This year commemorates the 70th anniversary of when Beaver County’s first radio station, WBVP, was heard over the airwaves for the the first time on May 25, 1948.  To mark the historical event, each week, another “70th Anniversary Moment” will be showcased on the airwaves and published on the station’s online feeds.

Election night is this coming Tuesday, and there are several fascinating races that have captivated Beaver County residents’ interest this year. On election night, November 6th, local people will have many options to view election results almost instantly as they are tabulated, thanks to modern on line, digital technology.  But, it wasn’t always that way. Long before internet browsers, social media sharing and cable television feeds, Beaver County would pull an “all-nighter” with an ear close to the radio to follow election results.  Listeners would focus in with the same anticipation and anxiety of tuning in to a live sports broadcast.  The “blow by blow” commentary would be relayed from  live broadcasts on WBVP and WMBA originating from the Beaver County Courthouse.

One of the announcers that would broadcast live from the Beaver County Courthouse in those olden days of election night coverage, is current Pennsylvania 16th district state representative, Rob Matzie.  Matzie worked for WMBA in the late eighties and early nineties.  In March of this year,  Matzie was interviewed in preparation for the publishing of, Behind The Microphone, The History Of Radio In Beaver County, PA.   The following is an excerpt from the book:  “Covering politics usually meant a trip to the Beaver County Courthouse, located on Third street in Beaver.  Prior to internet browsers, Beaver County had Chester Zuhrley. Reporters would gather in the commons area of the courthouse and off and on throughout election night,  According to Rob Matzie, Zuhrley would come bounding up the basement steps, “Every once in a while, you never knew when” said Matzie, and tape pieces of paper on a board with updated results. Heaven forbid you would ask Zuhrley for a second copy or additional information.  He had one sacred piece of paper for all the media to gaze at upon being affixed to the board. So feverish and fast was this system, that Zuhrley donned a headband for the night because for him, this was ‘The Big One”.  This was indeed the big dance for the director of elections in any county prior to online data gathering methods. WBVP and WMBA would always have a couple two or three reporters on scene, hanging out in the courthouse waiting for Zuhrley to deliver the news from a secret room in the basement.   The two competing stations would be set up on opposite sides of the room like two prizefighters set up in their respective corners of the ring getting ready to stage a twelve round heavyweight bout.”

In the early days, election night was one of the few times of the year when WBVP would stay on the air all night.  Prior to the late 1960’s, when station management decided to stay on the air 24 hours a day , The Beaver Falls station would sign off at midnight, but the first Tuesday of November was an exception every year.  Jim Roush is retired these days, but back then, was a young engineer on the staff at WBVP and offered this observation about the special occasion when the transmitter vacuum tubes at WBVP were kept glowing red hot to broadcast  election results all night long.

“We would set up in the courthouse in Beaver and we would broadcast from there, (at) that time it was Jim Ross’ office.  He was the head Commissioner.  And he gave us his office to use and we’d set up our equipment in there. (WBVP show host) Chuck Wilson would come over and he and I would stay on the air all night.”

70th Anniversary Moments” is presented by  Abbey Carpet and Floor,  Albert’s Heating, Cooling and Plumbing,  Aliquippa Giant Eagle, The Beaver Falls Municipal Authority, Beaver Valley Auto Mall, Beaver Valley Sheet Metal, Castlebrook Development, The Community College Of Beaver County,  Farmers Building and Savings Bank, Freedom United Federal Credit Union, Hank’s Frozen Custard and Mexican food, The Health Huts, Kitchen City, Laughlin Insurance Agency,  Rochester Manor and Villa and Young’s Jewelry and Coins

This year commemorates the 70th anniversary of when Beaver County’s first radio station, WBVP, was heard over the airwaves for the the first time on May 25, 1948.  To mark the historical event, each week, another “70th Anniversary Moment” will be showcased on the airwaves and published on the station’s online feeds.

