Menu Expand Menu Close
Back to Top
Filter Search Expand Close Filter
Search Expand Search Close
Caption accompanying photo reads: "John Wisvari is a pipe-threader from the Benwood Works, plays violin, and directs his "Family" orchestra which he calls "The Polka Kings"." The Polka Kings were musicians who played on "It's Wheeling Steel" radio broadcast.

37. John Wisvari Threading Pipes at Benwood Works, Benwood, W. Va.

IDNO:
048717
Title:
John Wisvari Threading Pipes at Benwood Works, Benwood, W. Va.
Date:
Undated
Description:
Caption accompanying photo reads: "John Wisvari is a pipe-threader from the Benwood Works, plays violin, and directs his "Family" orchestra which he calls "The Polka Kings"." The Polka Kings were musicians who played on "It's Wheeling Steel" radio broadcast.

38. Wheeling Musical Steelmakers Orchestra Performing Live

IDNO:
048722
Title:
Wheeling Musical Steelmakers Orchestra Performing Live
Date:
Undated
Caption on back of photograph reads: "Regina Colbert is the program's "Singing Secretary", and she lives up to both halves of the title. Featured soloist on Sundays, she is part of the company's secretarial staff weekdays." It was a requirement set by Wheeling Steel Corporation advertising executive John L. Grimes, that the radio broadcast stay an exclusively all employee program. Therefore, Colbert who was not at the time an employee or immediate family member, was hired to work as secretary in the advertising department to maintain this rule.

39. 'It's Wheeling Steel' Radio Broadcast Performer, Regina Colbert, Singing at the Microphone

IDNO:
048735
Title:
'It's Wheeling Steel' Radio Broadcast Performer, Regina Colbert, Singing at the Microphone
Date:
Undated
Description:
Caption on back of photograph reads: "Regina Colbert is the program's "Singing Secretary", and she lives up to both halves of the title. Featured soloist on Sundays, she is part of the company's secretarial staff weekdays." It was a requirement set by Wheeling Steel Corporation advertising executive John L. Grimes, that the radio broadcast stay an exclusively all employee program. Therefore, Colbert who was not at the time an employee or immediate family member, was hired to work as secretary in the advertising department to maintain this rule.
Caption on back of photograph reads: "Typical Wheeling family, the Evans household has an extra incentive to keep war production rolling. Brother Bill is in the Navy, serving in the South Pacific, and the arrival of a letter from him is a big event in the Evans home. The father, has been a steel roller for 29 years."

40. Evans Household, a Wheeling Steel Family

IDNO:
048736
Title:
Evans Household, a Wheeling Steel Family
Date:
Undated
Description:
Caption on back of photograph reads: "Typical Wheeling family, the Evans household has an extra incentive to keep war production rolling. Brother Bill is in the Navy, serving in the South Pacific, and the arrival of a letter from him is a big event in the Evans home. The father, has been a steel roller for 29 years."
Caption on back of photograph reads: "Lew Davies, conductor of the "Musical Steelmakers" orchestra and chorus, writes most of the musical arrangements himself. Helping him in this department are John Hahle, guitarist; Maury Longfellow of the production staff; and Gene Ahlers, trumpeter." The Musical Steelmakers were the orchestra who performed on Wheeling Steel Co.'s radio broadcast "It's Wheeling Steel", an all employee broadcast used to advertise both Wheeling Steel's product offerings as well as their large staff.

41. Lew Davies, Conductor and Composer of the Musical Steelmarkers Orchestra

IDNO:
048737
Title:
Lew Davies, Conductor and Composer of the Musical Steelmarkers Orchestra
Date:
Undated
Description:
Caption on back of photograph reads: "Lew Davies, conductor of the "Musical Steelmakers" orchestra and chorus, writes most of the musical arrangements himself. Helping him in this department are John Hahle, guitarist; Maury Longfellow of the production staff; and Gene Ahlers, trumpeter." The Musical Steelmakers were the orchestra who performed on Wheeling Steel Co.'s radio broadcast "It's Wheeling Steel", an all employee broadcast used to advertise both Wheeling Steel's product offerings as well as their large staff.
Caption accompanying photograph reads: "Here is the Portsmouth Works Male chorus who headline on the family broadcast now from their home town. Organized about the time the family broadcast started, interest has increased due to the opportunity of a nation wide outlet for their talent."

