The Kings in the Trib - Thursday, August 29, 2002 17:16

 While surfing one day, I discovered your byline on articles about Ed & Wendy King/Party Line (2002) and "Region's TV history needs home" (1995). I thought my husband and I were the only people who recognized Ed and Wendy, Clark Race, Kay Neumann or Don "Bwana Don" Riggs. It seems I was wrong.

I agree that we need a repository/museum for these wonderful icons in metro Pittsburgh. I'm from Apollo (Check yesterday's mirror for the article on John Murtha's inquiry into the NUMEC mess -- the person quoted in the article, Patty Ameno, graduated with me from Apollo High) and I re-member fondly Bwana Don, Capt Jim's Popeye Club, Ricki and Copper -- I was a TV junkie! But those shows were so neat. I remember watching the Fenways (also from Apollo) guesting on Clark Race's show. That was big stuff, you know.

Regarding Party Line, I'd really like to get involved in a rebirth of this  kind of one-way yet two-way radio. For those of us who enjoy another human voice instead of a steady diet of music, regenerating a Party Line format could have the same effect as Charlie and Steve on WRTA, for instance. I admit, I listen to Mike Pintek on KDKA when I'm out in the mornings. I guess you can take the girl out of the Kiski Valley, but you can't take the Kiski Valley out of the girl.

Oh, the days of Olde Frothingslosh! Wasn't life wonderful?

Alice Balest, Altoona

Rege Cordic's Monkees episode - Tuesday, June 12, 2001 8:10 PM

Just wanted to let you know that Rege Cordic was also a guest on another episode of "The Monkees." He played the on-screen narrator of the "Fairy Tale" episode, where Peter has to go off and battle a dragon to rescue a princess.

Mr. Cordic's character interacted with the Monkees, and was quite hysterical. This episode is available on home video and is worth checking out.

Also, an enlarged photograph of Rege Cordic can be found in Central Catholic High School's Hall of Fame. The photo should still be there, or at least it was when I attended Central. It shows him next to a KDKA-Radio microphone

Its nice to remember Rege Cordic.

Sincerely,

Arthur Marino

Ouch! - Tuesday, January 07, 2003 04:03

I'm hurting! From laughing! I haven't laughed like this for fifty years, since I listened to Cordic as a mere boy in Indiana, PA., before being unceremoniously carted off to Valley Forge Military Academy in 1957. I paid dearly for my sins!!

Good Lord! Thank you for bringing back my childhood ... and reminding me where my sense of humor came from. It came from Cordic.

And, for reminding me why I got into this business in the first place!!

More! More! Please!

Barry King

News Director, KGNC AM & FM, Amarillo TX

Tuesday, January 07, 2003 19:37

Many thanks again for the really marvelous reliving of wonderful memories! I shall continue to ache from laughing this evening when I revisit your site, and my wife shall have all but the last number of the local psychiatric hospital dialed -- just in case. She doesn't understand. She's from Texas - but I adore her anyway.

Barry King

Tale of a mis-spent youth - Friday, January 10, 2003 03:23

A 14-year old boy in Indiana, PA, never went to sleep before midnight (had to hear the answer to the "pretzel" on Party Line with Ed and Wendy King (no relation) - and generally switched over to WBBM in Chicago and  American Airlines' "Music 'Til Dawn" with Jay Andre until 2 or 3 AM, then wake up at 6 AM for Cordic & Company. Sometimes, never went to sleep. HAD to listen to Cordic!

"Enough!" His father says in 1957."You're going to military school! Cordic is rotting your mind!" Thereafter, four years at Valley Forge Military Academy. No Cordic ... but the mind-rot was per-manent. Thank God!

Fast forward to 2003. The kid from Indiana has spent 25-plus years in radio - both on-air and teaching it in college. People ask, "Where did you get your dry sense of humor?" "Rege Cordic" I reply. They know not whereof  I speak. "Where did you get that great baritone voice?" they ask. "Rege Cordic was my hero" I reply. Again, they are confused and unaware.

We, here on this marvelous website, know whereof I speak. We, here, are not confused and are very aware. We, here, know, remember and celebrate Re Cording or Mr. Cordicandcompany ... or whatever.

