Thursday, July 31, 2008
The following is from a public radio FM page: Storyteller: John Philpot
For many years, Philpot has entertained folks with his stories, both on the air and at events across the U.S. and Canada. Raised in Mena, Philpot has a B.S. degree in agriculture and a master’s degree in educational media from the University of Arkansas. He was an extension agent in Clark and Miller counties and a radio and television specialist in the state extension office. He worked as farm director at KAAY radio in Little Rock, KATV Channel 7 and the Arkansas Radio Network. He has hosted Arkansas Outdoors on the Arkansas Educational Television Network since its inception in 1992.
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John Philpot followed Marvin Vines as Farm Director of KAAY. I have written a lot of material on Marvin and if you are new to the blog or haven't read any, just put "Marvin Vines" in the upper left search window and click on search this blog.
I always thought "Vines" was such a great name for a farm director. He was one of the very few ever on the air at KAAY to use his real name. Wayne Moss I believe used his real name the second time he was at the station. He was the first Sonny Martin and when he returned that name was in use, so he used his real name. He was also program director at that time. A lot of us worked at KAAY two different times.
For many years, Philpot has entertained folks with his stories, both on the air and at events across the U.S. and Canada. Raised in Mena, Philpot has a B.S. degree in agriculture and a master’s degree in educational media from the University of Arkansas. He was an extension agent in Clark and Miller counties and a radio and television specialist in the state extension office. He worked as farm director at KAAY radio in Little Rock, KATV Channel 7 and the Arkansas Radio Network. He has hosted Arkansas Outdoors on the Arkansas Educational Television Network since its inception in 1992.
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John Philpot followed Marvin Vines as Farm Director of KAAY. I have written a lot of material on Marvin and if you are new to the blog or haven't read any, just put "Marvin Vines" in the upper left search window and click on search this blog.
I always thought "Vines" was such a great name for a farm director. He was one of the very few ever on the air at KAAY to use his real name. Wayne Moss I believe used his real name the second time he was at the station. He was the first Sonny Martin and when he returned that name was in use, so he used his real name. He was also program director at that time. A lot of us worked at KAAY two different times.
More Hams
BTW, A. J., the video was great! Sometimes, today, there are even those discourteous operators (we hams call them "lids") who find sport in interfereing with those who are conducting nets, both practice and real-time. These "lids" are often sought out, prosecuted and sometimes incarcerated. Unfortunately, these are the ones the public hears about, often not of the real heros, those who actually come to the aid of others...and the public paints us with the same broad brush.
Real drama can STILL be heard on some ham bands, and operators from far-away lands are heard daily. There is still a romance in ham radio, even though the age has brought us instant satisfaction with cell phones, Internet and texting...but there's something about being off in a corner, talking with someone (or listening to others talk) between far countries, getting the REAL info on what it's like "over there", etc.; there's nothing like kicking on that old tube radio, kill all the lights in the house and tune around, listening for who-knows-where.
Also, if you happen to hear a ham operating, you can get a verification from him (we call them QSL cards) by sending them a letter, explain to the operator that your a shortwave listener (which you are, since you're listening in that band spectrum!), give the operator times, date(s) frequencies and some details and include a self-addressed stamped envelope if within the U.S.A., or a couple of dollars if outside the country, and they will usually surprise you with a nice card and sometimes other little trinkets! If you hear someone interesting, write down their callsign and go to www.qrz.com and put it in the search box in the upper left-hand corner, then hit "search"...it'll give you their mailing address and possibly a bio on that person, as well.
Yes, the video was right on the mark, A. J.; there are still those out there that give of their time, talents and equipment to help others in need, in so many ways too numerous to mention here...plus, a little "theater for the mind", if one can tear themselves away from the TV...and "they" say ham radio has no place in this world! Bud Stacey, Extra Class ham KC4HGH, near Mobile, AL
Real drama can STILL be heard on some ham bands, and operators from far-away lands are heard daily. There is still a romance in ham radio, even though the age has brought us instant satisfaction with cell phones, Internet and texting...but there's something about being off in a corner, talking with someone (or listening to others talk) between far countries, getting the REAL info on what it's like "over there", etc.; there's nothing like kicking on that old tube radio, kill all the lights in the house and tune around, listening for who-knows-where.