Last week, the term “hotbed of talent” was used to describe Beaver County as it pertained to number of world class broadcasters that spent their childhoods, and began their careers here.  This week we take a look at another superstar that emerged from the Beaver Valley,  Jim Merkel. When one is trying to think about famous people who graduated from Monaca High school, it would be easy to think about sports legends like Pro Basketball players and brothers, Brad and Mickey Davis, and another pro basketball player that matriculated at Monaca, Bill Zopf.  But, we must not stop with just the great athletic achievements that came out of the school which used the Indian as a mascot and is located along the western bank of the Ohio River.  In 1977, the graduating class of Monaca included a young lad who had a voice that would eventually become very  familiar throughout the entire United States.

Jim Merkel grew up listening to WBVP.  According to an interview with Merkel conducted earlier this year, he claimed that his mom would listen to Jim “The Teddy Bear” Reynolds every morning and reflected  back on those days:  “Mom would always have WBVP on in the morning.  Jim Reynolds would be on and I thought it was magic”.  Merkel was so smitten with the radio that he convinced his parents to drive him over to WBVP in Beaver Falls in 1974 as a fifteen year old so that he could apply for a job that had been posted.  While WBVP management at that time thought Merkel was too young and sent him back home without an offer, that visit to WBVP was his first exposure to a world that he would, in time,  conquer.  Eventually Merkel got his driver’s license and was able to drive himself to WMBA in Ambridge just a few years later to interview, and ultimately be hired, for an announcer position that had become available.    

The following is an excerpt from the recently published book  , Behind The Microphone, The History Of Radio In Beaver County, PA.  “Jim Merkel recalled that at the time of his hiring at WMBA, in 1978, The top three songs on the charts were: 1. “Night Fever” by the Bee Gees.  2. “Stayin’ Alive” by the Bee Gees and 3. “If I Can’t Have You” by Yvonne Elliman.  His point was, this was in the middle of the disco era, and the movie Saturday Night Fever had captivated movie audiences, and radio airwaves, as all three songs were featured in that film. Merkel, along with his bell bottom pants,rayon shirts, sideburns and high heeled shoes, reminiscent of that time period,  joined an announcing staff that included, among others, Norm Jones, Don Vohar, Diane Brown and Chris Shovlin. Steve Conti served as an engineer for WMBA in this era. In addition to his airshift, Merkel would produce high school sports broadcasts back at the station while Shovlin and Bill Fontana called the action on site at local gyms and fields.  Norm Jones was also known as Rick Jones, and later on worked at WBVP and WWKS in the mid 1980’s. Merkel enjoyed getting fish sandwiches “that were as big as your head” from Mim’s Tavern and also heading north on  Duss Avenue to the Eat’N Park, while in Ambridge working at the station, to fetch a bite to eat. Merkel began to get philosophical in a March, 2018 interview for this book. “Radio touches on emotions and emotionally speaking, you (the listener) become connected to the radio like a comfortable pair of shoes”.   Merkel would know, too.   He referred to WMBA as a great place “where you were able to get your chops”, referring to beginner training and experience.  He went on to be a prominent air personality in Pittsburgh on WWSW F.M. , or 3WS for about thirty years before breaking away and working full time at his own company in 2010.  These days, Merkel provides voice over and audio production that can literally be heard on various media outlets all over the world.  . . .  Merkel’s company, Voice Imaging, in fact, provides audio production to radio stations all over the United States.  In addition, his talents find their way into the ears of people in the Caribbean, Beirut, Asia, Canada and other places. . . .  Merkel even does voice over work for the pesky phone telemarketers that use pre recorded messaging.  And yes, Merkel admitted that he has already been called at home on a time or two by himself, as the recorded message on the other end of the line.”  Many of the National Hockey League teams, including the Pittsburgh Penguins, use Jim Merkel’s voice in team imaging commercials and promotional announcements aired throughout the United States and Canada.

70th Anniversary Moments” is presented by  Abbey Carpet and Floor,  Albert’s Heating, Cooling and Plumbing,  Aliquippa Giant Eagle, The Beaver Falls Municipal Authority, Beaver Valley Auto Mall, Beaver Valley Sheet Metal, Castlebrook Development, The Community College Of Beaver County,  Farmers Building and Savings Bank, Freedom United Federal Credit Union, Hank’s Frozen Custard and Mexican food, The Health Huts, Kitchen City, Laughlin Insurance Agency,  Rochester Manor and Villa and Young’s Jewelry and Coins