Radiofest 2008 Planning Update
Radiofest 2008 will take place on July 31-August 2, 2008 as we return to the Willowbrook Holiday Inn. You can use our convenient Registration Form. Radiofest is one of the of the premier radio shows in the country. The past two years, we have sold out over 200 parking spaces for the flea market. Last year Radiofest had an estimated 1,200 attendees from 22 states and five countries. Our educational sessions feature some of the most renowned people in the country presenting information about their special areas of interest. We are looking forward to another outstanding show this year! The Ladies Luncheon, a beautiful outdoor hotel pool, educational programming and nearby museums and shopping make this a fun trip for the whole family. The program schedule will be as follows:
Thursday (7/31) Setup Day
Main Auction At 6:30pm
Followed By Free Opening Party For ARCI Members
Pre-Registration Packets Available After 5pm
Friday (8/1)
7am Registration / Radiofest Opens For Business
Flea Market All Day
Special Event Ham Radio Station Operating All Day
Hospitality Tent Open All Day
Food Service Available From The Hotel All Day
Programs (See Below)
Ladies Luncheon
Old Equipment Contest
Banquet & Entertainment
Saturday (8/2)
Donation Auction With Earlier Schedule (9:30am)
Flea Market until Noon
Free Sellers’ Raffle
RADIOFEST HOTEL - SAME LOCATION
Radiofest 2008 will take place at the Willowbrook Holiday Inn. This is a full service business conference hotel located close to both airports (20 miles from O’Hare and 15 miles from Midway) and close to the major interstate thoroughfares including I90, I-88, I-55 and I-294. Hotel reservations for July 31-August 2, 2008 must be made directly with the Holiday Inn. Discounted rates for radio show attendees start at $98.00. 
You must mention ARCI to get the discounted rate. Last year there was confusion with the national booking service on room rates so we recommend calling the hotel directly. We strongly recommend that you make your reservations early. Last year the hotel sold out. Complete contact information is as follows: The Willowbrook Holiday Inn and ARCI invite you join us for an outstanding Radiofest this Summer! (Click Map for driving details.)
Willowbrook Holiday Inn Hotel & Conference Center
Willowbrook Holiday InnHotel & Conference Center
7800 South Kingery Hwy (Rte 83)
Willowbrook, IL 60527
Reservations: 1-800-972-2494
Front Desk: 1-630-325-6400
Hotel Fax: 1-630-325-2362
Email: info@willowbrookholidayinn.com
Check-In: 3:00 PM -- Check-Out: 12:00 PM
RADIOFEST REGISTRATION & FEES
Fees for Radiofest 2008 will remain the same as 2007. Fees are as follows: Sellers will be charged $45.00 for their first selling space and $25.00 for additional spaces. The One Day Rate of $30.00 will apply to Saturday only. Banquet tickets will be $25.00 per person, $45 per couple. This is the best deal in town for a four course dinner, awards and professional entertainment. Don’t miss this chance to socialize with your friends and to recognize the hard work everyone has put into our club. The fees for the auction are explained below. ARCI membership is required to attend all programs, the Equipment Contest and the Banquet. Last year our selling spaces were sold out! Pre-registration is strongly recommended!
MAIN AUCTION ON THURSDAY NIGHT
The Main Auction will take place as our opening event on Thursday evening from 6:30-8:30pm followed by a FREE Opening Party. Pre-registered attendees will be able to pick up their packets by 5pm on Thursday to set up. Registration for the Main Auction will open by 5:30pm. The auction’s format will stay the same as previous years, allowing sellers to maintain a moving reserve subject to their last minute decision to accept the highest bid. The charges are $5 per item for seller fees ($10 for non-members) and the purchase of bidding cards at $2 each ($3 for non-members). Please contact either Harry Blesy (n9cqx@hotmail.com) or me (jbart64@sbcglobal.net) if you have any questions or comments.
