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The Day Vandals Toppled KNX
Tower
(September 25, 2020) Back
in September 1965, two people were seen leaving
the KNX Los Angeles transmitter site shortly
after the radio tower toppled to the ground at
10:45 p.m. The destruction took place during
veteran talk-show host Michael Jackson’s show,
according to a story in the
LA Times
and Media Confidential.
Apparently the vandals had sawed through the top
turnbuckle of one of the tower’s guy wires,
which caused the entire tower to come loose and
tumble to the ground. KNX was off the air for an
entire day. A temporary 10,000-watt transmitter
was set up on the site so the station could
resume broadcasting.
Later, an extra
tower that was not in use was located at station
KFAC-AM and brought to Torrance. The 365-foot
tower was used while a new 494-foot tower was
being built. When the new tower went into
operation in July 1966, the older one was kept
as a backup. These two towers still stand on the
site today.
Hear Ache.
Programmer extraordinaire Bob Hamilton celebrates
47 years with his partner, Jim London. “No words
can express my joy, love & happiness,” enthused
Bob… A couple of LARPs – Doug Dunlap and Hans
Laetz – appeared on different days writing
about different subjects in the LA Times Letters
section … Geraldo Rivera, onetime Talker
at KABC, is celebrating 50 years as a
broadcaster. Rivera began his 50-year career as
a television reporter at WABC/tv in New York and
was a member of the original cast of ABC's Good
Morning America. He had an eight-year
association with ABC's 20/20 as an
investigative reporter and produced and hosted The
Geraldo Rivera Show for 11 years … Here’s a
positive story about Tucson radio featuring
former LARP, Bobby Rich. The headline: ‘A
year in, independent Tucson radio station lands
in Nielsen's top 10.’ Read the story
here. ... Iconic LARP Jim Ladd, now
with SiriusXM, lists his home for rent in Laurel
Canyon for $11,750 a month. The home was the
hangout for artists such as Tom Petty and the
Eagles
Email
Friday
** Gospel Theme
“In the
1960s, a Radio Ministry utilized this Gospel
chorus as the theme of his 15-minute (possibly
30 minute) uplifting message for his following.
He was known in Hollywood by our Pastor, Rev.
Dr. Ben Daniel Griffith, and came to Costa Mesa
as favor to their friendship. I met him on a
Sunday AM service as I was the organist - he
placed the music before me to accompany him as
he played his trumpet. It was 1962-63 that we
lived there so his program was aired for some
time around those dates. His was a Los Angeles
Radio Program. I have the Chorus words – my wife
knew the tune – so I’m seeking for proper
attribution the Radio Minister that introduced
us to this Theme Chorus.
If you know the
Minister's name and his Ministry Broadcast
Program, it would be most helpful to acknowledge
his work as a minister.
He’s the One I
love in the morning,
He’s the One I love at
noon;
He’s the One at evening twilight,
He’s the One at mid-night gloom;
He’s the
Oak and I'm the ivy,
He’s the Potter, I’m
the clay;
For my Lord and me there’ll never
be A parting day.
Thank you for any help
you can provide.” – Dave Schlaegel, Minister,
Yorkville, NY honservant@gmail.com
** Record Promoter
“We
lost a great person in Tony Richland. I
had the privilege in knowing and loving Tony
Richland. Coming to LA radio in 1977, we had a
court jester in the music biz. It was Tony! He
was one special person who turned out to be a
good friend. He was the best. Always positive.
Always with a smile and a good story to be
told.
On Monday Music day he would be
the first person to greet the lobby. A Monday
was always great when Tony, Guy Zapoleon and
I always looked forward to see him. He even
brought his props, horn, bells etc.
Tony, we will miss you! A true legend is now
missed!” – Bob Hamilton
My Laws of Success by J Thomas
Smith
(September 24,
2020) J Thomas Smith replaced Wolfman
Jack at XPRS (Soul Express) in 1972 when the
Wolfman went to the Midnight Special. A
variegated career in radio, teaching, and
psychology has well prepared J Thomas for
writing his new book, My Laws of Success. This
is not a book about radio, but about life. Dr.
Smith will teach you to learn and speak the
language of success.
Growing up in
Detroit, J Thomas worked midnights at the Ford
Motor Company Dearborn Engine Plant while he was
a high school senior. “I had a non-production
job, so I never had that Lucille Ball in the
candy factory experience. Periodically, I paused
at various points to observe the manufacturing
process. It was sometimes amazing to me,
watching the assembly line as the engines were
assembled at each point,” said Smith.
J Thomas
saw first hand the process of watching an
automobile being built, observing how the
various parts of an engine – made in different
departments within the plant – come together,
eventually bound for the assembly line, to
create a new vehicle. That observation taught
him that the process of building an automobile
was analogous to the process needed to build a
successful life.
His book has chapters on how
to be happy, planning for the worst,
stick-to-it-ness, and accepting responsibility
for your actions with no excuses, among other
evergreen clues to his Laws of Success. “Quite
frankly, I discovered the formula I share in My
Laws of Success, quite by accident,” wrote
Smith. “After achieving a few milestones in
door-to-door sales, I began examining and
re-examining what I was doing that worked. But,
just as important, I began studying and doing
research on successful people. I read several
books on success and successful people. The
individuals came from different sectors of
industry and business and were doing different
things. However, when faced with similar
challenges, they were also making similar
decisions or had similar processes for arriving
at a decision. This is one thing they all have
in common.”
“Whether you have a speech impediment and want
to be a radio announcer, a successful
salesperson, a New York Times Best-Selling
author, a truck driver, an airline pilot, a
lawyer, or even a multi-millionaire. The answer
to you will always be YES! Your heart’s desire
can be achieved if you are willing to do the
work. Take the steps necessary to get what you
say you want. Follow My Laws of Success and
you can achieve your every endeavor.”
Dr. J Thomas Smith began his radio career in
afternoon drive at WGPR-Detroit in 1969, later
moving to WWWW-Detroit, WKLR-Toledo and back to
Detroit at WJZZ. After stops in Memphis,
Rochester and Peoria he returned to Los Angeles
to KDAY and the American Forces Radio and
Television Service (AFRTS).
Smith
became one of the original staff members at
“MAJIC102” in Houston. After an interval at
WYCB-Washington, and Country
WPIK/WXRA-Arlington, VA he returned to Houston
and KRLY where BRE Magazine named him
Air Personality of the Year on Pop Radio. He
later went to WSTR-Atlanta and others but in
1994 returned to “MAJIC102.”
In addition
to his radio career he has served as an
instructor and associate campus director at
Houston Community College, Dean of City
University Los Angeles School of Law, Director
of the John Lucas Treatment and Recovery Center
at Columbia/HCA Spring Branch Medical Center,
and Director of Counseling and Multicultural
Services at Prairie View A&M University. Smith
is licensed in Texas as a professional
counselor, marriage and family therapist,
childcare administrator, chemical dependency
counselor and holds many other certifications.
He has two Bachelor of Science degrees, a Master
of Science degree in counseling psychology, a
Doctor of Philosophy degree and a Juris
Doctorate from Texas Southern University –
Thurgood Marshall School of Law. Smith is also
associated with a law firm and operates a mental
health consulting practice. He often serves as a
keynote and motivational speaker and is active
in numerous community and professional
organizations.
“I must serve the
community and let my listeners feel my passions,
as I embrace theirs. Like Wolfman said, ‘Take
care of the people, and the people will take
care of you.’”
“I’m still here because I
love this game,” he said. You can purchase
Smith’s book at Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/My-Laws-Success-Making-Reality/dp/1913969088/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=j+thomas+smith&qid=1600811999&sr=8-2
Hear Ache. Condolences to Molly Paige on the
passing of her mother … Lisa May, fan favorite
of the Kevin & Bean Show and Frosty, Heidi &
Frank, moved to Palm Desert when she left radio
behind. This week she opened The Strength Code.
“When all this started, I had no idea what 2020
had in store. If I had known, I’m not completely
sure I would have moved forward, but once the
lease was signed, literally days before the
shut-down in March, the die was cast. And I’m so
happy I WAS able to move forward, and I’m so
proud of this studio,” she wrote on social
media. Now you have a place to visit when
visiting the desert in the Bump and Grind Plaza.
Hope it is a huge success for Lisa May …
Congratulations to Laurie and Mike Nolan on
their 41st year of wedded bliss.
Email
Thursday
** Zoom Challenges
“Know if people
would only realize with Zoom but you still need
a microphone instead of yelling at your computer
screen from 6 feet away in a room that sounds
like a shower stall. We scream and burn the
sound guy when we go to a concert if everything
isn’t just right and yet the networks put up
with barely intelligible audio from Zoom every
day. It really doesn’t cost more to do things
right.” – Don Elliot
** Beatle
Breakfast
"Last Sunday was the
first Breakfast w/ the Beatles LIVE broadcast
since the pandemic started.
We had a
sold-out crowd at The Kobe Steakhouse in Seal
Beach broadcasting in the parking lot while
everyone enjoyed a tasty Kobe Bistro breakfast.
We also debuted our new Breakfast w/the Beatles
masks and people seems to like em!
Breakfast w/ the Beatles has been bringing
Southern CA the sounds of John, Paul, George &
Ringo Sunday mornings since 1983." - Chris
Carter
Step Right Up
and Meet Them
(September
23, 2020) One of the good things to
come out of this stay-at-home Covid-19
coronavirus pandemic is a series of Zoom-like
interviews with broadcasters who started in the
Inland Empire. Since March, interviews with Don
McCoy, Bobby Blue, Ted
Ziegenbusch, Craig Powers, Mike
Matthews, and Suzy Horton (she was the
girl who Jimmy Webb wrote all his biggest hits
about) have been recorded.
“We also did
a tribute to Johnny Helm with
his daughter Amber and Bruce Chandler,”
emailed Mike Kunert, the brainchild of the
endeavor. The main focus at this time is the
music industry in the Inland Empire in the ’60’s
and early ’70’s, primarily radio stations KFXM
and K/MEN.
“All of these people have
such interesting stories, we are trying to
document all of them while they are still able,”
said Kunert. His love affair with radio started
when he was a teenager hanging out at KFXM.
“Their studios were right next to the swimming
pool at the (new) Holiday Inn, and there were
almost always girls hanging out in bikinis
around the pool. Also, one of the djs would let
me come in after hours and record any songs I
would like on tape (if I brought my own tape) in
their production studio. Then when they had the
AFTRA strike in 1968, my dj friend recruited me
to hand out boycott literature.”
After
high school, Kunert earned his electrical
contractors license and learned that radio
advertising was the best return for his
advertising dollars. “I started bartering with
several of the stations. For fun I took a couple
years of tv production classes at San Bernardino
Valley College, where I met more people who went
on into broadcasting.”
When the pandemic
hit, Mike connected with one of the 60s jocks
and reminisced about the old days. They turned
the conversation into a fascinating interview.
They had such a good time that Mike has done a
half dozen more. There’s no money in the
venture, just guys having fun talking about
radio and the opportunity to preserve these
memories for future generations. Billy
Smith handles all the tech side of the
project.
Mike and Billy set up a
website, https://irememberradio.rocks/
Facebook group, https://www.facebook.com/groups/173721897410988/
and a YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIe9of3iUtbJ4kU-U8OW9mw.”
Their current project is completing a
documentary type feature on the life of William
F. Williams. “I would like to invite
anyone who has memories of him, photos,
airchecks or stories to contact me at: kunert@kunert-1.com
The Day Vandals Toppled KNX Tower
Apparently the vandals had sawed through the top turnbuckle of one of the tower’s guy wires, which caused the entire tower to come loose and tumble to the ground. KNX was off the air for an entire day. A temporary 10,000-watt transmitter was set up on the site so the station could resume broadcasting.
Later, an extra tower that was not in use was located at station KFAC-AM and brought to Torrance. The 365-foot tower was used while a new 494-foot tower was being built. When the new tower went into operation in July 1966, the older one was kept as a backup. These two towers still stand on the site today.
Hear Ache. Programmer extraordinaire Bob Hamilton celebrates 47 years with his partner, Jim London. “No words can express my joy, love & happiness,” enthused Bob… A couple of LARPs – Doug Dunlap and Hans Laetz – appeared on different days writing about different subjects in the LA Times Letters section … Geraldo Rivera, onetime Talker at KABC, is celebrating 50 years as a broadcaster. Rivera began his 50-year career as a television reporter at WABC/tv in New York and was a member of the original cast of ABC's Good Morning America. He had an eight-year association with ABC's 20/20 as an investigative reporter and produced and hosted The Geraldo Rivera Show for 11 years … Here’s a positive story about Tucson radio featuring former LARP, Bobby Rich. The headline: ‘A year in, independent Tucson radio station lands in Nielsen's top 10.’ Read the story here. ... Iconic LARP Jim Ladd, now with SiriusXM, lists his home for rent in Laurel Canyon for $11,750 a month. The home was the hangout for artists such as Tom Petty and the Eagles
| Email Friday |
** Gospel Theme
“In the 1960s, a Radio Ministry utilized this Gospel chorus as the theme of his 15-minute (possibly 30 minute) uplifting message for his following. He was known in Hollywood by our Pastor, Rev. Dr. Ben Daniel Griffith, and came to Costa Mesa as favor to their friendship. I met him on a Sunday AM service as I was the organist - he placed the music before me to accompany him as he played his trumpet. It was 1962-63 that we lived there so his program was aired for some time around those dates. His was a Los Angeles Radio Program. I have the Chorus words – my wife knew the tune – so I’m seeking for proper attribution the Radio Minister that introduced us to this Theme Chorus.
