Welcome to WTIT Tape Radio.
The Nation’s first & longest running Tape Radio Station.
We know that your first question is:
What the hell is a Tape Radio station?
Like many young people, WTIT founder, Bud Weiser had strong desire to
become a radio disc jockey. In the
sixties, a majority of DJ’s had names like “Rusty Potts”, “Sandy
Beach” and “Rusty Nails”. Our founder thought “Bud Weiser” was the perfect radio
name. The irony is that while Bud
spent years working in radio, he was never known as Bud Weiser. (see “Bud Fisher” at http://www.440.com/namesf.html#
bfishe. )
THE NATION’S TOP MORNING GUY,
BOB STEELE OF WTIC
With
the NATIONS TOP “TAPE RADIO” GUY, BUD WEISER OF WTIT
As
Bob Steele Retires in 1992.
Now, while playing music and jingles was always a strong part of WTIT, the main
ingredient was comedy. While the
jocks played the rocks songs of the era (see: WTIT Top Songs of the Decade), the
guys (and at time ladies) would create whatever comedy bit seemed to fit their
fancy. At times WTIT would perform spoofs of commercials, TV shows, movies &
the News. But in addition,
the WTIT DJs would talk and joke about their lives at that time, debated
politics and moaned about girlfriends, and later wives.
And later: divorces, remarriages, kids and jobs.
WTIT became a journal of the life of a group of friends.
These guys always were very close friends.
The first tape was recorded in May of 1967.
All tapes still exist, there aren’t any “lost” tapes and the
recordings span from 1967 to 2005 as of the inception of this web site.
The main difference between Bud’s creation of WTIT
and other kids who tried “Tape Radio” is that WTIT never ended. It morphed. While
friends change over time with all of us, during the nearly forty years of WTIT,
new jocks replaced the old. There
were even brief periods that the taping paused.
At times WTIT seemed to be
toast, only to have the whole Tape Radio thing start up again.
A good example of this was in 1982.
It had been a couple of years between tapes.
The group decided to have a 15th reunion/last tape show.
The tape number was 136. Within
a short period of time, the process started up all over again, but since the
last show included members flying in from across the country, new members were
recruited. There are nearly 575
tapes as of September of 2005.
BUD WITH THE NEWS, HUEY LEWIS
& the… (Star 104.1 1994)
Along with Bud, the “founding fathers” included Galloping Gary and Bouncing
Billy, “the Original Barefoot Boy”. These were 15-year-old kids.
While at first, a lot of others DJs contributed (see “WTIT Staff”) by
1968 the five main seats were filled. With
Bud, Gary & Bill, it would be Killer Joe and Johnnie Walker that would
complete the first “starring” DJ staff. This lineup would last six years. Bud’s first marriage was at the end of 1973.
Gary had finished college in Washington, D.C. and remained in the
Capitol. Gary returned quite a bit
and taped through the 15th Anniversary show in 1982.
Joe, already married and was to become a very famous PGA caddy and still
is on the tour today. Joe’s last tape was in 1974.
Johnnie & Billy decided to tour the country and left after Bud’s
wedding. Billy would return, but
Johnnie stayed in Colorado where he taught skiing.
By 1974, Killer Joe had left and would be replaced by
Gregarious Greg. Gary, while still
in D.C., returned often enough to keep “his seat warm and contribute.”
“Many” Miles took Johnnie Walker’s seat, although ironically would leave
by 1976 only to be replaced by Johnnie Walker who had returned with his wife to
Connecticut. Johnnie would never
give up his chair again. Along with
Bud Weiser, Johnnie would help navigate all the changes to come.
In 1977, WTIT held their 10th reunion (for former jocks) and
the staff was Bud Weiser, Johnnie Walker, Galloping Gary, Gregarious Greg and
Ken Kolt. Kolt had been taping on
and off since 1969, but now had basically grabbed Bouncing Billy’s seat.
No changes in staff wound occur until 1985.
