 |
A truck carrying toupees crashed on the highway spilling
everything. Police are combing the area.
|
 |
For over 26 years, LARadio has tracked thousands
of personalities
who have entertained us in the
Southland from 1957-present.
These are snapshots of each on-air personality –
where they came from, where and when they worked
in Southern California,
and where they are now.
If you are on the listings, please
update and make corrections as needed at:
AvilaBeachdb@gmail.com.
A\B\C\D\E\F\G\H\I\J\K\L\M\N\O\P\Q\R\S\T-Z\W
|
LARadio with Pictures
Karen Sharp, Jim Carson,
Bryan Simmons, Theo
Sarah Spitz, Warren
Olney, Andrew Jeffries, Tommy Jaxson
Bob Fox, Gary Owens, Chuck Southcott,
Beata Murphy, Kelli Gates, Steven Tyler
Janine Wolf, Mark & Brian, Kenny Noble
Dave Roberts, Tamara Kaye, Ed Crook
Bill A. Jones, Vin Scully, Ross Porter, The Real Don
Steele, Bill Drake
Bill Carroll, Earl and Ellie McDaniel, David Singer,
Tim Cates
Ken Levine, Buzz
Brainard, Artie Lange
|
Shana, Bobby Applegate, Jane Platt, Jim
Pewter |
|
Lisa Worden, Bill Sheets, Rod Van Hook
Mark & Brian, Rochelle Staab, Scott St. James
Evan Luck, Gene &
Julie Gates, Stu Levy
Rich Fields, John Kobylt, Dr. Drew Pinsky
Mike Thompson,
Hans Laetz, Annie Van Bebber, Bernie Torres
Teddy Mora, Jane Yamamoto, Peter Tilden
Bob Pittman, Luscious Liz Hernandez,
Larraine Herman
Boyd R. Britton, Jerry Dexter, Diane and
Michael Medved
Damon Knight, Karla with a K Antoinette,
Jane Wells
Art Bell, Julie Chin, Andy Ludlum, Frank
Mottek, Dan Kearney, Dave Zorn
Barbara and Mike Sakellarides, Dave Randall,
Chubby Checker, Brian Beirne
James Janisse, Dick Clark, T. Michael Jordan
Jay Mohr, Kurt Kretzschmar,
Todd Donoho, Val Maki
Rick Hull, Robert Dornan, Bill Bowker
Kathleen Sullivan, Gayle King, Johnny Otis
RJ Curtis, Al Wisk, Carl Bailey
Diane Thompson, Lisa May, Jennifer Miller
Jim Governale, Dennis Prager, Stephanie
Miller, Benjamin Dover
Megan Holiday, Fran Tunno, George Green
Ed McLaughlin, Milt Larsen, Mark Denis
Rick Cutler, Frosty Stilwell, Buzz Bennett
Merrill Markoe, Mike Nolan, Nancy Plum
Terry McGovern, James Brown, Isidra
Person-Lynn, Jerry Doggett, Vin Scully, Ross Porter
Gayle Murphy, Perry Michael Simon, Heidi
Hamilton, Frank Kramer
Stoney Richards, Brian Phelps, Rita Wilde,
Bill Sommers, Big Boy
Trip Reeb, Gary Owens, Randy West, Patty
Weaver
More LARadio Photos Here
Funnies
More
Funnies
In case you missed it earlier this week ...
14 Years Ago
|
No Longer Imusolated
|
 |
(December 4, 2007)
When Johnny Carson retired, he sat on a stool and
just improvised. Yesterday morning Don Imus
also left his familiar and comfortable place behind
the desk, sat in front of a microphone and talked
with the audience. He sat on a stool and probably
had been thinking about what he would say since
leaving last April, but he sounded spontaneous and
unrehearsed. Imus was making his return to Talk
radio, this time at Citadel’s WABC in New York and
simulcast on RFD Cable, which is carried on DirecTV.
|
Imus
expressed remorse for the racist
and sexist remarks that got him fired eight months ago.
"In thinking about what happened I didn't see a point
in going on some sort of Larry King tour to offer a
bunch of lame excuses for making essentially a reprehensible
remark about innocent people who did not deserve to be made
fun of,” he said. "I think what happened is about what
should have happened. I think one has to realize, and I
certainly do, that you don't get to decide nor should you
how the news media is going to treat a remark you make or
the kind of remark I made. Every time that I got pissed off
about that I reminded myself that if I hadn't said what I
said then we wouldn't be having this discussion. And I
wouldn’t have to deal with that and the women of Rutgers
wouldn’t have to deal with it.”
Imus called his remarks
"reprehensible" and said the women were "innocent people"
who didn't deserve to be made fun of. He promised never to
say anything that would make the Rutgers women feel
embarrassed for accepting his apology.
"Whether
you're a good person or not is completely unrelated and it
doesn't give you any license to make any kind of remark you
feel like making, and doesn't minimize the impact it has on
who you make it about."
He described the 4-hour
meeting with Rutgers basketball team as close to a
life-changing experience as he could imagine. "As I was
talking to these young women, I realized that, other than
placing in context for them who I was and that I wasn't some
vicious racist and this is what we did for a living – make
fun of people – that was so irrelevant to how they felt. It
sounded to me as I listened to myself talk and as I looked
at them, it just sounded like one lame excuse after another.
They didn't think I was saying they were prostitutes, but
they didn't think it was funny either.”
Imus continued: "One
mother was this close to my face, just screaming. You could
feel her heartbreak. And I was thinking realized how
fortunate it was that I had been fired. If I had been there
apologizing and offering these excuses and still had my job,
they would have thought that I was there to save my job and
that may have been true. But I was there to try to save my
life. I had already lost my job. They forgave me, they
accepted my apology and they said that they would never
forget. And I said that I would never forget."
|
There were some new faces
and new colors on the show with Imus. Black
comedians Karith Foster and Tony Powell
(doing sports) will be regulars. Imus addressed
those changes. "We now have the opportunity to have
a better program, to obviously diversify the cast –
I mean that just makes sense. But the program is not
going to change. It was a great radio program. It's
on a better radio station, an iconic station. I will
never say anything in my lifetime that will make any
of these young women at Rutgers regret or feel
foolish that they accepted my apology and forgave
me. And no one else will say anything on my program
that will make anybody else think that I didn't
deserve a second chance." |
 |
Imus said he had high
regard for CBS president/ceo Les Moonves. “He called
while we were on our way to the Governor’s Mansion to meet
with the team. He said we can’t take the pressure and we’re
going to have to pull the plug.” Imus said he knew it would
be done.
His return to radio was
held at Manhattan's Town Hall, where a group of assembled
fans congregated and paid $100 each to witness his comeback
broadcast. Proceeds from the sales (estimated at $100,000)
benefited the Imus Ranch, a New Mexico cattle ranch for
children suffering from cancer.
Opie & Anthony made a
surprise visit leaving their XM show to welcome Imus back.
“We’ve had a couple of these first-time back shows,”
admitted the guys.
Senator John McCain
phoned into the program for an in-depth interview, ending
the conversation with a hearty, "Welcome back, old friend,"
directed at Imus. Also appearing on the show yesterday,
Democratic Connecticut Senator Christopher Dodd, as did
historian Doris Kearns Goodwin and political consultants
James Carville and Mary Matalin.
Charles McCord,
Imus’ long-time sidekick and news reader, is back along with
a surprise. It was Bernard McGuirk, Imus' longtime
producer and the man whose original reference to the Rutgers
team as "some hardcore hos" that incited Imus' reference to
the team as "nappy-headed hos." Bernie is back.
As Imus was wrapping up
his monologue, with a grin on his lip and a twinkle in his
eye, he declared: "Dick Cheney is still a war criminal.
Hillary Clinton is still Satan. And I'm going on the
radio."
Imus to KABC.
Beginning next Monday morning, Citadel Broadcasting’s KABC
lops off two hours of the Peter Tilden repeat show
and adds Don Imus in the 3 a.m. to 5 a.m. slot.
Doug McIntyre’s morning drive show remains at 5 a.m. – 9
a.m. “I am very pleased to welcome another superstar to the
KABC lineup. As we approach this historic election season,
Imus’ humor and ability to line-up great guests will offer
listeners in Southern California a great live option leading
into ‘McIntyre in the Morning,’ said Erik Braverman,
KABC’s operations director.
|
 |
Kalusa Services.
John Davison, vp/gm at KABC and KLOS, and
David Singer, executive producer at KSPN,
attended Ray Kalusa’s (photo) memorial
service on Saturday in Chicago. Ray was pd at KSPN a
few years ago. Singer’s account of the trip: |
|
It
started out at the funeral home with prayers and a
viewing of Ray. Pictures of Ray were everywhere in
the room from when he was a teenager to some recent
photos in San Diego. He loved the camera. His smile
was contagious. You can see how much family time
meant to him. We saw his cousin John who did a
fantastic job with Ray
impressions. It was so much fun watching and
remembering the Ray Kalusa we all knew. So many
times I saw tears fall to a smile where we would
remember Ray and then think of something goofy he
did. For the most part, it was a celebration of Ray
all day long.
We drove to the church and it was a beautiful
ceremony. It was highlighted by Ray Kalusa's dad,
Ray Sr. He went to the podium and gave the most
beautiful speech. There wasn't a dry eye in the
house. The closeness between him and his dad
overcame everyone in attendance. Ray and his dad
were two best friends.
After the mass, we went to the cemetery a few miles
away and we were greeted with what would be an inch
of snow. Driving through the cemetery, with snow
coming down, it just looked perfect.
As we said goodbye to Ray at the burial by throwing
flowers on the casket, a rendition of Take Me Out
to the Ballgame was sung among the participants
and I get chills just thinking about it.
