Scrapbook - Page 8 

The Gene Vassall Collection

Thanks to former WFIL General Sales Manager, Gene Vassall for sharing pictures from his personal collection.

 Click any thumbnail to view the full image.

 

starr1.jpg (79476 bytes)sales1.jpg (35429 bytes)DDR.jpg (77200 bytes)Goldnugget.jpg (103124 bytes)Jaws.jpg (100325 bytes)

banana1.jpg (52169 bytes)Mustang1.jpg (81606 bytes)Mustang2.jpg (166780 bytes)Mustang3.jpg (82378 bytes)banana2.jpg (33776 bytes)

chicks1.jpg (50206 bytes)chicks2.jpg (69298 bytes)chicks3.jpg (70299 bytes)chicks4.jpg (48012 bytes)chicks6.jpg (46554 bytes)

chicks5.jpg (50456 bytes)rizzo.jpg (58655 bytes)robot1.jpg (75818 bytes)Robot.jpg (89518 bytes)winterbus.jpg (43910 bytes)

autos.jpg (44373 bytes)Bus.jpg (131075 bytes)boatniks.jpg (56336 bytes)prizepatrols.jpg (57447 bytes)mobileband.jpg (54079 bytes)

mcvan.jpg (58904 bytes)frizbee.jpg (54910 bytes)furcaper.jpg (60847 bytes)george.jpg (71665 bytes)helloween1.jpg (50438 bytes)

Lennonvas1.jpg (71057 bytes)Lennonvas2.jpg (60543 bytes)lennon.jpg (50414 bytes)lennon2.jpg (44613 bytes)steel.jpg (47688 bytes)

Cookob.jpg (59570 bytes)obrien.jpg (71799 bytes)obrien2.jpg (82194 bytes)obrien3.jpg (67124 bytes)obrien5.jpg (70976 bytes)

obrien4.jpg (50870 bytes)obrien6.jpg (28789 bytes)obrien7.jpg (61396 bytes)WFILRacetrackPromotion1974-A (1280x561).jpg (709295 bytes)

Gene passed away on October 17, 2019. 

Before his passing, he shared a great story with me about his days at WFIL...

"I remember that date (September 18, 1966)  like it was yesterday. Prior to that, the station was on the bottom and I had to sell it with zero numbers.  If you did not know, here is what happened. Walter Annenberg was at a function and someone there mentioned to him precisely  how bad the  programming was at WFIL.  He actually had very little  interest in the AM or FM stations.. The TV was doing superb...and the AM  actually made money. What helped me get a lot of sales? Annenberg also owned the Philadelphia Inquirer and the Daily news, and we were allowed to place ads in both papers."Listen to WFIL for special sale at ACME  this weekend". And I would get clients on TV shows such as Debbie Adams " Features For Women", Connie Roussin  and "Dialing For Dollars". Then the TV stars would make appearances for me. Sally Starr, Chief Halftown, Larry Ferrari, Happy the Clown and Wee Willie Webber.  Anyway, Annenberg was offended by the remark about the poor programming. He called Roger Clipp and ordered  him to do something. Clipp talked to our National Rep, The Blair  Co. They  recommended a Program Consultant named Michael  Joseph. Michael  Joseph came in, did a study of the market and determined that the only format was ROCK. He said WIBG was too sloppy and loose and could be knocked off. He also interviewed the AM  station manager, sales manager and all 8 of the AM salesmen, to determine if they could adjust to ROCK music. He fired the station manager, Gene McCurdy, the sales manager,  Hal Simmonds, the program director and 5 of the salesmen. He kept Tom Monaghan, John Barbieri and myself.  He had me moved up to General Sales Manager. Our first full year we did 3 million in profit, and I was on an override and made $107,000.00. The next two years were even better, until DeCaro stumbled on my income and cut me back. But I made up the difference by increasing sales."

 

 

 

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