When the newfangled gizmo called the television erupted onto the electronic scene in the late 1940s, it swept grayscale images into America’s living rooms, spewing forth comedies, dramas, news programs and commercials into the national psyche. These 20 nostalgic questions revolve around the evolution of television in the earlier days of Erie, Pennsylvania. Not only is this quiz nostalgic for local viewers, most of it was compiled between 1987 and 1992, so this set of questions offers a double nostalgic dose due to its age.

The answers can be found below the questions.

1. What TV station featured a wooden dummy assisting the weatherman in the 1970s? Bonus – A. What was the dummy’s name? B. What was the weather guy’s name?

2. Which TV and radio personality hosted a weekly late night horror movie on WJET TV in the ’70s?

3. What local DJ was on the air the most number of years consecutively?

4. What was the first TV station in Erie? Bonus – Fill in the blank of this station’s old slogan: Erie’s ____________ station.

5. Which radio station was “Erie’s music leader” in the ’80s?

6. What four call letters belonged to the Erie radio station with this slogan in the ’60s: “With _ _ _ _ you go go go!”

7. What was the name of the host who starred in a popular kids program on WICU TV in the ’60s?

8. What was the name of the popular kids TV show that aired on WJET TV during the same era?

9. What uniform did weatherman Vance McBryde wear while mapping out Erie’s forecast on WICU in the 1950s?

10. Who co-anchored WICU news with Hyle Richmond in the 1960s?

11. When WJET TV signed onto the air for the first time in 1966, what sort of marathon did that station air?

12. When Rocket 101 signed onto the air in the early 1990s, what sort of music did that station play on the air for weeks before it was officially up and running?

13. What was the first college radio station in Erie? Bonus – What do that station’s call letters stand for?

14. Which WSEE TV sports anchor went on to become a state level politician?

15. What were Channel 66’s call letters prior to emerging as WFXP in 1998? Bonus – What did those call letters stand for?

16. In the early 1970s, which radio host signed off nightly by saying, “Blue skies and green lights, peace. It’s 12 midnight.” Bonus – What was his real name?

17. What are the call letters of the ’70s underground FM station which was formerly positioned on frequency 102.3?

18. Who is the former WSEE anchorman who went on to work for C-Span?

19. Name the fictional overnight pre-recorded host on WJET 1400 AM in the 1960s.

20. In 1986, which TV anchorwoman was named best dressed woman in Erie by the Times Publishing Company’s “Sunday Magazine?”

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1. WJET-TV — Bob Tupper was the weather personality, and Skeebert Skeedaddle was the wooden dummy.

2. Jim Cook was the illustrious host of “Chiller Theater.”

3. Frank Martin, “The Morning Mayor,” entertained Erie listeners for over 50 years.

4. WICU, one of the oldest TV stations in the country, was previously known as “Erie’s Pioneer Station.”  (Opinionated bonus question: Please explain why WICU, which touts one of the best sets of call letters in the nation, does not promotionally utilize its letters as in the phrase, “I see you.”)

5. K-104 promoted itself as “Erie’s music leader” in the 1980s.

6. WWGO

7. A bearded gentleman known as Pappy hosted “The Pappy Show” on WICU. This author was filled with glee when she learned she would appear on “The Pappy Show” for her fourth birthday! Unfortunately, Pappy didn’t make it to work that day, and the show was hosted by a Bozo wannabe.

8. “Time For Bob” was the name of this local kids program on WJET-TV. The words to the theme song went something like this: “Tick tock tick tock, listen to the happy clock, tick tock tick tock, it’s time for Bob. Big hand on the six, the little hand is on the four, that’s the time to open up the door.”

9. Atlantic. Their jingle was, “For business, for pleasure, in any kind of weather, Atlantic keeps your car on the go….”At that time, one of Atlantic’s biggest competitors was Texaco, whose jingle was, “You can trust your car to the man who wears the star, the big, bright Texaco star.”

10. Ned McGrath

11. A non-stop movie marathon, which was a delightful change of pace for many area viewers.

12. All Beatles’ songs were played around the clock for many weeks without commercials or any other breaks.

13. WERG was initially on frequency 89.1 FM when it signed on in early 1973. It was then relocated to 89.9 in the late 1970s, prior to moving to 90.5 FM in 2006. The call letters stand for W – Erie – Radio – Gannon.

Jim Griffey, on-air personality during WERG’s early days

14. Al Benedict, who went on to become Pennsylvania Auditor General. That was before he pleaded guilty to federal racketeering and tax charges.

15. WETG – Before UHF frequency 66 became a Fox affiliate, it was W – Erie – Television – Gannon, owned and operated by Gannon University.

16. Ronny G, who was the evening host on WJET-AM 1400 when it was a Top 40 music station. This lively host’s real name was Ron Seggi.

17. WMDI – This was a purely underground station when FM was in its infancy in the early 1970s. It played an eclectic collection of music, including uncut Frank Zappa album masterpieces and “Jesus Christ Superstar” with little or no interruption.

18. Steve Scully

19. This non-existent radio personality was named “Al Knight.” Even though it wasn’t an actual person, many people enjoyed listening to Al’s overnight show because both TV and radio stations typically signed off the air every night, and cable TV was still a few years away.

20. Lisa Adams

Watch a great music video featuring local scenery, performed by Xtine’s all-female group, Hey Baby! 1998-1999