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It's Wheeling Steel was a musical radio program created by John L. Grimes in 1936 after 6 prior years of planning and persuading company executives. The program was monumental because it was ran fully by the talents of employees or family members of employees. The broadcast promoted both Wheeling Steel's product as well as it's employees who assisted in creating the product. As the program became more and more successful, Grimes began to hire performers with professional backgrounds, like Regina Colbert. However, in order to comply with his rule of an all employee only run program, he would hire these professionals to work in the offices for a period of time. In Colbert's case, she was hired to work as a secretary in the advertising department.

1. Regina Colbert Singing on 'It's Wheeling Steel' Radio Program

IDNO:
048493
Title:
Regina Colbert Singing on 'It's Wheeling Steel' Radio Program
Date:
1941/07/25
Description:
It's Wheeling Steel was a musical radio program created by John L. Grimes in 1936 after 6 prior years of planning and persuading company executives. The program was monumental because it was ran fully by the talents of employees or family members of employees. The broadcast promoted both Wheeling Steel's product as well as it's employees who assisted in creating the product. As the program became more and more successful, Grimes began to hire performers with professional backgrounds, like Regina Colbert. However, in order to comply with his rule of an all employee only run program, he would hire these professionals to work in the offices for a period of time. In Colbert's case, she was hired to work as a secretary in the advertising department.
The Rhythm Rangers were radio stars on the "It's Wheeling Steel" radio broadcast, which was created in 1936 by Wheeling Steel Corporation advertising executive John L. Grimes. The radio broadcast was ran and operated by company employees and family members, the first of it's kind to utilize this model. This free, live performance, at the National Cornhusking Championship in Marshall, Missouri was a way to advertise the broadcast to a broader audience as well as to promote their products to farmers in the area.

2. Crowd Outside of Wheeling Corrugating Co. Tent Listening to Rhythm Rangers Performance at National Cornhusking Championship, Marshall, MO

IDNO:
048494
Title:
Crowd Outside of Wheeling Corrugating Co. Tent Listening to Rhythm Rangers Performance at National Cornhusking Championship, Marshall, MO
Date:
1937
Description:
The Rhythm Rangers were radio stars on the "It's Wheeling Steel" radio broadcast, which was created in 1936 by Wheeling Steel Corporation advertising executive John L. Grimes. The radio broadcast was ran and operated by company employees and family members, the first of it's kind to utilize this model. This free, live performance, at the National Cornhusking Championship in Marshall, Missouri was a way to advertise the broadcast to a broader audience as well as to promote their products to farmers in the area.
The Rhythm Rangers were radio stars on the "It's Wheeling Steel" radio broadcast, which was created in 1936 by Wheeling Steel Corporation advertising executive John L. Grimes. The radio broadcast was ran and operated by company employees and family members, the first of it's kind to utilize this model. This free, live performance, at the National Cornhusking Championship in Marshall, Missouri was a way to advertise the broadcast to a broader audience as well as to promote their products to farmers in the area.

3. Group of Men Holding Wheeling Flags Standing Outside of Wheeling Corrugating Co. Tent at National Cornhusking Championship, Marshall, MO

IDNO:
048495
Title:
Group of Men Holding Wheeling Flags Standing Outside of Wheeling Corrugating Co. Tent at National Cornhusking Championship, Marshall, MO
Date:
1937
Description:
The Rhythm Rangers were radio stars on the "It's Wheeling Steel" radio broadcast, which was created in 1936 by Wheeling Steel Corporation advertising executive John L. Grimes. The radio broadcast was ran and operated by company employees and family members, the first of it's kind to utilize this model. This free, live performance, at the National Cornhusking Championship in Marshall, Missouri was a way to advertise the broadcast to a broader audience as well as to promote their products to farmers in the area.
The Rhythm Rangers were radio stars on the "It's Wheeling Steel" radio broadcast, which was created in 1936 by Wheeling Steel Corporation advertising executive John L. Grimes. The radio broadcast was ran and operated by company employees and family members, the first of it's kind to utilize this model. This free, live performance, at the National Cornhusking Championship in Marshall, Missouri was a way to advertise the broadcast to a broader audience as well as to promote their products to farmers in the area.