The Infamous 1982 “Last Tape Show, 15th Anniversary Party”
would star Bud, Johnnie, Gary, Greg and Ken.
It would be Ken’s and Gary’s final tape.
Gary and his family were firmly settled in D.C.
There would be a falling out with Ken, whom would never return.
Gary (as of 2005) has never recorded bits with WTIT again, but did return
for Bud’s second wedding reception. (If at first you don’t succeed, try, try
again. Then quit.
No use being a idiot about it.) Our
current cast of DJ characters, at the wedding reception, really enjoyed meet a
“founding father”, Galloping Gary. You have to understand that most of the
current jocks only knew Gary through pictures and tapes. Bud made sure that the
official 1995 WTIT Staff Picture would be shot at this reception.
So along with 1995’s current DJs: Jon, Rock, Captain, Midnight, Harvey
& Bud; the picture included The Cosmic Commando and Galloping Gary.
In 1985, WTIT returned to taping on a weekly basis.
There were a lot of empty chairs. Bud
Weiser and Johnnie Walker were the only two remaining and new recruiting was in
order. In the meantime, Bud
contacted Bouncing Billy, because Billy still remained in the area, a high
ranking official in a local police department.
Billy returned for one last tape, with Bud and Johnnie, and the new
rookie, the Cosmic Commando, who would actually replace Bill.
Before 1985 ended, Bob Smirnoff would grab Gary’s vacant chair.
The empty chair, which once sat Killer Joe, and then Gregarious Greg,
would remain empty until 1986. In
January of 1986, B.B. Bacardi would join the group.
This line-up, of Bud, Johnnie, Cos, Bob & B.B., would be responsible
for a great deal of comedy because of the frequency of the sessions.
1987 was a huge year for WTIT. It was the 20th Anniversary and the group hit Tape 200.
In January of 1987, a 20th Anniversary/Tape 200 party was
held. Along with the current staff
of Bud, Johnnie, Cos, Bob and B.B., Gregarious Greg, and two contributors from
the sixties, Carter B. and Teddy Q would spend a memorable night with a guest,
Moonbeam. What was not known at the time was that while taping Tape
200; Bob Smirnoff would announce his intention to quit. Bob was changing jobs and travel was involved.
Something had to give, and it turned out it was WTIT.
Bob would do a couple of surprise visits in 1987 & 1988, but was
essentially done.
Before 1987 finished, Rock Rolling took Bob’s place.
Rock’s brother, the Midnight Plowboy would become a contributor by
1988. In 1988, B.B. literally
vanished. No one at WTIT ever heard
from him since, and to this day it is unknown what became of him.
While there was a big push for Midnight to become a regular, his
commitments to a huge local Hartford rock band, prohibited it.
A business partner of Rock’s, Mic Dry, took B.B.’s place.
It would not be long though, before WTIT lost an important member.
The Cosmic Commando would be promoted in his job and move.
By 1990, Mic left both WTIT and Rock’s business.
A friend of the Midnight Plowboy’s, Captain Morgan, would replace Cos.
B.B.’s chair was another story. Sam
Buca was recruited and contributed, but never “signed up”. As fate would have it, Midnight left his band and became a
member. Harvey Wallbanger would
join in 1993, and for the first time WTIT carried six members.
Harvey, still a very close friend of Bud’s, would move to Atlanta in
1995 after Bud’s second wedding. Harvey
is a very successful artist in Atlanta.
In 1997 a 30th Anniversary Party would be held.
Ironicly, it would be the last tape from what was known as The Turnbull
Studio, because Bud’s second marriage was ending.
Midnight and Captain were taping more sporadically by then.
The line-up on the 30th Anniversary Show was Bud Weiser,
Johnnie Walker, The Cosmic Commando, Rock Rolling and Gregarious Greg.
Today the driving force of WTIT is Bud, Rock and Johnnie.
There are rumors of Midnight’s return.
The interesting part is that you never know.
Some important comedy is still churning out.
Comedy CD’s are available for purchase.
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