[PRCo] Re: "flying streetcars"

[James B. Holland]

Edward H. Lybarger wrote:

>I have a fair amount of Cordic's material, both from my own efforts and
>those of Mac and Jon McGrew.  Among my stuff is a 1957 reel-to-reel tape
>with half a dozen skits (including the "Flying Fraction") and a copy of
>"THUD - The Magazine of Brick Throw."  The tapes Jon shared with me contain
>a lot of material taken off the broadcasts.
>
>Rege Cordic was a great example of "you don't have to be x-rated to be
>funny."  The stuff is still hilarious to those of us who grew up here.
>

             Amen  --  and Thank You, Ed.     Prefer TV programming from 
1950s and earlier movies Much More than current because of the 
X-factor.     Rarely watch a current movie.

>Ed
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: pittsburgh-railways-bounce at lists.dementia.org
>[mailto:pittsburgh-railways-bounce at lists.dementia.org]On Behalf Of
>Harold Geissenheimer
>Sent: Saturday, May 01, 2004 2:47 PM
>To: pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org
>Subject: [PRCo] Re: "flying streetcars"
>
>
>Greetings to all
>Lets give "dj a name".  Rege Cordic was first on WWSW and then KDKA in
>the morning.  His father was an operating  official for the B&O.  He was a
>railfan but created many interesting skits, both rail and otherwise.
>Remember
>the "brick throw", "the bridge to no where", "the Crudley whiteliner,
>Old Frosh
>beer (with foam on the bottom)". etc.  He  had a character, a motorman,
>threatened
>with the  worst, an assigment to the 77/54.  He took an old PRC
>Highfloor car
>and used it as a promotion as the "Cordic car".  He had an election special
>train on the B&O to Wheeling.  He made speaches from the rear at stops.
>
>Then he decided to go into TV on the west coast and failed.  Rege had the
>voice for radio but not the looks for TV.
>
>I believe he was a member of ARDEN and a real Pittsburgh institution.
>To this day, I remember his voice and skits
>
>He was more than a "DJ" to many pittsburghers.  Arden should make a photo
>display about Rege and tape some of his skits as part of the exhibit..
>
>Does any one have any of  his recordings?
>
>He made "Pittsburgh some place special".
>
>Harold Geissenheimer
>
>John Swindler wrote:
>
>  
>
>>There was the 77/54 created by linking the 54 car line (north end of Brady
>>St. bridge to Carrick via S. 18th St.) with the 77 line - which seems to
>>have followed most of the Bloomfield Loop (as opposed to the outer loop:
>>Fifth-Shady-Penn).  I wasn't aware that it was a local dj that first coined
>>the term "flying fraction", but that is how this route was known during my
>>teen years in early 1960s.
>>
>>Then in mid 1970s Harold G. renumbered a 1600 series rebuild as 77/54
>>"Flying Fraction" instead of in the high 1700-series.  So I guess it was
>>both a route and a particular PCC car.  But route came first.
>>
>>Wasn't there a discussion some time ago on other Pittsburgh fractions, such
>>as 6/13; 6/14; 42/38; and my mind just drew a blank as to others - oh yes,
>>31/34.
>>
>>John
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>    
>>
>>>From: <ktjosephson at earthlink.net>
>>>Reply-To: pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org
>>>To: <pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org>
>>>Subject: [PRCo] Re: "flying streetcars"
>>>Date: Fri, 30 Apr 2004 18:58:17 -0700
>>>
>>>Well, I came up with these thoughts.
>>>
>>>It was during the U.S.A.-Soviet Union "space race" when the "Jetsons"
>>>cartoon was so popular. The fantasy was that modernized transportation
>>>would
>>>be about flying. As we all know, you also had a local D.J. referring to
>>>      
>>>
>the
>  
>
>>>77/54 as the "Flying Fraction."
>>>
>>>Some of the cars themselves had wings around their headlights, the PCC
>>>      
>>>
>PRCo
>  
>
>>>emblem had wings incorporated in its design, jet travel was being touted
>>>      
>>>
>as
>  
>
>>>the modern way to travel between cities, etc. The fantasy about "flying
>>>streetcars" could easily come to a child's mind.
>>>
>>>One of my older brothers, when he was ten or eleven, used to get behind
>>>      
>>>
>the
>  
>
>>>wheel of the '55 Chevy my dad bought for my mom and pretend he was flying
>>>the plane on the hood.
>>>
>>>I suppose one way to look at it is that in a future fantasy world of
>>>      
>>>
>flying
>  
>
>>>automobiles, moving sidewalks, commuter rockets to the moon, push button
>>>kitchens and talking computers, flying streetcars would fit right
>>>in.........though the lack of rails and wire may have diminished their
>>>appeal to some fans. ;-)
>>>
>>>K.
>>>
>>>----- Original Message -----
>>>From: "Matt Barry" <mrb190+ at pitt.edu>
>>>To: <pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org>
>>>Sent: Friday, April 30, 2004 1:54 PM
>>>Subject: [PRCo] "flying streetcars"
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>      
>>>
>>>>In the early 60's, when it seemed that our Pittsburgh traction system
>>>>was just beginning to be largely abandoned in favor of buses, I would
>>>>frequently espouse to my older siblings that streetcars were far better
>>>>than buses.   They knew I was a big fan of the cars, and so to assure me
>>>>of the continued existance of some kind of "streetcar" transportation,
>>>>both my brother and sister would tell me that we would soon be boarding
>>>>"flying streetcars."    This did not seem like a joke to pull on a
>>>>younger sibling, and I envisioned this as streetcars that rode faster
>>>>and were largely on private rights of way.   At least, that is how it
>>>>was interpreted to me ----I think.
>>>>
>>>>But do any of you recall that phrase:  "flying streetcars?"
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>        
>>>>
>>>
>>>      
>>>
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