In the 1940s, I listened to WPR after school, pretending to be interested in a Friday afternoon science program. I think I was part of Pop Gordon’s music program, singing with kids for him to hear. As a vehement seventeen year old, I recall defending WPR in an argument with a woman who said that public broadcasting had no future and that commercial radio was the way to go.
As a speech major at UW-Madison, I took a radio course from the late Ordean Ness in the attic of Bascom Hall and spoke on WHA for some student program. In Wisconsin Players, I met Carol Cowan and was delighted to hear her read on “Chapter-A-Day” years later. In 1956, I was in a television course – only the second semester it had ever been offered. At that time, only electrical engineers could touch the cameras; they were afraid we would “rack lenses on the air.” Professor Jerry McNealy – I think it was – spent his off hours writing television scripts for the budding industry. He soon moved to California as head of television programming for Fox. In 1957, I wrote a WPR 40th anniversary term paper for a history course, complete with interviews of the staff. My professor wanted to get it published, however I felt that I had not footnoted adequately, so instead of just fixing it, I refused. Stupid me!
After years away from Wisconsin, I returned as a UW-Eau Claire professor and to listening to WPR and WHWC. My radios have been tuned to no other stations for the past 50 years. There truly is no radio programming like yours in the United States! As WPR celebrates its 100th anniversary this year, I think back to my time in that little building on the shore of Lake Mendota – and I smile.
