By Bruce Klauber
When we look back at the short but iconic list of shore newspaper reporters who also became radio and television personalities, two immediately come to mind: David Spatz, possibly one of the finest celebrity interviewers in the history of the entertainment business; and Sonny Schwartz, a stellar reporter and political insider who could count any number of show business “names” as his intimate friends.
Often and unfortunately omitted from the short list is the late and great Seymour “Pinky” Kravitz, an Atlantic City reporter and broadcaster, who can best be described as the city’s cheerleader. Indeed, as NJ.com described him shortly after his passing in 2015, “He was a constant advocate for his hometown and the region. He was sometimes called ‘Mr. Atlantic City.’
David Spatz never hesitated to dig as deep as necessary when it came to getting the answers he was looking for from a celebrity, even if the celeb was a friend. And Sonny Schwartz never shied away from controversy or taking a political stand, no matter how unpopular.
Kravitz was more about news and gossip than he was about controversy. He was an affable, upbeat presence in Atlantic City for almost 60 years, first as a reporter for the Press of Atlantic City, and host of the “Pinky’s Corner” radio show since 1958. He also hosted a television program, “WMGM Presents Pinky,” for some years on WMGM TV Channel 40.
His fans and his following went way beyond Atlantic City. In 1988, The New York Times published a profile on him.
“Some call him ‘Mr. Atlantic City,’” wrote Times reporter Albert Parisi. “Others just ‘Pinky,’ but no matter where he’s spotted in this resort, Seymour Kravitz is as much a legend as a local tradition. ‘Well, hello everybody, glad you could join me for Pinky at Midday,’ Kravitz said, greeting a studio and listening audience from The Claridge Hotel and Casino on a recent afternoon. His program, which is broadcast live on WOND, a 1,000-watt radio station with a 40-mile broadcast range, along with an evening show, ‘Pinky’s Corner,’ is in its 29th year. The show brings together the famous and the not-so-famous in a mix of small-town hokum and talk-show polish.”
“A mix of small-town hokum and talk-show polish” is the perfect description of what the man did on radio and television, as well as the way he wrote his columns. And it was that singular mix of hokum and polish that set him apart from columnists like David Spatz and Sonny Schwartz.
Kravitz was 6 years old when he moved to Atlantic City from Martinsburg, W.Va. He graduated from Atlantic City High School in 1944. Standing 6 feet, 5 inches tall, and a natural athlete, he went to New York University on a basketball scholarship, and later, served in the Merchant Marines. His radio show began in 1958 and ran for almost 60 years, until a few months before his passing. According to the Press of Atlantic City, “He was the host of the longest-running talk show in America.”
And though all of this – the columns, the radio and television shows, and the many appearances he made around town – he taught school during the day. Pinky, without doubt, had a load of energy when it came to the town he loved and the people within it.
Pinky, who refused to answer to his given name, “Seymour,” was passionate about what he did, especially his newspaper column. In 2005 he wrote a column for Atlantic City Weekly voicing his concerns about lack of response to his columns.
“Why should anyone care about the column?” he asked. “Obviously, it provides interesting reading or you wouldn’t be reading it right now. It’s known that many of you read it on the bus going home, while lounging on your beach chair, or while having your morning coffee or lunch. You want to know what’s happening in Atlantic City and the surrounding area. You want to be able to tell your friends that you have an inside source and know that this or that is going to take place, without telling them you read it in ‘Pinky’s Corner.’ You want to know what Pinky has to say. However, you do not know that Pinky also wants to know your reaction to what you read in this column. That is why he wants to know just who cares about what is being written here.”
Evidently, a lot of people did care. Hundreds packed the Beth El Synagogue in Margate for Pinky’s memorial service, and dozens of tributes poured in after his death. His fame and his influence spread as far as Washington, D.C. In fact, the Washington Times newspaper devoted almost a full page to Kravitz upon his passing.
The Times interviewed Longport Media President Dave Coskey, a dear friend of Kravitz who said, “Pinky had a media following like no one else in this region. He also gave many broadcasters their start in the business, and that legacy will live on for many, many years.”
I was a guest on the “Pinky’s Corner” radio program in about 1990. It was then broadcasting from Harrah’s, and I was there to promote my first book on jazz drumming legend Gene Krupa. Pinky was kind and gracious, and immediately made me feel at ease. He was plenty knowledgeable as well, and told some lovely stories about seeing Krupa in Atlantic City over the years.
When the red light went off, I handed a copy of my book to the legendary host. He not only wanted it autographed, but he insisted on paying for it. As a matter of fact, he bought two.
That doesn’t happen often, and a real gentleman like Pinky Kravitz doesn’t come along often, either.