If you know the Minister's name and his Ministry Broadcast Program, it would be most helpful to acknowledge his work as a minister.
He’s the One I love in the morning,
He’s the One I love at noon;
He’s the One at evening twilight,
He’s the One at mid-night gloom;
He’s the Oak and I'm the ivy,
He’s the Potter, I’m the clay;
For my Lord and me there’ll never be A parting day.
Thank you for any help you can provide.” – Dave Schlaegel, Minister, Yorkville, NY honservant@gmail.com
** Record Promoter
“We lost a great person in Tony Richland. I had the privilege in knowing and loving Tony Richland. Coming to LA radio in 1977, we had a court jester in the music biz. It was Tony! He was one special person who turned out to be a good friend. He was the best. Always positive. Always with a smile and a good story to be told.
On Monday Music day he would be the first person to greet the lobby. A Monday was always great when Tony, Guy Zapoleon and I always looked forward to see him. He even brought his props, horn, bells etc.
Tony, we will miss you! A true legend is now missed!” – Bob Hamilton
Growing up in Detroit, J Thomas worked midnights at the Ford Motor Company Dearborn Engine Plant while he was a high school senior. “I had a non-production job, so I never had that Lucille Ball in the candy factory experience. Periodically, I paused at various points to observe the manufacturing process. It was sometimes amazing to me, watching the assembly line as the engines were assembled at each point,” said Smith.
J Thomas saw first hand the process of watching an automobile being built, observing how the various parts of an engine – made in different departments within the plant – come together, eventually bound for the assembly line, to create a new vehicle. That observation taught him that the process of building an automobile was analogous to the process needed to build a successful life.
His book has chapters on how to be happy, planning for the worst, stick-to-it-ness, and accepting responsibility for your actions with no excuses, among other evergreen clues to his Laws of Success. “Quite frankly, I discovered the formula I share in My Laws of Success, quite by accident,” wrote Smith. “After achieving a few milestones in door-to-door sales, I began examining and re-examining what I was doing that worked. But, just as important, I began studying and doing research on successful people. I read several books on success and successful people. The individuals came from different sectors of industry and business and were doing different things. However, when faced with similar challenges, they were also making similar decisions or had similar processes for arriving at a decision. This is one thing they all have in common.”
Dr. J Thomas Smith began his radio career in afternoon drive at WGPR-Detroit in 1969, later moving to WWWW-Detroit, WKLR-Toledo and back to Detroit at WJZZ. After stops in Memphis, Rochester and Peoria he returned to Los Angeles to KDAY and the American Forces Radio and Television Service (AFRTS).
Smith became one of the original staff members at “MAJIC102” in Houston. After an interval at WYCB-Washington, and Country WPIK/WXRA-Arlington, VA he returned to Houston and KRLY where BRE Magazine named him Air Personality of the Year on Pop Radio. He later went to WSTR-Atlanta and others but in 1994 returned to “MAJIC102.”
In addition to his radio career he has served as an instructor and associate campus director at Houston Community College, Dean of City University Los Angeles School of Law, Director of the John Lucas Treatment and Recovery Center at Columbia/HCA Spring Branch Medical Center, and Director of Counseling and Multicultural Services at Prairie View A&M University. Smith is licensed in Texas as a professional counselor, marriage and family therapist, childcare administrator, chemical dependency counselor and holds many other certifications. He has two Bachelor of Science degrees, a Master of Science degree in counseling psychology, a Doctor of Philosophy degree and a Juris Doctorate from Texas Southern University – Thurgood Marshall School of Law. Smith is also associated with a law firm and operates a mental health consulting practice. He often serves as a keynote and motivational speaker and is active in numerous community and professional organizations.
“I must serve the community and let my listeners feel my passions, as I embrace theirs. Like Wolfman said, ‘Take care of the people, and the people will take care of you.’”
“I’m still here because I love this game,” he said. You can purchase Smith’s book at Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/My-Laws-Success-Making-Reality/dp/1913969088/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=j+thomas+smith&qid=1600811999&sr=8-2
Hear Ache. Condolences to Molly Paige on the passing of her mother … Lisa May, fan favorite of the Kevin & Bean Show and Frosty, Heidi & Frank, moved to Palm Desert when she left radio behind. This week she opened The Strength Code. “When all this started, I had no idea what 2020 had in store. If I had known, I’m not completely sure I would have moved forward, but once the lease was signed, literally days before the shut-down in March, the die was cast. And I’m so happy I WAS able to move forward, and I’m so proud of this studio,” she wrote on social media. Now you have a place to visit when visiting the desert in the Bump and Grind Plaza. Hope it is a huge success for Lisa May … Congratulations to Laurie and Mike Nolan on their 41st year of wedded bliss.
| Email Thursday |
** Zoom Challenges
“Know if people would only realize with Zoom but you still need a microphone instead of yelling at your computer screen from 6 feet away in a room that sounds like a shower stall. We scream and burn the sound guy when we go to a concert if everything isn’t just right and yet the networks put up with barely intelligible audio from Zoom every day. It really doesn’t cost more to do things right.” – Don Elliot
"Last Sunday was the first Breakfast w/ the Beatles LIVE broadcast since the pandemic started.
We had a sold-out crowd at The Kobe Steakhouse in Seal Beach broadcasting in the parking lot while everyone enjoyed a tasty Kobe Bistro breakfast. We also debuted our new Breakfast w/the Beatles masks and people seems to like em!
Breakfast w/ the Beatles has been bringing Southern CA the sounds of John, Paul, George & Ringo Sunday mornings since 1983." - Chris Carter
“We also did a tribute to Johnny Helm with his daughter Amber and Bruce Chandler,” emailed Mike Kunert, the brainchild of the endeavor. The main focus at this time is the music industry in the Inland Empire in the ’60’s and early ’70’s, primarily radio stations KFXM and K/MEN.
“All of these people have such interesting stories, we are trying to document all of them while they are still able,” said Kunert. His love affair with radio started when he was a teenager hanging out at KFXM. “Their studios were right next to the swimming pool at the (new) Holiday Inn, and there were almost always girls hanging out in bikinis around the pool. Also, one of the djs would let me come in after hours and record any songs I would like on tape (if I brought my own tape) in their production studio. Then when they had the AFTRA strike in 1968, my dj friend recruited me to hand out boycott literature.”
After high school, Kunert earned his electrical contractors license and learned that radio advertising was the best return for his advertising dollars. “I started bartering with several of the stations. For fun I took a couple years of tv production classes at San Bernardino Valley College, where I met more people who went on into broadcasting.”
When the pandemic hit, Mike connected with one of the 60s jocks and reminisced about the old days. They turned the conversation into a fascinating interview. They had such a good time that Mike has done a half dozen more. There’s no money in the venture, just guys having fun talking about radio and the opportunity to preserve these memories for future generations. Billy Smith handles all the tech side of the project.
Mike and Billy set up a website, https://irememberradio.rocks/ Facebook group, https://www.facebook.com/groups/173721897410988/ and a YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIe9of3iUtbJ4kU-U8OW9mw.”
Their current project is completing a documentary type feature on the life of William F. Williams. “I would like to invite anyone who has memories of him, photos, airchecks or stories to contact me at: kunert@kunert-1.com
|
Hear Ache.
At 6 p.m. tonight, all Entercom stations (93.1
Jack FM (KCBS-FM), 94.7 The Wave (KTWV-FM), 97.1
AMP Radio (KAMP-FM), K-Earth 101 (KRTH-FM), KNX
1070 News Radio (KNX-AM) and KROQ (KROQ-FM) will
broadcast the fourth annual “I’m Listening,” a
live national program that brings together
artists, athletes and medical specialists to
raise awareness and end the stigma of talking
about mental health … Last weekend Earl
Trout (ex-KDAY), spent a lot of time
researching his family tree. “I found out that
I’m the sap.” … Fred Roggin celebrates
40 years with KNBC/4. The station prepared a
wonderful
tribute reel … Consultant George
Johns just heard that KVIL in Dallas
billed $67,000 in August. “That’s a long way
from the almost two million the ‘A’ team used to
do during the ’70s, ’80s, and ’90s,” George
wrote in his tasty newsletter … Saul
Levine emailed to say that he is very
proud that his late wife Anita was one of Byron
Allen’s Math teachers in the 1970s at John
Burroughs Jr. High. “He is one of the Industries
most prominent persons, and when I run into him,
we stop and chat. I am very gratified that a
young black student in my wife’s math class went
on to such success,” wrote Saul … Jimmy
Kimmel received a wonderful review of
his Emmy hostcast from the LA Times.
Write an essay for LARadio. We are on holiday next week and instead of going dark, we thought there may be some burning desires to write an essay that is LARadio-related. Would you like to be a guest columnist next week? Do you have a hankering to write something about LARadio? An experience at a radio station? A first-person story? Perhaps an interaction with someone from LARadio? Maybe your love affair with the business? Or your frustration? As a listener what gives you delight? Or heartache? Dr. Alan Oda and I will pick five essays that will run next week. But first, what do you want to write about (800 words max)?
** Chachi Beat CC “Guess what? Dave ‘Chachi’ Denes has done more outstanding, creative innovative things in just a short time than those greedy bastards from San Antonio ever did! And he hasn’t filed for bankruptcy 5-6 or 7 times :)” – Mike Butts ** Chachi Charge “There is such sadness in our industry, as we all know. You wonder to yourself who will be fired first: you, or the radio business itself. I don’t know you Chachi, but I truly feel the sadness that you must be feeling as I am writing this. We forget those who made it the great entertainment that it was. It only adds to the emptiness. I beg of you Chachi, don’t waste your time and talent. Nobody could possibly care as much as you do and your pride. Being the veteran of these wars, I will not be presumptive enough to give unwanted advice, but if I were to give it, it would be: when you awaken tomorrow morning and your thoughts are about to go dark, don’t linger there. Leap out of that bed while simultaneously shouting ‘F...K it! NObody can bring Dave ‘Chachi’ Denes to his knees. I’m moving on with my life.’ My very best wishes to you for a brighter and better future, and to everyone else who knows and understands your temporary plight.” – Sweet Dick Whittington ** KBCA Star “Since we have been talking about Rick Holmes, I have a few more stories to relate. First of all, Rick was one of the most dynamic djs I ever employed. But there was never a dull moment. He was a driving force for the station. On Thanksgiving Day 1967 I was helping my lady friend in the kitchen prepare the Turkey when the phone rang. There was a very upset Rick on the phone. He was covering Thanksgiving Day on KBCA for me. KBCA was in a high-rise building on Wilshire Boulevard on the 9th floor. He had stepped out of the studio for the rest room. The building was deserted when a call went into police headquarters that there was a robbery underway in the building. Some tough cops saw Rick in the hallway and were intending to take him down to the police station as a suspected robber. Rick managed to get the police to let him call me at home. I picked up the phone and found a very distressed Rick on the line. He managed to get out the message to me which sounded like help. I got the police officers on the line and I was upset for Rick and being taken away from the joy of the turkey preparation and enjoying a glass of wine with my friend. I yelled at the officer. ‘You let that man go – he is my star dj and not a burglar.’ The police let a shaken Rick go back to the studio and I went back to the glass of wine. My djs all had my home number for situations like that.” – Saul Levine, KBCA/KKGO |
 |
| .... thanks to Mike Wagner and David Schwartz for the screen shot of Jimmy O'Neill (Shindig! and 1110/KRLA) appearing on the Flintstones |
Chachi Never Saw His Firing Coming
 |
(September 22,
2020) Barack Obama had just been
elected President of the United States, the
economy was beginning to crater and the worst
kept secret in the radio business was the
pending downsizing of highly leveraged Clear
Channel Communications (now iHeartMedia). The
company was $20 billion in debt.
