Ron Joseph
Encyclopedia
Ron Joseph is an American
television producer
known for his dance shows. On his shows, he is usually referred to as RJ.
Philadelphia. Four years later, in 1954, Joseph was a panel member on "Radio Rangers," a dramatic show on WCAU Radio. It aired on Sunday mornings and was hosted by Phil Sheridan.
In 1955, as a teenager, RJ published and edited a local newspaper, "The Upper Darby Tower" in Delaware County, Pennsylvania.
Bandstand
, hosted by Bob Horn and carried over WFIL
.
When Dick Clark took over the show, RJ stayed on as a regular. A year later, when Bandstand went national (as "American Bandstand"), Ron continued as a steady dancer and became the only regular to have a dance show of his own like Dick Clark.
In 1960, Ron Joseph graduated from Upper Darby High and it was about that time that he joined the staff of WEEZ
Radio (then licensed to Chester, Pennsylvania
). He did a nightly top 40 music show on the station. For a time, he was a paid staff member.
In the meantime, there was a new TV station in town, WPCA-TV, Channel 17 in Philadelphia. Station owner Rev. Percy Crawford
offered RJ his first television show, Spotlight on America. At that time, regular TV receivers couldn't pick up Channels 14 and higher without attaching an UHF converter to the set.
RJ went to the same church as Philadelphia's legendary TV newsman, John Facenda
, who would quite often pass along broadcast tips to RJ after the 11:15 morning mass at St. Bernadette's in Drexel Hill.
By 1966, RJ opened an "under twenty-one" discotheque on the University of Pennsylvania
's campus at 40th and Walnut Streets. He also started another club, "Groove" at Broad and Locust where WIFI
, 92.5 on the FM dial broadcast live. WIFI, at that time, was owned by Mel Gollub and was licensed to Norristown, Pennsylvania
.
That same year, Ron began his own TV dance party on Philadelphia's WIBF-TV, Channel 29, and WPHL-TV
, channel 17. He created his own version of a teen disco on television and syndicated his television show independently to such cities as Newark
/New York City
's WBTB-TV 68, KEMO-TV 20 and KTSF-TV 26 in San Francisco, KBSC-TV 52 in Los Angeles, KSCI-TV 18 in Hollywood and KFTY-TV 50 in Santa Rosa, California
.
In 1982, Ron Joseph was broadcasting over XPRS, a Mexican radio station serving Los Angeles. The outlet had 50,000 watts and blanketed the sixteen western states plus parts of Canada
and a large part of Mexico.
Then RJ had another TV program, Teen Scene Magazine, which was carried in the Philadelphia area over WRBV-TV, Channel 65 (now Univision
affiliate WUVP), a station licensed to Vineland, NJ. The show also aired over KFTY-TV, Channel 50 in Santa Rosa, California
.
In 1985, RJ returned to radio on the Philadelphia Wireless Institute's station, WPWT-FM. At this same time, Ron created Beach Party USA which originated from Hunts Pier in Wildwood, NJ. The program aired over Wilmington's Channel 61, WTGI (now WPPX
, iON
).
The next year, RJ traveled to Europe
for a new teenage motion picture, Gemini Twin Stars, starring Gene Patrick as McGinty, who was "discovered" by RJ at his teen club on South Street in Center City Philadelphia.
In 1990, RJ pioneered a new field, low-powered television (LPTV)
. He was the moving force behind W07CB-TV, Philadelphia, which aired old TV shows like The Lone Ranger
, The Cisco Kid
, RJ's old dance shows and a telephone talk show. 1992 also saw Ron starting Open Mike over Channel 53 in Atlantic City, WWAC-TV.
In 1993, he opened low power television station, W05AX-TV in Wildwood
/Cape May
and four years later, in 1997, WELL-TV, Channel 8 in Willow Grove
.
In 1998, RJ began a disco "block party" Sunday afternoons on WNJC
Radio and Friday evenings in 2000 at Cruisin' 92.1, WVLT
. He has syndicated Disco USA to independent stations across the nation including KECG-FM in Oakland, California
serving San Francisco, a city RJ has become obsessed with over the years. His TV dance show, "The Nostalgia Dance Party" continues to air in that market.
Ron Joseph was inducted into the Philadelphia Broadcast Pioneers in 2003.
RJ briefly hosted a Saturday-afternoon talk show on WNWR
called Something To Say With RJ, from May 2006 to July 2007.
, and in 2008, The Wages of Spin, which chronicles the Philadelphia music scene from 1952 to 1963. The film primarily focuses on Dick Clark.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
television producer
Television producer
The primary role of a television Producer is to allow all aspects of video production, ranging from show idea development and cast hiring to shoot supervision and fact-checking...
known for his dance shows. On his shows, he is usually referred to as RJ.
Early life
Ron Joseph began his broadcasting career in 1950 on "Ghost Riders," a children's show on WCAUWCAU
WCAU, channel 10, is an owned-and-operated television station of the NBC Television Network, located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. WCAU has its studios on the border between Philadelphia and Bala Cynwyd. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 34 from a transmitter in the...
