Like Cordic, Pallan was mentored by Bill Cullen, who was on staff at WWSW before he left for New York and found national fame as a game show personality.
He featured a cheerful, upbeat style and referred to himself as "Your Pal Pallan", and often appeared on television promotional announcements for KDKA in his trademark white goatee and brightly colored Hawaiian print or bowling shirts.
Pallan was the first disc jockey to play The Skyliners' "Since I Don't Have You," airing the record on December 26, 1958, at precisely 10:20 a.m., the time designed to coincide with KDKA's 1020 position on the AM dial.
At that time KDKA changed the direction of the morning show by hiring Jack Bogut from Salt Lake City.
Pallan said his favorite broadcasts were the Christmas season shows that KDKA originated daily from the downtown department store windows as a fund-raiser for Pittsburgh's Children's Hospital.