A People’s History of WDCV- History of the Pop Up Record Shop

Every so often the Pop Up Record Shop appears in the HUB and it is a sight of beauty for all music lovers. But it didn’t just happen. It was planned. Curated. WDCV has made a years long bond and connection with our friend Dennis to bring music to the Dickinson masses.  But here is how it all came to be. 

Summer 2013:

Our WDCV’s advisor’s husband found a yard sale off the beaten path that was something from a strange fairy tale. An abandoned fake western town on the outskirts of Carlisle repurposed to hold old store fixtures, hundreds of mannequins, and records. Thousands and thousands of records. Bizarre. Beautiful. 

Pre-Orientation ProgramAugust 2014:

WDCV partners with the Media Center for a Pre-Orientation program. Carlisle Uncut: Stories off the Beaten Path was a series of stories produced by first year students during the Campus Media Pre-Orientation program.  10 students arrived on a Sunday, interviewed people on Monday, edited on a Tuesday and aired their stories on WDCV by Wednesday morning.  It was a fast paced introduction to audio journalism, storytelling and learning about their new home of Carlisle through the eyes of the individuals who live here. WDCV set up 5 stories that we thought needed to be told and set these students out on adventures. One story took them to an abandoned fake western town on the outskirts of Carlisle….

 

The Mannequin Man of Carlisle

Have you ever stumbled upon a business, house or some other strange place that makes you ponder, “how did I not know this place existed before?”.  Carlisle has a few of these and one of them is a strange wonderland filled with thousands of records, mannequins and store fixtures for sale in an abandoned fake old western town.  It sounds too strange to be true, but that’s what makes this such a great story.
amannequincard

 

A Great Idea!

Every great event starts as a great idea. In the fall of 2015 we started planning an event for College Radio Day.  College Radio Day was a recent celebration that started in 2011 because many colleges, especially ones in larger metropolitan areas, found that in the budget crunch after the 2008 recession they could make a quick dollar by selling their off their radio license.  Internet radio is not the same and to have an educational radio license is something we all need to cherish. One of our execs, Nicholas Gabuzda ’18, pondered how we could get more folks to buy records since Carlisle didn’t have a shop and he remembered our podcast about Dennis. What if Dennis could bring some of his inventory to us? What if WE could be the record store….for just one day? BEHOLD! The Pop-Up Record Shop was born!

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2015 AT 10 AM – 4 PM –Pop Up Record Store and Oddity Shop-College Radio Day

We found that people were ravenous about vinyl so Dennis started returning every few months. The first two shops were able to set up upstairs by the Social Hall and it was a perfect spot that we miss. 

 

Field Trip! November 2015

WDCV wanted to see where the magic happens….so on a COLD November day, we trekked out to Dennis’ secret lair and it didn’t disappoint.

Where’s Dennis?

Sure, you can find Dennis and his crates of magical records on campus every semester but you can also find his treasures downtown at the Carlisle Antique Mall and Miss Ruth’s Time Bomb!  He vends at the Carlisle Car Shows every summer and Bluegrass on the Grass every July (put on my WDCV’s retired advisor and DJ Davis Tracy!). 

But we love to see him here and we hope to see YOU at our next Pop up Record Shop!

WDCV Makes the List for Best College Radio Stations in 2022

WDCV is ranked #22 in the Princeton Reviews “Best College Radio Station” 2022 list!

This past week one of our Exec members was reading the Princeton Review’s “Best College Radio Stations” list and WDCV made the cut! We were ranked #22 out of 338 other colleges and we couldn’t be happier. Thanks to our DJs, our exec staff, our advisor, and tech manager for keeping WDCV great!

And of course thanks to our listeners for believing in the wonder and joy of college radio. We’ve been here for 60 years, here’s to 60 more!

24 Hours Live- 12/3/22

WDCV 24 Hours Live – December 2022

As the end semester rolled around WDCV couldn’t forget to host our 24 Hours Live! While our station already always plays music on the air 24 hours a day, last Saturday from midnight Friday to midnight Saturday we had a DJ hosting each hour of the day. Our DJs hosted political and miscellaneous talk shows and of course their usual great taste in tunes.

You know it was good if Nicki was there (Emily and Nicki are close friends).

Open Mic!!

Jam Space members of “Green Tangerine” playing at Open Mic [Emilio Gurany (’25), Owen Degenhard (’25), Nate Valleau (’25), & Matt Turk (’23)]!

This past Saturday, WDCV hosted an Open Mic! There were talented acts and a really enthusiastic crowd; awesome energy all around. Thank you to all who came out and supported live, local music! Also shoutout to that one guy in the muscle tee that got everyone up and dancing.

 

Allan Farfan Canales (’23) rapping his self-produced music

WDCV is all about promoting local, underrepresented music and art, Open Mic was the perfect opportunity to bring that to the community! Some of the performers shared original pieces with the audience. Musicians Zuzu Black (’25), Allan Farfan Canales (’23), and Benjamin Fox (’26) all played original songs and the crowd loved their creations! Pia Mancini (’25) also read an original poem, and her passionate reading really resonated with the audience.

Venus Bhatt (’24) and Swarnim Bade Shrestha (’26) sang “Take Me To Church” by Hozier

 

 

 

 

 

We’re in the process of getting some of our performers’ original works into our Heavy Rotation, look out for their stuff on the air! And a special thank you to our Technical Production Manager, Vivika Garrett, for setting up and managing the tech stuff for the entire event.

Benjamin Fox (’26) performed an original song

 

CMC Concert- 11/8/2022

Last night, CMC Nashville, TN. put on an awesome show! The organization is a ‘study abroad’ program that teaches students for a semester all the details of putting on a show: set up, technical production, choreography, songwriting, etc. Their final exam is going on tour around the U.S., and one of their stops this year was Dickinson!

