Don’t Touch that Dial: Great Moments In Local Broadcasting

Inspired by Spain's book Cruisin' wth the Hound, the Burchfield Penney presents a screening of Don't Touch That Dial: Great Moments in Local Broadcasting.

The program begins with an introduction to music of the 1950s with Chuck Mancuso, professor of music at Buffalo State College. A panel discussion follows the screening, moderated by Al Wallack and including Joey Reynolds, Danny Neaverth and Kevin O’Connell.

Don’t Touch that Dial: Great Moments In Local Broadcasting is a production of WNED Buffalo-Toronto in association with Buffalo Broadcasters Association and tells the story of broadcasting in Western New York. The production is narrated and co-produced by long-time Buffalo radio personality Al Wallack.

Al Wallack started his radio career while attending Buffalo State College and played a part in establishing the radio station on campus. While attending school, he landed a job at WKBW (1969) and has not held a job outside of broadcasting since.

Al Wallack began his career at WEBR/Buffalo as all-night man in 1972. Al moved to mid-days and the position of production director shortly thereafter. When the station was sold to WNYPBA, Al stayed on to found JAZZ IN THE NIGHTTIME, a popular show which he hosted for the next 20 years. When the format of the station changed and jazz was discontinued, Al became Operations Director for WNED-AM and FM.Most recently serving as Program Director for WNED-AM for 12 years. For over 15 years he was heard as the on-air voice of WNED-TV/Buffalo and WNED Radio. Al also serves as board member of the Buffalo Broadcasters Association, a group of 200 broadcasters organized for the purpose of archiving Buffalo's rich broadcast history and recognizing broadcasters' achievements.

This program is being presented in conjunction with the exhibition Spain: Rock, Roll, Rumbles, Rebels, & Revolution, specifically dealing with Spain’s book Cruisin’ With the Hound and George “Hound Dog” Lorenz.