Long before KAAY there was KVLC

As top 40 goes KAAY was a late comer to the Little Rock market. When KAAY went on the air Sept. 1962, there was three other top 40 stations: KXLR, KAJI, and KVLC. KVLC was the first to bring top 40 to Little Rock, but it had a major problem. It was a daytimer. It ran down at sundown. None the less, it was highly successful when it was on the air. The original owner was Lenord Coe. That's where the call letters came from: "The Voice of Lenord Coe". Mr. Coe sold KVLC and bought KLRA, where Brother Hal was always a rating thorn in KAAY's side. I found a 45 record in my collection on the KVLC label called "Little Rock My Home Town". One of my rules for this blog, is to limit it to KAAY material but I can not resist sharing this record which is actually a Pams jingle. You will recognize it immediately. No telling how many cities Pams sung this for. In fact, one of the problems we had at KAAY, is that many of the good jingles had been taken by other stations.
Those of you from Little Rock will really appreciate this jingle. Listen closely they did a poor job of making the call letters stand out and they are only mentioned once:


http://kaay.podOmatic.com/entry/eg/2007-05-17T14_41_47-07_00

WAKY call letters return!

What am I doing talking about WAKY on a KAAY blog? Well, first WAKY was owned by LIN Broadcasting as was KAAY. Many of the original employees came from WAKY, like Mike Hankins, George Jennings, and Jack Grady. The big news WAKY call letters return. Here's the item:


79WAKY.com would like to welcome WAKY back to the Derby City! On May 11, 2007, WASE-FM in Elizabethtown changed their call letters to WAKY, while maintaining their popular oldies format. Now much of the Louisville market can enjoy the music and jingles that made WAKY famous on the all new WAKY 103-5.

On the www.79WAKY.com website you can check out Mike McCormick a/k/a Mike Hankins that I write about often, under "DJs".

On the site Mike writes about George:

George J. Jennings WAKY News Director in the '60s (right before Bob Watson). He also worked at KAAY in Little Rock, Arkansas and WOIA in San Antonio, Texas. Died March 15, 2007 at the age of 67 due to renal failure. Mike McCormick wrote in 2005:
"George Jennings was my second news director at KAAY/Little Rock. He was later transferred to WAKY/Louisville, another LIN Broadcasting station. He also served as our News Director at Storz's WDGY/Minneapolis, but later returned to KAAY."After a couple of changes in Little Rock he accepted a position at WOIA/San Antonio and retired around a year or so ago. [JQ notes: He retired in 1999 after more than 20 years at WOIA.]
"We plan to get together soon and drain Austin of its beer supply...and tell radio lies all evening long.
"George is a great broadcaster and super gentleman. I'd hire him again...probably!"

I guess Mike forgot George doesn't drink. The one night he did.......well thats another story.

Kennedy Editorial on KAAY

KAAY frequently editorialized. The editorials were usually written by the General Manager. Len Carl started that tradition. He editorialized on everything from urging the state legislature not to trade educational channel 2 for channel 7. They didn't and that's a story all it's own. Len even editorialized when rumors were going around about the dirty lyrics of Louie, Louie. Len read the bland lyrics is a very formal style. It was great. This editorial is about the Robert Kennedy shooting. George J. Jennings reads the editorial but it is unsigned. Since both Pat Walsh (the General Manager at that time) and George J. are gone, I cannot verify who wrote it. But the style is very definitely George's style and I suspect he wrote it. There are a lot of commercials in this aircheck from 6-5-68. This was before the days of the stop set. Records were never played back to back. You will notice a lot of talk between records. Ratings with all this talk were at an all time high. Everything from Prep. H (openingly talking about health issues) to Channel 11 promoting and hour of black and white programs. Lots of history in them there spots.

Enjoy: http://kaay.podOmatic.com/entry/eg/2007-05-15T09_02_10-07_00

Robert Kennedy Shot 6-5-68 Geo. J. Reports

It's 6:30 AM, Marvin Vines wraps up his Farm Report, and George J. Jennings does KAAY Comex News with complete details of the 4:30 AM, Little Rock time, Robert Kennedy shooting. Clyde Clifford, of Beaker Street does a police report. We all did "phoners" or newscasts. Notice the farm commercial that runs in the newscast. More information than we want to know about flies.

Here's the link:

http://kaay.podOmatic.com/entry/eg/2007-05-15T08_24_43-07_00

Broadway Drive-In and more great commercials on KAAY

This aircheck of Ron Owens a/k/a Walt Sadler has a great spot for "Big Daddy" showing at the Razorback Drive-In Theater. Also "The Wild Bunch" is showing at the Arkansas Theater. Southwestern Bell's spot plays off the "only phone company in town" joke and Frank Woods does Comex News. Walt passed away several years ago. We worked together at KAAY and when I was Manager at KOKY Walt was sales manager. A great guy and good friend.

Enjoy about 24 minutes:
http://kaay.podOmatic.com/entry/eg/2007-05-14T12_15_05-07_00

Dale Bumpers was governor of Arkansas and.........

The newscasts in these air checks also bring back some memories. This aircheck is from 6-11-72.

http://kaay.podomatic.com/entry/et/2007-05-12T07_41_04-07_00

Missed One

I think I missed one in the Last Day of KAAY series. So here it is:

http://kaay.podomatic.com/entry/et/2007-04-20T07_10_16-07_00

Marvin Vines & Sonny Martin on KAAY

From 11/2/71 this aircheck has a longer segment of Marvin Vines. We often forget KAAY had a 30 minute farm program from 5:30-6:00 AM. Also a 15 minute segment at noon. Religious programs 5-5:30 AM AND 6:00-8:00 PM in the evening. There was also a hour 11:00 -Midnight for Stan's Record shop. This was unheard of for a top 40 station. These paid programs paid the overhead, so that the rest of spot sales were profit.

Enjoy the aircheck:

http://www.podomatic.com/podcast/tell/kaay?p=1

KAAY Commercials

No airchecks just commercials. Not presented here as examples of great commercials but a look back in history. Can you imagine the ticket price for a James Brown show? Jerry Sims hawks the virtues of channel 11's color and local line up. Don't miss the movie spots. Remember the Broadway Drive-In Theater.

http://kaay.podOmatic.com/entry/eg/2007-05-09T12_28_26-07_00

The First Mike McCormick on KAAY

We've been listening to the 2nd Mike McCormick but who was the first. I've written extensively about Jim Hankins the first McCormick and the first program director who put together the staff and sound of KAAY. Please go up to the "search" box for this blog and enter "Hankins" scroll down and read the earlier posts. Here is a short aircheck. Listen to the enormous reverb. George Jennings and I do produced record intros.

http://kaay.podOmatic.com/entry/eg/2007-05-09T11_12_21-07_00

Phil North aircheck from KAAY

Does anyone know the date for this aircheck

http://kaay.podOmatic.com/entry/eg/2007-05-08T14_09_41-07_00

Part 2 of KAAY Aircheck

The way blogs are posted causes airchecks that are broken into parts to be backward. This is part 2. You might want to scroll down and start with part 1 then come back to:


http://kaay.podomatic.com/entry/et/2007-05-05T09_56_19-07_00

KAAY aircheck 4-1-67

Posts below have been featuring some of the last day of KAAY broadcast. This clip is from that show but it is an actual aircheck from 4-1-67 with Barry Wood a/k/a Mike McCormick. You'll notice his voice is much younger:

http://kaay.podomatic.com/entry/et/2007-05-05T09_44_58-07_00

More last day Harper Valley PTA

How fast did KAAY start playing Harper Valley PTA?