Each performance featured a lead singer, guitarist, bassist, backup singers, keyboardist, and drummer; and some acts included trumpets and trombones. Every part of each of the dozen acts were completely original and created by the students themselves.

The concert had all different genres: punk, pop, indie, metal, rap, and others! There was something for everyone to enjoy. The students put on amazing performances and our DJs and the audience loved it. We hope to see them again next year (or even next semester…).

CMC Nashville & WDCV Exec

Carlisle Halloween Parade 2022

This past week, October 26th, WDCV walked in Carlisle’s annual Halloween parade! Our theme was Favorite Artists. How’d we do?

 

A People’s History of WDCV- ’65-’69: The Early Years

Original WDCV 640 AM Sign

Our lovely radio station was founded in 1959. The 60s, the radio’s baby years on the air, had a few hiccups with DJs being locked out and having to climb through windows to get to their show on time or the station being absolved, but we’ve persevered (Woohoo!). Our station’s original members shared their stories of dedication to the radio, where some admitted they may have become addicted to the radio (I mean, who wouldn’t be?) and others traveled to DC to report on the MLK Jr.! The “egg crate capital of the world”, as Michael Conrad ’68 calls it, holds a special place in our 60s alums’ hearts who were among the first to bring WDCV to life!

 

Thanks to all the alums who shared their stories!

Bernard Jay Adler ‘66, Alan Bronstein ‘66

Joel Korin ‘67

Steve Mortimer ‘68, Steve Myers ‘68, Michael Conrad ‘68, Tom Hoffman ‘68, Paul H. Silverman ‘68

Thomas Walters ‘69, Richard A. Kolb ‘69

 

Bernard Jay Adler ‘66 

What was your involvement with WDCV?

“Played classical music and mainly read album covers relating to the composer in by best FM voice.  Occasionally I would play a Broadway show album (I went on to a thirty-three year career as a Broadway production stage manager.)”

Do you have any stories, memories or secrets related to WDCV that you would like to share with us?

“The studio was lined with egg cartons. The equipment usually worked.  I verified an audience of one – my girlfriend – Elizabeth Lane.”

Any parting thoughts?

“Best of luck to current and future Dickinsonians who are priviledged to intone, ‘THIS IS WDCV, THE VOICE OF DICKINSON COLLEGE IN CARLISLE, PENNSYLVANIA!’”

WDCV Glossary of Terms

Alan Bronstein ‘66 

What was your involvement with WDCV?

“I started in ’63.  When the station moved out of Bosler(?) into the new HUB, I was elected as program mgr.”

Do you have any stories, memories or secrets related to WDCV that you would like to share with us?

“The big memory is the transition from an attic room with walls covered in cardboard egg crates to provide some sound deadening into a beautiful properly soundproofed studio with office and storage space in the lower level of the student union right by the spiral staircase.

I came to appreciate the homier, warmer feel of the attic location though.  It also had a more “piraty” feel to it.

I dropped out for a semester to get my head together . . . and when I came back I had to leave WDCV out of my extra-curricular activities.  Something had to go in order for me to actually graduate.  I was busy enough with Mermaid Players, being photo editor of the D’sonian, and a student rep on the Omnibus D’Arts committee.

Oh, one thing that I really appreciated was learning how all those DJs in every town seem to be buddies with all those music legends.  I used the recorded interviews we received on reel-to-reel tapes a lot.  I’m sure you still get those (downloadable at this point in time, I’m sure), the DJ is given a script with questions and the answers are by the celeb on the sound track.  We can all sound like we’re “one of the in crowd.”  I’d never seen those when I was working at WPEN in Philly during high school.”

Where was the station located when you went to Dickinson?

“Bosler(?) on the SE corner of Louther and College.  then it moved to the HUB by the spiral stairway.”

Some Colleges have sold their broadcast licenses in recent years.  We are grateful Dickinson still supports us and cares about College Radio.  Do you think college radio is still important?  Tell us why!

“1. I think that college radio stations can fill a slot not filled by commercial stations.  Good examples are the stations at UPenn and Temple.  Those, tho, have become less student run and more professional.

  1. It trains a group of caring college students in (a) how a business works, (b) how a radio station works, (c) augments a series of skills that are prized in the executive suite like thinking on your feet, controlling your voice and making it likable, ad-libbing, and presenting to a group (even if they are unseen).
  2. It also builds responsibility in the officers as well as the DJs . . . and further teaches the need for meeting deadlines.”

Any parting thoughts?

“I loved that part of my life and would love to do it again.  Some of that rubbed off on my favorite student, who then went on to Villanova and had her own show on their radio station.”

 

December 1, 1967- Dickinsonian Meets WDCV Next Week On Gridiron in 195th Annual Classic

Joel Korin ‘67 

What was the name of your radio show and what time slot did it air?

“Soul Joel Show  Tuesday nights 10 to midnight”

What was your involvement with WDCV?

“1963-64, At the old Music Building (now a cafe).The studio was upstairs.  Egg crates served as acoustical tile.  My first year Steve Fishman and I had a  show together.”

Do you have any stories, memories or secrets related to WDCV that you would like to share with us?

“On the air I endorsed a fraternity brother who was running for Student Senate Office. The next morning at breakfast. WDCV was playing in the dining hall,  About every 10 minutes someone from the station would come on and denounce my remarks.  

On my last show, two senior women came to the studio and danced during the whole show,  Someone also recorded my last show on a reel to reel tape.”

Where was the station located when you went to Dickinson?

“Freshman year, 63-64 in the Music Building.  In September 64, the HUB opened and the studio moved to the basement.”