Also, if you happen to hear a ham operating, you can get a verification from him (we call them QSL cards) by sending them a letter, explain to the operator that your a shortwave listener (which you are, since you're listening in that band spectrum!), give the operator times, date(s) frequencies and some details and include a self-addressed stamped envelope if within the U.S.A., or a couple of dollars if outside the country, and they will usually surprise you with a nice card and sometimes other little trinkets! If you hear someone interesting, write down their callsign and go to www.qrz.com and put it in the search box in the upper left-hand corner, then hit "search"...it'll give you their mailing address and possibly a bio on that person, as well.
Yes, the video was right on the mark, A. J.; there are still those out there that give of their time, talents and equipment to help others in need, in so many ways too numerous to mention here...plus, a little "theater for the mind", if one can tear themselves away from the TV...and "they" say ham radio has no place in this world! Bud Stacey, Extra Class ham KC4HGH, near Mobile, AL
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Didn't work at KAAY but known to many of us
Former KATV Bureau Chief/Engineer Passes Away
Source: KATV.com A longtime member of the Channel 7 family has died.
Former Hot Springs bureau chief, director and engineer Dick Story passed away Monday night.
Dick started at KATV in 1954, and most recently worked as part of the production crew for Channel 7’s Good Morning Arkansas.
He is survived by his wife, Laura, daughter Kathy, and a son, Doug.
Dick Story was 74-years-old.
Source: KATV.com A longtime member of the Channel 7 family has died.
Former Hot Springs bureau chief, director and engineer Dick Story passed away Monday night.
Dick started at KATV in 1954, and most recently worked as part of the production crew for Channel 7’s Good Morning Arkansas.
He is survived by his wife, Laura, daughter Kathy, and a son, Doug.
Dick Story was 74-years-old.
Ham heard from
A. J., I prefer the term, "ham", since the term "amateur" denotes someone doesn't know what he or she is doing....
Ham radio has been "dumbed down" in my opinion, as of late, but it still takes a lot of skill, knowledge and study to achieve licensure. Not only that, but hams all over this world drill themselves through emergency "nets" or networks every week, testing their equipment and their readiness, in case disaster strikes. In fact, when Hurricane Katrina hit ground zero at Waveland, MS (the media says New Orleans, but ask folks at the National Weather Service and who live here on the Gulf Coast!), there was NOTHING left...and the Georgia Baptist Society came to the rescue, bringing ham radio with them. Many operators put their lives and jobs on hold for as long as six months, until communications were restored along the coast...for FREE. These people, and people like them, are professionals in every sense of the word, nothing amateurish about them at all, and hams work during ALL sorts of disasters, not to speak of many non-disaster-related events.
This is NOT Citizen's Band radio, like some people think- we are federally-licensed and tested for the hobby we love and we love to give back, freely.
The slogan is, "When all else fails, ham radio!" Bud Stacey, KC4HGH, Extra Class ham, near Mobile, AL
Thanks Bud for a great comment, but what did you think of the video?
Ham radio has been "dumbed down" in my opinion, as of late, but it still takes a lot of skill, knowledge and study to achieve licensure. Not only that, but hams all over this world drill themselves through emergency "nets" or networks every week, testing their equipment and their readiness, in case disaster strikes. In fact, when Hurricane Katrina hit ground zero at Waveland, MS (the media says New Orleans, but ask folks at the National Weather Service and who live here on the Gulf Coast!), there was NOTHING left...and the Georgia Baptist Society came to the rescue, bringing ham radio with them. Many operators put their lives and jobs on hold for as long as six months, until communications were restored along the coast...for FREE. These people, and people like them, are professionals in every sense of the word, nothing amateurish about them at all, and hams work during ALL sorts of disasters, not to speak of many non-disaster-related events.
