Cast Member of the 'Its Wheeling Steel' Radio Program, Wheeling, W. Va.
Date:
ca. 1939
Description:
'The Old Timer' from the 'Its Wheeling Steel' radio program reads his latest script while relaxing near the Ohio river. Wheeling Suspension bridge is visibl in the background.
Regina Colbert Singing on 'It's Wheeling Steel' Radio Program
Date:
1941/07/25
Description:
It's Wheeling Steel was a musical radio program created by John L. Grimes in 1936 after 6 prior years of planning and persuading company executives. The program was monumental because it was ran fully by the talents of employees or family members of employees. The broadcast promoted both Wheeling Steel's product as well as it's employees who assisted in creating the product. As the program became more and more successful, Grimes began to hire performers with professional backgrounds, like Regina Colbert. However, in order to comply with his rule of an all employee only run program, he would hire these professionals to work in the offices for a period of time. In Colbert's case, she was hired to work as a secretary in the advertising department.
Group of Men Holding Wheeling Flags Standing Outside of Wheeling Corrugating Co. Tent 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.
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.
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.
Musicians Playing Outside of Wheeling, W. Va. Train Traveling to or From National Cornhusking Championship in Marshall, MO
Date:
1937
Description:
Caption on back of photograph reads: "Music was played in every station where the train stopped long enough for the purpose." These musicians are likely the Rhythm Rangers, performers on the "It's Wheeling Steel" radio program which was created in 1936 by Wheeling Steel advertising executive John L. Grimes. The program was ran and operated exclusively by employees and immediate family members of the Wheeling Steel Corporation, the first radio broadcast to use this model. The program was used to promote both the company's product as well as it's employees.
Musicians Playing Outside of Wheeling, W. Va. Train Traveling to or From National Cornhusking Championship in Marshall, MO
Date:
1937
Description:
These musicians are likely the Rhythm Rangers, performers on the "It's Wheeling Steel" radio program which was created in 1936 by Wheeling Steel advertising executive John L. Grimes. The program was ran and operated exclusively by employees and immediate family members of the Wheeling Steel Corporation, the first radio broadcast to use this model. The program was used to promote both the company's product as well as it's employees.
Crowd at Train Station Listening to Musicians From Wheeling, W. Va. in Midst of Traveling to or From National Cornhusking Championship in Marshall, MO
Date:
1937
Description:
These musicians are likely the Rhythm Rangers, performers on the "It's Wheeling Steel" radio program which was created in 1936 by Wheeling Steel advertising executive John L. Grimes. The program was ran and operated exclusively by employees and immediate family members of the Wheeling Steel Corporation, the first radio broadcast to use this model. The program was used to promote both the company's product as well as it's employees.
Child Wearing Wheeling, W. Va. Hat at National Cornhusking Championship in Marshall, MO
Date:
1937
Description:
Wheeling Steel Corporation brought performers and company products to this event to help promote their "It's Wheeling Steel" radio broadcast to a broader audience, as well as to show off their farming equipment. This broadcast was ran and operated by company employees and family members, the first of its kind to utilize this model. It was used to promote both the company product and it's employees.
Group Boarding Wheeling, W. Va. Train Traveling to or From National Cornhusking Championship in Marshall, MO
Date:
1937
Description:
"It's Wheeling Steel" radio broadcast took their show on the road to this event to help raise awareness for their program as well as to promote the company's products to farmers at the event. The radio program began one year prior in 1936 because of company advertising executive John L. Grimes who wanted to create a program to advertise both the product and the employees who created the product. The program was operated exclusively by company employees and immediate family members, the first radio broadcast of this kind.
Wheeling Corrugating Co. Tent at National Cornhusking Championship in Marshall, MO
Date:
1937
Description:
Caption on back of photograph reads: "Some of these pictures were taken the day before the contest when exhibits were being arranged and the crowds hadn't arrived."
'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.
Group is likely the Rhythm Rangers and it appears they are playing inside of a hotel, possibly in Marshall, Missouri during their stay for the National Cornhusking Championship, or somewhere else along the route from Wheeling, West Virginia to the competition. These musicians, like all who worked on the radio broadcast, were employees or immediate family members of the Wheeling Steel Corporation.
Wheeling Corrugating Co. Show Train at Dennison, OH Station, En Route to National Cornhusking Contest, Marshall, MO
Date:
1937
Description:
Wheeling Corrugating Co. is a Wheeling Steel Corp. owned company of which produced their own radio broadcast called "It's Wheeling Steel" from 1936 to 1944. This broadcast was ran and operate exclusively by Wheeling Steel Corp. employees and family members, the first radio program to ever do such a thing. Wheeling Corrugating Co. brought their products to the National Cornhusking Competition to show to attending farmers. They also traveled with employee musicians to play for the crowd to help spread the word of the radio broadcast to a larger audience.
'It's Wheeling Steel' Radio Broadcast Musicians Playing at Dennison, OH Train Station, 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.
Musical Steelmakers Informal Rehearsal, Part of Band for 'It's Wheeling Steel' Radio Broadcast
Date:
Undated
Description:
Caption accompanying photograph reads: "Rough and ready war workers on week days, polished network musicians on Sundays are these "Musical Steelmakers", pictured here during an informal rehearsal. They are Russ Anderson at the bass, Tony Biacco with the accordion, Verdi Howells the goggled sax man, Jimmy Snodgrass on the drums, and Dayton Powell at the piano."
