Walter Leslie Brine (August 5, 1918 – November 2, 2004 ), known professionally as Salty Brine, was a well-known broadcaster in

Rhode Island Rhode Island ( ) is a state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It borders Connecticut to its west; Massachusetts to its north and east; and the Atlantic Ocean to its south via Rhode Island Sound and Block Is ...

Early life

At age 10, he lost one of his legs, attempting to jump onto a freight train near his home in

Arlington, Massachusetts Arlington is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. The town is six miles (10 km) northwest of Boston, Massachusetts, Boston, and its population was 46,308 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. History Europe ...

. In later life, he would visit hospitals to encourage other children who had lost limbs.

Broadcasting history

Radio

Massachusetts

Salty's first jobs were in his native state of Massachusetts with WNAC: Boston,

WESX WESX (1230 AM) is a radio station broadcasting a religious and multi-cultural format, licensed to broadcast in the Nahant, Massachusetts, precinct. The station is owned by Real Media Group, LLC. Programming is in Spanish, Portuguese, Creole, an ...

: Salem, & WCOP: Boston.

WPRO

In September 1942, Salty joined WPRO. He hosted the morning show (originally called the "T.N.T. Review") from 1943 until April 28, 1993.

Television

From 1955 to 1968, he hosted "Salty Brine's Shack" on WPRO-TV/WPRI-TV, a live evening children's program. Its closing words, "Brush your teeth and say your prayers," remained his signature line through the rest of his life. Brine's distinctive voice, instantly recognizable after first listen, was beloved for his famous catch-phrase, "no school Fostah-Glostah"—a reference to the frequent school closings of the Foster-Glocester school district.

Awards and honors

*1979: Inducted into the Rhode Island Heritage Hall of Fame. *April 1988: Named "Man of the Year" by the Rhode Island Advertising Club *June 23, 1990: the Galilee State Beach was renamed the Salty Brine State Beach. *October 1997: WPRO's transmitter/studio building on Wampanoag Trail was rededicated as the "Salty Brine Broadcasting Center". *May 22, 2008: Salty Brine was posthumously inducted into the Rhode Island Radio Hall of Fame.

References

External links

* * 1918 births 2004 deaths Radio personalities from Providence, Rhode Island American television personalities {{RhodeIsland-stub