Friendly voice -- John Hurlbutt, a 1971 SUNY Oswego graduate who served as a longtime morning host for WRVO, announces from the NPR affiliates’ then-new studios in Penfield Library in 2006. Hurlbutt was with the station from its launch in 1969 until his 2009 retirement. He is expected to be one of many revisiting the station for WRVO’s 50th anniversary celebrations, which include a June 8 open house during Reunion Weekend.
WRVO Public Media, an NPR News and information radio station with studios at SUNY Oswego and Syracuse, will celebrate its first 50 years with an open house, special events, live tapings of “Says You” and more this year.
“WRVO listeners are a big part of our first 50 years,” said William Drake, manager of the station that, with dispersed transmission equipment, reaches a score of counties of Central and Northern New York. “We wouldn't be here without them, and we hope as many as possible can join us for this year's celebration.”
On Saturday, June 8, WRVO-FM opens the doors to its studios in the Penfield Library building at SUNY Oswego from 2 to 5 p.m. for a special 50th anniversary open house. WRVO listeners, members, friends, alumni and more are invited to share memories, mingle and celebrate this important milestone with former and current hosts, reporters and staff members. Visitors can commemorate the anniversary with their own recorded testimonial and tour the offices and studios.
Old-time radio returns to the silver screen with WRVO’s next installment of “Tuned to Yesterday: At the Movies” at 7 p.m. Thursday, June 13, in Auburn Public Theatre. A showing of the 1944 film “Murder, My Sweet” starring Dick Powell and Claire Trevor will follow a brief presentation by “Tuned to Yesterday” host Mark Lavonier. The event, free and open to the public, will include a pre-movie presentation, screening and reception.
In the fall, listeners have the opportunity to meet NPR’s Rachel Martin, host of “Morning Edition.” She’ll appear at Syracuse Stage -- ticketing information to follow -- Monday, Sept. 16, to share her experiences as a national host and as a national security correspondent covering defense and intelligence issues.
Returning to the region in November, the cast and crew of “Says You!” will do two live tapings -- one each in Syracuse and Utica -- featuring the show’s word games and bluffing rounds, plus plenty of humor and whimsy. Ticketing information will follow for evening performances at the Palace Theatre in Syracuse on Friday, Nov. 1, and at Munson-Williams-Proctor Arts Institute in Utica on the afternoon of Saturday, Nov. 2.
For more information about these events, visit wrvo.org or follow the station on Facebook.
WRVO first broadcast on Jan. 6, 1969, at just 10 watts of power from the SUNY Oswego campus. William Shigley, the founding general manager of the station, said the call letters stood for "Radio Voice of Oswego State."
“All Things Considered” debuted in 1971, and WRVO’s audience began to grow. As NPR continued to offer more programming and listenership increased, WRVO started to expand into other parts of Central and Northern New York.
Throughout those 50 years, WRVO has been part of the educational experience of countless SUNY Oswego students, with many interning at the station and going on to work for WRVO and/or for stations around the country.
Now with a broadcast area that covers parts of over 20 counties as well as online, WRVO serves approximately 75,000 unique weekly listeners. Since the beginning, WRVO’s core mission has been to serve listeners, today offering NPR’s news, information and entertainment programming as well as award-winning regional news coverage and locally produced shows. Its main office is in SUNY Oswego’s Penfield Library with a satellite office at SUNY Oswego’s Syracuse campus.