Then,
we all went to this Polish restaurant across the
street from the cemetery. About 15 – 20 tables full
of family and friends and the atmosphere felt like a
wedding reception. People were so happy thinking
about Ray Kalusa, the person. The stories of Ray
flowed like the beer that was being consumed.
I met a couple of people that said, ‘I'm in the
radio business because of Ray...’
John Davison and I were proud to be there to say
goodbye to such a dear friend. It's natural to
always say ‘Why…why Ray?’ On Saturday, December 1st
on a snowy day in Chicago, I realized that as we
lose Ray, we are reminded about what's important in
life. Ray taught us that life is about the people we
meet on this journey through our ups and downs...On
Saturday, we were reminded how to live and how to
treat people. He was a good man that will live in my
heart for as long as I live.
|
|
|
 |
A Los Angeles Radio Kidney Transplant – a One-Year Update
(December
3, 2013) A year ago, KROQ’s morning co-host
Bean [Gene Baxter]
demonstrated an amazing act of selflessness by donating a kidney to CBS/LA
colleague Scott Mason, the West Coast head of engineering for the CBS stations.
Scott had a dialysis machine he used in his home. He had a kidney transplant a
decade ago but when cadaver kidneys from a deceased donor are placed in the
pelvis, apparently they have a shorter life than from a living donor; in Scott’s
case he had a cadaver kidney in 1999 that started to go bad in 2010.
Traveling
is part of Scott’s job. Once a year he visits an island off Seattle where Bean
lives and broadcasts his daily morning show. Scott calibrates the equipment in
Bean's studio and tends to any engineering issues. On Scott’s yearly visit, Bean
thought Scott had slowed down quite a bit and wasn’t looking well. Scott decided
to tell Bean what was going on. His kidney was going bad. He told him he was on
a transplant list but it was difficult to find an organ donor. He had exhausted
his immediate family as possible donors.
|
“This is crazy,” said Bean. “I have two
working kidneys. You can have one of mine.”
That night over dinner, Bean and his
wife Donna discussed the issue. She readily agreed and in the morning Bean
confirmed to Scott that he would like to begin the procedure. “It was absurd
that Scott was so sick with no working kidney and I had two that were working
great.”
The kidney transplant happened last November. How are they doing a year
later?
“It has been a year since Bean gave me the most awesome gift that is
imaginable,” emailed Mason. “He is in my thoughts and I thank him every day. My
life is truly better today than it was a little over a year ago.”
Mason said the
healing from the kidney transplant was not an easy task. “Recovery took a few
months, and that was trying on my entire family, especially since I was living
at my parents’ home a good deal of that time. Lots and lots of hospital and
clinic visits, and it seemed they all started at 6 in the morning.”
Has it been
clear sailing as far as recovery? “I had a number of good months after that,
feeling good, getting back to work, and even doing a lot with Boy Scouts, such
as weekend camp-outs. After 7 or 8 months I felt myself getting weak and around
June I noticed my legs swelling up. I went to Cedars, where I had my transplant
and had numerous different treatments. None really seemed to be working and my
kidney numbers started looking bad. Finally at some point after numerous
different [and expensive] treatments, the team of transplant doctors thought
that I may have become allergic to one of the main anti-rejection transplant
medications, which I took twice a day.”
|
They took Scott off medications and went
in a different direction. “This approach required I get a 30 minute IV of
medication every month and stop the suspect medication,” Scott continued. “I'm
four months into this treatment now and believe they figured out the problem as
I feel really good and I am at a really good point physically and mentally.”
If
he had to do it all over again, Scott said 100% yes, he would. “I'm actually
back doing the things I had done while I was feeling good years back, such as
traveling. Now I just always need to remember that I have a gift that's really
special, from a really special person, who will never admit that because he's
much too modest about his great gift to me.
Bean, the angel in this story,
claims he is good as new. “My life is 99.9% the same as before with two
kidneys,” said Bean. “I can't take anti-inflammatories like ibuprofen anymore
but otherwise nothing's changed.”
Bean was back to work at KROQ after missing
only eight days for the procedure. His scars are fading. “Soon, no one will even
believe it happened,” said Bean. “Seriously, I've had more traumatic haircuts
than what giving up a kidney caused.”
When Bean was asked if he had any regrets,
he was quick to say that Scott should have let people know about his need
sooner. “It might have saved him a couple of years of that awful dialysis.”
(Photo: Scott Mason, Bean, Lisa May) |
 |
Bean
says he is grateful to have been in the right place at the right time to help.
“I have been blessed with excellent health my whole life and it was the very
least I could do for a friend. I learned in the time leading up to the surgery
how beloved Scott is in his own circle of friends and family and in the
broadcast industry too, so my kidney really couldn't have asked for a better new
home.”
The need for life-saving organs is staggering. Eighteen people will die
each day waiting for an organ. Bean asks those who read this story to visit
www.organdonor.gov for more information on how to help.
Overheard.
-
"In New
York, the Jets have gotten worse the last three years. They are the worst
offense in the league for the second year in a row." (Colin Cowherd,
KSPN)
-
"You
will have to go through the Seahawks for the Super Bowl." (Warner
Wolf, sports guy on Don Imus Show, KCAA)
-
“Hey,
JACK, the last bunch of songs touched me ... inappropriately ... and I liked
it ... a lot.” (JACK/fm liner)
Hear Ache. Lee “Hacksaw”
Hamilton, mornings at San Diego’s “Mighty 1090” is adding writing duties as he
joins the San Diego Union-Tribune as a sports columnist. He was the longtime
voice of the San Diego Chargers … Multi-platinum, Grammy Award-winning pop icon
Britney Spears will guest host Ryan Seacrest’s American Top 40 this weekend,
December 7 and 8. In addition to counting down the Top 40 songs, Spears will
answer questions directly from fans.
|
Now |
And |
Then |
|
Robin Abcarian
is a writer at the LA Times. She is an online
columnist for the newspaper's online edition. Her primary mission, according to a
LA Times editor, is driving the digital conversation. |
 |
In 1996, Robin
Abcarian was a regular columnist for the LA Times column. That
year she joined KTZN (710)/’The Zone’ for a talk show with the late
Tracey Miller. It ended within a year. |
Cumulus Patriarch Dies.
Broadcaster Lew Dickey, Sr. passed away over the Thanksgiving weekend at age 86.
His son, Lew Dickey, Jr., ceo of Cumulus Media said: “My dad
was an enormously talented broadcaster and, more importantly, a deeply devoted
husband, father, and mentor. He touched the lives of many people and will be
dearly missed.” Dickey, Sr. got his start in radio at Storer Broadcasting’s
WWVA- Wheeling, West Virginia and quickly rose through the ranks at the
company. He was promoted within Storer to leadership positions at
KDKA/TV-Pittsburgh followed by WAGA/TV-Atlanta. |
|
|
An Open Email to Radio Program
Directors
|
 |
(December 2, 2010)
When
Dave Williams,
an outstanding newsman with
great credentials from KNX,
KFWB, KABC and KFBK-Sacramento,
sent me an email earlier
this week expressing
frustration with the lack of
courtesy from his fellow
colleagues. He asked that I
run it anonymously. In the
15 years of LARadio.com,
I’ve never run anything
anonymously. Before I could
respond to Dave he must have
had a quick epiphany and
said he wanted to rewrite it
WITH his name on it.
Dave is not alone in his
frustration. It is a common
cry from those who have
suddenly found themselves
through no fault of their
own, unemployed. It is
lonely being on the beach.
We suddenly discover who are
friends are and those who
duck and hide from our phone
calls and emails.
|
In Dave’s own words:
I'm just one of
thousands of veteran jocks, talk
hosts and news personalities looking
for work in these lean times. On
behalf of all of us I would like to
make a simple request:
When we email
you and/or fill out an online job
application could you please
acknowledge receipt? Personally, I
mean. A word of thanks and
encouragement would be nice, too.
After all, you or somebody on your
staff put out the call for
applicants in the first place.
When I was a pd
I spent a portion of each day
writing thank you notes to people
who had mailed me letters, resumes
and airchecks. And this was back
when the effort required a
typewriter, White-Out, an envelope
and a stamp. It was time-consuming
but we did it because it was polite
and proper. It was professional
respect.
In the past six
weeks I've applied for seven jobs. I
received a reply from ONE.
And all you
have to do is click on a link and
fire off a few words in an email.
I understand
that you're busy. Hell, many of you
are trying to program three or four
radio stations in the time you used
to have to concentrate on one.
Sadly, some of
you will soon be on the beach with
the rest of us. It never hurts to
make a friend in advance.
Sincerely,
respectfully,
Dave Williams,
davewilliams@verizon.net
|
|
Email Saturday, 12.1.18
 |
** Best Broadcaster Ever
“I just read all the nice things
that were beings said about Vin Scully.
I said to myself, wait a minute, I have a lot to say
about my friendship with Vin Scully. We are now
talking about the best broadcaster I have ever been
associated with.
Remember, the Dodgers
were on KABC radio from 1974 to 1997. I was the
general sales manager at KABC from 1965 to 1979 and
the president and general manager from 1979 until I
retired in 1996. How many ball games do you think I
went to in that time? Hundreds of games. I have a
pillow in my office that I see every day that says
‘THIS MARRIAGE HAS BEEN TEMPORARILY INTERRUPTED BY
THE BASEBALL SEASON.’
Peter O'Malley invited
me down to Vero Beach every year, and of course I
stayed with the team and traveled with the team,
watching every game that we also broadcast on KABC.
