More About Ed and Wendy

By John Mehno - January, 2002

It wasn't that ED & WENDY KING lacked the technology to put "Party Line" callers on the air. Ed chose to keep the conversation one-sided.

Ed developed the concept of "Party Line" one night as he was pacing the floor, suffering with a migraine headache. He decided that the callers would not be heard, believing that format would help maintain the genteel nature of the party.

Wendy joined the party within a week of its debut and the show ran six nights a week from 1950 until Ed's death in 1971.

Ed got into a radio as a teenager in LaCrosse, Wisconsin, writing and producing dramas. He became a full-time radio writer in Chicago and Fort Wayne, Indiana. Wendy was a continuity writer for the station in Fort Wayne when she met Ed.

"Party Line" had a number of regular features, the most famous of which was the "Party Pretzel," a nightly quiz question. Those who answered correctly at EXpress1-1038 received a prize in the mail. There were other games but the foundation of the show was the calls (and letters) from listeners.

Ed solicited letters from the audience on various topics. The annual subjects were Christmas memories in December and the famous spooky stories in October. Ed also wrote and produced award-winning specials for KDKA, many featuring patriotic themes.

Ed died on Nov. 18, 1971, just a few weeks after he was diagnosed with lung cancer. He was 50. Some of his scripts have been archived at Duquesne University's library.

Wendy went on to a second career as a travel specialist for the AAA Motor Club. She also did some commercials after leaving full-time broadcasting. She is retired now and continues to live in the Pittsburgh area. She has been somewhat reclusive in recent years. Wendy has made very infrequent appearances as a talk show guest, most recently on KDKA's 80th anniversary celebration on Nov. 2, 2000.
    

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