Carl J. Kanaskie (air name Carl Konner) worked at WISL from June of 1956 to August of 1958. During that time he gathered and read news, did a number of remote broadcasts, including sporting events, and hosted a variety of music programs, most notably the afternoon show “Konner’s Korner” and, every other week, the Saturday evening call-in program “Juke Box Saturday Night”. He also conducted interviews with celebrities of the day, among them crooner Eddie Fisher (by phone) and Rock and Roll legend, Little Richard (in person).
Reed’s Dairy Ribbon from Carl’s WISL days
Carl left WISL in 1958 and served in the U.S. Army for two years as a specialist in information and broadcasting. In addition to writing and gathering news for the post newspaper, he conducted hometown interviews with enlisted men and handled public relations responsibilities. A highlight of his years of service was being chosen for duty at the Winter Olympic Games in Squaw Valley, CA, where he aided German and Japanese broadcasters as they disseminated game results to their homelands.
Carl Konner WCNR Promotional Photo
After the Army, Carl returned to Pennsylvania and was hired by WCNR Radio in Bloomsburg. Carl would stay at WCNR for over 20 years. His tasks included writing and reporting news, hosting record shows and conducting numerous on-air interviews in studio and remotely with celebrities and community and political leaders. He also attended Bloomsburg University while employed at the station, eventually earning his bachelor’s degree in geography and social sciences, and his master’s degree in geography.
Carl grading papers as a graduate student at Bloomsburg University
In 1980, he accepted a position in the public relations office at Millersville University (MU), where he was employed for 24 years in a variety of news- and PR- related management positions, retiring as the institution’s director of communications. His responsibilities included: writing and editing the University’s bi-monthly newsletter; composing news releases/tip-sheets/announcements for regional media and working with them as they covered University activities; and advising faculty, administrators and staff on how to deal with media when confronted with sensitive issues relating to the institution and its students.
Carl Kanaskie Millersville University Photo
In retirement, Carl volunteers with several organizations. He is a trustee of the Millersville Area Historical Society, conducting its publicity and media relations efforts. He is a member of the Lancaster County Area Agency on Aging Advisory Council. He is a member of the Sierra Club-Lancaster Group (and past executive committee member), handling its publicity, media and public relations. He serves on the Marketing Committee of Lancaster’s North Museum of Natural History & Science. And, he has been involved with the MU Mentoring Program over the past seven years.
Carl Today
We were very lucky to have had the chance to meet Carl at the 2013 Anthracite Heritage Festival in Shamokin. Carl and his wife stopped by the WISL display as Tom Kutza was broadcasting. To Carl’s surprise, more than 50 years after he had left WISL radio, Tom immediately recognized his voice and blurted out ”Hey, You’re Carl Konner”.
Carl was kind enough to provide us with the information and images presented in this post.
Many big names in radio had their start at some small market radio station. They learned the ropes by working the late shifts, engineering sporting events and remote broadcasts and running public service and religious programming on Sunday mornings. These jobs certainly weren’t glamorous by any means, but for a young person wanting to get their big break, any chance to get behind the mic was worth it, even if you were only reading the weather.
WSOX “Oldies 96.1” Logo
South Central Pennsylvania radio listeners will recognize the name Bob Rudy from his nine years at Oldies 96.1 (WSOX) as half of the “Mad Dog and Rudy Morning Show”. However, few people know that on Christmas Day in 1980, Bob was starting his radio career at WISL.
Bob Rudy remembers:
“Christmas Day (Dec. 25th) 1980. I drove from Etters (Yocumtown) to Shamokin every Sunday evening to do 6:00 PM till Midnight. Live rip-and-read news, sports and weather at the top and bottom of each hour from that teletype machine down the hall, which I believe, was probably one of the first….probably delivered by Marconi. Music 6-8:00, ran a 12” reel-to-reel tape with “Make believe Ballroom” from 8-10:00, then back to music (45 rpm records) from 10:00-Midnight.
I remember being hired by Bernie Flynn.
I couldn’t get my first break (without experience) in the Harrisburg area, but Carol O’Leary’s husband Jim was a part owner of WISL and suggested I call Bernie. Carol was the General Manager of WTPA-FM 104.
