Digging through some inventory...One of a kind KDKA

Many years ago, KDKA's first tower was outside of Saxonburg(still called Tower RD)  and we could see the red light on the top of the tower from the front yard of the farm house. (A summer place). First commercial radio station.

MartyE posted:

I was looking through some old inventory pictures and found these.  The KDKA car signed by, at the time, the current line up of hosts and on air personalities.

Includes John Cigna, Rob Pratte, Mike Pintek, Fred Honzberger, and many more!

And wasn’t one of those guys a train collector or hobbyist?  Which one?

Bill

Hi Bill, the answer to your question is Rob Pratte.

WOW!! You have some pretty nice autographs there as far as local radio personalities go.  Aren't all of those guys retired now?  I think I've listened to all of 'em at one time or another.

Rick

retired or dead

Sold a lot of those box cars along time ago.

jim sutter posted:

Sold a lot of those box cars along time ago.

Yes and this one to me.  LOL!

Yes Rob Pratte was big into trains years ago.  I had the pleasure of helping getting his TMCC working well.  We spent a few night running trains.  He has since all but given up the hobby due to life changes.  I still throw him some train related texts every now and then.  Here are a few pictures from about 10 years ago of his layouts.  Not sure what happened to them but it was a cool overhead and a more toy like layout in another room.

Rob's layout was used for some of the local MTH spots when they were doing them.

Nice MARTY!!!

What?!  No JACK BOGUT?!?!?

Jon

KOOLjock1 posted:

What?!  No JACK BOGUT?!?!?

Jon

He left long before the car came out.  He does have a 3 minute block for his "Stories" now around 5:20.

KOOLjock1 posted:

What?!  No JACK BOGUT?!?!?

Jon

it's time to start you're heart!

Bill  Burn was there a looonng time.  Maybe before your time.  He had an artificial leg that squeaked when he walked. I thought it was funny until I was told he lost the leg in Normandy. Not so funny.

never knew that! we watched Bill Burns for years, and "Patty and Daddy" too. Patty passed way too soon.

Thanks Todd and Marty for the info on Rob Pratte and the photos.  While we're on the subject of Pittsburgh radio personalities who were train hobbyists, how about Joe Denardo on the TV side.  As I recall he was at Channel 4 but he's probably now retired?

Bill 

Joe retired Jan 1 2005, miss watching him.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=brCWbaqSQrQ

KOOLjock1 posted:

What?!  No JACK BOGUT?!?!?

Jon

He raised a lot of money for Childrens Hospital by selling Farkleberry Cookies. Great promotion.

and don't forget Regis Cordic.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C1-CUlYc6-E

somebody made Olde Frothingslosh refers a few years back,can't remember who.

You can check out more of Rob Pratte's layout by clicking here and heading to my webpage.  There are links to additional pages and parts at the bottom of the pages.

Also here is a Youtube video of his layout.  This is easily 10 years old now.

"Back in the day" Rege Cordic was a cult hero. Most of the kids, including me, would listen to him in the morning then at school talk and repeat his jokes etc. One favorite was the guy who lived in a Pgh. pot hole. then Cordic moved to L.A. where he bombed and made commercials.

I was too young to remember him on the radio, but I remember watching the Sunday afternoon movies he hosted......can't remember if it was on WTAE or KDKA.

As a youngster, I spent many Summers visiting relatives in Wilmerding and White Oak back in the 1960's & 1970's. I'll always remember riding & listening to the radio and riding in Pittsburgh in my cousin's Buick Wildcat convertible. Boy, those were the days.

Tom 

Well, if you're bringing up those guys you forgot Carl Ide (hope I spelled his name right).  BTW, when I was just a kid (still in grade school)having lunch with my parents in, I believe, Kaufmanns restaurant I got to meet Bill Burns.  Man, I can still remember what a thrill that was to meet a celebrity.

Rick