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John L. Grimes was advertising executive of Wheeling Steel Corporation and was responsible for the creation of the "It's Wheeling Steel" radio broadcast in 1936. Tom Whitley, the man hunched over, is the orchestra leader of the Musical Steelmakers of the Wheeling Steel Corporation. In 1941 the show was picked up by the National Broadcasting Company's Blue Network, as it grew in popularity. In 1943 the show took to the road throughout several cities in West Virginia to put on "Buy a Bomber" themed shows, where the host cities were challenged to buy enough enough Defense Bonds to purchase a medium or large sized bomber. Cities who accomplished the challenge would get their name placed on the plane as it flew to battle.

1. Little Girl On Stage With John L. Grimes and Tom Whitley With The Musical Steelmakers Band at Bond Drive in Fairmont, W. Va.

IDNO:
048550
Title:
Little Girl On Stage With John L. Grimes and Tom Whitley With The Musical Steelmakers Band at Bond Drive in Fairmont, W. Va.
Date:
ca. 1943
Description:
John L. Grimes was advertising executive of Wheeling Steel Corporation and was responsible for the creation of the "It's Wheeling Steel" radio broadcast in 1936. Tom Whitley, the man hunched over, is the orchestra leader of the Musical Steelmakers of the Wheeling Steel Corporation. In 1941 the show was picked up by the National Broadcasting Company's Blue Network, as it grew in popularity. In 1943 the show took to the road throughout several cities in West Virginia to put on "Buy a Bomber" themed shows, where the host cities were challenged to buy enough enough Defense Bonds to purchase a medium or large sized bomber. Cities who accomplished the challenge would get their name placed on the plane as it flew to battle.
In 1943 the show took to the road throughout several cities in West Virginia to put on "Buy a Bomber" themed shows, where the host cities were challenged to buy enough enough Defense Bonds to purchase a medium or large sized bomber. Cities who accomplished the challenge would get their name placed on the plane as it flew to battle. All performers and crew members of the broadcast were Wheeling Steel Corporation employees or immediate family members.

2. Two Guest Performers of Wheeling Steel Family on 'It's Wheeling Steel' Radio Broadcast at Bond Drive, Fairmont, W. Va.

IDNO:
048551
Title:
Two Guest Performers of Wheeling Steel Family on 'It's Wheeling Steel' Radio Broadcast at Bond Drive, Fairmont, W. Va.
Date:
ca. 1943
Description:
In 1943 the show took to the road throughout several cities in West Virginia to put on "Buy a Bomber" themed shows, where the host cities were challenged to buy enough enough Defense Bonds to purchase a medium or large sized bomber. Cities who accomplished the challenge would get their name placed on the plane as it flew to battle. All performers and crew members of the broadcast were Wheeling Steel Corporation employees or immediate family members.
John L. Grimes was advertising executive of Wheeling Steel Corporation and was responsible for the creation of the "It's Wheeling Steel" radio broadcast in 1936. In 1941 the show was picked up by the National Broadcasting Company's Blue Network, as it grew in popularity. In 1943 the show took to the road throughout several cities in West Virginia to put on "Buy a Bomber" themed shows, where the host cities were challenged to buy enough enough Defense Bonds to purchase a medium or large sized bomber. Cities who accomplished the challenge would get their name placed on the plane as it flew to battle.

3. John L. Grimes at Microphone With Unidentified Man In Front of The Musical Steelmakers Band at Bond Drive, Fairmont, W. Va.

IDNO:
048565
Title:
John L. Grimes at Microphone With Unidentified Man In Front of The Musical Steelmakers Band at Bond Drive, Fairmont, W. Va.
Date:
ca. 1943
Description:
John L. Grimes was advertising executive of Wheeling Steel Corporation and was responsible for the creation of the "It's Wheeling Steel" radio broadcast in 1936. In 1941 the show was picked up by the National Broadcasting Company's Blue Network, as it grew in popularity. In 1943 the show took to the road throughout several cities in West Virginia to put on "Buy a Bomber" themed shows, where the host cities were challenged to buy enough enough Defense Bonds to purchase a medium or large sized bomber. Cities who accomplished the challenge would get their name placed on the plane as it flew to battle.
Ed Kostillo from the pipe mills of the Benwood Works started playing his harmonica to entertain his fellow mill men during lunch hour. Later he won a headliner appearance on the family broadcast with the entire steelmakers orchestra accompanying him.