After a few months of doing Sunday evenings at WISL, I got my foot in the door with Ben Barber at WIOO-AM 100 in Carlisle. At this point I started doing sign-on at WIOO (about March 1981) until 12:00 Noon, driving home for about 2-3 hours, then heading up to Shamokin to do 6-Midnight. That summer, I filled in a few times (Saturday nights) at Magic 93 in Mechanicsburg (after the QV93 days). At this point I was doing Saturday night in Mechanicsburg, Sunday morning in Carlisle, and Sunday evening in Shamokin…while working a full-time job (outside of radio) during the week.
Eventually, I gave up all three jobs to go part-time at WTPA-FM 104.“
Bob Rudy at KOOL 94.9 in Harrisburg
Bob would work for over sixteen radio stations over the next three decades, and become one of the most recognized voices in Central Pennsylvania radio.
The Pet Guardians Logo
Today, Bob teaches part-time at Elizabethtown College in the School of Continuing and Professional Studies. He teaches courses on topics that include, International communications, Multicultural Communications, Persuasion and Interpersonal Communication. Bob has also broken into the world of internet broadcasting with his “Pet Guardians Radio” at www.mypetradio.com. They offer an eclectic selection of music and help get the word out about “The Pet Guardians” a great non profit organization that helps find homes for amazing animals. Check out www.petguardians.com to learn more about the great work they are doing.
A couple months ago we were introduced to Tom Kollins and had the pleasure of spending some time on the phone reminiscing about his days at WISL. Tom provided a wealth of knowledge, some fascinating recordings and just plain good conversation. We are honored to present to you the Tom Kalinowski story. Thomas Kalinowski’s involvement with WISL radio goes back farther than anyone we have been able to interview for the WISL Hall of Fame. He was only 12 years old in 1948 when he auditioned with the Kelly Bogetti Orchestra for a live music spot at the station. Tom says that Kelly Bogetti billed him as the “youngest accomplished Hawaiian guitarist in the Anthracite area.” Although they didn’t get the job, this would not be the last time Tom would climb the stairs at Rock and Sunbury Streets.
By 1952 Tom was entering his senior year at St. Edward’s High School. For career day that year, St. Edwards students took over WISL. With some assistance from the staff, they read commercials and did the station breaks for the day. Through this audition, Tom impressed the management and was asked to join the station. His first role was night announcer. The shift began at 6pm and Tom would head to the station each night after school was out. His duties consisted of various station breaks, and reading news, sports and other announcements between the Mutual Radio Network programs the station aired in the evening. Tom said he would sign the station off by playing a transcription of the “Star Spangled Banner” around 11 or 12 at night.
WISL Schedule Tuesday, September 8th 1953
In June of 1953 Tom graduated high school, and about that same time John Persico, who was the morning disc jockey at WISL had a blow out fight with Charlie Petrie, the station manager. Petrie subsequently fired Persico and Tom was asked to take the morning spot. The morning program was called “Wislin’ Time” and was a typical DJ show. Tom says they would play records, do interviews, and give the news, sports and weather. This was local radio and Tom was a one-man-band. He said “you needed a lot of energy to run that kind of a program.”
According to Tom, you needed to be a jack-of-all-trades to work in local radio at that time. While at WISL Tom was a Disc Jockey, play-by-play announcer for both football and basketball, did remote broadcasts and even tried his hand at advertising sales, “because every station wanted you to hit the streets and try to sell.” Some remotes that stood out in Tom’s mind include broadcasting live from a horse show held at a riding ring on Trevorton Road and broadcasting live from the American Legion when Ralph Marteri’s band came to play.
Jolly Jack Robel
Tom remembered Jolly Jack Robel, an accomplished Polka band leader from Shenandoah, who would come to WISL once a week for an hour long Polka show. Tom said that they would have a great time doing the program, but would have an even better time hitting up a local saloon after the show was over. Other memorable programs included The Little Giant’s Sunday program. The Little Giant owned a meat market at the east end of Independence Street. Legend has it that during the war, his was the only shop in town with meat, leading to questions of the quality and source of his stock. Nevertheless, in the post-war years, The Little Giant’s program on Sunday mornings was very popular. So popular in fact, that many would catch the early mass on Sunday to be sure they wouldn’t miss the program. In addition to the meat market and radio show, Tom also remembered The Little Giant having a zoo of sorts, located at the entrance to Irish Valley, where kids could see and pet deer, goats and the like.