Listen and find out:
http://kaay.podomatic.com/entry/et/2007-05-05T09_36_28-07_00
More facts about the record:
Jeannie C. Riley (born Jeanne Carolyn Stephenson on October 19, 1945) is a Country Music singer. She is best known for her 1968 Country and Pop hit "Harper Valley PTA". She became the first woman to have a single become a Country and Pop #1 hit at the same time. Following the success of the song, she had more success on the Country charts.

KAAY News Item

Hear what former GOVERNOR of AR, Bill Clinton had to say about FORMER coach Eddie Sutton going to Kentucky:

http://http://kaay.podOmatic.com/entry/2007-05-05T09_23_56-07_00

Last Day of KAAY as Sonny tells where the name Beaker St. Came from

Sorry it's been so long since my last post, but I lost my transfer cable. To continue with the Last Day of KAAY broadcast Sonny Martin a/k/a Matt White is talking with Mike McCormick a/k/a/ Barry "woody" Wood and tells how the name for "Beaker Street" originated.

http://kaay.podOmatic.com/entry/eg/2007-05-04T13_11_45-07_00

Marvin Vines Grandson Andy

I received a comment to post on the blog entry about Marvin Vines as follows:

Andy Vines has left a new comment on your post "Marvin Vines KAAY's Farm Service Director":

Marvin Vines was my grandfather. Thanks for the post as well as the sound check from 1971 where his voice is heard briefly at the beginning. I had not heard his voice in almost 30 years. I appreciate your work on this blog and in keeping the memory of the great KAAY alive.


Andy's email address did not show, so I would like to repond to him here and you all can read it also: Andy,

Great to hear from you. I worked with Marvin, your grandfather, for several years as the second Doc Holiday. I always looked forward to going to work early in the morning, knowing Marvin would already be there, having made the coffee, written his program and on the air.

Of course I never understood what he was talking about, but he knew the farm business forward and backward, and all I was interested in was rock and roll. He adapted to the change from KTHS to KAAY and supported us like we were all old neighbors.

I always wished I could have seen him speak to one of the meetings he was always going to.

Pat Walsh always held Marvin in such high regard and gave the rest of us so much grief.

I do have more material on Marvin and will be posting it in the future.

Thanks again for your comments. We must pass the past on to future generations.

A.J.

For those of you who don't understand what we are talking about just go to the top and do a search on this blog for "Marvin Vines".

More, More, More of Sonny & Woody

Continued discussion of promotions, contests, basketball.

Be sure player is set to a file named " "


Click here to get your own player.

Even More Last Day of KAAY

Woody and Sonny talk about memorable promotions.


Click here to get your own player.

How Matt White a/k/a Sonny Martin came to KAAY.

Continuing on the Last Day broadcast, Barry Wood a/k/a Mike McCormick talks with Matt White about an Ear On Arkansas episode and how he came to KAAY.


Click here to get your own player.

Barry Wood a/k/a Mike McCormick on Last Day

I believe Barry Wood was the second Mike McCormick. He came to KAAY part time since hewas in the Air Force at the Little Rock Air Force Base. As I remember he worked on ICBMs or neculear missles or something scarey. I always worried that he would push "The Button" at the air force thinking he was at KAAY and playing "Eve Of Distruction". Barry was the most conciencous jock we had. He made an aircheck almost everyday and would listen to see how he could improve. To hear Woody on the last day be sure the green bar is moved to "Woody.



Click here to get your own player.

Magnolia from KAAY's Ear On Arkansas

This comes from the last day of KAAY broadcast. Barry Wood a/k/a Mike McCormick will introduce the bit from Ear on Arkansas. More on the "Last Day" broadcast as you scroll down but I must make a comment about Mary Smart. Mary was a copy writer at KAAY. I had worked with her at a previous station and we never got along. Mary was much older and I was a teenager. I hated her copy and we clashed constantly. However, to do Ear On Arkansas we pulled in all the voices we could find in the building. Mary had a very soft, very southern voice. Howard Watson A/K/A Ken Knight created the character Magnolia as a recurring part. This continued after Howard left and we even got Tommy Riggs to do a jingle into which you will hear on the clip.

To show you what a small world it is, Mary is buried a half mile from my house in Alma.

In the window change the green bar selection to "Magnolia"


Click here to get your own player.

Last Day of KAAY

The last day KAAY was a top 40 radio station many of the prior DJs got together for a last broadcast. I don't know if the station sold the time to competitors or gave them the time, but several stations had announcements urging listeners to join them. One of those was Brother Hal from KLRA. This is very significant, in that Brother Hal usually led the local ratings. He was there before KAAY and as it ended the rock format. While I was at KAAY, I remember a big day of celebration when the Pulse survey showed I had beaten Brother Hal in a 15 minute segment. As the years past, I think there were several "books" where KAAY beat Brother Hal. He was always a thorn in our side. Brother Hal (Hal Weber) has passed away, but will always live in my memory. Here is a clip from the last day with Bro. Hal:


Click here to get your own player.

Sorry for lack of posts!

I have been wrapping up some projects and starting a new one, so my time has been limited for blogging.

I have discovered a number of tapes of the last day of KAAY as a rocker. I have just started to listen but there are some real jewels I will be sharing in a few days.

The submissions from those of you out there in radioland has dropped to nothing. Remember if you have reel to reels, 8 tracks, cassettes whatever of old KAAY material contact me and I will be happy to transfer them to digital and return your tapes. I can play any speed and even old broadcast cartidges. I know some of you must have made off with a few, dig them out and send them to me and I will transfer them.

Jennings Ark. Gazette-Democrat news story

Sorry for the delay in posting this. The Arkansas Democrat Gazette does not allow internet access to their paper without having a subscription. I had to rely on a friend to send the actual clipping. Click on the image to enlarge.

1962 Aircheck

This aircheck was forwarded by Jim Pitcock. Thanks so much. I have heard this before. It was recorded off the skywave and had a speed problem that was playing too fast. I couldn't even recognize George J. Jennings' voice. I have worked on it. It may not be exactly right but it is much better. On this air check you will hear the 1st Buddy Karr , Tom Bigby, George J. Jennings, some of the original jingles that only aired for a short time before being replaced. There is a promo "M Squad" that has very historical significance in that all of the original 1st jocks speak a line or two.

