Mark Blaustein's Love for the Radio: MSU's "On the Town" radio show personality broadcasts his 100th show on WMSC-FM

If you have been listening to Montclair State’s radio show "On the Town", you probably know the host Mark Blaustein, a resident of Little Falls. But you may not know that he just wrapped up his 100th show on October 29th. On his centennial show, Mark got the chance to interview a living legend, Joe Morello, a renowned drummer for the Jazz group Dave Brubeck Quartet known for their classic hit "Take Five".

"Joe Morello was reluctant to do the show at first, but after the show, he was amazed by how comfortable he felt in the studio during the interview," said Mark, an avid jazz fan.

Growing up in the 40’s, Mark was intrigued by radio ever since he was seven years old. As an impressionable child, he used to sit and listen to his favorite 15-minute radio shows such as "The Lone Ranger", "Jack Armstrong" and "Superman". Sometimes Mark would turn off the sound and voice the announcements himself -- which would be the first step toward his dream of becoming a radio personality.

As he recalled his infatuation with the boxing matches broadcast from Madison Square Garden on his "enormous" radio, Mark described his childhood obsession with the radio as an influential tool for his vivid imagination. "The most wonderful thing about radio and movies in the 40’s was the fact that everything was left to your own imagination," stated Mark, who also serves as the Master of Ceremonies at the Cabaret Soiree in the Le Dome at the Manor in West Orange.

He took his love for the radio so far as to actually stand up next to the radio during the National Anthem broadcast prior to any sporting event. "My mother used to say what are you doing? I would respond with, 'The National Anthem'. You have to stand up," Mark said laughing. "There was always a show business element in the back of my head. I wanted to be an actor or a radio announcer because it was a glamorous kind of job."

Also known to do voice impersonations, Mark was drafted into the army in 1953 during the Korean War and left two days after his 20th birthday. "It was hard for my parents to let me go, my mother was in tears and my father tried to keep his composure but failed to do so," he said.

Mark was assigned to Special Services, a division of the Signal Corps, where he got the chance to sing and dance in musical productions on the U.S. Army bases throughout the country. His most memorable performance was the show "On the Town", a Leonard Bernstein musical in which he was cast to play Gabe, one of three sailors who enjoy a weekend in New York City.

Discharged from the Army in 1955, he decided to pursue his career as a radio announcer, but when that failed he enrolled in the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City. Unable to make his "mark" in acting, he headed to New Jersey for his college education after getting some timely advice from his dear friend, Carol Armstrong.

He earned a B.A. in English and psychology from Fairleigh Dickinson University and a M.A. in psychology and guidance from Seton Hall. He then went on to teach history and English before becoming a guidance counselor in several New Jersey school systems. After retiring in 1988, he traveled the world for 10 years before landing a gig as an arts/entertainment limited talk show host for WVRM-FM in Montclair.

After leaving WVRM-FM, Mark was given the chance to return to his spot in front of the microphone, joining the MSU community in 2000 as an arts/entertainment radio host on station (90.3 FM) WMSC. With his new job at MSU, Mark was able to broaden his radio show and has interviewed celebrity guests such as vocalist Melba Moore, sports announcer Tim McCarver, jazz pianist Geri Allen and Maestro Alfredo Silipigni from the New Jersey State Opera.

Mark's show "On the Town", inspired by the Leonard Bernstein musical, features a myriad of guests such as authors, musicians, vocalists, poets, holistic doctors and chiropractors. "I meet a lot of interesting people and it gives me a chance to do what I dreamed of doing as a kid," said Mark. If you would like to get the scoop on arts and entertainment in Montclair, tune in to Mark’s show on Sunday mornings from 10 to 11 a.m. or online at www.wmscradio.com