Locally, KBIG had recently rebranded as a Hot AC station under the new moniker of MY/fm. Dave “Chachi” Denes was the programming head who orchestrated the change at KBIG a year earlier. “For months all division heads were being interviewed asking what each person did,” Chachi recalled on a recent podcast. “I rationalized that the station was doing so well, I guessed I didn’t have to make any layoffs.” The station had one of the best ratings in the country. He was totally unprepared for the outcome of the reviews. Greg Ashlock, the head of the Clear Channel cluster, returned from a manager’s meeting with a list of people who had to be let go. “Not to minimize them as people, but at MY/fm I only had to fire a board op and a part-timer. It was really stressing me out because it is still someone who works for you,” said Chachi. Corporately, 1,850 were fired beginning on Martin Luther King Day in 2009. And then the phone call to meet Ashlock. You’re fired. “I was not expecting it. I had no idea there was a bullseye on my back,” confessed Chachi. Ashlock asked Chachi not to say anything to R Dub!, program director at KHHT (Hot 92.3). He was also part of the tidal wave of firings. They learned of each other’s plight in a phone call on the way home. “I was mortified and got on a plane to Brazil,” said R Dub! He’s now programming two stations in San Diego. Chachi has gone on to create an enormously successful company, Benztown, a leader in imaging, voiceover, programming, podcasts and jingles. Ten years later, iHeart is still the largest radio conglomerate in the country. Earlier this year they had another round of massive layoffs, cutting enough people that one former on-air host described the day as “one of the worst days in on-air radio history.” |
| Email Tuesday |
| **
Screamin’ Jay’s Almost Pivot
“A little-known fact about Screamin’ Jay Hawkins. In the beginning he really wanted to have a career as an opera singer. But there was more money in ‘Pop and Rhythm and Blues,’ and the world became a better place because of his decision.” – Joe Collins ** Guy Davis “My condolences to family and friends of Guy Davis. Guy was an outstanding broadcaster.” – Phil Harvey ** Isolation and Death “Sorry to hear of the death of Guy Davis. I can’t recall listening to him, but since he worked at many stations, chances are I may have heard him. Such is the state of radio nowadays where you hear a voice and get used to it, then that voice disappears and another one takes its place. Most LARadio voices die a quiet death where we hear of one’s death a few days later after. Unfortunately, Mr. Davis decided to take the hard way out. He must have been under so much pain, so in desperation he decided on this path out. With the COVID-19 situation, I read that the suicide rate in the country has risen sharply since the start of this pandemic. Many people feel isolated and depressed. Something that was unimaginable in the past become a clear possibility. My thoughts and prayers are with the family.” – Dan Ramos, Joshua Tree ** Davis’ Path “So sad about Guy Davis. Our paths never crossed, yet your story was moving, as if I’d known him. Life: Nobody gets out of here alive.” – Randy West ** Alan Freed “Reading Brian Beirne’s story of Alan Freed. The guy who groomed me for radio at age 16 and getting me my first job at WHAY-New Britain, CT was my neighbor Hermie Dressel. Hermie, a drummer by trade, he played in Alan Freed's touring rock shows. They included epic shows at the Brooklyn Paramount. Hermie and Panama Francis, played drums side by side. Hermie also appeared in Freed’s movie, Rock, Rock, Rock. BTW, Hermie managed Woody Herman for many years. Also Dionne Warwick and The Kingsmen (Louie, Louie)” – Bob Sirkin |
Guy Davis Takes His Own Life
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(September 21,
2020) Guy Davis, one of our own in
LARadio, was having a terribly difficult time
when we posted a note from his wife last March.
Guy was fighting advanced rectal cancer. Sunday
afternoon he killed himself in the driveway of
his home in Auburn, according to his former
partner Mark Taylor. He was 65.
“He left me his last message on Thursday,” said Taylor. “I called back, but had to leave a message. His cancer was now stage 4 and he was in pain and told his wife he didn't see any way out. We had texted quite a bit and left messages, but I hadn't had a conversation with him in several weeks. His message to me Thursday was fairly upbeat, however he sounded extremely weak.” Guy grew up in the San Luis Obispo area and worked central California, including a station in Bakersfield, KCUB-Tucson, KISS-San Antonio, KBST-San Diego before arriving in Los Angeles. Beginning in 1985, Guy was heard on KHTZ, KBZT, KLSX, KBIG, KNJO/KLIT/KMLT, plus KABC. He left KBIG in late 1995 and was active in voiceover work and developing a syndicated cigar talk show. Guy was an auctioneer specializing in fund raising and charity auctions. In the fall of 1996 Guy started working at KLIT. He later teamed with Mark Taylor in 1998 for the Taylor/Davis report at KABC. The team broke up in 2000. In May 2019, Guy was diagnosed with rectal cancer. His wife, Kris, shared his story in her plea for help. “Medical bills and co-pays have been overwhelming. Unfortunately we signed up for short-term medical insurance while waiting for Medicare to kick in. We got a letter from our medical insurance stating that Guy’s cancer was preexisting and short-term insurance does not cover his cancer treatment. We are in debt $90,000. The colonoscopy and biopsy caused damage to the tumor which caused severe bleeding. He lost so much blood and was so weak he barely made it. He has had two blood transfusions. He just finished radiation, which did stop the bleeding and gave us hope. He went to Arizona to a natural health clinic to build up his immune and strength, which was all out of pocket cost. Next is hernia surgery than colostomy surgery and chemo.” Kris said it’s been overwhelming and stressful but they were “staying positive!” She concluded: “Guy has said he’s had a wonderful life and radio career. He’s very grateful for the amazing friendships he made along the way. We appreciate your consideration to help!” |
Here is an important resource for those struggling with suicidal thoughts: https://reportingonsuicide.org/recommendations/
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Screamin’
Jay. Brian Beirne,
Mr. Rock N’ Roll, caught the photo of Johnny
Otis with Screamin’ Jay Hawkins. “Jay
was one of the over 120 acts I had at the Greek
Theatre as part of my Legends of Rock and Roll
Series. We even had him come out of famous
coffin to sing I Put a Spell on You. He
was a real showman who was said to have fathered
77 children which was a show unto itself.”
Brian knew him for many years. “He had great rock n’ roll stories. He told me a great story about how Charlie Thomas of The Drifters locked him in the coffin once. He didn’t want to do the coffin bit anymore after that but then Alan Freed wanted him to do it for a show. Jay said NO, but then Freed started counting out hundred dollar bills. After each hundred Jay would say NO. When Freed got to $1,200 and started to take the money off the table Jay said YES.” Alvarez Challenges. Former KROQ personality Jimmy Alvarez has struggled with diabetes for over 20 years. “It’s almost taken me twice, and caused me to have double cataract surgery at 37,” Jimmy wrote on social media. “Last week I experienced headaches and blurred vision, by mid-week I had floaters that obscured vision in my left eye. By Friday morning, the headache and blurred vision was concerning. I was able to get an emergency doctor appointment. By midday the floater got bigger. By late afternoon I lost all vision in my left eye. It was like looking out a dirty window and there was a sandstorm outside, the sand being red and brown. I also had bright pulsating light of every shape and color when I closed my eyes.” Jimmy continued: “I got to the hospital and they too were concerned. While I was waiting to see the doctor, I was admittedly scared. The doctor said he was concerned I may have permanent loss of vision. I had a few procedures done to both eyes, surgery on the left. I was told I would know within a day if it was successful or if I needed more evaluation. Friends, that was a very scary moment, but I felt calm after the surgery. I had this sense no matter what happens, life would go on.” Last Friday Jimmy shed a tear as he regained his vision. “Life is weird, trust me.... don't take it for granted. We have a lot of positive things happening, I’ll never lose sight of that. I still have vision issues, but I think I’ll be OK... one way or another.”
** Guy Davis Passing "Devastating. I can't imagine his pain, mental and physical. My condolences to his family and friends. He was always so sweet to talk to, such a talent." - Katie Clark ** You Don't Understand Unless You've Been There "As a cancer survivor in that general area, I can tell you the suffering is more than you can take at times. It’s hard to imagine it’s only going to get worse. While I don’t condone suicide I do have compassion for Guy Davis. You don’t understand unless you’ve been there. R.I.P. Guy." - Jami Mayberry ** Tuna Start Time “When I spotted the photo of Charlie Tuna in your KBIG feature, one memory immediately jumped out at me. In 1990 at KODJ in one of my frequent meet-with-the-morning-show sessions, Charlie mentioned that he hoped he could change his radio show start time. Since he ran from 5:30 a.m. to 9 a.m., I was braced for him to request a start time of 6:00. But no, he figured since a competitor’s show started at 5:30, he wanted to get a head start and begin his show at 5 a.m. I was stunned. I’d never had a morning show talent request longer hours before. His professionalism and determination to win still impresses me.” – Dave Anthony |
Is Radio Still a Viable Career for On-Air Talent?
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(September 18,
2020) It’s weird being the same age as
old people. It is in this spirit that we trapse
through the tulips of today’s radio. When we
read of thousands being fired in recent years
and corporations once again flirting with some
form of syndication or another, the radio
landscape seems to change once again. The young
always seem to grasp the current state of things
and they certainly don’t pine for the old days.
When I was made program director at KABL-San Francisco at age 27, I scoffed (wrongly) at the man who I was replacing, who was probably in his late 30s or early 40s. Such arrogance from me for the man responsible for the early success of KABL. When we ran the Entercom story earlier this week about LARadio People replacing local personalities, Charlie Van Dyke and I wondered out loud if radio was still a profession to pursue for a young person? There was much response and a smattering of LARP wrote philosophically about what appears to be the inevitable changes and maybe a lack of acceptance to the changes. |
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Former 93/KHJ and KWST
personality Bobby Ocean wrote:
“I’m a cartoonist and philosopher that just
happened to cross paths with a career in radio.
The broadcasting dream was a fantasy just coming
true when I hopped aboard the Top 40 train.
Being in smaller markets listening and learning
from the majors, working your confidence and way
up to bigger townships & cities was The Path I
chose.” Ocean is a seventh generation Californian who crisscrossed the state in pursuit of his radio dreams. “My fellow jocks and I ushered in some of this planet’s best music, kept company with several generations of evolving souls and even saved the planet several times. So grateful to have dined at that feast. Now, with only recordings surviving to relate the magical trip it was, that adventure is sadly no longer available.” Patrick Moore was chatting with a small group of 30s-40s aged first responders recently and they asked him what he did before retirement. “Told ’em I was a Top 40 disk jockey. Not one of them had a clue what I was talking about. Had never heard the term. Asked them when was the last time they listed to the radio. Unanimous answer; can't remember last time they had listened to a superhet. That answer your question? Should. It’s a dead soldier for now.” Jeffrey Leonard is the host of Facebook’s “Memories of L.A. Radio” group. He thinks there is no such thing as creativity in radio anymore. “When I started in 1973 it was magic, and had been for many years previous. If I was young and looking for a career now, I wouldn’t have the least bit of interest in radio. Corporations have destroyed it. It’s all about money and nothing else now.” Charlie Seraphin was the general manager of the CBS/fm radio group in the late 80s. “Those of us who grew up in radio share your concern,” wrote Seraphin. “Radio was fun, creative, and original. We worked with some outstanding, zany individuals. Consolidation killed creativity and cut the heart out of our business. Two months ago I took a job hosting a M-F talk show on a tiny station in the sticks. Having a ball and remembering what drew me to radio in the first place. Radio is a passion, not a corporate investment. RIP.” Beau Weaver was on 93/KHJ and K-EARTH in the 70s through the nineties. He is now one of the premiere voices today for imaging and commercials. “Having dinner with a very bright young woman whom you would recognize from her acting work on several television series. She asked about what led to my getting involved in voice over work. I told her that radio was my first passion. The puzzled look in her fact told me everything. She had absolutely no idea what there might be to love about radio. None. No magic, no theatre of the mind has ever come through a radio to her ears. Tried to explain. It was like trying to explain the thrill of using a dial telephone. It made me sad. But as OSH said, we got to dine at that banquet!” Iconic KABC morning man for decades, Ken Minyard was very strong in his observations. “Greed, new technology, syndication and consolidation all conspired to bring down local radio. With some notable exceptions it hardly exists anymore. I can’t imagine why anyone would choose to listen to commercial clogged radio when so many other options are available. The only answer I can imagine is the attraction to a certain personality but those will also be gone soon. We toiled in a great business that only existed in a small window of time. Can’t imagine anyone being attracted to it now and I would certainly advise them to look elsewhere.” Hear Ache. Howard Fine writes that KSPN is moving. “They have filed an application to move their transmitter site from Burbank Blvd just east of Coldwater Canyon in Van Nuys to share the KRDC-AM site Longden Ave E of Myrtle Ave, Irwindale. KSPN presently operates on 710 kHz with a power of 50.0 kilowatts during daytime hours and 10.0 kW during nighttime hours. They are requesting 34kw days, 2.5 nights.” … Laurie Allen left KKGO earlier this month after a long run. “The reason was she felt there was not enough time in her schedule,” emailed Saul Levine, gm/owner of Go Country. “We tried to talk her out of that decision. Laurie is one of the best air personalities in the station’s history, and certainly one of the most attractive. Mike Johnson has taken over her Sunday slot. KKGO Remains ‘live and local.’ KKGO is ‘Main Street not Wall Street.’” … Frank Murphy, former producer of the Kevin & Bean Show on KROQ, is starting a new podcast Monday. He recently left his longtime slot in Knoxville … Fire got very close to Mt. Wilson and the transmitter site for so many radio stations. Saul Levine is prepared. “KKGO FM 105.1 has operated from a Mount Wilson Transmitter since 1959. Concerned about the fire hazard to its MW Transmitter, a complete duplicate Transmitter was installed on Flint Peak above LaCanada on the former KPWR Tower. Although an expensive means to stay on the air if Mount Wilson is disrupted, it is a valuable back-up to allow KKGO to stay on the air through most emergencies.