Enjoy and let me hear you comments:

http://kaay.podOmatic.com/entry/2007-03-24T08_06_31-07_00

San Antonio Express Obit

The San Antonio Express Obit adds some people we haven't heard from, so I would like to add it FYI:

Jennings 03/20/2007
George Walter Jennings, 67, died in San Antonio, March 15, 2007. Best known as news director of WOAI Radio in San Antonio during the 1980's, he was instrumental in the growth of Clear Channel Communications, setting up radio news operations in several of the broadcasting group's Southwestern markets, including Beaumont, New Orleans, and Tulsa. Notable news broadcasters who were taught their trade by George include NBC news anchor Ken Herrera, ESPN Washington host Andy Polin, and ABC vice president John McConnell. George was born in Mexia, Texas, February 1, 1940 to Walter and Helen Kelly Jennings, and grew up in Dallas. He was preceded in death by his son, Gregory Hale Jennings, and is survived by his wife Nancy Seerden Jennings and a son, Dean Vaughan Jennings, his wife Karen Holmes Jennings and a granddaughter Genevive Leigh Jennings of Boise, Idaho.

The Briefing Notebook

Thanks to "The Briefing Notebook" for their coverage of the George Jennings story. We have linked back and forth to the point I sometimes forget where the material originated. This comment was posted on The Briefing Notebook and refers to a period in time when I had left KAAY to manage KCLA in Pine Bluff AR. I have avoided much reference to this as this is a blog about KAAY. Someday perhaps someone will do a KCLA blog which is a story unto its own. This was in the late 70s:

Actually, A. J. Lindsey (aka Doc Holiday) was
General Manager of KCLA at the time and George
(not Sonny) came to work there with "Doc". George
was there long enough to work out a Pine Bluff
Bureau deal with KARK TV and train up and coming
newsman, Bill Sadler before leaving to launch a
News formatted FM at 95.7 on your radio dial. Yes, it is now KSSN 96 FM.

Breakfast Serial

George was a good friend and I loved working with him. When I wanted to bring MY version of "The Breakfast Serial" to radio here in the St. Louis Market, George gave his blessing and supplied me with tape during the first year or so of the run.

Later, when I started to syndicate the show he, again, was a main supporter and was proud of the job I did with the show.

I've always been grateful that George and I crossed paths...he was one of a kind.

My sincere thoughts and prayers go out to Nancy and his family.

Jonnie King / St. Louis

1962 Photo

In His Own Words

George Jennings wrote the following for this blog in Sept. of 2006.

George J. Jennings tells how he came to KAAY
The following is George's recount of how he came to KAAY and where the "J." came from. His real name is George W. Jennings.

In the summer of 1962, I was a disc jockey at WRR in Dallas. All of a sudden on a Sunday afternoon there was a pounding on the back door of the station. It was a person named Jack Grady who was looking for a friend of his who allegedly worked at the station. I let him in and he came into the booth where I was playing records and sat for about three hours, while he waited for his friend to show up. Grady was between planes at Love field and had nothing else to do. During that time I did several rip and read newscasts. Grady left about 6 PM and I thought I would never hear from him again. About 2 weeks later, I heard from Grady. He had heard my newscasts and thought I would be perfect for a station signing on in Arkansas. On a whim, I took my wife, infant son, and cat, and drove 300 miles to Little Rock. I had no idea what a newsman does. When the station signed on as KAAY, it was distinguished by playing "Baby Elephant Walk" and reading the Little Rock telephone directory 24 hours a day. We would say things like, "The friendly giant welcomes Mr. and Mrs. Jack Jones of 123 Apple Street to the land of KAAY. During this time I rip and read newscasts. After about a week, I started trying to figure out what a newsman was suposeded to be and started actually covering things. For the first two months Grady was news director but he left to pursue "other interests". At that time, the disc jockeys used all fake names. During the entire time I was at the station, I used my own name, except for the J. initial that was inserted in the middle. It finally became a situation, where I was inserted in the morning program with a number of Sonny Martins or Emperor Holiday,adding wit and humor or setups for the DJ to play off of. That was the entire pattern for my stay until 1974. Through a pattern of attrition I became news director, operations manager plus salesman at KAAY. I eventually had another newsman working with me, and over the period, I became a fair newsman, so much so that I was able to become news director for such stations as WOAI, San Antonio, and WFAA in Dallas, with stops in New Orleans, Louisville, Minnapolis. KAAY was for me a testing ground, where I learned what I needed to. I am still in contact with Grady and I curse him every time I speak to him. I am now retired in San Antonio and have nothing to do with radio except for constant listening to old time radio shows.

A Great Way to Remember George!

Relive one of his newcasts. This newscast comes from January 1964. The newscasts were still at :15 and :45 later changed to the top of the hour. This comes from a Sept. blog entry:

http://www.freewebs.com/ajlinds/geo.wma

More additions

Previously I had linked to this blog and now I refer you there again to read all the way to the bottom and the comment from Jack Grady. Jack was the first news director at KAAY and was John K. Anderson. Somewhere I have read the story of Jack hiring George for KAAY. I will try and find it. Meanwhile:

http://www.michaelmain.com/2007/03/storytellers-tale.html

From Guin Reeves RE: George Jennings

I cannot believe my mentor, friend and "radio daddy" (along with Sonny Martin)is mortal, after all. I was a scared young female broadcaster just finishing broadcast school when George hired me at the old KXXA (which became KSSN FM 96) in 1977. George was a character, and one of the finest people I ever knew. George developed my on-air voice, and I would never have had the wonderful career I had without his help. I would love to hear from Nancy and some of the old crew, Sonny Martin, Ken Moyer and others...contact me at guindareeves@yahoo.com and leave a phone number or address. I feel like a piece of my heart has been ripped off. My memory of George includes his standard gear for his shift: a big cigar and a huge mega-cup of Dr. Pepper (I think it was Diet Dr. Pepper).

From Jim Harvill

Just a quick note to express that my prayers are with Nancy and with you as well. I know your friendship with George was one you treasured. As trite as it may sound, George truly was one of a kind. I count it an honor to have worked with him and you, albeit too briefly, in Pine Bluff. Apparently, God needed a newsman and He got the best one I ever heard in George J. Jennings.

In case you just tuned in......

All of the posts the past few days have centered around the passing of George Jennings.
Many of these posts are from associates of his with WOAI. George was there 22 years. The longest George was ever in one spot in his life. George and Nancy have a fondness for San Antonio that I don't understand but obviously respect there choice. WOAI has a revision of their story on the web page: http://radio.woai.com/cc-common/news/sections/newsarticle.html?feed=119078&article=1845316

Outside of LR and San Antonio

George Jennings... my mentor...my friend. I loved him like a father and owe all that I've done in broadcasting to this man. George and I first met at KPAC in Port Arthur, Texas back in 1978... we worked together for the next 10 years at three stations: KPAC, WOAI and WFAA in Dallas. George was the first to let me "anchor" a newscast when others said I "Wasn't anchor material..." Stints at KNX in Los Angeles, UPI Radio, NBC Radio, as morning anchor, and AP Radio, again as morning anchor proved George was right and the others were wrong. I am deeply saddened by news of his death. He truly was my mentor and the reason I am where I am today in the industry. There are others like me. Let me name a few who worked with George way back when in Port Arthur: Andy Pollin, now with WTEM in DC and one of the originals at WFAN when everyone said all-sports would fail... Michael Packer, former PD of WLS now involved in consulting.... John McConnel, VP of ABC Radio... ALL of us had the honor of learning from that crusty old man and all of us are better broadcasters today because of that experience.
George, I will miss you. I feel fortunate knowing that before you left us I was able to tell you how much you meant in my life. I hope that now that you are gone you realize just what a monumental impact you had on the lives of MANY in your chosen industry. I will never, ever forget you my dear, dear friend. There was great comfort in knowing for these many years that Jennings was on the case somewhere... that security blanket has been stripped from us all and now the world is a slightly meaner and nastier place. Jennings was rough, but Jennings was ALWAYS right. I feel as though I have lost a father.

