~Los Angeles Radio People, Archives, July99

(July 1, 1999) The new millennium kicks off this morning with the debut of the John & Ken show at KABC. PD Drew Hayes has his team set now following a few years of tumult. The launch of the John & Ken show, following 7 years at KFI, is at West Hollywood’s House of Blues. Joining the pair will be all the talk show hosts along with agency folk and advertisers. This, ironically enough, is the same date one year ago today that Drew started at KABC. "The long national nightmare is over, John and Ken have been liberated, and now: On with the start of the New Millennium!," emailed KABC pd Drew Hayes. "John and Ken join our already star-studded weekday lineup of Larry Elder, Dennis Prager, Al Rantel, Stephanie Miller, and Mr. KABC." Last night Mr. KABC told a listener, "I arranged for the program director to meet John about six months ago, so that was a fortuitous event that led to their final arrival to KABC." When the pair kicked off this morning, John wanted to set the record straight about why they left KFI. "There's an evil executive in the parent company at the old station. He tortured us with our contract from the first day we were there six and a half years ago. Every contract negotiation went on for six months. The guys in L.A. were fine. We had a good time with them, but this evil moron, this wispy little man with a bad goatee, he was always squashing deals, changing terms and carrying on like a jerk. We simply got sick of it. We turned down their last offer and we knew we were going to leave the last week we were on the air because we were trying to devise an exit strategy. We couldn't say anything on the air. If we said we were leaving or where we were going, it would have screwed everything up and we wouldn't have been on the air until Christmas. We've told you radio is an idiotic business. It is an idiotic and irrational business." John took a shot at their replacement at KFI. "When we left, the next act that came on was radio's version of Siegfried & Roy. They've lost about 2/3rds of the audience since we left."

KRLA will simulcast CBS 2 News @ 6PM beginning Monday. "We are literally delivering the local evening news to our audience on-the-road," said KRLA pd Ron Escarsega. This is the fourth tv program to air on the radio. KNX airs 60 Minutes each Sunday night, 60 Minutes II on Tuesdays (formerly Wednesday) and KFWB runs the CNN’s Larry King Live every night at 8.

In the late 1980s and early 1990s John Majhor worked at KLAC, KZLA and KCBS. Before arriving in the Southland, John spent a decade at CHUM-Toronto, and during that time he hosted 400 episodes of Toronto Rocks and 135 episodes of After Hours for Fox TV. He was the original anchor/producer at the launch of E! Entertainment. "I'm doing mornings at KSFQ-Santa Fe and I can't tell you how much it is the absolute radio dream job!" John emailed. "The owner of the station is my newsman and sidekick. He is fulfilling every jock's dream of owning his own station, and he's programming it the way he always wanted. His name is Jay Jaramillo and he's been in the biz for as long as I have. We're kickin' some cool butt here and I'm havin' the blast of a lifetime. There's not a single LARP jock who would not give his/her right arm to be in my position. But I wonder if they'd give up So Cal and the bucks to live here and work as hard as I'm working for as little as I'm making!?!? Methinks not."

I caught Peter Tilden in the midst of another rewrite for his Nickelodeon project when I phoned him yesterday. "Everything’s going great. Maybe after the book comes out in mid-July, there’ll be some movement on the radio side of things. But, meanwhile, I am very busy."…This morning Larry Marino talks live with former Clinton advisor Dick Morris. They’ll take calls on KIEV’s "Morning Magazine."
HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Bill Keene

Evan Haning ( formerly with KRLA): "On vacation I’m taking the new Lindberg biography. He was the first international celebrity and one of the stars of the 3rd or 4th ‘Trial of the Century’ after the Scopes Monkey Trial, Leopold & Loeb. If anyone wants to spend valuable time with the best belle lettres, you won't do better than New Republic reviewer James Wood's first collection of essays, The Broken Estate. Fiction: just finished Penelope Fitzgerald's Human Voices, a book about the BBC in the Second World War."
Carrie Dunn (KIKF): "Book: Chicken Soup for a Mother's Soul--with a feisty 2 1/2 year old son, I've needed a little inspiration this month. :)"
Nancy Plum (Shadow Broadcasting): "I'm reading Lesley Stahl's Reporting Live. A great read! It starts right up with Watergate and I'm loving it! She's one of my idol/mentors as she was one of the first ladies in broadcasting. It’s a great book for this summer!
Leo Terrell (KABC): "I plan to read Tom Brokaw's book The Greatest Generation."
Chuck Van Horne: "I assume that I will probably be reading the same set of books, The Civil War, by Shelby Foote. I happened to find Stars in Their Courses: The Gettysburg Campaign, earlier this year and loved it. I later found out that it was only one chapter of his Civil War narrative [3 volumes]. So, I guess I'll be back in the 1860's for some time to come."

(July 2, 1999) Chaz Kelley, part of the weekend/swing team at KRTH for the past 8 years, is headed for Las Vegas for the July 4th weekend. Her husband, Chris Montez, who had the dance classic from 1962, Let’s Dance, is performing at the Riviera Hotel. Chaz and Chris met at a "K-Earth" Legends of Rock and Roll concert at the Greek Theatre. "It was my first year at KRTH and I had worked at Westwood One and KRTH that day and decided that the concert was just too much for one day," remembered Chaz. "I was dead tired. One of my girlfriends was having a birthday and she thought going to the Concert would be a great present." Chaz acquiesced and while backstage with some of the performers, she was introduced to Chris. "He wasn’t even supposed to be there, but he got home early from Brazil and decided to hang out. At the end of the night we exchanged phone numbers." Chris called two days later and they started dating. Love at first sight? "It sure was on my part. We have a four month old daughter and she’s a miracle baby." Chaz grew up in Marshalltown, Iowa, where her father was a vp at the home office at Lennox Air & Heating. Before coming to the Southland, Chaz worked in North Dakota, Eugene, Portland, Phoenix and Dallas.

The circus came to town yesterday morning in the disguise of John & Ken’s debut at KABC. The House of Blues was the big top and whotta’ opening act. There was a live band, contest winners hovering over Krispy Kreme donuts and sipping Starbucks coffee, high-powered agency folk (I went up in the elevator with Edith Whaley of Carat ICG, who I’m told is very important), fellow KABC talk show hosts, a parade of KABC support staff led by Shelley Wagner, and in the midst of the cacophony of noise were John Kobylt and Ken Chiampou conducting their first talk show at KABC. Erik Braverman and Ray Lopez, who made his debut as morning show producer, orchestrated the pace of the show. Howard Hoffman was the MC for all the activities at the House of Blues and connected the bridges that were between all the elements.

KABC pd Drew Hayes was ebullient. "Did you see our sign out front?" was how he greeted me. Drew has a moving billboard: "Some competition Bill can’t Handel – John & Ken, mornings at KABC." The billboard truck was parked in front of Bill Handel’s home yesterday morning when he left for work and then followed him to the KFI studios. The billboard truck stayed parked for the KFI employees to see as they arrived at work. Some friendly fun between competing radio stations. At KFI, John and Bill’s wives became good friends. "We’re having dinner together in the near future," Ken said. "It’s his mortgage or my mortgage."

After the debut show ended, John and I chatted about the Countdown Clock that appeared at the top of this page during the month of June that counted down the weeks, days, minutes and seconds until their arrival. "I was back East for three weeks and I got to the point where I would scroll very quickly past the clock while it was loading to read the day’s news. I didn’t want to see that I only had 3 million more seconds left before my vacation was over."

At one point during the festivities, there was the feeling of a true variety show going on with Don McNeil or Arthur Godfrey (network morning men from an era long gone). Weekenders Leo Terrell and Gloria Allred appeared and wished the new team well and brought gifts. John tried to get the OJ Simpson controversy stirred up, but it didn't work. Dennis Prager brought his accordion and played Havah Nagilah. ("My parents wouldn’t let me watch tv on school nights but said I could learn a musical instrument," said Dennis. "I literally went to the Yellow Pages and started with A," to which Ken quipped, "Too bad you didn’t start at G for a cool instrument to get the girls.") Larry Elder sang a mean impression of Louis Armstrong’s Hello Dolly. For those at the HOB, Larry delighted the crowd, not with the moon walk, but his own sun walk.

KABC sales chief Bob Koontz was excited about the station’s direction and the arrival of John & Ken. "The station has been making steady gains in our demographic target audience and with John & Ken, we’re gonna be a killer," opined Bob.