This is NOT Citizen's Band radio, like some people think- we are federally-licensed and tested for the hobby we love and we love to give back, freely.
The slogan is, "When all else fails, ham radio!" Bud Stacey, KC4HGH, Extra Class ham, near Mobile, AL
Thanks Bud for a great comment, but what did you think of the video?
Ham Radio
DJ's rarely were ham radio operators even though they were very much hams. The engineers on the other hand were often ham radio operators. Ham radio made it possible for an individual to have his own station, to talk to other hams. No music.
I like the term "ham" rather than "amateur". Those of you who are one, what do you prefer?
Here is a great film on ham radio:
I like the term "ham" rather than "amateur". Those of you who are one, what do you prefer?
Here is a great film on ham radio:
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
For a Few Insiders
KAAY from the beginning was full of "inside" material. Howard Watson a/k/a/ Ken Knight was probably the biggest instigator of this. With his late night show he had a bit more freedom to go "way out". Often only Howard understood what he was saying. Much of the "bits" required you work in the Channel 11 building to understand what was going on. Anyone outside of Arkansas would have never understand the "Ear On Arkansas" program. The nighttime national audience had no idea of what our competition was in the daytime.
Radio station ratings are usually based on morning drive. As I mentioned in a previous post, Brother Hal, a/k/a Hal Webber was always our big battle. I ran across a wonderfully detailed article on Hal. It is a very long piece. It even mentions Walt Sadler a/k/a Ron Owens who did news mach later at KLRA. Those of you who worked with me at KAAY will probably be the only ones who will invest the time to read all of this article : http://www.fewmets.net/articles/cochran/hal.html
Radio station ratings are usually based on morning drive. As I mentioned in a previous post, Brother Hal, a/k/a Hal Webber was always our big battle. I ran across a wonderfully detailed article on Hal. It is a very long piece. It even mentions Walt Sadler a/k/a Ron Owens who did news mach later at KLRA. Those of you who worked with me at KAAY will probably be the only ones who will invest the time to read all of this article : http://www.fewmets.net/articles/cochran/hal.html
The Haunting Continues
Scott Reed has left a new comment on your post "The legend rolls on":
I talked to Clyde/Dale last night (7/27) about KAAY and the haunted transmitter. He said that he heard doors opening and closing when he knew for sure that he was the only one in the building.
He also mentioned that the KAAY location on Capital also had some strange occurrences - cabinet doors opening on their own, etc.
I encouraged Dale to visit your blog and post his comments about the haunted transmitter.
Thanks Scott for that comment. I too remember strange occurrences in the 7th Street & Capitol studios. Most of those were probably pranks from other staffers. Like the time Joe DIckey and a few others hid a walkie talkie in a file cabinet in the front office, and sent strange words to the secretary.
Most of these "hauntings" always occurred at either location, when someone is alone in the buildings. Weekends in the case of the 7th street. Also, let's face it. D.J.'s are more likely to be haunted than normal folks.
Incidently this posting is being made in the middle of the night, with music from Charade playing in the background. Backward!
I talked to Clyde/Dale last night (7/27) about KAAY and the haunted transmitter. He said that he heard doors opening and closing when he knew for sure that he was the only one in the building.
He also mentioned that the KAAY location on Capital also had some strange occurrences - cabinet doors opening on their own, etc.
I encouraged Dale to visit your blog and post his comments about the haunted transmitter.
Thanks Scott for that comment. I too remember strange occurrences in the 7th Street & Capitol studios. Most of those were probably pranks from other staffers. Like the time Joe DIckey and a few others hid a walkie talkie in a file cabinet in the front office, and sent strange words to the secretary.
Most of these "hauntings" always occurred at either location, when someone is alone in the buildings. Weekends in the case of the 7th street. Also, let's face it. D.J.'s are more likely to be haunted than normal folks.
