Connie Szerszen
Encyclopedia
Connie Szerszen is an American female radio personality, currently heard on www.ChicagoRadioOnLine.com, hosting the Classic Hits Channel with legendary DJ Fred Winston. Szerszen is a native Chicagoan of Polish ancestry. While she was Talent Coordinator at WCFL, Szerszen was discovered by air personality Penny Lane. Having never met, "Den Pal Penny Lane" called WCFL one day, and soon talked Szerszen into trying out for a show at WSDM-FM. In the fall of 1969, Szerszen started her broadcasting career at WSDM-FM. Her radio name was Den Pal Dawn; she eventually did the morning show before leaving for WIND (AM)
.
In March 1974, Szerszen became one of the few female announcers to have her own prime time program on AM radio in a major market. That was 6-10 PM as a deejay on WIND (AM)
in Chicago, a popular AM station then owned by Westinghouse Broadcasting
, a/k/a Group W. Szerszen was entered into the U.S. Congressional Record for that achievement. The Chicago Sun-Times
Midwest Magazine made her their cover story, crediting her as "The Woman Who Invented Strip Radio." CBS-2 in Chicago, did a feature story on her show for their 5 PM Newscast with Bill Kurtis on May 7, 1976.
Szerszen was also an on-air personality for several other Chicago stations, including WJMK, WJEZ, WJJD
, and WUSN
"US-99." She appeared on local TV shows and guest-hosted WCIU-TV's Kiddie-A-Go-Go in 1970.
On 12 August 2005, WJMK HD2 became the first station in America to broadcast live on an all-digital radio station; the next night, Szerszen's 70's Saturday Night began on the station, and she became the 1st female in America to broadcast "live" on an all-digital radio station. (www.AllAccess.com,August 2010)
She is known to her listeners as the Top Rock Girly Jock and Polish Princess and ends her shows with "Jeszcze Polska nie zginęła", the first line of the Polish national anthem.
In addition, Szerszen is a portrait artist. Szerszen's portraits of donors hang in the main entrance at St. Luke's Medical Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
, and in the Karen Yontz Women's Cardiac Awareness Centers in Milwaukee and West Allis, Wisconsin
. Her works also hang at The Oconomowoc Hospital's Cancer Center; St. Mary of Nazareth in Chicago; Inverness Golf Club; Holy Family Parish, Inverness, Illinois
; and the Village Hall in Roselle, Illinois
. She has also done works for private and corporate clients, such as USG Corporation. In February 2006, Crain's Chicago Business did a feature story on her portraiture.
Szerszen has attended School of the Art Institute of Chicago, American Academy of Art
, Northwestern University
and The Palette & Chisel in Chicago.
http://abclocal.go.com/wls/video?id=8190345
WIND (AM)
WIND "AM 560" is a radio station based in Chicago, Illinois, broadcasting its talk radio format on 560 kHz.Its current owner is Salem Media, a company specializing primarily in Christian radio...
.
In March 1974, Szerszen became one of the few female announcers to have her own prime time program on AM radio in a major market. That was 6-10 PM as a deejay on WIND (AM)
WIND (AM)
WIND "AM 560" is a radio station based in Chicago, Illinois, broadcasting its talk radio format on 560 kHz.Its current owner is Salem Media, a company specializing primarily in Christian radio...
in Chicago, a popular AM station then owned by Westinghouse Broadcasting
Westinghouse Broadcasting
The Westinghouse Broadcasting Company, also known as Group W, was the broadcasting division of Westinghouse Electric Corporation. It owned several radio and television stations across the United States and distributed television shows for syndication....
, a/k/a Group W. Szerszen was entered into the U.S. Congressional Record for that achievement. The Chicago Sun-Times
Chicago Sun-Times
The Chicago Sun-Times is an American daily newspaper published in Chicago, Illinois. It is the flagship paper of the Sun-Times Media Group.-History:The Chicago Sun-Times is the oldest continuously published daily newspaper in the city...