Personally, I say, "Thanks, Rege. I never met you, never knew you except via KDKA ... but much of what I am today is you."

Barry King

News Director, KGNC AM & FM

Amarillo, Texas

I owe Cordic a lot! In the last few weeks, I've realized (or remembered) just how much he did in-fluence me (contributing to the delinquency of a minor, I guess).

I have a Pittsburgh broadcasting memory that is elusive. In the late 50's there was, I believe, a black radio station in Pittsburgh - call letters WILY. It was possibly the only black station around in those days.

Power was negligible. Could barely hear it in Indiana, but tried because it was so different.

There are two items I remember clearly from the WILY broadcasts. One was their ID jingle, sung to a good Jamaican beat, which went:

In Pittsburgh, where ere you go

WILY is on the radio

WILY ten-eighty-o

In Pittsburgh Pennsyl-van-i-o

The other was a spot for Sam Moogerman - which I think was a used car dealer. Again, in jingle form (to the tune "Ta-ra-ra-boom-ti-ay" - but much slower), it's lyric was:

Go see Sam Moogerman,

Best deal for you-german

Save money too-german,

Buy from Sam Moogerman

Does that jar any sodden memories from the bank (left or right - East or West)? Some of the Cordic faithful may remember. As I recall, I dialed back and forth between Cordic on 1020 and WILY on 1080 in the mornings when we caught on to WILY and some of the really funny stuff they were doing.

Barry King

I LOVE THIS WEB SITE!!! - Wednesday, April 11, 2001 4:56 PM

I found this web site by accident and its the best thing I've come across yet. I was a Rege Cordic fan from the early 60's. I used to listen to him before I went to school and on Saturdays. I thought that I would never hear his voice again except down at the Heinz History Center at the 50's kitchen exhibit. The sound clips are marvelous. [...] Thanks again for the good work that you have done. I immediately bookmarked this site and will return to it regularly.

Bill Huston from

Elizabeth, Pa.

I LOVE THIS WEB SITE!!! - Tuesday, June 05, 2001 6:26 PM

Railroads and trolleys are one of my hobbies. I remember reading Rege's article in "Trains" Magazine years ago.

Thanks again, Bill Huston

"Better things for living through chicanery!"

That's wonderful news! - Friday, May 18, 2001 9:47 PM

I just saw your item on the web site about the new material coming, and I can't wait. I've been checking in every few days for new items.

[The 1985] WQED program for the Pittsburgh Shakespeare Festival was made in the WQED studios with Bob Trow and Carl Hardman. It features Roquefort Q. LaFarge, Brunhilda, Carmen Monoxide, Louie the Garbageman (doggone right!) and Mr. Murchison. And of course, Rege quoting Shakespeare as he only could do it. What pipes, it was truly good to hear his voice again.

It must have been made at the time of PAT's subway opening because this is where I saw Rege in person. PAT was giving free rides on their new subway and when I entered the car at Station Square Station and right in front of me was Rege! I knew who he was but I doubt many of the other people knew. I didn't know if I should say anything to him or just respect his privacy. I de-cided not to say anything but take away the memory of seeing my favorite radio personality.

Looking forward to the new material,

Bill Huston, Elizabeth, Pa.

Good morning

   I was recently referred to the web site by my old classmate Charlie Apple.

   What a great tribute to Rege and the whole company.

   As a young man I grew up with Cordic & Company, first on "Double Double" then on KDKA. I even followed Rege to the west coast as I went to Navy Boot Camp in San Diego in October of '65, and was able to hear the KNX years there.

  I have not explored the entire web site, and my question may be answered, but...one of my annual favorites was Cordic & Co version of Dickens' "Christmas Carol". Is it available somewhere?

   Other bits I remember and would like to hear again include:

   - The Cordic & Co Hookey Kit

   - The "Bridge Leap" event promos.

   - anything with Louis

   - anything with Milk Mann

   Thanks for all the work. Ist this a great site? You Doggone Right Keed.

Bill Waugaman

Wilmington, NC

Thank you! - Thursday, June 07, 2001 5:46 PM

This site has really flooded my mind with great memories. Growing up in the 50's & 60's, you've brought back many great times in my mind.

