Where Moe’s Southwest Grill stands on Forbes Avenue adjacent to Market Square, once stood a brick building housing two significant sites in Pittsburgh’s musical history. The flagship store of National Record Mart, the beloved, regional retail chain, occupied the ground floor. For a few years in the 1960’s, the third floor housed Gateway Records, an independent record company. It began modestly and gained momentum, only to fizzle before the decade’s end.
Eighteen-year-old Robert W. Schachner came to Pittsburgh from Jersey City, N.J. in 1958 to study drama at pre-Carnegie Mellon University, Carnegie Tech. He also had an interest in recording. A January, 1966 Pittsburgh Press profile described Schachner leveraging his second-semester tuition money — $500 — to produce a folk LP by students Ron and Jane Satlof for his “Bobtone” label, which also released recordings of the school’s “Scotch ‘n Soda Club” shows, albums by local folksingers and one by Duquesne University’s revered Tamburitzans.
After founding Gateway in 1961, Schachner got a major boost when National Record Mart owners Sam and Howard Shapiro bought an interest in the company, giving them a solid distribution network, office and recording studio space. Things ramped up in 1962 with Gateway releasing the debut LP by beloved local bluegrass band Mac Martin and the Dixie Travelers.
Aware of Pittsburgh’s stature as an incubator of jazz talent, Schachner signed pianist Walt Harper and Harold “Mr. Trombone” Betters that year, jazzmen whose music had broader appeal. In his liner notes to Betters’ 1962 debut album “Harold Betters at the Encore,” Schachner called Betters’ music “a jazz that is creative yet can be understood and enjoyed by everyone.” The Betters singles “Ram-Bunk-Shush” and 1964’s two-part “Do Anything You Wanna” became local favorites. Gateway also issued a 1964 LP by African-American comic and civil rights activist Dick Gregory.
Schachner’s interest in ethnic music led him to a deeper dive into the polka music beloved in Western Pennsylvania. In 1966, he purchased Dyno Records from its owner, Chicago polka star Marion Lush, and began recording and issuing a steady stream of LPs and singles by various acts on the rebranded Dyno Polkas label.
Rock and pop was another matter. Aside from an occasional rock single and some R&B releases by Donnie Elbert and others, Gateway largely avoided the new 60’s rock inspired by the British Invasion. The closest they came was manufacturing singles for other labels. Nonetheless, plenty of significant local acts signed to other labels recorded at Gateway’s studio — among them The Fenways, The Vogues, Lou Christie and The Grains of Sand.
Legendary Pittsburgh concert promoter Rich Engler, once a Grains of Sand member, recalls the challenge of hauling his gear up to Gateway’s studio for a session.
“There was one way (up) and one way only — no elevator — [just] these skinny-ass steps, I think it was like two or three flights to get up there because they were up on top of the building. And it was a nightmare,” Engler said. “Instead of me playing clarinet or a flute, I had to play drums. It was no picnic.
He has equally colorful memories of Schachner.
“Bobby was always a nervous wreck. He was a great guy, but very nervous, always [saying] ‘Come on, come on, let’s go, let’s get in there. The clock’s ticking!’” Engler said. “[The studio] was really booked tight. After one session, another session would take place. He had a lot of action and that’s why he was so time-sensitive. He’d say, ‘You have two hours to record two songs — let’s make it happen!’”
Engler said Schachner was a bit of a solo act, serving as the engineer, producer and setting up all the equipment.
Things began unraveling as the Shapiros, seemingly dissatisfied by Gateway’s sales, had Schachner buy them out. Harold Betters moved on to Frank Sinatra’s Reprise label. A 1966 Press article announced a new downtown studio and office location and plans to open a Westmoreland County record pressing plant. Among the final releases to bear the distinctive Gateway logo was “Chilly Billy Goes on Record,” tied to Channel 11’s beloved “Chiller Theater” and featuring “Chilly Billy” Cardille.
Schachner moved to New York City in 1970, He continued working in recording there before relocating to Florida and writing books. He died there in 2004.
Support WYEP
All the music you enjoy on WYEP is here because someone else gave before you. WYEP has been here for 50 years, help keep WYEP around for another 50 years and beyond. Contributions from thousands of listeners give WYEP the money we need to pay for all the unique music and arts information you enjoy every day. With that money, we plan ahead and know what we can do tomorrow.
Everyone benefits from an independent music station that has your best interest in mind. That’s WYEP. And our music is never locked behind a paywall or a monthly subscription. Please do what you can to make sure everyone has access to amazing music that makes your day brighter.
Please make a one-time gift or consider increasing your monthly support by $2 or $3.
