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Peters Township's Rossi brings his 'Wildside' to FSN Pittsburgh
Fortunately, his job selling electronic computer controls to power plants takes him to places such as Montana, Utah, Arizona and Texas, the better to film "Joe's Wildside Adventures," a series premiering next month on Fox Sports Pittsburgh.
Joe, who has been hunting and fishing since he was 12, decided to turn his passion into a television show last year. And for six months, "Wildside" could be seen on The Sportsman Channel. Then it abruptly disappeared.
"I didn't have a whole lot of (financial) backing," Joe said, so I had to take a break until I could get out and film again." In the meantime, he starting to send DVDs of his show to FSN Pittsburgh. They liked what they saw.
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Among them will be a three-part episode filmed in Belize,Central America, which Joe described as "an amazing place, almost like being in a rainforest." He's also looking forward to hunting for caribou in the Northwest, about 150 miles from the Arctic Circle, in a few weeks.
"It takes awhile to complete these shows," Joe conceded, "because I do it pretty much on my own. I'm the host, I'm the hunter, I'm the fisherman. And I produce and direct it as well. About the only assistance I get is from a few editors and photographers that I use."
In his spare time, he also works up recipes for a five-minute "Cooking on the Wild Side" segment that closes the show.
Joe has been experimenting cooking wild game for years and developed dozens of recipes, some of which can be found on his Web site, www.joeswildsideadventures.com. He's also working with a friend, Kim Maize, to develop a line of spices for the wild game.
"I created them all," he said, citing a preference for his rabbit stew. "They're all original, and they're all good. And every time I make them, they turn out a little different."
'Someplace Special'
Several readers contirbuted comments to the recent passing of KDKA disc jockeys Art Pallan and Bob Tracey. Here are a few:
• From Marian Campbell: Thanks for a really nostalgic column for those of us who remember, fondly, all those KDKA folk from the '60s. My sister and I even got up before dawn one cold winter's day and went to see Rege Cordic. What memories! Anyway, the column has been tucked into my "saved articles" file. Thanks for remembering.
• Pat Cloonan, who writes for the McKeesport Daily News, sent a copy of his column saluting Pallan and Tracey, noting that Pallan was the first disc jockey anywhere to play "Since I Don't Have You" by the Skyliners and that Tracey actually began his radio career as "Johnny Ryder."
He also notes, "My memories of KDKA focus more on the nighttime shows, 'Program PM' with Ed King's 'Book of Fate' and then 'Party Line' with Ed and Wendy King, as well as Pirate baseball when Bob Prince called the play-by-play."
He's heard "current management isn't interested in what KD was like more than 10 years ago. I think it is a sad state of affairs.
"I think Washington may have some of the best radio in this part of the country right now, with WJPA's local news, public service, Wild Things and 'new sound of oldies' and that quaint WKZV. I remember when Earl Bugaile did half-hour news blocks there, so I'm a little disappointed with the modern AM 1110. Still, it's a nice, eclectic country mix. I also thought it was fascinating that WJPA FM went live with the news conference announcing the new Steeler coach, especially since usually it's AM 1450 carrying the Steeler games - and AM 1450 kept the music going that day."
Another view
Frequent contributor Jude Pohl adds, "I graduated from high school in '63. My recollection is slightly different from yours but this may be due to a slight variation of the term 'mid-60's'. If you would have asked me what the two big stations for teens were, I would have said KQV and WEEP (as in "Weep for Joy," which was their slogan before they went country.) Keep in mind that I was in Pittsburgh - not Washington. The big names that I would have mentioned besides Clark Race are Henry DeBecco and Chuck Brinkman - both with KQV. I thought that Bob Tracey came into the picture later on. I used to listen to Cordic and Company in the morning but other than that, KDKA was not a factor with the teen set in Pittsburgh at that time.
Reply: KQV was, I agree, the top teen station, but I don't remember WEEP as much of a factor. I do know Clark Race's evening radio show and TV dance party were extremely popular, but Pallan and especially Tracey appealed more to older listeners. Readers, what do you recall? E-mail your thoughts on '60s radio, and we'll keep the conversation going.
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