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Rege Cordic still rides the airwaves

Debra Utterback - 9-18-92

Beaver County Times

 

Rege Cordic says "hello" in an instantly recognizable voice over the phone from his home in Hollywood Hills, Calif., a few miles from the famous "Hollywood" sign.

Hearing the Pittsburgh native's deep voice stirs memories of sitting in front of the TV set watching him host the Sunday afternoon movies on WTAE-TV (Channel 4).

   If you go back even further, you may remember listening to the veteran broadcaster, as the morning radio personality on KDKA-AM (1020).

   Cordic, 66, still is at it, although he describes himself as "somewhat retired."

His voice continues to flow as a freelance announcer on various stations across the country. He. still provides the newscast introductions and station identifications for WTAE-TV.

   WQEX-TV (Channel 16) in Pittsburgh checks in with Cordic in "Pittsburgh Profiles," a special hosted by Marie Torre and daughter Roma at 8 p.m., Tuesday. The show repeats at 8 p.m., Sept. 26.

   Cordic appears with current and former KDKA personalities John Cigna and Jack Bogut in a segment focusing on the three men who have occupied the coveted KDKA morning-drive seat for 38 years.

   Cordic, who made his home in Sewickley in the '50s, looks back fondly on his years in his hometown.

   "They (listeners) were always aware I was a Pittsburgh kid. I think that had a lot to do with the success," he says, noting he could joke about the potholes as any Pittsburgher would.

   Cordic landed his first job as radio announcer for WWSW-AM (970) while still attending Central Catholic High School.

   He earned his own morning show called "Cordic & Co." on WWSW in the early 1940s before joining the U.S. Navy for two years during World War II. He later moved "Cordic & Co." to KDKA in 1954 and remained there until 1965.

   "I just loved it. I couldn't believe you could make a living doing this," Cordic says. "... Just going in there and talking."

   In 1965, Cordic headed to Los Angeles, where he replaced the late actor Bob Crane as a morning radio personality in the city.

   Many people, he says, are surprised to learn he served as host of Channel 4's Sunday afternoon movie from 1970 to 1981 while he was living in Los Angeles.

Cordic also appeared in a variety of TV shows - usually in the role of doctors, lawyers and judges, he says, "because of my white hair, which got even whiter."

   Cordic has watched radio change over the years. "It's so different now. It's much more homogenized. So many radio stations sound alike," he says.