Bill Cardille

Inducted 1997
Born:  December 10, 1928, Farrell, Pa.  

Bill Cardille has been a Pittsburgh broadcasting personality for more than forty years.  

Best known as "Chilly Billy," host of late-night Chiller Theater from 1963-1985, Cardille has been an integral part of WPXI-TV's local programming since its inception in 1957.  He is also heard weekday afternoons on his radio show on 1320 AM/WJAS, featuring soft oldies music.  

Cardille began his broadcasting career in 1953 in Erie with television station WICU.  He was one of television's first weathercasters, and his show was often used to instruct others in weathercasting.  He also hosted a show for children, read commercials, and covered the local wrestling matches.  

In 1957, Cardille joined WPXI-TV/Channel 1l in Pittsburgh.  As a member of the original staff of the station, he embraced a variety of roles, appearing most often as the host of local programs.  In addition to his role as "Chilly Billy," he hosted 6 O' Clock Hop, also known as Daily Dance Party, which included live performances by pop singers such as Bobby Rydal and Connie Francis.  He hosted and announced local and national wrestling shows, game shows, quiz shows, talent shows, and the daily Money Movie.  Prior to his retirement in 1998, he served as weather forecaster on the noon news show. 

Cardille also participated in WQED-PBS High School Sports, joining sports announcers from other commercial stations in providing play by play broadcasting of high school playoff matches in basketball, football, baseball, and track.  For thirty years, Cardille has served as local host and telethon chairman for Channel 11's Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon, a position he retains in spite of his retirement.   

For the past five years Cardille has hosted the Bill Cardille Show, a midday show on 1320 AM/ WJAS, which features music from the '40s, '50s, and '60s.  Cardille reminisces about the music and the artists, sometimes tying the music to his early television dance shows and sometimes including live interviews with the artists. 

Cardille served as national vice president and local president of the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA).  He was named AFTRA Personality of the Year in 1973 and Wrestling magazine's National Wrestling Announcer of the Year in 1973.  He was inducted into AFTRA's Hall of Fame and was named Entertainer of the Year by the Variety Club and AFTRA.  In 1998 he received the Pittsburgh Radio and Television Club Outstanding Achievement in Broadcasting Award in Television.