Bringing guests into the press box was always one of
my responsibilities at the home games. I did that
almost every game. And at every visit to the press
box my guests and I would patiently wait for Vin to
finish his pre-game tv and radio show, which he did
with Ross Porter, or Jerry
Doggett. When Vin finished his show, he
would come out of the broadcasting booth at the
stadium and would quickly put out his hand to shake
the hands of my guests while I introduced them to
the great Vin Scully.
You would
think that God himself had just shaken their hands.
That is the way my guests always felt. What an
honor! What a gentleman! I loved looking at the eyes
of my guests as Vin said hello. I was very
proud to have had these and so many other
experiences with Vin Scully. He is in a class all by
himself.
One of these days, Don, you should
do a column on Peter O’Malley. He is Mr. Modest and
it is doubtful that he would want anything said
about him. And believe me there is. He too was and
is an amazing human being. I am the proud owner of
two World Series rings from 1981 and 1988. Peter
just sent me the book The 1988 Dodgers, Reliving
the Championship Season. It is quite a story.
Get the book.” – George Green
|
** Worked with Kasem
“I worked with Casey
Kasem at KEWB-San Francisco back in the sixties and got to
know him fairly well. He would be ashamed to see what’s
happening to his family in the name of love. I have sisters
I’ve not spoken to since my mom died in 1965. I’m ashamed of
them too.” – Jack Hayes
** Brother John Update
“I was just
back on your site and came across some Brother
John information and wanted to clarify a few things in honor
of him.
I loved this guy. He was one of my best friends.
This is the way I remember it: When I hired Brother John at
KRLA in 1970, I couldn’t believe my good fortune. He took
the job. I was I was 23 years old and I idolized him, he was
‘the Voice of God,’ and he was going to be the Voice of this
new kind of programming I was trying to create, ‘Rock with a
Grin.’ I was in charge of all programming, including news
and public affairs. I wanted everything about the station to
be new and contemporary.
In keeping with this new Album
Oriented Rock format I was beginning to introduce ‘Phase
II.’ I asked Brother John to create a public affairs
religious program for the station that was more contemporary
than the then broadcast show Silhouette. And since Traffic
was my favorite group at the time, I asked him to create a
show named after their the song Heaven is in your Mind. I
worked with him to fine-tune the approach and loved what he
came up with. I later brought Brother John and
Heaven is in
Your Mind to KROQ and then KMET, where John was again ‘the
voice.’ He was in charge of production, public affairs, and
also did news.
He could do anything. He created newscasts
called ‘The Old Piano Bar News, with Shirley at the
Piano,’ complete with fake correspondents around the world,
and a parody of a sportscaster called ‘Bouser Benson,
Speaking of Sports.’ It was hilarious. I don’t think I ever
worked with a more talented, more creative educated, and
kind person in my career. I quit radio in the late 70s, and
when John went to KRTH, he asked me if it was okay with me
for him to do Heaven is in Your Mind at K-EARTH.
As far as I
was concerned, it had become his show and he continued it
for several years. That’s the way I remember it. But then
again, I could be wrong.
And now you know…the rest of the
story.” – Shadoe Stevens
** Ponderous IDs
“I loved the
1963 LA Times newspaper ad for KGFJ. Back in 2002, when I
submitted an article to you about KGFJ’s early history as
the nation's first 24-hour radio station in 1927, one of
your readers sent me a 1962 KGFJ ID. The announcer proclaims that KGFJ is the original
24-hour station.” – Jim Hilliker
 |
** Steve Edwards a Winner
“I tuned to KABC while Mark
Levin was in a
commercial break and heard the familiar, veteran, ultra-pro
voice of Steve Edwards,
co-hosting with John
Philips. Boy,
they-are-so GOOD together! Steve is such a good complement
to John’s sharp intellect and wit. I never went back to Mark
Levin.
Steve and John had former Clinton
prosecutor Ken Starr in studio and it was riveting, but the
rest of their show and conversation was riveting too. Steve
has the friendly warmth in his tone and delivery, like he
was your next-door neighbor. Steve Edwards is really gold
for KABC and always has been.” – Andrew Schermerhorn
|
** What the World Needs Now is Tom Clay
“I just
wanted you to put in a little word, for my dear friend and
mentor Tom Clay.
We always had a great time. It’s hard to believe, it has
been 23 years since Tom went home.
I think of him, his
son Ron and daughter Candy, often. I have even lost track of
her.” – Gary Lane
** KFWBeatles
“That’s some picture! But a great one! My good guess is that
picture was probably taken around the release time of the
album – mid-late January 1964. Maybe later. Also, KFWB would
have to be playing a Beatles song or two, as I
Want to Hold Your Hand was
released on December 26, 1963 - coinciding with the first
airplay by WMCA-New York.” – Gary W,
Facebook.com/manfromyesterday
** What’s
Going On?
“I was pleased to see
that you’re a fan of What’s
Going On by Marvin Gaye.
While I also really like his older stuff, What’s
Going On was a major shift
for Motown, replacing ‘feel good songs with social
commentary. It was, of course, preceded by the Temptations Ball
of Confusion, which came out
a year earlier. Its lyrics were less controversial, but it
helped open the door for What’s
Going On.
As
far as Patsy Cline vs Brenda Lee, that’s an easy one for me.
Patsy was too hard-core Country for my tastes, while ‘Little
Miss Dynamite’ could jump from Country to Rock without
missing a beat.” – Bob
Scott |
|
14 Years Ago Today
|
Kim
Amidon, Co-Host of KOST Morning Show,
Exits the Clear Channel Station
|
 |
(November 30, 2007) Kim
Amidon, who teamed with Mark Wallengren,
created the highly successful Mark & Kim Show
at KOST for over two decades. Kim has exited the
station as part of a company overhaul. She was told
after her shift yesterday morning. |
The morning team was
recently honored with a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
"This is a very
emotional day for everyone at our station,” said KOST pd
Stella Schwartz. “Kim has given us 22 years of great
memories and we will be forever grateful for her many
contributions to our success. It has been a great
ride that I had hoped would never end. I love Kim."
Wallengren opened his
show this morning for the first time in 22 years without a
co-host. "It's the morning show with Mark Wallengren. That's
weird to say. I don't know how I'm going to get through
today. Yesterday after we left the air at ten o'clock
Rodrigo, Claudia and I were told to leave the building and I
got a text from Kim that said, 'I've been let go.' February
3, 1986 to November 29, 2007. It's no longer going to be
called the Mark & Kim Show. I look in the paper today.
Headline in the Los Angeles Times, 'Pain of mortgage
meltdown spreading through the economy.' Apparently
throughout the Clear Channel broadcasting group, some 900+
stations, it's not going to be a good day. This is a crazy
business, Kim and I both knew this was a crazy business 22
years ago. We never knew how it would go or how it would
end. It's weird when that day comes. I am so proud that the
Mark & Kim lasted as long as it did - 22 years. I am proud
to say that right up until the very last day our ratings
were better than ever. Everything was going well. These are
decisions that are very, very difficult to make."
Mark & Kim's Star unveiling
in January 2006: 1. Producer Rodrigo, Kim and Stella
Schwartz
leaving the green room for the podium on Hollywood
Boulevard; 2. Kim at the podium
addressing the crowd; 3. Schwartz, Kim, Wallengren
Wallengren shared some
thoughts about his longtime partner:
|
“I wanted
to take just a brief moment and tell you how
grateful I am personally to my partner of nearly 22
years. Kim Amidon.
The real magic of any successful show is balance.
Nothing is more boring than listening to two people
who are exactly alike. We weren't. It created
friction at times but there was always magic on the
air. Kim and I have always loved each other and know
each other like brother and sister. How many of you
ever said we act like a married couple? Well it's
because in many ways we were. We treated our
audience the same way and called them family. I have
always said that we have the most normal and
wonderful listeners of any station in Los Angeles.
In 1986 the Mark & Kim Show started a trend in this
country that, for the first time, put women out
front on morning radio shows. A woman was no longer
a 'side kick' or the 'news chick.' Now you had a
real woman with a real personality sitting equally
next to a man. It started in the A/C world and
quickly spread. Over the years I can't tell you how
many times, at national radio conventions, other
talent from around the country would approach us and
tell us how their bosses had flown them here to
L.A., put them up in hotels for a week at a time to
listen to us and try to re-create what we had. It's
was always the highest compliment. If anything, I
want Kim to be known as a woman who was instrumental
in this business for that very reason.
She is a remarkable woman and will always remain one
of my dearest friends and family members.
We can all speculate and try to wrap our heads
around what ever process occurred that concluded
that despite all our past and current success her
services would no longer be needed. But let us not
forget, she broke ground, was feisty, she couldn’t
be ignored and is an incredible example to any woman
in this business.
Will I be o.k.? Yes. Will the station be o.k.?
Absolutely. Will I miss her? What do you think?
|
|
 |
Kim was born in Middletown,
Connecticut. She got her start in radio as student
at Long Beach State on the campus station KLON in
1982. Her first radio job after college was at "KUTE
102" in 1983. Kim then worked at KHJ and KRTH before
teaming with Mark. “I love interviewing interesting
people, especially those of whom I am a particular
fan, like Linda Ronstadt." Kim was nominated for
Billboard's 1993 Music Director of the Year and
as a team they were nominated for AC Radio
Personality of the Year. (Photo: Schwartz, Kim,
Barry Manilow, Wallengren) |
|
17 Years Ago
|
Howard Stern's Replacement:
Jimmy Kimmel
(November
29, 2004)
Infinity Radio is faced with the daunting task of replacing
Howard Stern, a legend who carved out a special place in
broadcasting history. No matter what you think about Howard, there
is no argument they he changed radio forever by pushing the
boundaries of taste.