WCBG Logo from Matchbook Cover circa 1956
Tom’s time at WISL would come to an end in 1956 when he auditioned for and won a job as the morning man at a brand new radio station in Chambersburg, PA; WCBG. With this move also came a name change, he now began going by the name Tom Kollins, a name that would stay through the rest of his radio career.
Shortly after joining the staff at WCBG, Tom was approached by the local competition, WCHA, to come work for them. Tom agreed and found himself back in Central Pennsylvania working for another station owned by WCHA in Milton, WMLP. Tom recalled that one of the new hire rituals at WMLP was to send the new guy to the Buoy Hardware store, located across the street from the station, to try to sell advertising time. Tom says that the joke was that “old man Buoy was like Ebenezer Scrooge, was grumpy, would keep all the lights out in the store except where he knew you would be, and would never buy advertising.” That is until Tom went in. He said that either Mr. Buoy was trying to play a trick on the station or he was just simply ready to advertise, because when Tom went in, he bought some spots. When Tom returned to the station with the spot order, no one could believe it.
WCAR Detroit Publicity Photo circa 1962
Tom’s time at WMLP didn’t last long, as soon as contractual obligations were concluded with WCBG, Tom was brought back to Chambersburg and began working at WCHA. At WCHA Tom hosted a music program and did play-by-play for various sports. You can hear Tom at WCHA in the audio exhibits section of this post. These recordings were found by Tom on reel-to-reel tapes in his home and have not been heard for many years.
By 1960 Tom would find himself moving halfway across the country, thanks to a major market disc jockey who was traveling the Pennsylvania Turnpike. Tom says this disc jockey caught his program and told his boss in Detroit about this guy he heard in Pennsylvania. Tom was offered a job with WCAR in Detroit where he would finish his radio career.
Tom Kollins at the Detroit Athletic Club circa 1973
In 1965, Tom decided to make a career change, following a passion he had for Billiards and began playing pool professionally. Tom was a very accomplished pool player winning the Michigan Straight Pool Championship twice. From 1968 to 1973 he was the Billiard room manager at the prestigious Detroit Athletic Club. By 1977 Tom had found a new passion, one for the game of Snooker. This passion would find Tom traveling the world playing the game and holding the United States National Snooker Championship title five times. CLICK HERE to learn more about Tom’s fascinating Snooker career.
Tom Kollins on the Golf Course
Today, Tom enjoys retirement with his family and lived in the Detroit area. We are very fortunate to have had the opportunity to share in Tom’s interesting history, we sincerely thank him for allowing us to make another WISL friend.
*** UPDATE ***
We are sad to report that Tom passed away on June 22nd 2020 at the age of 84.
The Anthracite coal region of Pennsylvania has produced some of the finest athletes our country has known. In high school football, our schools are frequent winners of regional and state championships and nobody knew those teams and their coaches better than Bernie Romanoski.
No WISL Hall of Fame entry would be complete without a little background history. Bernie was born on August 25th 1922, was a 1941 graduate of Coal Township High School and was a lifelong resident of the Shamokin-Coal Township area. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1942 and reached the rank of Sergeant. He served in both the North African and Italian campaigns of World War II. Before his honorable discharge in 1945 he earned a Bronze Star for meritorious service in combat.
During his High School years he began a career in sports that would last 70 years. Having been an All-State athlete in high school, his skill on the field led to a coaching career at Coal Township High School which began in 1949. The Demons saw much success under Romanoski’s leadership. Along with Hall of Fame coach Walt Marshall, they won the Eastern Conference Titles in both 1950 and 1955. In the 1960’s he coached with another Hall of Famer, Ed “Beaners” Binoski and took the Eastern Conference, Southern Division Titles in both 1960 and 1964. After years of coaching the Coal Township football team, he moved to the Shamokin Area High School, where he coached Football, Basketball, Baseball, Track and Golf until 1968.
Bernie Romanoski & Joe “Jazz” Diminick (September 1957)
For many years he also served as the Athletic director at Shamokin Area and is credited with bringing many innovations and improvements to their athletic policy and facilities. It was also under his leadership that Shamokin Area’s prominence as a PIAA Post-Season playing site began.