Pics of the Station ’68 (shared by Michael Conrad ’68)

Steve Mortimer ‘68

What was the name of your radio show and what time slot did it air?

“I started in 1967 with a Friday evening slot. I played contemporary R&R and some selected oldies.  I guess I called it the Steve Mortimer show for want of a more creative name. In 1968 I got one of the coveted noon time slots.  The station was broadcast into the dining hall at that time… very cool”

What was your involvement with WDCV?

“Just a humble DJ”

Do you have any stories, memories or secrets related to WDCV that you would like to share with us?

“I used to insert cartoon voices that were on a tape in the middle of some songs and probably got carried away with it. Sometimes students from the college and even from town would call in and make requests for their favorite tunes.  We had a news feed in on the hour and I never got the hang of cutting to it correctly. It was alot of fun and the music at the time was a mix of “soul” and the newer psychedelic stuff”

Where was the station located when you went to Dickinson?

“The station was in the Union basement where the quick stop store is now”

Some Colleges have sold their broadcast licenses in recent years.  We are grateful Dickinson still supports us and cares about College Radio.  Do you think college radio is still important?  Tell us why!

“It’s VERY important as a connection with the larger music and cultural world”

Any parting thoughts?

“For a geeky kid like me, it was an opportunity to express myself and the music that I loved and still do.”

 

Pics of the Station ’68 (shared by Michael Conrad ’68)

Steve Myers ‘68

What was your involvement with WDCV?

“’64 – ’68 DJ/news announcer

’66 – ’68 Manager – station shifted from phone line broadcast repeaters  in dorms to lo-power FM”

Do you have any stories, memories or secrets related to WDCV that you would like to share with us?

“Moving the station into HUB (what a goat rope) and during slow hours (past midnight, for example) some DJ’s would dial   an operator, say, in California and ‘build’ his/her program around chats with her”

Where was the station located when you went to Dickinson?

“In 1964-65, studio was in the attic of a former fraternity house behind Althouse Science Bldg.  Moved to HUB in 1965”

Some Colleges have sold their broadcast licenses in recent years.  We are grateful Dickinson still supports us and cares about College Radio.  Do you think college radio is still important?  Tell us why!

“Aside from obvious reasons, press freedom needs to be robust – an make government a bit afraid of it. Radio has both a technical and an arts face, making it fit nicely into a liberal arts college environment.  Good on Dson for holding on to its call letters!”

 

Michael Conrad ’68

Michael Conrad ‘68 

What was the name of your radio show and what time slot did it air?

“Initially, I did a show called “The Jazz Sound” for a couple hours on Friday nights. When the station moved into new facilities next to the student store in the HUB I continued playing “middle of the road” music several times a week. Eventually, during my last year and a half, the station went to a complete top 40 format and I became a “rock jock.”  This last experience served me well as I went on to other radio stations.”

Michael Conrad ’68

What was your involvement with WDCV?

“To my detriment, I got involved with the station shortly after arriving on campus in 1964. From late 1966 through graduation in 1968, I was chief engineer and jocked throughout the week.  As if that wasn’t enough, I also did play by play for Dickinson Basketball home and away games.  My association with the station became so extensive that it impacted my academics and I nearly flunked out.”

Do you have any stories, memories or secrets related to WDCV that you would like to share with us?

“During my four years at Dickinson, DCV was a “carrier current” operation. That meant that an AM signal was fed into the electric cirsuitry in the dorms.  The signal was supposed to be confined to each building.  IT WASN’T!  When all the dorms were wired up, our signal was so strong that it could be heard all over town.  We didn’t care.  It actually got to the point where stores were playing us in both malls.  We loved it. Ultimately, this gross over-extension of our signal led to the station being sited by the FCC and shut down in 1969.”

Michael Conrad ’68

Where was the station located when you went to Dickinson?

“Initially, the studios (or should I say studio) nicknamed the “egg crate capital of the world” were located on the top floor of a small home behind Althouse. “Egg crate” because acoustics were controlled by egg cartons glued to the walls.In 1965, the station re-located to a four room complex next to the student store in the HUB.”

Some Colleges have sold their broadcast licenses in recent years.  We are grateful Dickinson still supports us and cares about College Radio.  Do you think college radio is still important?  Tell us why!

“For me, college radio was extremely important as a platform from which I was able to learn enough about broadcasting to launch a part-time career which I still pursue to this day.”

Any parting thoughts?

“BE CAREFUL!  Radio is addictive.  If you are not cautious, it can sink your academics which is the real reason that you (your parents) are paying all that money to be a Dickinson student.

Have fun!!”

DJ in the Station ’68 (shared by Michael Conrad ’68)

Tom Hoffman ‘68

Do you have any stories, memories or secrets related to WDCV that you would like to share with us?

“My first slot was on Sunday mornings.  Someone was supposed to unlock the building so I could get in.  If they didn’t do that, you had to climb up on the roof and get into the “studio” through an unlocked window.  That got trickier in the winter.”

Some Colleges have sold their broadcast licenses in recent years.  We are grateful Dickinson still supports us and cares about College Radio.  Do you think college radio is still important?  Tell us why!

“Well, it was important to me. In fact, in was indirectly responsible for my career in the energy industry.”

Pics of the Station ’68 (shared by Michael Conrad ’68)

Paul H. Silverman ‘68

Do you have any stories, memories or secrets related to WDCV that you would like to share with us?

“1. In the beginning we broadcast from the second floor of the old music house. It was in the shape of a castle turret, low ceiling, tight fit, one room, called the “Egg crate capitol” of D’son because the ceiling and walls were covered with throw away egg-crates that were our version of sound baffles to quiet the room. It was a one man operation. The DJ did the sound check, Qued the record, and worked the per-recorded adverts and public announcement. That was pioneering. When we move to the newly built Holland Union, ground level, it was a new era. The DJ and the sound technician in two rooms with glass partition. 