42. Portsmouth Works Male Chorus, Headliners on 'It's Wheeling Steel' Radio Broadcast

IDNO:
048738
Title:
Portsmouth Works Male Chorus, Headliners on 'It's Wheeling Steel' Radio Broadcast
Date:
Undated
Description:
Caption accompanying photograph reads: "Here is the Portsmouth Works Male chorus who headline on the family broadcast now from their home town. Organized about the time the family broadcast started, interest has increased due to the opportunity of a nation wide outlet for their talent."
Like all who perform or worked on the "It's Wheeling Steel" Radio Broadcast, Dave Kemp was employed by the company at the Steubenville Works. It was a requirement to be employed or to be an immediate family member of the Wheeling Steel Corporation in order to work on the radio broadcast. This way they could advertise both the company's products as well as it's employees talents, which created a family environment.

43. Dave Kemp Singing Bass on 'It's Wheeling Steel' Radio Broadcast

IDNO:
048739
Title:
Dave Kemp Singing Bass on 'It's Wheeling Steel' Radio Broadcast
Date:
Undated
Description:
Like all who perform or worked on the "It's Wheeling Steel" Radio Broadcast, Dave Kemp was employed by the company at the Steubenville Works. It was a requirement to be employed or to be an immediate family member of the Wheeling Steel Corporation in order to work on the radio broadcast. This way they could advertise both the company's products as well as it's employees talents, which created a family environment.
She was referred to as the "Kate Smith" of the family broadcast. Kate Smith was best known for her rendition of "God Bless America".

44. Probably Eileen Metz Playing the Piano, a Performer on 'it's Wheeling Steel' Radio Broadcast

IDNO:
048740
Title:
Probably Eileen Metz Playing the Piano, a Performer on 'it's Wheeling Steel' Radio Broadcast
Date:
Undated
Description:
She was referred to as the "Kate Smith" of the family broadcast. Kate Smith was best known for her rendition of "God Bless America".
Notice the flag in the background with 13 stars, this was displayed commonly during World War 2 to show how many people who were serving. Gold stars would represent those who died in the war.

45. Wheeling Musical Steelmakers Backing Up Performer on Stage Holding Beat Up Horned Instrument

IDNO:
048742
Title:
Wheeling Musical Steelmakers Backing Up Performer on Stage Holding Beat Up Horned Instrument
Date:
Undated
Description:
Notice the flag in the background with 13 stars, this was displayed commonly during World War 2 to show how many people who were serving. Gold stars would represent those who died in the war.

46. Tom Whitley, Band Director of the Musical Steelmakers Orchestra of the 'It's Wheeling Steel' Radio Broadcast, Playing Piano With Unidentified Woman

IDNO:
048743
Title:
Tom Whitley, Band Director of the Musical Steelmakers Orchestra of the 'It's Wheeling Steel' Radio Broadcast, Playing Piano With Unidentified Woman
Date:
Undated

47. Crowd Applauds 'The Wheeling Musical Steelmakers' Performance, Orchestra for 'It's Wheeling Steel' Radio Broadcast

IDNO:
048744
Title:
Crowd Applauds 'The Wheeling Musical Steelmakers' Performance, Orchestra for 'It's Wheeling Steel' Radio Broadcast
Date:
Undated
It's Wheeling Steel was a radio broadcast started in 1936 by Wheeling Steel Corporation advertising executive John L. Grimes. He wanted to advertise both the company's products and it's talented employees.

48. W. Va. Governor Homer Holt Rides in 'It's Wheeling Steel' Parade, Wheeling, W. Va.

IDNO:
048746
Title:
W. Va. Governor Homer Holt Rides in 'It's Wheeling Steel' Parade, Wheeling, W. Va.
Date:
Undated
Description:
It's Wheeling Steel was a radio broadcast started in 1936 by Wheeling Steel Corporation advertising executive John L. Grimes. He wanted to advertise both the company's products and it's talented employees.