WISL Radio Turns Three Years Old in 1951

WISL Radio celebrated their third birthday on January 27th 1951 by running a full-page advertisement in the Shamokin News-Dispatch. In the advertisement you will see a massive list of all of the sponsors heard on WISL as well as a list of some of the Mutual Network programs aired by WISL.

The list of advertisers is transcribed below. It is truly incredible to see just how many businesses operated in the Shamokin area in the post-war era.

WISL Advertisement – Shamokin News-Dispatch January, 27th 1951

LoCal Advertisers

Albertini Motors
Alexander’s Restaurant
Amato Cleaners
Double-A Wafers
Anchor Diner
Ann’s Dress Shop
Anthracite Auto
Leonard Appichel, Contractor
Arcade Beauty Salon
Arena Gardens
Joseph Arnoldin & Sons
Atlas Rug Cleaners
Baker’s Auto Exchange
Midnight Cafe
Ballentine’s Radiator Shop
Baum’s Sport Center
John A. Belsky
Ben’s Fur Shop
Kaiser Frazer Dealers
Black Diamond
M. R. Bodner-Studebaker Dealer
The Bootery
Bowl-Mor Rowling Alleys
Raymond Boyle, Service Station
Burkett’s Service Station
Burns Furniture
Bycoskie Motors
Camera & Music Mart
Caravella Amusement Enterprises
Catino & Krayniak Auto Sales
Central Sales & Service
Choplick’s Cafe
Cohen’s Men’s Shop
John J. Chowka, Mortician
Crissincer Motors
Croll Furniture
Crone’s
Crowl Tire Company
Dale Circus
Daniel’s Pottery
Danville Livestock Market
James A. Davis
Davis Hosiery Company
Dell Cleaners
Sam Dluge
Dobroski Furniture
Dornbach Motors
Durdach Brothers
Dusick & Hoberg
John J. Dusick
Eagle Shoe Shop
East End Beverage Company
Edgewood Park
Edgewood Restaurant
Eisenhart’s
Ely’s Sample Shoe Store
Emily’s Corset Shop
Emworth’s Poultry
Fetterolf Chevrolet
Firestone Store
Follmer’s Florist
Forman’s Furniture
Fraternal Order of Eagles
Fryling Stationery
Fun Novelty Company
Fuhrmann & Schmidt
Gallagher’s
Charles N. Geist
Ghezzi’s
Girard Investment Company
Wlllard P. Graber, Insurance
Guinan’s Department Store
V. C. Hack & Sons
Hazel’s Gift Shop
Herr Gas & Oil Company
Economy Stores
Ben Hirsh Shoe Store
Hodrick’s Appliance
Home Furniture Company
Horowitz’s
Houghton’s Summer Resort
Household Appliance
Ideal Park
Island Park
Jay’s New York Store
Jeddo Store
Jepko’s
Jones Hardware Company
Katch Furniture
Keystone Auto Electric
King Music House
Kirby Sales & Service
Kiwanis Club
Ernest Klase
Kline Motors
Knoebel’s Groves
Charles Krebs Stores
Kresge Store
Kulpmont Athletic Club
Kulpmont Auto Wreckers
Kuzo Brothers
James LaCross Store
1st Roundup Cafe
Lazarus Store
Leader-Hamilton Company
Leaven’s & Donlan
Liachowitz Jewelers
Little Giant
Loyal Order of Moose
Lupold’s Furniture
Little Norway
M&L Cleaners
McElwee’s Jewelry Store
Madden’s Vacuum Cleaner Service
Maine Fire Company
B. Mallett A Sons
Mallett’s Variety
M. J. Marcinek
Martin & Kohler
C. E. Hoover
Mertz Motor Sales
Miller Brothers Shoes
Miller’s Cafe
Reba Miller
Mount Carmel Motors
Modern Dress Shop
Monarch Laundry
Moser’s Department Store
Mowery’s Radio Service
Moyer’s Sunoco Service
Murphy & Scovern
Natalie Drive-In
Natalie Grove
National-Dime Bank
J. J. Newberry
Thomas Nicholas, Plating
Nu-W’ay Drive-In
Dunkleberger’s Furniture
Pearock Shop
Parenzan’s Music Store
Peter Patti
Penn Premier Shows
J. C. Penney Company
Peter’s Hardware Store
Peter’s Furniture Store
Peter’s Appliances Store
Phil’s Men’s & Boys’ Store
Picarelli Markets
Pipa’s Beverage Company
Pitello’s Kiddies Shop
Pitello’s Dairy Lunch
Ralph Pupo
R-Radio & Appliance
Raker Lumber & Planing Company
Raup Lumber & Construction Company
Reed’s Milk & Ice Cream
George H. Reitz Jewelry
J. T. Rhoades, Florist
Rolling Green Park
Rosini Brothers Restaurant
Rosini Brothers Coal
Helen Rosini, Beautician
Rummel’s Nursery
SOS Radio Electric
Sam’s Restaurant
Same Day Vacuum Service
Shoener’s Millinery
Schneider’s Philco Dealer
Shades’ Venetian Blind Service
Shamokin Bible Depot
Shamokin Christian Laymen’s Association
Shamokin Cycle Shop
Shamokin Equipment Company
Shamokin Flying Service
Shamokin Home Association
Shamokin Sports Supply
Shamokin Tire Service
Shamokin Upholstering
Shamokin Ready Mixed Concrete Company
Shusner’s House of Glass
Silverman’s Variety
Smart Shop
Smink’s Book Shop
Marlin B. Snyder, Roofing
Sperry & Hutchinson
E. C. Stashinski
Style Shop
Superior Furniture
Superior Electric
George Swank
Switzer’s Cafe
Tomol’s
Troutman Motors
Union Fire Company
Union Beverage Company
