A People’s History of WDCV ‘90-’99- The American Pickers of Music

WDCV has always been a hub to find the best new music to add to your library. Our alumni from the 90s shared with us their experiences digging through new music and sharing with each other and the community their favorite artists (and turns out we were pretty popular with the local prison too).

 

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

Georgia Spiliotes Zaiser ‘90, Laurel Ryan ’90

Anne Flounders ‘91, Christopher M. Downing ‘91

Brian Joseph Markovitz ‘93

Martin Molloy ‘94, Jeanette Engert ‘94, Johannah Lipscher ‘94

Allison (Lowry) Evans ‘96, Lee Shapley ‘96, Ben Radlinski ‘96

Chris Maier ‘99, Jake Limbert ‘99

Georgia Spiliotes Zaiser ‘90

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

“I did two different times–morning and then Saturday evenings”

What was your involvement with WDCV?

“I started working at DCV my freshman year. Joe Watson was the big DJ force and helped make it such a fun experience.”

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 much fun for the students and the local community. I learned a ton and actually worked at a rock station after graduation.”

Any parting thoughts?

“Thanks for keeping this going! So much fun!”

 

Laurel Ryan ‘90

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

“I had shows every semester from 2nd semester freshman year on.  The time slots varied widely.  My apprenticeship was Sunday Mornings 8 am, I did a few day time slots, I had a couple of 11 pm to 1 am shows which I really enjoyed.  I just played the music, so to speak.  I liked to play the newest things in the Heavy rotation bin, and the best stuff I could find in big room of albums behind the studio.  It was still mostly vinyl from ’87- ’90.”

What was your involvement with WDCV?

“I started DJ ing Freshman year, apprenticing for a friend’s boyfriend. I was strictly a DJ, and love every minute.  Mostly.”

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

“My last Semester, Spring 1990, I took on an alias name because a D-son Law Student had followed my 11 pm to 1 am show a little too closely- I wasn’t thrilled when he actually tracked me down one day.  That same semester, a freshman from my home town asked if he could apprentice with me- I said sure! Then his roommate also wanted to apprentice.  my show was 10 am- noon, and it was no big deal to have them each work with me for one hour.  Then they had two friends from their dorm floor who also wanted to get on the radio… yikes!  That, together with taking an alias, led to my first/only sort of named show, “Julie and the Boys”.  Three of us in the studio at any given time was close quarters, but I have to admit, they were some of the best times I had at Dickinson.  Thanks, Boys!”

 

Anne Flounders ‘91

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

“I had a few time slots. First was 6 am on Tuesdays; later I did Friday and/or Saturday nights, and filled in whenever there was an opening.”

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

“My WDCV memories are among my happiest from my Dickinson years! It was really a home base for me. I spent a lot of time either on the air, in the office, or making mixtapes (yes, mixtapes) in the back studio. We put on some great concerts while I was there too. One of them featured Roger Manning and King Missile. After the concert, the WDCV staff got a private concert in the ATS basement with Roger Manning and John S. Hall, who had a side act they called The Hat Brothers. Earlier that night I’d somehow been assigned to make dinner for the bands; I had no idea how to cook so I ended up throwing in many handfuls of hot peppers. Oops.”

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, I’m very glad to know Dickinson supports WDCV and cares about college radio, because they absolutely did not when I was a student. They wouldn’t even play WDCV in the HUB. We had to go before the Student Senate to defend our mission, because a lot of students wanted us to just play top 40. I still think it’s important for all the same reasons it was important in 1988-1991: It’s a platform for music people might not otherwise hear, and it provides an amazing experience, community, and education for the students involved.”

Any parting thoughts?

“This is all making me feel very old. 🙂 Thank you for all you’re doing!”

 

Christopher M. Downing ‘91

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

“I had several during different years: Morning Hip Hop (630-830 am Tuesdays Sophomore year); Afternoon Classic Rock (2-4 Thursdays Junior year); Post Quad Slow Jams (130am until ? usually 2-230 or whenever I chose to close the station down – I also had call-ins throughout the show for requests and to send out messages) Senior year.”