For the past two months Howard has
been vocal that he believes terrestrial radio is dead, mainly
because of the government restraints by the FCC and the threat of
multi-million dollar fines if one utters indecency, whatever that
is. He will be off to Sirius Satellite Radio where he thinks
anything goes. He will leave behind a very large vacancy. How do you
replace a legend? And when? You can’t wait until the end of his
contract and then announce the change. Infinity has to be as smart
as Howard in marketing. If Infinity doesn’t take Howard off the air
earlier than December 2005, he will continue to have an
unprecedented forum to promote his move. Sirius will continue to
benefit from tens of millions of dollars of free marketing
promotion.
How much is Howard worth to Infinity?
Knowing that figure would help understand the dilemma that Infinity
finds itself in on whether to dump him now, pay him the $20 million
and make him sit out for a year. No one will talk about how much
Infinity reaps from having Howard on in the morning. The following
math equations are based on information from industry insiders.
Most observers acknowledge that the
revenue from having Howard on in the morning accounts for 50% of the
station’s budget. If KLSX does $50 million in 2005, put $25 million
in the Howard column. If his New York station (WXRK) does $50
million, put another $25 million in the Howard column. Pay Howard
his $20 million for 2005 and in just New York and Los Angeles
Infinity has netted $30 million. His show is also heard in 43
additional markets. Using the same formula, a conservative guess is
Howard brings $100,000,000 to $150,000,000 to Infinity. Pretty tough
to give that up. Or is it? His station list can be found at:
http://www.koam.com/list.html.
Howard may believe that terrestrial
radio is dead, but as long as there are smart people running radio,
terrestrial radio will be around forever. But is Infinity Radio
smart enough? Who do you replace Howard with? Who has a national
presence, is young and edgy, but acceptable to the advertising world
and the FCC? Chicago’s Mancow comes with more headaches than Howard
created for management. Comedian Andrew Dice Clay is an unknown
entity on whether he is interesting and talented enough to hold down
a 4-5 hour shift. Opie & Anthony? Infinity has already been in bed
with them and insiders say the $1.99 a month that XM Satellite
charges above the monthly subscription fee to access the bad boys
has been a disaster. They have no national following outside of the
publicity that was generated following an incident when two
listeners attempted to have sex in a New York cathedral.
Replacing popular personalities is
nothing new for entertainment entities. When Johnny Carson announced
his retirement from his late-night NBC show, many pundits predicted
the end of the late night tv talk show. Huh? The late-night talk
show format is stronger than ever.
When Sean Connery left the James Bond
films, many thought there was no way the franchise would survive. 19
films later it is the most successful series in the history of the
motion picture business and it survived through Roger Moore, George
Lazenby, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan, and now a new one,
yet-to-be-announced. The Bond series will be going on long after you
and I are gone.
The key is for the geniuses in the
Infinity culture to make a move and make it soon. It feels like the
company doesn’t know what to do since Howard’s announcement. It
feels like the proverbial deer in the headlights.
Infinity should hire Jimmy Kimmel.
He is very funny. He has survived insurmountable challenges with ABC
in late night. The budget for the show and lack of marketing support
would have buried a lesser star than Kimmel. He is no stranger to
radio, having been part of the enormously successful Kevin & Bean
show at KROQ. Jimmy was an integral part of the FOX NFL pre-game
show for three seasons and he gained enormous respect from the likes
of Terry Bradshaw and Howie Long.
He knows how to reach men. Jimmy and
Adam Carolla created The Man Show for Comedy Central,
which ran for a number of years and introduced us to juggy dancers
and the bouncing trampoline girls.
He
co-hosted the Emmy-Award winning Win
Ben Stein’s Money. Without his humor and wit, the show would
never have made it through the first season.
And how about all that exposure
hosting the primetime American Music Awards show for the past
two seasons?
Those who follow tv salaries have
guestimated that Jimmy earns $2 million for his ABC late-night
series. Infinity should approach Kimmel and offer him $10 million to
take over the morning slot. Make the deal now and then benefit from
a year of promotion on the ABC network, not unlike what Howard is
doing to Infinity. The huge increase in pay will be incentive enough
for Jimmy to make the move. At ABC he is on a year-to-year contract
basis and his biggest supporter, ABC Group chairman Lloyd Braun, was
fired recently.
Will it work? Jimmy is one of the
brightest stars in the entertainment world. He has made low-budget
projects successful because of his creativity and likeability. Give
him the resources to be successful in the morning show slot and not
only will he be a success; he will enlarge your empire beyond 48
stations because he respects the FCC line.
Jimmy Kimmel to replace Howard Stern
– you heard it here first.
|
..
|
"I’m Sorry"
|
 |
(November 28, 2005) Last week voiceover
talent Jeff Davis recounted an experience of being fired at a Los
Angeles radio station. The story has taken a number of twists and turns.
The man who fired him, Charlie Seraphin (photo), was reading the
story and was prompted to write in part: |
Anyway, I won’t bore you with a long drawn out apology, but nevertheless, this
is a sincere apology. I’m sorry I couldn’t manage the situation for your
continued employment and happiness at KNX/fm. I’m sorry if I was rude in any
way. I’m sorry for any bad feelings that I engendered in you and I am sincerely
happy that you are happy, healthy and still doing exceptionally well in Los
Angeles Radio.
I’m
sorry, and I hope you will forgive me for whatever negative role I played in
your past.” – Charlie Seraphin
Craig Hines wrote: “I don't know
Charlie Seraphin or Jeff Davis, but this is mea culpa is amazing: Reading that
and ‘hearing it in my head’ was like mom's chicken soup on a cold day, very
soothing. Having been on both sides of the equation, firing is a horrible event
for everyone and it can weigh heavy for years. That Mr. Seraphin has the
courage, the balls, to apologize and ask for forgiveness is simply stunning and
should set an example for every person who ever had to ‘do the deed’ and for
those who will in the future.
What a classy thing to do. It does not
change history, but it sure goes a long way towards showing some heart, some
humanity.”
There were others who were moved by
Seraphin’s apology, but the most amazing part of the story came from Seraphin
himself. “As Paul Harvey would say...and now the rest of the story.
Within an hour of writing the apology to Jeff Davis, I went down the hall to
meet with Ron Unkefer, the owner of First Broadcasting. At the end of our
meeting, he explained that the company had turned 180 degrees from where it was
when he hired me in September, and without plans to ‘operate’ his stations [they
all run on minimal staffs and budgets] he couldn't afford to keep someone like
me in my position, so he terminated my employment! I had the VP of Human
Resources sit with me while I packed up a few personal things. How ironic. Years
after the Jeff Davis incident, but only minutes after apologizing, I get
canned! You think Jeff needs any help managing his voice business?”
Perhaps you have a job lead for Charlie.
His email is:
charlieseraphin@yahoo.com
|
4 Years Ago
|
The Night Disco Died ... or Didn't
 |
(November 27,
2017) I shamelessly admit to languishing in the pulsating beat
of disco music in the mid-70s. Forgotten names like Hot Chocolate,
Alicia Bridges and Anita Ward may be gone but I could Boogie Oogie Oogie
until I just couldn’t oogie boogie no more. It was just the way I liked
it.
With virtually no
LA radio station offering a steady diet of Gloria Gaynor and Vickie Sue
Robinson, let alone an appetizer or two of Donna Summer, I have turned
to Studio 54 channel on SiriusXM for my disco fix. And now
Native New Yorker
by Odyssey is in heavy rotation.
There you are, lost in the shadows,
searching for someone to set you free from New York City.
You can imagine my
surprise when the current issue of
The New Yorker
devoted a full page to celebrate the height of the disco era. And the
best part, I learned that every week in New York, there is a Native
New Yorker night at a local club.
While in the
marketing department at Columbia Pictures, I had the pleasure of working
on Thank God It’s Friday
with the famed P.T. Barnum
record character Neil Bogart. Casablanca shipped 35 million albums to
record stores pre-movie release. I’m told there are still 10-15 million
in a warehouse somewhere in the San Fernando Valley. And then the
ultimate disco movie, Can’t
Stop the Music, produced by
Allan Carr (Grease-fame)
and starring disco favorites Bruce Jenner, Valerie Perrin and Steve
Guttenberg. Oh, yes, it was loosely based on the story of the Village
People. But the timing was bad. Steve Dahl turned the
center field of Comiskey Park into a disco inferno, just days before the
still-born release of the movie. Disco is dead, except when the doors of
Studio 54 open on SiriusXM. Until you just can’t oogie boogie no more.
(Thanks to The New Yorker for
the artwork.)
|
|
(November
26, 1998)
On this day
for family, friends and a day of reflection, Los Angeles
Radio People share what they are most thankful for on
Thanksgiving, 1998.
Mr. KABC (KABC): My wife, kids, parents,
brothers, health, friends, job, material possessions, home,
in-laws & listeners. Not necessarily in that order.
Chuck Blore (legend): Thanks...for the
memories. Memories of KFWB and all that it was...what a
wonderful ride we had. There's a kind of a glow that comes
with knowing that what we had lives in some sacred treasure
chest of precious things that can never be duplicated.
Yesterday is a very nice place, but as they say, I wouldn't
want to live there. I am more thankful for what is going to
happen tomorrow than for all the glories of what happened in
the past. Thanks for old memories and young dreams.
Jim Governale (KKLA): I guess I'm most
thankful for freedom. This year I had the chance to visit
China and Indonesia, and my experiences there make me all the
more grateful to be an American.
Gary Moore (KLOS): All the things we often
take for granted, like good health, great friends, a caring,
supportive family, a terrific childhood (which, at times, is
still continuing), being a player in the world's #1 radio
market, the invention of college football and basketball and
supermodels who still have energy to fix us breakfast the
next morning. Take that Hugh Grant...
Mark Denis (KFI): I am most thankful for my
wife Nancy and our family (Denise, Mark, Julie, Matt, Tim and
Ashley) plus having a job I enjoy so much.