Vallish Furniture
Stank’s
Victory Fur Shop
S. Watral & Son
Weller Brothers
West Ward Building & Loan Association
O. K. Wetzel
Wolfe’s Department Store
Wolfgang’s Electric Service
Workmen’s Supply
Worth’s
Yellow Cab Company
Youth For Christ
Harold Zeigler Appliances
H. A. Zimmerman, Jeweler
Roy Zimmerman Appliances
Capitol Theatre
Victoria Theatre
A & P Stores
Albermarle Hotel, Atlantic City
Bell Telephone Company of Pennsylvania
Big Boy Auto Parts
Brest Packing Company
Brotherhood of Painters, Decorators & Paperhangers of America
Buckley Amusement Enterprises
Butter Krust Baking Company
Clark Packing Company
Clark’s Feed Mills
Congress of Industrial Organizations
Theron D. Conrad, Investment Securities
Chevrolet Dealers
Crosley Shelvador Dealers
Cluckey’s Fur Studios
Crowl Chemical Company
Dayton Tire Dealers
D & H Distributing Company
Eastern Press
Edward’s Lakes-to-Sea System
Electro-Metallurgical Company
Insulation Service Company
International Ladies Garment Workers Union
K-B Frosted Foods
Keller Auto Racing
Bloomsburg Fair
Lycoming County Fair
Reading Fair
Selinsgrove Fair
Maurer’s Dairy
Miller’s Auto Stores
Neighborhood Bakery
Northumberland Memorial Park
Philco Dealers
Rea & Derick, Inc.
Real French Cleaners
Roaring Creek Water Company
Rusco Products Company
Sanitary Diaper Service
Shamokin Packing Company
Spaulding Bakeries
Shamokin Sanitary Milk Company
Stegmaier Brewing Company
Styletex Clothes
Tharp’s Ice Cream
Textile Workers Union Local No. 173, U. T. W. U. of A.
Triangle Shoes
Upholstering Schools
Wise Potato Chips
Williams Grove Park
Yoch’s Bakery Company
Academy Distributors
Alamo Restaurant
Anna Jane Beauty Shop
Avellino Cafe
Art’s Coffee Shop
American-Australian Wool Shop
Atkins Store
Bardex Medicine
Blue Goose
Beaney’s Produce
Bashore’s
Ben Reimer’s Men’s Store
Black Diamond Garage
Broscious Farm Supply
Capital Hospital Service
Castetter’s Cafe
Concannon’s
Chrystal Bottling Company
Central Food Markets
Choplick’s Cafe
Crone’s Cigar Store
Cohen’s Hardware
DeSantis & Deitman Body Shop
D & R Radio & TV Sales
Esso Dealers
Exchange Club
Enterprise Specialty
Empire Vulcanizing Company
Esslinger
First National Bank of Mount Carmel
Frank’s Cafe
Forget-Me-Not Shop
Green Meadow Poultry Market
Louis Grossman & Sons
Gordon Airport
Guarantee Trust & Safe Deposit Company
Robert Graham
Harner Motor
Harry’s Grill
Hummel’s Furniture
Henry’s Auto Parts
Russell M. Seeds Company
Romberger Brothers Machine Shop
Roth’s Store
Highway Service Station
Hagan’s Barber Shop
Holy Name and Rosary Societies
Henlee’s Dress Shop
Huntsinger
Harris Paint Store
Rev. Heffner
Irvin R. Enders Kennels
Jay Store
Johnny’s Market
James Shop
Alex Klepacki
Kulpmont American Legion
Andrew Kurillo
Steve Kania
Kaiser-Frazer Dealers
Knights of Columbus
Kulpmont Gas Company
Kotanchik Lumber Company
Keller Racing, Incorporated
Kyle Jacobs
Allen Krebs
Lowery Electric Corporation
Vincent Lupia
L & S Oil Company
William Loftus
Lahr’s Wheel Service
Liberty Shoe Repair
Lee H. Mertz
Lincoln-Mercury Cars
Mount Carmel Business Men
Millie’s Dress Shop
Majestic Theatre
Mount Carmel Self Service Shoe Store
McDevitt’s Cafe
McCann’s School of Business
McElwee Home & Auto Supplies
Martini Markets
Mertz Motor Sales
Miller’s Furniture
May E. Jones Gift Shop
Rev. Donald Martin
Louis Matlow
Novotny Electric Service
Neversink Hotel
O. P. O. Clothes
Victor Paganotti
Pennsylvania Power & Light Company
Pennsylvania State Employment Service
Prescription Shoe Store
Phil’s Economy Store
Pioneer Troubadors
Casper Pinsker
Michael Potts
Peter’s Tavern
Pep Auto Sales
Jess Phillips
Pinkey’s Market
Polish Cadets
Polish Dramatic Club
Paul Roadarmel Meats
Royalist Cigars
Rovito & Company
Ralpho Township High School
James A. Reilley
Ranshaw Furniture
Ritz Cafe
Shamokin Hair Dressers
Sunoco Dealers
Shade’s Auto Supply
Shuey’s Jewelry Store
Shusterman’s
Sunbury Auto Wreckers
Slim’s Lunch
Harold Snyder
Spriggle’s Men’s Wear
Shamokin Merchants’ Council
Shimock’s Furniture
Serien C. Shipmen
Steinhart Appliance Store
Stroehman’s Bakery
J. A. Seitzinger
Superior Electric Service
W. R. Thomas & Sons
Thompson’s Advertising Service
Urich’s Gladiola Garden
United States Army
United Men’s Shop
Andrew Urban
Weis Pure Food Stores
West End Garage
Wydra’s Cafe
Warsaw Tavern
Ed Waugh
J. N. Werntz
Willow Cafe
Yuengling’s
Young Folk’s Club
Zurick & Zurick
Paul Zimmerman

