Bob Steele’s Century Exhibition Now Through March 9, 2012

For Immediate Release

February 6, 2012

Contact: Meaghan MacDonald

(860) 246-1553, ext. 116

meaghan.macdonald@cga.ct.gov

His Life Through Photographs, Letters and Cartoons

Bob Steele’s Century Exhibition

Now Through March 9, 2012 at Connecticut’s Old State House

Hartford, CT – New Englanders woke up to the voice of radio man Bob Steele for more than 48 years. Today the story of his life, told through some of his own photographs, cartoons, letters and personal belongings, is on display at Connecticut’s Old State House. Bob Steele’s Century Exhibition, on loan from the Hartford Public Library and the Hartford History Center, is available for viewing until March 9^th as part of the Old State House’s traveling exhibits program. 

The exhibit is the result of collaboration with the Hartford Public Library, Hartford History Center and Steele family. The Connecticut Vintage Radio and Communications Museum contributed two radios and a microphone to the exhibit. The oldest dates to 1936, the year Steele started his broadcasting career.

“Mr. Steele played a significant role in Connecticut’s civic story”, said Sally Whipple, Director of the Old State House. “The common experience of listening to his show and sharing his puns, corny jokes and “word for the day” at water coolers and dinner tables drew people together and sparked great conversations. We’re so pleased to host this exhibit and look forward to seeing people enjoy this glimpse into a very colorful and important Connecticut life.”

Bob Steele, a radio icon, started his career at WTIC on “G. Fox Morning Watch.” By the time of his retirement from daily radio in 1991, Bob Steele had created one of the longest running radio shows in the country.

On February 21, join the Old State House for a lunchtime lecture on the history of radio in Connecticut. John Ramsey will briefly discuss his new book, Hartford Radio, and then join other panelists for a conversation about radio’s impact on our lives and how it has changed over time.

Throughout 2012, the Old State House will have a variety of lunchtime lectures and other special events and programming. Visit the calendar on www.ctoldstatehouse.org for more information.

Hartford History Center at Hartford Public Library, collects, preserves, and makes available materials and information relating to the history, literature, and culture of Hartford. The holdings include, but are not limited to books; scrapbooks; pamphlets; the City of Hartford archives; the Hartford City Parks collection; image collections; maps; fine and graphic arts, including paintings, posters, prints and drawings; and memorabilia – those materials that preserve and share the story of Hartford, Connecticut ‐ its place, its people, and its past. Located on the third floor of the Downtown Library, 500 Main Street, the Hartford History Center is open 1:00 – 5:00 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday. For more information, please call the Center at 860‐695‐6297 or visit online at www.hplct.org/hhc .

The Vintage Radio and Communications Museum of Connecticut, located in Windsor, celebrates the history of electronic communications and traces its development from the mid 1800s with Morse Code until the 1980s with the advent of home computers. The museum is located at 115 Pierson Lane, Windsor and is open Thursday and Friday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. For more information and admission rates visit, http://vrcmct.org.

Located in Hartford just minutes from the Connecticut Science Center, Wadsworth Athenaeum and the riverfront, Connecticut’s Old State House invites visitors of all ages to discover that their voices matter, and that words, ideas, persuasion and debate really can change minds – and, quite possibly, the world.  The building served as the Constitution State’s original seat of government from 1796 to 1878. For more information on admission prices, upcoming events and parking discounts nearby, become a fan of Connecticut’s Old State House on Facebook, follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/CTOldStateHouse or visit us online at www.ctoldstatehouse.org.

 

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