Ken Herrera
Morning Host
WTMJ-AM
Milwaukee

More Comments

I've corrected the WOAI website story, thank you for the information.

I talked with George's widow, Nancy, today. She's doing well, but no funeral is planned. I'm encouraging some longtime radio folks in the area to take her to lunch in a couple of weeks and "share" George stories, something she seemed excited about.

Despite her stoicism, I hate to think of her being "alone" at this time. She's even requested family not to come to be with her.

Keep her in your thoughts and prayers.

Michael Main
http://www.michaelmain.com/blog.htm

Nancy Jennings writes:

Nancy left this as a comment, however, to make sure you have an opportunity to see it, I am reposting it here.

As a side comment, an Ark. Democrat reporter talked with me and I gave him Nancy's number. He called back later and left a message "Nancy sure is a character". I had given him a headsup. I would have loved to have heard that conversation.

Here's Nancy's comments:

George was my husband,and we were married for 45 years. I have been an observer of the radio biz during all that time. Did any of you ever realize how many newsperson I met and fed over the years. George always called us the last of the white collar migrantory workers. When we were engaged the year of 1960-1961, I was at Southwestern University in Georgetown, Tx, my sweet husband was broadcasting at WRR in Dallas and he would sign off with Sinatra version of "Nancy with the Smiling Face". I bet you never knew what a romantic person he was. I was always surprised at his inventiveness to keep me guessing. One cold day in Arkansas, I walked into the house and my piano was covered with daffodils, just what I needed after a hard day at work. I knew Spring was near.

We raised two fine boys together, and they turned out to be very nice people. I don't know how I would make it now without my Dean. Dean is my spacecadet who is a computer nerd. He lives in Boise, Id. after 10 years of creative nagging, he finally gave me a granddaughter called Genevieve. She called George "Grumps" and she calls me
"NanNan

Most of all, I remember our "children" that George trained and raised. I always told him I would never work for him, so I don't understand how any of you worked for or with him. He just about drove me crazy. He worked 14 hours a day, and he let me do my own thing. I was never burden with pushing him in his career, he did that himself. All I had to do was raise the boys, and keep house, and make him good food. He loved my cooking. I had a few fans outside the immediate family, AJ and Jim, didn't I make a mean dish of Spaghetti and meatballs.

George and I have had many adventures and were never afraid of the future. God always seem to take care of us. We've had money and we've been broke, such is life.

Someday, before I get too old, I would like to sit down with a bunch of you people, and you entain me with your "war" stories. You gave George great joy and headaches over the years, but he always bragged how good each and everyone became. He was sooooo proud of all of you. I think he taught you backbone and to never be afraid. Go for it kids, there still a lot of spark in all of you. Also know, George is f#%(&ing laughing his ass off at you all now that he's in heaven and you're not.

Love Nancy

Publish this comment.

More more more!

Everyone who encountered George Jennings has at least one story. I am so impressed by the people who will take the time to write and share their comments.

The following is a link to a blog with a Geo. J. Story:

http://www.michaelmain.com/blog.htm

More Geo.J

George hired me at WOAI in 1985, and taught me much. He was indeed a formidable man, and I owe him my career.

He will be missed.

Michael Main
Managing Editor/Clear Channel San Antonio

More Jennings Remembered

I am receiving several comments that post under various stories. I don't want anyone to miss these comments, therefore I am also posting them as individual stories like:

So many stories. Too many to choose just one about a friend and fellow broadcaster I admired greatly.

The majority of 22 years at WOAI were spent having the time of my life with George. It was memorable..as is he. A broadcaster and newsman for the ages.

George, no one could or will ever hit the net like you.

Johnny Marks

More George J. Remembered

Please be sure and read the "comment" posted at the end of the the Treadway remembered.

Jim Pitcock sent the following:

George Jennings and I began a lifelong friendship in 1962, shortly after KAAY began broadcasting what was to become one of the most memorable radio stations and formats in the country.

He was part of the original gang and his contribution to the success of the station was huge. He loved the business and was always willing to go the extra mile. George was the only Arkansas radio newsman on the scene, when riots broke out on the campus of Ole Miss, in 1962. He reported from Oxford, Mississippi for several days - many of those reports were picked up by the national networks. Job offers came in from around the country, but he said he wanted to stay at 10-9-0.

George was a friend and mentor. I can remember many afternoons during the summer of '63 when A.J. and I would join George and Nancy on the side porch of their home on Beechwood, in Hillcrest and talk about the business - whether it was our latest scoop and how bad we were beating KAJI, or why couldn't we go full-time music and drop the early evening "special" programming - a sore spot for most of the staff.

George left KAAY after we had worked together for about six months. He came back, but by then I had left too.
But I'll always remember that voice - "This is George J. Jennings, at your service."

George was back in Little Rock many years later for the Presidential campaign. We got together and have talked on the phone a couple of times since. We always reminisced about those glory days at "Big K'' and what a grand time it was.

George Jennings remembered by David Treadway

Dad GUM! I have just now gotten the news that George
Jennings is dead. My idols are mortal after all and I
do NOT like that! How fitting that this mighty man was
taken, like Caesar, on the Ides of March, for he was
the only human I ever met who could explain (at GREAT
length) why the 15th of any month was not necessarily
the Ides. Just another reason to wish that I had paid
more attention to George Jennings!

There has only been one other man who came close to
scaring me on first sight as bad as Pat Walsh did, and
that was George Jennings.

I was 6’ 4” on March 8, 1971, when I got my audition
at KAAY. I met him in the newsroom and I remember
having to look UP to him--literally. Surely, he wasn’t
THAT tall, but that’s the way I still see him: a regal
and imposing presence.

George taught me more about a newscast in five minutes
than I had learned in the previous two years. “It
doesn’t matter if a story is local or national or
world or whatever,” he fairly barked at me. “You start
with the most important one first. Then, you move down
to the second most important and so on. Ya GOT that,
kid?” It was more of a command than a question and it
seemed to me at the moment that you did NOT admit to
George Jennings that you didn’t understand what he was
telling you. He was about to throw your uppity young
butt into the deep end of the pool and you would swim
if you knew what was good for you.

I would soon find, from reading his First Class
Radiotelephone Operator’s Certificate (back when you
actually had to KNOW something about Radio to be on
the air), that he was a fellow Aquarius, born on
February 1. We had a birthday in common, something
that SOMEHOW made me admire him all the more. Dang,
but I wanted to SOUND like George and THUNDER the News
into that big spongy-looking Electro-Voice 667 mike
that hung over the Gates Stereo Statesman console in
the newsroom at 1425 West 7th Street. I did my best to
copy him.