Midwest Magazine made her their cover story, crediting her as "The Woman Who Invented Strip Radio." CBS-2 in Chicago, did a feature story on her show for their 5 PM Newscast with Bill Kurtis on May 7, 1976.
Szerszen was also an on-air personality for several other Chicago stations, including WJMK, WJEZ, WJJD
WYLL
WYLL 1160 is a "Christian Talk & Teaching" radio station located in Chicago and owned by Salem Communications. The station runs features, preaching, and other religious programs. Ministries may also buy time for programming. WYLL additionally produces a couple hours of local call-in shows every...
, and WUSN
WUSN
WUSN is an FM radio station in Chicago, Illinois, The station broadcasts on 99.5 MHz and is a country radio station owned by CBS Radio. The station focuses on country music from the '90s, along with current product and some classic country from the '70s and '80s.-99.5 WEFM/99-"We" FM:Until 1978,...
"US-99." She appeared on local TV shows and guest-hosted WCIU-TV's Kiddie-A-Go-Go in 1970.
On 12 August 2005, WJMK HD2 became the first station in America to broadcast live on an all-digital radio station; the next night, Szerszen's 70's Saturday Night began on the station, and she became the 1st female in America to broadcast "live" on an all-digital radio station. (www.AllAccess.com,August 2010)
She is known to her listeners as the Top Rock Girly Jock and Polish Princess and ends her shows with "Jeszcze Polska nie zginęła", the first line of the Polish national anthem.
In addition, Szerszen is a portrait artist. Szerszen's portraits of donors hang in the main entrance at St. Luke's Medical Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee is the largest city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, the 28th most populous city in the United States and 39th most populous region in the United States. It is the county seat of Milwaukee County and is located on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan. According to 2010 census data, the...
, and in the Karen Yontz Women's Cardiac Awareness Centers in Milwaukee and West Allis, Wisconsin
West Allis, Wisconsin
West Allis is a city in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, United States. It is part of the Milwaukee metropolitan area. The population was 61,254 at the 2000 census. Its name derives from Edward P. Allis, who started the Allis-Chalmers Manufacturing Company in the 19th century. The site of the town was...
. Her works also hang at The Oconomowoc Hospital's Cancer Center; St. Mary of Nazareth in Chicago; Inverness Golf Club; Holy Family Parish, Inverness, Illinois
Inverness, Illinois
Inverness is a village in Cook County, Illinois, United States, near Chicago. The population was 6,749 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Inverness is located at ....
; and the Village Hall in Roselle, Illinois
Roselle, Illinois
Roselle is a city located in DuPage County and a small portion in Cook County Illinois in northeastern Illinois. It was first incorporated in 1922 and can correctly be relegated to a bedroom community — that is, a community that largely consists of residential zoning in both income streams...
. She has also done works for private and corporate clients, such as USG Corporation. In February 2006, Crain's Chicago Business did a feature story on her portraiture.
Szerszen has attended School of the Art Institute of Chicago, American Academy of Art
American Academy of Art
The American Academy of Art is a professional, accredited fine arts school located in downtown Chicago, Illinois. It was founded in 1923 for the education of both fine and commercial arts students. The school has a tradition of top art education with exceptional students being awarded the academy's...
, Northwestern University
Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, USA. Northwestern has eleven undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools offering 124 undergraduate degrees and 145 graduate and professional degrees....
and The Palette & Chisel in Chicago.
External links
- June 14, 2011 - ABC7 4 PM NEWS - Chicago Close-Up - Interview with Janet Davies
http://abclocal.go.com/wls/video?id=8190345
- Connie Szerszen press clippings on her website
- Chicago Radio Spotlight October 2009-Connie Szerszen interview
- WGN-TV Midday News- Connie Szerszen interview-December 21, 2009
- You Tube WSDM Video with audio of Connie as "Dawn" reading a MusicCraft commercial-circa early 1970's
- YouTube video of Connie on air at WJMK HD 2 circa 2005