Incidently this posting is being made in the middle of the night, with music from Charade playing in the background. Backward!
Monday, July 28, 2008
Call Letters
A. J., I am sick that the radio stations nowadays are not giving their callsigns out any more...it hardly is worth it any more to tune one, then wait until the top of the hour...some used to break for news at the bottom of the hour and announce there, as well as several times during the hour...now, it's (what THEY think) snappy smart-aleck slogans instead of callsigns. Who cares if they're "Pirate 106" or "Blue Sky 94, Easy Listening"? I want to know WHO they are and where they are and let the slogan FOLLOW the callsign!
As a Ham radio operator, if I don't i.d. every ten minutes, I get in trouble and it's a HOBBY! Why can't a business be required to i.d. at the required times? I'll tell you why: a weak, defunded FCC and strong lobbyists in Congress FOR the radio conglomerates...and you know the old saying about how money talks? Bud, Mobile, AL
Right you are Bud. Radio programmers are like sheep. If someone is successful everyone follows. From the beginning of broadcasting, call letters were a badge of honor as well as identification. When trying to find great call letters, we were often twarted by a ship at sea. There were some very good K___ assigned to a ship. Some stations over came weak call letters with great jingles. WDGY comes to mind. Hard to say, doesn't spell anything. KFWB is another. Hard to say, but lots of great jingles got the call letters across. IF stations use jingles today, they are shotgun meaningless blurbs. The entire "sound" of a station could be built around a good jingle package in the old days.
I notice XM radio uses some great jingles very effectively.
As a Ham radio operator, if I don't i.d. every ten minutes, I get in trouble and it's a HOBBY! Why can't a business be required to i.d. at the required times? I'll tell you why: a weak, defunded FCC and strong lobbyists in Congress FOR the radio conglomerates...and you know the old saying about how money talks? Bud, Mobile, AL
Right you are Bud. Radio programmers are like sheep. If someone is successful everyone follows. From the beginning of broadcasting, call letters were a badge of honor as well as identification. When trying to find great call letters, we were often twarted by a ship at sea. There were some very good K___ assigned to a ship. Some stations over came weak call letters with great jingles. WDGY comes to mind. Hard to say, doesn't spell anything. KFWB is another. Hard to say, but lots of great jingles got the call letters across. IF stations use jingles today, they are shotgun meaningless blurbs. The entire "sound" of a station could be built around a good jingle package in the old days.
I notice XM radio uses some great jingles very effectively.
Whatever happened to call letters?
In the hayday of top 40 call letters were king. For those of you too young to remember radio stations in the U.S. are given call sign or letters to identify themselves. In the U.S. east of the Mississippi got a call sign that started with "W" and West of the Mississippi, the F.C.C. assigned a "K". A few exceptions exist. Stations like KDKA in Pittsburg and WOAI in San Antonio got their call letters before this geographic line was drawn.
Top 40 stations quickly learned good call letters helped in the ratings race. Stations were looking for call letters that spelled something like WAKY (one of my favorites).
Right behind the call letters the frequency with a rhyme helped, i.e. "the mighty ten ninety".
Most later day programmers think the only thing that is important is a clever name for their station that has nothing to do with either the call letters or the frequency. "Big Dog" has now given away to "Alice".
Do the rating services offer listings now for XM or Sirius? Or even car CDs, Ipods and the like. I just bought a new car radio that plays, SD cards, USB flash drives, an upfront plug for Ipods and the like. If offers highway broadcast info, FM and maybe AM even though I haven't tried it yet. Haven't got past the SD card which also displays on a flashy screen the artist, song title and any other info.and some flashing spectrum lights.
Top 40 stations quickly learned good call letters helped in the ratings race. Stations were looking for call letters that spelled something like WAKY (one of my favorites).
Right behind the call letters the frequency with a rhyme helped, i.e. "the mighty ten ninety".
