WLS & John Rook

You may wonder why I am writing about John Rook and WLS. I found this site to be a great source of the "inside" workings of WLS at the time. There are also interesting mentions of ex-KAAY staffers, Mike McCormick, and Tom Bigby.

It's long but you'll enjoy:

http://www.johnrook.com/johnrookthebig89WLS.htm

FREE GAS!

Gasoline is the biggest issue in the U.S. today. I am surprised and how few radio stations have jumped on this promotional opportunity. I did see a national story, where a local FM gave away free gas for about a four hour period, $10 per customer. You can all predict the result. Traffic jams, tons of national publicity for a local promotion.

If you are in the radio business today, and your station is not making the most of this opportunity, shame!

To practice what I preach, I am having a contest on this blog. There is no winner yet.
So, I am adding your choice of the prize announced OR A $50 GAS CARD.

Here are the details of the contest and remember you can chose between the reel to reel or A $50 GAS CARD:http://kaay1090.blogspot.com/2008/05/announcing-kaay-emperor-holiday.html

More More WKRP

You don't have to wait for WGN or others to air WKRP. The 1st season is available on DVD. Be advised a lot of music is cut or changed. It is also available from Netflix.

Read this blog and the 266 comments for a full explanation:

http://zvbxrpl.blogspot.com/2007/03/wkrp-dvd-not-ok.html

A Fun WKRP Page

Be sure and play the trivia game:

http://archer2000.tripod.com/wkrp/

WKRP

In the post below, WKRP on WGM was mentioned. I checked the schedule for this Sunday and didn't find anything. Maybe we should all contact WGN and ask for it. They obviously have the syndicated package. Maybe they were using it for some kind of fill before a ballgame. Let's all request that they add it to their regular schedule.

Comment on Louie Louie & WKRP

Well, I'll be! TWO mysterious songs revealed: one being "Louie, Louie" and the other, the closing jingle for WKRP! I'll bet the FBI, CIA, NSA and others are scrambling for another song to target, eh?

On a serious note, I just found WKRP being rebroadcast on WGN this past Sunday night at 6PM Central, two episodes back-to-back...unfortunately, that's when I'm at "paw paw's" house, and he doesn't get WGN, so I'll have to record it!

I liked that show from the beginning...and being the radio nut I am, it was all the funnier! Thanks for posting that link, A. J., as well as the full version of the opening song...keep 'em coming!

WABC featured on XM Radio Today

Sonic Sound Salutes 77 WABC NY
4:00 PM - 9:00 PM EDT

The All American Good Guys, Dan Ingram, Chuck Leonard, Herb Oscar Anderson. The all American Good Guy Super Hit Survey and the greates New York City 60s hits of all time!

Closing Jingle for WKRP

Watch all this stuff quick before it gets removed from You Tube:

The Full WKRP Jingle

I guess I never realized there was a second verse to the WKRP opening jingle. Here is a link to the You Tube video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nXHs8CaS2IU&feature=related

Every DJ relates to this jingle in a very personal way.

Pams Jingle Studio

Here's an interesting tour of whats been done with an old Pams Studio:

Pt 4 Lind Voth Interview

Again, many apologies for the really poor audio. If you can hang through it, the change in Lind and Margie's life, will be a real reward to you.

We talk about lack of early ratings, one of the first promotions, and what Lind's life after KAAY is like.

Exciting Site for Top 40 Radio Lovers

I was really excited to find this site:

http://www.1080wklo.com/wklosurveys.htm

Look at all the great surveys front and back. What a super collection. Also take a look at all the jingles available.

Many congratulations to whomever put that site together.

Another "My Hometown"

Today is another of my collection of "My Hometown" Jingles.
This is "My Hometown" for Radio London. If you have a "My Hometown" Jingle for another city please email me at ajlinds@yahoo.com.

Here's London:

Here is the Little Rock AR "My Hometown" Jingle http://kaay1090.blogspot.com/2008/04/rerun-pams-jingle-my-hometown.html

In answer to one of the comments below: Yes, I believe Radio London was one of the pirate radios stations.

History of WLS

I post this for several reasons. First, I enjoyed it. Second, I was always blown away by the way people in and near Chicago embraced KAAY. With WLS and WCFL, you would think we wouldn't be noticed. It's always great to see KAAY listed along with some of the greats in radio. Notice in this video, the contribution of WLS to the Cuban Missile Crisis was Dick Bionti. Sorry, Dick didn't get a presidential citation for his efforts.

The Future of Satellite Radio

Many of you know I am a big fan of XM Radio. I have had and enjoyed the service almost from its beginning. I have great concerns about the merger since Sirius would be the surviving company.

Here is a very interesting article about the merger:

http://www.mainstreet.com/merge-ahead-what-xm-and-sirius-subscribers-need-know-about-their-satellite-radio?puc=msgoogle&cm_ven=MSGoogle

What is the future of AM Radio?

I have made a promise to myself from the starting of this blog, that I would not live in the past. As great as times were at KAAY, I look on NOW as the happiest time of my life.

I often write about current entertainment media. I found an interesting article about what radio would be like in 50 years.

Enjoy:
http://radio.about.com/od/opinionpieces/a/aa060208a.htm

"Stan's Record Shop, 728 Texas St. Shreveport La"

I ran into a radio station owner from Joplin Missouri and being introduced someone identified me as being formerly from KAAY. The first words out of the guy's mouth was,
"Stan's Record Shop, 728 Texas Street, Shreveport, Louisiana". That's been over 40 year's ago.

When I first started at KAAY, on the 8 -midnight shift, I got to do Stan's Record Shop.
Stan paid for the hour so we played what Stan wanted. A legal way to get your records played. We had a box that Stan would send up of what he wanted played. He would run a special of several records put together in a package. Most of the songs were not on the KAAY play list but again, he was paying for the entire hour so....

Here is a link to a previous post:

http://kaay1090.blogspot.com/2006/09/stans-record-shop.html

And, here is a link to another bio on Stan Lewis:

http://music.yahoo.com/ar-24011248-bio--Stan-Lewis

Lind Voth Pt 3

You would think two radio guys could get the audio right. I was using a wireless mike for Lin but I didn't have any earphones with me to monitor the recording. Apparently his motor home where we recorded this, had some systems that interfered with the wireless mike. I have edited out most the noise. In this video you will learn how the call letters "KAAY" were selected. You'll hear about the original staff, staying in the Grady Manning Hotel, dogs and all. George Jennings would have had a cat. I'm sure they stayed at the Grady Manning because they probably got a good trade out. Hotel script was easy to get in those days. I've written about trade outs before. You might want to read : http://kaay1090.blogspot.com/search?q=trade+outs

Now today's episode part 3:

WKLO spotlited on XM Radio

Some of the original KAAY crew had WAKY connections. Today, though, XM is featuring WKLO their main competitor in Louisville.

Pt 2 of Lind Carl Interview

The famous editorial featuring a somber reading of the lyric to "Louie Louie" is discussed along with a show promoter.