I remember being so distraught when he did leave KDKA and never really feeling the same about radio since.

By the way, any stuff about a "cordic-like" guy named Jason Flake that WTAE brought in for a short while? Sure sounded something like him and worked at putting together a similar show to fill the void left by the great "Reger." [We may do something on this at a later time - Ric]

I've got great memories of the U.S. Open being at Oakmont and Max being sent there to give them an "on-the-scene" report. Unfortunately, Max had been thrown off of the course because his golf bag leaked and was killing the grass (guess what it was)!

Please, keep up the great work.

Regards, Brian G. Miller

  A Night With Rege...

Like many of you, I have just spent over two enjoyable hours this evening reading about the great memories and people's thoughts on the Great Rege Cordic

Or.. in the words of Louie, the garbage man "You Crazy Corduc!"

I think what is just as important though is to tell the stories to your spouses, kids and grandkids, nieces, nephews, and neighbors along with those that visit this great site. You really have to hand down the knowledge and the fun times from your generation to the present so the laughter will never end and the smiles will continue.

I want to comment on a few of the other writers that shared their thoughts on the site then end it with a little story about Rege..

First off, I should say that my dad, John Stewart, was with KDKA from 1951 to 1969, during the Cordic reign and was best known for his two hour nightly news, feature and interview program entitled "Program PM" that preceded my Uncle Ed's "Partyline" that started at 10:15 after the news. Of course he was also the announcer on Partyline. And while both my Dad and Uncle worked the opposite end of the clock on the KD schedule, both had tremendous respect and admiration for that zany Morning Man and his crew. My Dad shared the same humor and wit and they both were constantly playing practical jokes on each other. Dad also would fill in for Rege during his much earned vacations. Now that I think of it, He and Dad both had that low "baritone voice" that was always recognized by Pittsburgher's back in the 60s.

I got a kick reading Steve Zeigler's note on his tour around the KD studio's by Tony Graham. He is right!!...Rege had his own studio at the end of that hallway on the second floor of Gateway #1 overlooking Point Park. ..(Hey, why not, Rege was in his own wacky world). I used to peek in Rege's studio and remember a space about the size of a baby crib filled with all kinds of sound effects and gadgets. The other "air studio" was used by Art Pallen, Bob Tracy, Clark, then the news/sports guys, Paul Long, Tom Bender, Bill Steinbach, etc. then by my Dad and of course, Partyline would always end the day before Big Jim Williams, the all night man, would begin a new day..

There was another studio adjacent to that one though that was used for taped interviews, promo spots and also was the home for Mike Levine's "Contact" show which was heard from 7PM-8PM. Mike's call in show sometimes got pretty controversial for its day and it was joked that the windows in that studio perspired at the end.

Someone mentioned that Rege got "away with things" back then that could never be said on today's radio, Well, that may be true but remember one thing: Rege was doing radio long before this era of "political correctness" and all the advocacy groups and lawyers running around waiting for a libel and slander case. And further, Rege was having fun... call it a form of satire... poking fun at people in high places... tongue in cheek irreverence but his heart was always in the right place.

Today, in my opinion the "zoo morning format" that started back in the 80s is out of control, the animals are winning,, In this "shock jock" radio world, many are mean spirited, rude, vulgar and attacking people on a personal level and trying to make it funny for the sake of ratings ...how far are you willing "to push the envelope"....

Rege's humor required talent and creativity and writing.

I do remember when Rege left KDKA... It made the front page of the Post-Gazette on that day in 1965...but who could blame him?...He had a shot at a top market, morning drive time in LA. He was actually replacing Bob Crane who had a TV pilot called "Hogan's Hero's" that was bought up by CBS and was going to be a series that fall. Little did Rege know that KNX would go to an "all new-all talk" format in a few years.

Yes, Cordic did return to the Pittsburgh airwaves in 1969-70 for a "Sunday Only" show on WTAE. But, with few exceptions, he "mailed it in" from the West Coast and it didn't have that "Live From Pittsburgh" texture, sound and edge. He did bring back his crazy cast of characters and Hardman and Bob McCully were reunited with him for the show. He would even have Hollywood celebs drop in like Eddie Albert to do funny skits ...but it didn't last long... (even with the spoof on Sunday Morning Traffic Reports). I can still remember one of those shows when he came back to Pittsburgh to do it live from the WTAE Studios .He was talking about all the changes that had occurred in his city since he left a few years earlier... Said Rege..."And The "Bridge To Nowhere" is now actually complete and going somewhere!!... ( smattering applause in the background from McCully and Hardman)... but there are now potholes on the span of the bridge that has been completed for three years!"..