Well, KABC is now the vision that pd Drew Hayes envisioned one year ago. "Sometimes it takes two or three years to get it where you want it. We’re now in place," Drew said. "Not once in the past year was there any pressure from management or corporate to hurry up. They gave me complete freedom to get where we are today."

The summer Arbitron ratings book started yesterday. It’ll be interesting to track where KABC will be next July 1. Good luck!

Clear Channel’s KBET, tucked away in the Santa Clarita Valley, was simulcasting "XTRA Sports 1150" until last weekend, according to Larry Thornhill, gm at KAVL-Lancaster and in charge of the Antelope Valley cluster. KBET, at 1220AM, is now simulcasting Rick Dees from 5 a.m. to 10 a.m. and Jim Rome until noon. KIIS/FM runs until the Dodgers pre-game show and then KBET hooks up with the Dodger package. "We’re going to be running lots of sports on the weekends at 1220AM. We will be football intensified with local high school games, the UCLA package and an NFL triple header every Sunday," said Larry by phone earlier this week.

Jimi Hendrix is featured on Joe Benson's "Off The Record" on "Arrow 93" for July 4th at 10 p.m.…Mark & Brian are playing host to Sammy Hagar this morning at KLOS…This afternoon at 3 p.m., KROQ is counting down the top KROQ-Party songs, as chosen by listeners at www.kroq.com . Even the djs are getting into the July 4th weekend festivities. All the KROQ djs will be too busy partying to work, so KROQ will be dj-free all weekend long…Kenny Morse and Reed Berry broadcast from the Museum of TV and Radio tomorrow afternoon. The voice of Homer Simpson, Dan Castelleneta, will guest…Bill Austin, formerly with KTTV/Channel 11 in the early 1980s and now #1 morning man in Phoenix, is spending this morning on-air at KRTH with Charlie Van Dyke. Hmmm…When KFWB went rock and roll in early 1958, Ted Quillin was one of the original djs. Ted moved to Las Vegas 20 years ago and became a motivational speaker and teacher. He is an expert on Las Vegas history and music. Check out his Web site at www.quillincountry.com .

I received a number of emails wanting to know why when I reported that KRLA would be simulcasting the KCBS/Channel 2 6 o’clock news that I failed to mention that Minyard & Minyard would be cut by 25%. Frankly I didn’t see that as the story. The simulcast was the story. I asked Ken for his thoughts: "I actually think it's a pretty good idea," emailed Ken. "Besides we're still on the last hour in all the other [satellite-delivered] markets." When Phil Hendrie was cut back an hour at KFI last month, the story was Phil’s unique approach to radio and his desire to concentrate on three hours, not four hours. The KFI story was not Tim & Neil adding an hour.

Email Saturday tomorrow at the Web site is chock a block with fans of radio voicing opinions…On Tuesday the gloves come off. Read about one morning team bashing another morning team and you will be shocked on which station threw the first punch.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Bobby Ocean

** KABC Catches the KFI Castoffs
"No offense, I love your column, but you seem VERY KABC biased. I mean, whenever anyone writes about John & Ken, no one seems to mention the fact that ever since OJ's been over, these guys had consistently gone down in every ratings book since. They've become old and stale. They say the common man can relate to them. Well, last time I looked I wasn't getting paid a cool million to open my mouth and whine for four hours a day. I don't have a nanny for my wife to help her take care of our two children, and I don't start a new job where everyone obviously has to kiss my ass. Their first day on the air was pathetic, and John turned into everything he used to hate in a talk show host. Whiny, obnoxious and just mean. Neither he, nor Ken can relate to the common man.

KABC has not been original for years. They take all the old KFI castoffs and use that to try to make a decent station. Well, at least KFI has balls to try something new, not just use others rejects." John Stoneburg, Laguna

** Ratings Question about KFI Afternoons
"I would be interested in knowing what happened to the KFI ratings after John & Ken left. I can't believe that Karel & Andrew were able to maintain John & Ken's ratings. The program director that made the move should be updating his resume for what I feel was a large blunder. I also told him so by email through the KFI Web site. I think making the ratings public would be very interesting. Thanks." - Rob Hayden

** A Week of Radio Reflections
"1. Re: John Kobylt's comment about Siegfried & Roy losing 2/3's of their audience: Quite frankly, there wasn't much audience left to work with, once Tom Leykis returned.
2. Joe Crummey gets too little credit for the outstanding job he always does, and the tremendous job he did for KABC mornings in the last few months. No matter the dial position, or the time of day, Joe-Joe-Joe Crummey is always on his game! In fact, in the last 8 years, there have only been two LARP to pull me away from Howard Stern - Robert W. Morgan and Joe Crummey!!!
3. I think the idea of simulcasting news programs for radio audiences is great. How many great broadcasters NEVER thought to do it before now?
4. Finally...the fact that even in this mediocre market [at least for the time-being -whenever in the past did talent learn their craft or audition on-air in Los Angeles?], Peter Tilden can't find work is almost beyond amazing. BTW-I really like the new KRLA banner." - Bill Vigus, Rancho Cucamonga

** Grant Me a New KABC
"I was gratified to read the explanation of Neil Grant's, er, unusual news style in your Monday column. I had feared it was part of KABC's hysterical attempt to shake the geezer-station reputation. I heard it also in the delivery of the usually reliable Joe Crummey. It was like somebody told him to raise his voice half an octave, talk faster, and say ‘cool’ at least ten times a segment. Oh, yes, and make it rhyme with ‘pull,’ not ‘tool.’ Last week Joe seemingly said the hell with it and returned to his natural adult professional style. As for Neil Grant, his newscasts ran something like, ‘Yo, dudes, what do you think about this? Some guy offed his wife and three kids out in the Valley with an AK-47. He's still inside and the cops are all over the place. Cool, huh?" Is he hip? As Dick Enberg might say, ‘Oh my!’" - Gary Brandner, Northridge

** A Grant Fan
" I'm really sorry to read that my FAVORITE news guy, Neil Grant, is leaving KABC. He really does inject a lot of fun and personality into the news and his comments often just crack me up. Hope he will keep in touch with you and let us know where he goes. Have always enjoyed his give and take with Larry Elder and others. Neil, I am your biggest fan and will miss you!!!" - Mary Burr, Torrance

** Not a Grant Fan
"I very much disliked Neil Grant’s news style. The ‘Hey, how ya doing?’ and then describing a news story and ending it with something like, ‘and guess what? the dude/guy died!’ annoyed the heck out of me. To each his own. I sure won't miss him.
How's KRLA doing? I would listen but it won't come in up here [and we're only 60-some miles away from L.A.]. Thanks so much for this Web site. It's great!" - Gail Fernald, Lancaster

** More Grant
"I for one did not like Neil Grant's ‘High Profile News Personality with a unique style.’ I thought it sensational and editorial. I found myself quite capable to interpret the news and develop my own opinion without his help." - Scott Moulton, Chino Hills

** John Geise Missing
"I do like your new format with the paragraphs. Much easier on the eyes. I lived in Phoenix from 1980-84 and there was a radio station called KDKB at 93.3FM. The morning duo went by The John and Bill Show. I don't know Bill's last name, but John's was Geise. I remember that because it was a short while after John Wayne Gasey from Chicago was arrested or on trial for his horrific crimes and John and Bill used to joke about the closeness of the last names. I was wondering if your network of information could let me know where they went or what happened to them. I know you normally do LARP, but I thought I'd give it a try." - Suzanne VanderBorgt

** A Guy Named Joe
"It's nice hearing Joe Daniels back in L.A. on KLAC. I remember the great job he did for KIIS & KPRZ. Joe and the music flow so well together. KLAC has a great dj lineup now with Charlie Tuna, Bill Nesbitt, Joe and Johnny Magnus. Keep up the good work. I speak for a lot of over fifty and younger people who enjoy this music so much. I'm actually buying music again because of what I'm hearing. Please! Music retailers stock-up on adult music because some of it is so hard to find. PS What is a good Web site for music?" - David Swain

** A Phoenix Phan
"I would like to thank you for your site. I am now living in Phoenix. I recently got the Internet this past year. I had to get a second phone line because I have the PC on all the time at home to listen to the local stations on the net. I listen to KLOS, KOLA and KABC. I also listen to Tom Lekyis. He just passed Howard Stern as my favorite personality. My only regret is that due to CBS rules we can’t get 97.1 on the net. I make frequent trips to So Cal [4 times a year] and that station is always on my rental car. I grew up listening to the old KKDJ, KMET and KWST. They don’t have stations like that anymore. Thanks for your site. I read it everyday before I start my day’s activities." Jim Mc Aulay, Phoenix

