The Mighty WKWZ Deserves A Documentary
• Jason Feldman, a senior at Syosset High School in Syosset, NY, filmmaker, second-generation DJ, and co-Station Manager of the school’s iconic WKWZ 88.5 FM, has completed production of The Subterranean Penthouse: The Story of WKWZ, a feature-length documentary celebrating the station’s 50+ year history as one of Long Island’s most influential student-run radio stations.
Founded in 1973, WKWZ has helped shape generations of student broadcasters, producers, musicians, and storytellers. Among WKWZ’s most notable former on-air personalities are filmmaker and producer Judd Apatow, CBS Radio anchor/reporter Linda Kenyon, SiriusXM sports anchor Bob Galerstein, television and film writer and producer Bob Goodman, and ESPN’s Jake Asman, along with many record label executives, media professionals, and entertainment leaders.
As WKWZ’s half-century legacy began to fade, Feldman (left) launched a mission to capture its history while the station’s original student pioneers, faculty advisors, and alumni were still here to tell the story. “Since the people who built and shaped WKWZ are still around, there’s no better time — or better storytellers — to document this fabled history,” Feldman said. “This is a story of evolution, influence, and the power of giving young people the tools to dream.”
The documentary features exclusive interviews, never-before-seen archival footage, and emotional reflections from alumni whose careers trace directly back to their time in WKWZ’s iconic “subterranean penthouse” studio. From rock concerts and overnight music marathons to full-scale community events, WKWZ became far more than a high school radio station — it became a cultural force that launched many careers in media and beyond.
The Subterranean Penthouse: The Story of WKWZ is both a tribute to WKWZ’s groundbreaking student programming and a celebration of the faculty who helped build one of the nation’s most unique high school media institutions. The film is now available to view at subterraneanpenthouse.com.
