Here's another selection of memories of old-time Pittsburgh radio, following John F. Waldron's "Don't Touch That Dial" on June 17:

'Cordic and Company': THAT was the show of shows (and you can still tune in ...)

Yes, Pittsburgh radio. We cannot forget the greatest early morning show ever: "Cordic and Company." It started at WWSW in the 1940s and then moved to KDKA in 1954.

Yes, if you are older, you might remember Ed and Rainbow on KDKA. That was fun, too. But Rege Cordic was one of a kind. Every morning we had visits from such characters as Louie Adamchevitz, Brunhilda, Perriwinkle, Noodnicron and many others.

Rege -- with the help of his talented crew, Karl Hardman and Bob Trow -- would keep us laughing on the way to work or, in my case, to school. It made the day a lot happier.

If your morning was happy with Rege, you needed to end the day the same way, with "Party Line" -- Ed and Wendy made life simple and enjoyable. They had answers for almost everything, and that Party Pretzel was always fun.

To keep the sounds of Pittsburgh radio alive and well, some grateful Pittsburghers have created a Web site, "The Authorized Rege Cordic, Cordic & Co. and Olde Frothingslosh Web Site." You can find it at cordic-and-co.com.

It is filled with sound files from Rege Cordic's shows, photos and memorabilia, and links to other sources (such as David Brown's Rege Cordic collection). We also have memorabilia and links to articles about other Pittsburgh radio greats: Ed and Wendy, Sterling Yates, Jim Horne, Clark Race and others.

We have to thank David Tessitor's Pgh Free.Net for hosting the site. The late Ric Collins and his brother Greg began collecting material, and John Mehno and I have added to the collection.

If you want to know more, please contact me at Johnott6@aol.com.

-- JOHN OTT, Butler

The funny that stayed with you

Cordic & Company" was the funniest morning show ever. To me, this is the epitome of old-time Pittsburgh radio. I listened all through high school, and the nonsense I heard at wakeup got funnier as the day moved on.

The three of them -- Rege Cordic, Bob Trow and Karl Hardman -- created so many unforgettable characters: Mr. Beanie of the Flying Fraction streetcar; Louie the garbage man; Omicron, a visitor from outer space, Inspector Flagstone of the Federal Bureau of Scotland Yard -- the list seems to be endless.

My friends and I were shattered when Cordic moved to L.A. in 1965.

-- TONY PARKER, Cheswick

The radio was like a family member, and it fed the imagination

Our art-deco radio was the living room centerpiece, tall with high turned legs, the walnut finish carefully polished each week. It was big enough that my sister Jo, some years later, turned it into a three-shelf bookcase! It was truly a box with personality, a treasured important member of our family.

Lowell Thomas seemed to personally live with us when we turned on the dials. He was a newscaster with the most wonderfully deep melodious voice bringing the world directly into our lives. Few argued with Lowell.

Another comforting voice was that of our president, Franklin D. Roosevelt. Hearing his cultured, courageous Fireside Chats during World War II meant a lot to our morale. He helped us to be brave and muck on in spite of all the bad news from the front.

Favorite family programs, where we five, six with the dog, gathered around the radio listening intently. Comedy shows such as Bob Hope, Fibber Magee and Molly with their overstuffed lethal closet, Red Skelton with his multiple personalities, Charlie McCarthy the smart-mouthed puppet and Edgar Bergen, Amos 'n' Andy and the Kingfisher, Jack Benny with his violin torturing Dennis the Irish tenor. We never missed the foul language and off-color jokes so prevalent today, coarsening the listening public.

When the ads came on, we used to harmonize with the Thrivo dog food jingle, my sister singing alto:

"I feed my doggie Thriv-o / He's very much alive-o / Full of pep and vim!
"If you want a peppy pup / You'd better hurry up / Buy Thrivo for him-m!"

Listening to the radio was less mentally confining than the current attachment to the television. Our brains had to use our visual imaginations as we listened.

But thank goodness, the dear old radio is still going strong. Unfortunately the comedians and the storytellers seemed to have disappeared. More's the pity, but lots of good music, in-depth regular news, talk programs and the weather.

The best part is that we can listen in bed, close our eyes and dream away. Try that with the television!

-- SHIRLEY DINAN, Grove City