An April Fools Day Radio Stunt which got out of hand in North Park in the 90s

The late John Cigna a much loved morning radio host on KDKA 1020 AM Radio show  one morning in the early90s  came on the air and started reporting about  strange police activity in  Allegheny County's North Park .

Police supposedly  had a portion of the park blocked off for unknown incident but as the morning broadcast went on it appeared a possible UFO had landed in the park.

http://old.post-gazette.com/tv/20010906cignaradiop5.asp

People where panicked and calling the station and local police trying to get information  I listened that morning and at first something was going on but when I switched stations and no one else was reporting it and then one host told a April Fool Joke  for the day yes you guessed it it was just another one of John Cigna's famous April 1st Pranks.

 


He actually had some management at station  believing him as well and it caused quite the uproar.

Plus the bonus of Army reserve units being seen in the area which where on their way to a drill just made it all that more believable.

Management had their own revenge over this prank  when they had a "Bring me the head of Cigna " contest where people brought a replica of john  to a contest to be judged for prizes 

Of course this was not the first time John pulled off the perfect April Fools Prank   He had listeners convinced there was an alligator  loose in city sewer's and convinced people to flush their toilets to help flush it out of the sewer system.

 I meet john a couple years before he passed when he stopped in the Harley dealership in the north Hills where i was doing repairs he was a great guy to have a conversation with and he could often be found Saturday nights at Costanza's restaurant on 4th ave downtown.

John you are truly one of a kind and sorely missed


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