Pittsburgh's Golden Age of Radio

by Ed Salamon

Overview

Pittsburgh is the birthplace of radio, the location of many of radio's first and most influential stations and broadcast personalities, and a key market for the development of new formats. Pittsburghers' reaction to the music they heard on the radio helped to break records and create stars. Radio provided an unprecedented audience for live performances by local artists. After the big band era, radio gave voice to pop, rock and roll, and rhythm and blues. Pittsburgh's Golden Age of Radio celebrates the city's radio history, deejays, contests, concerts, public service, and promotions from radio's beginnings in the 1920s through the late 1970s, when listening on FM exceeded that on AM for the first time.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780738572239
Publisher:	Arcadia Publishing SC
Publication date:	03/03/2010
Series:	Images of America Series
Pages:	128
Sales rank:	1,028,929
Product dimensions:	6.40(w) x 9.20(h) x 0.40(d)

About the Author

In 1970, KDKA hired Pittsburgher Ed Salamon to publicize its 50th anniversary. This led him to a career in radio, including programming a New York radio station, partnering with Dick Clark in a radio network, and serving as president of programming for the Westwood One Radio Network. He has also taught radio programming at Middle Tennessee State University and Belmont University. The images in Pittsburgh's Golden Age of Radio have been collected primarily from those who worked in Pittsburgh radio who also contributed their memories.

Editorial Reviews

Title: Book Review: Pittsburgh's Golden Age of Radio, by Ed Salamon

Author: Eric O Brien

Publisher: PIttsburgh Radio & TV Online

Date: 2/22/10



"I am glad to have the opportunity to write this book because it preserves history that is important to a lot of Pittsburghers," says Ed Salamon, in the Introduction of his new book, Pittsburgh's Golden Age of Radio, [$21.99, Arcadia Publishing; Available at local retailers, online bookstores or through Arcadia Publishing.com or [phone]]. The book will be released on March 8 as part of Arcadia Publishing's "Images of America" series.



This book is a must-have for anyone who remembers, or has an interest in the history of Pittsburgh radio. Ed Salamon has made the effort to write about stations and personalities ignored by other sources over the years. As is the case with the majority of the Images of America books, Pittsburgh's Golden Age of Radio features over 200 vintage pictures, broken up in 3 chapters, showcasing behind-the-scenes stories never told outside of the industry. Many of the photographs are the property of the author, but also featured are pictures from the private collections of Jack Bogut, Carl Eckels, Terry Caywood, Bobby Vinton, Mike McGann, the late Ira Apple and more! I found photos of a young Frank Gottlieb and a young Clarke Ingram - neither one of whom have aged a bit!



When was the last time you thought about stations like WPEZ (94.5) or WAMP (1320)? When did you last hear of on-air personalities like Frank Tomasello or Buzz (Aston) and Bill (Hinds)? Did you know that WPGH was once an AM station at 1080 and "PGH" didn't stand for Pittsburgh? Whether you lived it or whether you're learning about it for the first time, you'll be enthralled by Pittsburgh's Golden Age of Radio.



Ed Salamon is no stranger to Pittsburgh radio. In 1970, the Pittsburgh native was hired by KDKA Radio to publicize the station's 50th anniversary. From there he had a successful career in radio including programming a New York radio station, partnering with Dick Clark in a radio network and serving as the president of programming for Westwood One. He also taught radio programming at two universities.



Salamon will be doing a book tour the week of the book's release. On Friday, March 12 at 7:00 p.m. he will be at Borders at the Northway Mall in Pittsburgh's North Hills. On Saturday, March 13 at 1:00 p.m. he'll be at the Barnes & Noble at South Hills Village; and 4:30 p.m. at the Borders in East Liberty.

Title: Ed Salamon Authors Book On History Of Pittsburgh Radio

Author: Staff Writer

Publisher: All Access

Date: 2/17/2010



Industry veteran ED SALAMON, most recently the Exec. Dir. of the CRB (COUNTRY RADIO BROADCASTERS), has authored a new book about the glory days of PITTSBURGH radio, starting with the great KDKA-A, where ED started in 1970. The book will be available starting MARCH 8th at retail and online outlets.



The book is published by ARCADIA PUBLISHING and includes over 200 vintage photographs to detail the past of PITTSBURGH's treasured radio history.



Of the book, SALAMON says "I appreciate the opportunity to document and preserve the significant accomplishments of my fellow Pittsburgh broadcasters, while providing radio listeners with a souvenir of their days growing up with radio."



SALAMON will be in PITTSBURGH doing book signings next week, but you can also reserve a copy here www.arcadiapublishing.com.

From the Publisher