The Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia

A "Coin" from WCAU Radio

This "coin" is about three-quarters of an inch in diameter. Both sides of it are shown. The one side has a reverse swastika, a symbol of good luck before the nazis corrupted its meaning.

"The Swastika" is the oldest cross and emblem on the globe. It forms a combination of four "L's" standing for Luck, Light, Love and Life. It's been found in ancient Rome, excavations in Greece, on Buddhist idols, on Chinese coins dating to 315 B.C., and our own Southwest Native Americans used it as an amulet. It is claimed that the Mound Builders of the Ohio River Valley and Cliff Dwellers of the Southwestern United States, consider "The Swastika" a charm to drive away evil and bring good luck, long life and prosperity to the possessor.

That is what we know. What we guess is that this "coin" dates from about 1929 and that "Captain Jolly" was some kind of children's broadcast to combat the popularity of WIP Radio's "Uncle Wip." Frieda Wone of WPVI has the "coin" and we asked how she got it. She says:

My dad owned a Chinese hand laundry and kept a small lost and found box near the counter with items that were left in customers' pockets, mostly things like cufflinks or other pieces of costume jewelry. This was one of those items. He was in business since the late 40's, early 50's through the late 80's and had a wide range of clientele. His customers ranged from politicians to Chubby Checker (before he learned to "twist"). So it's really hard to know just when he might have come across it.

We have seen a photo of a similar coin, however, the coin was round. We only saw one side but it looks like it was stamped from the same dye used for the coin in the photo above. The side we saw was similar to the right image above.

In a radio listing dating from Tuesday, June 28, 1932, we found a WCAU Radio program called "The Jolly Man" airing from 5 pm to 5:15. It was probably a daily program, but we haven't yet confirmed this. However, there was a 1935 book issued called The Jolly Man's Juvenile Jingles. It was written by "your radio friend, Wayne Cody, The Jolly Man." The book was paperbound and measured six by 9 inches. Each page had one poem with a small drawing. The cover had a pig dancing with a bunny under a tree. Some of the poems were: "Carefulness on The Fourth Of July,""Evolution of Heat," "Easter Time" and "The Roadside Stand."

Was Wayne "The Jolly Man" on WCAU in 1932? We think so. Here's a question: was The Jolly Man and Captain Jolly, the same person? We think so but aren't sure.

In 1935, "The Jolly Man" was broadcast on WFIL radio. It was a children's show sponsored by Strawbridge and Clothier, a local department store. That business was also owner of WFI which merged with WLIT to form WFIL in January of 1935, just months before. Did Wayne Cody move his broadcast over to WFIL? We think so. Could someone else have played "The Jolly Man" on WFIL? Maybe, but we believe (but cannot confirm) that it was Wayne Cody.

Later, we have been told, Wayne Cody became "Uncle WIP" both on radio and on TV. The "Uncle WIP" broadcast was always on WIP Radio and the television show was on Channel 10, WCAU-TV as "Uncle WIP." In 1946, it was part of a TV series, "All Eyes on Gimbels" which aired on Channel 3, WPTZ.

This is all we know. If you have any information that might shed some light on this "coin," please e-mail us.

The e-mail address of the Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia is pioneers@broadcastpioneers.com