** Car Talk “So fun to see Tammy Trujillo’s awesome Dodge Challenger on your page. Yes, Chrysler did some wild colors back then, and gave them creative names too. While Dodge and Plymouth vehicles would share a hue, it was up to each division to come up with their own name for it. So, the Panther Pink on her Dodge was called Moulin Rouge over at the Plymouth dealership. Other fun names they had were Sublime, Plum Crazy, and Citron Yella. And some of your LARP may remember Dodge’s catchy radio ads from that time. They used Dionne Warwick’s Do You Know the Way to San Jose but substituted the lyrics “Put a Dodge in your garage today.” I’d hear it regularly riding in my parents’ cars, usually on KMPC or KGIL. Who knows, perhaps the original owner of Ms. Trujillo’s Challenger was influenced by that spot!” - Dave Kunz, Automotive Reporter, KABC-TV, Co-host, “The Car Show,” KPFK/fm ** KNX MIA’s “I noticed on your LARadio.com website that you don't have Barry Rhode, Jim Racer, and Dick Wall listed. They were all at KNX. Any idea what they are up to? Another former KNX personality that you don't have listed on LARadio.com is Bill Lorin. He was an Orange County reporter. I think he came after Boyd Harvey and Mike Landa.” – Ian Sampson ** Radio Student Advice “My daughter Kate has succeeded in creating an accredited class in RADIO at Granada Hills Charter High School! Yes, the LASD has approved the curriculum, and she's teaching her first-year class in radio and mass media. Question: I'm going to be talking to the class on Friday, and wondering whether you or any of your readers might have some words of wisdom to pass along?” – Gary Bryan |
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Lynda Clayton's Love Letter to Radio
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(September 17,
2020) Back in the 80s and early 90s, Lynda
Clayton worked for two iconic Rock stations
– KLOS and KMET. She spent 40 years in the
business and recently decided to hang up her
microphone. She posted a love letter to radio on
social media, which deserves a read: “I was asked again today: Why did you leave radio? Do you miss it? I answered, ‘It left me like a long and loyal marriage... a difficult separation.’ Radio will ALWAYS be in my blood. After 40 years of full- time radio, I tried to stay involved but I wanted to stay here with my family and not leave the greater Sacramento area. After KSSJ went off the air, the industry changed so much I couldn’t help make ends meet financially in music radio locally. I had to make decisions. One program director actually said to me, ‘you’ve had your time’. So, in other words, enjoy your ‘golden years’! (Thank you David Bowie.) It’s a letting go process that broke my heart. It did. You, who are still in your chosen career or in radio on air will know the feeling someday. You will need to reinvent. I tried to make enough money in voice-work, concert promoting, non-profit event planning, direct sales, and more. I just needed more consistent income with benefits so I got into a different industry. The beauty industry. I was lucky to have a friend already there who helped me and still does. |
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I’m so grateful Kate Crane.
Since Covid-19 has changed all the rules in makeup and sucked the fun out of artistry and pampering you at Dior, the magic of makeup artistry is on hold but I can still certainly advise you and help you choose correct products from Dior or anywhere in our entire Nordstrom beauty department. I will send it directly to you or give you special storewide assistance. We FaceTime, do Style Boards via the NordstromOn app, etc. Yes, it is still possible to share connections and laugh together in store as well ...just please wear a mask and keep distance in check. Thank you. All industries are trying their best! All of them! For now, it’s what I gratefully have to sustain me...and I will hold onto all the wonderful memories of 4 decades of being on the radio and the amazing live music concert events hoping it all survives this unbelievable but very real reality we are in. My heart is with you all! Please hang in there! I am. It just has to turnaround. Rollin’ with it baby! Crazy times indeed! I can honestly say retail is a lot harder work than radio! Truly! Retail feet never stop hurting. Respectfully, please be nice to retail people. We put up with a lot! And, now we require you as well as all of us to wear masks...so, we just smile with our eyes! It’s not comfortable for us either. So, be nice, wear your mask over your mouth AND your nose...give proper space, follow the store rules, be respectful….or…just stay home. Right? Our store requires this. Oh and............. Yes, of course, I do miss radio! Know that you’re loved." - Lynda Clayton Hear Ache. The Greater Los Angeles Pro Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists expressed concern over the arrest of KPCC/LAist reporter Josie Huang last Saturday, as she was covering a protest in the City of Lynwood … Kitty Felde thinks the #pandemic must be over. “I finally found sugar cubes on the shelf at my grocery store for the first time since March,” she wrote … Dave Kunz sent along a notice that Audi has introduced a Hybrid Radio experience that allows users to keep listening to their favorite stations, even when out of range of the signal. The press release quoted Michele Laven, president of Strategic Partnerships Group for iHeartMedia. “Radio has always been the consumer’s No. 1 choice for companionship in the car.”
** Missing Froggy “I'm glad you had a good birthday and welcome to the world of grandchildren growing up WAY too fast! Regarding KFRG, I mourn what a great station they used to be. Very independent, community oriented, and the ‘Ribbet’ themed nicknames made them stand out! Plus they did so much reach out beyond the Inland Empire that KZLA was hard put to keep up with them. I miss ‘Frogmen in the Morning,’ Heather ‘Froglear,’ ‘Hoppy,’ etc., but when their wattage to the San Gabriel Valley dropped, it was easier to listen to Go Country. Sad. Speaking of Go Country, it’s a loss to listeners that Laurie Allen left the station. She was a great voice for all listeners and her knowledge of Classic Country made Sunday mornings a must to listen to. Another station starting to lose its inclusion of all types of Country music fans.” – Julie T. Byers ** KBCA Secret Sauce "I appreciate Roland Bynum’s compliment about KBCA. It was an extraordinary operation with a level of programming that would be difficult to recreate today. The initial Jazz cycle ran from 1960 to 1989. I had little experience in operating an LA radio station in 1960 but I knew two things (1) Play the Hits, and (2) keep the chatter down. I had a hugh air staff perhaps sufficient to field two football teams. In those days radio positions were hard to find but there was a lot of talent, many from the Don Martin School, looking for work, and sadly positions not open for minority persons. I recruited a UN list of air people and had to train many of them. Rick Holmes and Jai Rich were formerly a postal clerk and a house painter. But the passion and talent for Jazz was there. Tollie Strode (Middle of the Freeway) was a fantastic talent. As time went-on, some djs began to talk excessively and I struggled to hold that down. One person in particular I will call X was beguiled by the fact we were on Satellite and began every break with—'broadcasting to North and South America.' I finally posted a message next to the mike saying 'Less is More' but that didn’t seem to help. So in those analog days my options were limited but I secured a navigation strobe-light, set it up in the studio linked to the microphone, so that 90 seconds after the mike was turned on, the strobe-light would start sweeping the studio as a warning to get back to music. X was not pleased and walked out of the studio never to return. Everyone else adapted and I removed the navigation light." - Saul Levine, GM KBCA/KKGO |
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"With all the bad news out there right now, thought I would share something fun - my brand new (at least to me!) 1970 Dodge Challenger in Panther Pink. She's a ground-rumbling 383 RT. And loaded! Panther Pink was one of the high-impact colors that Mopar featured in 1970 and 1971. Panther Pink is considered one of the rarest because fewer were made - guess the guys weren't into driving a pink car so much! She joins my neon orange Vitamin C 1974 Comet!" - Tammy Trujillo |
Entercom Copies Itself
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(September 16, 2020) You’ll
need a scorecard soon as the face (sound) of
radio changes dramatically. LARadio deals with
the people who have entertained us over the
decades. Not so much the corporations, but in
the case of Entercom, their new strategy
directly affects the people on the air.
Almost like the hub on a bicycle, LARadio people have become the spokes in the wheel to fill positions in other Entercom markets. In other words, local talent in other markets will be replaced with programming simulcast or syndicated from Los Angeles and other major cities. Everytime a new syndication deal is announced, another radio person is out of a job. They’ve started with two formats – Alternative and Country. Once the new strategy is perfected, you can expect the process to be used as a template for other formats. For conformity sake, Entercom has included “Alt” plus dial position for identifying all of their Alternative outlets. KROQ is the local Alternative station, with their morning show with Stryker & Klein being simulcast on Entercom stations in San Francisco (Alt 105.3), Dallas and Kansas City. Megan Holiday works afternoon drive at KROQ. She will also now be heard in Seattle (@1077theend) and syndicated on middays in San Francisco (Alt1053 radio), Kansas City, San Diego and Sacramento. Nicole Alvarez handles middays, her show will be simulcast in Seattle, Miami, Orlando and Las Vegas. Also, Entercom’s Seattle morning show will be simulcast in Sacramento and Portland, while their Las Vegas morning show will be simulcast in San Diego in addition to other markets. |
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Entercom doesn’t have a
Country music outlet in Los Angeles, so they
will be using Country personalities from back
East to fill in the openings created by layoffs.
KFRG (K-Frog) in the Inland Empire will lose
most of its local weekday hosts. We announced a
few days ago that morning personality Ginny
Harman is gone. A New York jock, Katie
Neal will be heard middays. Nighttimers from
the Detroit Entercom Country station will now be
heard on K-FROG.
Megan Holiday expressed how thrilled she is to have her show heard in additional markets beyond KROQ. “When will I sleep, you ask? Not too sure but I am beyond humbled and up for the challenge,” Megan wrote on Facebook. Former 93/KHJ and K-EARTH morning man Charlie Van Dyke has been reading about all the changes being made by Entercom and is wondering what happened to the industry that captured his imagination and would not let go. “Would radio lure you these days? Where could one even start? And what kind of future does a new broadcaster have? I sure think it was more fun before consolidation. You?” Charlie added: “In fairness, I’m thinking that a number of industries have changed and would have hit many folks before their careers were completed. Installing telephones, neighborhood pharmacies and office supply stores, television repair people with a kit full of tubes, a doctor who makes house calls (well, that has been replaced by tele-health), milk and ice cream delivered to your door, switchboard telephone operators, video stores, taxi dispatchers, elevator operators, Linotype operators, encyclopedia sales people, typewriter sales and repair, and looking bad for travel agents...and others.” What do you think? Live and local important? Is this progress in the audio world? Hear Ache. KCRW’s 20-year vet Liza Richardson is one of two dozen staffers who took an early buyout from the Santa Monica station … Thank you so much for all the kind birthday greetings yesterday. It was truly overwhelming. In the morning I got FaceTime with my 9-month grandson, Matthew, who is now pulling himself up on EVERYTHING … Congrats to David Singer on his 21st wedding anniversary … Good luck to Mike Lundy as he begins his second round of chemo … George Johns has experienced three musical phenomena in his lifetime – Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, and the Beatles. “They all rose from humble blue-collar beginnings but only Frank did it with class,” George wrote in his tasty newsletter … 'America's Court with Judge Kevin Ross' (former KABC Talker) has been renewed for seven more seasons … Jimmy Kimmel isn’t mincing words about the pitfalls of hosting the 72nd Annual Primetime Emmy show this coming Sunday on ABC. He thinks it may be the lowest rated ever. “I argued a coronavirus pandemic-challenged Emmys just might be the best thing that could ever happen to it, even if the logistics of having 140 cameras stationed at the nominees’ homes turns into a bit of a nightmare. People love watching train wrecks, right? I can imagine we’re going to have even more nominees watching this thing fully baked on marijuana edibles. Since I don’t need them to laugh, it’s fine.”