** KRLA Simulcasts KCBS/TV Channel 2 News @ 6
"TV news on the radio! What will they think of next? Something else, I hope. How the hell are we supposed to follow those riveting car chases on the radio? And what about those ‘live from the scene’ standups? How will we get by without being able to see the ubiquitous idiot waving at the camera behind the reporter? And how will we know what Ann Martin is wearing tonite? ‘...and for you radio listeners, Ann is sporting a lovely two piece business suit this evening...’ And the videotaped sports highlights ought to be pretty exciting too. If I were Tom Leykis or Larry Elder, I'd be quaking in my boots." – Bruce Harris, Harbor City

** Where Are the Production Wizards?
"Have the book, seen the database, glad somebody's doing this, but there are lot of names still missing [don't know if they meet your criteria...] names from KWST and KNAC that I know of personally, amongst others.
There were and are some great production wizards that never really got the glory their on-air brethren got, but still were/are imminently responsible for the overall sound of a station. People like Tree [aka Tom Kelley], who worked many years at KMET, then to KWST, then on to syndicated radio with ‘Rock Around The World,’ voiced by Chuck Marshall, only to meet an untimely and tragic death. I should know- I replaced him at KWST as production director. Another was Fred Jones, who worked at KNAC for years, eventually going on to his own production company and a ton of Clios.

Some Questions. 1. Do you know where Paul Sullivan of KWST fame is today? 2. Is the Phil Harvey you have listed, the same one that came from KCBN, and later KGLR, in Reno, Nevada?

I note with interest the article [6/29] on Bob Coburn and Joe Benson at Borders...and it is sad to see what has happened to radio and records, but ‘.com’ radio is coming! Three years ago there were only 15 Internet ‘broadcasters’ [or should we call them multicasters, since they're not really over the air]. Today there are 185 and more starting each day. As high speed Internet access becomes more prolific, and prices continue to plummet [yes, today you can actually get a computer for free, and from more than one source], more and more people are tinkering with listening to stuff on the Internet. MP3 has overtaken sex as the biggest inquiry on any search engine. It's not that people are tired of music, or tired of radio, it's that radio has completely lost its art, and is strictly business. I note that neither Mr. Coburn or Mr. Benson did anything to endanger their paychecks at any of their former stations when the going got tough, and while I respect their deep lineage in L.A. radio, I think both of them are about as engaging as a wet washrag. It's sad when what's left of Rock radio in L.A. sounds as bad as it does. KLOS buckles under from their last book to the already-dying-but-hey-it's-new-to-LA-"Classic Rock that Really Rocks" schtick. It stunk the last time KLOS did this and now it stinks again. If Disney had the intelligence to build a radio audience instead of constantly going in for the kill, long range outcome might have been better. Instead, we are left with "Arrow 93", which, as bad as they sound [still using breakers almost ten years old] actually managed to scrape past KLOS. Video didn't kill the radio star, evidenced by the years that MTV coexisted with the rock radio industry, corporate greed and multi-ownership did.

And me? I left radio after being abused in it to the point of 18 hour days and not so much as a hi howdya do? I saw the writing on the wall, as all the creativity slowly melted out of radio. The death of KMET was probably the last gasp - save for the brief period of KMPC/FM as a rock station - and I'm not talking the macramé-lesbian-Starbucks coffee ‘The Edge’- I'm talking the period of Paraquat Kelley and JJ Jackson and friends [there were two incarnations in this period, I believe]. Today, I work in motion pictures and television mostly as an editor, occasionally directing, more rarely then that, acting. From one nomadic career to another. Well, sorry, I only meant to ask a coupla questions and just got carried away." - Mark Speer, Northridge

** Former ‘Arrow’ Checks In
"I visited your site this morning [July 2] - for what it's worth, you have done a marvelous job with your site - it is amazing that I can sit here in the Detroit area [I'm stuck here for now while I pursue my Master's at Michigan State], go to your site and read the current news, and I feel like I'm right there in L.A., in the middle of it all.

I enjoyed reading about how John & Ken talked about that unfortunate experience at KFI. So many are too afraid to talk about some of the ‘less than likeable’ people in our business." - Dave White

** Weekly Reflections
"Your piece regarding Jonathon Brandmeier's Monday show is absolutely correct. But, the conversation with Queen Elton was recorded a while ago. Brandmeier is on vacation this week. [As are Howard Stern, Kevin & Bean, John & Ken, oops, wishful thinking].

By the way, I had the misfortune of hearing the town's biggest suck-up on KLSX this afternoon. [Sorry Don, I know I'm sounding like Gary Franklin.] Yes, I'm talking about the nauseating voice of Sam Rubin. What are his qualifications to host a talk show? Having the brownest nose in town?

I agree that David Courtney does an adequate job of keeping the crowd at Team Disney's games ‘fired up.’ [Lord knows they need it]. But, I thought the job of the public address announcer was to...announce. [Think the legendary John Ramsey.] Or, in Courtney's case, become a shill promoting anything and everything Disney-related. Hey, the guy's gotta pay his mortgage.

Thirdly, I also heard KIIS shameless self-promoter JoJo Wright giving away tix for the Big Bad Voodoo Daddy post-Dodger game concert and wondered, Why is the station pushing an act that not only is out of its target demo, but is not even getting airplay on the station? Could it be that gm Roy Laughlin was attempting to score brownie points with Dodger brass?

Finally, why is the 102.7 frequency still described as ‘Kiss FM.’ When FM listening patterns were being developed in the 70s, it was necessary, and because there was sister station ‘Kiss AM.’ But now, a quarter-century later, isn't it a bit trite? I don't hear ‘K-Earth 101 FM’ or ‘K-Big 104 FM’ being used." - Chris Parker
HAPPY BIRTHDAY: JJ Johnson, Bob Morgan, Michael Smith, and Sway

(July 4-5, 1999) Enjoy your holiday weekend! The column will resume on Tuesday.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Charlie Huero (formerly with "Power 106") and Steve Julian (traffic reporter)

"It’s all lies, it’s all phony," KBIG’s Shirley said of KYSR’s Jamie

(July 6, 1999) Carolyn Gracie, Rick Diego and Shirley Lester host the KBIG morning show. Recently, Shirley was having some personal problems that management wanted her to talk about on air and Shirley refused. She felt that the problems were private. "I keep it together enough to go to sleep and eat one meal a day," Shirley confided. Rich chimed in that she had lost 15 pounds. Callers were very supportive of her silence about the problem, even though one caller complained that the show was supposed to pick you up and make you feel good and said, "You’re getting us all down. We’re tired of hearing it." Carolyn was supportive of her colleague. "Rick and I feel we can pull off a fine show when Shirley’s not here," volunteered Carolyn. "Her boss is insinuating that we can’t."

Shirley said that her boss ordered her to talk about this private matter or she would get fired. "He wants me to talk about everything in my life and I won’t do it," insisted Shirley. "It’s all about ratings. I didn’t want this to turn into some kind of bashing of the other radio stations because I respect what other people do and it’s fine. There comes a point in my life where I have to take care of myself. I have to take care of my personal life and my professional life. I got it thrown in my face – why can’t I be more like her and talk about anything that happens in my life." Her is Jamie White of "Star 98.7’s" morning team. "I don’t make stuff up just for the sake of it. Just because we’re not talking about dingleberries and all sorts of stupid things and female genitalia and we’re having an affair on our husband. It’s a bunch of lies; it’s all phony. Just a bunch of wannabes. It’s the lowest common denominator."

"Let’s just say for the record that the stuff she talks about is B.S. with a capital B and a capital S," said Carolyn of Jamie. "If anyone was married and the promiscuous things she says she continues to do, she would be instantly divorced unless her husband is an idiot. The woman on ‘Star 98’s’ morning show, he wants us to act like her? – puhleeeeese."

Forgive or Forget, the syndicated tv show hosted by LARP Mother Love, posed a challenge to talk queen Oprah Winfrey in key female demographics during the May sweeps period in New York and Los Angeles…"Arrow 93’s" Bob Coburn loves baseball and the chess aspect of sitting and watching a game unfold. He’s been to over 1,000 ball games and never caught a foul ball. Bob has never been able to get his 15-year old daughter to a game in order to savor the experience. She recently went with a friend for the first time and, well, are you ahead of me? She caught a foul ball, from Sammy Sosa of all people.