What was your involvement with WDCV?

“I started freshamn year as an ‘intern’ learning my way around the studio – Mike Kamali ran the show then and this was right around the time that NWA, 2 Live Crew, Public Enemy, etc. were getting big so we were pretty avant garde then since we played all that stuff and almost no one else in the Carlisle/Harrisburg area was. When I got my first full-time show, Sophomore year, I actually had to bring my own CD player to the station and hook it up with the jacks from one of the turntables so I could play CDs – they were just starting to hit in 88-89 so the station only had a few.”

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

“WDCV gave me my entre into music, something I continue to do – I took my radio DJing and parlayed that into a part-time job after I graduated: weddings, anniversary parties, etc. and I continue to provide services today – mainly as a commuinity service for non-profit organizations when they do fundraisers, etc.   WDCV is a great organization and I am so happy that it is doing well.  I even tune in on-line every once in a while.

As far as funny stories go, my very first day DJing – before I had my own show – I had to fill-in for a friend and as I was setting up, I was playing my first record the people who were cleaning out their items hit the arm of the record player that was broadcasting and skipped it noisily across the turntable – I immediately jumped on the mike and – a la Orson Wells – acted as if the station was being stormed by aliens, while simultaneous re-cuing the song.  It was not an auspicious start but it was a great story.

The other funny story occurred Junior year during my Classic Rock show – WDCV can be heard in the local jails and prison and I received, no joke, a request fro a song for an inmate – the very next song I played went out to AXE in Cell Block E – primarily because I feared that if I didn’t play the song, AXE might get out and live up to his name with me as the victim.”

 

Brian Joseph Markovitz ‘93

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

“DJ Jib – 12-2 Fridays”

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

“It was a great place to get underground, alternative, and indie music.  I hope it still is.  I used to get a decent amount of requests from the prisoners and guards at the local prison to play metal and gangsta rap, and I would do it.  Still makes me laugh that my show was popular with the prison.”

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’s a great place for free expression for students.”

Any parting thoughts?

“Keep the station going and please play current underground or alternative music from minor labels.  That is (or at least was) the whole point of college radio.”

 

Martin Molloy ‘94

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

“When I started the station was still where the convenience store is and we didn’t have cd players. Also someone on redbubble is printing 90s era wdcv t shirts”

Where was the station located when you went to Dickinson?

“Both next to the book store and then by the computer lab down the back hall”

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!

“Totally. It was a great experience for me as a student and exposed me to difference people and music.”

Any parting thoughts?

“I miss wdcv!”

 

Jeanette Engert ‘94

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

“One semester it was “J & B Alternative.” With my roommate, Becca during Common Hour, Weds at noon. After I became an exec, my slot was much better – 8pm tuesday or something like that.”

What was your involvement with WDCV?

“My very first show was a 3 hour music show during finals week, when anyone could sign up for a slot before we went off the air for break.  I didn’t want to speak on the air much then, but eventually I realized that a 3 hour show is a lot of music to find! I think my first regular show was 1st semester sophomore year (1991). I became “promotions director” which I hated. Jr year we impeached the Station Manager (he wanted to make it into a classic rock station somehow!) , and I took over as SM/GM. I did half a term, 2nd semester sr year, because I was graduating, but the term starts spring semester.”

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

“There was a sticker up in the old studio that said “DJs do it on request.” We moved to the new studio, but the budget/ administration would not give us funds to fill the large studio room with any equipment. They would also not allow us to use the room for anything including meetings, so aside from a few boxes, the room sat empty and locked most of the time. A day or two before graduation we may have had a small party in there. 

As a “campus leader,” I got invited to luncheon with  ALF: A. Lee Fritschler, the President. I was one of the first to use the email (vax account, as it was called then).”

Where was the station located when you went to Dickinson?

“When I first came to Dson, it was next to the bookstore, where the Devil’s Den (is it still called that?) convenience store is now in the HUB basement. It was grungy and weirdly painted and filled with graffiti. It was great. Then in 91 or 92 it was moved to its current location, which we called the bowels of the HUB. It was very clean and new.”