The late Jim Hawthorne had such an eclectic and successful radio career. He started in the 1940s at KXLA, KDAY, program director at KFWB, and KHJ. When LARadio started in the 90s, Jim offered to share some stories of his time in Hollywood. We jumped at the chance to relive his memories “Aahh, Hollywood... It was a World War II Saturday night at the famous Hollywood Canteen during my first semester in the titillating town of tinsel. I was in the midst of transition from the motion picture industry, where I toiled as an assistant director on a western movie series called Range Busters, and was soon to go to work as a weekend radio guy at 10-kilowatt KPAS in Pasadena. (Later the station would morph into KXLA and then in 1959 would become 50,000-watt KRLA. Today it is KDIS, Radio Disney.) It was then that I embarked upon one of the most memorable tasks of my fledgling adventure in Hollywood’s spectacular, notorious, jingle-jangle jungle. The Screen Directors Guild, as did all other guilds and unions in Hollywood at that time, requested that studio employees volunteer their services in many different capacities at the Hollywood Canteen. It had been founded by Bette Davis and John Garfield on October 3, 1942, and was located at 1451 Cahuenga Boulevard, near Sunset, in a building that had originally been a livery stable and then a nightclub. Each night, big name bands, movie stars, starlets, and wannabe performers from acrobats to superstars actually worked at the Canteen for free, providing welcome entertainment to our men and women in uniform who came from virtually every state in the union and many allied countries. I was a regular assigned to the stage crew. Some nights I handled the stage lighting, other evenings the public address system, etc. One of my most memorable duties was backstage – well, actually, in the kitchen. I washed dishes alongside Ingrid Bergman - she and I polished off a couple of stacks of plates and cups together. It was as if we had been doing it for years - that’s the way it was during wartime in Hollywood. Among the other “workers” that night was a new young actor by the name of Robert Alda, who was on the threshold of stardom at Warner Bros. Alda was to perform one of his favorite burlesque routines called “MAKEUP!” The “plot” of the act was that a movie was being shot and the actor (Alda) in the skit simply could not remember his lines. Each time he flubbed a line, the director would holler the familiar “CUT!” and scream “MAKEUP!” That is where I came in and swung a huge puff loaded with an over-abundance of talcum powder in Bob’s face, scattering the white cloud all over the audience. Each time that happened, the GI’s would go crazy. You may have seen the skit on ancient television re-runs. That evening was my introduction to the stage and I loved it! It was also my job to pick up and drive home those performers who needed transportation. That night, it was Bob Alda’s time, so away we went to his home in a remote part of the San Fernando Valley. Upon arrival at his modest abode, I was invited in for a cup of coffee, which I accepted. Upon my departure I bid goodbye to his wife and young son who was 7 or 8 years old at the time. The youngster came running over to me and “accidentally” stepped on my right foot – a really painful hit to my instep. Profuse apologies were given to me by Robert, his wife and, yes, the foot-stomper. I limped my way to my car and bid them farewell and headed back to the Canteen for the rest of the evening. The next time I saw the youngster with the lead foot was in 1945 when Bob was appearing at a screening of his first starring movie role, Rhapsody in Blue, the life story of famed songwriter George Gershwin. As for the tyke who clobbered my right foot, he grew up to star in the super hit tv series, M*A*S*H. To this day, each time I watch Alan Alda in a M*A*S*H rerun, my foot throbs.
** Sound On KBCA “Here’s one for you Saul Levine. As program director of KGFJ, when I hired a new jock for the station I had them to listen to KBCA. They would ask me ‘why should they listen to a Jazz station?’ My reply was, ‘just listen for a week, and after that time come back and tell me what you discovered.’ After a week had passed, I asked them what they had heard, and every one of them exclaimed, ‘this was the best sounding station in Los Angeles.’ Also, they had a better understanding of how to place the music in a cohesive rotation. No complaints after that. One more thing. On that trip to South Africa, I was the one who took Rick Holmes to the airport for that flight that he almost missed. Rick talked about that trip always.” – Roland Bynum ** Female Robin Banks Alive and Well “On KFI this morning, I heard a traffic reporter named Robin Banks who was a female voice. With the passing of the other Robin Banks (male), I thought with SAG/AFTRA no two air talents can use the same name?” – Bill Earl ** Eclectic LARadio “I am always so amazed at your hard work for the people in ALL of LARadio. The special awards you created, the books, the luncheons and get- togethers. You have such a talent for bringing people together despite being in an industry where we all have big egos. :)” – Mike Butts |
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Crosby, Stills &
Nash (thanks Timmy Manocheo) |
Alien Halftime Promotion During Chargers Game on KNX
by Tom Bernstein
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(September 15, 2020) The year was 1960, and
two very significant events became part of the
KNX/CBS Radio Program Schedule. Paul
Condylis and Bob Grant, a comedy team from WBBM
Radio-Chicago, arrived to star in “The Condylis
and Grant Show,” replacing the tired, old, “KNX
Matinee,” in afternoon drive (my wife Sheila was
the script girl for both). Barron Hilton founded
the Los Angeles Chargers Football Team with KNX
Radio set to carry their radio play-by-play with
The All American from Michigan, Tom Harmon,
behind the mike. Along with Condylis & Grant from WBBM, came Art Whittam now my new boss, the director of advertising / promotion for KNX Radio and Bill Wolff, as publicist. I was in charge of research and sales presentations. Frank Oxarart Jr. was the station’s merchandising manager, I was working under him. Whittam’s first big assignment was to produce the half-time show for a Chargers home game in the L.A. Coliseum. Whittam and Wolff handled the first parts. An introduction by our general manager, Fred Ruegg, then a performance by KNX Radio’s new stars, Condylis and Grant. Frank and I were to come up the final third of the program. We hit on “The Cavalcade of Transportation,” a parade of vehicles around the Coliseum track, starting with a covered wagon, followed by a stagecoach, followed by a model T, followed by a current automobile, followed by a car of the future, and for the grand finale, a flying saucer. The inspiration for all this was the availability of the flying saucer. Frank’s dad, Frank Sr. (also a CBS Radio alum), owned and produced The Commander Comet kids tv show with a prop flying saucer. |
|
We had no trouble lining up the other
vehicles, but couldn’t find Frank’s flying
saucer after scouring various tv stations in the
area, including San Bernardino where the space
show was originally shot. Turned out, the saucer
was just two blocks away (from Columbia Square),
hanging from the ceiling at Dice Prop Rentals.
At the time, I was driving a VW Beetle, and the plan was to tie the saucer to my surfboard rack on top of the car. We drove it over Dice to see if it fit, and sure enough it was perfect. The saucer, viewed from the stands, would cover up the Beetle. We added a blinking red light in the saucer’s cockpit for added effect and on the Sunday of the event it was trucked down to the Coliseum for assembly on top of my car. As we all remember, the Chargers where not a big hit in L.A. For their seven home games at the L. A. Coliseum, where the total capacity at that time was just over 109,000, the Chargers averaged only 15,665 persons per game. It didn’t look like there were 10,000 in attendance the day of our half time show, and most of them came to see a scheduled Pop Warner game. I remember watching and listening to the radio in my car parked in the tunnel, and thought Tom Harmon had gone to the wrong stadium, he was that bad. Finally, half-time arrived. KNX general manager Fred Ruegg is introduced, takes the field before a stand-up mike, and his remarks (written by Bill Wolf) were booed. Then Condylis & Grant stagger (in character) out of the Coliseum tunnel, dressed in goofy Alpine costumes with Paul, the bigger of the two, shouldering a large tuba. They pantomimed around the field to a recorded tuba solo and are booed even louder. Finally came the Cavalcade of Transportation and the grand finale, the VW/Flying Saucer circling around the Coliseum track…dead silence. At least we didn’t get booed. Thankfully, not enough people witnessed the event to make it truly embarrassing. Epilog: Art Whittam, who was notorious for going to lunch at The Vine St. Derby and having his secretary call and had him paged there two or three times, went on to be a security guard at a San Fernando Valley discount store. Bill Wolff remained as publicist, director of on-air promotions and special events at KNX, retiring after 30 years to Manhattan Beach. Frank Oxarart Jr., retired from CBS as general manager of KCBS News Radio in San Francisco, now lives in Florida. Bob Grant became a controversial, conservative talk show host on WABC and WOR in New York. After a brief week-end stint at KABC Radio, Paul Condylis became involved with The Church of Christian Science in Boston and produced industrial films. He and Bob had a strained relationship and never really got along well. Me, I’m of course retired and still writing this stuff. Thanks to Bill Wolff, Frank Oxarart Jr., Arlen Peters (CBS Radio, ’68-’75) and Don Barrett (LARadio.com) for helping me track down some of the facts. No thanks, to the now, again, Los Angles Chargers, who didn’t help at all. Email Tuesday |
| Email Tuesday |
|
** Kagan All Over the World
“Sad notices in Monday’s column. I remember Marilyn Kagan would get calls from all over the Western US via KFI’s clear channel wattage late at night.” – Ron Yukelson, San Luis Obispo ** KBCA Personalities “Rick Holmes along with Jai Rich, and Tolly Strode were among the leaders of the KBCA air staff in the 1960s and 70s. Rick’s program time was 6 p.m. weeknights, beginning with the theme song Michelle, dominated Los Angeles radio for his evening shift even though only on fm radio. Around 1970, Rick announced on air that he was invited to join Cannonball Adderley at a charity event in South Africa which would be a fund raiser for the people of Biafra who were in desperate need of relief from the war raging around them. Rick ran a countdown on his appearance with Cannonball, who was at his peak as a Jazz performer. Then Rick called me to say there had been a misunderstanding and Cannonball had not invited him to join his band in South Africa. Rick was devastated and concerned with his reputation. I was concerned as to the repercussions to my star dj. There was only one thing to do and that was buy him tickets to Capetown and pay for his trip. It worked and Rick was able after all to get on stage with Cannonball and saved his reputation. And I figured if Rick was already going to be in that part of the World, get him invited to Israel on his return. I called the Israel Embassy and arranged for Rick, who was black, to be a guest of Israel. In fact, they went all out and Rick became a national guest of honor of Israel and provided the royal treatment.” – Saul Levine |
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| thanks to Timmy Manocheo for the Bob Crane photo |
Longtime CBS/Entercom Personality Dies
 |
(September 14,
2020) Former KNX/fm, KODJ, and Arrow 93
personality Robin Banks has
died. We received word over the weekend from Tom
Patterson supervising engineer at
CBS/TV. Robin spent from 1989-97 at CBS/fm
stations, which included KNX/fm, KODJ, and Arrow
93. His pd at Arrow, Tommy Edwards,
heard that he had been battling cancer. He was
in his early 70s. His hiring goes down as a classic tale about local radio. When KNX/fm general manager Charlie Seraphin first moved to LA, he was staying in temporary housing and had daily breakfast at the Beechwood Cafe up in the hills. “Robin was a regular,” Charlie remembered. “I noticed that wherever he sat, all of the waitresses would individually go to his table and say good morning. One day after Deirdre O’Donoghue resigned on the air [and announced that she was going to KLSX] I was sitting at the counter and Robin sat next to me. We started chatting. I noticed his British accent and asked if he knew anything about the Beatles. He lit up and told me that he was the first of his friends to buy Beatles’ boots and went on and on about the group. I asked if he knew anything about music and he said he was the road manager for Cat Stevens’ first American tour.” At the time, Robin ran an indoor gardening business, servicing house plants in LA offices. “I asked if he wanted to host the show the next Sunday and he thought I was joking,” Charlie continued. “I gave him my card and told him to call if he was interested. We met again at the station later that week and on Sunday he was introduced to LA Radio as Robin Banks, host of the program! After I left LA for Dallas, Robin continued to do the show for some time. He was an interesting chap for sure, and always grateful for his ‘Hollywood’ story. RIP.” (Thanks to Ralph Stewart for photo of Robin Banks) |
Jeff Serr was a colleague. “Oh No! Robin, a onetime roadie for the group Fairport Convention, was born in the UK. He moved to the US in the 80’s. He spent 17-years career with the station all through the various format changes.” (There is also a female Robin Banks, who has done traffic reports for many years and should not be confused with the male British announcer that hosted the Beatles show on the weekend.) Patterson worked with Robin throughout the 80s. “He was a pleasure to work with and I will miss his very twisted sense of humor. RIP Robin.” "His real name was Robin Gee, he was with the station as far back as I could remember - doing a Beatles show with KODJ and then continuing on with KCBS/fm," wrote Clark Macy. "He continued on with Arrow 93 doing overnights on the weekends and fill-ins. He was the go-to guy for overnights on holidays as well. Always willing to do the shifts others may stay away from. After the switch to JACK/fm, he asked to stay on as a board-op and I was happy because of his work ethic and reliability. I've been reading some of the other posts about him and they were all true. He would love to talk politics, especially about issues across the pond, was GREAT to other people on staff making sure coffee was ready for those coming in early and would beat himself when he made a mistake - no matter how little. I hear that he got ill and management (Chris and/or Ralph) made sure he got the required hours so he could get the benefits he needed. That's the kind of person Robin was. REALLY sorry to hear the news." Ralph Stewart, program director at JACK/fm and KTWV, alerted his staff about Banks with an internal memo. "It is with profound sadness that I deliver news of the passing of Robin Banks. Robin had been with JACK/fm since day one, and no one held more passion for our quirky radio station than him. He showed up an hour before every shift, he cheered our every little victory, he cranked the speakers and threw his body into every segue, he beat himself up over the slightest of his human errors, he cared deeply about every detail and every one of us, he told pointless stories that usually began somewhere midstream, but dammit I’ll miss those the most. Before JACK/fm, Robin Banks transitioned from on-air at Arrow 93.1 where he hosted a Beatles show. He was an artist manager, a tour manager and a music business dealmaker. Back in the UK he was in the center of the flashpoint of music’s British Invasion, rubbing elbows with rock royalty in the less glamorous cinderblock confines of backstage. He loved football – both kinds. He could tell you every nuance and statistic there is to know about Formula 1 car racing, yet chose not to drive in LA. He had an encyclopedic knowledge of birds. Robin was nothing if not impassioned, complex and one of a kind. RIP mate." Hear Ache. Chris Booker, formerly with AMP Radio, rejoined @alt923radio-NewYork. “My emotions are all over the road as the date on the calendar will never be lost on me,” Booker wrote on Facebook. “I celebrate the city and couldn’t be more proud to be coming home!” … Dave Gyurina recently had an angiogram and he got good news. No further surgery or stents. He’s exercising and changing his diet … Lee Abrams’ most recent essay on terrestrial radio in Variety declares: “Nobody’s bringing their A-game.” … Larry Huffman has had three foot surgeries over the last 6 months. “I’m using a wheelchair, walker and cane,” emailed “Supermouth.” “Nerves gradually coming back to life. Hope to be somewhat back to normal by Christmas. KC has been a blessing in taking care of me.” |
