Woods O. Dreyfus

Woods O. Dreyfus
Inducted: 1999

After an early vaudeville career, he joined Milwaukee’s WISN radio in 1927 and over a 20 year period served as a singer, announcer, Program Director and finally as General Manager. He produced and directed 2 live dramas each week and was the Producer-Director for CBS network shows which originated in Milwaukee such as the Paul Whiteman Show, Groucho Marx’ $64 Question and the Gene Autry Show. In 1931, he created perhaps the first 3-part harmony recording, himself recording the melody, bass and tenor parts over one another in a singing commercial for 3-in-1 Oil. In 1947, he put WMAW AM & FM on the air in Milwaukee, serving for two years as its Program Director and General Manager. He left the broadcast business in 1949 and died in 1965. In 1982, he was elected posthumously to the Milwaukee Press Club’s Media Hall of Fame.