
90.5 WERG presents our 19th-annual broadcast of
A Golden Christmas
December 2023
Mid. One Silent Night
Distinguished newscaster, the late Walter Cronkite, was the special guest for the Choir's 2002 Christmas Concert. A highlight of the program was his narration of "Silent Night, Holy Night," the story of the Christmas Truce of 1914. Preserved for all time in this recording, we present it here on A Golden Christmas.
12:30 The Storyteller: "The Last Noel"
From the WERG archives: the story of a very special Christmas, as told by former Gannon College professor, Dr. John Rouch. During the seventies, Dr. Rouch hosted a series on WERG called The Storyteller, narrating tales spun-out of his real-life experiences. “The Last Noel” was originally broadcast over WERG on Dec 18, 1973. With grateful appreciation to Skip Niebauer of American Artist Studio in Erie for this digital restoration.
1am Dani’s Christmas Favorites
One of our graduates, Dani was a DJ on 90.5 WERG and loves Christmas music. She compiled the music for this program, which she scripted and produced, for an edition of Radio Roulette in December 2019. We preserved the recordings and now present an encore presentation of it here.
4am Handel’s Messiah!
5am The Bells of Christmas
With the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square.
Organist: Andrew Unsworth. Conducted by Mack Wilburg. Hosted by Lloyd Newall, a former anchor for CNN and WSEE Television in Erie, PA.
5:30 Christmas Day in the Morning
The Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square present a Music & the Spoken Word special, featuring Richard Thomas (The Waltons). Music and readings includes: “Christmas Day in the Morning”, “The Christmas Story”, “Angels from the Realms of Glory”, and more.
6am Christmas Tunes on 90.5 WERG
Christmas music, both traditional and new. Trevor will play everything from Mannheim Steamroller, Jack Johnson, Pentatonix, and Wolf Alice, along with traditional favorites from Aretha Franklin, Bobby Helms, Vince Guaraldi, and Nat King Cole. It's a great way to welcome-in Christmas Eve!
9am Dani’s Christmas Favorites
One of our graduates, Dani was a DJ on 90.5 WERG and loves Christmas music. She compiled the music for this program, which she scripted and produced, for an edition of Radio Roulette in December 2019. We preserved the recordings and now present an encore presentation of it here.
Noon Bob’s Hott 80's Christmas Party
Join Bob around the tree for three hours of Christmas and Holiday favorites. Grab a mug of hot chocolate and settle-in!
3pm Christmas Tunes with Chet on 90.5 WERG
Christmas music, both traditional and new. Chet mixes-in the likes of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Coldplay, Train, and The Lumineers with traditional favorites from Bing Crosby, John Denver, Johnny Mathis, and David Bowie.
6pm The Storyteller: "The Last Noel"
From the WERG archives: the story of a very special Christmas, as told by former Gannon College professor, Dr. John Rouch. During the seventies, Dr. Rouch hosted a series on WERG called The Storyteller, narrating tales spun-out of his real-life experiences. “The Last Noel” was originally broadcast over WERG on Dec 18, 1973. With grateful appreciation to Skip Niebauer of American Artist Studio in Erie for this digital restoration.
6:30 Songs and Stories of Christmas
We all know the songs and carols...but where did they come from?
7pm Christmas Carols Then and Now
Join internationally-renowned recording artist Natalie Cole in “Carols Then and Now”, with The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square, as they celebrate the enchanting music of Christmas.
7:30 Christmas Carols Around the World
The Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square performs seasonal classics from around the world, including “Ding, Dong! Merrily on High,” the French carol “Whence Is That Goodly Fragrance Flowing,” “Trepak” from “The Nutcracker,” “O Green and Shimmering Tree,” the Nigerian carol “Betelehemu,” and “Silent Night.”
8pm Charles Dickens “A Christmas Carol”
This staged reading was presented over several dates this December at Gannon University’s Schuster Theatre. Each performance featured different Gannon celebrities, including Dr. Walter Iwanenko, Dr. Lori Lindley, President Keith Taylor, Dr. Steven Ropski, and more! We recorded a live performance and are broadcasting it here. From The Schuster Theatre at 620 Sassafras, to 90.5 WERG at 700 Peach, and then out of your radio from wherever you are listening: join us on campus for a true holiday classic!
9:30 A Dickens Christmas
Featuring narration by John Rhys-Davies (Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade).
10pm The Ghosts of Christmas Eve: The Best of TSO
Join Trans-Siberian Orchestra on a sonic Holiday adventure! Featuring new interviews with band members Al Pitrelli, Chris Caffery, and Jeff Plate.
11pm The Storyteller: "The Last Noel"
From the WERG archives: the story of a very special Christmas, as told by former Gannon College professor, Dr. John Rouch. During the seventies, Dr. Rouch hosted a series on WERG called The Storyteller, narrating tales spun-out of his real-life experiences. “The Last Noel” was originally broadcast over WERG on Dec 18, 1973. With grateful appreciation to Skip Niebauer of American Artist Studio in Erie for this digital restoration.
11:30 One Silent Night
Distinguished newscaster, the late Walter Cronkite, was the special guest for the Choir's 2002 Christmas Concert. A highlight of the program was his narration of "Silent Night, Holy Night," the story of the Christmas Truce of 1914. Preserved for all time in this recording, we present it here on A Golden Christmas.
And as Christmas Eve gives way to Christmas Day, join 90.5 WERG and JET-24 for the celebration of
The Midnight Mass, live from St. Peter Cathedral in downtown Erie.