 |
Kagan
Passes. Former media therapist
Marilyn Kagan has died,
according to former KFI Talker
Casey
Bartholomew. It is thought she was 68
years old. Beginning in August 1991, Marilyn hosted an evening therapy show on KFI. The Licensed Clinical Social Worker went on to host a local tv program on KCAL/Channel 9. Marilyn left KFI in late 1995 to devote more time to her tv show, which she hoped to take into national syndication. She joined KMPC in the late spring of 1996 and left a year later. She was bumped to make way for the syndicated psychologist Dr. Toni Grant. Marilyn told Gary Lycan of the OC Register: “They were deceitful, noncreative and rude to talent. I was promised they would make my presence known, and it never happened.” “You don’t meet many truly kind, wonderful people in this business, but, Marilyn was one of them,” wrote Casey. “Warm, loving, never took herself too seriously and always had a kind word for you. I ran the board on her very first show on KFI. We remained close friends for years. I would housesit for her, from time to time, and she even sang at my wedding. A really wonderful person. Sadly, we lost her just a couple of days ago to cancer. Apparently, the diagnosis was several weeks ago and it moved very quickly. I am honored to have called her my friend.” |
| Email Monday |
| ** NOW
versus Not NOW
“Your comments in today’s column ‘NOW versus NOT NOW’ were brilliant. I’m embarrassed to say I wasn’t aware of your writing talent. I guess I never took the time needed to evaluate your ability to express yourself so eloquently. Thanks for reawaking my senses.” – Larry McKay ** End of Nicholaw’s Tenure “I started at Columbia Square in 1970 and delivered mail to George Nicholaw. He was always great to me. I got a call from the president of CBS radio at the time that I was being taken out of KEARTH 101 and being put in charge of KNX and KFWB. This was five minutes before a total company conference call. I had no idea that was coming. I had no input, I guess it was based on my experience at KABC and with the Dodgers. I asked him ‘what about George?’ He’s not going to take this well. The guy in charge said ‘we’ll work it out.’ I told him at the time that I was uncomfortable about this, but it came down to ‘do your job.’ The person in charge of CBS radio should have come out here in respect for George Nicholaw. But, then again. I got fired over the phone.” – Pat Duffy ** Buttram at KNX “Saw the pic of Pat Buttram last week. I did a movie with him years ago entitled Man In a Steel Cage—the Mickey Thompson Story where he was my partner, which sorta didn’t make sense. Anyway, we were on location on the Mojave Desert and he would crack up the whole crew every day when he arrived with one of his many one-liners. One I liked particularly was: ‘my girlfriend just gave me a year’s supply of condoms—one!’” – Larry Huffman |
NOW Versus Not NOW
 |
(September 11,
2020) What does your clock look like in this
pandemic? I have this chilling understanding
that time moves in only one direction. This
morning when it was supposed to be light, it was
dark. The fog had arrived in Avila Beach in such
a chilling blanket of orange coloring, I was
wondering if I had been transported to the
depths of a London fog with Alfred Hitchcock
bellowing ‘Action.’ It was no movie. Just another day of making NOW work. I attempt to live in the NOW and not the NOT KNOW (future and past). Time is the property of the mind and am I doing my best to control the inevitable ticking of the clock. Or is that my heart? Even though I resist turning on the tv until after dinner, I have found myself sucked into nostalgia, especially music of my time. TCM recently ran The T.A.M.I. Show, an experimental rock ’n roll show performed at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium over two days in 1964. The production, sadly bland and lacking any creativity, but featured an amazing array of talent including: Chuck Berry, Rolling Stones, Beach Boys, Marvin Gaye, Miracles with Smokey Robinson, Leslie Gore, Gerry & the Pacemakers, Billy J Kramer and the Dakotas, Wrecking Crew and the Supremes. Jan & Dean were the hosts. The final product was scheduled to be shown only in theatres. My buddy from Samohi joined me in the audience. We were there. As I was watching (and looking for myself in the audience) I wondered why I wanted to watch. It took me too far away from NOW. And then I searched for Hitsville: the Making of Motown. I truly was sinking in a quagmire of syrupy nostalgia. I never liked to admit that while I was a general manager for four years in Detroit, I never visited the Hitsville building. It was not a museum then. I liked that when we were building WDRQ on 8-Mile Drive near the Lodge Freeway, Smokey Robinson would walk from his nearby home to join us for coffee. Looking back, I guess I appreciated the NOW of Smokey’s visits than watching this documentary. Motown was a sliver of time best experienced in the NOW of then, despite the fact that Stop in the Name of Love was the first record I ever played as a dj starting out in Lompoc on KNEZ in March of 1965. Where did our love go? |
Hear Ache.
Former KKGO Country
personality Ginny Harman is out
at K-FROG in the Inland Empire. “The dreaded
COVID has caused budget cuts everywhere, and we
are no different,” Ginny wrote on Facebook …
Happy third year anniversary to Barbara
Brooks and Dave Holder …
Tough to find humor that is not political and so
for many us, puns provide a welcome relief. The
references to cows yesterday prompted one from
Chris Bury in Pasadena: “Cow could be lactose
intolerant.” … Sixteen years ago today, Ken
Minyard announced that he was retiring
from radio. "When I came here I was 30 years
old, I’m now 65 years old. It is getting harder
and harder to do this. During most of that time
I’ve been getting up – not early in the morning,
but in the middle of the night.” Ken moved to
Channel Island Harbor in Oxnard, bought a boat,
and was set to enjoy the rest of his life. When
a caller asked Ken who was going to replace him,
he said he didn’t know but for sure it wouldn’t
be Dave & Amy or John &
Ken … NBC4 / KNBC is celebrating
legendary sports anchor Fred Roggin on
his 40th year with the station. His anniversary
coincides with the new season premiere of his
popular live post-game football show, The
Challenge, on Sunday following Sunday
Night Football … 1% of artists account for
90% of streams, according to Bob Lefsetz … Terry
Anzur is celebrating 37 years of wedded
bliss ... Jim Hilliker spent an
hour with Dave Congalton on
KVEC talking about the history of KNX on its
anniversary and much more. Very informative and
fun retro.
|
| Email Friday |
|
** KNX at 100 “Thank you so much for posting my email about the SAG-AFTRA Health Plan! Here's something I’ve written about being part of KNX on its 100th birthday: ‘I am so proud to be a part of this historic station. As a worshiper of Edward R. Murrow, I was incredibly pleased to be asked to join the team in 2015 under the iconic CBS logo, with which Murrow is entwined. Now, as part of Entercom, a great radio company, the commitment to excellence continues with a diverse staff of dedicated individuals – the writers, the reporters, the producers, the anchors, the engineers, the managers – all with vastly disparate, often unique, personalities but all dedicated to the vital work of informing our listeners as honestly, forthrightly, and fairly as possible, befitting broadcasting warriors of the first amendment.’ The people of KNX are also union members, yet another aspect that makes my chest swell with pride.' UPDATE: You can now hear all segments of our KNX history specials here. ” – Rob Archer ** KNX Making News "I loved seeing you with your grandson. So cute! KNX is doing such a great job of highlighting the beginnings of KNX as all news. Thursday's segments with the assasination of Robert Kennedy as reported by their reporters are so moving and I love the airchecks that bookended the beginning and ending of the feature. I do miss the 'CBS Mystery Hour' though. I grew up listening of tapes of old radio shows and it was fun hearing the beginning of The Whistler." - Julie T. Byers ** Entercom Firings “Time to sit down tonight with a cocktail and re-watch George Clooney’s Up in the Air movie where he flew into all of their markets and fired people. It takes a shovel to dig through this David Field memo, but the upshot is, the predictions of the mass firings have once again come through.” – Don Elliot ** Indie Owned? “Saw your short piece yesterday about independent radio stations in LA and wondered if the Persian station KIRN is independent?” – Daniel O’Donnell ** K-EARTH’s Greatest Hits “Great story on Hollywood Hamilton over the weekend. Also, thanks for my letter a couple of days ago regarding K-Earth 101's continuing #1 status. If you can find room to pay tribute to the other staffers we had on hand for that first (of many) #1 books it would be greatly appreciated. Here’s the way the lineup went in September of 2014: Gary Bryan (mornings) with Lisa Stanley, Jim Carson (middays), Shotgun Tom Kelly (afternoons), Christina Kelley (nights), Me (overnights) Weekends: Charlie Tuna, Dave Randall (at K-Earth for almost 22 years), Christian Wheel, Bruce Chandler, Dave (Sky Walker) Schuyler, Sylvia Aimerito, Chaz Kelley, and Brian Roberts. All great people, all deserve my appreciation for their contributions to the success of K-Earth 101.” – Dave Mason ** Loss of Innocence “Just thought I’d share an email I just sent to Bill O’Reilly that I hope he reads on his show. Dear Bill, I appreciate you looking back on The Twist, with Chubby Checker taking that song all the way to Number One in 1960. I do however take exception with your saying that this marked the end of innocence in America. As for determining the end of innocence, your approach and mine are different. As one who loves and studies popular music, I have spent countless hours listening to a radio special on all the Number One songs since the beginning of the Rock and Roll era, played chronologically. Popular music usually reflects the mood of the country. America still had her innocence long after The Twist, as songs that were at the top of the charts still tended to be happy songs, even after the assassination of JFK. Respectfully Bill, I place the end of America's innocence – musically speaking – at September of 1965. The Vietnam War wasn't really in full form at this point, and I’ve Got You Babe from Sonny & Cher and A Lover's Concerto by The Toys were Number One. Then came Barry McGuire and Eve of Destruction with lyrics so searing, you can hear our collective innocence sadly being eroded.” – Vince Daniels, Murrieta ** Grandson Admired "I don’t know which is cuter, baby grandson or the old grandfather playing on the floor together!! Thanks for sharing." - Margie Cherry, LaMirada |
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Happy Anniversary to KNX!
Update on the Life of Bryan
 |
(September 10,
2020) Written by Alan Oda.
Back in August, 2009 LARadio.com featured
a profile entitled “The Life of Bryan,”
profiling Bryan Simmons, a very familiar voice
on the local radio dial. Though he spent time at
KBIG and five years at 94.7 / The WAVE (KTWV),
Simmons is probably best known as the afternoon
driver at KOST for almost three decades.
Born in Castro Valley, Simmons got his start in Sacramento as a Top 40 jock who then pursued an opportunity at KFI. Instead, he was part of the charter talent line-up when pd Jhani Kaye flipped KOST from Beautiful Music to Adult Contemporary in 1982. Recalling his move from the State Capitol to SoCal, he said “It was blind faith. I hadn’t yet signed anything. I was single. I had just moved back to my parents’ house for a little while. I was in the process of looking for a new apartment. Ironically, everything was packed up pretty much and ready to go. It was a half year before I got a moving truck and hauled everything down. I stayed at first on my sister’s couch in Artesia, with her family. They were kind enough to let me borrow the couch for a few months.” One of the station’s distinguished voices, listeners easily knew they were tuned to 103.5 when Simmons said they were enjoying tunes being presented “along the KOST.” Don Barrett wrote that “R&R had named (Simmons) consistently to their national list of Top 25 P.M. Drive Time Dominators.” Until recently, Simmons was also heard throughout the U.S. via Westwood One. He left Los Angeles in 2016, eventually becoming the pd and afternoon talent at Magic 99.5 (KMGA) in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Last June, Simmons moved to Northeastern Nevada to do mornings on Mix 96.7 (KHIX) and afternoons on Big Country 103.9 (KBGZ), both stations owned by Ruby Radio Corporation. He also serves as the cluster’s production director. “I loved New Mexico, but as we all know, in radio things can change. I will always cherish my time at Magic 99.5,” said Simmons. “In my tenure there we took the station from a Gold Based AC to Mainstream and I was able to beat the Hot AC that I was tasked with taking on.” It wasn’t long after he left the Albuquerque Cumulus property when Simmons was offered another opportunity. “I was almost immediately contacted by Ken Sutherland, owner and Market Manager of the six station Ruby Radio Cluster here in Elko. While my oldest son Bryan moved with me, I unfortunately had to leave my youngest son Brandon in New Mexico with my grand babies, but I'll be visiting this year,” said Simmons. This week Simmons is helping launch a new format with a familiar L.A. voice. “We moved our talk station up the dial to one of our other stations and today debuted the All New 94.5 KOOL FM. It's a classic hits format and I think it sounds pretty good.” The morning shift will be covered by Paul Christy, better known to SoCal listeners as Eric Chase, a veteran of KFI and K-100 (KIQQ). “Besides doing mornings on our Hot AC, Mix 96.7 I'm doing the afternoon shift on KOOL and it really is cool!” said Simmons. Bryan Simmons is more than a survivor. He still mourns loss of his beloved wife Minda and won’t forget his extended recovery from a health crisis that nearly killed him in 2000. He’s had to make several moves over the past few years. But for this Life of Bryan, the “on the air” sign stays illuminated. |
|
Hear Ache.
