Radio history — Faces made for radio — and a horror film

Certainly you have heard the joke about a face made for radio.

Fifty years ago, WWSC radio celebritites Dave Covey and Pete Cloutier were blessed with faces made for a horror film

Covey and Cloutier had starring roles in the film. “The Merry Madcaps of Morbid’s Morgue” to be screened Oct. 29, 1972 at The Paramount Theatre as part of the program for the semi-annual Battle of the Bands competition, The Post-Star reported on Oct. 24.

“Bag Shot Row will defend their title against Meat Wagon from Glens Falls, Mumbleweed Express from Hudson Falls, Blues Breakdown from Fort Edward, Knight Watch from Salem, and Rockwood from South Glens Falls.”

The Good Things, not competing, would make a special guest appearance.

Admission was $2 — the equivalent of $14.03 in 2022 dollars.

Following are more local radio anecdotes collected from historic newspapers of the region:

• The advent of commercial radio was mesmerizing, as Post-Star humor columnist Dennis O’Connell wrote in his April 24, 1923 column.

“A Third Ward man ‘listening in’ last night on a broadcasted meeting several hundred miles away, where a collection was being taken, reached for his hat when he heard the coins in the plate.”

Pause for an imaginary rim shot before I move on to the columnist’s next radio quip.

“We never realized the extend of the radio craze until the other night a gambler declined an invitation to get in a game because he was listening to a bed time story.”

• WWSC radio broadcast live from the Glens Falls Junior Prom coronation from 10:45 to 11 p.m. May 9, 1947.

The theme was “Memory Lane,” with decorations including a “kissing rock” and a wishing well.

The Siena Collegians performed music for dancing.

• WWSC was among the Mutual Broadcast Network stations selected to broadcast the Indianaoplis Speedway Memorial Day Race on May 30,1947.

Broadcasts were at 11:45 a.m., 1:15 p.m., 3 p.m. and 4 p.m.

“In addition to four scheduled broadcasts, Mutual plans to flash bulletins on the progress of the race, The Post-Star reported on May 28.

• Local rock bands Bagshot Row and Meatwagon performed for the “WWSC Hitmakers” back-to-school dance from 8 to 11 p.m. Sept. 8, 1972 at the Glens Falls Armory on Warren Street.

Admission was $1 — the equivalent of $7.04 in 2022 dollars.

Click here to read my most recent previous Local Radio History post.