There’s no telling how high his IQ was. He could
probably do all the parts of Hamlet from memory,
although I never did press him about it. One thing for
sure: he was smart as a handful of whips about Radio.
He could start a feud with Sonny Martin using no more
than six words--and people would Tune 1090 by the
thousands just to hear what those two would get up to
next. (Sonny, do you KNOW what a Magnificent Bastard
you were working with?)

In early April of 1985, I had the idea of getting as
many of the original KAAY airstaff as possible back
together for the last broadcast day before the station
got sold to the Christians. I could get almost
everybody but George. When I called WOAI, they told me
he was out covering a story. How fitting that was.
Sonny laughed when I told him.

I utterly HATE it that it took George a long time to
die, but it’s SO fitting that the Grim Reaper had to
work to get him! We will not see the likes of him
again.

Rock ON, Jennings!!! Fly free forever and tell Johnny
Cash I said hey.

With great love and admiration from the snot-nosed
Arkie Pup that you helped to raise.

Slight correction to story below

In 1963 George was on his first tour of duty at KAAY. He was headed for Dallas on vacation when the first news of the Kennedy assisination broke. George continued to Dallas and fed hours of reports back to KAAY. He did work at WFAA but that was after the second tour at KAAY.

More on Jennings from WOAI website

Veteran San Antonio Newsman Jennings Dies

Worked at WOAI for twenty years
By Jim Forsyth
Friday, March 16, 2007

Veteran San Antonio newsman George Jennings has died following a lengthy battle with renal failure. He was 67.


Jennings worked at 1200 WOAI news and News 4 WOAI for twenty years, retiring in 1999. He was also a prominent fixture as a master of ceremonies and presenter at numerous local events.


George was a native of Kosse Texas, in Limestone County. He worked for fifteen years as morning host and program director at KAAY-AM in Little Rock Arkansas. He also worked at WFAA in Dallas, where he covered the 1963 assassination of President Kennedy.


Friends say Jennings had suffered from kidney failure for some time, and had recently been moved into Vitas Hospice on Fredericksburg Road. He died at the hospice last night.


George is survived by his wife Nancy, and his son Dean. A second son preceded George in death.


Funeral services are incomplete.

George Jennings Passes

George Walter Jennings a/k/a George J. Jennings passed away 3/15/05 at 4:58 P.M. in San Antonio, Texas.

KAAY Last hour of Timeless Tracks

If you are a long time reader of this blog, you know that I have had frequent clips from the Timeless Tracks broadcast by Tony Warner. This was an FM radio program about the 40th anniversary of KAAY. Tony did a super job of getting old employees and air checks together for a 4 hour broadcast. Today is the last hour with no cuts. All the commercials and music are included. As always, this was recorded off the air and is presented here for educational purposes. Enjoy:
Select the first choice, it's label is messed up. It reads: "&Nbsp;"

Click here to get your own player.

FLASH! Join Now

The Emperor rides again!
Join now, send a self-addressed stamped envelope to:

A.J.
1404 Kingswood
Alma, AR 72921

You will receive the reproduction of the original Emperor Holiday membership card and some surprise goodies.

George J. Jennings & Doc Holiday at Theater Opening

The opening of a "Twin" cinema.Big news in those days. Drive-ins were on the way out. The movies were big advertising dollars for KAAY. The primary movie chain's advertising was handled by the General Manager Len Carl. When Len was promoted to manage, Lin Broadcasting's first television stations (WAND, Decatur, IL) I took over the account and when I left KAAY, George assumed the account. Much time and grooming when into the person that handled the theater's account. Soft drinks and beer were also big dollars. KAAY even had a seperate "beer" rate card. These three catagories also contributed to the "sound" of KAAY. This was the era of "It's the Real Thing", "This Bud's or you". The movie ads were great pieces of production. One time we recorded the entire sound track of a movie and produced our own spot because the national spots were no good.
It's been a long time since an advertising jingle become a hit record.

George J. Jennings in the KAAY News Room

Behind George, cart machines, and an old reel to reel magnacorder. In the rest of the station, Ampexes. George was at KAAY twice. He was in the original sign on crew. He went to WDGY and couldn't stand the winter. We were happy to get him back. About a year ago I was driving on a short trip and listening to XM Radio. The sixties at 6 were spotlighting WDGY and they ran a full 5 minute broadcast of George. You never know what has been recorded and when it will surface.

More about Hillbilly Heaven

The story and music clip that follow, is about Tex Ritter's recording of "Hillbilly Heaven". When you hear it, you may wonder how a hardcore country song made it on top 40 stations. For those of you who weren't there here are the facts. Hillbilly Heaven peaked at #26 on the Billboard Hot 100 9/4/61. A couple of different versions are available on ITunes, Walmart Music, and Rhapsody.

KAAY in Hillbilly Heaven

I have made a major find in my limited archives. In late 62 or 63 Tex Ritter had a crossover hit called "Hillbilly Heaven". He then started doing special recordings for radio stations that mention the station's jocks at the end. I had one made for KXLR where I was program director at the time. Then, when I went to KAAY I asked Tex to make one for us. I found the acetate recording, and have transfered it to digital.For educational purposes only.
Select the first choice, it's label is messed up. It reads: "&Nbsp;"

Click here to get your own player.

Even More Music Surveys

Click on image to enlarge.

More KAAY Music Surveys

As always click on the image to enlarge.

Thanks for the link

Thanks for the link to this blog and the comments on KAAY.
Read the comments at: http://jabartlett.wordpress.com/

1st Rob Robbins KAAY

The first Rob Robbins on KAAY was Tom Campbell. Here is the bio as sent to the national rep firm, followed by an aircheck from Thanksgiving evening 11-22-62. On the player, be sure and select "KAAY 11-22-62". This aircheck is not your usual aircheck. This was recorded by Ron Henselman (you've read about him in previous posts) with a microphone in front of a radio, off the skyware, in the Chicago area. The original recording was on recycled acetate reel to reel tape. It was then transferred to digital with some problems. Ron has taken this recording and cleaned it up to a very listenable aircheck. If it were not for great listeners like Ron, this moment would be lost forever. The stations, nor most of the DJs failed to perserve much. Thanks Ron! Our responsibility to the future, is to keep moving what we have forward, utilizing the technology we have today.




Click here to get your own player.

Buddy Karr Bio

Click on the above to read. This is the bio sheet prepared by KAAY to be sent to the national rep firm. This is the first Buddy Karr, a/k/a Tom Bigby. An air check follows.

The 1st Buddy Karr

This is a 15 minute airchex of the first Buddy Karr.


The first Buddy Karr was Tom Bigby. Tom moved on to bigger stations and became a station owner. Notice when Buddy starts talking out of the record, there is a "KAAY one oh nine oh" jingle playing in the background. We had a cart machine stuck out of the way in a rack with just that jingle. A button was located under the desk, and the jock had to push that button when he turned on his mike comming out of a record.

