Amsterdam’s top broadcasters
By Bob Cudmore, Focus on History, Daily Gazette, 04-29-17
Amsterdam was a late bloomer in terms of entering the radio age. WCSS didn’t sign on until 1948 and the city’s second station, then called WAFS, started in 1961.
Through the years many Amsterdam natives went on to substantial careers in broadcasting and radio entertainers on the air in the Carpet City became very popular with local folks.
Historian Michael Cinquanti has started a collection of top ten lists for Amsterdam and asked me to come up with an honor roll of the top broadcasters. Here is my list, starting with number one.
Joe Spencer was the son of WCSS owner Phil Spencer. Joe became a television correspondent for ABC news. He died in a 1986 helicopter crash while on his way to cover a strike in Minnesota. ABC network anchor Peter Jennings and a young Bill O’Reilly spoke at Joe’s funeral in Amsterdam.
Amsterdam native Chet (Kukiewicz) Curtis became a 30-year Boston television news anchor, teamed with his second wife, Natalie Jacobsen. They ultimately divorced. Curtis moved on to New England Cable News. He died in 2014 and was buried at Amsterdam’s St. Stanislaus Cemetery.
Todd Pettengill started at WCSS in 1968 and later became an outrageously funny host at FLY 92 in Albany. For over 25 years Pettengill has entertained on WPLJ radio in New York City. He’s also been an interviewer on Worldwide Wrestling Federation television.
Lloyd Smith was born in Albany and became morning man for WCSS for many decades, starting in 1969. Quick with a joke, knowledgeable about the local scene, dependable and a music aficionado, Smith also was a radio engineer. He died in 2014.
Bill Pope came to Amsterdam in 1961 after years as a popular rock disc jockey in Albany. Pope retooled his career and became a big band disc jockey, talk host and promoter of local causes. In his years at WCSS he was also a radio salesman and mentor to young broadcasters.
Amsterdam-born Tom Stewart worked at local radio station WAFS. Stewart has appeared in movie and television roles. He has been the longtime off camera voice and on camera fund raiser for New York City public television station WNET.
Dorothy Johnson Hale was an account executive and copywriter at WCSS who hosted a show called Woman’s World in the 1960s. Hale provided recipes, fashion news and advice on her program. Hale’s daughter Diane later married WCSS morning host Lloyd Smith.
Sam Zurlo had a newspaper career as a Mohawk Valley reporter for the Daily Gazette. Zurlo also worked in radio and his call-in talk show is still a staple on WCSS.
World War II Polish freedom fighter and Amsterdam beer distributor Richard Bartyzel hosted the nightly Polka Party on WCSS radio. When you walked through a Polish neighborhood on a summer night, you could hear his polka music coming from open windows.
Dusty Miller (Elmer Rossi) always had a day job and a country and western band. Miller was a fixture on Amsterdam radio with live and recorded music. When he died, he was buried wearing his cowboy clothes.
Many others could be on the list of top Amsterdam broadcasters. Here are some honorable mentions, in alphabetical order: morning host Carl Bahn, Albany rocker Boom Boom Brannigan who later did an Amsterdam talk show, WRGB and WTEN news director Don Decker, Barry Frank who managed Albany country station WEEE, early WCSS manager Walt Gaines,
KDKA-TV street reporter Ralph Iannotti in Pittsburgh, “Swap Shop” Joe Isabel, Italian show host Joe Mason, Albany sportscaster Rip Rowan, NBC radio news anchor Neal Seavey, WCSS owner Phil Spencer and WRGB weatherman Tim Welch.
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