Rock Radio Scrapbook
Airchecks: 1960
Talent:
BOB HALE
Station: WLS Chicago
Date: June 8, 1960
Time: 10:05
"Mid-America's Bright New Sound!"
It's not rock 'n' roll, but we still like it.
The Ames Brothers, Nat King Cole, Pat Boone ... even Artie Shaw (!) are featured on this aircheck of Bob Hale's all-night show just a month into the Top 40 format at WLS. Where's the rock? Evidently playing in other day parts. We guess they figured the kids would be in bed at that hour, and it would be best to program to adults.
Hale had his place in history before coming to WLS in May 1960 as one of its original Top 40 jocks. On February 2, 1959, he was the Master of Ceremonies at the infamous last concert of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and the Big Bopper in Clear Lake, Iowa, just hours before the trio died in a plane crash. Hale moved to WMAQ Chicago in 1964 and continued to work in radio and television, mostly in Chicago, until his retirement in 1996.
Hear Bob Hale on WLS here.
(The Don Shuttleworth Collection)
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Talent: ALAN FREED
Station: KDAY Los Angeles
Date: November, 1960
Time: 9:05
Alan Freed's radio career didn't end with the payola scandals of the late '50s. After leaving his last New York radio gig at WABC in 1959, Freed travelled west and wound up at one of L.A.'s legendary radio stations, KDAY. Holding down the 3-7 p.m. shift there in November, 1960, Freed really didn't sound much different than he did in his heyday at WINS New York and WJW Cleveland in the '50s. In fact, the station went from number-22 in a 24-station market to number-three while Freed was there. However, Freed was eventually let go from KDAY for promoting local concerts in conflict with station policy.
After his KDAY gig ended, Freed moved to WQAM Miami in 1962 where spent two months. In 1964, Freed worked briefly as an all-night deejay at an FM jazz station, KNOB.
Freed died January 20, 1965 in Palm Springs, Calif., officially of uremia, some say of a broken heart. He was 43.
Freed was part of the Rock 'N' Roll Hall of Fame's first class of inductees in 1986. He was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 1988.
Enjoy Alan Freed here.
(Scrapbook archives)
Talent:
JOE O'BRIEN
Station: WMCA New York
Date: December 21, 1960
Time: 42:47
(The first WMCA "Good Guys," circa 1963)
It was Christmas 1960 and radio's exciting new team was at WMCA.
WMCA began a Top 40 format in 1958 but the "team concept" for its deejays didn't come about until late 1960. The team concept - highlighted by use of the term "Good Guys" beginning in 1963 - had been used before but WMCA program director Ruth Meyer perfected it and made it a success. Everything at WMCA was about "team" - the jocks had the same haircuts, wore the same suits and did record hops and other personal appearances. They even recorded a record album, "The Good Guys Sing," and the WMCA theme song "We're The Good Guys" was sung by the jocks themselves.
In late 1960, the WMCA "team" consisted of Joe O'Brien (6-10 a.m.,) Harry Harrison (10 a.m.-1 p.m.,) Don Davis (1-4 p.m.,) Johnny Dark (4-7 p.m.,) Bob Callan (7-10:30 p.m.) and Burt Sherwood (1-6 a.m.) with Barry Gray doing a talk show from 10:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. The morning show was especially a delight - a mixture of information, easy chatter and the top hits of the day tied together by the personable O'Brien, with help from his sidekick Benny. On this aircheck, we hear plenty of traditional Christmas music, some classic WMCA jingles, two complete newscasts and learn the story of a particularly unfortunate "Handicapped Person of the Day."
Hear Part One of Joe O'Brien on WMCA from December 21, 1960 here.
Hear Part Two of Joe O'Brien on WMCA from December 21, 1960 here.
(The Don Shuttleworth Collection)
Subject:
MARK ELLIOT'S OLD TORONTO RADIO COMMERCIALS
Station: Various
Dates: N/A
Time: 4:56
Commercials in radio's heyday did more than sell - they entertained.
This montage of Toronto radio commercials includes unforgettable ads for such long-defunct companies as Knob Hill Farms, Eaton's, Power Supermarkets, Dominion Stores and Ted Davy used cars, and many other for firms and products that are still around. Some national commercials are also included. See how many you remember (our favourite is the one for Honest Ed's.)
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Enjoy Mark Elliot's Old Toronto Radio Commercials here.
(The Mark Elliot Collection)
