mike said he saw Water Buffalo looking at a bottle of rat poison and going ZHEEEEE. God, what have I done."

Photo #32 - Bob Backman thinks, "Gee, with all this modern equipment here at Metro, maybe I should okay my chief engineer to replace those wire recorders. Nah, they're only 60 years old. We can get another 5 years out of them."

Photo #33 - Outside Metro, Fran Odyniec shows Susan Ellis and Ed Cunningham a paper. Fran says, "I got it under the freedom of information act. It says as far as networks, The WB stands for Water Buffalo."

Photo #34 - Mike Muderick says to Norm Childs, "...and we found 500 take-up reels in Mike Biel's trunk."

Photo #35 - Ed Sciaky says, "Hey, since when do meters cost this much."

Photo #36 - Group photo.

Back row: Walt Mocrytzki, Bob Backman, Fran Odyniec, Ed Cunningham, Ed Sciaky and Mike Muderick.
Front row: Norm Childs, Susan Ellis and Gerry Wilkinson.
Ed Sciaky getting ready to choke the Water Buffalo. Muderick says, "Go ahead, I dare you."

Photo #36 - Group photo.

Back row: Walt Mocrytzki, Bob Backman, Fran Odyniec, Ed Cunningham, Ed Sciaky and Mike Muderick.
Front row: Norm Childs, Susan Ellis and Gerry Wilkinson.
A normal shot...well, at least for us.

At our luncheon, Mike Muderick took a few pictures. On April 27, 1998, Mike's youngest son, Joel e-mailed the photos below to us. Thanks guys.

Photo #37 - Group photo. From left to right, Walt Mocrytzki, Bob Backman, Norm Childs, Fran Odyniec, Ed Cunningham, Susan Ellis, Ed Sciaky, Judy Sciaky and Gerry Wilkinson

Photo #38 - Judy Sciaky photographing "The Old Gang"

Photo #39 - Outside of Metro Networks are (from left to right) Fran Odyniec, Ed Cunningham and Susan Ellis

This is the WRTI Old Gang Web Site.