Bernie Romanoski at Coal Township Field (September 1957)
Bernie also served as a PIAA official for 40 years. His certifications included Football, Basketball and Baseball and he was a frequent official for championship games in all three sports.
Bernie’s love for sports and the people that played them seemed to naturally bring him to the field of broadcasting. He spent many years covering and promoting area sports on Shamokin’s WETV television station and on WISL Radio. His involvement with WISL started in 1970 and weekly radio program became a “who’s who” of local sports and everybody got their chance to be part of the program. Bernie would cover all sports and in many cases his guests would pack the WISL studios. Bernie also wrote weekly sports columns for the Shamokin News-Dispatch and the News Item.
Bernie Receives A Plaque Honoring his 22 Years at WISL in 1992. WISL Host John Berry pictured.
Every Saturday Morning Bernie’s program would take to the air. Tom Kutza would often run the show to make sure something was actually being broadcast and also to let Bernie do what he did best; talk sports. Listeners will remember the many comical program opens that the guys at WISL produced, you can hear many of these original opening in the audio exhibits below. The programs were often lively with good-natured wise-cracking between the guests, Tom and Bernie. The show was also a local forum and Bernie would often take callers to talk about the local sports happenings of the day. He even held trivia contests to test the listener’s knowledge of sports history, giving them a chance to win tickets to a movie at UA Theaters in Frackville or a Whopper at the Burger King. Bernie’s programs were never strictly planned or scripted and he always took time to talk about the lives of the players, and their families.
He used his broadcasting career to further his desire to serve the community and give back by hosting numerous radiothons on WISL and telethons on WETV. Over the years, these events raised thousands of dollars for the American Heart Association, The Shamokin Hospital and other organizations.
Newspaper Ad for the 1978-79 United Way Campaign Radio-Thon
However, his crowning achievement may have been the sports hall of fame that bears his name. Along with other area sports enthusiasts, Romanoski was able to bring the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame to the Lower Anthracite Region. In 1984 The Bernie Romanoski Sports Hall of Fame was created and today under the leadership of his son Bernie Romanoski Jr. continues the tradition of honoring the best student athletes the area has to offer. Bernie passed away in 2008.
Coal Township’s 150th Anniversary Coaches Dinner
We are very lucky to be able to present to you some amazing artifacts from the collection of Bernie Romanoski Jr. In addition to sharing some fantastic photos and newspaper clippings, he was kind enough to give us a number of reel to reel tapes and cassettes he found in his father’s estate. We would also like to thank Larry Deklinski for granting us permission to publish some great shots he had found in the Thomas Collection.
As you enjoy these artifacts, we invite you to share your memories of Bernie in the comment boxes below. We are always interested to hear your thoughts and stories!
AUDIO EXHIBITS:
Classic Bernie Romanoski Sports Show Openers:
(Courtesy of Dave Horjnacki)
Pete Wambach
W. C. Fields
W.C. Fields & Ralph Cramden (Romanoski’s Caravan To Hershey)
Valentine’s Day
The Lone Ranger
The Cereal Bowl Football Game
Ted Baxter & The President
Surprise Birthday Party For Bernie
Shamokin Indians Cheerleaders Cheer For Bernie
Santa Claus
Rubber Duckie
Punxsutawney Phil
Pete Wambach – It’s A Miserable Day In Pennsylvania
Pete DeRito’s New Years Message To Bernie
Pete DeRito’s Birthday Message To Bernie
New Year’s Eve Party
Joe Paterno
Howard Smozel
Horseshoe Camp
Happy Birthday To Bernie
Golf Tournament
Bernie’s Letter To Santa
Fishing Trip
Bernie The Basketball Player (From WAZL Radio in Hazleton)
Bernie Is President Of The Mickey Mouse Fan Club
Bernie Romanoski Sports Show Clips
(Courtesy of Bernie Romanoski, Jr.)
