WDAU-TV SCRANTON WILKES-BARRE TRIBUTE WEBSITE

Welcome to the WDAU-TV Tribute web site Once upon a time there was a television station located in the basement of a high school. We edited stories with some type of technology called "film" that we put in the "soup". We were centrally located between a Dunkin Donuts and Krispy Kreme donut shop! Those were the days of WGBI-TV, WDAU-TV 22 and WGBI-AM & FM. The call letters WDAU-TV are long since gone... but the memories will always live on! Below are pictures and information about the "Good Ole Days of Television". Some of our friends pictured below are no longer with us. They are very much missed. I hope this webpage brings back fond memories! Carl Abraham (1979-1981) Above... Merry Christmas from the Staff of WDAU-TV from 1959. From the WDAU-TV Review (courtesy Jack Scannella) Front row: Peggy Schillinger, Irene Drusbosky, Eleanor Hack, Carol Jacobs, Next Row: Larry Franks, Peggy Mack, Jimmy Mack, Uncle Ted Raub, Dolores Sobol, Marilyn Landy, Hirch Jacobs, Standing: Walt Rounds, Ellen Langan, Bud Turner, Mary Turner, Don Schillinger, Sue Adams, Jim Langan, Erna Rounds, Jim Coursen, Barbara Reid, Dorothy Mugford (the CATV Girl) and Dorothy's husband. This was probably taken in the late 50's. (courtersy Walter Rounds) The "New" WDAU-TV from 1957. This is when WGBI-TV become WDAU-TV. (courtesy John Wareham) In Memory of: This website is dedicated to the memory of Tom McGoldrick, who was taken away from us at a young age. Tom was was one of those people who made working at WDAU-TV fun. He had a special sense of humor that made us laugh and smile. He touched the lives of everyone around him and we will never forget him. (Photo: Bernie Jellig) WDAU-TV 22, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, PA Entering these doors leads you into the old days of WGBI-TV, WDAU-TV AND WGBI-AM & FM... photo on the left is what the entrance to the old station looked on Ash Street in Scranton. THIS SIDE HAS BEEN EXPANDED ON.. AND THE OLD DOORWAY IS GONE.. REPLACED BY A NEW WING IN THE FRONT OF THE ENTRANCE. Scranton Prep High School uses the basemant space that was once WDAU-TV. WDAU-TV "LOOKING GOOD" WDAU Batscene 22 WDAU Exploding Light Click here for the "Greatest Story Ever Told" Irregularity Report Click here for WDAU-TV Bat Policy & Christmas Lists Memos Read Rich Mates article/Scranton Tribune (featuring Jack Scannella & Jack Chedekel) *New Photos !!!* The view down the hallway in the basement of Scranton Prep (courtesy Gerry Alferio) Longtime WDAUer Jack Scannella at the Assignment Desk (courtesy Gerry Alferio) Joe Jones (courtesy Gerry Alferio) Frank Lattanzi, Jim Barheight and Engineer Stan Zawislack (courtesy Gerry Alferio) The film edit/cutting room! (courtesy Gerry Alferio) Derry Bird (courtesy Gerry Alferio) Joe Greco (courtesy Gerry Alferio) Larry Franks (courtesy Gerry Alferio) WDAU-TV newsroom (courtesy Gerry Alferio) Maria Orzel (courtesy Gerry Alferio) The WDAU-TV Pinto newscar.. exploding gas tank standard! (courtesy Gerry Alferio) News Director Tom Powell (courtesy Gerry Alferio) Jim Barheight in the programming film room. (courtesy Ken Terres) Bud and Joe in the studio (courtesy Ken Terres) Director Jack Chedekel (courtesy Ken Terres) Phil Cummings in the basement hallway. (courtesy Ken Terres) Dee Nolan in the radio production corner. (courtesy Ken Terres) John Chupack and Jack Chedekel. (courtesy Ken Terres) Don Brislin. Note the ole days type TelePrompter on the right - with scotch tape! (courtesy Ken Terres) Engineer Joe. (courtesy Ken Terres) Jim Keenan. (courtesy Ken Terres) Frank Lattanzi and Jim Keenan. (courtesy Ken Terres) Debbie Robshaw Donavan. (courtesy Ken Terres) Receptionist Terri. (courtesy Ken Terres) 1980's WDAU-TV Production dept at Ken Terres going away party at Jim Dandy's. (courtesy Ken Terres) Bishop O'Conner Inauguration (courtesy Ken Terres) Jack Chedekel directing and Frank Lattanzi on Chyron (courtesy Ken Terres) Frank Lattanzi and Jim Keenan... (courtesy Ken Terres) Frank and Ken.. and Dee Nolan in back. (courtesy Ken Terres) WDAU-TV Mini-Reunion, August 5th, 2006 at Coopers Seafood Restaurant in Scranton Pictured above: Paul Deignan Reynolds, Bob Reynolds, Sylvia Kolozinsky, Derry Bird, Jody Davis, Carl Abraham, Steve Gianacopoulos, Dave Jones, Jim Keenan, Sue Miller Merkle, and David DeCosmo. Big Breaking reunion news: Derry Bird reveals he is Deep Throat!!! Actually, it's bigger that that! Derry admits (for the first time ever know to man) he was responsible for letting in the infamous "BAT" into the NEWS studio! Of course, the bat decided to create havoc during the