Also notice the use of "K double A Y". This was standard parctice at the start, until we discovered listeners were not understanding what we were saying. So, Mike McCormick a/k/a Jim Hankins instituted a new way to say the call letters. We were to hit the first "A" much harder.(kAay) In fact, saying K double A Y could get you in as
much trouble ss segueing records.

KAAY 1-31-72

I've heard from someone who said "enough clippings give us some audio". Return with us now for 45 minutes of KAAY morning drive with Sonny Martin and George J. Jennings. Leisure suits were 2 for $100, they were promoting a cow chip throwing contest, and the breakfast serial.

This is a new player. You can even download the clip to an Ipod. Let me know what you think.



Click here to get your own player.

KAAY Mow Off

Click on image to enlarge and read. This 1965 newspaper article is yellowing fast. Save it before its gone.

KAAY Tops Newspaper Editoral Page

Click on the above image to read it.
Rarely do newspapers give radio much press. KAAY was different. We got lots of press. The above is from the top of the EDITORIAL page of the Arkansas Gazette, (the oldest newspaper west of the Mississippi, now defunct). I still can't believe an editoral writer raved about something on radio.

The KAAY Album

In 1963 with the help of Chess Records we put out a 33 1/3 record. It's called "Silver Dollar Specials Vol 1" (never a vol 2) The elephant ties into "The Baby Elephant Walk" used for the call letter change over to KAAY.


Starting at the top left, Ken Knight (the first), Mike McCormick, (the First), Buddy Karr (the first) Sonny Martin (the first, left and came back under his real name Wayne Moss), Rob Robbins (This is really B. Bruce Jenkins a newsman. The first Rob Robbins had left and we were probably not sure who would have that name) Doc Holiday (The Second, that's me with a flat top. I was at the station twice, first as Doc Holiday then I came back as Emperor Holiday.

A closer look at the pictures on the back:

These are the songs on the album:

KAAY Response Map

This is part of a brochure that was printed for sales purposes and the national rep for KAAY, HR. The story behind this map, is that these were people who sent in money to buy a book about the Beatles. I forgot what the book sold for, but 14,437 mail responses was huge in those days. In fact, today the reason why you always hear contests with the 7th caller, is that no one writes any more. Even in those days, it was hard to get listeners to send mail or go to a sponsor to register.

(Click on the map for a larger view)

KAAY Bigger Than Life

Click on the images to enlarge. This is from an article that appeared in the Arkansas Democrat 4-7-85. This article filled about 3/4 of a newspaper page. The format was very wide which presented a challenge to reproduce here. Enjoy and save a copy.

KAAY In the Begining......

There was no date on this clipping. To view larger just click on the above image.

More on Stan's Record Shop heard on KAAY

From the internet:

Stan Lewis is the owner of the seminal blues/R&B/gospel/rock label Jewel-Paula-Ronn-Records. In 1948, Lewis opened a record store, Stan's Record Shop, on Texas Street in Shreveport, LA. A frequent customer was a young performer on "The Louisiana Hayride" radio program, Elvis Presley. Lewis became a one-stop operator (other record stores would buy from him) and distributor of independent record labels: Atlantic, Chess, Modern, Specialty, and Imperial. Lewis began a mail-order operation, advertising on John R's (and KAAY) nightly blues/R&B show on Nashville's WLAC-AM, whose powerful clear channel nighttime signal was heard in most parts of the country.

The record entrepreneur began to write and produce R&B and rock & roll acts. Fellow Louisianan Dale Hawkins' 1957 number 27 pop hit on Chess, "Susie Q," was written about Lewis' daughter Susan. In 1963, Lewis founded the Jewel label and soon after the Paula and Ronn imprints. The roster included Big Joe Turner, Inez Andrews, John Lee Hooker, Reverend Oris Mays, Clifton Chenier, Charles Brown, Lowrell Fulson, Ernest Franklin ("My Lord and I," "There's a Leak in This Old Building"), Ike & Tina Turner, the Five Blind Boys of Mississippi, Reverend C.L. Franklin, Memphis Slim, the Violinaires, Lightinin' Hopkins, Reverend Clay Evans, Bobby Rush, Reverend W. Leo Daniels, Roosevelt Sykes, and Toussaint McCall. Also in the Jewel catalog are recordings by Aretha Franklin, Fats Domino, Redd Foxx, and B.B. King. In the late '60s, Lewis bought the masters of Chicago blues label Cobra Records, owned by Eli Toscano, whose roster included Harold Burrage and "West Side" blues guitar stars Buddy Guy, Otis Rush ("I Can't Quit You Baby" -- written by Willie Dixon, number six R&B, fall 1956) and Magic Slim.

Paula act John Fred & His Playboy Band held the number one pop position for two weeks in January 1968 with the million-selling Beatles/"Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds" parody "Judy in Disguise (With Glasses)." The follow-up, "Hey Hey Bunny" went to number 57 pop in February 1968. Chicago group Magnum Force had a dance hit on Paula with "Cool Out," number 72 R&B in early 1985.

Lewis was still active in the music business in the '90s, working with Southern soul singers Carl Sims and Vickie Baker. A Jewel Records boxed set was issued by Capricorn Records in 1993. Tiring of the rigors of trying to run a competitive independent record label in a major-label dominated industry, Lewis decided to offer Jewel for sale while still retaining control of his music publishing companies and the Susie Q and Gospel Jubilee labels (Doug Kershaw, Ace Cannon). Several major labels and music companies expressed interest.

During the summer of 1999, EMusic.com purchased the master recording rights of the Jewel family of labels from Lewis. One of the few remaining pioneers of classic '40s, '50s, and '60s blues, R&B, and rock & roll, Stan Lewis plans to act as a consultant with a Redwood, CA-based Internet music merchant. ~ Ed Hogan, All Music Guide

Memories of Stan's Record Shop on KAAY

From an email:
I had been listening to KAAY since day one. My radio was a nine transistor three-band Realistic radio purchased from Radio Shack when they had only three stores.

The music on KAAY was superior from my point of view because they filtered out some of the stuff I didn't like. It was pretty much good, clean music. When I first

heard Stan's record shop advertising on KAAY, I decided it would be a great place to purchase some lost or worn-out oldies. Each time I ordered, I would have the

45's sent COD. I was never disappointed. My draft notice came in 1966, and I reported for induction. I was sent to Fort Campbell, KY where I was able to listen to KAAY at the end of my day of basic training. 1967 found me in Vietnam. There wasn't a lot to hear on AM radio there except AFVN. I had to try something different.

I bought a tube type three-band radio and strung-up a long wire antenna. I was going to get KAAY no matter what. It never happened. My parents mailed me some

of my 45 RPM records, but there were some oldies I wanted which I had never purchased in the first place. How was I ever going to buy them in Vietnam. I knew

Stan's wasn't going to deal with COD to a foreign country, so I wrote to my parents to call Stan's to figure out if there was a way I could by some records. I never did

figure out what actually happened, but a package with my requested records arrived less than two weeks later. My guess is Stan was sympathetic to me being in Vietnam and didn't wait for the money to arrive. There was always a special place in my heart for Stan's Record Shop after that. I always wondered what his shop actually looked like.

