WOLF, FREDERICK C. (22 April 1902-23 Sept. 1972) became noted in Cleveland RADIO as a pioneer in nationality and classical music programming. A native of Prague, Czechoslovakia, he was the son of Vaclav and Magdalena Rosmanova Wolf. After attending the Prague Commercial Academy, he worked for the Krupp Munition Works before emigrating to Cleveland in 1927. He became an editor for the Czech daily American (see SVET-AMERICAN) and in 1928 married Clevelander Lillian Cervenka. He began broadcasting a Czech program in 1929 over WHK, moving it to WJAY the following year and to WGAR in 1936. In 1934 he founded the CLEVELAND RECORDING CO. for the production of spot commercials, nationality music, and auditions. He also formed the Nationalities Broadcasting Ass'n., an organization for all foreign radio programs, the same year. On 30 April 1950 Wolf and several partners started their own station, WDOK. By 1957 it was the radio home for 18 different nationality programs, most of them broadcast on Sundays. It also bucked contemporary music trends by broadcasting 2 hours of classical music each night. Wolf sold WDOK to Transcontinent Television Corp. of New York in 1962. He also sold Cleveland Recording Co., though continuing as a director. Because of his influence in ethnic affairs, Wolf was an important voice in local Republican politics. He was a member of the Sokol Nova Vlast and the Czech Cultural Garden Assn. Predeceased by his wife, he died childless in PARMA HEIGHTS and was buried in CALVARY CEMETERY.
Last Modified: 01 Jun 1998 10:48:05 AM- Related Article(s)