  1. I was personally at and reported on the wake of Martin Luther King in Moorehouse College, Atlanta GA as well as the day of and after the shooting. 
  2. I interviewed David Susskind, Peter Jennings, Newton Minow, and Dick Gregory each a speaker at D’son invited by me as Chair of D’son speakers committee.”

Where was the station located when you went to Dickinson?

“The second floor of the music building which just a bare stone faced house with a second floor in the shape of a round turret. When completed, moved to lower level Holland Union which was considered spacious and state of the art audo broadcasting for our size college.”

Any parting thoughts?

“My radio show certainly was a plus to my personal growth. The show called upon me to take responsibility for every word I spoke, to control my time, to enlarge my vocabulary, to learn how to project my voice, to work with others.”

November 14, 1969- WDCV Absolved

Thomas Walters ‘69

What was the name of your radio show and what time slot did it air?

“I held many slots over my four years. As program director if somebody couldn’t do their show I had to either find a replacement or do the show myself. My favorite time was 8PM to 10PM however.”

What was your involvement with WDCV?

“Disc Jockey 1965-66

Executive Board 1966-69

Program Director part of 1966-67

Program Director 1967-68

Program Director 1968-69”

March 7th, 1969- Martha and the Vandellas to Play in Holland Union Building

Do you have any stories, memories or secrets related to WDCV that you would like to share with us?

“The 1969 Micrcosm suggests that I graduated with a degree in economics, but in reality I spent more time at WDCV in my four years than I did with my major, so I always felt that I majored in radio and minored in economics.  I did go on to law school and have been practicing law for about forty years now, but my experience in managing the radio station in those years was an invaluable experiece that I could never duplicate. The years 1965-69 were an incredible time to be a college student and had to be four of the most turbulent years for our nation and it was equally significant for the growth of the radio station. Prior to 1966 it was difficult to muster enough people to participate in the station but by 1969 there were was a waiting list. This was in large part due to the relocation to the HUB coupled with a group of students who truly wanted to see the radio station become a successful part of the campus community. During that period we added hourly newscasts with both national and local news, added “wire services” for more news, started broadcasting home and away games for both football and basketball, and added a “record” subscription service from the major record companies for promoting all of the popular music. We patterned our operation after other “Top 40” radio stations from Philadelphia and New York that were popular at the time and later added “progressive rock” shows as musical tastes changed. I’ve got alot of memories about my involvement at the station including the death of MLK, the allnight broadcast of the 1968 elections, and some of our failed attempts to cover live student demonstrations and some sporting events but this may be more information than you really need.  Thanks for reaching out to me on this and if I can be of any help let me know.”

Where was the station located when you went to Dickinson?

“The station moved to the HUB in early 1966.  Prior to that it was located across the street in the old religion building.”

 

March 13th, 1969- Focht To Give WDCV Countdown: ETV Prepares for ‘Trivia Program’

Richard A. Kolb ‘69

What was the name of your radio show and what time slot did it air?

“Started out on Sat nights with “Easy Lsitening” but later the station went to Top 40 format – did several shows a week at different times”

What was your involvement with WDCV?

“DJ at first, then News Director and finally Station Manager in 1968-69.  Also did Basketball play-by-play for a time”

Do you have any stories, memories or secrets related to WDCV that you would like to share with us?

“Probably the most memorable events occurred in 1968 – the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. and the Presidential election that year.  We did all night coverage of election results with the aid of UPI service (now long defunct).  My most interesting experience personally was a trip made to Washington DC after the King assassination when there were riots in the Nation’s Capital.  I went with Scott Geare, who was then News Director, and we managed to get into the city despite a military quarantine and were even able to attend a press conference held by Cyrus Vance who was appointed by the White House to oversee the restoration of peace and reforms after the assassination.  Quite a time when the city was essentially under marshal law.”

Where was the station located when you went to Dickinson?

“In the basement of the HUB – there were 2 small studios and a work area.  One was used for AM broadcasts and the other for the very beginnings of an FM station.”

Some Colleges have sold their broadcast licenses in recent years.  We are grateful Dickinson still supports us and cares about College Radio.  Do you think college radio is still important?  Tell us why!

“It is a great outlet for learning about the broadcast/media industry.  It also provides a source of entertainment for the college community and, I presume, beyond Dickinson itself.”

Do you have any WDCV memorabilia hidden away that you might want to share with us?  Please tell us what you think you may have and we will find a way to get a copy to us.

“I have old tapes (cassettes) of our trip to Washington, DC and the broadcast we did of the King memorial held at the college.”

WDCV Open Mic

Looking to hear some awesome live performances right here at Dickinson? WDCV is hosting an Open Mic! Join us in the first floor of Outhouse (60 Mooreland Ave, across the street from Allison Hall) November 12th from 7-9pm.

There will be live music performances, poetry readings, and more. Come out and watch, or if you want to perform check out the link below or the QR code above!

Sign up to perform here!

A People’s History of WDCV ’10-’19: The Underground Headquarters

WDCV’s 50th Anniversary in 2012

Our most recent alums shared their experiences in the station during the 2010s. With new equipment rolling into the station and the radio starting to broadcast online, our community continued to grow off-campus. Our neighbors, out-of-town family members of DJs, and past alums still tune into the station from wherever they are now!

 

Thanks to all the alums who shared their stories. Interested in sharing yours? Add to the People’s History of WDCV!