When I was released from the army in 1968, I made a trip to visit a friend in New Orleans. The driver of the car decided it would be fun to visit Stan's, so we stopped there on our return trip to Chicago. Wow! I was in awe. They had all of the current records setup on displays, but down below is where the oldies were kept. They

were in large drawers and arranged alphabetically. I spent more money than I intended that day. One of the most impresive things was a gold record displayed on

the wall. It was on Stan's own Montel label, and it was "I'm Leaving It Up to You" by Dale and Grace. My friend Ronnie Allen did an on-the-air interview with Dale and

Grace about three years ago. They said that they had no idea whatever happened to the gold record. How many of you have ever seen a real gold record up close?

Stan's labels were Montel and Paula. Does anybody know if he had any others?

A few years ago, I was talking on my amateur radio to a fellow named Ship in Shreveport, La. When I mentioned I had been to Stan's, he sadly informed me that

Stan's record shop was no more due to the poor economy of the area at that time. What a great loss to the recording world. Ship went on to tell me how he was

proud to call Stan his friend. I think I was envious.

Sincerely,

Ron Henselman
Melrose Park, IL (suburban Chicago)

James Brown

The recent death of James Brown sent Jerry Sims to his archives. He sent me the above scan of a telegram received March 25, 1966. Jerry was music director at the time. He didn't say if "Ain't That A Groove" ever made it to #1 on the Silver Dollar Sound Survey.

I am constantly amazed at what you readers have saved and share with me. This blog is only possible from your efforts and the boxes of stuff Pat Walsh gave me before his death.

KAAY Emperor Holiday Membership Card

Many thanks to Ron from Chicago for sending me his Commando membership card so I can include it in the blog. I have not had a copy or seen one for about 40 years. I had completely forgotten that our goal was to conquer Oklahoma. Another item of interest, that is not my signature. I remember at the time, using someone else to sign so it would be legible. Ron had questioned the number. Yes, we were using a numbering machine, but I have no clue what number we started with. As you can see Ron carried this for years, it is well worn. I have justly rewarded Ron with a few Emperor Holiday million bucks. Note Ron, these are original and not repoductions.

KAAY Daytime Coverage

This is the daytime coverage map from the 60s. The .01 MV covered the entire state. The competitors' call letters should also bring back some memories for ex-staffers.

More regarding Beaker Street

In earlier posts regarding Beaker Street, Greg had contributed some airchecks and asked if I would include his email address in the form of a link so that he could trade Beaker Street airchecks with others who were interested. The link did not work. I have corrected the link and relisted it here so email Greg and start trading:

click here

Mostly for KAAY Insiders

KAAY sponsored a race horse at Oaklawn park in Hot Springs, but that's not the story. The story here are the people in the picture. I do not have the date of this picture, because Ray Brown and his wife are in the picture, it is probably 1967.

From left to right with some explainations: Freddy Walloch and his wife, (we all did some of those two voice shouting commercials IF IT'S NOT FROM WALLOCH'S YOU PAID TOO MUCH!) Carolyn Graham, wife of Eddie Graham (Eddie was one of the original KTHS employees who stayed. He was a studio engineer, became production chief, and finally salesman. More on Eddie later.) Pat Walsh came to KAAY at the beginning as a salesman and became General Manager. Much about Pat in previous posts) Ray Brown A/K/A Doc Holiday. Ray became Doc Holiday when I went into sales. That would make him Doc Holiday III. Ray later went into Sales then became Sales Manager at KARK-TV and then owner of Bartercard. Ray has passed on and I certainly want to write more on Ray, who is fondly remembered by all of the Little Rock advertising community.) Bobbie Walsh, Pat's wife and Dot Brown, Ray's wife.

Day & Night on KAAY

Those of you who heard KAAY only at night missed much of what made KAAY great. During the day, the 50,000 watt giant covered most of Arkansas. We participated in every local event we could find. Many years we entered the Gould, AR Turtle Derby. There was the Gilette,AR Coon Supper, The Mount Nebo Chicken Fry, and on and on. The KAAY Komando Basketball team (see archives for more) played in Havana,AR and Morrilton, AR and on and on. We did countless remotes and fun events. KAAY made a movie, I believe was titled "The Eggplant that Ate Chicago and came to Little Rock". At night there were less commercials and more chances to experiment with music. Listener calls and requests were a big part of the programming. I can not describe the feeling you get when you throw the mike switch and know that you are booming out of car radios at a drive-in in New Orleans and on the push button of cars in Quincy, Il.

Big KAAY Twist Revised

Thanks to Ron in Chicago, "The Big KAAY Twist" has been cleaned up. It had a lot of pops and clicks, because it was taken from one of the 45 records that were given away. If you would like to download the new file, go to the April Archives and it is the first entry.

I am hoping someone out there has a recording of one of the hundreds of Emperor Holiday comedy bits. This was an on going comedy series used to promote joining Emperor Holiday's Kommandos. If you have it please email me. The series was produced by Mark Century and had a cast of characters like Col. Splended, Daphnie, Lt. Cavendish etc.

Cow Chips Fly on KAAY!

The cow chip throwing contest is a story that must be told. I have chosen to tell it with a newspaper article from 1/20/98 as the writer "looks back" to April 1972. I have chosen to use this article because of the Pat Walsh photo. The contest came about from the Sonny Martin/George J. Jennings morning show. George was program director at the time and did much of the "ground" work. You may need to enlarge these reprints and print them out. If you need something with better quality let me know.

Belle Starr remembered on KAAY

From email:
I remember hearing a young lady on a couple of the early Rob Robbins shows. She was called Belle Starr. I loved her voice. Do you have any idea who I am talking about.

Her real name escaped me, so I ask Jim Pitcock a/k/a Ron Owens. Her real name is Sue Phelps and his last information was that she is living in Baton Rouge, LA. All of us at KAAY and the listeners alike, were in love with Bell Starre. I met her at Little Rock University and asked her if she would like to read requests and dedications at night on KAAY. She agreed and started when I was on at night. When I moved to the morning show she continued on the Robbins show. The name Bell Starre was used because of the Doc Holiday tie. Anyone have any pictures or tape?

Peacock's Pizzeria Remembered on KAAY

Ron from Chicago remembers:

Sometimes I would stay up late and listen to the Ronnie Owens All Night Satellite show. I remember he had some sort of feud going with the people at Peacock's Pizzeria in Peoria, IL. I used to get a laugh out of them trying to get on the air with obscenities over the telephone. One night I heard a female voice call in and actually get on the air; suddenly, it was replaced by a male voice uttering a four letter word and "This is Tony Peacock." Do you know anything about this?

Yes, here's the short version, perhaps I can get Jim Pitcock a/k/a Ron Owens to do the long story:

Tony Peacock from Peacock Pizzera booked Ron Owens and me for appearences in Quincy, Ill. He sold and traded things all over town. A car dealer supplied cars, and he got the top floor of the Lincoln-Douglas Hotel for us. They stopped the movie at a theater and we walked out on stage and said hello.
It was quite a trip.