4. Ed Kostillo Headlining 'It's Wheeling Steel' Radio Broadcast

IDNO:
048669
Title:
Ed Kostillo Headlining 'It's Wheeling Steel' Radio Broadcast
Date:
Undated
Description:
Ed Kostillo from the pipe mills of the Benwood Works started playing his harmonica to entertain his fellow mill men during lunch hour. Later he won a headliner appearance on the family broadcast with the entire steelmakers orchestra accompanying him.

5. Tom Whitley, Band Director of the Musical Steelmakers Orchestra of the 'It's Wheeling Steel' Radio Broadcast, Playing Piano With Unidentified Woman

IDNO:
048743
Title:
Tom Whitley, Band Director of the Musical Steelmakers Orchestra of the 'It's Wheeling Steel' Radio Broadcast, Playing Piano With Unidentified Woman
Date:
Undated

6. Crowd Applauds 'The Wheeling Musical Steelmakers' Performance, Orchestra for 'It's Wheeling Steel' Radio Broadcast

IDNO:
048744
Title:
Crowd Applauds 'The Wheeling Musical Steelmakers' Performance, Orchestra for 'It's Wheeling Steel' Radio Broadcast
Date:
Undated
Orchestra leader Tom Whitley is the man wearing glasses on far left pointing forward. The orchestra was the primary performer on "It's Wheeling Steel" radio broadcast. The show was eventually taken to the road, as evident by the "coast to coast" sign.

7. Wheeling Musical Steelmakers Riding in Truck During Parade, Wheeling, W. Va.

IDNO:
048753
Title:
Wheeling Musical Steelmakers Riding in Truck During Parade, Wheeling, W. Va.
Date:
Undated
Description:
Orchestra leader Tom Whitley is the man wearing glasses on far left pointing forward. The orchestra was the primary performer on "It's Wheeling Steel" radio broadcast. The show was eventually taken to the road, as evident by the "coast to coast" sign.
Performance was part of a "It's Wheeling Steel" radio broadcast.

8. Musical Steelmakers Orchestra Performing With The Millmen, The Steel Sisters, and The Evans Sisters

IDNO:
048763
Title:
Musical Steelmakers Orchestra Performing With The Millmen, The Steel Sisters, and The Evans Sisters
Date:
Undated
Description:
Performance was part of a "It's Wheeling Steel" radio broadcast.

9. Bass Player for Musical Steelmakers, Orchestra for 'It's Wheeling Steel' Radio Broadcast

IDNO:
048764
Title:
Bass Player for Musical Steelmakers, Orchestra for 'It's Wheeling Steel' Radio Broadcast
Date:
Undated
Part of a "It's Wheeling Steel" radio broadcast.

10. Two Children Take Center Stage With Musical Steelmakers Orchestra

IDNO:
048781
Title:
Two Children Take Center Stage With Musical Steelmakers Orchestra
Date:
Undated
Description:
Part of a "It's Wheeling Steel" radio broadcast.
Caption with photograph reads: "The show goes on the air. Variety calls it "the capitalistic Pins and Needles" after the Broadway show of the Ladies Garment Workers' Union (LIFE, Dec. 27). Steelworkers seem to enjoy this company show as much as the garment workers enjoy their union show."

11. Wheeling Musical Steelmakers Band Performing Behind Soloist Sara Rehm on 'It's Wheeling Steel' Radio Broadcast

IDNO:
049007
Title:
Wheeling Musical Steelmakers Band Performing Behind Soloist Sara Rehm on 'It's Wheeling Steel' Radio Broadcast
Date:
Undated
Description:
Caption with photograph reads: "The show goes on the air. Variety calls it "the capitalistic Pins and Needles" after the Broadway show of the Ladies Garment Workers' Union (LIFE, Dec. 27). Steelworkers seem to enjoy this company show as much as the garment workers enjoy their union show."