Action Central News, by Dan Daniels
As a leader in the field of promotions thought up by Duncan and later Perry, WPTR excelled in the broadcasting field. This broad based group of broadcasting talent did not stop at the GOLD studio but extended to the Action Central News Room.
In
a time period when two way radio was rarely used in the broadcasting world
WPTR was on the cutting edge with Motorola gear installed in company news
cars and in my personal car. News was of primary importance to the listening
public as evidenced by the ratings during news times and the verbal and written
response that flooded into the station.
Acclaim and awards came to the news department in the glory days with the Headliner award for Excellence in broadcasting being given in 1958.
Each and every day was a show of ability and effort as WTRY was always on our heels. Not only were we relied upon to have the best news coverage, it was expected that you would hear it first on 1540.
Each day during the late fifties
and early sixties a news feature VOX POP from the Latin Vox Populi (the
voice of the people) was aired. Questions were addressed to individuals on the
street as well as experts in that area if it applied to the subject. Twice a day
the same issues were addressed by an editorial comment.
News coverage did not stop with questions on daily topics as another vastly popular program; P/PTR Private Police Traffic Reports was featured daily. In this program New York State Police officers talked with individuals who had been stopped for traffic violations. The responses, sometimes funny, sometimes dramatic were always entertaining.
News was a number one
consideration at WPTR as we were instrumental in airing Jail problems in
Onondaga County. As a result of the news broadcasts recognition by the District
Attorney of Onondaga County for our efforts and the awarding of Honorary DA
credentials were presented to me.
| Not to be outdone in the field of athletics the News Department was well represented on the GOOD GUYS basketball team. Many thousands of dollars were raised for different schools and charity. The teams highlight had to be the game played in Saratoga Springs against the Harlem Globe Trotters. |
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As you can see WPTR was the great creation of its many parts.
Photos: Fire at
the Gold Studios at 1820 Central Ave. Colonie in 1964.
The building today, boarded up and abandoned. You can still make out 'WPTR'
in the old paint.
Our HUGE Thanks go out to Dan Daniels for making this page possible!
Image files are the property of Dan Daniels, and cannot be duplicated or distributed without prior written consent.
Updated: March 1, 2005 ----- © Fifteenforty.com
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