Willie Webber
Encyclopedia
William "Wee Willie" W. Webber (1929/30 – May 23, 2010) was an American
radio
and television
personality and pioneer. Webber worked in radio and television in the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, region for more than 50 years.
while his grandfather, an engineer
, helped to pave the streets of Havana. His family immigrated to the United States
, and Webber was raised in the Bushwick neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York. Webber graduated from Bushwick High School and attended classes at New York University
.
Webber enlisted in the United States Army
during World War II
and worked as an Army mapmaker while stationed in Japan
after the war. He successfully auditioned for the Armed Forces Radio on Honshu
, earning the nickname "Honshu Cowboy" because he played country music
. His time in the Army allowed Webber to obtain U.S. citizenship.
career in 1948, at a now defunct FM radio station in New York City
. He worked for radio stations in both Manhattan
and Lancaster, Pennsylvania
, when he was between the agees 18–24 years old.
Webber was hired as an announcer on WEEU-TV (Channel 33) in Reading, Pennsylvania
, in 1953. However, WEEU went bankrupt a little more than one year after hiring Webber and went off the air.
In 1954, Webber began working in Philadelphia at WFIL
-AM and FM as a "summer relief announcer."
In 1956, Webber became an announcer on Channel 6, WPVI-TV
. He began hosting Breakfast Time, a two-hour, morning children's show on Channel 6. The show, which featured cartoons, weather
, and sports, aired until the 1960s. In 1963, Webber briefly joined Channel 3 KYW-TV
as host of a quiz show
. However, Webber's quiz show was cancelled in favor of the existing, more successful The Mike Douglas Show
, a talk show
hosted by Mike Douglas. In 1965, Webber played the last song on KYW (AM)
before the station switched to an all-news
format.
He next hosted the Wee Willie Webber Colorful Cartoon Club, an after-school show which aired on Channel 17 from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Wee Willie Webber Colorful Cartoon Club ran for ten years, from 1965 until 1975. From 1976 to 1979, he also hosted the Kids Block television show on Channel 48 in Philadelphia.
Webber worked at the WPEN
radio station from 1989 until 2005. From approximately 2007 until 2010, Webber hosted a show on WHAT
for five days a week and a Sunday afternoon show on WVLT
, which is based in Vineland, New Jersey
.
Webber was inducted into the Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia hall of fame
in 1999. He served as the president of the Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia from 2002 until 2004. Fom 2004 until 2006, Webber served as the chairman of the Broadcast Pioneers' board of directors
. In 2006, the Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia named Webber its Person of the Year.
in Philadelphia on May 23, 2010, at the age of 80. he was awaiting heart surgery at the time of his death. He was survived by his wife, Constance; daughter, Wendy Scheid; son, William Webber Jr.; and four grandchildren. Webber lived on Rittenhouse Square
at the time.
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...
and television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
personality and pioneer. Webber worked in radio and television in the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, region for more than 50 years.
Biography
Webber was born in Havana, Cuba. His father was BritishUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
while his grandfather, an engineer
Engineer
An engineer is a professional practitioner of engineering, concerned with applying scientific knowledge, mathematics and ingenuity to develop solutions for technical problems. Engineers design materials, structures, machines and systems while considering the limitations imposed by practicality,...
, helped to pave the streets of Havana. His family immigrated to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, and Webber was raised in the Bushwick neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York. Webber graduated from Bushwick High School and attended classes at New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
.
Webber enlisted in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and worked as an Army mapmaker while stationed in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
after the war. He successfully auditioned for the Armed Forces Radio on Honshu
Honshu
is the largest island of Japan. The nation's main island, it is south of Hokkaido across the Tsugaru Strait, north of Shikoku across the Inland Sea, and northeast of Kyushu across the Kanmon Strait...
, earning the nickname "Honshu Cowboy" because he played country music
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
. His time in the Army allowed Webber to obtain U.S. citizenship.
Broadcasting
Webber began his broadcastingBroadcasting
Broadcasting is the distribution of audio and video content to a dispersed audience via any audio visual medium. Receiving parties may include the general public or a relatively large subset of thereof...
career in 1948, at a now defunct FM radio station in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. He worked for radio stations in both Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
and Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Lancaster is a city in the south-central part of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It is the county seat of Lancaster County and one of the older inland cities in the United States, . With a population of 59,322, it ranks eighth in population among Pennsylvania's cities...
, when he was between the agees 18–24 years old.
Webber was hired as an announcer on WEEU-TV (Channel 33) in Reading, Pennsylvania
Reading, Pennsylvania
Reading is a city in southeastern Pennsylvania, USA, and seat of Berks County. Reading is the principal city of the Greater Reading Area and had a population of 88,082 as of the 2010 census, making it the fifth most populated city in the state after Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Allentown and Erie,...
, in 1953. However, WEEU went bankrupt a little more than one year after hiring Webber and went off the air.
In 1954, Webber began working in Philadelphia at WFIL
WFIL
WFIL is a radio station and a former television station serving the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Its transmitter is located in Lafayette Hill, Pennsylvania....