On Saturday Rod Lurie signed off from his weekly movie show at KABC to direct films. During the three-hour love fest his fans showered him with mostly accolades. Billy Bob Thornton called in during Rod’s last hour. Rod was very generous to Sling Blade and helped build awareness for the offbeat independent film, resulting in a friendship between Rod and Billy Bob. "I’m leaving this radio station to try and make my own personal stamp on cinema," Rod told his audience. "But I view it as a lateral move. For the truth is, film reviewing is an art form in and of itself. And if you doubt that, look at the prose of people like Kenneth Turan, Kevin Thomas" and others, said Rod. "There is one thing that remains with the film critics, filmmakers and you - we love this art. We cherish it. It is the art of the 20th century. It is our mission ultimately to preserve it and to let it remain great." Rod’s first movie, Deterrence, will be released by Paramount Classics in the fall.

Jeff Shamrock, Metro Networks Entertainment Reporter and producer of the Jonathon Brandmeier Showgram, read all the Saturday email about Neil Grant. "Neil delivered the news in a way that we wanted him to. Take a look at the world, Neil just gave it to us the way WE asked him to. But don't worry, this is the best thing to happen to him. As certain as the sun will rise tomorrow, Neil Grant will be working somewhere tomorrow...and he'll be better off," emailed Jeff…Did you know that Randy Fuller reports traffic on KABC as Brent Wood and on KLAC as Jimmy Randall? Randy also is a Saturday afternoon dj at 92.7FM as Randy Fuller…When you hear Hawaii Five-O on KOST, call in and qualify to win a seven-day trip to Hawaii…Speaking of Hawaii, Jacque Gonzales James starts as program director at KQMQ-Honolulu on July 19…Rick Dees has returned from two-weeks vacationing in Hawaii. This morning he and Ellen K were talking about how hot it has been around the country. Rick said that is was 99 degrees in New York and Darryl Strawberry was seen buying the kind of Coke you drink.

Geoff Edwards is best known for hosting several network tv game shows, a quarter of a century in prime Southern California radio, and host of California Lottery’s Big Spin for almost a decade. One year he was vacationing on Maui and had a rental Jeep. "From the brochures, the Jeeps were parked right on the beach, so that’s what we did." A local police officer was writing tickets because it was illegal to park on the beach. "The officer asked for my license and I told him I left it back in the condo. He told me it was illegal to drive without a license." Geoff then said, "But I am not driving." The officer said, "Who drove that Jeep here?" Geoff said, pointing to the people with him, "‘It could have been any one of them.’ Infuriated, the officer threw me up against the Jeep, handcuffed me and patted me down. I’ll never forget. I was only wearing a bathing suit." He took Geoff down to the station, fingerprinted him and took a mug shot. "I kept asking him what I was being charged with and they couldn’t figure it out, so after three hours they gave me a ticket for illegally parking on the beach, which cost $7.50."

KIKF’s Carrie Dunne is working on a country video show on KDOC called California Country. "It's still in the beginning, very low budget stages," emailed Carrie. "But most of OC doesn't get CMT, so it's a way to expose country videos."…Zack Taylor of Westwood One gets the shortened week started with a Tuesday funnie: "Marv Albert has been rehired by NBC. He'll also be doing some work for CNBC, MSNBC, and S&MNBC."…Tomorrow, John Kobylt of KABC’s John & Ken show responds to critical postings on Email Saturday.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Scott James (KZLA), Patty Lotz (former KPWR/KIBB morning host), Mimi Novak (former "Arrow 93" morning co-host) and Frank Sontag (KLOS)

(July 7, 1999) "When I entered into negotiations with One-On-One Sports [which owns KCTD] I thought I was free to leave KFWB at any time," Joe McDonnell posted at his Web site in response to the premature stories in the LA Times and Daily News that Joe was joining Doug Krikorian for an afternoon talk show at KCTD later this month. "I hadn't signed a contract and I thought I wanted to do sports talk again. It was all pretty easy. My agent worked out an excellent deal for me, getting me virtually everything I wanted. I accepted, and I was prepared to start on July 19th. Then the contract thing turned out to be a blessing in disguise." When the story appeared in Larry Stewart's column in the LA Times two Friday’s ago, Joe hadn’t told anyone at KFWB he’d be leaving. "They knew I was talking to KCTD, but I told them it wasn't a done deal--which it wasn't at the time. On the following Monday - when it looked to me like a done deal even though it hadn't been signed yet - I told the pd Dave Cooke that I was leaving. That's when he told me I had a signed contract. And while he told me I could go if I really wanted to, he asked me to take a day and think about it. Which I did. And I came to the conclusion that I belonged at KFWB," Joe said. "The only reason I was going back into sports talk was to beat KXTA's ass--which really wouldn't have been hard to do. But I realized that wasn't a good enough reason to give up a great gig at KFWB. KFWB is a great, legendary radio station, which actually has ratings and I would have been an idiot to walk away from it. So I didn't. Sports talk just isn't in my plans right now. I'm really enjoying being part of the team at KFWB, and working for a great group of people. So this is where I'm staying." I asked Joe who gave the story prematurely to the newspapers? "I've got an idea about who it was, but since I can't prove it, I won't say."

Actor Rupert Everett (of My Best Friend's Wedding fame) was interviewed in the August issue of In Style magazine. And he was quoted as saying: "I like listening to radio. I love Lovesongs on the Coast on 103.5 FM. It's so outrageous!"…At 9 this morning Peter Frampton will be performing in the Mark & Brian Amphitheater at KLOS…KRLA’s Ken Minyard voiced his opinion on the process of how women vote. "My theory is that women vote for the candidate with whom they most like to sleep."

Rod Lurie hosted his last show at KABC on July 4. He had some reflections over the weekend: "My leaving the radio is really the very definition of ambivalence for me. It has consumed me for four years now and I have been able to work for a station that is at once a juggernaut and then also an arena where there was no hint of internal censorship - just a desire to be a center of free [albeit entertaining] thought. The leadership at KABC were beyond kind to me, giving me a rare farewell show, and I shall not soon forget it. They're good, good people."

Do you get Westways magazine? There is a terrific story about radio written by Ray Bradbury. KIEV’s George Putnam interviews Ray Bradbury today along with Norman Corwin, an icon of the golden age of radio, who will discuss his career and the history and future of the airwaves…Stephanie Miller returned to her early evening slot at KABC following a vacation in New York. She was back there for radio and tv meetings. One of Stephanie’s horror stories was the cab driver that drove her from the airport into Manhattan. "The cab driver kept opening the door to spit. That’s how prolific his spit was. Every time he stopped he opened the door and he would hurl this huge loogie, like that’s how big they were. He couldn’t even spit out the window; he had to open the door to get the proper trajectory. Apparently it’s okay in New York. No one noticed."…On one of the nights that Stephanie was vacationing, Drew Hayes and Erik Braverman, pd and apd respectively, sat in for a session of "Ask the Suits." At one point in the two-hour give and take with listeners, the pair singled out Brian Whitman as being one of the real troopers for working with Mr. KABC in mornings at the first of the year. Brian’s temporary assignment lasted 14 weeks.

Didja know there was an FM "New Mix" station at 95.7 and 95.9?..Here’s a weighty subject. KFI’s afternoon driver Karel is attempting to lose 44 pounds in the next 10 weeks. "My goal is to lose about 80 pounds," he told his audience yesterday afternoon. "Growing up, food meant stability for me. If there was food, there was stability. I ate all the wrong foods. I’ve gained 27 pounds since joining KFI," confided Karel. He claims his school (being allowed to avoid PE) and his parents let him be fat…Westwood One’s Zack Taylor checks in with this morning’s funnie: "Fox chief Rupert Murdoch has a new wife. Or as he calls it, 'a mid-season replacement.'"