Chicago Fan From The Beginning

Here is an email of a KAAY listener from Chicago, who heard the change from KTHS to KAAY:

I saw some of your information about KAAY on the Internet. It brought back many memories. I listened to KAAY here in the Chicago suburbs during the early to mid-sixties. I was just a young kid at the time, and I used to try to pick-up AM DX on my radios at night. I first discovered KAAY as KTHS. I was captivated one night when KTHS kept playing "The Baby Elephant Walk" and the announcer kept reading names out of the Little Rock phone book. One of the promos that night was, "What in the name of backward radio? YAAK."
The DJ said, "Tune in tomorrow night for a big surprise." I couldn't wait. I was sure there was going to be a call letter change. I was not disappointed when I tuned in the next evening. In fact, I couldn't wait for it to get dark, so there would be good signal propagation between here and Little Rock. I was not disappointed that evening. I was never sure what they meant about the legendary "Big KAAY elephant" coming to Little Rock. Somewhere lost in my house, I have about one minute of a tape recording from that night before the call letter change. I wish I could find it.

I was always disappointed when I would try to tune into KAAY, and find the Spanish programs intended for Cuba during the Cuban Crisis. Even as a kid, I realized those broadcasts were important, but I wanted to here Rob Robbins. I made the best of it.

I have been searching for the "Big KAAY Twist" for many years. My parents were not happy with the long distance phone charges I incurred trying to get one by calling Franklin 5-5311. That phone number is engraved in my brain along with Franklin 2-1090.

Would it be possible to send me an MP3 of "The Big KAAY Twist" and any early jingles? Thank you for taking the time to post all of the information. They brought back many memories.

Sincerely,

Ron

Ron, If you will check out the "archives" over on the right, and click on "April" you will see "The Big Kay Twist". You can save the file by right clicking on the link and choose "save target as". Also, scattered through out the archives are jingles like the Pams sonovox "Big Kay".

I will mail you the 45 of "The Big KAAY Twist" if you can find the recording of the change of KTHS,(the reading of the phone book that you mentioned.

Let me make this a contest for everyone. The first person to get me a recording of the reading of the phone book change from KTHS to KAAY, will get a 45 record of "The Big KAAY Twist.

Also, it is interesting to note a listener from Chicago, since that city had two fine rock and roll stations WLS and WCFL.

The reference to the "elephant" was to tie in "Baby Elephant Walk" to the elephant symbol that was used on the early surveys (see archives for March). The elephant was a symbol of size also, so that's why it was chosen. It was dropped in later years.

Clyde Clifford in 7th St. Studio

Clyde Clifford a/k/a Dale Seidenschwarz Beaker Street
1966-1972.

What did you listen to KAAY on?

Maybe you listened to KAAY on a transistor radio as above. Most had a speaker and an earphone jack. Today the kids have ipods and play just the music they want. In the 60s we listened on transistor radios or on the car radio. Do you remember the sound from an older car radio? Even one with tubes. Remember the old juke boxes with tubes. Today, some of the most expensive amplifiers have TUBES. At KAAY we couldn't wait to get rid of tubes.
To hear your favorite song you just called the radio station. At night at KAAY, we had to hire a teenager to come in and answer the phone. He kept counts of what songs were requested and passed them on to the music director. A 45 record of a hit cost 99
cents. Isn't it strange, today a single downloaded from ipod cost 99 cents.(Only 88 cents from Walmart download services. ) In view of the entertainment business today, what is radio doing? Looks like to me, more consolidation. Voice tracking multiple stations from hundreds of miles away by talent who has never set foot in the city.

Thanks Doug Krile

Thanks Doug Krile for you comments on KAAY. Read it: http://wb42.blogspot.com/2006/11/sixties-radio.html

Christmas in August

KAAY had a contest in August (or July) probably 1964, where listeners were asked to place a sign in their yard with KAAY 1090 on it. The mobile unit and skinny Santa (played by Jim Pitcock) would drive around and award prizes to the best sign. Above you see one of the winners.

Signs showed up all over and it gave us great exposure. We all loved this promotion except for Jim. Those of you involved correct me on any of the dates or facts.

My Best Christmas Memory

It was Christmas Day and my wife and I had only been married a few months. I was doing the Emperor Holiday stick on KAAY. We decided to put on the Emperor robe and crown and my wife wore the Daphnie get up. (short cheerleading skirt and white go-go boots). We spent Christmas morning at the Arkansas Children's Hospital. Understand that every child who could possibly be sent home, was gone. The remaining children were very, very sick. They gave us so much more than we could ever give them. Through all their pain, they was excitement and joy on their faces. To this day, its one of my best Christmas memories.

More Felix Memories...this time from David

Thank you so much for the piece on Felix McDonald on
12/23. He is just the epitome of Renaissance Man, a
wonderful, warm, down-to-earth person with a
WELL-developed sense of humor.

Felix is widely regarded as one of the most
knowledgeable engineers in the country when it comes
to RF (for the uninitiated, that's Radio Frequency
energy; the stuff that comes off big metal towers to
carry the signal to your radio and which can cook your
skin if you get too close). During his time, when
anybody had a problem with their antenna array, Felix
was the man they called.

There's a legend at KAAY concerning the time that
Felix was called to Lin Broadcasting's sister station
KILT 610 in Houston to troubleshoot their directional
array. About the time he got started down there, the
KAAY transmitter developed a problem switching from
day to night mode. It became "stuck" between the two,
taking the station off the air.

Apparently, none of the other engineers had seen this
happen before; no one knew how to fix it. Pat Walsh
chartered a plane to Houston to pick up Felix so he
could set things right again.

According to the story, Felix picked up a big wooden
stick (about the size of a boat paddle) from a rack
behind the door, walked over to the "contactor" switch
assembly that nobody else could get to move, and
struck it a mighty blow. It immediately moved into its
proper position and Walsh's money machine was back in
business.

After that, some of the other engineers began a
protocol wherein the first order of business
concerning any balky equipment was to figure out where
to HIT it, marking the spot with a big "X."

The way I hear it, Felix is not in the best of health
these days, but he is never too busy to help young
engineers along.

My fondest memory of Felix is seeing him wearing a
pith helmet, driving a Ford tractor, towing a huge
round hay bale across the pasture that held the four
KLRA (1010, now defunct) towers. He always used these
"antenna farms" to graze his cattle!

I hope he lives a thousand years, for we will not see
the likes of him again.

Ring up the Transmitter!

I was thinking today, if you can believe sometimes things got board during an airshift at KAAY especially if it was night or over night. Even during the day, sometimes you would reach down and crank the hand crank on a telephone that was direct wired to the transmitter at Wrightsville. In those days, 24 hours a day an engineer was required to be on duty. These guys were rather isolated and only able to listen to one station. Felix McDonald, the Chief Engineer lead the pack. He was with the station when it was KTHS. Felix also was one of the first players on our Komando Basketball team. (see earlier posts). I have so much respect for Felix as did Pat Walsh. Felix still does some engineering for the current owners. He also built an FM station in Little Rock and has since sold it (I believe). The above photo shows Felix standing in front of the old RCA 50,000 Watt blowtorch transmitter at Wrightsville. I can't say enough about Felix, thanks for all you have done for radio.