Chicago Blackhawks Return of Announcer Harvey Wittenberg

[TommyPurrazz]

I know Harvey personally and I work with Him. He is the MANN!!!!!!!

[Crackers2549]

Harvey was the BEST!

[andyr1313]

As a kid, Chicago Stadium always fascinated me- the analog scoreboard clocks that were barely readable- the sheer noise of the fans- Al Melgard and that huge organ, and Harvey Wittenberg, who always seemed like the one voice of sanity at a madhouse. Growing up in the SF East Bay, we had the California Golden Seals- going to a Seals game was like going to a wake...

[bhawksaddict]

Never got a chance to hear Wittenberg call a game, but I kinda like him better than Gene Honda (nothing against Bullwinkle).

[stevieg314]

Who remembers the time when Harvey started his famous "one minute" line at the end of a period and there was a sudden stoppage in play, leaving 1:01 left on the clock? LOL, harvey never missed a beat, he adjusted his call to "One minute..AND one second left in the period!!" after one second ticked off, he then went right into his "one minute to play in the period."  LOL Miss you pal.

[blank77]

I like Gene Honda.But Harvey Wittenberg is tops in my book,like a link to the past at the old Chicago Stadium.

In fact,every new year's eve,no matter where i'm at (some party with friends,family,etc.),at 11:59 pm on December 31,I always shout out like Harvey,"ONE MINUTE TO PLAY IN THE PERIOD!!!!",I don't care if I embarrass myself or not,Hawks fans can understand it totally!

[bhawksaddict]

@blank77 From now on, I'm gonna do that on New Years Eve at 11:59!

[GodivaGirl1]

How long has he been there?

[Jesse4man]

ECHO ECHO ECHO... The comments regarding the current annoucer duties at the UC/Blackhawks...Send him back to the WhiteSox and keep him there.... At best he belongs in the miniature minor leagues similar to those from the movies..... The Blackhawks have lost many great attributes while the team has moved to the forefront of the NHL.

[mrpink2010]

I can still hear Harvey, Al Melgard, Nancy Faust, Ron Bogda, Wayne Messmer, and a few others to this day. How about the old clock with second hands. Blackhawks forever. You guys will always be remembered.

[hawkfanrob]

I miss Harvey. He still does a good job. I don't know why he ever stopped

[biyankee]

Another awesome bit of Chicago hockey memorabilia. There was nothing like Lloyd Pettit's call of a Blackhawk goal followed by the announcement from Harvey Wittenberg. And this from a lifelong Rangers fan from NY. I could listen to this stuff all day. Thanks for sharing.

[JAYZIGGY5]

That voice gives me chills! I miss harvey!

[snowman5676]

He did another in early Jan 2010 against Minn.

Miss that voice and the way he announced goals with the pause after the name organ music than assists. Bring him back!

[WDLawless]

Gene Honda is a very good announcer, but I would very much rather hear the voice of every Chicago sports fan's best friend...Wayne Messmer...behind the announcer's mike at every game.

[snowman5676]

I wish he would come back. Gene Honda is embarassing he SUCKS regardless wich place he is at. Gene Honda sounds like a stupid cartoon charactor

[shamrock4life92]

eddie o is really annoying idk how he is considered one of the best announcers...pat foley should just pull a ranch wilder and turn eddie o's mike off

[JimmySmers]

How old is Harvey Wittenberg?

[redstaracura]

We need Harvey at the Winter Classic.

[slapshot254]

He's not awful. He's a voice of the White Sox. Not the Blackhawks. Its that simple.

[brewerssuck08]

I miss that voice. The hawks new pa announcer is annoying and like every other arena. I still miss the stadium!

[chicagocraig]

"Hey Harvey"

"How much time to play in the period?"

Did that for years at the ole barn. Than we moved across the street. Did it on opening night. Last row in the 300 level....Right in front of the press box. Harvey right there. He leaned over like WTF, who said that. "Oh you finally heard me after all these years". He signed my innagural game ticket that night. Making sure to be there on December 3rd.

He would always wait to announce a goal until the next timeout. Class Act!

[jalindquist]

@chicagocraig We used to do that at U of I during the Illini club games. We sat right above the benches and the ops booth, so we knew Larry Kimball could hear it. We'd thank him afterwards, and once or twice a year we'd get a "You're welcome!" back.

[manwalrus]

@jalindquist You mean we STILL do that at Illini hockey games

[jalindquist]

@manwalrus Excellent!

Has the rink staff stopped harassing fans? In '95-96, they started reserving the bench-area seats for groups (like clubs and sororities which had no damned clue about hockey) in order to make it more "family friendly".

[stosh21]

it will be great hearing Harvey again for Steve Larmer night Dec. 3rd.

[slapshot254]

Blackhawk goal, his 35TH! of the season . . . scored by number 10 Patrick Sharp!