Most later day programmers think the only thing that is important is a clever name for their station that has nothing to do with either the call letters or the frequency. "Big Dog" has now given away to "Alice".
Do the rating services offer listings now for XM or Sirius? Or even car CDs, Ipods and the like. I just bought a new car radio that plays, SD cards, USB flash drives, an upfront plug for Ipods and the like. If offers highway broadcast info, FM and maybe AM even though I haven't tried it yet. Haven't got past the SD card which also displays on a flashy screen the artist, song title and any other info.and some flashing spectrum lights.
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Where are they now?
Thanks for the update as to where some of the aforementioned FM stations are now:
The three other radio stations that were mentioned, only one is still on the air today. That station is KSSN. Speaking of which, KSSN is celebrating their 30th year this year. Bob Robbins has been there since day one. He went there after leaving KAAY.
KKYK is now the local RTN TV channel in Little Rock.
The former radio station is now KABZ, 1037 THE BUZZ, A sports-talk station. This station is currently located in the Cottondale building.
KLAZ is currently on the air in Hot Springs at 105.9, playing the current hits.
Currently on 98.5 is KURB B98.5, playing music from the 80's to today. It is one of the sister stations to KAAY.
Then and now these stations are rated in the top five in the arbitron ratings.
Now my comment on KSSN
When I was at KAAY, we were battling KLRA for ratings, even though there were two other top 40 stations in the market. And what was the format of KLRA? Country! And what is the format of KSSN? Country! Actually that is a little misleading. The only time period we battled KLRA for was morning drive time and that was Brother Hal. He was the reason for their #1 rating in that time period. When he did play some music it was country and not very good country. As to KSSN I give all the credit to Bob Robbins. He was great at KAAY and took some audience with him. He built a strong following because he was a good personality D.J. regardless of the music he played. KSSN started at the time country was becoming more rock and they seized that opportunity.
Bob has stuck with it. Other good personality D.J.'s in the Little Rock market have changed stations, markets,or formats or gone to television. Long live Bob Robbins!
The three other radio stations that were mentioned, only one is still on the air today. That station is KSSN. Speaking of which, KSSN is celebrating their 30th year this year. Bob Robbins has been there since day one. He went there after leaving KAAY.
KKYK is now the local RTN TV channel in Little Rock.
The former radio station is now KABZ, 1037 THE BUZZ, A sports-talk station. This station is currently located in the Cottondale building.
KLAZ is currently on the air in Hot Springs at 105.9, playing the current hits.
Currently on 98.5 is KURB B98.5, playing music from the 80's to today. It is one of the sister stations to KAAY.
Then and now these stations are rated in the top five in the arbitron ratings.
Now my comment on KSSN
When I was at KAAY, we were battling KLRA for ratings, even though there were two other top 40 stations in the market. And what was the format of KLRA? Country! And what is the format of KSSN? Country! Actually that is a little misleading. The only time period we battled KLRA for was morning drive time and that was Brother Hal. He was the reason for their #1 rating in that time period. When he did play some music it was country and not very good country. As to KSSN I give all the credit to Bob Robbins. He was great at KAAY and took some audience with him. He built a strong following because he was a good personality D.J. regardless of the music he played. KSSN started at the time country was becoming more rock and they seized that opportunity.
Bob has stuck with it. Other good personality D.J.'s in the Little Rock market have changed stations, markets,or formats or gone to television. Long live Bob Robbins!
Saturday, July 26, 2008
More from Dave Montgomery
Dick Downes was brought in after Wayne Moss and Sonny Martin’s departures. Dick only lasted from ’76 to ’77. He was not effective as a PD, and had abrasive ego that matched Tandy’s abrasive ego. He was eventually fired and C David Hamilton was brought in from Rockford to be the PD/MD. C David was likable and put a new staff together, and the station sounded good but was still losing listeners to FM. In sales, combo buys for KAAY and KLPQ were good business, but still neither station was main line enough to counterbalance the growing strength of KKYK, KLAZ and KSSN. You know how this eventually worked out.