FRIDAY NIGHT BANQUET & ENTERTAINMENT
Back by popular demand, the 2008 Friday Night Banquet will include a four course dinner with a cash bar followed by awards and entertainment. This year, our entertainment will feature the nationally renowned Crown Vics with their radio show reenactment tribute to Alan Freed and the "The Moondog Coronation Ball". We look forward to their unique show.
One of the most important popularizers of rock and roll during the '50s, Alan Freed was the first disc jockey and concert producer of rock and roll. He is often credited with coining the term “rock and roll” in 1951, and opening the door to rhythm and blues music. The Crown Vics will reenact a tribute radio show to Alan Freed and the music of the 1950’s. Since 2003, their six piece band has earned a national reputation for recreating the sound, look, energy and style of the legendary 1950’s Rock & Roll bands. During 2004 and 2005, The Crown Vics were selected to perform in the Ultimate Doo Wop series of shows given through out the Midwest, backing up Frankie Lymon's Legendary Teenagers, the Eldorados, the Magnificents, the Spaniels, the Reflections, the Crystals, the Fleetwoods, Maurice Williams and the Zodiacs, Gene "Duke of Earl" Chandler, the Marcels, the Edsels, and Kathy Young. The Crown Vics released their first CD in the Fall of 2007. Information about Alan Freed can be found at www.alanfreed.com. Information about The Crown Vics is at: is www.thecrownvics.com. Banquet tickets are subsidized by ARCI and prices will remain unchanged from 2007. Tickets are discounted to $25 per person, $45 per couple. The banquet is a great opportunity to relax, have a drink, enjoy a fine meal and visit with fellow club members. Don’t miss this chance to recognize those people who have worked hard to improve the club and kick back for a trip through time with the The Crown Vics!
FRIDAY LADIES' LUNCHEON
Janet LaVelle will once again host the Ladies’ Luncheon on Friday. Janet is working with the hotel catering office to whip up a special feast for all the ladies. Table prizes will be awarded. Ladies, this is your special time to relax, so please join Janet for a great luncheon!
PROGRAMS
Radiofest is proud to offer an exciting variety of interesting topics centered on repair, restoration and display of your collection provided by some of the leading people in the country. Our full slate of daytime educational programs is as follows:
• Dr. Eric Wenaas – Radiola: 1919 - 1929 - Dr. Wenaas is the author of the highly acclaimed book Radiola. He will present a retrospective on RCA focusing on its early years in the 1920s, its impact on the growth of radio and introduce his new book, Radiola. Dr. Wenaas has degrees in electrical engineering from Purdue University (BS & MS) and a PhD. in Interdisciplinary Studies in Engineering from the State University of New York at Buffalo. He spent most of his career at Jaycor, a defense company in Southern California, first as an engineer and later as President and CEO. Dr. Wenaas retired in 2002. He collects receivers made by and for RCA including Wireless Specialty Apparatus, Marconi, Westinghouse and GE. He also collects American and French crystal sets. He is a past member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE) and American Physical Society and a current member of the Antique Wireless Association (AWA) where he received the 2007 Houck Award for Historical Documentation.
• Greg Hunolt -- Battery Set Compendium Project - Greg Hunolt is the author of the Battery Set Compendium. He will present an overview of this significant effort to develop a searchable database compilation of information about battery sets and radio companies active during the period roughly 1914 - 1929. He will explain the purpose, database content, source material and availability of the compendium. He will also provide computer demonstrations of the database. Greg Hunolt moved to Plymouth, Wisconsin in 1999 and currently telecommutes as a systems engineer for a Maryland company, SGT, Inc. He previously worked for the federal government spending significant time at both NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) and NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). He started collecting antique radios in 1993, focusing on early battery sets and their era. He began work on the compendium in 2004. He is a current member of the Antique Radio Club of Illinois, Antique Wireless Association and several other antique radio clubs.