So where are all those "air check" tapes from the 60s anyway? For over thirty years I have been asked that question more than once and have pondered it myself. I think you would have a better chance of finding the famous 18.5 minute gap in Rosemary Wood's recording machine from the Watergate days than locating old tapes from KDKA's shows in the 60s, Seriously, with the constant turnover in management, staff and talent over the years and decades, I feel most were lost, misplaced or perhaps thrown away. KDKA was a "Group W" station and when Westinghouse Broadcasting cashed in their chips and sold all their AM radio stations, I think a lot were just discarded and thrown away, A Sad Thought.

Perhaps the readers of this web site can assist in finding a few of these treasured gems from Cordic's shows on WWSW or KDKA. O.K. quick story...Back in the early 60s, when I was 13-14, my Dad asked me if I wanted to go down to the station and meet Rege and see him do his show ("Sure, Thing, DAD!")....Now, my father never got home until after 1AM since Partyline didn't end until 12:30AM. with Wendy wishing us all "Sweet Dreams" ...

But one morning he was back up at 5AM, knocking on my bedroom door to make sure I was awake. (Honestly, I didn't sleep much at all that night since I felt like a kid waking up on Christmas Day) We left our home in Oakland at 5:30AM and our first stop was the White Tower restaurant on Forbes so my dad could get a much needed jolt of Java. Many of the early morning diners and waitresses recognized my Dad and asked if he was going to have breakfast. He explained to them that we was taking his young son down to the radio station to meet Rege. I looked up at the clock and it was 5:50AM...(Rege was going to be on the air in 15 minutes!!!!)....He got a coffee to go, served in those big glass jars, and we quickly headed for the door.

As we were leaving, the waitress behind the counter laughed and said with a big smile "Don't worry, John, Rege just left here himself 10 minutes ago!"...

Thanks again for all the great memories and stories on one of the best!!...

I will say Good-bye like Rege always would do at the end of his show... (with Lazy River playing in the background and that growly voice of his)...

"Have A Ginger Peachy week everyone, Compliments of Cordic and Co."

Bruce Stewart

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Cordic on L.A. radio - Sunday, June 16, 2002 23:05

I listened to Rege Cordic in L.A. in the 60s. When he was no longer on I remember writing to the station saying how much I missed his show. Now through the miracle of this technology I've been able to catch up. Too bad it's too late for me to tell him how appreciated his humor was. Thanks for the website.

Carol Chapel

Found this site today. My wife wonders why I don't laugh when she listens to Detroit's poor imita-tion of Rege. No one can ever compare to Cordic & Co. I'm truly sad that I didn't have the fore-sight and the equipment to record his last hundred shows. I still remember getting up at 6am the Sat morning of his last show--I was listening from Canton, O.

Look forward to hearing from yunses. And I still have my Olds Froth cans.

Dale Steiger

And speaking of the bridge leap..... Friday, June 15, 2001 3:40 AM

I had a bridge leap bumper sticker on the back of my 51 Chevy when I lived in PIT. You ever see any of those bumper stickers in antique stores or anywhere else? I wish I hadn't used it back then! Keep up the GREAT work on the website! This is the west coast's biggest Cordic fan signing off.

Dave Ginsburg

Cordic stationery - Friday, March 02, 2001 11:00 PM

The stationery Cordic used to reply to my fan letter was called The Night Train. I believe it was at the P&LE station. The other treasured Cordic possession I have is a record called Cordic and Company Preferred c1961. I enjoy playing it. Suddenly I am back in Pittsburgh enjoying his great sense of humor. It is wonderful to know there are other Cordic fans out there. I am across the Bay from San Francisco.