Listened to KNX in the 8 a.m. hour yesterday.
There was a wonderful piece with plenty of old
airchecks (including morning man Bob Crane)
as part of the stations salute to its
100th anniversary … Historian Jim Hilliker will
guest with Dave Congalton in the 3
o’clock hour today on 920KVEC.com to talk about
the 100-year anniversary of KNX ...
Frank
Murphy, former producer for
Kevin & Bean,
has exited WNOK-Knoxville ... So, if a cow
doesn't produce milk, is it a milk dud or an
udder failure? Email Thursday ** Union Dues “I first joined AFTRA in 1968 out of The Boston Local. Maintained my membership until I left KNX. I never felt AFTRA cared for represented broadcasters well. We got treated as second class citizens. I've always said: If you were a juggler or high wire walker from Bulgaria, on The Ed Sullivan Show, you were in AFTRA's best interests.” – Bob Sirkin ** Union Explanation “Great pic of you with your Grandbaby, Don! Also, great explanation of the SAG Health Fund thing by Archer. A lot of people are blaming the union, when they are somewhat blameless in this. And a correct summation that this is a systemic problem, and to urge our leaders to move toward universal health coverage that is not connected to one’s work. Stay safe, my friend!” – Bill A. Jones ** Anniversary “Recently, while reading LARadio.com, I was trying to recall how long I’d been visiting your site. I seemed to remember I began sometime in the late ’90s. But I didn’t know when you started it. By coincidence, you answered that question a few days later in your ‘Nostalgia Weekend – 21 Years Ago’ column with the line ‘As LA Radio prepares for its second anniversary on September 9...’ So, Happy 23rd Anniversary! This seems like a good time to thank you again for your dedication to this business we love, your insight and commentary, and all you do for the radio community. LARadio.com is still one of the first stops as I make my cyber rounds every day. While I’m at it, I want to mention that I, too, was moved by Ally Avey’s touching tribute to her father. Thanks, Don. Stay safe and be well.” – Dick McGarvin ** More Music ’Til Dawn “I enjoyed Mr. Mintz’ story about George Walsh and Music ’Til Dawn. Though I didn’t know George I contacted him, trying to recruit him when I was program director at KFAC. He wisely decided to stay with KNX and news. Music ’Til Dawn was sponsored by American Airlines on all the CBS o&o stations, all, except one, 50,000 powerhouse signals blanketing the nation. Each was produced locally. I remember when I was in college having an important essay due the next day, writing it the night before listening to MTD all night. The New York host was Bob Hall who had been the Green Hornet at age 17 before heading east. By the way, I got a B+ on that essay.” – Bernie Alan |
Changes at SAG-AFTRA Cause Concern
 |
(September 9,
2020) The
pandemic has played havoc at SAG-AFTRA, leading
to a number of local members have complaining
about the changes. There are reports that some
coverage will be canceled or severly compromised
at the end of the year. KNX’s Rob Archer serves on the local board of the union and is the representative of the LA broadcasters. When asked for some understanding of what is going on, Archer emphasized that he was not speaking officially for the union, but only for himself. “As always, though, official answers come from the union and the Health Plan, which are two separate entities. It’s very important for people to know that the SAG-AFTRA Health Plan is separate from SAG-AFTRA, the union,” wrote Rob. Rob’s note: |
|
“First of all, the
changes are awful, and they come at a bad time,
possibly the worst time imaginable. Ours isn’t
the only union health insurance plan that is
experiencing this. It’ll be happening to more
and more plans across the country. |
|
Email Wednesday ** KNX All Nights “George Walsh did ‘Music ‘til Dawn,’ an overnight on KNX. I believe it was sponsored by the Southern California Gas Company with a format of show tunes or film scores from 11:30 to midnight and Classical music until 5 or 5:30 a.m. Something like that. I had become friendly with Walsh and would often slip through the parking lot door off Gower St. and wander up to the studio to chat with him. Once or twice we played cards during the long classics. Walsh lived near the Sunset Blvd. studio – I think in Highland Park or maybe Mt. Washington – and would wait until the last minute to leave home for work. One night I dropped by right at 11:30 and Walsh was not to be seen. His engineer had played a light show tune and then another. When George burst huffing and puffing into the studio at maybe 11:45, he had no idea what had been playing. Normally, the engineer propped the album cover on the windowsill between his booth and the announce booth so that Walsh could back-announce the title and talk a bit about the artist. But somehow, he’d not done it or the album cover had slipped out of George’s sight. Quickly, the engineer realized the problem and whispered into the studio intercom, ‘African Queen’ and Walsh went on-air saying something like, ‘We’ve been hearing the stirring score from the Humphrey Bogart-Katherine Hepburn classic, ‘The African Queen’ …” The problem was that they’d actually played an album by Johnny Mathis.” – Bennett J. Mintz, Public Relations/Adv. ** 100 Years as What? “Saying that KNX turns 100 today needs to be qualified by the fact that it broadcast on an amateur license for a while.” – David Dana-Bashian |
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Purely Personal: My daughter brought my 8-month old grandson Matthew for a visit
KNX Turns 100
 |
(September 8, 2020) The invention of the
radio must have ranked up there with the
introduction of the smart phone. Everything you
need or do can be held in your hand. One hundred
years ago, the introduction of radio broke the
silence in the home with new voices, music, and
news of the world. And KNX was a major part of
the Los Angeles broadcast scene.
Beginning this morning the station will celebrate 100 years of KNX 1070 Newsradio (KNX-AM), Southern California’s only 24-hour news and traffic station. The station will air KNX: A Century of Covering Southern California, a history-rich, eight-part on-air series to commemorate its centennial anniversary and pay tribute to former employees who helped grow the heritage station. On September 10, the station’s official anniversary, KNX will reimage itself for the day using memorable jingles, sounders and sound bites from the previous 100 years. “The history of Southern California, this county and our world have been painted by so many legendary broadcasters over the years, which is a daily reminder of the historic brand that KNX is,” said Jeff Federman, regional president of Entercom. “I am proud to be a small part of the history of KNX and am grateful of the team here today carrying the torch that our predecessors passed to us. I look forward to celebrating 100 years of this iconic brand.” “KNX is a historic brand, and I’m in awe of being a part of its illustrious history,” said Ken Charles, Brand Manager of KNX. “This station is a local pillar, here before the Hollywood Sign, the Santa Monica Pier and the Rose Bowl. Just as iconic as any of our local treasures, KNX is a consistent part of the fabric of Southern California, serving as a breaking news resource for our communities, first responders and the nation.” KNX 1070 Newsradio launched on September 10, 1920 when Fred Christian started 6ADZ for the customers of his Electric Supply Company to listen to. Twenty months later in May 1922, the electric supply company was issued the call sign, KNX. Today, KNX is still serving the people of Southern California, reaching the largest number of weekly listeners – over 1.24 million – compared to the market’s spoken word format radio stations, according to Nielsen. |
Hear Ache. Former KLOS
personality Kelly Cox is celebrating 25
years of wedded bliss. Both spouses are
wonderful musicians … A post on social media
suggests that after three weeks with COVID-19,
James Darren has made a positive turn to
recovery … Wynn Las Vegas’ “reimagined” buffet
has closed indefinitely, according to Vegas
correspondent Ira David Sternberg. “Time
to reimagine ‘reimagined’” … A power surge took
K-SURF off the air briefly over the weekend … Tony
Bruno has apparently been removed from Dan
Patrick’s SiriusXM channel. Did Bruno
actually say that these guys in the NBA “can’t
even read?” … KYSR’s Woody Fife is
celebrating his 12th wedding anniversary. “She
should get a medal for living with me this
long,” Woody wrote on social media.
Email Tuesday ** Calling All Independent Call Letters “You mentioned that Saul Levine was the last independent radio station owner in Los Angeles. There are a few stations still locally owned: KLAA-AM Arte Moreno owner of the LA Angels KFWB/KTMZ/KWKW-AM Owned by Lotus Communications Howard Kalmenson KGBN-AM LA based Korean Gospel Broadcasting KHTS-AM owned by Carl Goldman & Jeri Seratti KMPC-AM Owned by P & Y Broadcasting LA KFOX-AM Owned by JMK Communications LA KDAY/KLLI/KLOS & KPWR owned by Meruelo Media Holdings LA KJLH-FM owned by Stevie Wonder” – Howard Fine
** Loving the Surf As I drove in to work this morning I heard the Temptations Ain’t Too Proud to Beg segue into BOC’s Don’t Fear the Reaper. The promoter in me suggested ‘Guess Radio’ because you never know what you’re going to hear next. K-Surf forever! And while I’m handing out immortality, Saul Levine forever too.” – Greg Glaser (somewhere in the Valley) |
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| CBS Sunday Morning Treasure |
Dan Avey Saved My Life
 |
(September 4,
2020) The story of Dan Avey’s passing
ten years ago and his daughter’s upcoming
marriage plans brought about a wonderous
outpouring of love and memories for the
outstanding LARP, but none so touching as the
one from Mike Lundy. “I owe my life to
Dan Avey” wrote Lundy.
“One very early morning as I was writing at KFWB, I was also wolfing down a so-called ham and cheese sandwich on a bun from a vending machine. I was engrossed in the computer and my work, paying no attention to the food I was trying to swallow. Except I couldn't. It was stuck. No air in, no air out. I tried to gasp and flail until someone noticed my plight. Not one person in the newsroom did anything but run around like chicken without a head.” Lundy continued, “But there was a God-given exception, one person. Dan Avey! He came across the newsroom and in his quiet, professional, military-trained manner, he performed the Heimlich. The food dislodged. I could breathe. I was in rough shape. Had to go home. But without Dan Avey I would not be writing these words more than twenty years later.” “What a hellava pro. What a journalist. What a hell of a man. In this case and so many, many more,” concluded Lundy. |
|
Hear Ache. Cary
Ginell is celebrating 30 years of wedded
bliss. Yeah … And Ubiquitous Mt. Wilson
personality Mike Johnson is the new
weekend midday personality at Country KKGO …
KROQ is looking for a morning show producer with
a minimum of 3+ years producing a radio show.
Job listing posted
here ... Scott Shannon, creator of
the very exciting Pirate Radio (KQLZ) of the
late 80s has received a contract extension from
WCBS/fm-New York to continue morning drive …
Total Traffic and Weather Network (TTWN) has
expanded a content partnership with Cumulus
News-Talk KABC-AM (Talk Radio 790). TTWN has
provided local news and traffic reports to KABC
since 2018 …
Charlie Kirk has been added
to the national line-up at Salem, but won’t
appear on Salem locally (KRLA/870AM) for now.