Philadelphia. Four years later, in 1954, Joseph was a panel member on "Radio Rangers," a dramatic show on WCAU Radio. It aired on Sunday mornings and was hosted by Phil Sheridan.
In 1955, as a teenager, RJ published and edited a local newspaper, "The Upper Darby Tower" in Delaware County, Pennsylvania.
TV and radio career
The next year (1956) Ron began as a regular teenage dancer on the locally airedBandstand
Bandstand
A bandstand is a circular or semicircular structure set in a park, garden, pier, or indoor space, designed to accommodate musical bands performing concerts...
, hosted by Bob Horn and carried over 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....
.
When Dick Clark took over the show, RJ stayed on as a regular. A year later, when Bandstand went national (as "American Bandstand"), Ron continued as a steady dancer and became the only regular to have a dance show of his own like Dick Clark.
In 1960, Ron Joseph graduated from Upper Darby High and it was about that time that he joined the staff of WEEZ
WPWA
WPWA is a radio station broadcasting a Spanish Religious format. Licensed to Chester, Pennsylvania, USA, it serves the Philadelphia area. The station is currently owned by Mount Ocean Media, L.L.C.....
Radio (then licensed to Chester, Pennsylvania
Chester, Pennsylvania
Chester is a city in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States, with a population of 33,972 at the 2010 census. Chester is situated on the Delaware River, between the cities of Philadelphia and Wilmington, Delaware.- History :...
). He did a nightly top 40 music show on the station. For a time, he was a paid staff member.
In the meantime, there was a new TV station in town, WPCA-TV, Channel 17 in Philadelphia. Station owner Rev. Percy Crawford
Percy Crawford
Percy Bartimus Crawford was an evangelist and fundamentalist leader who especially emphasized youth ministry. During the late 1950s, he saw the potential of FM radio and UHF television and built the first successful Christian broadcasting network...
offered RJ his first television show, Spotlight on America. At that time, regular TV receivers couldn't pick up Channels 14 and higher without attaching an UHF converter to the set.
RJ went to the same church as Philadelphia's legendary TV newsman, John Facenda
John Facenda
John Thomas Ralph Augustine James Facenda was an American broadcaster and sports announcer. He was a fixture on Philadelphia radio and television for decades, and achieved national fame as a narrator for NFL Films and Football Follies...
, who would quite often pass along broadcast tips to RJ after the 11:15 morning mass at St. Bernadette's in Drexel Hill.
By 1966, RJ opened an "under twenty-one" discotheque on the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
's campus at 40th and Walnut Streets. He also started another club, "Groove" at Broad and Locust where WIFI
WIFI
WIFI is a radio station broadcasting a brokered format. Licensed to Florence, New Jersey, USA, the station is currently operated by Florence Broadcasting Partners, LLC.This station was previously owned by Real Life Broadcasting...
, 92.5 on the FM dial broadcast live. WIFI, at that time, was owned by Mel Gollub and was licensed to Norristown, Pennsylvania
Norristown, Pennsylvania
Norristown is a municipality in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, northwest of the city limits of Philadelphia, on the Schuylkill River. The population was 34,324 as of the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Montgomery County...
.
That same year, Ron began his own TV dance party on Philadelphia's WIBF-TV, Channel 29, and WPHL-TV
WPHL-TV
WPHL-TV, channel 17, is a television station in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, owned by the Tribune Company and currently affiliated with the News Corporation-owned MyNetworkTV television network. This makes it the largest non-O&O station of the network...
, channel 17. He created his own version of a teen disco on television and syndicated his television show independently to such cities as Newark
Newark, New Jersey
Newark is the largest city in the American state of New Jersey, and the seat of Essex County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Newark had a population of 277,140, maintaining its status as the largest municipality in New Jersey. It is the 68th largest city in the U.S...
/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...
's WBTB-TV 68, KEMO-TV 20 and KTSF-TV 26 in San Francisco, KBSC-TV 52 in Los Angeles, KSCI-TV 18 in Hollywood and KFTY-TV 50 in Santa Rosa, California
Santa Rosa, California
Santa Rosa is the county seat of Sonoma County, California, United States. The 2010 census reported a population of 167,815. Santa Rosa is the largest city in California's Wine Country and fifth largest city in the San Francisco Bay Area, after San Jose, San Francisco, Oakland, and Fremont and 26th...
.
In 1982, Ron Joseph was broadcasting over XPRS, a Mexican radio station serving Los Angeles. The outlet had 50,000 watts and blanketed the sixteen western states plus parts of Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and a large part of Mexico.