Gary Fries came in as GM after Jim Tandy “left”. Gary was from a similar market size as LR, but he had something that Tandy did not – he was likable and immediately formed a “team” of key staff members and pulled things together. Gary stayed as long as he could but his star was rising, and he eventually left for KJJJ Phoenix, and he took several key KAAY/KLPQ staff with him, from admin, air, and news. That’s about when I left for Illinois. “Everybody” was leaving. Gary Fries eventually became a senior executive at RAB Radio Advertising Bureau.
C David Hamilton became the GM, . He had been a PD for a while, but had no substantial experience as a GM. It was a bad match that in the end was his undoing. I don’t think he ever completely connected with the market.
Gary Fries came in as GM after Jim Tandy “left”. Gary was from a similar market size as LR, but he had something that Tandy did not – he was likable and immediately formed a “team” of key staff members and pulled things together. Gary stayed as long as he could but his star was rising, and he eventually left for KJJJ Phoenix, and he took several key KAAY/KLPQ staff with him, from admin, air, and news. That’s about when I left for Illinois. “Everybody” was leaving. Gary Fries eventually became a senior executive at RAB Radio Advertising Bureau.
C David Hamilton became the GM, . He had been a PD for a while, but had no substantial experience as a GM. It was a bad match that in the end was his undoing. I don’t think he ever completely connected with the market.
Friday, July 25, 2008
Filling in the blanks & the rise of KKYK, KSSN, KLAZ
Dave Montgomery sent some additions to a previous post:
AJ, the Wikipedia write-up about Clyde Clifford was good and accurate as best as I can remember. But it painted over some of the internal issues and the giant industry shift to FM that was going on during this same time period.
When Jim Tandy came in as GM after Pat’s departure, Jim’s charter was to get the station moved from West 7th street into the new studios at Cottondale Lane. Tandy was a big city GM, coming from WSIX in Nashville, and he may have had a good business mind, but he certainly did not understand the Little Rock / Arkansas market. He acted like a “big market guy comes to a small market”, had an abrasive personality and huge ego. During his brief tenure staff tension was thick. Also during his tenure, the newly launched LR FM stations were getting ratings traction, and KKYK KSSN and KLAZ were sucking up listeners as fast as you could change the dial. The days of the AM powerhouse were fading.
More of Dave's comments later. Just a bit of my memory of the studios. The West 7th street studios were chosen because it was an old doctor's office. Perfect for a radio station because it had lots of small rooms. We had to do almost no internal or external changes. It was in a a great neighborhood; diagonally across from the State Capitol. We did put in a very rinky dink sign. I always hated the sign. Part was do to the sign restrictions of the area but it was still poor. It finally wound up at the transmitter. Eddy Graham did most of the wiring and setting up of the control room and production studio. The Cottondale Lane studios were built from the ground up for a radio station, but as Dave pointed out, FM was making a big move in audience and KAAY had passed on an early chance to get in on FM. This was probably more of a corporate decision, than Pat Walsh. More later on KAAY's late arrival into FM.
AJ, the Wikipedia write-up about Clyde Clifford was good and accurate as best as I can remember. But it painted over some of the internal issues and the giant industry shift to FM that was going on during this same time period.
When Jim Tandy came in as GM after Pat’s departure, Jim’s charter was to get the station moved from West 7th street into the new studios at Cottondale Lane. Tandy was a big city GM, coming from WSIX in Nashville, and he may have had a good business mind, but he certainly did not understand the Little Rock / Arkansas market. He acted like a “big market guy comes to a small market”, had an abrasive personality and huge ego. During his brief tenure staff tension was thick. Also during his tenure, the newly launched LR FM stations were getting ratings traction, and KKYK KSSN and KLAZ were sucking up listeners as fast as you could change the dial. The days of the AM powerhouse were fading.
