Large Crowd Gathered to Listen to Performers Underneath Copious Amount of Wheeling Steel Advertisements at National Cornhusking Championship, Marshall, MO
Date:
1937
Description:
These performers were likely musicians on the "It's Wheeling Steel" radio broadcast. This radio broadcast was created by John L. Grimes, advertising executive at Wheeling Steel Corporation. The broadcast was ran exclusively by employees and family members of the Wheeling Steel Corporation. This excursion to Missouri was used to spread the name of the growing broadcast as well as to promote their products, including COP-R-LOY.
'It's Wheeling Steel' Radio Broadcast Musicians Playing Outside of Train, to or From National Cornusking Championship, Marshall, MO
Date:
1937
Description:
The group of musicians is likely the Rhythm Rangers. These musicians, like all employees of the "It's Wheeling Steel" radio broadcast, were either employees or family members of employees of the Wheeling Steel Corporation. This radio broadcast was company advertising executive John L. Grimes idea to promote both the company's product and its employees. It began broadcasting in 1936 and ended in 1944.
'It's Wheeling Steel' Radio Broadcast Musicians Playing at National Cornhusking Championship, Marshall, MO
Date:
1937
Description:
The group of musicians is likely the Rhythm Rangers. These musicians, like all employees of the "It's Wheeling Steel" radio broadcast, were either employees or family members of employees of the Wheeling Steel Corporation. This radio broadcast was company advertising executive John L. Grimes idea to promote both the company's product and its employees. It began broadcasting in 1936 and ended in 1944.
'It's Wheeling Steel' Radio Broadcast Musicians Playing Outside of Train to or From National Cornhusking Championship, Marshall, MO
Date:
1937
Description:
Group of musicians are likely members of the Rhythm Rangers, performers on the "It's Wheeling Steel" radio broadcast. This broadcast began in 1936 as a way to promote both Wheeling Steel Corporation's products and their employees who exclusively ran and performed on the broadcasts.
Crowd Outside of Wheeling Corrugating Co. Tent Listening to Rhythm Rangers Performance at National Cornhusking Championship, Marshall, MO
Date:
1937
Description:
The Rhythm Rangers were radio stars on the "It's Wheeling Steel" radio broadcast, which was created in 1936 by Wheeling Steel Corporation advertising executive John L. Grimes. The radio broadcast was ran and operated by company employees and family members, the first of it's kind to utilize this model. This free, live performance, at the National Cornhusking Championship in Marshall, Missouri was a way to advertise the broadcast to a broader audience as well as to promote their products to farmers in the area.
J.L. Grimes and Wheeling Steel Corporation Staff in Production Meeting
Date:
1941/08/18
Description:
Caption on back of photograph reads: "Music and scripts are carefully checked for audience pleasure as J.L. Grimes, general advertising manager for the Wheeling Steel Corporation (in center) and his staff hold a production confab in preparation for the return to the air October 5 of the tuneful "Wheeling Steelmakers" over the NBC-Blue Network." Production staff from left to right: Orchestra leader Tommy Whitley, Maury Longfellow, Ardenne White, Unknown, John Grimes, Unknown, Unknown.
Mr. M.E. Marsh, General Manager of the Wheeling Plant of Wheeling Corrugating Co., Officially Accepts the Army-Navy 'E' Award, Wheeling, W. Va.
Date:
1942
Description:
Photo taken during the Army-Navy Award presentation inside of the Capitol Theatre in Wheeling, West Virginia. The presentation was broadcast on over 127 radio stations of NBC's Blue Network, including the "It's Wheeling Steel" radio program. The "It's Wheeling Steel" radio broadcast was moved to the Capitol Theatre in Wheeling, West Virginia in 1939 as production became more polished and more and more listeners tuned in.
Color Guard of Wheeling Post No. 1 of the American Legion Raising the Pennant During Program, Wheeling, W. Va.
Date:
1942
Description:
Photo taken during the Army-Navy Award presentation inside of the Capitol Theatre in Wheeling, West Virginia. The presentation was broadcast on over 127 radio stations of NBC's Blue Network, including the "It's Wheeling Steel" radio program. The "It's Wheeling Steel" radio broadcast was moved to the Capitol Theatre in Wheeling, West Virginia in 1939 as production became more polished and more and more listeners tuned in.
Lt. Col. Thomas H. Eddy Presenting the Army Navy Production Award Pennant to the Wheeling Plant, Which Was Accepted by Mr. M.E. Marsh, General Manager, Wheeling, W. Va.
Date:
1942
Description:
Photo taken during the Army-Navy Award presentation inside of the Capitol Theatre in Wheeling, West Virginia. The presentation was broadcast on over 127 radio stations of NBC's Blue Network, including the "It's Wheeling Steel" radio program. The "It's Wheeling Steel" radio broadcast was moved to the Capitol Theatre in Wheeling, West Virginia in 1939 as production became more polished and more and more listeners tuned in.