(Robert) David Hall: Off the top of my
baldhead I'm thankful for the following: (1) My son Andrew,
even though at 17 and a half, he treats me worse than any
program director I ever knew; (2) Health; (3) The opportunity
to make a living in acting and voiceovers; (4) Friends, old
and new. My closest friends from my radio days remain
Michael
Sheehy (now at the Wave),
Rick Scarry
(ex-KMET), Mark Denis (KFI),
Bill
Handel (KFI and still crazy after all these years),
Bob
Nelson (former GM of KNX/fm),
Scott Morgan
(ex-KEZY),
Jeffrey Leonard (most recently did
MetroTraffic) and so many others; and, (5) I'm thankful all
the Clinton/Monica Lewinsky crap is winding down. My best to
you Don and all your readers.
Ed Mann (formerly with KIIS, KBIG): Having worked with the
likes of The Real Don Steele,
Tim
Kelly,
Big Ron O’Brien,
Gerry
DeFrancesco along with my fellow founders at
Premiere Radio Networks gives me pause to think and to thank.
My best to all this holiday season.
Steve Parker (KXTA): My wife/partner...some
of the best and most loyal friends in the world (which is
amazing because most of them are in radio!)...A union (AFTRA)
which takes care of my family medical needs and sticks up for
me when it's been necessary (they're two for two so
far)...having worked in media for 20 years and finally
starting to see some of the real, tangible fruits of my
efforts.
Chuck Martin (formerly with KHJ): I am
thankful for having the luckiest and most wonderful career in
radio broadcasting; and having the ability to further my
career in agency advertising and commercial production all of
which was the product of being so lucky to be a part of the
broadcast industry. I'm a thankful broadcast survivor. But
perhaps what I'm most thankful for is taking time over this
special holiday weekend spending precious moments with my
family and friends. And I raise my glass to toast my
broadcasting colleagues wherever they may be. And to my
listeners should they remember me. Happy Thanksgiving to all!
Dan Avey
(KFWB): I’m most thankful for:
(1) My wonderful wife, four daughters and great friends; (2)
Adoption - the only win-win process I know; (3) heart doctor
Vaughn Starnes and USC University Hospital; (4) Barbara
Esensten, head writer of The Guiding Light (see #1); and, (5)
KFWB, KNX and KFI: the only stations (out of 83 in the
market) that gather, write and deliver the news.
Teresa Payerle (KGIL): My health. My
friends. Living in L.A. Education.
Andy Stevens (formerly with KEZY): I'm
always thankful for 4 days off! I've been fortunate enough to
do the kind of work that I love, and I've met some very cool
people along the way who've become great friends--I'm
thankful for that--and for my health. I'm also thankful for
having a great family. I've had some great
opportunities--some I've blown and some I've really taken
advantage of, and I'm thankful for ALL of them too. I'm
fortunate because I could list a lot more things here, but
I'll be thankful for some moderation too. Happy Thanksgiving
to all. I hope your list is as long as mine.
Ken Levine (formerly with KTNQ): That I'm
not still doing all-nights in San Bernardino. For awhile in
1973 it looked like I might be.
Linda Jean (KIKF): I am thankful for so many
things: (1) My family for their endless support; (2) my
friends; (3) my health; (4) my fun job in radio. Doing what
you love is IDEAL! It isn't work; and, (5) to live in Orange
County-no place comes this close to perfection!
Len Chandler
(formerly with KRLA): I’m
thankful that I'm not a turkey.
David Wayne (KWVE): "I'm thankful for
God's love, my family, and that I still have a job in
radio!" Blessings and a Happy Thanksgiving to you.
Ken Stanton (KIEV): I am thankful for being
given the opportunity for working at KIEV and Salem
Broadcasting. I am thankful for my education and my health.
Thankful for being alive and doing fine.
Bob Pond (formerly with KGBS and KPPC): I am
most thankful for being a rock jock for many years before
AIDS, without contracting a venereal disease, at least a
serious one. If that is too politically incorrect try: I am
most thankful for surviving doing a nightly broadcast from a
West Phoenix country bar for over a year without any injury!
Chuck Rowe (KNX/Shadow Traffic): I'm
thankful that I'm the guy watching the traffic jam from above
in an airplane instead of the unfortunate sap down below.
Seriously, I'm thankful for my new daughter and continued
health and good fortune shared by my entire family.
Todd Parker (formerly with KIIS): I'm most
thankful for two of the greatest sons I could ever wish for,
my parents for instilling in me certain values, joys, and a
sense of humor: tools that have allowed me to live a very
rich and satisfying life. Professionally, I'm thankful for
the combination of hard work and good luck that allowed me to
have a very rewarding career in a business that I've loved
since childhood; and that has allowed me a certain amount of
success in something that I love equally as much, and am
equally passionate about now: acting and voiceovers. To my
peers, friends, and (if there are any...) fans: thank you for
all of your support, guidance, and influence. I thank God for
you daily.
Big Ben Maller (KXTA): I'm thankful: to have
a gig at L.A.'s Only Local Sports station; that the Dodgers
didn't lose 100 games last season (how could I have turned
that into a positive?); that Bill Clinton & Monica
Lewinsky gave all of us L.A. radio people so much good
material to work with; and, that my family and friends have
supported me the last few years in this wacky business.
Jeff Young (Westwood One): I’m thankful
that it seems our service men and women won’t have to
spend the holidays at war with Iraq, that I’m still
working "in the biz" after 23+ years, that my radio
prep site welcomes many thousands of visitors monthly, that
your Web site does such a great job of keeping me up to date
on L.A. radio people, that I’m not Mrs. Howard Stern,
and that after nine years, my 2nd wife’s kids from her
first marriage have finally accepted me as human.
Alan LaGreen (Metro Traffic): Thankful for a
great family which has been so supportive over the years,
including my daughter, who started at the University of the
Arts in Philadelphia this fall to pursue her dream in musical
theatre (and I'm never going to tell her to have a fall-back
career choice "just in case"). Thanks also to Dave
Hull who put me on the radio for the first time 30 years ago
as a guest on his show on KFI (at the old studios on
Vermont). I was a student down the street at USC; Dave had
Wes Parker of the Dodgers on that night predicting a big loss
for USC against UCLA that weekend, I called them up, and Dave
said, "come on up to the studio and you can debate with
Wes." Thirty years later, and a few twists and turns in
the career, and I'm on KFI every night!
Phil Harvey (formerly with KSRF): I'm
thankful we live in a country where the biggest problem seems
to be the President's sex life. Things could be a lot worse!
Taz (KIKF): I'm thankful that I have my
health and that all members of my family are healthy and
happy. In this world where so many are doing without, I'm
thankful that I have the things that really make me happy -
family, friends, health and a great job in my favorite
industry! Happy Thanksgiving to all!
Maryanne Caruso (formerly with KLSX):That I
will be spending Thanksgiving with my beautiful 2-month-old
niece, Samantha Nicole, and the rest of my family.
Nasty Neil
(KNAC.com): That I'm not that
idiot Ken Starr!
Johnny Chiang (KOST): I'm obviously thankful
for having so many family members and friends who love and
care for me. Despite whatever happens in life, it's always
comforting to know there will always be people there for me.
Rex Moore (KGRB): I’m most thankful
that I’m in good health. I’m thankful for the 31
years that I had with my dad. Mom's still alive and well and
living the good life in Arizona. And I’m thankful to all
of the great men and women of L.A. radio, who've been nice
enough to correspond with me via email (thanks to your Web
site). Happy holidays, everybody --- see you along the way .
Chuck Southcott
(KGIL): I'm most thankful
for the glorious way my sons have become men. Karl (the
elder) has now been in radio for twelve years. He runs our
Music of Your Life operations for Jones in Denver. He's also
the all-night air talent. He goes by the name of Carl
Hampton. Yes, he once lived on a street called Hampton. My
younger son Charles has been a magnificent force for
Time-Warner Cable for many years now. I told him that tv
thing was only radio with those ugly pictures, but he
wouldn't listen. I love them more than even my cats.
Jim Hawthorne (formerly with KFWB): My
thanks go to whomever regulates our time on this planet! 80
years and still around! WOW!
Jack Armstrong
(formerly with KFI):
HEALTH!....I said "good luck" to a friend once and
he said, "no, good health...without that, you won't need
the luck." I've said a few words of thanks lately for
getting me through the close calls over the years. By my
count, I could have easily checked-out 4 times (that I know
of) in the last 4 years. Guess we are all here for a reason
and I haven't completed mine.
Mike Butts (formerly with KIQQ): What
I’m most thankful for this Thanksgiving remains the
same: my wife, Lisa; my mother back in Denton, Texas (where I
was living when bitten by the radio bug while listening to
KLIF); my brother Leslie who lives in the Valley; Buddy,
Annie, Courney, and Dusty (my 4 children, all four-legged);
and, my oldest friend Don Barrett, the author and creator of
Los Angeles Radio People who brought me to L.A. when I was
doing afternoons at KXOK-St. Louis. Happy Thanksgiving to
all!
Scott West
(KCRW): First and foremost and
without a doubt, I am most thankful for having such a
wonderful family! They are the most important things in my
life! I feel that it's important for us to remember those
less fortunate, and to do our part to help out when we can! I
am also thankful that I am able to do what I love AND get
paid doing it!
Brian Perez (KKLA): This may seem kind of
vague, but I'm really thankful for my pd, Jason Jeffries. He
has given me the chance to once again do a music program, the
"K-Light Music Show," heard weekend overnights on
AM1390. THANKS, JASON!!
Bill Wright (KWVE): I'm most thankful for
God's great love and for my family and friends.