Last Thursday during the debut show of John & Ken at KABC, John said, "When we left [KFI], the next act that came on was radio's version of Siegfried & Roy. They've lost about 2/3rds of the audience since we left." Every Saturday, LARADIO.COM gives an opportunity for fans of radio and LARP to voice their opinions about Southern California radio. John Stoneburg of Laguna thought I was "VERY KABC biased" for failing to report "that ever since OJ's been over, these guys [John & Ken] had consistently gone down in every ratings book since." In another email, Bill Vigus of Rancho Cucamonga wrote: "1. Re: John Kobylt's comment about Siegfried & Roy losing 2/3's of their audience: Quite frankly, there wasn't much audience left to work with, once Tom Leykis returned." John Kobylt sent this email over the July 4^th weekend: "After reading your Saturday emails, I could see a few of Leykis' more impressionable listeners have bought his propaganda about our situation. So I offer these stats. Our last full month on KFI was February. The Arbitrend 3-month rolling average for Dec-Jan-Feb showed that in the 25-54 demo, we had a 2.9, Leykis 2.8, Larry 2.5. So we left on top. [Like it matters.] Our 25-54 cume was 287,800, Leykis' was 189,900, Elder 168,300. Our 25-54 number for February alone was 3.3. The current KFI hosts in PM drive registered a 1.3 in May. That's why I said they've lost 2/3 of the audience. Finally, Leykis and whoever's on KFI are not in true competition with each other. We shared only 6% of our cume with him. 94% of our audience never listened to him when we were up against each other."

A fan of LARADIO.COM read with interest the feud between the morning teams at KBIG and KYSR and wondered: "Don't both those stations have the same owner, Chancellor Media Corp.? Isn't that ironic? Who has better ratings in the morning KYSR or KBIG?"…Last week Suzanne Vanderborgt asked about the whereabouts of John Giese who worked in Phoenix. Michael Hagerty, Phoenix correspondent for radiodigest.com emailed: "KDKB is still on the air, but John Giese and Bill Andres aren't. Bill moved on to do entertainment reporting for the local NBC TV affiliate while John went to talk radio at KFYI. The pair left those jobs and were reunited five years ago for mornings at KSLX, but the new show lasted only six months. I believe both are still in Phoenix, but not on-air. And there is an LARP connection. Their program director at KDKB is the same man who hired and fired them at KSLX, former KHJ/KTWV/KZLA PD John Sebastian."

One of the highlights of putting LARADIO.COM together each day is when radio friends are reunited or there is help in finding men and women who have long ago left the air. Alan deMena was checking the Where Are They Now? page and passed on some information about former KFAC announcers. Alan said that Martin Workman died in 1990 after a very long illness; Bill Carlson is in his early 80s and living in West Los Angeles; and Tom Cassidy, who was with KFAC forever, is retired and living in the San Fernando Valley. Thanks, Alan. Have you checked the Where Are They Now? page? Perhaps you know the whereabouts of some missing LARP…Have you checked out the KCBS/Channel 2 News @ 6 simulcast at KRLA? Last night at 6:30 I monitored KRLA, KFWB and KNX. The tv simulcast devoted a long segment to the local fires and provided far more time than the two all-News stations. It might have been because visually it was a very compelling story.

Anyone know Tom Carroll? He apparently did some work at Westwood One before going to WENE-Endicott, New York. Last heard he was in Santa Barbara driving a Mercedes. If you know the whereabouts of Tom, a friend would like you to contact him at mheslin@worldnet.att.net …A new KIK station kicks off this morning at 1510 in the Inland Empire called KIK AM…KFI morning man Bill Handel makes use of afternoon consumer guy Clark Howard with a week-long series called "In the American system: Never buy retail."

(July 8, 1999) The combo of KIIS/KACD took in $4,735,000 in total May advertising to lead all other Southern California radio stations. The KIIS/KACD combo led the local revenue listing while Spanish KLVE was the big national leader. In total cash for May:

1. KIIS/KACD
2. KTWV
3. KOST/KACE
4. KBIG/KLAC
5. KLSX/KRLA
6. KKBT
7. KRTH
8. KLVE
9. KCBS/FM
10. KFI
11. KLOS
12. KROQ
13. KPWR

$ 4, 735, 000
$ 4, 174, 000
$ 4, 093, 000
$ 4, 047, 000
$ 3, 959, 000
$ 3, 720, 000
$ 3, 702, 000
$ 3, 661, 000
$ 3, 546, 000
$ 3, 470, 000
$ 3, 445, 000
$ 3, 434, 000
$ 3, 422, 000

14. KYSR
15. KNX
16. KFWB
17. KCMG
18. KXTA
19. KLAX
20. KZLA
21. KABC
22. KTNQ
23. KSSE
24. KLYY
25. KDIS

$ 3, 362, 000
$ 3, 203, 000
$ 3, 149, 000
$ 2, 932, 000
$ 2, 434, 000
$ 2, 161, 000
$ 1, 769, 000
$ 1, 554, 000
$ ....889, 000
$ ....858, 000
$ ....847, 000
$ ....114, 000

Kevin & Bean have a new Sports Guy, according to LARP correspondent Vincent. "After Jimmy Kimmel left the KROQ morning show in February, Kevin & Bean auditioned many new Sports People, but decided against them. Since then Doc On The Roq filled in reporting the sports scores in the morning. This week Paul ‘Action’ Jackson is debuting as the new KROQ Sports Guy."

"I went topless," Ellen K told Rick Dees on the KIIS morning show. Ellen was talking about her recent vacation in the Greek Islands. "I arrived in Greece with tan lines and came home without. It’s such a free feeling." Rick wanted to know if anyone looked. "I felt a little bit strange going topless in Greece. Well, I’m just going to come right out with it. My breasts have been enhanced. Nobody in Europe enhances their breasts. I was extremely buxom to be topless in Greece. Most of the women are a little more flat chested, therefore I felt like a freak."

Changes at KXMX, "New Mix 95.9," include the termination of the last full-time on-air personality from the KEZY days, morning co-host Liz Pennington. "I kind of felt it coming for a while, and on Friday I was canned! The last of the old KEZY, besides weekenders, to go. Imagine, the only air talent with Orange County background---gone," emailed Liz. She’s looking for a job in news, as a dj or maybe getting back into television. You can reach Liz at EDiBari@aol.com. "I am relieved about the parting and am really looking forward to exploring all areas of entertainment/media! Moving on will do me good!! I wish Ron Price and the New MIX all the best!" Apparently Ranman {Randy Dewitt) will be doing mornings while pd Price sits in afternoon drive as Geronimo.

And then there were one. KRLA’s Reed Berry has been dropped from the Saturday afternoon "Traffic Jam" show. Kenny Morse will go it alone and the show is now called "The Driving Show." The official word is that Reed has moved on to "other creative pursuits." Kenny said of his former partner: "I will miss the witty repartee we enjoyed. I wish him the best for the future." On Saturday nights Kenny will host a general topic show. This weekend Gary Lycan, Sandy Wells and Tomm Looney will discuss the state of L.A. Radio and later in the show, Peter Bart, the editor of Variety, guests with Kenny.

Are you a fan of Phil Hendrie’s at KFI. A Web site has been created that tracks all of Phil’s guests. http://home.pacbell.net/jamalali…Larry Marino has a jam-packed political morning on the KIEV "Morning Magazine" as he talks live with Republican Presidential candidate Gary Bauer and later in the morning, Assembly member Gilbert Cedillo, who has proposed giving drivers licenses to illegals…Boy did I catch heck yesterday for stating that Classical KFAC was now KCTD. "Who goofed, I’ve got to know." I goofed. KFAC/AM was on 1330AM. In 1948, KFAC/FM (92.3FM) went on the air. KCTD (One-On-One Sports) is at 1540, which was Beautiful Music KPOL.

Dave Funnell of Costa Mesa was scanning the Where Are They Now? page and was jolted by memories of KRLA morning man Doc Frail. "Doc Frail was [is?], by profession, a veterinarian and in the mid-70's practicing that business in Simi Valley. A morning dj I listened to, in about 1974, went on vacation for two weeks [don't remember the name or station], and talked station management into allowing her friend, Doc Frail, to fill in for her. What a trip! This guy had NO radio experience at all, stammered when he talked, which was between his many bouts of silence, and seemingly he daily set world records for how long one could utter the word "uh" without catching a breath. It was great! And for two weeks, 25 years ago, he was my MUST LISTEN show in the morning. Not to laugh at the guy [oh, yes, that happened], but because it was great to listen to an untrained, unpretentious voice, obviously well aware of his shortcomings; he became Everyman, trying to fulfill a dream. Likely, he made little impression, and station management probably partied when he left, but it obviously made enough of an impression on me that I still clearly hear his voice a quarter century later, and liked him enough to write this down." When I explained to Dave that Doc Frail was actually KRLA dj Lee "Baby" Simms, Dave responded, "That's great! I always ‘bought’ the Doc ‘story,’ because it fit so well in the context of his performance." Another interesting sidebar to the Doc Frail story was that his frequent co-host was Amos of Famous Amos Cookies.