Email Friday ** Last of the Indies “Many kudos to Saul Levine the last independent radio station owner in Los Angeles! Thanks, Saul for sharing with us how it all begun. Thanks for not caving in and selling out to the Corps. Totally understand the 1260 AM situation. Sometimes one has to try different things until something sticks. This to me is not mistakes, especially with the state of AM radio today, and the location of the station. Having grown up in Anaheim, it was not easy to pick up 1260 AM. I’m also glad Saul took a chance with Country Music. Go Country is a fine station. Keep it up!” – Dale Berg, www.969theoasis.com & knxfm93.com ** Adjustment at K-SURF "LARL [L.A. Radio Listener] here. I’m happy to report that as of Thursday, 9/3/20, K-Surf has gone back to being L.A. Oldies. I hope the 80s are gone from K-Surf for good, this time, especially considering that there are plenty of fm stations to choose from for 80s music. Thank you to Saul Levine for heeding the feedback of K-Surf listeners [myself included]. As I said before, 80s music on AM in 2020 is a 'solution' to a nonexistent problem, and even though I’m only 34, I prefer the music of the 50s and 60s and some 70s." - Joey Schwartzman ** K-SURF Confirms "Yes, it is true. We added a few 80s to the mix which seemed logical, but the true Oldies fans reacted with strong negative feelings. So we are responding to the wishes of a loyal audience. A reminder to the Oldies audience, KSURF operates with state of the art digital equipment on AM in digital stereo, and simulcasts on fm on 105.1 HD2 in Stereo. Also we operate an FM Translator on 98.3 FM in the West SF Valley which broadcasts KSURF." - Saul Levine ** Dirck Morgan Fan “I love your newsletter! I’m a newbie to it, and I wish I had found it a lot sooner. I’ve been out of radio for some time, but I've tried to keep in touch with some friends. My current mission is finding the date of Dirck Morgan’s death. He was a close friend for several years when I was on-air in L.A. (Shadow Traffic/KFWB plus 6 other stations) and Dirck was at KFWB. We lost touch when I moved to Florida in ’92. Around mid-2000, I heard he was very ill. An aerial shot of his home showed a ramp had been installed. I found out why eventually, but that info is embargoed indefinitely. I've tried often over the past 3+ years to get an update, but to no avail. Do you know the date, please? I am very saddened to read on LARadio.com that Dirck had died. He was an amazing reporter and friend. Happy, ironic, confident, and discreet. He even trained my son in martial arts to help with his ADHD. Dirck had a wicked, quick, and just-left-of-center sense of humor. I don't think anyone who knew him or followed his reporting will forget him. I won't.” - Kriss Wagner, Washington, DC ** K-EARTH Success “I left a voice message yesterday for Chris Ebbott commending him for being a worthy successor to Jhani Kaye as pd of K-EARTH 101. ‘Chris, you’ve done a great job of upholding a proud tradition at K-Earth... Plaudits to you.’” – Larry McKay ** PD Ebbott Performs Incredible Job “Many of us in radio share your enthusiasm for the success of KRTH over the past 6 years and we certainly hope to see it continue. Chris Ebbott has done an incredible job of streamlining the station into what it is today. I'm proud to say I was there when the transformation began. Rick Thomas, our pd envisioned a station that would be playing the listener's favorite songs every time they tuned in. Morning man Gary Bryan was envisioning a station that wasn't the stodgy old 60s and 70s station that we were when I got there, but an 80s focused format that would appeal to anyone over 25. As assistant pd [and for a time acting pd], I was suddenly faced with the prospect of a changing format on a heritage radio station. With Gary's help, and that of Keith Smith we tightened up the production, revamped the music and the race was on. Our initial list was so tight that we had people emailing us their list of our 30 most played songs. Some of the radio experts thought we were crazy, but they WERE listening. Over and Over. When Rick went to New York, Kevin Weatherly was interested in making more changes to the station and since Chris had worked with him before [at JACK/fm] and most certainly knew the market. He was a natural to replace Rick. Chris lived through staff changes, the retirement of Jim Carson and Shotgun Tom Kelly's move to ‘station ambassador’ as well as the passing of Charlie Tuna. The change of the ‘imaging voice’ from Charlie Van Dyke to Joe Cipriano and an overall spark that we began in 2013. Sitting there watching the numbers grow week after week was a thrill to say the least, and to see that Chris and his team have found more ways to ‘advance the plot’ of the station's success is the stuff that legends are made of. K-Earth was always a station that we looked up to and in 2020 it's giving us more reasons. Thanks for your coverage and continued success to everyone on Wilshire Blvd.” - Dave Mason, former apd at K-Earth 101 |
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Bottom L to R: Kaci Christian, Vicki Cox, Dow Jones Immediately above them: Natalie Windsor, Jill Barnard, Gaylene Lowinger, Stephanie Yellin-Mednick; Just above them: Richard Rudman, Victoria Easley-Randall, Jodi Adler, Tanya Ferguson; Just above Rudman: Diane Dray Just above Barnard: Susan Stiles Top Row: Steve Lentz, Randy Kerdoon, Steve Kindred, Ken Jeffries, and an unidentifiable woman. (Thanks to Ken Jeffries for IDing group from Dan Avey’s celebration of life at the Sportsman’s Lodge in the valley. |
New Anchor at KFI
 |
(September 3, 2020)
Danny Max is the newest member of the
celebrated KFI team, joining the station as a
news anchor. Before hitting the Los Angeles
airwaves, Danny worked in tv news as an
anchor/reporter/producer at KEYT in Santa
Barbara where he anchored breaking news coverage
of the Thomas Fire that ripped through Ventura
County in 2017 and the deadly mudslides in
Montecito in 2018. Danny also reported live from
Thousand Oaks following the mass shooting at the
Borderline Bar & Grill.
Danny will work fill-in and Sunday nights at KFI, according to news director Chris Little. Born in Chicago, Danny grew up in Phoenix. He got his start in news as a reporter and anchor in Waco, Texas. Danny thinks of southern California as home. He graduated with honors from California State University – Northridge. Danny’s played a reporter on entertainment shows including American Horror Story, Lone Star, NCIS and Birdbox. |
|
Hear Ache. Val Maki is
named new market manager for Bonneville/San
Francisco. We know Val best from her time
running the Emmis cluster, which included KZLA,
KPWR (Power 106), and KMVN … Jimmy Kimmel is
returning to his late-night talk show following
his stint hosting the Emmys and summer
sabbatical. His first day back will be Monday,
September 21 … Barbara Blake (ex-KTWV)
has an interesting edition of her
Citizen
Planet that features the WAVE’s Pat
Prescott and Grammy-winning guitarist Norman
Brown. Pat calls them “silver linings,” which
include the value of solitude and the personal
growth that springs from it. Norman elaborates
on his spiritual practice of the Ancient
Egyptian expression of the Tree of Life and how
it influences his music … Randy West is
sending healing vibes to the great hit singer (Gidget)
and tv (TJ Hooker) star James Darren.
He tested positive for COVID-19 about 11 days
ago and has been slowly recovering. He's
expected to make a full recovery as he's staying
home and healing … OMG, thank you for the kind
outpouring of warm thoughts about our journey to
help Cherie’s 99-year-old mother. She is holding
strong.
Email Thursday ** You Better Call Saul “Thank you for all you have done for radio in LA. I have operated radio stations for close to 66 years including KCAL in 1954 and 105.1 since 1959. In the beginning years, I was underfinanced and struggled. I survived the initial years with KBCA by practicing law in the mornings to support the station and walking the streets door to door in the afternoons to sell advertising since I could not afford a sales person. I am proud that 105.1 has had only three formats in over 62 years. I have made mistakes with 1260 AM trying to find a format that would be successful. In 1993 I got off to a good start with Standards on KGIL with incredible talent including Gary Owens, Wink Martindale, and Chuck Southcott. Then for inexplicable reasons KLAC jumped in with a Standards format in a market that could barely support one Standards station, then after a short time dumped the format. Along with time and the decline of AM radio I have tried different formats on 1260. Competing with monster FM signals is challenging. I am pleased with the success of KKGO with a Country format that KZLA said Los Angeles would not support. I am proud of my son Michael Levine who has become one of the outstanding managers and programmers in the USA. My daughter Stephanie handles Corporate Legal and acts as station manager for KKJZ. I am happy that I turned down a small fortune from AMFM/Clear Channel for 105.1 in the late 1990s. I have relaunched K-Mozart for the passion I have for the format. I still have radio interests in Hawaii where in the 1970s and 1980s I had the opportunity of being on the Beach with my very small son and daughter and then working at the stations the rest of the day. I pioneered UHF television in Hawaii and discovered that radio is more fun. This is a partial summary of the passion I have for radio and acknowledge mistakes along with the successes.” – Saul Levine ** Blazer on KUTE “In addition to Phil Blazer’s KWHY programs, he was also on KUTE Sunday mornings during the 10 a.m. hour. In March of 1979 he would run 15 minutes of Israeli news in English followed by Hebrew. This was during the Camp David Peace Accords with Egypt.” – Chime Hart, Sherman Oaks |
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| thanks to David Grudt for sharing this LA Times ad from 9.1.63 |
There was no column on Wednesday, September 2
K-EARTH Breaks Record from Last Month
 |
(September 1,
2020)
For decades K-EARTH has been Oldies
Radio for L.A. Yet programmer Chris Ebbott has
been so smart in sliding the years forward on
what constitutes Old. He was once again rewarded
in the just-released Nielsen PPM, as the Classic
Hits station is a dominant #1, a full point over
#2 KTWV. "Last month KEarth posted its highest shares ever — this month we shattered it with a new record," emailed Chris. "It’s an amazing team. So many superstars who work together to deliver for the community. Plus - we have a lot of fun and I think that comes out on the air!" In the news and information battles, KFI has declined significantly since its April peak, but is still #5. KNX rounds out the top 10, but lacks the dominant ratings of sister all-News stations in Chicago and San Francisco. Other talk stations continue to maintain smaller but apparently loyal audiences with largely syndicated fare with the notable exceptions of John Phillips, Brian Whitman and Jennifer Horn. Meruelo’s KLOS has trended up to tie with Entercom’s JACK/fm (KCBS/fm). MY/fm (KBIG) largely maintains their audience at #3, while other iHeart stations demonstrated ratings drop. KIIS/fm drops out of top 10, though still nearly double the audience of Entercom’s AMP Radio (KAMP). ALT/98.7 (KYSR) takes a significant drop though still besting KROQ. Dodger flagship AM 570 (KLAC) not only doubles their ratings, but now triples the numbers of sports 710/ESPN (KSPN), stuck at 0.4 for the past five books. Here are the remaining stations listed in the Top 10 in the 6+ demographics in the August '20 survey Mon-Sun, 6a-Mid: |
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1. KRTH (Classic Hits
) 6.1 - 6.5 2. KTWV (Rhythmic AC) 4.6 - 5.4 3. KBIG (Hot AC) 4.4 - 4.5 4. KOST (AC) 4.6 4.4 5. KFI (Talk) 4.7 - 3.9 6. KCBS (JACK/fm) 3.5 - 3.8 KLOS (Classic Rock) 3.7 - 3.8 8. KLAX (Regional Mexican) 3.7 - 3.7 9. KLVE (Spanish Contemporary) 3.6 - 3.4 10. KNX (News) 3.2 - 3.1 11. KIIS (Top 40/M) 3.6 - 3.0 12. KKGO (Country) 2.5 - 2.8 13. KSCA (Regional Mexican) 2.3 - 2.6 14. KKLQ (Christian Contemporary) 1.7 - 2.5 15. KRCD (Spanish Adult Hits) 2.3 - 2.4 16. KYSR (Alternative) 3.3 - 2.4 17. KPWR (Top 40/R) 2.2 - 2.2 18. KLYY (Spanish Adult Hits) 2.4 - 2.1 KRRL (Urban) 2.2 - 2.1 KUSC (Classical) 2.1 - 2.1 21. KBUE (Regional Mexican) 2.0 - 1.9 KROQ (Alternative) 1.7 - 1.9 KXOL (Spanish AC) 1.9 - 1.9 24. KAMP (Top 40/M) 1.9 - 1.7 25. KCRW (Variety) 1.6 - 1.6 KPCC (News/Talk 1.7 - 1.6 27. KDAY (Rhythmic AC) 1.4 - 1.3 28. KABC (Talk) 1.0 - 1.2 KLAC (Sports) 0.6 - 1.2 KRLA (Talk) 1.4 - 1.2 31. KWIZ (Spanish Variety) 1.1 - 1.2 32. KFSH(Christian Contemporary) 1.0 - 1.1 KLLI (Latin Urban) 1.5 - 1.1 34. KJLH (Urban AC) 1.2 - 1.0 KKJZ (Jazz) 1.0 - 1.0 36. KEIB (Talk) 09 - 0.9 KKLA (Religious) 0.6 - 0.9 38. KFWB (Regional Mexican) 0.9 - 0.8 39. KDLD (Regional Mexican) 0.9 - 0.7 40. KTNQ (Spanish Talk) 0.6 - 0.6 Email Tuesday ** Fall From Grace "It seems not long ago that KIIS owned the market. What happened? Also years ago when Trip Reeb was running KROQ, the station was the No. 1 billing station in the country $67 million. Trip was making $500,000.00. Kevin Weatherly convinced management they he could handle the station and the didn’t need Trip Reeb and could save a half million a year. Within two years the ratings dropped and they lost about $30 million or more in billing. I never thought much of Weatherly after that." - Bob Fox ** Kudos to Ebbott "Congrats to Chris Ebbott Since KRTH has done that I’m hopin’ our locals in Tucson will pick it up. We've got a couple decent ones here. Thank God since my site’s down leaving nothing but the radio for the time being I’m grateful!" - Rich Brother Robbin ** K-EARTH Playing the Hits " K-Earth is doing so well because they are playing the hits. And doing it well. Standard CHR music now is pretty much terrible. They are going for Spotify hits. The music is mechanical and boring. I think this is the reason for the slide of CHR all over the country. I believe this is the first time I'm not seen KIIS/fm in the top 10 in years. Sorry to say, the station just doesn't sound that great anymore. You get what you give." - Craig Roberts |