We are pleased to report that the WIDB 50^th Anniversary Reunion Committee has unanimously decided to PROCEED with the reunion this June 24, 25, 26 2022 in Giant City and Carbondale!

We are aware that some covid risks still exist.  Each person must decide the level of risk they are willing to accept, and we will respect these decisions.

It has been 7 years since we’ve been together, and it takes a tremendous effort to gather WIDB people.  It is a rare event you will regret missing.  For many reasons, it could well be the last time we are able to assemble like this.

We on the committee (and the folks at Giant City) are VERY READY to put on the BEST REUNION EVER!!

The current reunion fee is $199.50.  It will increase soon.  You can sign up and pay here. You can see more reunion info here:  List of lodging options here.

YOUR HARD WORKING (AND PERSEVERING) WIDB 50^TH ANNIVERSARY REUNION COMMITTEE

 John Bernstein was a fierce, unstoppable force at WIDB 1982-5 for great production, motivating WIDB’s only entry into the annual Cardboard Boat Regatta, and appearing on David Letterman (albeit in the audience—more than once).  Since WIDB, John spent years as a longtime producer at Disney Studios in California, and before that at CNN. He ran the Atlanta Film Festival, and curated others including AFI Fest and Sundance.  

Remembering his days at WIDB, John decided to (what else?) join up with producers of a documentary about college radio.  It will review history, and the current state, but focus mainly on the period of “biggest cultural impact” about 1970-98 or so.   John joins the documentary’s director Michael Millard, (from college station KTXT, Texas Tech, Lubbock) who shares the spirit.  

“I wish I had been a better DJ. Listening to some of my old air checks is a bit painful,” admits John. “Even though I had no idea what I was doing at the time, I took my time at IDB very seriously and look back on it fondly. No, I didn’t go into radio, but working at WIDB absolutely had an impact on my career path, and my taste in music to this day.” John will be at the reunion and will probably have more to share about the project.  To check out their early teaser trailer for the documentary (that includes a few WIDB images and even a moment of an aircheck with Dan at the beginning) go to 35000watts.com/kickstarter.

Past reunions featured impractical, virtually useless tchochokies, such as the brain hat, flashlite/beacon, and the immortal fez. Never to underestimate the relentless creativity of our group, we encountered Jill Gardner’s creative innovations with this old, forgotten item. Here is her story, in her words and writing.

by Jill Gardner

Thanks to Jill for sharing! This may be just the thing you need!

As we all know, SIU’s annual Cardboard Boat Regatta became a world-renowned event, but WIDB almost never participated. HOWEVER, in 1984, John Bernstein got a full head of steam (as only he could do) and motivated everyone. This was due in part to his quest to appear on David Letterman.

It was a fantastic group effort in the great WIDB tradition. The triumphant moment was the parading of the boat before the race:

Vic’s dog Bookie rode on the boat designed to look like a “pink Cadillac.” Vic and Ilene tell the story:

This was WIDB’s only entry into the race for at least 30 years. No results from 1984 are available. You can ask Vic what happened.

We hope you will enjoy a live streaming of the entire 3 hour “Frank Horton Hangover Show” on Saturday, March 6, 2021. The original show aired from 7-10 am, but we will start it at noon, CST. It will be stereo, with aircheck on right channel and “studio banter” on left channel. This will be exactly 50 years after it aired March 6, 1971. For best listening, connect your device to a stereo, so you can “pan” between channels. To be able to pan (adjust balance) while you listen on your computer, Bluetooth, or other device,

CLICK HERE FOR INSTRUCTIONS.

The audio stream below will become active at noon, CST, Saturday March 6, 2021.

Party Chairman is on Mixlr

50 years ago, WIDB was not yet one year old, and not yet 24 hour. Sign-on was 7am, weekdays 10 am weekends, and, as always, new jocks still had to accept less desirable shifts.

PD Howie Karlin was determined that WIDB would sign on at 7am Saturdays. But who
could be found to reliably appear week after week Saturday at the crack of dawn?
Who could possibly be functional at that hour on the heels of a Fryday night of
revelry?

The answer was Frank. A top-notch newsman who later became one of WIDB’s
best News Directors, Frank wanted to try his hand at jocking. Howie was
skeptical until he desperately needed to fill the Saturday shift.

Frank Mazzocco (center left) and the 1972 WIDB News Dept. Clockwise from left: Gary West, Don Graf, Dennis Lyle, Tim Carvis, Alan J. Friedman, Todd Cave, Katy Jaskula, Cliff Albert, Chris Bury (center right, seated). Photo courtesy of Don Graf.

Frank’s real last name is Mazzocco. But on Saturday morning on WIDB he
became “Frank Horton” hosting the “Frank Horton Hangover Show.”

Unbelievably, Frank found an engineer willing to board op for the show. It was
Bruce Whiteside, one of WIDB’s most brilliant engineers.

Bruce had the foresight to not only aircheck the show, but also record the “studio
banter.” Most records were under 3 minutes, usually there was a jingle and
talking after each one, and this had to be discussed and set up each time.

Bruce’s actual equipment and materials used to record the broadcast in 1971.

Bruce produced a recording of the entire show from Saturday, March 6, 1971. It
has the aircheck in one channel and the studio banter in the other channel.

We will stream this live on Saturday March 6, 2021, exactly 50 years later.
However, it will run from noon-3pm, CST. For best listening, connect your device
to a stereo, so you can “pan” between channels.

Brought to you by: Bruce Whiteside and Your hard-working WIDB 50th Anniversary Reunion Committee