Dave Ginsburg

Cordic - Thursday, January 03, 2002 10:42 PM

Listening to Rege was 'the thing' in the late 50's........ I went to Hempfield High near Greensburg. The bunch of guys I hung with all listened to and re-lived each day's activities....... some of the characters I remember: Brunhilda...... Garbage-man... Louie... Omnicron... Nudnican.... (I'd like to see a list of his characters and hear them, too)

When I joined the Navy in July of 58, my Dad would send reels of tape with Cordic's programs..... and when I went aboard ship, Cordics tapes were the hit of the crew......... somewhere I may still have one.

I have an empty "Frothy" can.... circa 1974 according to your layout..... it holds a special place on the mirror behind my bar in the den.

Keep up the good work.....

Don Crago

Va Beach, VA

A few questions - Monday, December 23, 2002 23:44

I was born and raised in Pgh. I left in 1964. I remember Mr Cordic's program as I was growing up. I loved the program. I thought he started the program with the music of Up a Lazy River. When did he leave Pgh.? I remember him doing bit parts on national TV I guess from California. Please advse what he did after he left his radio show and is he still with us and doing what?

Thank You

Don Lefkowitz

Germantown, TN

Friday, August 09, 2002 00:00

Wow, what a nice surprise to find the Rege Cordic Web site. I live near Baltimore now, but I grew up near Latrobe, PA and listened to Rege as much as possible. Only last night I was talking to an-other Western PA expatriate about Rege Cordic.

Tonight I found the Web site. I loved Omicron and Nudnicron and the pigeon count.

I also enjoyed seeing some of the other KDKA personalities on your site. I moved back to PA for a couple of years and couldn’t wait to listen to KDKA again. What a disappointment! It seemed that all the popular personalities were ungrammatical, obese, ignorant men. KD used to be such a quality outfit.

As crazy as Cordic was, he was never offensive as these new guys are.

Don Stemmler

Glen Burnie, MD

Saturday, December 14, 2002 22:02

I stumbled on your web site and very much enjoy it. I grew up in Pittsburgh listening to Rege Cordic every morning until I moved to Boston in late 1963 at the age of 14. My father was Sales Manager at KDKA radio at that time, and not only enjoyed listening to Cordic and Company (and Rege) but loved the legendary ratings which he consistently had survey after survey.

I remembered that a limited edition recording was made for national advertiser's to show them just how funny Cordic and Company was, and perhaps explain at the same time his phenomenal ratings in the Pittsburgh market at that time. I asked my father for a copy of it and will be happy to transfer it CD if you don't have it .

It contains twelve hysterically funny bits such as "A New Yorker Sees Pittsburgh" and "Max Kor-findegas Golf Pro" and is copyrighted Cordic and Company 1961. The copy on the jacket (a de-scription by my father) brings back a a few amusing memories also.

There were two other recordings made which I do not have, a RCA bluebird children's recording about Omicron and Neutnicron(sp?) and a selection of blues-Jazz songs of which the only one I remember is "Sweet Monessen Mama"- obviously a classic.

Let me know if you have any interest or perhaps you already have this recording and plan to put some of it up on the web site at a later date. In any case, thanks for the excellent efforts in providing a wonderful opportunity to revisit and remember Rege Cordic.

Don Trageser

Old Cordic Memories - Thursday, June 28, 2001 4:22 PM

I remember waking up as a kid to Cordic & Company and listening to the show on KDKA while having breakfast before going to school in West Natrona. I loved his characters especially Louie the garbage man. There are really two shows that I remember to this date that I still smile about. One was the dialogue between Rege and Louie as Louie was showing Rege his new false teeth and explaining how he got them. He went on and on about how it took years before he was able to collect enough garbage to find enough teeth to create this set. The other was on April 1 of a year I can't remember. While tuning to the morning show on KDKA, Rege was not one the air. Instead Bob Prince, the voice of the Pirates did the show. I thought this was a clever April's fool gag. That same afternoon, the Pirates were playing an exhibition game. Again to my surprise, Rege Cordic did the broadcasting for the Pirate game. Its was great.

Frank L. Chelko

Great - Saturday, April 21, 2001 9:14 AM

I remember growing up in Mt Lebanon and before I would walk to St Bernard's to school I had to listen to Cordic. I attribute my sense of humor and my puns to Rege. Please add some of the morning routine. Like "Our Man is Carmen." Also,  little did I realize when I was listening to Cordic and Co that I would end up living in West Newton. (You know the sandy beaches of West Newton)

George Thuransky

Do you have TIME?