-AM and FM as a "summer relief announcer."
In 1956, Webber became an announcer on Channel 6, WPVI-TV
WPVI-TV
WPVI-TV, channel 6, is an owned-and-operated television station of the Walt Disney Company-owned American Broadcasting Company, located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. WPVI has its studios located on the border between Philadelphia and Bala Cynwyd, and its transmitter is located in the...
. He began hosting Breakfast Time, a two-hour, morning children's show on Channel 6. The show, which featured cartoons, weather
Weather
Weather is the state of the atmosphere, to the degree that it is hot or cold, wet or dry, calm or stormy, clear or cloudy. Most weather phenomena occur in the troposphere, just below the stratosphere. Weather refers, generally, to day-to-day temperature and precipitation activity, whereas climate...
, and sports, aired until the 1960s. In 1963, Webber briefly joined Channel 3 KYW-TV
KYW-TV
KYW-TV, virtual channel 3, is an owned and operated television station of the CBS Television Network, located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. KYW-TV shares a studio facility with its sister station, CW flagship WPSG just north of Center City Philadelphia...
as host of a quiz show
Quiz Show
Quiz Show is a 1994 American historical drama film produced and directed by Robert Redford. Adapted by Paul Attanasio from Richard Goodwin's memoir Remembering America, the film is based upon the Twenty One quiz show scandal of the 1950s...
. However, Webber's quiz show was cancelled in favor of the existing, more successful The Mike Douglas Show
The Mike Douglas Show
The Mike Douglas Show is an American daytime television talk show hosted by Mike Douglas that aired in syndication from 1961 to 1982, distributed by Westinghouse Broadcasting and for much of its run, originated from studios of two of the company's TV stations.The program featured light banter with...
, a talk show
Talk show
A talk show or chat show is a television program or radio program where one person discuss various topics put forth by a talk show host....
hosted by Mike Douglas. In 1965, Webber played the last song on KYW (AM)
KYW (AM)
KYW is a class A AM radio station on 1060 kHz licensed to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. KYW is owned by the CBS Radio unit of CBS Corporation, and has broadcasted an all-news format since 1965. The station's studios are located on Market Street in Center City Philadelphia, and it transmitters...
before the station switched to an all-news
All-news radio
All-news radio is a radio format devoted entirely to discussion and broadcast of news.All-news radio is available in both local and syndicated forms, and is carried in some form on both major US satellite radio networks...
format.
He next hosted the Wee Willie Webber Colorful Cartoon Club, an after-school show which aired on Channel 17 from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Wee Willie Webber Colorful Cartoon Club ran for ten years, from 1965 until 1975. From 1976 to 1979, he also hosted the Kids Block television show on Channel 48 in Philadelphia.
Webber worked at the WPEN
WPEN (AM)
WPEN is an AM radio station broadcast on 950 kHz. The station is licensed to Philadelphia and serves that market. WPEN is owned and operated by Greater Media and offers a Sports Talk format. The station is known as "950 ESPN"-The Early Years:...
radio station from 1989 until 2005. From approximately 2007 until 2010, Webber hosted a show on WHAT
WHAT (AM)
El Zol 1340 is a commercial radio station located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, broadcasting on 1340 AM. The station is owned by Aztec Capital Partners, Inc....
for five days a week and a Sunday afternoon show on WVLT
WVLT (FM)
WVLT is a radio station licensed to Vineland, New Jersey. The station is owned by Clear Communications, Inc. It airs an Oldies music format....
, which is based in Vineland, New Jersey
Vineland, New Jersey
Vineland is a city in Cumberland County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city had a total population of 60,724...
.
Webber was inducted into the Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia hall of fame
Hall of Fame
A hall of fame, wall of fame, walk of fame, walk of stars or avenue of stars is a type of attraction established for any field of endeavor to honor individuals of noteworthy achievement in that field...
in 1999. He served as the president of the Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia from 2002 until 2004. Fom 2004 until 2006, Webber served as the chairman of the Broadcast Pioneers' board of directors
Board of directors
A board of directors is a body of elected or appointed members who jointly oversee the activities of a company or organization. Other names include board of governors, board of managers, board of regents, board of trustees, and board of visitors...
. In 2006, the Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia named Webber its Person of the Year.
Death
Willie Webber died of a heart attack at Penn Presbyterian Medical CenterPenn Presbyterian Medical Center
Penn Presbyterian Medical Center is a hospital located in the University City section of West Philadelphia. It is located between Market Street and Powelton Avenue, and N. 38th Street and N. Sloan Street....
in Philadelphia on May 23, 2010, at the age of 80. he was awaiting heart surgery at the time of his death. He was survived by his wife, Constance; daughter, Wendy Scheid; son, William Webber Jr.; and four grandchildren. Webber lived on Rittenhouse Square
Rittenhouse Square
Rittenhouse Square is one of the five original open-space parks planned by William Penn and his surveyor Thomas Holme during the late 17th century in central Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The park cuts off 19th Street at Walnut Street and also at a half block above Manning Street. Its boundaries are...
at the time.