Bernie Romanoski Sports Show – Mike Klembara & Players on Lourdes Winning The Eastern Conference Class A Co-Championship 1974
Bernie Romanoski Sports Show – Shamokin Area Golf Coach Interview 1990
Bernie Romanoski Sports Show – Shamokin Indians Football 1991
Howard Hertzog a.k.a Scott Davis in the WISL Control Room
Howard Hertzog was a very busy guy in the Shamokin Area. During his short life, he managed to pack in as much activity and good will as he could. Howard was an active member of the Jaycees and served on the committee that raised the money needed to purchase a heart monitor for Shamokin State General Hospital. Howard was also the co-chariman for the 1969 Shamokin Area Heart Drive. Remember LAREDO (the Lower Anthracite Regional Economic Development Organization)? He was also chairman for the 1969 Miss Laredo Contest. LAREDO was the organization that helped start the Glen Burn Mine Tour, Howard also served as a tour guide. He was President of the Shamokin Area Amateur Radio Club, and if that wasn’t enough he also worked at the Singer Store and at the Sun Ray Drug Store.
Howard was also a Disc Jockey at WISL using the name Scott Davis. He joined WISL in the late 1960’s and would work there until his untimely death in 1972. According to Hertzog’s daughter Angela, Howard struggled with heart issues his entire life. Scott Davis passed away while doing the night show on WISL on August 5th 1972, leaving behind his wife and two-year old daughter. He was only 33 years old.
We were able to get in touch with Angela last year and learn more about her father Howard. Angela was able to find some pictures of her father and even found a box full of old reel to reel tapes in the attic of her family home. Every time we are able to locate audio of WISL, it is a special thing, however this time the audio meant so much more. When her father passed away, Angela was only 2 years old. In conversation we learned that she had never heard her father’s voice. These tapes offered a very special window into the past and the chance for Angela to “meet” her father again. We were able to get a clean dub of the audio from the tapes she found, and what a treasure. We found radio shows, commercials, outtakes and sports broadcasts all featuring the voice of her father, Scott Davis.
Through the courtesy of Angela Hertzog we present to you Scott Davis!
AUDIO EXHIBITS
Scott Davis aircheck WISL 1971
Scott Davis Show for Scott Berkelson WISL 1971
WISL Saturday Line-Up Promo (Scott Davis Voiceover)
Shamokin Sunoco Stations – Inspection Commercial (Scott Davis Voiceover)
Pickwick Self Service Shoe Mart Commercial (Scott Davis Voiceover)
Alfie’s Boutique Commercial (Scott Davis Voiceover)
WISL Drop “Scott Davis Plays The Heavy Hits”
photo exhibits
Postcard from the Glen Burn Mine Tour – Howard Hertzog as a tour guide
There are few names more recognizable in the Shamokin and Mount Carmel areas than Tom Kutza, and even fewer that conjure up such positive and happy memories. Of all the voices heard over the WISL airwaves, Tom’s was there the longest, spending roughly 34 years behind the microphone.
To many, it’s unimaginable to think that Tom worked anywhere else other than WISL, but believe it or not, there was a time that Tom was just a kid trying to break into the business. In radio, you needed to take whatever job or jobs you could get, and Tom’s break into the business occurred at two different radio stations in the late 1950’s, WBRX in Berwick and WPPA in Pottsville. Tom simultaneously worked at both of these stations on a part time basis, mostly as a news reader.
Tom Kutza Live before his days at WISL
To many, it’s unimaginable to think that Tom worked anywhere else other than WISL, but believe it or not, there was a time that Tom was just a kid trying to break into the business. In radio, you needed to take whatever job or jobs you could get, and Tom’s break into the business occurred at two different radio stations in the late 1950’s, WBRX in Berwick and WPPA in Pottsville. Tom simultaneously worked at both of these stations on a part time basis, mostly as a news reader.
In 1960 Tom would be offered a job at a station much closer to his hometown of Mount Carmel. Tom joined WISL in October 1960 covering the night shift and a program they called “Moonlight Serenade.” He would work his way up the WISL ladder, moving next to afternoon drive and finally getting a shot at the “big time” and the morning show in 1964. Generations of Shamokin residents would wake up to the Tom Kutza Morning Show, dubbing him “Shamokin’s Morning Mayor” over the years. Tom kept everyone up to date on, local news, weather, sports, school cancellations and yes even the school lunch menus.