KCMG is giving away tickets to "Mega Jam II" before they go on sale. "Jam II" features Earth, Wind & Fire and Barry White…At "Arrow 93" last night, Krickett Davis was giving away tickets to a Steve Miller Band and George Thorogood concert at the Pavilion in Devore…KIEV’s Michael Medved is scheduled to appear on Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher tonight…Checked the LA Times to give you a heads up on content in the weekly radio column. No radio column today. There must have been a paucity of Spanish radio news this past week…Yesterday afternoon, Nicole Sandler was promoting an in-house performance by Chrissy and the Pretenders later this month at KACD. "I’m so excited. She is like my hero. Tough. Tough lady. I’m really looking forward to meeting her."
HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Diana DeVille (KNAC)

(July 9, 1999) Kevin James (Slow Jammin’ James) just might have the record of the 1990s for leaving and returning to one station. Kevin joined KKBT in 1991 and in 1992 he went to WKYS-Washington, DC (he was rehired at WKYS three times) only to return to the "Beat" a year later. Kevin broadcast his weekend show from Tampa and a year ago previous management let him go. When Harold Austin returned as pd at KKBT, Kevin was rehired for the all-night shift on Friday and Saturday nights. "I’m living at Venice Beach and outside my sliding glass door is the Pacific Ocean." Kevin has a studio in his condo and has been doing a nightly fill-in "Quiet Storm" show at WHUR-Washington DC and his "Love Affair" www.slowjam.com syndicated show is heard on seven stations.

This afternoon Tommy Lasorda joins George Putnam at KIEV to discuss his 20-year reign as manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers including World Series titles in 1981 and 1988…Nancy Sinatra’s press agent Hal Lifson has his "Radio aGoGo" show on KIEV Sunday nights at 9, all songs of the ‘60s…What do you get when you cross Viagra and a candy bar?, asked KIIS’s Rick Dees. Answer: Oh, Henry.

LARP great Chuck Blore said of Don MacKinnon (KABC, 1960; KLAC, 1963-64 KFWB, 1964-65): "The best one of all and there’s no question about it. He had an incredible brain, you never ever heard him say anything that didn’t matter. He was very, very funny about things which mattered." Tomorrow at Email Saturday, Don’s engineer Richard Gurnett reminisces about working with Don, hanging at the ABC watering hole Spotlite, Short Shorts and Captain Snow's Dance Party.

Following the Vince Gill concert tonight at the Universal Amphitheatre, Bob Harvey is hosting a KZLA post-concert part at the Country Star Restaurant at Universal CityWalk…Former Clinton advisor Dick Morris makes good on his promise to guest with Larry Marino this morning on KIEV "Morning Magazine." Larry called the new hotline for reporting smokers at bars only to find the voice mail said this mailbox cannot take messages. Later this morning Larry calls the fire department to find out why…KPCC’s Larry Mantle appears on KIEV’s "AM/FM Live" with Alicia Flannery Sunday morning…In Fred Shuster’s bi-monthly radio personality profile in the L.A. Daily News, the sub-headline calls KRLA’s Dr. Toni Grant "Radio’s premier psychologist." Fred compliments Dr. Grant with a simultaneous slap at Dr. Laura Schlessinger. "Grant’s medicine goes down easily. She doesn’t torment callers or enjoy antagonizing the poor anonymous souls who have nowhere else to turn for common-sense advice." Fred gives Dr. Grant three stars out of four…On Sunday, "Y107’s" Frank Murphy will be hosting the intermission festivities at the Starlight Bowl. "We're going to have a cherry pie eating contest and a round of ‘Truth or Consequences.’ Captain Cardiac & the Coronaries (http://www.captaincardiac.com/) will be the headline entertainment. They are perennial Starlight Bowl favorites," emailed Frank.

Recently a reader asked about KRLA’s "Doc Frail," the vetinarian from the Simi Valley who worked morning drive. "Doc" was actually Lee "Baby" Simms. L.A.’s first woman dj, Sie Holliday, was there and shares a memory: "So great to read that someone remembers the Doc Frail character with as much pleasure as I. I was the woman doing morning drive when Lee was set to take it over. The fill-in while I was on vacation in Europe was the station's way of introducing him. I was to follow him on air at 9 a.m. My first morning back I could hardly get ready to go in I was laughing so hard listening to Lee. I tried to let my sentimental side show during that time slot, in contrast to the Doc Frail character. Some great talent worked at KRLA in the 14 or so years I was associated with the station, but I think those couple of years doing 9 to noon were the most fun I had in radio.

** Longtime Rock Radio PD Checks In
"I would like to thank you for mentioning me on your Web site, I have received several emails from some old friends that I had not heard from in a long time. Congratulations on your Web site anniversary may you not do as well but...EVEN BETTER keeping the old radio dreams and dreamers alive and connected." - Al Anthony, KAFY / KSLR/ KDEO/ KFXM/ KDUO

** Traffic Jam
"I was listening to KABC's John & Ken show this morning, and heard the traffic reporter who sat in for Captain Jorge announce himself ‘Al Segunda.’ I know that KABC is trying to be catchy in trying to put another spin in the news and traffic with people like Neil Grant [I wonder why he left], and Wes Wood. But the stuff with the traffic reporters with names of cities just isn't funny, in fact, it's goofy. I just want a station with normal people doing normal talk shows, please give me that. What's next? KABC will have a new traffic reporter named Fernando Valley? Come on." - Marc Loi, Westminster

** "It’s In His Kiss"
"I don't know how much [or little] Ken Minyard knows about how women vote, but among my friends and relatives, we tend to vote for the man or woman we feel is qualified, or who supports our beliefs, etc. I have NEVER [and I'm 51 years of age] voted based on sexual attraction. Also, 99% of my female friends and relatives find Bill Clinton decidedly unattractive and none of us can fathom the attraction or how any woman could stand to touch him! Just my opinion. Maybe Ken ought to actually ask women...not just callers but women he knows. But maybe he has and perhaps that's what he based his remarks on. If so, there are a lot of stupid women out there." - Mary Burr, Torrance

** Note from Don MacKinnon’s Engineer
"After getting my 1st Phone from Don Martin's in 1949, I worked combo at KSCO in Santa Cruz. Navy duty during the Korean War followed and back to Santa Cruz for a short while. Back down to L.A. in 1954, teaching theory and math at Don Martin's, vacation engineering at KFI for two years, combo at KBIS-Bakersfield, and in 1957, radio engineering at ABC Hollywood. At that time, the facility fed all three network legs [LAF, NEV, COL] and KABC AM and FM. Stayed with them until retirement in 1990.

Was Don MacKinnon's engineer at the old ABC studios on Vine Street before the move to La Cienega in 1960. Started out with two turntables and ended up with four. His wild tracks were on sixteen-inch acetates and commercials on sixteen-inch pressings, a little more labor intensive than carts. His show was quite a workout and afterwards, we'd cross the alley to the back entrance of the Spotlite. For many years, this was the official watering hole for ABC and our down-the-block NBC neighbors. What I haven't seen mentioned in my short experience with LARP was Captain Snow's Dance Party. Don emceed it, and it was the last of the big audience studio shows at Vine. Audience dancing took place on the stage and guests such as Brenda Lee would lip sync their latest hits. Let me also mention Short Shorts and see if anyone remembers." - Richard Gurnett

"I agree with most everything Gene Baxter said in his June 27th missive that replied to my letter of June 20th in the L.A. Times. I understand that KRTH is a business and that businesses are entitled to make a profit. I also understand why KRTH has such an absolutely narrow playlist.

It's Baxter's bikes and burgers analogy that KRTH's choice of ‘songs are really just product, no more or less than a hamburger or a bicycle’ that proves that he either didn't understand or chose not to deal with my central point.

