Honoring Sid Mark for his many years of distinguished service as a radio announcer and host of the popular "Fridays with Frank" and "Sundays with Sinatra" music shows.

WHEREAS, On Monday, November 6, 2000, many of the radio personalities at WWDB (96.5 FM) were summoned to meeting at the station and suddenly advised that their services were no longer required as the station decided to switch to a new format; and

WHEREAS, One of employees who found himself suddenly without a job was a station legend by the name of Sid Mark; and

WHEREAS, Sid Mark, a WWDB institution, was let go only four days before he was planning to celebrate the 45th anniversary of his popular radio show, "Fridays with Frank"; and

WHEREAS, Sid Mark, a longtime friend of Frank Sinatra and nationally known expert on his music, was born in Camden, New Jersey and graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in 1950; and

WHEREAS, In 1953, Sid enlisted in the United States Army and served as an infantryman until his honorable discharge in 1955; and

WHEREAS, Following his discharge in 1955, he eventually secured employment with WHAT radio and was hosting a late night program known as Sounds in the Night; and

WHEREAS, On one occasion when Mr. Mark was scheduled to end his programming at 2:00 A.M. Sid was advised that he would have to stay on the air because his relief would not be arriving for some time; and

WHEREAS, Sid asked his listeners what they would like to hear and there was an almost unanimous request for Frank Sinatra songs; and

WHEREAS, Sid decided to play an hour of Frank Sinatra music. The date was Veterans Day, November 11, 1955. Sid continued to spin Sinatra music every Friday for a specified period of time. It was some time later that his employer became aware that Sid had started a tradition that lives on for almost half a century; and

WHEREAS, Sid would move on to WHAT's FM station, WWDB and his Sinatra programming would continue to expand on Friday nights with 4 & 5 hours of music. On July 4th weekend of 1975, Sid began a new program, "Sundays with Sinatra," which delighted Sinatra lovers everywhere; now therefore

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That we hereby honor Sid Mark for his many years of distinguished service as a radio announcer and host of the popular "Fridays with Frank" and "Sundays with Sinatra" music shows.

FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to Sid Mark as evidence of the respect and admiration of this legislative body.

End