Close Up of Lt. Col. Thomas H. Eddy, Presenting Pennant, and Mr. M.E. Marsh, Accepting, Wheeling, W. Va.
Date:
1942
Description:
Photo taken during the Army-Navy Award presentation inside of the Capitol Theatre in Wheeling, West Virginia. The presentation was broadcast on over 127 radio stations of NBC's Blue Network, including the "It's Wheeling Steel" radio program. The "It's Wheeling Steel" radio broadcast was moved to the Capitol Theatre in Wheeling, West Virginia in 1939 as production became more polished and more and more listeners tuned in.
Master of Ceremonies, Howard D. Matthews, Opening the Program Which Was Broadcast Over 127 Stations of the Blue Network, Wheeling, W. Va.
Date:
1942
Description:
Photo taken during the Army-Navy Award presentation inside of the Capitol Theatre in Wheeling, West Virginia. The presentation was broadcast on over 127 radio stations of NBC's Blue Network, including the "It's Wheeling Steel" radio program. The "It's Wheeling Steel" radio broadcast was moved to the Capitol Theatre in Wheeling, West Virginia in 1939 as production became more polished and more and more listeners tuned in.
The Musical Steelmakers Practicing Before Performance on 'It's Wheeling Steel' Radio Program
Date:
Undated
Description:
Caption on back of photograph reads: "Here's the same quintet on Sunday, running over a number before air time. Lew Davies is the conductor of the program's 23 piece orchestra of mill, plant, and office workers."
The Musical Steelmakers Accompany Tom Care During a Trumpet Solo
Date:
Undated
Description:
"The Steelmakers accompany Tom Care, employee from the Steubenville Works, as he headlines with a trumpet solo. Tom played "At The End Of a Perfect Day", which appealed to a great number of Wheeling Steel's nation-wide family."
Several People Waiting to Audition for 'It's Wheeling Steel' Broadcast
Date:
Undated
Description:
Caption on back of photograph reads: "For headlining appearances, auditions for mill workers and members of their immediate families are held every few weeks at the studios of WWVA. Of course, due to the standard set for our program, all that are auditioned can not be presented. The standard set is inferred to be that of the broadcasting station's, thereby relieving the corporation of discrimination."
Ed Kostillo Headlining 'It's Wheeling Steel' Radio Broadcast
Date:
Undated
Description:
Ed Kostillo from the pipe mills of the Benwood Works started playing his harmonica to entertain his fellow mill men during lunch hour. Later he won a headliner appearance on the family broadcast with the entire steelmakers orchestra accompanying him.
Frank Nalepa, Deep Bass of the Millmen Quartette Working With Coal at Steubenville Works
Date:
Undated
Description:
Caption accompanying photograph reads: "Frank Nalepa deep bass of the Millmen Quartette works every day with coal and scales at the Steubenville Works, rushes to the studio four times a week to rehearse, and found time to regularly visit Pittsburgh for voice lessons to improve his broadcast. Quit for Mit Show." The Millmen Quartette were regulars on the "It's Wheeling Steel" radio broadcast.
Caption accompanying photograph reads: "John Wisvari is a pipe-threader from the Benwood Works, plays violin, and directs his "family" orchestra which he calls "The Polka Kings"." They would perform on the "It's Wheeling Steel" radio broadcast.
Walter Schane, Member of 'Singing Millmen', on Phone in Benwood Works Office
Date:
Undated
Description:
Caption accompanying photograph reads: "Walter Schane from the office of the Benwood Works has been a Wheeling Steelmaker for 18 years. His is the fine baritone voice of the Singing Millmen, who sing on the family broadcast every Sunday. On Show since 1936, now in Singing Millmen 1943." The Singing Millmen were performers on the "Wheeling Musical Steelmakers" radio broadcast.
Walter Schane, Member of 'Singing Millmen', at Microphone on 'It's Wheeling Steel'
Date:
Undated
Description:
Walter Schane was the baritone voice of the Singing Millmen and also worked in the office of the Benwood Works. Like all who participated on the radio broadcast, you needed to be an employee or immediate family member of Wheeling Steel.
Verdi Howells Operating Machinery in Yorkville, OH
Date:
Undated
Description:
Caption accompanying photograph reads: "Verdi Howells is a machinist at Yorkville, is first saxophonist of The Musical Steelmakers Orchestra, has saved the money made while broadcasting for the corporation, and will go home to visit his mother in Wales this summer." He was an orchestra member since 1936 to November 1943. All participants on the "It's Wheeling Steel" radio broadcast were required to be employees of Wheeling Steel Corporation or immediate family members.
