There’s a great deal of work that happens in the background to keep a radio station running. The people who talk into a microphone get all the attention. But the Chief Engineer makes sure every word spoken makes it from the studio to the transmitter to our listeners. And they do it without much if any recognition. This episode salutes 2 of our engineers – Randy Orbaker and Mike Hanna - the pros who do twice as much work to make the broadcast day seem effortless.

Picking up from where we left off on Wednesday, this week's BONUS episode has more of the series of featurettes done for WHAM in the late 1950's by silent film star Louise Brooks, who lived in Rochester from the mid 50's until her death in 1985.

NOTE: this episode has been updated with new information provided by Thomas Gladysz, Director of the Louise Brooks Society.

The original plan for this episode was to introduce you to the people who make every broadcast day possible - the Chief Engineer. But, as is the case with daily operations of a radio station, the unexpected can happen at any moment. And it did with my planned interviewee. So, it's not what I planned but a great substitution. From the archives, circa the late 1950s, the first installment of a series of features on Hollywood scandals, written and performed by silent film star Louise Brooks.

In the last episode, Beverly Morgan shared some stories of her path to radio – first with WVOR and then WHAM.
In my conversation with her, we got to talking about her husband of 20 years, Dick Tobias.
And Beverly gives a peek behind the curtain at the man she calls the love of her life. Plus, we hear some of Dick's reporting from the early 1980's featuring Rochester's "humble hero" Gary Biekirk.

Not everyone who ends up on the radio had grand plans to be on the air. Beverly Morgan was a teacher, in Massachusetts and Rochester, before using the airwaves to help her contribute to the women’s rights movement of the late 60’s. But her brush with broadcasting took hold and it sparked an unintended career on the air.

Have a WHAM memory to share? E-mail [email protected]. I’d love to hear, and share your stories.

We heard from 2 broadcasters who pivoted into politics in our last episode. This week we turn to the presidential campaign of 1960. Presented in its entirety, a campaign rally at the Rochester War Memorial with candidate, Senator John F. Kennedy

There are plenty of people who’ve come through WHAM over the years whose careers went on to a 2nd act. More than a few moved over to television. Some to public relations. And others to politics. Maggie Brooks and Rich Funke both spent time in the WHAM newsroom and both would later have career 3rd acts in government. Maggie and Rich reminisce about their times at WHAM and how their respective careers in broadcasting prepared them for public service.

Have a WHAM memory to share? E-mail [email protected]. I’d love to hear, and share your stories.

In our last episode – we heard sounds from March 4th , 1991 – the day of the ice Storm that paralyzed the Rochester region – and some perspectives on the storm from WHAM’s meteorologist at the time – Kevin Williams

Today – some more stories from Kevin I think you’ll enjoy

March 4th 1991. The Rochester area woke up to an ice storm. It took out trees, power lines and crippled the area for days. And when Rochester needed information on the storm and clean up – and a place to talk about what was happening in their neighborhoods and homes – they turned to WHAM. The Ice Storm and its aftermath forever changed the sound of WHAM and made the station a vital part of thousands of people’s daily lives. We’ll hear sound from The WHAM Morning News from day the storm hit and some perspectives on the storm from former WHAM meteorologist Kevin Williams.

Do you have a WHAM story or memory to share? E-mail me: [email protected]

Some WHAM audio snapshots. The Station Composite. A tool, used mainly by sales account executives, to help clients not based in Rochester gain a better understanding of WHAM's sound and program lineup. And also a look back at what WHAM was before a major event would change the mission and sound of the station forever (a hint at the next new episode)