John Willyard: As a former signature voice
for KZLA and promo voice for many concert events in and
around L.A., I'd like to pause and give thanks for the
abundance of meaningful friendships in the industry, great
opportunities in the country music industry, such as being
selected as the voice of the CMA, for a wonderful, loving,
caring family, for an incredible church family, and most
especially to a gracious, loving God who has definitely
blessed me this year! Psalm 107:1 says "Give thanks to
the Lord, for He is good, His love endures forever!"
Lori Ryan (KFI Traffic): My family...my
friends...my sweetheart, Michael Moore...his family...the
dogs...my health...and I'm thankful also that somewhere in a
galaxy far, far away, some PD thought I sounded good enough
to be on the air...are you listening Sherman Cohen?
Lisa Foxx
(KYSR): I am most thankful for my
new contract! Ok, um, I'm most thankful for doing something
that I LOVE everyday...Sorry. Boring-but true! Have a nice
turkey day!
Nancy Plum
(Shadow Traffic): Thankful I
wasn't born a turkey. Especially this time of the year! After
years and years of working nights and evenings in Los Angeles
I am so happy and thankful to be on morning drive time doing
news and traffic and when I do airborne usually its middays.
I love love love these shifts and I'm very thankful I get to
work them! It's so selfish, but I love the fact that most of
my friends, my dearest and oldest friends all listen to me
doing the news in the morning on their way to work. That is
so damn cool! It's like we stay in touch that way and yes, it
affects the way I sound because I'm just talking to my
friends as well as a couple of thousand other folks too! I'm
thankful I made it through all my experimentations with sex
and drugs and lived to tell about it and not wind up some
casualty! And I'm always thankful to be alive and well to try
new things and to learn new things and to meet new people.
Like Hollywood says, "It's A Wonderful Life!"
Carolyn Hogenraad (KEZY): I am most thankful
for my Health and that since the sale of KEZY...Jacor is
still willing to keep me... so far!
Steve Ray (formerly with KRLA): I am most
thankful that I was laid off from my gig at Premiere Radio
Networks the week before Thanksgiving. What a great way to
simplify life! I don't have to worry if I've made enough
stuffing, because I can't afford more than a slice of pressed
turkey roll. Instead of spending all night cleaning up after
a big dinner, I can look up at the stars in the winter sky
while sleeping in my car. I can get in touch with the true
spirit of the holidays while wandering the streets muttering
"Jesus Christ, Jesus Christ, Oh God, Oh God," and
then spend all day Friday in the warmth of the mall
pretending I'm going to buy something while enjoying the glow
of children's faces. Thank you to all the program directors
who absolutely needed an overnight tape & resume, and
then didn't bother to call. It made life so much simpler, not
worrying if I'd perform well at a new station. Thank you to
the general managers and owners who thought my ideas were
great, but never followed through with any of the projects. I
don't know what success might have done to spoil my bright
and cheerful outlook on life. Thank you for saving me from
success. And finally, thank you to all the friends who helped
me move my things into a storage unit, find a PO Box, and
tell me how to get my phone number forwarded to voicemail.
This Thanksgiving, the thing I'm most grateful for is so easy
to sum up, I can do it in one word.....dignity.
Neil Saavadra (KFI): This ain't very
original but, I am most thankful for my family. (Doing a talk
show in L.A. comes a close second!)
Tommy Edwards ("Arrow 93"): A
wonderful, healthy and happy family and the opportunity to
help others grow professionally.
Mark the Shark Brower (KZLA): I'm most
thankful for my wonderful friends and family. They are the
best through their support and everything else for that
matter.
Thrasher (KNAC.com): I'm thankful I didn't
get the job as newsman on Peter Tilden's morning show at KMPC
back in 1995.
Elizabeth Salazar (formerly with KWST): The
fact that God has blessed us with good health, a home, a
close family and good friends, and bountiful blessings in
general compels me to give Him thanks daily and most
certainly on Thanksgiving.
Marc Cohen (KABC): I'm thankful for the time
I have to spend with my family. That I have the time to spend
as President of the Starlight Childrens Foundations. And that
anyone would be crazy enough to give me my own show on KABC.
Ronn Owens (formerly with KABC): I'm
thankful I work for a superb radio station with great
management.
Big John Carter: (formerly with KHJ): When I
first got into radio there was this kid. He was kind of a
big, lovable guy. All he wanted to do was be on the radio. I
confess his passion for being "behind the audio
console" exceeded even my own. He had lots of raw
talent, and, God knows, drive. To me, in a universe where it
seems to be wanting, there is evidence that there is justice,
because today that kid is doing afternoons at KRTH 101. I am
so grateful to God that my "brother," Shotgun Tom
Kelly is, on the basis of his talent, his experience, and his
dedication to the industry, right where he belongs, drivin'
'em home in the Big Town! THAT is what I am grateful for.
Nicole Sandler
(KACD): My new niece... and
the second chance I've gotten at my ideal radio job with the
start-up of Channel 103.1!
Bill Tanner (Heftel Communications): I'm
thankful for: (1) family and friends; and, (2) my career,
with special thanks to the man who made it possible, Cecil
Heftel. Also his son Richard and my associates on the
KLVE/KSCA/KTNQ programming staffs. All else pales beside
these two. Happy Thanksgiving!
Harley Davidson (f): I'm most thankful for the time I spent
in Southern California. My two kids were born there, Melinda,
9 and Gregory, 7. They continue to live there with their
mother. I'm also thankful professionally for the opportunity
to meet and network with many Los Angeles Radio People. Those
who come to mind are Ron Jacobs, "World Famous" Tom
Murphy, Mark Denis, Bill Watson,
Ted Atkins, Charleye Wright,
Kevin Weatherly,
Ken Kohl, Mark & Brian,
Bruce Chandler,
and many others who taught me about the heritage of this
great radio market. It's been a thrill to have spent the last
10 years in Southern California, and to have been a small
part of it's broadcasting legacy. Thanks to your Web site,
I'll still be in touch.
Gary Franklin (formerly with KFWB): Two
answers: (1) Am most thankful that there's such a terrific
union as AFTRA; and, (2) That shakeouts in the radio industry
are beginning to return it to useful and entertaining
normalcy.
Ira Sternberg (formerly with KOST): I'm
thankful for Thanksgiving, the one holiday that is relatively
commercial free (other than marketing turkeys, pumpkin pie
and antacid) and that allows us to relax with our families
and not worry about "getting things" for them. Do
you think we can expand that to other areas of our lives?
Charlie Tuna (KLAC): This Thanksgiving I'm
most thankful for two people who believe in me enough, I
didn't even have to audition to get the morning show job on
KLAC. KLAC consultant Bob Hamilton and I almost worked
together at KRTH in 1980 when we were talking about me going
there, and he's just one of the great programming minds in
this country. Ed Krampf, the KLAC gm is one of the nicest
gm's you'll ever have, according to a good radio friend of
mine who had worked for Ed in the past; and Ed's been just
that with me. But I'm also thankful for Bill Drake who heard
something in me 31 years ago, brought me to KHJ and put me on
the #1 station in the country at that time. Just two and a
half years before that I was working on a 1,000 watt AM
station in my hometown of Kearney, Nebraska. Go figure!
Marc Cohen
(KABC): I'm thankful for the time
I have to spend with my family. That I have the time to spend
as President of the Starlight Children’s Foundations.
And that anyone would be crazy enough to give me my own show
on KABC.
Joe McDonnell (formerly with KXTA): I'm
thankful for all the people who have been so kind since my
firing. People coming up to me and the email I've received
has been really positive and supportive. And I'm thankful for
a good agent who negotiated a great contract for me!"
Eric Tracy (KFWB): I am most thankful that I
am a child of God and that he sent me an incredible woman to
share my life. Before I knew God and Kathleen, radio was my
life. Boy, I sure wasted a lot of years.
Jack London (formerly with KLAC and KBBQ):I
am most thankful for my wife Sherry. We just got married on
Nov. 6. and just came back from a cruise to Mexico. We now
have seven children living with us and I think it is time to
take another cruise. Have a great Thanksgiving, from the
bright lights of Las Vegas.
Kevin "Mad Dog" Machado: By far,
I'm most thankful to be alive and have a wonderful woman in
my life. She's proven radio isn't the only thing that
matters.
Mark Thompson
(KLOS): I am very thankful for
my kids and their health and a wife who loves me along with a
great job that brings me much satisfaction, but I am most
grateful for the fact that we are going to spend Thanksgiving
day at a friends house which means I don’t have to cook
or clean anything up. I’m also thankful that my ass
isn’t wider than my shoulders as of this writing.
Roger Carroll (formerly with KMPC): I have a
lot to be thankful for, my wife, our five children, their
spouses, our grandchildren, our good health and so many true
and loyal friends. Yes, thankful and lucky.
Gene Thayer (formerly with KRLA): I am
thankful that I am not involved with the broadcast media
anymore, especially in LaLa Land! Although, I do like to keep
up on who's being screwed, or elevated to the status of a
minor deity. Ranching, even in the middle of The Great
Stinking Desert, is way more mellow than "working"
as a radio pronouncer, i.e., the cows don't care about
ratings. Nor do the horses. However, milking the chickens
every morning and evening is a pain in the butt.
Andy Park (formerly with KMPC, KFWB): That I
went into news and not, as my Mother wished, the priesthood,
politics nor peddling life insurance.
Bill Jenkins (formerly with KFWB, KGBS):
When this Thanksgiving dawns, I will be happy for the
gathering of many family members from around the
country.....and friends. It will be a long weekend, Friday
filled with A&M football, then on Saturday, my marriage
to Carole Matchette. Family, friends and a new mate for life,
I'm filled with Thanksgiving.
