Walter Schane, Member of 'Singing Millmen', on Phone in Benwood Works Office
Date:
Undated
Description:
Caption accompanying photograph reads: "Walter Schane from the office of the Benwood Works has been a Wheeling Steelmaker for 18 years. His is the fine baritone voice of the Singing Millmen, who sing on the family broadcast every Sunday. On Show since 1936, now in Singing Millmen 1943." The Singing Millmen were performers on the "Wheeling Musical Steelmakers" radio broadcast.
Walter Schane, Member of 'Singing Millmen', at Microphone on 'It's Wheeling Steel'
Date:
Undated
Description:
Walter Schane was the baritone voice of the Singing Millmen and also worked in the office of the Benwood Works. Like all who participated on the radio broadcast, you needed to be an employee or immediate family member of Wheeling Steel.
Croatian Tambouritza Orchestra Playing on 'It's Wheeling Steel' Radio Broadcast
Date:
Undated
Description:
Caption accompanying photograph reads: "The Croatian Tambouritza Orchestra numbers six youthful members, two of whom work for the corporation, the remaining four being children of mill employees." Like all who worked for the broadcast, it was required to be an employee of Wheeling Steel or an immediate family member of an employee.
Verdi Gwynn Howell, Machinist in Wheeling's Tin Mill, and Saxophonist in Steelmaker's Orchestra
Date:
Undated
Description:
Caption accompanying photograph reads: "Verdi Gwynn Howell, machinist in Wheeling's tin mill at Yorkville, Ohio. Howell, born in Wales came to the U.S. in 1926. He was the first saxophonist in the Steelmaker's Orchestra. Howell played a solo on one "It's Wheeling Steel" broadcast which his mother in Wales listened to over a U.S. station."
Verdi Howells Operating Machinery in Yorkville, OH
Date:
Undated
Description:
Caption accompanying photograph reads: "Verdi Howells is a machinist at Yorkville, is first saxophonist of The Musical Steelmakers Orchestra, has saved the money made while broadcasting for the corporation, and will go home to visit his mother in Wales this summer." He was an orchestra member since 1936 to November 1943. All participants on the "It's Wheeling Steel" radio broadcast were required to be employees of Wheeling Steel Corporation or immediate family members.
John Wisvari Threading Pipes at Benwood Works, Benwood, W. Va.
Date:
Undated
Description:
Caption accompanying photo reads: "John Wisvari is a pipe-threader from the Benwood Works, plays violin, and directs his "Family" orchestra which he calls "The Polka Kings"." The Polka Kings were musicians who played on "It's Wheeling Steel" radio broadcast.
'It's Wheeling Steel' Radio Broadcast Performer, Regina Colbert, Singing at the Microphone
Date:
Undated
Description:
Caption on back of photograph reads: "Regina Colbert is the program's "Singing Secretary", and she lives up to both halves of the title. Featured soloist on Sundays, she is part of the company's secretarial staff weekdays." It was a requirement set by Wheeling Steel Corporation advertising executive John L. Grimes, that the radio broadcast stay an exclusively all employee program. Therefore, Colbert who was not at the time an employee or immediate family member, was hired to work as secretary in the advertising department to maintain this rule.
Caption on back of photograph reads: "Typical Wheeling family, the Evans household has an extra incentive to keep war production rolling. Brother Bill is in the Navy, serving in the South Pacific, and the arrival of a letter from him is a big event in the Evans home. The father, has been a steel roller for 29 years."
Lew Davies, Conductor and Composer of the Musical Steelmarkers Orchestra
Date:
Undated
Description:
Caption on back of photograph reads: "Lew Davies, conductor of the "Musical Steelmakers" orchestra and chorus, writes most of the musical arrangements himself. Helping him in this department are John Hahle, guitarist; Maury Longfellow of the production staff; and Gene Ahlers, trumpeter." The Musical Steelmakers were the orchestra who performed on Wheeling Steel Co.'s radio broadcast "It's Wheeling Steel", an all employee broadcast used to advertise both Wheeling Steel's product offerings as well as their large staff.
Portsmouth Works Male Chorus, Headliners on 'It's Wheeling Steel' Radio Broadcast
Date:
Undated
Description:
Caption accompanying photograph reads: "Here is the Portsmouth Works Male chorus who headline on the family broadcast now from their home town. Organized about the time the family broadcast started, interest has increased due to the opportunity of a nation wide outlet for their talent."
Dave Kemp Singing Bass on 'It's Wheeling Steel' Radio Broadcast
Date:
Undated
Description:
Like all who perform or worked on the "It's Wheeling Steel" Radio Broadcast, Dave Kemp was employed by the company at the Steubenville Works. It was a requirement to be employed or to be an immediate family member of the Wheeling Steel Corporation in order to work on the radio broadcast. This way they could advertise both the company's products as well as it's employees talents, which created a family environment.