National Advertisers

Johns-Manville Corporation
Quaker Oats
Dawn Bible Students
American Federation of Labor
Murine
Pierson Pharmaceutical
First Church of Christ, Scientist
United States Tobacco Company
Lutheran Laymen’s League
Kellogg Company
Derby Foods
Nabisco
O’Henry Candy Bars
Ronson Lighters
Voice of Prophecy, Incorporated
Proctor & Gamble
Tide
Joy
Carling’s Ale
Wilson Sporting Goods
Gillette Razor
Miles Laboratories
Ballentine Beer
Pabst Blue Ribbon
Dodge Division (Chrysler Corporation)
Plymouth Division (Chrysler Corporation)
DeSoto Division (Chrysler Corporation)
R. B. Semmler
Ford Motor Company
Ford-Lincoln-Mercury
Hudson Motor Car Company
Trimount Clothing
Ralston Purina
Philip Morris
Hellmann’s Mayonnaise
Miles Laboratories
General Foods
Bayuk Cigars
Cudahy Packing Company
Mutual of Omaha
D-Con
Nucoa
Blue Goose Foods
Pepsi Cola
Perfect Circle Piston Rings
Hudson Motor Car Company
Annahist Corporation
A. O. Smith Company
Chamberlain Company
Dari-Rich
General Mills
Gulf Corporation
Episcopal Churches (National Council)
East-West Shrine Committee
American Schools
Oldsmobile Dealers

WISL HALL OF FAME: Tom kalinowski a.k.a. tom kollins

WISL Publicity Photo circa 1953

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.

Pool & Billiard Daily article on the passing of Tom Kollins

AUDIO EXHIBITS

WCHA-AM, Chambersburg, PA (Tom Kollins Music Program) circa 1960

WCHA-FM, Chambersburg, PA (Tom Kollins Play-By-Play) Littlestown vs.
Greencastle Basketball Championship Game circa 1960

WCHA Chambersburg, PA (Tom Kollins Football Play-By-Play)

WCHA-FM, Chambersburg, PA (Tom Kollins Play-By-Play) Chambersburg vs.
Cedar Cliff Basketball Championship Game circa 1960

WCHA Chambersburg, PA (Tom Kollins Basketball Play-By-Play)