"The Late" Bill Smith (formerly
with KFI): Earth is nothing more than a giant turkey farm,
and once a year people are plucked from this planet. Poked
and prodded not with scientific tools, but with thermometers
and tenderizers. And then eaten by a family of thankful
aliens.
John Driscoll (formerly with KTNQ, KGBS,
KFI): I am most thankful for my health, albeit I am recouping
from arthroscopic knee surgery. My idea was to get healthy
when I turned 40! You know! Quit smoking, lose weight and run
3-4 miles a day, mountain bike on weekends. This has been
great for my heart but I have a broken wrist from the
mountain bike trail in San Francisco. In Colorado I fractured
an elbow from roller blading at Big Bear, and now a torn
medial meniscus from B-Ball on a court at the beach! Oh how I
long for the day's of yesteryear, when I was BulletProof!
Ron Brewington (KJLH): I am very thankful
for being alive, having good health, having a wonderful
family, living in a country called U-S of A and being
permitted to work in an industry known as radio....it's a
great feeling and I love it!!!
Kevin McKeown (formerly with KROQ): I'm
grateful to be back on the air starting December 8th. The
format is talk, with a twist: seven co-hosts, and instead of
call-ins we'll have members of the public come in person to
share a live mic. The Santa Monica City Council meetings air
alternate Tuesday evenings on KCRW and affiliated stations.
Buddy Baron (formerly with KEZY): I'm
thankful this Thanksgiving...Because: (1) I'm working; (2)
our dog, Bear, is still with us; (3) my wife, Pat, is still
with ME; (4) we're hosting a Caribbean Cruise over the
holiday with 91 listeners; and, (5) they all look like they
can hold their liquor.
Mike Nolan (KFI): I am most thankful to have
been married to my wonderful wife for nearly 20 years now,
and to have enjoyed watching our son, soon to be 10, growing
and learning and maturing. It took us 9 years to have him,
and 9 years later, he is still the only one, and we feel
blessed to have him. I am also thankful to be a part of radio
in L.A. Having grown up on KFWB, KRLA, KMPC, KHJ, KFI, KMET,
etc., and to now be a part, a really small part, but still a
part of creating what some day will be L.A. radio history, is
a dream come true. I often wonder what became of Marine Corp.
Reserve Captain, and KMPC sales associate Bob Bononami, who
was the one who originally steered me to the Don Martin
School of Broadcasting. Good night, Capt. Bob, wherever you
are. Happy Thanksgiving!!!
Sherman Cohen (formerly with KRLA): I,
Sherman Cohen, am most thankful for experiencing what I have
experienced in my life. I have four wonderful
children...David, Benny, Louie and Lenny, a mother that has
survived severe cancer, my health, and great friends that
have been there for me throughout my life.
Kiris Coburn (KKLA): Well let's see on a
serious note (And I know this is corny) I'm thankful for my
gig here @ KKLA. I'm also thankful for the KISS reunion.
Wild Bill Scott (formerly with KROQ and
KNAC): Thanksgiving, 1998. Happiest and most thankful for Gap
commercials helping the return of "Swing." Kate
Moss and Calvin Klein were giving me a pain in the ass. Eat
much and gain girth!!
Clark Macy ("Arrow 93"): I have to
state the obvious because it's true. Besides meeting the love
of my life, Martha, who decided to put up with my radio bug
and marry me, I consider myself one of the lucky ones to be
employed in L.A. radio. Radio is full of characters and I am
thankful that I have had the distinct pleasure to meet, work
with and personally know many of the GREATS in L.A. radio.
Anita Garner (formerly with KBIG): I am
thankful for work that makes a difference - and for being
allowed to do that kind of work from time to time. There's
the job we do for money, or for fun or for glory. But
occasionally someone tells us that something we do makes life
better for them. That's it! Nothing else even comes close.
Geoff Edwards (formerly with KFI): I am
thankful I am not the program director of KABC.
Keith Peters
(KWVE): Thanks that I have a
wonderful family who are great and I feel very fortunate that
I am doing something (radio) that I love, which I think is
something of a rarity in our society today.
Bob Shaw (KKLA): I am extremely thankful
that God has seen fit to bless my radio career after I
stepped out on a limb at 30 years of age a year ago, left a
lucrative career in sales, and set out to do what I've always
wanted to do. I've come so far in such a short time. I'm
thankful for the new friends I've met in radio, and all the
things they've taught me. (Kiris if you're reading this, you
da man!) And I'm thankful for a great wife who supports me
and kicked my butt to get out there and get on the air. Also
thankful for you, Don, for providing an awesome forum like LA
Radio. Thanks, and God bless!
Scorchin Scotty Wilson (formerly with KIIS):
Thankful for open minded program directors who will hire you
even if your resume has all hard rock stations on it
believing you can intro a Jewel song just as well as you
intro Megadeth, because your a professional.
Bob Morgan (formerly with KGBS): I have so
much to be thankful for. I have a wonderful daughter, who is
now on her way to a very successful career with a huge music
distributing company. I have a loving mother, who is
recovering from a critical bout with pneumonia, she's 89 so I
know that God answers prayer. But most of all, I thank God
for giving me a full, rich life, with the promise that the
best is yet to come. I don't think that there's anyone on the
face of the Earth that could ask for anything more than what
I've been blessed with throughout my life. Now, I have
everything I ever wanted. A great job, a nice house, my own
studio, but most of all, a peace through Christ that I never
knew existed. I know that's probably not very popular in some
circles, but that's okay. I'm also very thankful that so many
of the people that I worked with at Storer have gone on to
become successful. The only thing I could wish for right now,
would be a radio station somewhere that would let us
old-timers do our thing again, just for fun. That would be
nice.
Tom Schnabel (KCRW): To be alive, to have
health, to love and be loved, and to appreciate the
beauty--and pain-- of life and this world.
Gary McKenzie (formerly with KIIS): There is
much to be thankful for. There's the family that loves you, a
big turkey leg and all the trimmings, and no Showdown In The
Gulf Updates until Saddam gets feisty again.
Don Jaye: Thanksgiving is the holiday that I
celebrate the anniversary of my birth. Good Lord, he actually
let me slip through. Mom was working on preparing dinner with
the family and at noon she began with the pain and 1:15 p.m.
there I was giving them all hell for taking so long. My first
words were, "Los Angeles Lives"! The docs at UCLA
told me many years ago I'd never see fifty...Dr. Rose and the
rest of you Cardo-men...I'll be sixty on the 25th of this
month...Stick that in your pipes! The End.
Jeff Gehringer
(KACD): I am thankful this
Thanksgiving just to be employed. So many changes are
happening in our industry, it's scary. Who would think so
many stations would be bought and sold, only to lower cost
and hire fewer people? And, who would have thought a former
Boss Radio jock from KHJ would now be playing Sinatra and
Manilow on KLAC? My, how this medium is changing.
Jim Maddox (formerly with KDAY): I'm most
thankful for good health, a great family (which includes 3
great kids), and a bit of longevity in this business. I'm
also thankful to have been a "fellow traveler" to
so many of you in this business. I feel blessed.
Bob Morrison (KEZY): I'm thankful I get to
work on one of the most exciting new media ventures in
America: TXCN -- Belo's new Texas Cable News. And I'm
thankful that my bills are paid after 7 months out of work.
I'm thankful that I can walk after major knee surgery in
April. I'm thankful for a lovely wife, Susan; a son who is a
blessing, Austin; and a wonderful home in one of the nicest
cities in America, Dallas. And most of all I'm thankful for
the sovereign God of the universe who has His eye upon the
sparrow...and me, too.
Kenny Noble
(Cortes): The way I see it, I
was unemployed (full-time) a little over a year and a half
ago. I now work at a top-rated market #11 radio station for a
super radio group (Cox) doing morning drive for a pd that's
the best people person on the planet (Tip Landay - former
KOST assistant pd). I have a house I love, in a terrific
neighborhood close to work and church, and a wife who doesn't
have to work so she can homeschool our two incredible boys. I
make a decent salary and the weather in South Florida this
time of year is unbeatable. God is good. And that's who I
thank!
Todd Parker (formerly with KIIS): I'm most
thankful for two of the greatest sons I could ever wish for,
my parents for instilling in me certain values, joys, and a
sense of humor: tools that have allowed me to live a very
rich and satisfying life. Professionally, I'm thankful for
the combination of hard work and good luck that allowed me to
have a very rewarding career in a business that I've loved
since childhood; and that has allowed me a certain amount of
success in something that I love equally as much, and am
equally passionate about now: acting and voiceovers. To my
peers, friends, and (if there are any...) fans: thank you for
all of your support, guidance, and influence. I thank God for
you daily.
K.M. Richards
(formerly with KNJO): I am
most grateful that my mother, who turned 80 this year, is
still alive and (according to her doctors) in excellent
health. As any seasoned radio person will tell you, there are
many times in your career when you might find yourself back
in your old room at home "between gigs." My mother,
bless her, always kept my room as "my room" just in
case that happened (again). And when I worked at stations
within earshot, she was the most faithful listener I had,
regardless of what format I was doing. She'd listen no matter
what. (On the other hand, that may have contributed to her
love of MTV in its first five years.) So I am thankful that
when I travel back to Ventura for Thanksgiving, my mother
will still be there to share the holiday with.
Jeff Leonard (formerly with KHTZ/KRLA): I am
thankful for having a wonderful, happy and healthy family. I
am indeed blessed.
Jeff Hillery (formerly with KFWB, KHJ): Most
thankful for a great, understanding wife and two daughters
who've put up with many moves over the years so I could
better my radio career.