Harvey always knows exactly when to pause a moment and let the fans react alittle bit.

Truly the best is Harvey.

[Nicklin30112]

Honda is better

[chgojobs]

Honda is better than Toyota. But Gene "Bullwinkle" Honda will never be able to hold a candle to Harvey Wittenberg...period.

[whydelilah08]

@chgojobs No way, Gene Honda has a great voice but nothing beats Harvey. We don't need some cheesy typical vocie.

[BLOCK19PRODUCTIONS]

@chgojobs Honda also announces games at the 'Cell' for the Sox

[ictyme7]

harvey = the best

[chitownxcubs]

Gene Honda is better. Gene has a better voice.

[chgojobs]

No...he doesn't. Gene Honda is awful. Just like the Cubs.

[redstaracura]

Anyone is awful compared to Harvey.

Gene is great with the Sox, he just doesn't fit the Hawks.

[slapshot254]

Just like the Cubs? Doesn't Honda also to the White Sox games? Interesting. . . .

[jayc70sox]

Harvey was a touchstone. Aside from that guy in Detroit, I always knew what rink the game was in after just a few words.

Lloyd Pettit was god of play by play, but the play didn't start until Harvey said "And now ladies and gentlemen, would you all please rise and join soloist... "

[terickson82]

I agree with the "trademark" sounds you hear in NHL arenas. For me, it's John Barbaro in Pittsburgh, who has been the PA announcer for as long as I can remember. I dread the day that comes when someone else will have to hold that post... he is absolutely the voice of the Mellon Arena.

[fabrasham]

Pat Foley and especially Harvey have been as important to the Blackhawks as many of the players throughout the years. There is something special about their voices and their fondness for the Hawks really helps fans identify with the team. Dan Kelly should go to St Louis or someplace like that....he is not a Blackhawks fan. Eddie O sucked as a player...sucked as a coach and especially sucks on the telecasts.

[slapshot254]

Eddie O doesn't suck. He's wasn't a great coach, that's true. But he was a good hockey player (94 Stanley Cup Champion, if I am not mistaken). He is a good announcer. Honesty tho, you should cut him some slack. He is a Chicago boy thru and thru. He has always loved his Blackhawks and is a huge Cubs fan. Which are too pluses in my book.

[melissaleeb]

you might say i'm biased but cut me a little slack (i'm harvey's youngest daughter). i'm personally not a hockey fan, but i can tell you that i'm very proud of the contribution that he's made to the blackhawks. even after all these years, it still makes me smile when i hear people talk about his voice & try to do their best impression of him. at 71+ he's still going srong and loves the sport today as much if not more than he did 50 years ago. thanks for putting this video together - GO HAWKS!

[chgojobs]

Melissa, thanks so much for posting your comments. I can speak for two generations when I say that for myself, my family and friends, your father's work was one of the quintessential parts of going to a Blackhawks game that made it so special...just as much as Chicago Stadium itself or the Barton organ. We were distraught after he disappeared from his duties, but we can't tell you how thrilled we were when we found out he was coming back to work a couple of special games this past season.

[chgojobs]

Please tell him how much his work is still appreciated by longtime fans of the team.

[crash60068]

i still prefer Gene Honda

[crash60068]

did he ever do the white soxs. and who use to do this before Harvey Wittenberg.

[Spr463]

What it is about Harvey Wittenberg is that he is in his 70s, I believe he's pretty-much retired as P.A.. But he is sharp even at his age. I think Gene Honda does a great job, but also handles the White Sox and the NCAA Mens' Final Four. So I say, while Gene Honda is handling other committments, bring back Harvey or have Harvey and Gene split the P.A. duties during the season, just like the Cubs do.

As far as Pat Foley goes, please bring him back for TV. Dan Kelly is not a Blackhawks fan at all.

[radiomatts]

Harvey is actually in his 60's and was pushed out in 2000. Gene Honda got the gig because of this gig with the Sox. While Reinsdorf doesn't have a piece of the team, he was tight with Bill Wirtz. I worked with Harvey when he got let go, and he seemed to be okay with it. He had done the games for the previous 40 years and seemed to welcome the break. Aside from the PA announcer at Yankee Stadium, there is no one better.

[Spr463]

As far as his age, sorry my mistake.

Harvey Wittenberg is the Bob Shepard of the Chicago Blackhawks.

[LetsGoHawks86]

"One minute remaining in the period"

Gives me chills listening to that, and I was at that game.

[musicman576]

I get chills listening to Harvey - reminds me of the good old days.

[adamsfall]

Bring back Pat too and all is well in Hawkland.

[radiomatts]

Look for Pat Foley to come back not next season, but the season after. His deal with the Wolves is for one more year.

[splp27]

I like Wittenberg but as for the current situation Gene Honda isn't bad at all...

[stosh21]

wittenberg>honda