Oct 12

Art Lewis and the Art of Listening

This week’s recipe is both seasonal – spiced cider - and topical – especially if you follow our Saturday Artifact Posts.

Also, it is quick, easy and leaves plenty of time for football games, homecoming parades and leaf raking.

WSGW went on the air in August of 1950 and quickly became an important part of Saginaw. Its studio was originally located on the second floor of the Mason building on the southeast corner of E. Genesee and S. Washington and the station’s call letters - the last three letters are derived from the name Saginaw - were emblazoned on the sides of the building. In 1973 the studios were moved to Tittabawassee Road in Saginaw Township.

In 2012, the Castle Museum celebrated the 60th anniversary of Listen to the Mrs., WSGW’s local recipe and helpful hints show, with a special exhibit – in fact, this article borrows heavily from the labels written for that exhibit, which were based on the history in the 60th anniversary edition of the Listen to the Mrs. Cookbook This popular show started in1952. Listeners called in with their questions and comments or to share recipes and helpful hints. The program’s magical interaction between caller and host made Listen to the Mrs. a Saginaw fixture for over six decades.

The program debuted in 1952 as Krell’s Kitchen, named after its host Fred Krell. The program started simply with Krell reading a recipe; however, the audience quickly started calling in and asking questions. Krell hosted the program for over three decades. During that time, he was assisted by several cohosts--Art Lewis, Les Foerster, Lee Norling, Eric Jyhla and Jeanne Marcello. Art Lewis and Sue Smith became the program’s hosts in 1987.

Although the magic and lasting success of Listen to the Mrs. is the connection and dialogue between the host and callers, the foundation of the program is an amazing collection of 1,000s of recipes. By the time of the sixtieth anniversary, most of the recipes had been entered into a computer. However, during much of the program’s 60-year history, they were filed on note cards. The arrangement and retrieval of these cards is an amazing testimony to the organizational skills - and creativity - of the show’s hosts.

WSGW’s transmitter is located in Buena Vista Township on Uncle Henry Road – near the site of the former Uncle Henry Coal Mine. The Castle Museum preserves c. 1950 painted Masonite letters that once marked the station’s tower.

During its more than 60 years of broadcast history, Listen to the Mrs. has become a distinctly Saginaw institution. Its hosts are instantly recognizable, and topics of conversation reflect the changing fashions, interests and concerns of our community.

Fred Krell remembered “a call from a woman whose family was coming early one morning from a funeral. “The little girl was sleeping on her mother’s lap and when she heard my voice on the radio she said, ‘Oh Mommy, we’re home.’ That was very flattering to me . . . to be so closely identified with the area.” “Listen to the Mr.” (The Saginaw News, 21 July 1974.)

Although it is no longer broadcasted, Listen to the Mrs. will be forever a Saginaw fixture. This link will take you to more information on the program’s podcasts.

The Recipe: Hot Spiced Cider

1 quart apple cider

12 whole cloves

8 inch stick of cinnamon

¼ teaspoon allspice

Add the spices to cider and bring to a boil. Remove from the heat and let stand for an hour or more. When ready to serve, reheat mixture. Remove the whole spices. Cider may be served chilled.

--From Listen to the Mrs. Cookbook