• Bill Ross -- Ham Radio Forum - NEW at Radiofest, the ARCI Ham Radio Forum is open to all (Hams and Non-Hams) who are interested in vintage ham radio equipment. Show off your most recent home brew project or discuss any subject of general interest to Amateurs. The goal is to share your vintage equipment, recent acquisitions or home brew vintage-type ham radio items. Time will be allocated for any proposed vintage ham topics of particular interest. This year's special feature will be a 25 minute video on station SAQ at Grimeton, Sweden, the last operating Alexanderson Alternator in the world (200 KW on 18,000 meter / 17.2 KHz). You thought your rig was tough to tune up? The Ham Radio Forum will be moderated by long time ARCI member Bill Ross, W9WR, who is a former ARCI Vice President and member of the Antique Wireless Association (AWA) as well as The Early Television Foundation. Over the years, he has won many contest awards for his unusual and rare items and is a widely respected historian and resource.
• Michael E. Goodale -- The Cantigny First Division Museum and Military Communications - Michael is the Programs Manager at the First Division Museum. He will present an overview of the world famous Cantigny First Division Museum and discuss its military communications equipment. The Museum is located in nearby Wheaton, Illinois and houses premier exhibits on U.S. military history and a large research library. This program offers an introduction to the Museum and seeks a dialogue with those interested in military communications and military history.
• Peter Jensen Jr. and William Jensen – Peter Jensen, A Retrospective – Banquet Speakers - Peter Jensen was apprentice to Valdemar Poulsen, one of the first people to transmit human speech using a Poulsen arc transmitter, and inventor of the loudspeaker. Jensen was a founder of Magnavox Company with Edwin Pridham, and later formed Jensen Radio Manufacturing Company. By 1929, Jensen was manufacturing 60% of all speakers being made for independent radio producers from its sprawling plant located on Chicago’s south side. Jensen was a thoughtful, introspective man whose views differed from most other industrial giants of his day. His innovations and products were always of the highest caliber. Peter Jensen's youngest son, named Peter Edwin Jensen, will describe his experiences as the inventor's son, and his experience at Jensen Industries, another of his father's creations. Grandson William Jensen will chronicle the inventor's developments and companies from inception through the age of high fidelity. Together, they will share many rare photographs, and provide the audience with an entertaining and heartwarming glimpse of this unique audio pioneer.
EQUIPMENT CONTEST
We are very interested in building the contest this year and we will feature several special awards as follows: Muchow Award for Best of Show; Chairman's Trophy; Best Restoration; and Best Historical Display. Don’t miss this great opportunity to show off your handiwork or that special item! The rules will be similar to those used in past years and will be printed in the upcoming Radiofest flyer. The contest categories are as follows:
1. Radios No One Has Ever Heard Of
2. Radios Built In Illinois
3. Military / Ham / Communication Receivers & Radios
4. Any Communications Item Before 1920
5. Radios of the 1920s
6. Radios of the 1930s
7. Radios of the 1940s & 1950s
8. Radios After 1960
9. Speakers
10. Open Category
This year’s equipment contest will feature a special display of horn speakers. Jeff Aulik and Jay Volke are spearheading this special display of rare and valuable historic speakers from radio broadcasting’s first decade. This is a great opportunity to show off your horn speaker. Please contact Jeff Aulik at akent36@insightbb.com and Jay Volke at jaysradios@aol.com to inquire about participation.
FREE SATURDAY SELLERS’ RAFFLE
To thank our sellers for participating, we will offer a free Sellers’ Raffle scheduled on Saturday. A number of great items will be raffled off. Sellers must be in attendance to win.
DONATIONS
Items donated to the club will be sold at either the Donation Table or the Saturday Donation Auction at the discretion of Tom Kleinschmidt. We encourage everyone to walk the show regularly to see what becomes available. Questions can be addressed directly to Tom Kleinschmidt at tomkleinschmidt@comcast.net