   I don't have a copy, but there must be / have been regional copies of TIME magazine. Somewhere between 1963 and 1965 (a December issue) there was an ad in TIME (perhaps for Group W radio) that featured Rege Cordic. In the ad, we learned that he had train layout of 1/4 mile of HO gauge track in his basement. Perhaps someone has access to old TIME magazines and can find that ad.

Gerald Mazur... from New Kensington

(a fan of "Uncle Regie")

Saturday, April 28, 2001 4:58 PM

Don't forget "Brand X" cigarettes. "They're never first and never worst."

H. K. Poole

Rege Cordic - Saturday, January 18, 2003 06:12

I just heard an expression I don’t think I’ve heard in the last 50 years – or at least 40+ years.  And it has just caused me to put the “subject words” on this message.

My wife had just gone to bed, and I went to the kitchen and decided to check the outside thermometer.  It read “4 degrees” and I called that information into my wife, and heard her say “Better bring in the brass monkeys”.

I asked if she remembered what Rege Cordic meant by that phrase, and she had only remembered him using the phrase on “cold days”, so apparently I never had told her about the “explanation” of the apparently older-than-even  Rege Cordic  joke about it being “cold enough to freeze” two certain tender and important physical organs off not only the male species – but brass monkey ornaments as well.

I don’t remember a lot of his jokes other than the ones you highlight like Old Frothingschloss, and his alien problems. 

Was it he or his successor, who was no slouch himself,  that came up with the “golden lids” on the garbage cans in a couple of the rich sections north-east of the Downtown area?

I certainly do not remember all Cordic’s skits, but I remember he periodically had bullets zinging into his office when he talked about local criminals he thought were hiding in adjacent apartment buildings, etc.

I think there would be a lot of interest in periodic write-ups of some of the difficulties he had “to suffer though” all those long years in Pittsburgh. 

Until I read your information, I had not realized the Rege had cashed in his chips, or of his old passion for amateur train assemblies.

I think you might have a large, but dwindling, group of admirers of Mr. Cordic if you wanted to expand on your web site.  The only other admirer I knew for sure, and even a much stronger “fan” of Cordic, is my brother-in-law, Jim Noble.  However, he’s a few years older (than my 76) and is unfortunately suffering from Alzheimer’s, but he used to feed me any Cordic antic’s that I missed, and might still be able to do so.  He’s a life-long Pittsburgher, and owned a golf course (Murrysville) east of Pittsburgh. 

I think Pittsburgh lost a great talent when Rege left, and despite the superb performance of his followers, it wasn’t quite the same.

But thanks for listening/reading to this.  And if you could find a new Rege Cordic II, I think he would be even more helpful to the citizenry in this new millennium.

Howard H. Gift

Chambersburg, PA

Ye Olde Miss Frothingslosh Calendar

Dear Guilty in Pittsburgh,

   When I was at a particularly sensitive age, my father brought home a calendar with the lovely Miss Olde Frothingslosh by the January bleak shores of the Monongahela on a polar bear rug.

   Though more than 40 years have passed, I remain, as it were; true to an ideal beyond my reach.

   Do you have any idea where I could find one of those calendars, or even a photo copy?

Incomplete in Philadelphia

   As music is the poetry of sound, so is painting the poetry of sight, and the subject-matter has nothing to do with harmony of sound or of color.

James Abbot McNeill Whistler

Rege Forever.... - Monday, May 27, 2002 21:49

I met Rege once during a Miss Brickthrow contest. Didn't throw bricks. But did drink a lot of beer.

I met Adrian Chronauer (sp?) in Vietnam (Good Morning Vietnam guy) and he said he got a lot of ideas from Rege. He was from Sewickley as I remember. He's a lawyer down south somewhere last I heard. I guess you might call him a "second generation" Rege. He sure had the same "special talent".

Is it possible to buy, steal or borrow tapes of one of his shows? Please tell me that all the goodies aren't moldering away in some KDKA vault. Please let me know on the tapes. By the way, where are you? Pittsburgh???