Broadcasting of songs, talk, sports or anything else, commercial or non, is not at all like burgers or bikes. If I open a hamburger stand next to a multi-national franchise, that firm cannot send out the federal hamburger police to find me, threaten me, confiscate equipment, fine me or even put me in jail, all to protect their nearby franchise. But KRTH and KROQ [and all other federally licensed stations] do have that power. If a nearby hamburger franchise is serving bland or boring burgers, I can set up a competing stand to make them shape up or lose customers. Not so, me, with the idea of competing against bland or boring radio. Neither Baxter nor I can unilaterally provide a more interesting diet of broadcast music or commentary or whatever else is missing from the mainly safe and repetitive radio landscape in our local market. The FCC would protect the existing interests with all the Federal powers it possesses. That gives the KROQs and KRTHs of this world power and protection that no other non-broadcast entity holds. Somehow, I think that requires of them a standard that's a little bit more than business as usual.

I'm flabbergasted and stunned [wake me when it's over] that there isn't more of an outcry against the broadcasting industry on this issue. Either those affected don't care, aren't aware of the situation or are most likely just contented with wallpaper radio." – Steve Propes

** Hendrie in Top Form
"I just had to drop you a note to mention that Phil Hendrie's show Thursday night at KFI was one of the funniest ever and I'm pretty sure it wasn't a best of.

To start the show the real Cloris Leachman called in meaning to get on Karel & Andrew, Phil schmoozed her for a while then brought on ‘Margaret Grey,’ show business columnist. Margaret went on to insult everyone in the business and Cloris had no idea it was a sham! Priceless stuff, you had to be there to appreciate.

Phil did some very funny bits later on in the show as well. ‘Ted Bell’ came on to gloat about how his Lincoln Navigator ripped the wheelchair assembly right off a ‘cripple's’ van with amazing torque. During the bit Phil was doing 4 different characters. Is there anyone more talented in radio right now?

Thanks as always for all the fun radio news you provide." - Jim Benton, San Clemente

(July 12, 1999) China Smith, a veteran of KDAY, KRLA, KROQ, KMET, KLOS, KWST, KMGG, KUTE, KTWV and most recently KACD, returns to the Southland to work weekends at "Arrow 93." "He will be doing some important vacation and weekend shows," emailed pd Tommy Edwards. "There were times I became very frustrated," China emailed over the weekend. "So very close a couple of times, then talks that stalled, or further information revealed that what they were offering, just wasn't commensurate to the market in some way. Although I have worked for CBS, Inc. for a short time before, when the ‘calls’ were KNX/FM, I've never had the privilege of working for Tommy Edwards. I've heard some great things about him, and he has impressed me as someone who knows what he's talking about, in my meetings with him, thus far. I am thrilled at the prospect of joining the ‘Arrow 93 family,’ and I am looking forward to working with some of the best professionals in the business.

Born in Grand Rapids, China worked in Michigan radio, KCBQ-San Diego and KING-Seattle before Bob Wilson brought him to AOR KDAY in 1971. In the 1980s China was the voice on tv’s Solid Gold syndicated show. He is most proud of the syndicated program called "Fusion 40," which was heard on four continents. China described the program as "a combination Quiet Storm, jazz/NAC and World Beat." He did the show for 5 years. As far as getting back on the radio in L.A., China said: "It is going to be a lot fun getting back to my rock & roll roots, and I must say that I am absolutely delighted to be home in Los Angeles again. Thanks Don, for the opportunity for me to say hi to everyone, and tell them that I'm so happy to be back."

Last Friday night, Mike Carlucci, PA announcer for the Los Angeles Dodgers, appeared as the PA Announcer at Wrigley Field in Chicago on the series finale of the ABC sitcom, Two of a Kind… Today and tomorrow, Peter Brown broadcasts his One-On-One Sports (1540AM) midday show from Fenway Park, site of the 1999 baseball All-Star game…KFI’s Scott & Casey wondered who President Clinton was rooting for at the World Cup Soccer finals.

Neil Ross read one of the letters at Email Saturday from Richard Gurnett, Don MacKinnon's engineer. Neil emailed: "Indeed I do remember Short Shorts [but I wear Long Johns!]. Now why don't you clam up and play a record while I shut the cave door and get back to pygmy countreeee!!!! This seemingly unintelligible drivel will make sense to any former Don MacKinnon listener. I first heard him on KABC in the fifties. My dad discovered him while driving home one evening and started listening to him in the house. He hated the music and would turn down the volume while a tune was playing, then turn it back up at the end of the song to see what MacKinnon was going to do next. MacKinnon was one of a kind. He influenced a whole generation of DJs. The late great Robert W. Morgan was a fan. So are Gary Owens, Danny Dark and countless others including me. He's a big part of the reason I got into the business. If you never heard him - you really missed something. His tragic death in a car crash in the mid sixties ended a brilliant career. He was only 28 and already a legend. I often wonder what he might have accomplished had he lived, and wished there was some way to memorialize him. Personal to Richard: would love to talk about Don with you some time. In person, phone, e-mail-you call it. Best, Neil Ross ex KMPC, KPOL/KZLA jacksonross@earthlink.net

Negotiations between AFTRA’s Shadow Traffic membership and management to agree on a new contract have been going on for months. AFTRA’s Robert Hochberger contacted union members following a Friday negotiating session with management. Here is a highlight of the movement the Union made:
Wages
Union proposal: "We revised our proposals from a 7% increase per year to 4% per year."
Management response: "3.25% per year."
Overscale
Union proposal: "We continued to hold that overscale should receive the same percentage increase, unless they have a personal contract which affords them at least a 4% increase per year. Our proposal would allow management to deduct any increase given to an overscale employee as a result of their personal contract from the 4%, however. [For example, if an individual had a personal contract, which gave them 2% one year, management would have to give them an additional 2% as a result of the Union contract.]"
Management response: "Give those overscale who did not already receive at least a 2% increase in the first year of the contract a one-time, 2% increase in year one. The increase would not apply in years two or three. Also, this increase would not apply to individuals working for KFWB Sports since their pay is dictated by the KFWB minimum scale for Sports Announcers which is significantly higher than the Shadow minimum scale."
401(k)
Union proposal: "The Union withdrew our proposal to participate in the 401(k)."
Airborne Bonus
Union proposal: "The Union combined the airborne bonus [currently $10 per day] and split-shift fee [currently $10 per day] into one fee for all airborne announcers. We proposed a fee of $25 per day, which would be added to a full-timers base salary. In other words, they would receive the $25 even while on vacation or other paid time off."
Management response: "Reject having the bonus added to the base salary so that individuals would only receive the increase on those days in which they actually
went up in the air. In addition, they came back with their last proposal of giving those individuals who do not work a split shift $12 per day bonus and those who do work a split shift a combined $25 per day."
Split Shift Fee
Union proposal: "The Union revised our proposal from approximately $22 per day to $16 per day."
Management response: "Management came back with $12 in year one, $12.50 in year two, and $13 in year three."
Remote Fee
Union proposal: "The Union revised our proposal from $35 for remote to $25 for remote."
Management response: "Management rejected our proposal."
Part-Time
"Management resurrected the proposal that prospective [future hires] employees be defined as part-timers only if they work at least 15 hours per week. [Currently, it is either 15 hours or at least one regularly scheduled shift.]"

According to Robert Hochberger’s note to union members: "The Union responded to management by stating that the amount of movement made was insignificant and not enough to reach an agreement. We told Terri Lorenz [management negotiator] that we needed to see improvement in the following three areas before we could even take the proposal back to the membership: (1) wages; (2) an increase for overscale every year -- not just in the first year; and (3) eliminating the revision of the definition of part-timers." A follow-up meeting is scheduled for next Friday.

KTLA’s Channel 5’s morning news personality Mark Kriski thinks KYSR’s Ryan Seacrest is a dead ringer for singer phenom Ricky Martin. When Ricky comes to town later this year, Mark plans to impress his kids and invite Ryan over to house. He thinks his kids won’t know the difference…Paul "Action" Jackson is the new sports guy on the KROQ Kevin & Bean show. He replaces Jimmy Kimmel who has gone on to incredible success with Comedy Central. Who is Paul Jackson?: "He is the ‘man without a past’ as nearly as I can tell," emailed Bean. "His most recent job was selling suits at Robinson's-May (true). We thought he was funny and, in fact did hire him from the listener auditions."

KFWB’s Steve Kindred is interested in making contact with fellow graduates of the now-defunct radio school at L.A. City College, from the early 1970s. "If I find enough, maybe we can have a re-union," emailed Steve. "I graduated from LACC in 1970, it's where I learned the nuts and bolts of putting newscasts together." You can email Steve at skindred@juno.com.