Newscast!! The rest is WDAU-TV lore ! Way to go Derry!! Dave Jones and Jim Keenan Bob, Carl, Larry and Steve WDAU-TV reunion Unofficial Videographer David DeCosmo! Election day 2006... Mrs. Keenan, Joe Butash, Dave Jones and Jim Keenan. (Courtesy Andy Palumbo) OLDER PHOTOS FROM WDAU-TV The WDAU Ten Year Club (photo from 1964/5) Front Row, Left to Right: Tom Reilly, George Marhevka, Mrs. Frank Megargee, Bob Butts. Rear: "Butch" Monaghan, Joe Grecco, Bill Whitiak, Joe Loughney, Walt Rounds, Bob McDowell-Station Manager. (courtesy Walter Rounds) The Early Days of WGBI-TV, WDAU-TV 22 Above: Don Cuozzo, Jack Scanella, George Marhevka, Larry Kresge and Walter Rounds on top of the WGBI-TV Wagon. Picture was taken in front of the Everhart Museum at Nay Aug Park. This photo was taken after the station got its first sound camera. (Courtesy: Walter Rounds) Bill Davies hosting a kids show on WGBI-TV, with Jack Chedekel on camera. (courtesy: Marty Gladstone) Front: Jack Scannella, Marty Gladstone, Don Couzzo, Back: Fran Conway, Al Turk (courtesy: Marty Gladstone) Members of the WGBI-TV engineering department. From left: Joe Loughney, Rudy Kamen, Bob Butts, Marty Gladstone,Jack Chedekel, Joe Chicco, Jim Langan, Bud Turner, Carl Reiner, Adolph Oschmann, Ken Beghold, Lee Tanner. (courtesy: Marty Gladstone) WGBI-TV Engineering Department: Same bunch, different order. (courtesy: Marty Gladstone) The following group of photos are courtesy of longtime WDAU-TV 22 employees Jack Scannella and Jack Chedekel from the early days at the television station. The WDAU-TV photographers. George Marhevka, Larry Kresge, Don Cuozzo, Jack Scannella, Joe Loughney and Walt Rounds. Photo taken in Shamokin by a photographer from the old Shamokin Citizen newspaper. Pictured is Jack Chedekel, an unknown Shamokin area resident, reporter Jim Kelly and Photographer Jack Scannella. Photo with Miss Shamokin (center). Left is Jack Scannella, middle is Bob Carroll, the two guys on the right are Jack Chedekal and Mort Rosenthal. Jack Chedekel on camera with then Scranton Mayor James Walsh. CBS Star Red Skelton and longtime WDAU-TV Assignment Manager and Photographer Jack Scannella. Photo was taken in 1960. News Director Tom Powell and Jack Chedekel on camera 2. Jack Scannella on camera and Don Brislin on audio at the The Knox Mine Disaster hearings. Above: The show "Bar Double Two" with host Tom Reilly on the left. Running camera is Jack Scannella.

iPhoto on right: Jack's wife Betty Chedekel posing at the WDAU-TV Yankee Baseball billboard. Thank you Jack Scannella and Jack Chedekel for all of the pictures above! ***************************************** Thanks for all the pictures Walter! Photo below is of Walter Rounds today. Right: WGBI-TV Engineer Marty Gladstone. Thanks for all the photos Marty! Right: Here's a photo taken in the TV announce booth recording tags, breaks, or intros for use later in the day on WDAU-TV. That was a daily part of the job which included doing weather, a stint in radio and after movie TV news. (Paul Lowry) Right: Around 1966 I did the Bell of PA weather show (right) during the 7pm news on weekdays. (Paul Lowry)**		Left: Jack Scannella and his frezzolini film camera. Below: Betty Chedekal posing for the WDAU-TV Movie ad. Left: WDAU'ers Eleanor Hack, Barbara Reed and Betty Chedekel. The following pictures are from former WDAU-TV Photographer and Engineer Walter Rounds. Left: announcer Jim Dull.. with unknown woman... below: announcer Jim Dull posing with his copy. Left: Tom Reilly and Al Turk having some fun in the studio. Below: a person I can't remember, Lou Tinney and Blaine (Bud) Turner in studio. Uncle Hoytie! Man walked on the moon! The Amazin' Mets (they're not amazin' anymore) were World Champions... and Hoyt Keiser was probally the one to tell you all about it!! This WDAU-TV classic photo is from Hoyt Keiser and is from 1969. John Perry: John usually did the 7 pm news in which I often did the weather. We would often have dinner at the Castle Restaurant in Providence Square afterwards. This news set was very basic with a single podium and speckle pattern on a curved flat. In those days, news, weather and sports personalities just changed seats during commercials during the half hour news program. (Paul Lowry) MASS FOR SHUT-INS: Sunday morning schedule included playing previously taped network programs in the WGBI radio studio while producing the live St. Ann's Mass for Shut-Ins in the WDAU-TV studio down the hall. This is a rather poor snapshot of the old GE black and white camera before the priest from St. Ann's Monastery and the altar set. Photo is dated Sept 1964. (Paul Lowry)