Jan Schrader & Peaches the Cat

Recollections of Rege Cordic on KDKA - Thursday, December 27, 2001 2:41 PM

Hi Fellow Rege Cordic Lovers:

KDKA AM (1020 KC I think) didn't come in especially well in Huntingdon, PA nestled among the thousand hills and vallies of Central Pennsylvania. However when I first started to hear Rege Cordic on KDKA I absolutely had to string a long antenna wire high enough that it could be per-manent. This was a 50 ft. or longer thick copper wire connected to a porcelain insulator shaped like a dog bone, one on each end. My Dad, a minister, helped me rig a pipe which we stuck down the small unused chimney in an old garden shed at the Presbyterian Manse where we lived at 529 Church St. around 1954. We anchored one end of the antenna insulator to this with a guy wire. The other end of the antenna insulator was anchored to a hook for the guy wire on the second floor porch. A lead in wire came from the antenna down the outside of the house and was brought in through a kitchen window. The lead in wire was connected to the antenna terminal of an old Philco AM/shortwave table model receiver. The installation was finished off with a lightning ar-restor on the antenna lead in and a good ground wire both to the arrestor and the old radio.

This brought in KDKA like "gang busters" and we heard Rege Cordic every morning before I went to school. We particularly heard Louie escape the flying bullets. Then there were the unforgetta-ble chairs scraping the floor as they were quickly shuffled into position at Rege's command just in time for a sit down visit by Brunhilda ,"Four hundred pounds of loveliness". We heard and re-member to this day the whole story of Old Frothingslosh, "the pale stale ale with the foam on the bottom" brewed with that water from Upper Crudney on the Thames. Since we were a "dry" household I had to await actually seeing elsewhere the Fort Pitt Brewing Company product of Old Frothingslosh bottled with the labels pasted on upside down (truth in advertising you know). Then, there were the vignettes from Cordic and Company Research Labs "Better things for livige through chicanery". I think one of Rege's best reports concerned bathtub ring. You can well imag-ine hearing the reverberant sound effects of somebody putting their foot or feet into the bathtub water. Then with the help of Cordic and Company Research Labs the "ring" was removed and we hear the most anechoic sound of foot or feet immersion into water one could imagine!!!

There aren't really any disc jockies that I recall other than Rege. He made a tremendous impres-sion and I go around with memories of Cordic and Company's antics in my collective memory. I lost contact with KDKA and Rege after college and many years in graduate school for the masters and Ph.D. Some time later, I don't know when, I was visiting in Western PA watching some movie on television from Pittsburgh. I heard his familiar voice and immediately noticed how tall and skinny he was. There was no voice like his. It had a unique voiceprint. Once I stopped at the KDKA studios to find out if there were any tapes of him available, but I was unable to make con-tact with the resident longtimer who knew Rege. Rege was quite a person. He made so many peo-ple laugh. Perhaps that's what he's doing in the Heavenly mansions as I write this.

James R. Powell, Jr.

Portage, MI 49081

HELP NEEDED re WABASH BUILDING - Wednesday, June 19, 2002 15:35

Re-Cordic & Company, at least two "bits" have remained in my brain since I first heard them 45 years ago. Below, I have attempted to recreate them for your enjoyment and the enjoyment of Cordic & Company fans everywhere. I've had to invent part of the dialogue, but I hope I have done so in the true spirit of Rege Cordic.

Here are my reconstructions of two of my favorite Cordic & Company skits as heard by me on KDKA radio in the late fifties or early sixties. Hope they ring a bell.

Best,

Jeff - Jeffrey I. Godshall

--------------------------------------

BIT #1-- THE TREE

REGE: Yes, it's great to be here in Pittsburgh on such a beautiful April day. Let's see what's on the schedule? Hmm. Tomorrow night is the bi-monthly meeting of the Mt. Washington Wabash Tunnel Neighborhood Association. That's always a good time. And this is the last week for the Forbes Avenue Frolics at the U.S. Bureau of Mines out in Oakland, featuring Dormont's own Trixie Belle. Of course, the entire Pittsburgh area is eagerly anticipating next week's opening of the annual North Braddock Slag Festival and the crowning of Miss Hot Slag. And...

