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.
The line up at the end of the 1980’s on WMBA featured Jaye Phillips on the Mornings, Al McDowell hosted the morning talk show called “Straight Talk” and Bobbie Vaughn did an afternoon show on WMBA. Rob Matzie would help produce the talk show for Al McDowell and did many of the remote broadcasts.
In March of this year, Rob Matzie met Mark Peterson for lunch at the Maple Restaurant in Ambridge, and while the Hot Roast Beef with gravy sandwiches were good, the two hours of story telling were great. Peterson later used much of the conversation shared that day in the book, Behind The Microphone, The History Of Radio In Beaver County, PA. Well, who’s kidding who, the Hot Roast Beef was great too, but we digress. Anyhow, the following excerpts about Al McDowell have been taken from the publication: “Al McDowell had already enjoyed a successful media career in Pittsburgh by the time Donn Wuycik hired him to host a show on WMBA. McDowell had done television work on WTAE, Channel 4. McDowell still resided in Upper St.Clair and commuted in to Ambridge, getting in about 9 A.M. everyday and taking up residence in a middle cubicle in a back room located down the hall from the Merchant Street studio of WMBA. Matzie used the far cubicle and the other cubicle was typically used by a variety of part timers. McDowell would have his USA Today paper in hand and read the paper for an hour, followed by hosting the talk show, which aired from ten until noon. Matzie reported that typically, Al McDowell would be out the door by about 12:30 in the afternoon after recording a commercial or two and then, being the man of routine that he was, he headed to Ro
ok’s East side Saloon on 4th street in Ambridge everyday for a couple of Martinis. Not just any Martinis either. Matzie shared that Al McDowell would bring his own Martini glass with him everyday, and then have the bartenders at Rook’s make his daily Martini’s in his own glass. “That was his daily ritual” offered Matzie.”
One of the more popular promotions that WMBA staged in the late eighties and early nineties was “Breakfast With Santa”. The event featured a live broadcast hosted by Al McDowell at various Pappan’s Family Restaurants in the area. Rob Matzie reportedly would drive the WMBA van and go pick up Santa Claus, who, by the way, lived on 11th street in Ambridge in those days, and then head to the Breakfast with Santa promotion. It was a perfect idea, grandparents would arrive in huge numbers, bringing with them their their grand kids. The grandparents all enjoyed listening to Al McDowell on WMBA and this gave them a chance to see him broadcasting live and meet him. The grand kids in tow got to sit on Santa’s lap.
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.