Javan Howard ’10

Jimmy Wilkinson ‘11, Patrick “Skip” Stevenson ‘11

Stephen Whittaker ‘13

Ben Breuninger ‘14

Lauren Bobyock ‘17

Manny ‘18

Flyer from 2009/2010ish

Javan Howard ‘10

What was the name of your radio show and what time slot did it air?

“Charmz in Effect 10pm-12am”

What was your involvement with WDCV?

“On air DJ Fall 2005, Hip Hop Music Director 06-10, & Station Manager 2008”

Do you have any stories, memories or secrets related to WDCV that you would like to share with us?

“WDCV Station retreats were always awesome, CMJ in NY was also something all execs should experience. Live on Britton Plaza, I love those events.”

 

Jimmy Wilkinson ‘11

What was the name of your radio show and what time slot did it air?

“Originally it was “Tears of Rage”, then I hosted with James Riley and it was called “Not Top 40 Enough”. I then did “Tears of Rage” as a community DJ and lastly combine with Chris Bratton to do “Tears of a Cactus”.” 

Do you have any stories, memories or secrets related to WDCV that you would like to share with us?

“Too many!

I renamed my show not too 40 enough because when James and I were doing some event on Britton plaza a kid asked us if we had any top 40 music because he didn’t recognize anything we were playing.

I think Chris Bratton had us do a pie-eating competition once?

I DJ’d when families were arriving during move-in weekend and that was always a good time.

I remember hearing so much bluegrass on WDCV when I first got to Dickinson courtesy of Davis Tracy. I now really enjoy bluegrass and even picked up the mandolin thanks to some of that inspiration!

My good friend Miles Nelson did an entire science fiction space opera over the radio. It was a multi-part series. It was called Jack Sparks. I played some German scientist. We did the final episode live over the air and it was awesome to have the whole gang there!

The manatee John Lithgow PSA changed my life. Chris Bratton even bought the book for my son last year thanks to its influence.”

Some Colleges have sold their broadcast licenses in recent years.  We are grateful Dickinson still supports us and cares about College Radio.  Do you think college radio is still important?  Tell us why!

“YES! So important. By the way I run the coffeehouse music program at Carlisle high school and think it would be super fun to get those kids to the station to check it out sometime…”

Any parting thoughts?

“I still have a WDCV bumper sticker on my front desk in Carlisle High School!” 

 

Patrick “Skip” Stevenson ‘11

March 26th, 2012- Equipment in the Studio

What was the name of your radio show and what time slot did it air?

“Live and Unabridged with Keith Rodgers (3-5 Fridays?)” 

Do you have any stories, memories or secrets related to WDCV that you would like to share with us?

“I was a co-founder of the 50 Hours for Autism Marathon to benefit the Doug Flutie Jr foundation with Keith Rodgers.  Doug visited with us when he received his honorary doctorate from Dickinson”

Some Colleges have sold their broadcast licenses in recent years.  We are grateful Dickinson still supports us and cares about College Radio.  Do you think college radio is still important?  Tell us why!

“Yes, a student-led station is a key part of the college community and can serve it for entertainment and service purposes all while giving students valuable experience at planning, performing, and public speaking.  Being a radio host along with opportunities from Professor Sloat, who formed the Center for Public Speaking, afforded students like me tremendous opportunities to hone one of the most valuable life skills you can build:  communicate ideas effectively in front of a live audience.”

Do you have any WDCV memorabilia hidden away that you might want to share with us?  Please tell us what you think you may have and we will find a way to get a copy to us.

“I still have my Doug Flutie Jr Foundation t-shirt”

Any parting thoughts?

“At the time (2000-01), internet broadcasts of WDCV were just coming onboard and it provided an opportunity for my father to listen to our basketball games when he couldn’t drive out to see the team in action. The evolution of webcasts for WDCV and small college athletics has been huge for family and alumni to stay connected. 

I am married to Kristie Stevenson (Siracuse) ’01 who now teaches physics and calculus after 17 years in the cancer field as a medical physicist.  After 5 years on active duty in the service, I have been in the business world for the last 14 years and I am currently the VP of Information Systems at Keystone Automotive Operations (LKQ).  However, the only titles I care about are Husband, DAD, and Coach.  Kristie and I have two wonderful sons, CJ (11) and Paul (16).  Who knows- maybe they will be Red Devils one day?”

 

Flyer from 2009/2010ish

Stephen Whittaker ‘13

What was the name of your radio show and what time slot did it air?

“Long Nights on the Road – and it bounced around a bit, but was ultimately 4-6pm on Thursdays I think? Conceptually, it was a music show, but I radically changed genres every 3-4 songs (simulating driving down the highway late at night and having to keep jumping stations).”

What was your involvement with WDCV?

“Well, I actually started DJing in high school (we had a limited power station), but I joined WDCV as a first semester freshman in 2009. Served on the Exec Board 2012-13.”

Do you have any stories, memories or secrets related to WDCV that you would like to share with us?

“My fondest memory would probably be from senior year. I was hosting my weekly show and going through a particularly eclectic run of music. Got a call to the booth phone from Davis Tracy — a station legend — who told me he had been regularly listening to my broadcasts and wanted to let me know I’d been doing a ‘helluva job. Made my month.”

Who was the WDCV advisor at that time?

“Brenda Landis – think she’s still got the gig!” 

Some Colleges have sold their broadcast licenses in recent years.  We are grateful Dickinson still supports us and cares about College Radio.  Do you think college radio is still important?  Tell us why!

“It’s hugely important. There aren’t a lot of mediums left for creating live content in a structured, (semi) professional environment in the media landscape. We’ve moved onto vlogging, short video production and podcasting — all of which are vital in their own way — but radio is what got us to them all and we still have a lot to learn from it. For me, it was not only a creative outlet as a music lover and audiophile, but an opportunity to hone important comms and public speaking skills at my own pace. College radio offers students a rare learning environment in which they set their own agenda and learn management skills in a truly organic way.”

