Art Pallan
Encyclopedia
Arthur E. Pallan was an American
radio
celebrity
in Pittsburgh
, Pennsylvania
, USA
.
He was born in Braddock. After graduating from Brentwood
High School he landed first radio job at WWSW. Upon graduating from high school, Pallan took an office job with Procter & Gamble
. But he dreamed of being in radio and would spend his lunch hours watching the announcers working at KDKA
and WWSW. He auditioned several times at WWSW and was finally hired when the station had a shortage of announcers because of World War II. He served in the military himself and was a decorated veteran. Pallan moved over to KDKA
in 1956 where his popularity would grow in the Pittsburgh market during the 1960s. Like Cordic, Pallan was mentored by Bill Cullen
, who was on staff at WWSW before he left for New York and found national fame as a game show personality.
Pallan spent much of his time at KDKA assigned to the midday slot. He featured a cheerful, upbeat style and referred to himself as "Your Pal Pallan." He was the first disc jockey to play The Skyliners' "Since I Don't Have You," airing the record on Dec. 26, 1958 at precisely 10:20 a.m., the time designed to coincide with KDKA's 1020 position on the AM dial. Pallan was also close to singer Bobby Vinton
and regularly featured Vinton's music on his show.
When Rege Cordic left KDKA for Los Angeles
in 1965, Pallan and former Cordic sidekick Bob Trow
were given the morning show. "Pallan and Trow, Two For The Show" debuted on Nov. 29, 1965 and ran through April 1968. At that time KDKA changed the direction of the morning show by hiring Jack Bogut from Salt Lake City. Pallan then returned to the familiar midday slot, where he spent the rest of his KDKA career. He retired in February 1985, and Doug Hawkes took over the time slot. Pallan said his favorite broadcasts were the Christmas season shows that KDKA originated daily from the downtown department store windows as a fund-raiser for Pittsburgh's Children's Hospital.
Pallan was also a singer who cut several records in the 1950s. He had a style that was similar to that of Bing Crosby
. He had a gift for dialects and was an exceptional joke teller.
Pallan and his wife Agnes had three daughters and a son.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
celebrity
Celebrity
A celebrity, also referred to as a celeb in popular culture, is a person who has a prominent profile and commands a great degree of public fascination and influence in day-to-day media...
in Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
He was born in Braddock. After graduating from Brentwood
Brentwood, Pennsylvania
Brentwood is a borough in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States, and is part of the Pittsburgh Metro Area. The population was 9,643 at the 2010 census.-Geography and climate:Brentwood is located at ....
High School he landed first radio job at WWSW. Upon graduating from high school, Pallan took an office job with Procter & Gamble
Procter & Gamble
Procter & Gamble is a Fortune 500 American multinational corporation headquartered in downtown Cincinnati, Ohio and manufactures a wide range of consumer goods....
. But he dreamed of being in radio and would spend his lunch hours watching the announcers working at KDKA
KDKA (AM)
KDKA is a radio station licensed to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. Created by the Westinghouse Electric Corporation on November 2, 1920, it is one of the world's first modern radio stations , a distinction that has also been challenged by other stations, although it has claimed to be the first in...
and WWSW. He auditioned several times at WWSW and was finally hired when the station had a shortage of announcers because of World War II. He served in the military himself and was a decorated veteran. Pallan moved over to KDKA
KDKA (AM)
KDKA is a radio station licensed to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. Created by the Westinghouse Electric Corporation on November 2, 1920, it is one of the world's first modern radio stations , a distinction that has also been challenged by other stations, although it has claimed to be the first in...
in 1956 where his popularity would grow in the Pittsburgh market during the 1960s. Like Cordic, Pallan was mentored by Bill Cullen
Bill Cullen
William Lawrence Francis "Bill" Cullen was an American radio and television personality whose career spanned five decades...
, who was on staff at WWSW before he left for New York and found national fame as a game show personality.
Pallan spent much of his time at KDKA assigned to the midday slot. He featured a cheerful, upbeat style and referred to himself as "Your Pal Pallan." He was the first disc jockey to play The Skyliners' "Since I Don't Have You," airing the record on Dec. 26, 1958 at precisely 10:20 a.m., the time designed to coincide with KDKA's 1020 position on the AM dial. Pallan was also close to singer Bobby Vinton
Bobby Vinton
Bobby Vinton is an American pop music singer of Polish origin. In pop music circles, he became known as "The Polish Prince".-Early life:...
and regularly featured Vinton's music on his show.
When Rege Cordic left KDKA for Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
in 1965, Pallan and former Cordic sidekick Bob Trow
Bob Trow
Robert Trow was an American radio celebrity, actor, and craftsman.Raised in the Beltzhoover neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA, Trow began his career in radio. He later became well known for his acting roles on Mister Rogers' Neighborhood as Bob Dog and Robert Troll, characters from the...
were given the morning show. "Pallan and Trow, Two For The Show" debuted on Nov. 29, 1965 and ran through April 1968. At that time KDKA changed the direction of the morning show by hiring Jack Bogut from Salt Lake City. Pallan then returned to the familiar midday slot, where he spent the rest of his KDKA career. He retired in February 1985, and Doug Hawkes took over the time slot. Pallan said his favorite broadcasts were the Christmas season shows that KDKA originated daily from the downtown department store windows as a fund-raiser for Pittsburgh's Children's Hospital.
Pallan was also a singer who cut several records in the 1950s. He had a style that was similar to that of Bing Crosby
Bing Crosby
Harry Lillis "Bing" Crosby was an American singer and actor. Crosby's trademark bass-baritone voice made him one of the best-selling recording artists of the 20th century, with over half a billion records in circulation....
. He had a gift for dialects and was an exceptional joke teller.
Pallan and his wife Agnes had three daughters and a son.