Polish Radio Program in Los AngelesPolish Radio Hour, station KTYM, 1460 AM
by Gene Harubin Zygmont
In 1974, the need for a news and information service, to reach the widely scattered Polish American community, gave rise to the development of a Polish radio program. Dr. Jerzy Fuz, president of the California branch of the Polish American Congress and Fr. Zbigniew Olbrys, pastor of the Our Lady of the Bright Mount Parish, spearheaded the movement and, within a very short time, a committee was formed to put the plan into operation. The charter officers of the committee were: Dr. Tadeusz Nowicki, President; Charlotte Wilk, Vice-President; Florence Mika, Secretary; Edmund Partyka, Treasurer; Kazimierz Cybulski, Zbigniew Kowalski, Zbigniew Kliszewski, Maria Romanska and Dr. Michal Zawadzki were appointed to the Editorial Department. In 1994, the original half-hour Sunday afternoon program was expanded to a full hour Saturday morning program.
The program, titled Polish Radio Hour, first aired over station KTYM, 1460 AM, on February 10, 1974. Witaj Majowa Jutrzenko [Welcome, Dawn of May}, a patriotic Polish composition, was chosen as the theme song. The first program was prepared by Zbigniew Kliszewski and Dr. Michael Zawadzki; Kazimierz Cybulski and Zbigniew Kowalski served as announcers. The program was designed to represent the desires of the Polish American community for a Poland free of communist control; it monitored the political events and cultural trends in that country and brought these to the attention of its listeners.
For over twenty years, the Polish Radio Hour has presented the most current information from Poland and the world to its listeners. The format has included programs on political, literary and religious topics; commemorations of state and national anniversaries; commentaries on local events; interviews with prominent leaders in Poland and the United States; announcements of interest to the Polonia. Advertisements from local professional and business firms have helped to sustain the program. At various times, other personnel have joined the effort: Barbara S. Karpinska, Marian Kozien, Andrzey Kozlowski, Irena Pawlowska, Lech Pisarski, Maria Romanska, Muzia Sierotwinska, Witold Vogt and Wanda Zurawska.
Currently Lech Pisarski serves as program coordinator. He is assisted by Teresa Lezak and Hanna Dorota Trojan. Zbigniew Kowalski is Editor in Chief; Kazimierz Cybulski serves as Senior Editor. Barbara S. Karpinska and Marian Kozien are correspondents; Tadeusz Sieniawa - Szymanski, based in Opole, Poland, is Polish correspondent.
From: Polish Americans in California, vol. II. National Center for Urban Ethnic Affairs & Polish American Historical Association. California 1995.