Any parting thoughts?

“I don’t tune in as often as I once did and will hope to do so more often (online from NYC). Hope it’s still an eclectic group leading the charge day to day — keeps things fresh and interesting that way.”

 

March 27th, 2012- New Equipment in the Studio

Ben Breuninger ‘14

What was the name of your radio show and what time slot did it air?

“”Oh Hi Mark,” a two-hour showcase of eclectic nuggets that aired on various weekday evenings, usually around 8 or 9”

What was your involvement with WDCV?

“I bumbled along to WDCV during pre-orientation and was greeted by James Riley and Jimmy Wilkinson, whose beard and The Band t-shirt (respectively) made me feel immediately at home. I signed up to do a show right away and petitioned to join the exec board immediately as well, which I think took the other board members aback slightly — normally there was a “who’s interested” round up in the spring semester, but I had somehow managed to find the application on the station’s website in, like, October. I had just broken up with my high school girlfriend (who also went to Dickinson, at least initially) and was all kinds of depressed, so I needed something to sink my energy into.

I remained on the exec board throughout my time at Dickinson (minus a year abroad at UEA) and became co-station manager with Dan Plekhov in 2013-14. We were at the helm when Taylor was hired and when they tore down the Depot. I also remember the exec board meeting when WDCV’s Instagram page was launched — Indira Chakravarti was sitting across the table and said “we should make an Instagram profile,” and by the end of the meeting she said “Okay, I created an Instagram profile.””

Do you have any stories, memories or secrets related to WDCV that you would like to share with us?

“I remember that for my very first show, I couldn’t get my iPod (lol) to play the first track on my playlist, so James Riley (again) reached for the heavy rotation pile and played Belle and Sebastian’s “I Didn’t See It Coming,” which was fitting.

I remember a very tumultuous series of events during the fall of my sophomore year that involved a large number of people hanging around the station unnecessarily, a guitar being played live on the air, and a Jones Soda bottle being mistaken for a beer. This turned into a weeks-long scuffle involving most of the exec board and some disgruntled DJs and their friends.

I remember many a Live on Britton Plaza during which we’d try to give away free CDs, which obviously never worked.

I remember dealing with some sort of microphone issue during orientation one year, and when I managed to get it working I opted to inform the other exec board members (who were in the lounge listening on a boombox) by going live and speaking the words “It’s fucking working” into the mic. A few minutes later a concerned citizen called to inform us that someone had sworn on the air, and I pretended to not know what they were talking about.

I remember being delighted to discover that the station’s vinyl copy of Dizzy Gillespie’s “Digital at Montreux 1980” included a brief song called “Get That Booty.””

Some Colleges have sold their broadcast licenses in recent years.  We are grateful Dickinson still supports us and cares about College Radio.  Do you think college radio is still important?  Tell us why!

“I kept my love of radio long past WDCV, and began volunteering at CJAM-FM in Windsor, ON when I moved to Detroit after graduating. Now that I live in Cincinnati I’m trying to figure out what station I can con into giving me airtime.

But needless to say, campus/community radio is very important to me, and I’ll go on record as saying that it’s a vital (if somewhat old-school) service in a fragmented media world. Everything about campus/community radio is analog, hands-on, grassroots, and meaningful; the people who do it do it because they have something to share, say, or play; the people who listen are invested and passionate about the connections that radio can make.

Nowhere else on the dial are you going to find people playing city pop or yacht rock or niche metal or pre-Tosh reggae or ambient drone just for the absolute hell of it. That’s because you wouldn’t be *allowed* to do that anywhere else on the dial. It’s a beautiful, valuable slice of space that’s reserved for humans to do fun, weird human shit for other humans who will appreciate it. The stereotypes about shows airing at 3 am or DJs being unintelligible or a total lack of actual listening audience are all, in fact, pretty spot-on, but they’re a feature, not a bug. On college radio you don’t have to “break through” the Spotify algo to get your very own playlist in front of people. On college radio you don’t have to convince people that your taste is good, or relevant, or important, or well-researched, or humane — you just get on the mic and go for it anyway. On college radio you have the freedom to do your thing.”

 

Lauren Bobyock ‘17

What was the name of your radio show and what time slot did it air?

Flyer from 2009/2010ish

“The Smorgasbord at 10pm on Wednesdays”

Do you have any stories, memories or secrets related to WDCV that you would like to share with us?

“So many fun memories going to see live music with the exec board and hosting bands sponsored by WDCV! And many fun collaborations with the Trellis and Arts Collective (is the Beaux Arts Ball still a thing?!) We always had the best time djing for campus events and connecting with other groups on campus. Plus we loved starting the 24hr live event and the Pop-Up Record shop (Dennis is amazing!!)”

Who was the WDCV advisor at that time?

“Brenda and Taylor! They are the BEST!!”

Some Colleges have sold their broadcast licenses in recent years.  We are grateful Dickinson still supports us and cares about College Radio.  Do you think college radio is still important?  Tell us why!

“College radio is so valuable! It personally helped me gain confidence and leadership skills. It’s also so important to give people an outlet to share thoughts and music, and WDCV specifically is a great way to bridge the gap between Dickinson students and Carlisle residents who also host shows! Music brings people together!”

Any parting thoughts?

“It’s been too long since I visited (I can’t wait for the 60th Anniversary!), and I still frequently think about WDCV and the wonderful friendships and leadership skills I gained from my years there. I focused more on the radio than on my classes some weeks! I hope the station has continued to provide joy, great music, and a safe space for students as it did for me. Thank you to all of you for your hard work at keeping WDCV amazing!”