KNOCK, KNOCK on the studio door:

REGE: Come in. Oh, hello, guys- what brings you here this morning:?

WORKMAN #1: You know.

REGE (sheepishly): Oh that. Well, I'm going to get to that next week.

WORKMAN #2: Mr. Cordic, yours is the last one in the building. The station manager says it has to come down today.

REGE: But, fellas, I'll get to it next week-- I promise.

WORKMAN #1: Cordic, you've had five notices already.

REGE: But...

WORKMAN #1: We have orders to act today. Stand back!

RRRRRrrrrrrrrr Sound of chainsaw, followed by sound of wood cracking and splintering

WORKMAN #2: TIMBER! crashing sound, followed by sounds of delicate glass breaking, fol-lowed by 10 seconds of total silence......

REGE (in shock): You guys-- you cut down my Christmas tree!

WORKMAN #1: Cordic, it's April. That tree had to come down. It hasn't had any needles on it since early March.

REGE: But, look, some of the ornaments got broken. I bought those on sale at Frank & Seder's.

WORKMAN #2: If you had taken care of this earlier, we wouldn't have had to resort to extreme measures.

REGE: And the tree fell all over my Lionel train layout. Look, it knocked down the water tower!

WORKMAN #1: Sorry about that. Housekeeping will be in this afternoon to clean up the mess. So long!

sound of workmen leaving and closing the studio door

REGE (sorrowfully): Well, gang, I guess this means Christmas is finally over. Say, that reminds me, I still have to take those Liberty tube socks Aunt Maude gave me back to Rosenbaum's and exchange them. Wonder how late they're open today.... END

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BIT #2-- THE WINDOW

REGE: Boy, sure is a scorcher. The Weather Bureau says we should hit a new high today, beating the old record of 96 degrees set on July 17 in 1907. Say, gang, wouldn't this be a good day to do some skinnydipping off the old Wabash Bridge piers? Doesn't that sound great? I can just feel the cool waters of the Mon lapping at my..... sounds of someone making noises just outside the studio window. Rege looks up.

REGE: Say, that's Pete. Hiya, Pete. Wacha doin' out there?

PETE: Oh hi, Mr. Cordic. Don't mind me...you just go ahead with what you're doing. Won't bother me none.

REGE: Well, that's kind of tough since you're making so much noise, What are you doing?

PETE: I'm taking down your window screen and putting up your storm window.

REGE: Taking down my window screen? Now, in the middle of July? In the middle of a heat wave?

PETE: Got to, Mr. Cordic, if I'm going to keep on schedule.

REGE: Schedule? What schedule?

PETE: Mr. Cordic, you remember my partner, Tony?

REGE: Yes.

PETE: Well, Tony got a job in the Gulf Building. You remember how Tony liked to tell everyone where to go?

REGE: Yeah, I do. On more than one occasion, he told me where to go.

PETE: Well, in his new job at the Gulf Touring Bureau, he gets to tell all those automobile tour-ists just where to go. He loves it!

REGE: But what does this have to do with my window screen?

PETE: Well, since Tony quit, there's no one but me to change all the screens and storm windows for the entire building. Do you know how many windows there are in Gateway One?

Rege: Well, no.

PETE: Two thousand, three hundred and forty-seven, that's how many. And if I don't begin put-ting up them storm windows now, I'll never get them all up before the snow flies.

REGE: But...

PETE: Don't you worry none, Mr. Cordic. Now you're all set for winter. By the way, I'll be back to take down your storm window and put in your window screen on, let's see now, on February 12th. So long!

REGE: Well, if you can't beat 'em...Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, jingle all, the way. Hmm. I feel cooler already..... END

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Jeff was born in Pittsburgh, raised in Aliquippa, and went to college at Carnegie Tech. Upon graduation, he got his "dream job" with Chrysler styling (in 1963) and has been with Chrysler ever since. Currently he's a Senior Design Manager with responsibilities for several car line interiors. You may be interested in knowing that he was privileged to lead the team that did the interior on the PT Cruiser. He also do some writing in automotive history. Currently, he has an article on the 1962-64 Dodge Polara 500s in the August issue of Collectible Automobile magazine.