 | ||||
Rudy on Duty
His interest in radio began while a junior at Ithaca High School. He built the areas first “pirate”
radio station, WVLR,”the voice of the Little Red” at 95.5 on the FM dial. While attending Ithaca
College, he was a DJ at WITJ in 1954 (now WICB) Ithaca, NY. Worked as a part time DJ at WKRT in Cortland, WMBO in Auburn, WHCU in Ithaca and staff announcer for Rural Radio Network in Ithaca.
Upon graduation from Ithaca College, he helped construct two New York State radio stations,
WTKO in Ithaca, where he was Assistant General Manager, and WAUB in Auburn where he was
General Manager and morning host;.
At WKBW radio in Buffalo, New York, he was a newscaster and on WKBW-TV hosted a farm program.
His final move in 1961 was back to Ithaca and WHCU/WHCU-FM, where he held various positions including
announcer, sales manager, morning host and General Manager. He retired from WHCU/WYXL, in 1988, but his
many fans urged him to return to the air waves.
So he put together THE RUDY PAOLANGELI PROGRAM, a “Musical Trip Down Memory Lane”,
still heard every Sunday from 10:07am-12 noon on AM 870, FM 95.9 and 103.7 HD 3.
The program is also repeated coast-to-coast and around-the-world 24/7 by logging on to rudyonduty.com
While working full time at WHCU, he was also a part-time faculty member at the Ithaca College School of
Communications from 1963-1983. He taught everything from announcing to station management.
He also served as Radio Director for student stations WICB and WVIC, and Faculty Adviser for Alpha Epsilon
Rho, the National Broadcasting Honorary Society.
From his home audio production and broadcast studio, RP MEDIA, he produces syndicated music
programs and commercials, and volunteers his time and facilities to produce radio public service
announcements for over 40 local non-profit agencies.
He is a member of the Broadcasters Foundation of America.
He was recipient of several local awards:
THE ITHACA JOURNAL GRACEFUL GIVING AWARD for producing radio PSA’s for local agencies...
THE ROBERT J. UPLINGER DISTINQUISED SERVICE AWARD from the New York State
Lions Club Foundation for outstanding contributions to Ithaca radio and the community...
THE EXEMPLARY SERVICE AWARD from the Tompkins County Public Library for producing
radio PSA’s....
VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR from Ithaca Neighborhood Services for dedication and service to
the community...
GEORGE PINE, Communications '72, a former student of his at Ithaca College, paid tribute to him
twice for his invaluable contributions and dedication to the College and its students, and his life long
broadcasting career that made him an Ithaca institution.
2002 The Ithaca College James J. Whalen CENTER FOR MUSIC "Jazz Studio " named in his
honor, and The 2011 Ithaca College ATHLETICS & EVENTS CENTER "Wall Of Honor" plaque in the
Wolfgruber VIP room.
Rudy says “I’ve been in this wonderful broadcasting business for over 50 years and it’s been a labor
of love. I am so fortunate to continue doing in retirement, what I did most of my life ....
radio broadcasting! My advice to future broadcasters: find a job you love, and you’ll never work
a day in your life. I DID!”
More about Rudy....
A few of Rudy's Antique Microphones
Control Room
Studio
Lobby
Top Shelf - ALTEC 639 B
2nd row - RCA 44BX SENIOR VELOCITY RCA 74B JUNIOR VELOCITY WESTERN ELECTRIC 630A (8 Ball) RCA 77 DX
3rd row - ALTEC 633A (Salt Shaker) ELECTROVOICE 664 4th row - Shure 545 Unidyne III
RP MEDIA
Audio Production & Broadcast Studio
324 South Geneva Street
Ithaca, New York 14850
(607) 273-5773
1948 Rudy's Pirate Radio Station
1951 WKRT Cortland, NY
at Cortland County Fair
1952 WHCU Ithaca, NY
hosting " Coca Cola Calling"
1953 Rural Radio Network, Ithaca, NY
Staff Announcer
1956 WTKO Ithaca, NY Morning Host & Assistant Manager
1958 WKBW Buffalo, NY Newscaster
1960 WAUB Auburn, NY
Morning Host & General Manager
1963 WHCU Ithaca, NY Afternoon DJ
Remember PING PONG BALL DROP promotions? In 1960, when I was General Manager and Morning Host at WAUB in Auburn,
New York, I proposed to the Auburn Chamber Of Commerce, a PING PONG BALL DROP during Downtown Sidewalk Dollar Days.
They loved it! It also included my "count down to drop" live broadcast from a Piper Cub Airplane flying above Genesee Street
in downtown Auburn. To keep the crowd informed of take off, arrival and drop, merchants set up radios on the sidewalks tuned to
WAUB, creating a huge PA system.
Thousands of PING PONG BALLS were dropped, many stuffed with certificates for valuable prizes donated by merchants.
That's me in the Piper Cub airplane flying very low over Genesee Street! (NOTE: the plane was flying lower than the tallest
downtown building!)
Thousands of people showed up, the largest crowd ever, making it the most memorable and successful downtown Auburn promotion.
MY MOST MEMORABLE MOMENTS IN RADIO #1
by Rudy Paolangeli
#2
#3
#4
Rod Serling was a visiting professor at the Ithaca College School Of Communications
and was a regular listener to WHCU.
In September 1965, I was hosting the afternoon drive program on WHCU, when Rod
dropped by to say hello. I told Rod how much my five children loved his TWILIGHT
ZONE TV program, and would he give them his autograph.
This is what he wrote:
I always wanted to see my name in lights!
1954 DJ at WITJ (now WICB Ithaca, NY)
THE PAOLANGELI FAMILY (Christmas 2010)
1st ROW: Tom, Dan, Michael & Pat Paolangeli, David Compton
2nd : Jeremiah Ballard, Pat & Dan Paolangeli, Graham Duke
3rd : Melissa Cohen, Patricia Paolangeli, Kathy Ballard, Cookie, Rudy & Kate Paolangeli
4th : Alex Paolangeli, Paul Cohen, Tim & Robin Paolangeli, Brittany & Adam Birchenough
Click on links below for more information about Rudy’s sponsors:
Since January 1, 2011, there have been nearly 5,000 visitors* to Rudy's web site from all over the world!
*realtracker.com
“RUDY ON DUTY” at his home studio at 324 South Geneva Street in Ithaca, New York
RP MEDIA is a professional recording and broadcast studio, producing commercials and syndicated
radio programs, including “THE RUDY PAOLANGELI PROGRAM” heard 10:07am-12noon
on AM 870 WHCU, FM 95.9 and 103.7 HD-3 in Ithaca and repeated coast-to-coast and around
the world 24/7 by logging on to rudyonduty.com
If you have any questions or comments, contact Rudy at rpmedia@twcny.rr.com.
“DISCOVER ITHACA” is a must DVD for visitors and new residents
Available at Gift Shops in the Ithaca area
For more information about the ‘DISCOVER ITHACA” DVD, log on to
Protect your home or business with VIDEO SURVEILANCE on the Internet from anywhere in the world!
Contact IMAGE MASTERS for a free, no obligation consultation. support@imagemastersonline.com