Tom Kutza at WISL circa 1960
Tom Kutza as “Captain Action”
Tom’s position as the morning disc jockey gave him great community visibility, and Tom was everywhere. He was the MC at local proms, the DJ at sock hops, dances and weddings, the live host at your favorite store and even the color commentator on the WISL sports broadcasts. Tom even had the chance to play super hero to his legions of adoring fans as “Captain Action” for an appearance at the Big N Department Store in Coal Township.
Tom’s position as the morning disc jockey gave him great community visibility, and Tom was everywhere. He was the MC at local proms, the DJ at sock hops, dances and weddings, the live host at your favorite store and even the color commentator on the WISL sports broadcasts. Tom even had the chance to play super hero to his legions of adoring fans as “Captain Action” for an appearance at the Big N Department Store in Coal Township.
Tom’s on air legacy included his years hosting the “Welker’s Furniture Polka Show” on Sundays. Tom recalled in a News Item interview…
“I remember one summer day walking from Springfield to my former home on Race Street (in Shamokin); I heard the polka show on every radio between those two points.”
Christmas was a special time of year in Shamokin and a favorite for Kutza as well. The popular “Letters to Santa” program actually dates back to the 1950’s and WISL newsman Jim Reilly. Reilly would gather letter written to Santa by children in the listening area and read them on the air. Years later, Kutza would ask if he could read the letters in the role of Santa Claus himself, a tradition that Kutza would continue even after leaving the station.
Tom Kutza Business Card 1980’s
Over the years, Tom welcomed many people to the WISL microphone. There were celebrities such as singer Frankie Laine, music groups such as the 1910 Fruit Gum Company, sports figure Stanley Covaleski, and almost anyone else that would have a chat with Tom. Kutza remembers…
“I really enjoyed doing the talk show over the years. We would get on the air and our guests would ask what we were going to talk about, and I would just say ‘I don’t know, we’ll just see how it goes”
Following their interview, guests would remark that Tom made it so easy. Tom had a way to always put his guests at ease, creating a fun and free atmosphere.
Tom’s days at WISL made him a part of the family for many in the Shamokin and Mount Carmel areas. People woke-up every morning to his program, listened to him at work and during their lunch hour, shook his hand on the street and did the polka with him on the weekend. Parents recorded his program and sent it to their children serving in Vietnam, in a way sending them a piece of “home.” Tom’s legacy in Shamokin continues to this day.
Tom Kutza, Master of Ceremonies at the Mount Carmel High School Prom in 1962
Tom’s stay at WISL ended in 1998, victim of a combination of Shamokin’s deteriorating economy and poor station management. However, Tom would take everything he learned in his 34 years on the radio and embark on a new career, becoming the Tourism Director of Northumberland County. His job now was to travel the county creating awareness of the many great thing that Northumberland County had to offer. Tom talked to children about history and the amazing stories of the past. He visited the senior centers to bring back memories of younger days and helped let others know all that Northumberland County has to offer. Tom would retire from the county a decade later.
While Tom may be retired he is far from finished. Tom is still keeping the memory of WISL alive, now online at www.WISL1480.com, Tom has revived the traditional “Sunday Afternoon Polka Program” every Sunday afternoon at 2pm. Every Christmas Tom teams up with the News Item to present his “Letters to Santa” program. The News Item still receives hundred of letters each year from children hoping to get Jolly Old St. Nick to read their letter.
Tom is also now a national personality, taking his Coal Region Christmas memories to a whole new audience with “Christmas Eve with Tom Kutza,” a five hour Christmas music and memories program. Originally broadcast on WBLJ (formerly WISL-FM) in Shamokin in 2005, in recent years the program has been carried on stations as far away as North Dakota and Florida. Tom has also relived the memories of WISL, being on hand at the WISL display at Shamokin’s Anthracite Heritage Festival meeting old friends and reliving great memories. In his spare time Tom enjoys life with his incredible and growing family.
AUDIO EXHIBITS
A typical Tom Kutza Morning Show open, Tom begins with a polka, then it’s Big Red to wake up Shamokin!
Tom’s trademark program close: “… put that lunch on…”
A Vintage Tom Kutza Program Liner
Commercial for Tony’s Store and Garage from May 13th 1994 voiced by Tom Kutza