 

Manny ‘18

What was the name of your radio show and what time slot did it air?

“DJ Manny Fresco”

Do you have any stories, memories or secrets related to WDCV that you would like to share with us?

“I used to promote my campus parties on air for all my Dickinson party people. My parties used to bring everyone out. By my junior year, I couldn’t post flyer of my events because Dickinson Police would crack my events down. My advertisements during my live WDCV shows would be the plug.”

Some Colleges have sold their broadcast licenses in recent years.  We are grateful Dickinson still supports us and cares about College Radio.  Do you think college radio is still important?  Tell us why!

“Very much so. I’ve been a DJ since I was 15 and it’s weird when people call themselves DJs just because they have a radio show. BUT, it’s a good foot in the door. I think the platform is a special place to reach people that you otherwise couldn’t reach.”

Do you have any WDCV memorabilia hidden away that you might want to share with us?  Please tell us what you think you may have and we will find a way to get a copy to us.

“I wish I did. I actually still have the Pioneer DJ controller I used during WDCV shows.”

 

A People’s History of WDCV ’75-’79: A Guide to Music

April 16th 1976: Guide to Music

Some others of our 70s alums shared their memories of being on air. They talked about the friendships that were created and lasted with other DJs! We hope the station still has this welcoming and fun community atmosphere today 🙂

 

Thanks to all the alums for sharing their stories! Want to share yours? Add to the People’s History of WDCV.

Gil Negrete ‘75, Lisa Rossbacher ‘75

Bill Zapcic ’77, Debby Batchelder Seme ‘77

Michael Kaye ‘78, Gary Davis ‘78, David Wolf ‘78

Andy Hermann ‘79, Ed Gregorowicz ‘79, Andrew Kaplan ‘79

Gil Negrete ‘75

What was the name of your radio show and what time slot did it air?

“Soft Parade  ; Sundays 8 pm-12 am”

What was your involvement with WDCV?

“Started DJing in the fall of 1973 when I first transferred to Dickinson”

Do you have any stories, memories or secrets related to WDCV that you would like to share with us?

“‘This is WDCV-FM, 88.3 , in Carlisle. You’re listening to The Soft Parade and I’m Gil. Tell a friend.’ That was my intro spoken over the Dave Mason track “Side Tracked.” I ended each show with “All My Loving” by The Beatles.”

Lisa Rossbacher ‘75

What was the name of your radio show and what time slot did it air?

“My show was on a weekday afternoon — 4-6 p.m.  The scheduling must have been challenging, because I was a geology major and had labs almost every afternoon.”

What was your involvement with WDCV?

“I probably started my freshman or sophomore year as a DJ.  I also served as news editor for a while.”

Do you have any stories, memories or secrets related to WDCV that you would like to share with us?

“I still remember taping some of the ads:  “Shirts!  That’s the word at Carlisle Cleaners!”

One of the albums that was released during the time I worked at WDCV was Henry Gross’s eponymous album (“Henry Gross”) in 1972.  I used to play one of the cuts (“Morning Star”) frequently during my show.  I recently located Henry, told him how much I had liked that song, and asked how to get a copy.  He graciously sent me the .mp3 file of the song — and I’m delighted to be in contact with him.”

Bill Zapcic ’77

What was the name of your radio show and what time slot did it air?

“The Morning Show, MTWF, 6 to 10 a.m.”

Do you have any stories, memories or secrets related to WDCV that you would like to share with us?

“I was on the air the night the original FM transmitter — in Bosler attic — melted down and went off the air.”

March 22nd, 1977: WDCV Executive Staff Meeting

 

Debby Batchelder Seme ‘77

What was your involvement with WDCV?

“I was only a DJ the second semester of my freshman year.  A law was passed requiring all DJs to get certification/licensing and I just never found the time to get it, so I gave it up.” 

Do you have any stories, memories or secrets related to WDCV that you would like to share with us?

“I just remember the fun of being able to create what we now would call a “playlist” and an upperclassman telling me how much she enjoyed what I played.”

Some Colleges have sold their broadcast licenses in recent years.  We are grateful Dickinson still supports us and cares about College Radio.  Do you think college radio is still important?  Tell us why!

“Absolutely – it’s essential that local radio stations continue to exist, especially college stations. Local news has taken a hit in recent years with many local papers going out of business and communities have lost a precious resource of local news and information as a result.”

Michael Kaye ‘78

What was the name of your radio show and what time slot did it air?

“Mostly Jazz – usually Friday early evenings (as far as I remember)”

Do you have any stories, memories or secrets related to WDCV that you would like to share with us?

“I met a lot of upper class students who became good friends through doing my radio show on Friday evening.  One of them stopped by the station one Friday evening and said he liked the music I was playing and invited me to come to their dorm floor later that evening when my show as over.  We did that and developed a big group of friends as a result. One of the benefits to doing a radio show is we got early exposure to all sorts of new music when albums were released and the station got promo copies.  It was a great way to discover new music and bands.”

Some Colleges have sold their broadcast licenses in recent years.  We are grateful Dickinson still supports us and cares about College Radio.  Do you think college radio is still important?  Tell us why!

“One of the best advantages is college radio is commercial free and plays all sorts of music, including new releases, before they might be available to the public.”

“It’s Uneraseable Sound!”- Mid 70’s Poster

Gary Davis ‘78

What was the name of your radio show and what time slot did it air?

“Babbling Bob and Laughing Gary (on at various times)”

What was your involvement with WDCV?

“I started out as a news reader. I eventually became a DJ.”