Then RJ had another TV program, Teen Scene Magazine, which was carried in the Philadelphia area over WRBV-TV, Channel 65 (now Univision
Univision
Univision is a Spanish-language television network in the United States. It has the largest audience of Spanish language television viewers according to Nielsen ratings. Randy Falco, COO, has been in charge of the company since the departure of Univision Communications president and CEO Joe Uva...
affiliate WUVP), a station licensed to Vineland, NJ. The show also aired over KFTY-TV, Channel 50 in Santa Rosa, California
Santa Rosa, California
Santa Rosa is the county seat of Sonoma County, California, United States. The 2010 census reported a population of 167,815. Santa Rosa is the largest city in California's Wine Country and fifth largest city in the San Francisco Bay Area, after San Jose, San Francisco, Oakland, and Fremont and 26th...
.
In 1985, RJ returned to radio on the Philadelphia Wireless Institute's station, WPWT-FM. At this same time, Ron created Beach Party USA which originated from Hunts Pier in Wildwood, NJ. The program aired over Wilmington's Channel 61, WTGI (now WPPX
WPPX
WPPX-TV is the Ion Television network affiliate for the Philadelphia area, broadcasting on digital channel 31. It is owned and operated by ION Media Networks, formerly Paxson Communications...
, iON
Ion
An ion is an atom or molecule in which the total number of electrons is not equal to the total number of protons, giving it a net positive or negative electrical charge. The name was given by physicist Michael Faraday for the substances that allow a current to pass between electrodes in a...
).
The next year, RJ traveled to Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
for a new teenage motion picture, Gemini Twin Stars, starring Gene Patrick as McGinty, who was "discovered" by RJ at his teen club on South Street in Center City Philadelphia.
In 1990, RJ pioneered a new field, low-powered television (LPTV)
Low-power broadcasting
Low-power broadcasting is electronic broadcasting at very low power and low cost, to a small community area.The terms "low-power broadcasting" and "micropower broadcasting" should not be used interchangeably, because the markets are not the same...
. He was the moving force behind W07CB-TV, Philadelphia, which aired old TV shows like The Lone Ranger
The Lone Ranger
The Lone Ranger is a fictional masked Texas Ranger who, with his Native American companion Tonto, fights injustice in the American Old West. The character has become an enduring icon of American culture....
, The Cisco Kid
The Cisco Kid
The Cisco Kid refers to a character found in numerous film, radio, television and comic book series based on the fictional Western character created by O. Henry in his 1907 short story "The Caballero's Way", published in the collection Heart of the West...
, RJ's old dance shows and a telephone talk show. 1992 also saw Ron starting Open Mike over Channel 53 in Atlantic City, WWAC-TV.
In 1993, he opened low power television station, W05AX-TV in Wildwood
Wildwood
Wildwood is woodland which has developed naturally; particularly where it and a suitable climate have developed together.Wildwood may also refer to:-Place names:Municipalities*Wildwood, Alberta, Canada*Wildwood, Florida, USA*Wildwood, Georgia, USA...
/Cape May
Cape May
Cape May is a peninsula and island ; the southern tip of the island is the southernmost point of the state of New Jersey, United States. It runs southwards from the New Jersey mainland, separating Delaware Bay from the Atlantic Ocean...
and four years later, in 1997, WELL-TV, Channel 8 in Willow Grove
Willow Grove
Willow Grove may refer to:* Willow Grove , listed on the NRHP in Maryland* Willow Grove, Pennsylvania, United States* Willow Grove , listed on the NRHP in Virginia* Willow Grove Park, Pennsylvania...
.
In 1998, RJ began a disco "block party" Sunday afternoons on WNJC
WNJC
WNJC is a radio station broadcasting brokered programming. Licensed to Washington Township, New Jersey, it serves parts of the Philadelphia radio market and is currently owned by Forsythe Broadcasting, LLC.-History:...
Radio and Friday evenings in 2000 at Cruisin' 92.1, 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....
. He has syndicated Disco USA to independent stations across the nation including KECG-FM in Oakland, California
Oakland, California
Oakland is a major West Coast port city on San Francisco Bay in the U.S. state of California. It is the eighth-largest city in the state with a 2010 population of 390,724...
serving San Francisco, a city RJ has become obsessed with over the years. His TV dance show, "The Nostalgia Dance Party" continues to air in that market.
Ron Joseph was inducted into the Philadelphia Broadcast Pioneers in 2003.
RJ briefly hosted a Saturday-afternoon talk show on WNWR
WNWR
WNWR is a radio station in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania owned by Global Radio LLC. Its studio is located at 200 Monument Road, Suite 6, Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania and its transmitter is located in the Roxborough section of Philadelphia....
called Something To Say With RJ, from May 2006 to July 2007.
TV projects
In 2007, Ron Joseph appeared in the motion picture Fabulous, the life story of Charlie GracieCharlie Gracie
Charlie Gracie is an American rock pioneer and singer. He was born the same day as another rock and roll singer, Bobby Darin.His father encouraged him to play the guitar...
, and in 2008, The Wages of Spin, which chronicles the Philadelphia music scene from 1952 to 1963. The film primarily focuses on Dick Clark.