4. Crowd Outside of Wheeling Corrugating Co. Tent Listening to Rhythm Rangers Performance at National Cornhusking Championship, Marshall, MO

IDNO:
048496
Title:
Crowd Outside of Wheeling Corrugating Co. Tent Listening to Rhythm Rangers Performance at National Cornhusking Championship, Marshall, MO
Date:
1937
Description:
The Rhythm Rangers were radio stars on the "It's Wheeling Steel" radio broadcast, which was created in 1936 by Wheeling Steel Corporation advertising executive John L. Grimes. The radio broadcast was ran and operated by company employees and family members, the first of it's kind to utilize this model. This free, live performance, at the National Cornhusking Championship in Marshall, Missouri was a way to advertise the broadcast to a broader audience as well as to promote their products to farmers in the area.
The Rhythm Rangers were radio stars on the "It's Wheeling Steel" radio broadcast, which was created in 1936 by Wheeling Steel Corporation advertising executive John L. Grimes. The radio broadcast was ran and operated by company employees and family members, the first of it's kind to utilize this model. This free, live performance, at the National Cornhusking Championship in Marshall, Missouri was a way to advertise the broadcast to a broader audience as well as to promote their products to farmers in the area.

5. Crowd Outside of Wheeling Corrugating Co. Tent Listening to Rhythm Rangers Performance at National Cornhusking Championship, Marshall, MO

IDNO:
048497
Title:
Crowd Outside of Wheeling Corrugating Co. Tent Listening to Rhythm Rangers Performance at National Cornhusking Championship, Marshall, MO
Date:
1937
Description:
The Rhythm Rangers were radio stars on the "It's Wheeling Steel" radio broadcast, which was created in 1936 by Wheeling Steel Corporation advertising executive John L. Grimes. The radio broadcast was ran and operated by company employees and family members, the first of it's kind to utilize this model. This free, live performance, at the National Cornhusking Championship in Marshall, Missouri was a way to advertise the broadcast to a broader audience as well as to promote their products to farmers in the area.
Caption on back of photograph reads: "Music was played in every station where the train stopped long enough for the purpose." These musicians are likely the Rhythm Rangers, performers on the "It's Wheeling Steel" radio program which was created in 1936 by Wheeling Steel advertising executive John L. Grimes. The program was ran and operated exclusively by employees and immediate family members of the Wheeling Steel Corporation, the first radio broadcast to use this model. The program was used to promote both the company's product as well as it's employees.

6. Musicians Playing Outside of Wheeling, W. Va. Train Traveling to or From National Cornhusking Championship in Marshall, MO

IDNO:
048498
Title:
Musicians Playing Outside of Wheeling, W. Va. Train Traveling to or From National Cornhusking Championship in Marshall, MO
Date:
1937
Description:
Caption on back of photograph reads: "Music was played in every station where the train stopped long enough for the purpose." These musicians are likely the Rhythm Rangers, performers on the "It's Wheeling Steel" radio program which was created in 1936 by Wheeling Steel advertising executive John L. Grimes. The program was ran and operated exclusively by employees and immediate family members of the Wheeling Steel Corporation, the first radio broadcast to use this model. The program was used to promote both the company's product as well as it's employees.
These musicians are likely the Rhythm Rangers, performers on the "It's Wheeling Steel" radio program which was created in 1936 by Wheeling Steel advertising executive John L. Grimes. The program was ran and operated exclusively by employees and immediate family members of the Wheeling Steel Corporation, the first radio broadcast to use this model. The program was used to promote both the company's product as well as it's employees.

