William Penn Life, 2014 (49. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)

2014-04-01 / 4. szám

Tibor's Take with Tibor Check, Jr.

35 years of family pride & perseverance

MY FAMILY AND I soon will celebrate an anniversary of sorts. Next month, on Mother's Day weekend to be exact, we will have been on the airwaves of FM radio for 35 years.

Spanning four generations and five decades, the "Souvenirs of Hungary" show began with little distinction or fanfare. The host of the previous Hungarian show decided to abandon ship, and a few days later our family was offered the program, but with one caveat: if we were to quit the program, the time slot would be given to another nationality group. The inaugural 60-minute broadcast began with my grandfather Endre Cseh at the mic, my father at the control board, and Great- Grandmother Silvers, Grandmother Cseh, Aunt Gena and my mom in Studio B answering telephone calls with dedications. My apa recalls the first program was filled with a lot of music and a dozen or so call-in requests.

Although we were not the first group to have a Magyar radio show on WKTL-90.7 FM, we are definitely the longest lasting. Several other parties took a stab at operating the weekly program, but a varying list of reasons ended their careers as program hosts.

Our very first program was dedicated to Hungarian mothers. We repeat this theme annually, and it remains one of our most popular programs.

I have been involved with the program since March 16, 1991. At just 75 days of age, I made my first visit to the studio facilities. The next day, I was baptized by Monsignor Dezső Torok. My anya recalls the weather that particular weekend was delightfully warm and sunny. "It felt like summer compared to typical mid-March weather," she said.

Coming down to do the radio show was, and is, a big thing for me. As I grew older, my duties on the show became more demanding. I loved assuming the added responsibilities. Where else could a 9-year-old kid be able to talk on the airwaves or control over 10,000 watts of electromagnetic power?

I used to tell my teachers how I talked on a radio program and manipulated a myriad of switches, buttons and levers on a studio console. At first, my teachers did not believe me and dismissed my story as the product of one

little boy's imagination. One day, my anya came to school to perform some volunteer work. My teacher stopped her in the hall and laughingly informed my mom how little Tibor had been telling her and his classmates about a radio program he does. My anya squelched any disbelief with a full explanation and provided photographs as additional proof.

A lot of things have changed over the past 35 years at WKTL and in the Mahoning and Shenango Valleys of Eastern Ohio and Western Pennsylvania. The station was upgraded several times with added broadcast power, stereo signaling and new equipment. I was honored to

be part of a few "radiothons" to help raise money earmarked for station improvements. I saw my grandparents, Aunt Gena and many of our long time listeners pass on to Magyar Heaven.

I recall how, from May to November, there was a Hungarian event every weekend. Back then, only the cold of winter and the Lenten season limited the number of "Hungarian style" happenings.

I remember Frank Borisz calling my siblings and 1 "The TEA-Checks" (TEA standing for Tibor, Elizabeth and Andrew) during one of his many stops at WKTL to socialize with my gramps and dad. Mr. Borisz would often make a pit stop with his entire zenekar (band) while in route to a playing engagement in Pittsburgh or destinations further east or south.

When I was 12 years of age, I was watching a Y-town TV newscast with my grandfather when the announcer talked about the 1985 Tornado of Newton Falls. I was intrigued by the videotaped accounts of this deadly storm. My nagyapa then detailed for me how that Friday evening twister affected the next day's radio show, a somber and sorrowful broadcast.

From show #1 to our present schedule of bi-weekly programming, my family has had one mission: to offer the American-Hungarian community an opportunity to learn of upcoming events and to share in the unique music we all love. We encourage listener participation via phone, letter or personal contact. Linked together by our Magyar heritage, we share in celebration, sorrow or remembrance.

On a few occasions, I have been asked why we don't do the program in Hungarian. My reply is twofold. First, I do

6 0 April 2014 0 William Penn Life