Ed Cunningham
His Story
At the end of June 1998, Ed Cunningham moved from TV-12 (WHYY-TV) fundraiser producer to the newly created position of "History Producer." In this new job, he created and produced similar programs to "Things That Aren't There Anymore." His first program was called, "We Are PENN STATE," and aired on Saturday, November 28, 1998.
The following is written by Gerry Wilkinson....As you know, I worked with Ed on the TV-12 fundraiser in February and March of 1998. Ed was the producer and he was kind enough to bring me in as his Associate Producer. Ed has been the voice of TV-12 for twenty years. He is married to Ellie Menna Cunningham and they have two daughters. Here's some photos I found hanging on Ed's office wall.
Ed During a TV Pledge Drive
To his left is Robert Altman of WHYY and on the right is Jean Marsh of "Upstairs, Downstairs."
Ed with Mickey Rooney.
Holding the camera is WHYY Technican, John MacElhenney.
Ed and friends cooking on a previous TV-12 funderaiser.
To Ed's left is Mary Ann Esposito, of the TV Cooking Show, Ciao Italia. On the right is Marsha Corcoran of WHYY's Wilmington Office/Studios.
On Saturday, March 7, 1998, we had seven different well-known local chefs come in and I got to eat some of the food. But with Ed as an assistant chef.... Well, maybe I should have passed, but I didn't.
Robert Altman, Willo Carey, Ed Cunningham and David Othmer, all of WHYY
Patrick Stoner, Film Critic for WHYY with Ed Cunningham
PBS' Bill Moyers with Ed Cunningham
Picture from 1969 edition
Below are a couple of links to photos of Ed Cunningham during the March 1999 WHYY-TV fundraiser.
Some details of Ed's career......
He's a graduate of St. Thomas Moore High School in Philadelphia. In December of 1968, he was graduated from Temple University with a B.S. in Journalism. Besides working at WRTI-FM, he was also involved with the Temple University News.
He has been with WHYY-TV since 1980 as an announcer and producer. He wrote and produced such popular documentaries as THINGS THAT AREN’T THERE ANYMORE, MORE THINGS THAT AREN'T THERE ANYMORE, PHILADELPHIA’S FABULOUS SPORTS MEMORIES, SOUTH PHILLY ITALIAN STYLE and nationally-broadcast REMEMBER WHEN.
He was responsible for producing all on-air pledge drives and other fundraising efforts until June of 1998. He then moved over to head the station's history programming division. (So far, Ed is the only one in that department.) He is known as “The Voice of TV12” in the role as announcer for station breaks and other presentations on TV and radio.
During 1979 and early 1980, he was the Public Relations Director for the Opera Company of Philadelphia.
From 1973 until 1979, he worked on WHYY Radio (then called WUHY) as a producer of music programming. He produced and hosted nightly five-hour classical music broadcast, including music, news, interviews and specially-produced concerts.
During the years of 1969 until 1973, Ed worked for the classical music stations, WFLN AM & FM.
His part-time experience includes seven years as ED COLLINS at Easy 101 (previously WDVR and now called B-101). From 1975 until 1982, he was a staff weekend DJ.
From 1972 until 1974, Ed worked part-time as a features writer for the Jewish Times of Philadelphia.
Beginning in 1992 until 1997, he was one of the anchors on the Mummers' Parade which was carried on WHYY-TV, WPHL-TV and nationally on the Discovery Channel.
He was the TV and radio spokesperson for such organizations as First Pennsylvania Bank, City of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Ballet, Army National Guard, Mozart Society of Philadelphia, National Lumbermen’s Insurance Company, Jefferson Hospital and many others.
From TODAY AT WHYY (an issue from April of 1999), an internal daily publication of WHYY-TV and Radio.... "Congratulations to the winners of the Society of Professional Journalists local awards."
TV Documentary
1st Place
We Are Penn State!, Ed Cunningham
Read more about Ed and his shows. There's info about the RIZZO Show, Doo Wop 50, An American Feast and more. This is the WRTI Old Gang Web Site.