Some Colleges have sold their broadcast licenses in recent years.  We are grateful Dickinson still supports us and cares about College Radio.  Do you think college radio is still important?  Tell us why!

“Yes. It provides great experiences to develop your speaking skills, and it’s enjoyable. My first job after Dickinson was working as a reporter/newscaster in local radio.”

 

David Wolf ‘78

What was the name of your radio show and what time slot did it air?

“Greensleeves-Howler Codpiece Hour – Sunday nights at 10 p.m.”

What was your involvement with WDCV?

“I joined the station in 1974, my freshman year. I started as a DJ and then became Music Director.  I was there at the beginning of British New Wave and Springsteen (who performed in the cafeteria in 1975?).   Amazing show. I then started a comedy show with my great friend and brother from Theta Chi, David High.  There’s a poster of the two of us in your hallway on a cloudy day when we did an outdoor DJ session!   Awesome photo!! Dave High and I continued to be friends after graduation in 1978, and he moved to Philadelphia to be my roommate.  Unfortunately, he passed away about 10 years ago. I have great memories of the station and still have some duplicate station LPs in my collection. The benefit of being Music Director.”

Rich Kaminsky (’79) and Andy Kaplan (’79) spinning discs outdoors during a 6-hour Beatles Marathon for Spring Fling Weekend 1979 [Submitted by Margo Kaminsky (’79)]

Do you have any stories, memories or secrets related to WDCV that you would like to share with us?

“The Greensleeves-Howler (my name is Wolf, get it?) Comedy Hour started with a ridiculous theme song where I would play jaw harp.  We did self-written skits and played a lot of Monty Python records. I can’t say that we were any good, but we had a lot of fun, and got a lot of groans from our college girlfriends.”

Some Colleges have sold their broadcast licenses in recent years.  We are grateful Dickinson still supports us and cares about College Radio.  Do you think college radio is still important?  Tell us why!

“Yes indeed.  My son also became a DJ at Muhlenberg.   He loved it as much as I did.  Community radio is very important to deal with local issues, provide local news, and give the students and community a very local voice.”

 

Andy Hermann ‘79 

What was the name of your radio show and what time slot did it air?

“I had several shows during several evening and late night time slots during my years at Dickinson from 1975 – 1979.  Some were jazz shows, some were rock/folk/jazz/progressive shows.”

What was your involvement with WDCV?

“Besides being a DJ during all four of my years at Dickinson, I was Music Director during my junior and senior years and part of the leadership of the station.”

Do you have any stories, memories or secrets related to WDCV that you would like to share with us?

“The only negative memories are of trying to get all of the time slots filled each week by student djs.  Otherwise, everything was pretty cool, especially having the opportunity to listen to new music as it came into the station from record company promotional departments (and playing the good stuff during shows), and also having the opportunity to learn about and appreciate all kinds of different music from all the records albums we had stored on our shelves.

I tried to encourage all of our djs to review new albums on 3 x 5 cards and tape them to the album covers for the benefit of other djs.”

 

Ed Gregorowicz ‘79

What was the name of your radio show and what time slot did it air?

“I had a show that aired from 10 PM until 2 AM without a regular name.  Each night at midnite I would play and review a new album.  After midnite, I played mostly soft rock like Eagles, JD Souther, Poco, Pure Prairie League, Jimmy Buffett, Billy Joel, Al Stewart, America, etc.”

What was your involvement with WDCV?

“I was on WDCV all of my 4 years at Dickinson.  In addition to my radio show, I was also the Sports Director, and I did the broadcast of away basketball and football games.  We would travel on the team bus and set up in the press box or location via a phone hook-up.”

Do you have any stories, memories or secrets related to WDCV that you would like to share with us?

“Spinning LP’s was a fun experience, and my hours in the WDCV studio were among my best times at Dickinson.  I can remember putting on a long song and going over to the laundry room, which was on the same level of the HUB, to do my laundry during the late hours of my show.  I also remember an interview I did over the air with Dickinson’s ling time football coach Wilber “Goby” Gobrecht.  I wish that I had tapes from some of the old shows and interviews.  Two of my most vivid memories are when WDCV sponsored the concert at Dickinson that was headlined by Roger McGuinn of the Birds with an unknown warm-up act named Jimmy Buffett, who I got to meet.   I recall that Jimmy stole the show that evening.  Also, as Sports Director I got press passes to attend the annual the Philadelphia Phillies winter caravans where I met and interviewed many Philadelphia Phillies players for WDCV.”

 

October 24th, 1975- WDCV to Expand Broadcast Schedule

Andrew Kaplan ‘79

What was the name of your radio show and what time slot did it air?

“I had a radio show for 4 years at WDCV. I can not remember if it had a name, but we did introduce a lot of new music and played favorites for the Dickinson Community.”

What was your involvement with WDCV?

“I started DJing and Sportscasting in my first semester freshman year.  Over the 4 year period, I broadcasted Dickinson Football and Basketball games including the first Women’s BB game to be aired. We also had sports trivia show. 

I also used my experience at WDCV to became an intern at WNBC Radio at 30 Rock in NYC.  I worked there for two summers including one for my boss Bob Pittman who went on to be one of the leaders in the entertainment industry.”

Do you have any stories, memories or secrets related to WDCV that you would like to share with us?

“Some of the stories of WDCV which could be longer:

Broadcast the first women’s varsity BB game. 

Was at the station after a morning class called Nuclear Energy Friend or Foe,  when the newswire story about the emergency of 3 mile Island came over and alerted my physics professor teaching the class who then alerted the college staff. 

Was at Johns Hopkins broadcasting the football game, when I fight broke out with about 2 minutes left in the game. Punches were flying so I turned into a boxing/fight broadcaster…then the refs ended the game without playing the final minutes.”