David Hirsch: I’m most thankful that I
have a healthy, loving wife and daughter and that our
relationship was not screwed up by the craziness that
sometimes invades the radio business. I'm also thankful that
quite a few people I've worked with over the years have
survived and thrived. |
|
|
2 Years Ago
|
Journalism and Mental Health: Cooper Rummell Reports
 |
(November
25, 2019) Cooper Rummell recently exited
Newsradio KNX (1070 AM). One day he was there covering
breaking news – murders, fires, crimes, and other tragedies.
And then he was gone. We reached out to him for the behind
the scenes story of what happened. Our one-hour phone
conversation was something the likes of which we never
expected.
Three and a half years ago, Cooper joined
the station at age 23. He had arrived from news / talk KTAR
in Phoenix. Media, storytelling and voice work certainly was
in Cooper’s genes or DNA. His grandfather was retired
Battalion Chief for the LA Fire Department Chief, Gary
Rummell. His grandfather was accustomed to facing the press
and public.
Cooper’s father is a distinguished and
active voice actor. Scott Rummell is well known for being
the voice of Aquaman in
Justice League and its
follow-up Justice League Unlimited, but perhaps
best known as the go-to voice these days for theatrical
movie trailers.
Cooper was thrilled to be joining
KNX but the leap was startling. He was jumping into a
high-powered cauldron. Early on he received a
profanity-laced communication for using improper grammar.
Maybe in today’s more sensitive working environment the
criticism wouldn’t have been allowed but as Cooper’s
colleagues told him, “This is just the way it is here.”
Cooper quickly adjusted to the fast-paced world of
covering breaking stories in the #2 market. Camp Pendleton
Marine boot camp probably would have been equally stressing
and challenging, yet the young recruits do survive. And he
was prepared to do so too.
As unprepared as he was
for the intensity of the newsroom, nothing prepared Cooper
for dealing with the day in and day out “death, doom, and
destruction, which can wear on you,” said the 27-year-old.
|
The shootings, mass killings and
fires began to take a toll on Cooper’s mental health. Cooper
said he was really struggling emotionally and mentally with
covering sickening scenes and sometimes there would be
multiple incidents in one day, sometimes going from one
gruesome killing involving the twisted underbelly of the
Southland to another.
“It really messed with my
head. My mental health was diminishing. Day in and day out I
was seeing the worst of humanity,” Cooper recalled.
Then came a personal epiphany. A calling. Something bigger.
If you believe that God gives everyone a special gift,
Cooper was given the gift of storytelling. Perhaps he was
just using his gift in the wrong area. Following a massive
panic attack after covering another headline-grabbing
stabbing, he took a leave.
“I fell to my knees and
asked how can I tell good news when I cover bad news day in
and day out. I feel I have a storytelling gift but I feel
like all I’m doing is spreading fear.”
Cooper began
to experience his calling into the ministry, specifically
storytelling, but not necessarily as Pastor Cooper. He took
a leap of faith and instead of extending his medical leave,
he resigned from KNX to pursue his calling. A lack of mental
health facilities where journalists can go for PTSD-related
issues is an area where Cooper may also have another
calling.
“There are no peer-support groups,” he
said. “First responders have critical incident debriefings
after a tragic incident. We’re actually seeing about 75-80%
of what they’re seeing, yet we have nothing to protect our
mental health. I have an incredible amount of respect for
the work of our first responders, fortunately for them not
every incident they respond to is a critical incident and
they have resources available when they see the darkest
sides of humanity; but when you’re a crime and fire
reporter, every incident you go to seems to be a major
incident, there are no resources and your mental health is
affected. I wasn’t sleeping at night. I had night terrors
and panic attacks.”
There needs to be some sort of
outlet for journalists to process these issues. Cooper feels
passionately about this area, and hopes the union covering
the broadcast industry will address this issue. He also made
reference to the Dart Center for Journalism and Trauma
(https://dartcenter.org/) that is doing excellent work in
this area. This next journey for Cooper has all his
storytelling juices going at full speed.
While
pursuing the mental health issues for journalists, he is
interviewing with a number of mega churches who have needs
for storytelling. “We’ll see what happens next. It’s a
bright horizon,” offered an optimistic Cooper Rummell.
You can reach out to Cooper at:
cooperrummell@gmail.com
|
|
|
Linder is Beached
|
 |
(November
24, 2010)
“I figured if there were no
jobs to be found in radio at
the moment, start your own
station,”
Michael Linder
said by phone the other
afternoon. Michael is best
known in the Southland as a
newsman at KABC and KNX.
Michael is launching KVB.fm
in early January. He is from
Venice Beach (started living
in Venice in 1973 and he now
overlooks the surf and
boardwalk) and his new radio
station will cater to the
lifestyle of the beach
communities. “The music is
a mix of Top
40/CHR hits with a
late-night
stream-of-consciousness
blend of dance, chill and
ambience. The problem is you
can’t daypart for the
planet.
If you’re in town the
station sounds like this is
what is going on in town and
along Abbott Kinney. If
you’re from out of town –
and I expect a big out of
town listening audience
since Venice Beach is such a
big brand – the station will
give you a sense of what
it’s like to live there
captured in vignettes
reflecting the environmental
attitude. Everyone in the
world knows Venice Beach
because of all the movies
that are made there.
Venice is greater L.A.’s
number 2 tourist destination,
second only to Disneyland
with 16 million visitors a
year.” |
“I acquired this great automation
software from New Zealand called
Station Playlist. I didn’t realize
that it was such a complicated
process to start an Internet radio
station. You have to file ‘Intention
of Streaming’ with the United States
Library of Congress people, along
with a $25 check. You then have to
register with a music clearance
service. Then comes the automation
software. This package I bought from
this New Zealand company is really
good. You can put in dry liners and
it will back-time them to the ramp
of the music. It’ll also announce
time and temperature. Absolutely
amazing stuff.”
How tough is it to start your own
radio station? Not bad, according to
Linder. He started with a new
laptop. “The laptop will be the
radio station. It is networked to my
desktop computer where I can program
the hours. The hardest part is
loading in a couple of thousand
songs. Then you build typical hours
for whatever your daypart is and
then drag the various songs, liners,
promotional items and commercials.
The machine randomizes and kicks out
these songs that you’ve programmed
with guidelines not to play the same
artists within so many minutes or
hours of each other or play anything
from the same album within so much
time. These are all things
programmers would do on a typical
radio station.”
Music radio is nothing new to
Linder. We think of him as a great
newsman but he put on the third fm
Rock station in Canada in 1971 and
he was also at CHOM-Montreal doing
Progressive Rock. “I started really
in music radio and segued to news at
WNEW/fm-New York during its heyday
in the 70s with Scott Muni and
Allison Steele. It’s going back to
my music roots.”
Securing music for KVB.fm is not
only a time consuming project but
can be an expensive one. Linder has
a pretty extensive personal music
collection but those he doesn’t have
and wants cost him 99 cents from
iTunes.
|
Putting together his radio
station is only part of the
process. Linder said: “Now
you have to think about how
you are going to distribute
it and in what format. I
found these guys in Canada
called Stream-On and they’ve
got a little box that you
plug it into your laptop and
then you plug it into your
Internet connection and it
streams to their servers.
They distribute to as many
people as choose to log in
and they charge you by the
listening hours over a
month. Any number of people
can be tapped in at the same
time.”
Linder is bullish that
Internet radio is the next
great wave. “You sent out an
article recently with the
growth of Internet listening
and questioning whether this
will be the end of
terrestrial radio and I
heard that loud and clear.
I’ve been thinking exactly
the same thing. I want to
broaden the scope of what I
do. I’m doing this to figure
out how I can do more
interesting things than
simply streaming your AM or
FM air signal. I didn’t want
to replicate other Internet
stations that simply spew
out one song after another.
I’m looking to create
personality radio,
specifically for the
Internet. If you listen to
the 90-second promotional
spot at KVB.fm, all the
voices are computer
generated. Those aren’t even
real people.” |
 |
“For me, KVB.fm is a demo project.
It will be a hard sell in terms of
advertising. I don’t think there
will be a lot. It may come with
sponsoring specific programs or
vignettes. I may want to experiment
with a skateboard show and there are
folks here in town that could do
that. A surf show could pick up some
limited advertising from Quicksilver
or a surfboard manufacturer. I’m not
sure local shops in Venice will buy
spots but it is a possibility
depending on listenership. It’ll
probably take six months to a year
to figure out how many people are
listening and how you spread the
word. I’ve got some Google Adwords
to promote the site in advance. But
the site will be a loss leader for a
while and simple self-promotion so I
can look at what I think is the next
big thing in radio.”
|
 |
Thanks.
Hopefully all members of the
LARadio community will enjoy
some time together with
family over this
Thanksgiving weekend. A
simple wish from someone who
was estranged from his son
for 17 years, reach out and
extend yourself to someone
who really needs to be
acknowledged and hugged. Our
time here is so short. |
|
|
For 25 years LARadio chronicled the news of
Southern California radio and the personalities
who populated it. Alan Oda was editor for much
of that time. With the closing of LARadio he
opened a weekly blog, mostly about radio at
ayodaradio.blogspot.com |
 |
After 25 years, LARadio came to an end in 2020.
Read the final column by clicking the curtain. |
 |
Ladies of LARP Calendar in 2007
 |
Early LARadio was dominated by men. In the 70s women began to
find an important place - on and off-air - in creating the rich
history of LARadio. In 2007, we saluted the women in LARadio with a
calendar that included the names of the LARP who were having
birthdays that month. Calendar was sponsored by Mt. Wilson
Broadcasting. You can access it at this
link.
|
Send mail to:
Donald Barrett,
AvilaBeachdb@gmail.com with
questions or comments about this website
Copyright 1997-2021 - Los Angeles Radio People
PO Box 2670, Avila
Beach, CA 93424
Last modified:
December 04, 2021