More of Dave's comments later. Just a bit of my memory of the studios. The West 7th street studios were chosen because it was an old doctor's office. Perfect for a radio station because it had lots of small rooms. We had to do almost no internal or external changes. It was in a a great neighborhood; diagonally across from the State Capitol. We did put in a very rinky dink sign. I always hated the sign. Part was do to the sign restrictions of the area but it was still poor. It finally wound up at the transmitter. Eddy Graham did most of the wiring and setting up of the control room and production studio. The Cottondale Lane studios were built from the ground up for a radio station, but as Dave pointed out, FM was making a big move in audience and KAAY had passed on an early chance to get in on FM. This was probably more of a corporate decision, than Pat Walsh. More later on KAAY's late arrival into FM.
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Know the facts
Here is a comment from a far out blog:
This subject is painful, as my dad was a deejay during the golden age of rock and roll. He invented album cuts with a show called Beaker Street — it was on a.m. radio at the time and broadcast 100,000 watts at night. People from Cuba have told me they listened to the midnight album cuts show, and Paul Shaffer used to listen to it… but when computers entered the picture, it was the beginning of the end for the deejay and the program director. Time’s pendulum will swing real music back to the airwaves, I hope and pray.
Wow, that takes me back to high school, doing homework while listening to KAAY. It had a huge signal out of Little Rock that bounced off the ionosphere, so you could hear this AM station from hundreds of miles away. It’s probably safe to say that Beaker Street turned a lot of people on to serious music, the kind you didn’t hear on Top 40. Say hello and thanks to your father from a fan.
OK
Dale A/K/A Clyde C. did you have a son who wrote this?
And I would have thought that everyone knows 50,000 watts is the maximum for any AM station in the United States.
Can you believe any of it?
This subject is painful, as my dad was a deejay during the golden age of rock and roll. He invented album cuts with a show called Beaker Street — it was on a.m. radio at the time and broadcast 100,000 watts at night. People from Cuba have told me they listened to the midnight album cuts show, and Paul Shaffer used to listen to it… but when computers entered the picture, it was the beginning of the end for the deejay and the program director. Time’s pendulum will swing real music back to the airwaves, I hope and pray.
Wow, that takes me back to high school, doing homework while listening to KAAY. It had a huge signal out of Little Rock that bounced off the ionosphere, so you could hear this AM station from hundreds of miles away. It’s probably safe to say that Beaker Street turned a lot of people on to serious music, the kind you didn’t hear on Top 40. Say hello and thanks to your father from a fan.
OK
Dale A/K/A Clyde C. did you have a son who wrote this?
And I would have thought that everyone knows 50,000 watts is the maximum for any AM station in the United States.
Can you believe any of it?
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
After Clyde Clifford
A. J., as far as Clyde/Dale commenting on the site, what about the latter personalities that followed him? T'would be interesting, to say the least! I did a search and found this:
"To be fair, there were actually a number of other personalities that followed Clyde Clifford. Among the many people who hosted the show after Clyde, there were several Ken Knights. As mentioned earlier, many names were given to the jocks to use at KAAY until 1976 when Dick Downes became the Program Director replacing Wayne Moss. In order to give the show more verisimillitude, Downes had the next host use his real name. So, there was Beaker Street with Stuart (McRae) for the last few years into the mid seventies. Stuart truly looked and lived the part of the '70s Hippy DJ, complete with the hair, beard and jeans. His approach was very laid back and mellow and his music selections were excellent. Under Downes' direction, Stuart (he just used his first name on air) expanded the show from the original three hours to a full five and a half (11:00 PM to 4:30 AM) achieving some of the best ratings the show ever attained, besting the 10 PM lead-in hour with twice the audience. Unfortunately, McRae's rabbi, Downes, departed and when replacement Carl Hamilton took over the Program Director position in early 1977, he decided to end Beaker Street (it wasn't consistent with the rest of the day) to much protest from all over the world (KAAY had an amazing signal). The last Beaker Street show was done by Don Payne. Stuart McRae resigned more-or-less on the spot after being informed of the end of Beaker Street on KAAY."
