Caption on back of photograph reads: "When the Musical Steelmakers are heard each Sunday, starting October 5, over at Station ___ at ___ o'clock these three pretty singers, the Steel Sisters, will help add to the gaiety and tunefulness of the programs. They are, from the left, Lois Mae Nolte, Harriet Drake, and Lucille Bell. Like other members Musical Steelmakers troupe they are either employees in the steel industry or members of employee families." The first all employee broadcast. The Steel Sisters eventually gained so much recognition that they went on tour with Horace Heidt and his orchestra.
Singing Mill Men, Stay In's of "It's Wheeling Steel" Radio Broadcast, Wheeling, W. Va.
Date:
Undated
Description:
Two of the mill men share coffee, still in their work clothes, after receiving a call to come from the mill to the main office for rehearsal right away. They were preparing to go to Chicago for a war bond program. See original photograph for further description.
Caption on back of photograph reads: "Molly Staten and Eleanor Bowman Lynn rehearsed several weeks on their piano duet. They are stenographers from the main office of Wheeling Steel Company." Like all performers and employees on the "It's Wheeling Steel" broadcast, all were also employees or family members of the Wheeling Steel Corporation. They were radio's first all employee only broadcast.
Several People Waiting to Audition for 'It's Wheeling Steel' Broadcast
Date:
Undated
Description:
Caption on back of photograph reads: "For headlining appearances, auditions for mill workers and members of their immediate families are held every few weeks at the studios of WWVA. Of course, due to the standard set for our program, all that are auditioned can not be presented. The standard set is inferred to be that of the broadcasting station's, thereby relieving the corporation of discrimination."
Group of Musicians Auditioning for 'It's Wheeling Steel' Program
Date:
Undated
Description:
Everyone pictured is either an employee of the Wheeling Steel Corporation or is an immediate family member of someone who works for them. This family owned and operated broadcast was the first of it's kind and this policy was maintained throughout the broadcast's existence.
Ed Kostillo Headlining 'It's Wheeling Steel' Radio Broadcast
Date:
Undated
Description:
Ed Kostillo from the pipe mills of the Benwood Works started playing his harmonica to entertain his fellow mill men during lunch hour. Later he won a headliner appearance on the family broadcast with the entire steelmakers orchestra accompanying him.
The brass band of the Martins Ferry Factory had made several headliner appearances on "It's Wheeling Steel" radio program, all of which have stimulated added interest in rehearsals, increased their membership, and assisted in the purchase of new uniforms.