 

Johannah Lipscher ‘94

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

“Hogtied & Proud- I don’t remember the slot”

What was your involvement with WDCV?

“I started my frosh year as a “Newsie”- recording the news carts.  Soph- senior year I DJ’d with my friend, John.  We had a strange mix of alt-rock, folk and Prince….. we played a lot of Prince.  Oh, and Shawn Colvin– this was the start of  that alt-country-folk-pop movement.”

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

“When we used to play KrisKros’s “Jump”- we would put our pants on backwards and jump around the studio.  Also, I had a few Carlisle fans who would call into the show to try to win dates…

I have a few of the shows recorded on cassette– if I can find them, I’ll send you a copy.”

 

Allison (Lowry) Evans ‘96

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

“Mad Dog Show – very early or very late….”

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

“Loved it. Really appreciated knowing what the heavy rotation hits were. I actually had a fan who recorded my show and said how much it meant to him. Found out that he was a resident at the Carlisle prison… but glad someone was listening!!”

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- great for college radios to have a “voice” and their role in sharing music with their listeners.”

 

Lee Shapley ‘96

What was your involvement with WDCV?

“I started as a freshman, one of the few 1st semester freshman fortunate enough to get a show.  I was on the exec board my sophomore year, I think in charge of promotions.  My junior I was the music director.”

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

“When I had my first show as a freshman, I was taking a drawing class with Professor Wade Davenny, who was a new professor that year.  I found out during class that he was a fan of my show, independent of me talking about WDCV, and was listening in before I went to his class!

Oh yeah, and there was the huge on-campus Peace Festival we co-sponsored with the “Peace Action” club.  We had 8 indie bands playing for free on campus plus the Dead Milkmen.  Punks drove in from across the tristate area because of our flier campaign.  The campus sure looked different that day!”

Where was the station located when you went to Dickinson?

“It had just moved into its current location next to the dance studio.  I was actually heavily involved in the dance theatre group, so it was a convenient location for me!”

 

Ben Radlinski ‘96

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

“Coffee and Donuts, 7am-10am. Assorted other shows in the afternoons.”

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

“I may have graduated with some mic stands…sorry.

Trying to come up with ways to stop people from stealing music and failing every time.

Learning that our biggest listener base was in the Cumberland County Jail.

Getting nothing but Metallica requests from the inmates.

Getting lots of good bands to play shows around campus (with most of the work done by Lesley Barnett), like The Dismemberment Plan, Tuscadero, Smart Went Crazy.

Not having enough Phish to play for the Student Body.

Recording our own PSAs on carts…do they still have a cart machine?”

 

Chris Maier ‘99

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

“Don’t recall the name, but hosted it (often along with my two dorm mates) on Saturday evenings.”

What was your involvement with WDCV?

“DJ’d at WDCV freshman year. Had been a DJ and board operator at a local radio station where I grew up from 16 years old through sophomore year at Dickinson (working holidays and breaks).”

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

“Not quite a story, but what I really loved about the radio show was not only the chance to share great music in a college radio setting (nothing beats college radio), but also the chance to really connect with my dorm mates in a fun and substantial way. I will say that I don’t know how big our audience was. To wit: We decided we’d start having trivia competitions for, say, a free yo-yo or something else small and fun. But nobody was calling in to answer the questions. So we finally just started saying: All you have to do is call in; no answers required. Just call in and you’ll get free stuff! We still never got a call 🤷🏻‍♂️”

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’s authentic, independent, and intros people to all sorts of music (and commentary) they may not otherwise discover.”

Jake Limbert ‘99

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

“Margaret Thatcher and Her Merry Band of Gimps (Evenings)”

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 – Very important!  I was exposed to so many different types of music and we had such a fun time taking requests and developing specific shows.”

Any parting thoughts?

“WDCV is vitally important.  Next time I am on Campus, I will come by to say hello.  THANK YOU FOR KEEPING IT GOING!”