7. Musicians Playing Outside of Wheeling, W. Va. Train Traveling to or From National Cornhusking Championship in Marshall, MO

IDNO:
048499
Title:
Musicians Playing Outside of Wheeling, W. Va. Train Traveling to or From National Cornhusking Championship in Marshall, MO
Date:
1937
Description:
These musicians are likely the Rhythm Rangers, performers on the "It's Wheeling Steel" radio program which was created in 1936 by Wheeling Steel advertising executive John L. Grimes. The program was ran and operated exclusively by employees and immediate family members of the Wheeling Steel Corporation, the first radio broadcast to use this model. The program was used to promote both the company's product as well as it's employees.
These musicians are likely the Rhythm Rangers, performers on the "It's Wheeling Steel" radio program which was created in 1936 by Wheeling Steel advertising executive John L. Grimes. The program was ran and operated exclusively by employees and immediate family members of the Wheeling Steel Corporation, the first radio broadcast to use this model. The program was used to promote both the company's product as well as it's employees.

8. Crowd at Train Station Listening to Musicians From Wheeling, W. Va. in Midst of Traveling to or From National Cornhusking Championship in Marshall, MO

IDNO:
048500
Title:
Crowd at Train Station Listening to Musicians From Wheeling, W. Va. in Midst of Traveling to or From National Cornhusking Championship in Marshall, MO
Date:
1937
Description:
These musicians are likely the Rhythm Rangers, performers on the "It's Wheeling Steel" radio program which was created in 1936 by Wheeling Steel advertising executive John L. Grimes. The program was ran and operated exclusively by employees and immediate family members of the Wheeling Steel Corporation, the first radio broadcast to use this model. The program was used to promote both the company's product as well as it's employees.
Wheeling Steel Corporation brought performers and company products to this event to help promote their "It's Wheeling Steel" radio broadcast to a broader audience, as well as to show off their farming equipment. This broadcast was ran and operated by company employees and family members, the first of its kind to utilize this model. It was used to promote both the company product and it's employees.

9. Child Wearing Wheeling, W. Va. Hat at National Cornhusking Championship in Marshall, MO

IDNO:
048501
Title:
Child Wearing Wheeling, W. Va. Hat at National Cornhusking Championship in Marshall, MO
Date:
1937
Description:
Wheeling Steel Corporation brought performers and company products to this event to help promote their "It's Wheeling Steel" radio broadcast to a broader audience, as well as to show off their farming equipment. This broadcast was ran and operated by company employees and family members, the first of its kind to utilize this model. It was used to promote both the company product and it's employees.
"It's Wheeling Steel" radio broadcast took their show on the road to this event to help raise awareness for their program as well as to promote the company's products to farmers at the event. The radio program began one year prior in 1936 because of company advertising executive John L. Grimes who wanted to create a program to advertise both the product and the employees who created the product. The program was operated exclusively by company employees and immediate family members, the first radio broadcast of this kind.

10. Group Boarding Wheeling, W. Va. Train Traveling to or From National Cornhusking Championship in Marshall, MO

IDNO:
048502
Title:
Group Boarding Wheeling, W. Va. Train Traveling to or From National Cornhusking Championship in Marshall, MO
Date:
1937
Description:
"It's Wheeling Steel" radio broadcast took their show on the road to this event to help raise awareness for their program as well as to promote the company's products to farmers at the event. The radio program began one year prior in 1936 because of company advertising executive John L. Grimes who wanted to create a program to advertise both the product and the employees who created the product. The program was operated exclusively by company employees and immediate family members, the first radio broadcast of this kind.
Caption on back of photograph reads: "Some of these pictures were taken the day before the contest when exhibits were being arranged and the crowds hadn't arrived."

11. Wheeling Corrugating Co. Tent at National Cornhusking Championship in Marshall, MO

IDNO:
048503
Title:
Wheeling Corrugating Co. Tent at National Cornhusking Championship in Marshall, MO
Date:
1937
Description:
Caption on back of photograph reads: "Some of these pictures were taken the day before the contest when exhibits were being arranged and the crowds hadn't arrived."
Caption on back of photograph reads: "The sign was placed on our car and remained on from Pittsburgh to St. Louis."

12. Wheeling Corrugating Co. Show En Route to National Cornhusking Contest, Marshall, MO

IDNO:
048504
Title:
Wheeling Corrugating Co. Show En Route to National Cornhusking Contest, Marshall, MO
Date:
1937
Description:
Caption on back of photograph reads: "The sign was placed on our car and remained on from Pittsburgh to St. Louis."