'It's Wheeling Steel' Radio Show Producer Maury Longfellow
Date:
Undated
Description:
"It's Wheeling Steel" was a radio broadcast used to advertise Wheeling Steel Corporation products and their talented employees. The entire operation was ran by employees or immediate family members of the company, the first all employee broadcast.
Performers Dressed as Candy Stripers Preparing to Perform With the Musical Steelmakers Orchestra
Date:
Undated
Description:
The Musical Steelmakers were the orchestra that performed on "It's Wheeling Steel" radio broadcast on NBC's Blue Network. Note the flag behind the performers on stage. The blue stars represented people who were serving in the war, and a gold star represented those who died in service.
'The Old Timer' John Winchcoll and Lois Mae Nolte, Host and Performer on 'It's Wheeling Steel' Radio Broadcast
Date:
Undated
Description:
Caption on back of photograph reads: "John Winchcoll, the "Old Timer", and Lois Mae Nolte, singing mistress of ceremonies, have been with the "Musical Steelmakers" series from the start. Winchcoll, an auditor with the company, is a veteran employee, who was chosen as representative of the typical Wheeling employee. Miss Nolte, though only 19, has been on the show in all its seven years, first as one of the Steel Sisters, later as a soloist."
Margaret June Evans, Performer on 'It's Wheeling Steel', Seated at Piano
Date:
Undated
Description:
Caption accompanying photograph reads: "Shown seated at the piano during a rehearsal of the "Musical Steelmakers", heard Sundays on the Blue network at 5:30 pm, e.w.t., is Margaret June Evans, eldest member of the three Evans Sisters, vocal trio heard during each broadcast of the program. Miss Evans, whose father has worked for the sponsoring company as a steel roller for 29 years, was recently crowned "Miss West Va." by Carl C. Wayman, Commander of the nation's first American Legion Post, located in Wheeling."
John L. Grimes, Man Behind 'Musical Steelmakers', Playing Piano
Date:
Undated
Description:
Caption accompanying photograph reads: "Man behind the "Musical Steelmakers" is J.L. Grimes, advertising manager of Wheeling Steel. He thought of the program in the first place, and is in active charge now, producing the show, choosing the music, and auditioning talent from the ranks of the employees and their families." It was a requirement to be an employee or immediate family member of Wheeling Steel Corporation in order to perform or work on the radio broadcast.