This was at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clyde_Clifford
May I comment on the comment. This is excellent research. The common thought is to always associate Beaker Street with Clyde. If is my fault for not pursuing what happened after Clyde. When Wayne Moss left, almost all of the folks I know were gone. And when Pat Walsh left, all of my contacts with KAAY were lost.
I would really encourage any and all of those in the latter days of KAAY to contribute to this blog. Anyone who worked with KAAY, has great stories to contribute
and I would really like to hear from you by adding a comment to this post or emailing me at ajlinds@yahoo.com.
"To be fair, there were actually a number of other personalities that followed Clyde Clifford. Among the many people who hosted the show after Clyde, there were several Ken Knights. As mentioned earlier, many names were given to the jocks to use at KAAY until 1976 when Dick Downes became the Program Director replacing Wayne Moss. In order to give the show more verisimillitude, Downes had the next host use his real name. So, there was Beaker Street with Stuart (McRae) for the last few years into the mid seventies. Stuart truly looked and lived the part of the '70s Hippy DJ, complete with the hair, beard and jeans. His approach was very laid back and mellow and his music selections were excellent. Under Downes' direction, Stuart (he just used his first name on air) expanded the show from the original three hours to a full five and a half (11:00 PM to 4:30 AM) achieving some of the best ratings the show ever attained, besting the 10 PM lead-in hour with twice the audience. Unfortunately, McRae's rabbi, Downes, departed and when replacement Carl Hamilton took over the Program Director position in early 1977, he decided to end Beaker Street (it wasn't consistent with the rest of the day) to much protest from all over the world (KAAY had an amazing signal). The last Beaker Street show was done by Don Payne. Stuart McRae resigned more-or-less on the spot after being informed of the end of Beaker Street on KAAY."
This was at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clyde_Clifford
May I comment on the comment. This is excellent research. The common thought is to always associate Beaker Street with Clyde. If is my fault for not pursuing what happened after Clyde. When Wayne Moss left, almost all of the folks I know were gone. And when Pat Walsh left, all of my contacts with KAAY were lost.
I would really encourage any and all of those in the latter days of KAAY to contribute to this blog. Anyone who worked with KAAY, has great stories to contribute
and I would really like to hear from you by adding a comment to this post or emailing me at ajlinds@yahoo.com.
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Repeat
(double click on the image to enlarge)I was looking at an old post and the picture would not load and an error message indicated the photo was no longer on the google server. I don't want this to get lost and I want to take the occasion to beg for KAAY music surveys that have not been previously posted. Email me what you might have: ajlinds@yahoo.com
New High
61 visitors to this blog yesterday. That may be a record. However, only 12 votes on the poll (located to the far right of this post). Please, everyone vote!
I'm not sure if the "Haunted Transmitter" post brought in some many new visitors or what.
Clyde Clifford a/k/a Dale Schidenswartz, a message to you: You spent much time broadcasting from the transmitter. How about writing a comment on haunting and the grave near one of the towers for this blog?
I'm not sure if the "Haunted Transmitter" post brought in some many new visitors or what.
Clyde Clifford a/k/a Dale Schidenswartz, a message to you: You spent much time broadcasting from the transmitter. How about writing a comment on haunting and the grave near one of the towers for this blog?
Monday, July 21, 2008
Haunted Transmitter
the transmitter site is not haunted, I've been there several times. The christian talk and teaching is too much for the devil to take. john
Thanks John, Even from the very first of KAAY there were always two religious blocks per day.
Perhaps I can do an interview with Felix McDonald, long time Chief Engineer and close resident of the transmitter site, and get him talk about the grave site and alleged haunting.
Thanks John, Even from the very first of KAAY there were always two religious blocks per day.
Perhaps I can do an interview with Felix McDonald, long time Chief Engineer and close resident of the transmitter site, and get him talk about the grave site and alleged haunting.
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