Sep. 28--While one of them was terrorizing the fifth floor of The Scranton Times building and doing all things imaginable that could have led to the unemployment line, the other was packing his bags preparing a move to Virginia.

Then, someone at Shamrock Communications came up with the idea of teaming the two for a morning radio show.

That idea proved to be brilliant.

Twenty-three years after their first show at Rock 107 FM, John Webster, the proverbial class clown, and Jay Daniels, the displaced Floridian, are making radio history, preparing to host their 5,000th show Oct. 3.

Research performed by the Times-Tribune and Shamrock Communications has thus far failed to find another duo that's worked together at the same radio station for as long as Daniels & Webster.

Galloway & Company, which broadcasts on ESPN's 103.3 FM in Dallas, Texas, recently celebrated it's 5,000th show. However, that show began with only Mr. Galloway and has changed formats and co-hosts several times over the years.

On Aug. 13, Bill Allred, Kerry Jackson and Gina Barberi celebrated their 5,000th show at KXRK radio's "Show From Hell," in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Utah roots

According to Lynn Arave of the Deseret News, The trio first worked together June 8, 1986, at the former KJQ radio station in Ogden, Utah.

The show ceased for about three years, Mr. Arave explained, otherwise, in continuous terms, it would be less than 4,000 shows.

Which brings us to the unlikely, but historic pairing of D & W.

"I was always goofing around the building and management eventually thought they should put me on the air," said Mr. Webster, 51, who said he probably would have been a school teacher.

"I just wanted to be a teacher and retire with lots of money," he said. There were three good reasons Mr. Webster said he wanted to be a teacher.

"June, July and August," he quipped, referring to the paid summer vacations most teachers receive.

"Look, I'm working in radio for only two reasons," he said. "Laziness and a lack of ambition."

Mr. Daniels, 54, is originally from Orlando, but found work in radio when his parents moved to Connecticut.

Eventually, he became one of the original air personalities on WBRE-AM.

"I had accepted a job in Richmond (Va.) but Rock 107 called, offered the same money and so I unpacked," Mr. Daniels said.

More than any other factor, Mr. Daniels said, ownership is the reason he decided to remain in Northeast Pennsylvania.

"The Lynetts (the family that owns Times-Shamrock) get it," he said. "They care, I give them a lot of credit for sticking with us. The station in Richmond has had four owners since I turned them down to come here. Here, you're not worried every day that you're going to get fired."

The duo has become one of the highest-rated morning-drive-time teams in the country, even, at times, scoring higher Arbitron numbers than superstar morning show king Howard Stern.

For their milestone show on Oct. 3, D&W will broadcast live from Public Square in Wilkes-Barre. A host of local dignitaries and fans are expected to attend.

Then, that night, Shamrock Communications plans a major party to celebrate while a rock concert honoring the duo is scheduled Saturday at Nay Aug Park in Scranton.

"It's a huge asset to have them," Tom Bass, Shamrock Communications operations manager, said.

"They make my job easier because it's like being a manager of a baseball team and having the best power hitter in the league."

Good vibes

Producer Dave DiRienzo, who grew up listening to D&W and now works with them, said the duo feeds off of each other well, which is one of the keys to 23 years of success.

"Jay is the ultimate straight man, his humor is straight and narrow. Right down the line," Mr. DiRienzo said.