"Arrow 93’s" sports guy Scott St. James continues at a fevered pitch his acting career. "I’m waiting for word on a pilot I shot last month," said Scott. He starts a new movie called Family Audit later this month. Scott’s character runs an airport in a comedy where the IRS pursues a fake family…Ran into former KFI and KBRT personality Scott Keene over the weekend. He was umpiring my son’s basketball game. "I’ve had eight consecutive weekends performing mobile music at weddings and it’s nice to be an umpire again," said Scott while perfectly bouncing a basketball. My son’s team won, no thanks to Scott.

When KTWV does something, they do it with class. They send out a newsletter, which is really a very slick publication. They are giving away a trip to Hawaii every hour on Thursdays. In the Fall, the station presents jazz legends Kenny G and George Benson for one show only at the L.A. Tennis Center on the UCLA campus. Fritz Coleman will present the comedy.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Scott Painton (KMPC, mid-1980s) and Lane Quigley (KUSC, early 1970s)

(July13, 1999) Debra Rich commutes between Phoenix and Los Angeles each week for her 6 – 9 p.m. KFI talk show. She has had an interesting journey prior to getting the KFI weekend shift. Debra was working at KYPA, a motivational station a few years back, and a sales associate suggested they cut a demo tape. "We had a blast and sent it to KFI pd David G. Hall. David called a few days later and said, ‘I want you on my station, alone.’ My partner said it was an opportunity of a lifetime and encouraged me to take it," said Debra in a recent phone conversation. She started out from midnight to 3 a.m. on Sunday nights. "I was willing to do any shift. David is an unbelievable mentor. He is a nurturing teacher."

Debra was born in Chicago and grew up in Lincolnwood, Illinois and graduated from the University of Michigan with a dual degree. "I got a Bachelor’s in romance languages and a second B.A. in comparative literature," said Debra. Her father was a pharmacist and her mother was a stay-at-home mother. "I have a sister who became a lawyer and when I chased entertainment, it broke their hearts." After working at the Leo Burnett ad agency in Chicago, she quit to pursue acting. For five years she worked in Chicago theatre and acted in commercials to make ends meet. She eventually got to the Southland and has acted in a CBS movie ("I got paid even though they cut out my scene"), a Daniel Baldwin movie (Fall Out) and other "B" movies.

Debra is getting married October 17 and how she met her husband-to-be is part of her life’s philosophy. Whenever the snow and cold got too much for her parents, they went to Phoenix for a break from the cold. For years her parents socialized with a couple from Phoenix. On one of Debra’s visits to join her parents and their friends, the conversation turned personal. They invited the friends’ son Mark, a local pediatrician, to dinner and before the night was over, Debra said, "That’s it." LARP Andy Friedman gave Debra a two-week fill-in job at KTAR-Phoenix and she was able to spend time with Mark and the relationship grew.

Debra doesn’t know what will happen with her commuting after marriage. She’s ready for any eventuality, whether it is full-time at KFI or something in Phoenix radio/tv or acting. That’s just the way she lives her life. And somehow you get the feeling that no matter which way it turns out, it will be exactly what it is supposed to be.

"Power 106" got a rave Los Angeles Times review for their "All Star Powerhouse" last Saturday. "The news keeps getting better and better when it comes to live rap. Not only was everything smoothly organized at the sold-out event sponsored by radio station KPWR, but fans were treated to a battery of unadvertised guest stars – stars who alone would have been enough to enthrall the audience. Among the surprises: Dr. Dre, Sean ‘Puffy’ Combs, Mariah Carey and Snoop Dogg."

Sports guy Ron Fineman emailed a response to the Phil Hendrie letter that appeared on Email Saturday. "Jim Benton was right about Phil Hendrie being in good form last Thursday. I always get a kick out of him, when he finds himself so funny that he makes himself laugh and starts to break character. That happened when ‘Chris Norton’ was talking about being an exotic dancer, billed as ‘the package,’ who never takes his suit off. To be accurate, while I assume Cloris Leachman had no idea what Phil does, she did question whether "Margaret Gray" was some kind of put-on caller. But yes, it was funny, and no doubt the right character to bring onto the show."

LARP super star from the 1960s, Bob Eubanks, was featured in a Q & A on the front page of the Living section of the LA Times yesterday. Part of his answers from Bob: "I was a disc jockey on the No. 1 rock station, KRLA. I was there for seven years, which led me into the concert business. KRLA was one of only two rock ‘n’ roll stations in Southern California at the time. We owned the market and had more fun than you can imagine working with Casey Kasem, Wink Martindale and Charlie O’Donnell. Our station had ratings in the low 20s. I can remember getting lectured to for having only a 15 rating in the morning. If you had that now, you’d throw a party," said Bob. Part of the time that Bob was in the radio market there were three rock stations. In addition to KRLA, there was KFWB and beginning in 1965, KHJ. During the 1960s, KGBS, KBLA and KDAY dabbled in rock radio.

Is KABC/Channel 7 looking for an Airwatch America traffic reporter to do on-camera work? They’ve been auditioning. Does a younger and less experienced reporter have the inside track because she is drop-dead gorgeous?…Stella Prado, Mark & Kim’s morning producer at KOST hustled yesterday morning and arranged a last-minute interview with Brandi Chastain, who kicked the winning goal for the U.S. Women’s Soccer Team in Saturday’s World Cup Finals…Since leaving KIKF this past spring, Rick Shaw has been doing weekends and fill-in at "Arrow 93." "I loved working at ‘Arrow,’ but I'm accepting an offer to do afternoons at CBS's KOAI [‘The Oasis’] in Dallas," emailed Rick. "It's smooth jazz, sister station of ‘the Wave.’" Rick starts next Monday in Big D…Catholic Family Radio has acquired six New England stations to give the fast-growing network a presence in Boston, home to many Catholics…Remember Ron Landry who worked with Emperor Bob Hudson at KGBS and as a pair, Hudson & Landry produced one of the most successful comedy albums of all time, Ajax Liquor Store? Ron went on to writing and producing some very successful tv sitcoms. When I interviewed Ron for my book, he and his wife had just returned from 2 ½ years traveling throughout Europe. Does anyone know how to reach Ron? A classmate from the Pathfinder School of Radio in the Northwest is looking to invite Ron to a class reunion…Which U.S. state has the most blondes? This was one of the questions on Mr. KABC’s show last night.

"Star 98.7’s" Ryan Seacrest was on fire Friday afternoon attempting to hook up with President Clinton who was in town for the Soccer Finals. Ryan offered $1,000 if someone could get the president to call in to the station. Before the afternoon was over, Ryan upped the ante to $10,000 if he could have dinner with the president. Lisa Foxx was pleading with him to stop that he was going to get into big trouble with station management if they had to come up with the money. I’ll bet some fund raiser will figure out a way for Ryan to dine with the president for a $10,000 contribution…Kitty Felde, host of KPCC’s "Talk of the City" on Friday, was featured yesterday in the LA Times op-ed page. She pleaded with the board of trustees for Pasadena City College "to think big" and urged the school to "become a partner with Minnesota Public Radio" and "create a public radio news source and intelligent talk radio provider for the 21st century."

Have you checked out Mike Nardone’s rap show at KXLU (88.9FM). He’s been doing it since 1988 each Sunday night from 11 p.m. – 1 a.m…All this talk about Don MacKinnon over the last few days generated an email from long-time KMPC personality Roger Carroll. Roger reminded me that he replaced Don at KABC and Dick Gurnett was also Roger’s engineer…State with the most blondes? California. Duh…The Top 5 Lists at www.topfive.com is always topical and funny. The Number 1 Thing Overheard at the Women's World Cup Finals. "Will you please rise for the playing of this little ditty from Helen Reddy."
HAPPY BIRTHDAY: John Quinlan (L.A. Market Manager, vp/gm Airwatch America)

(July 14, 1999) Radio talk show host, George Putnam, celebrates his 85th birthday today. His daily "Talk Back" program at KIEV has been a staple of the station since 1975. George moved to Los Angeles in 1951 and his program George Putnam and the News has been seen on every local independent broadcast tv station. He starred with Mort Sahl in a nationally syndicated tv show entitled Both Sides Now. He has been the recipient of over 300 awards and citations and in 1982 was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

George lives on a ranch in Chino, where he raises thoroughbred horses. He has ridden in every Tournament of Roses Parade on New Year's Day for four decades. Walter Winchell said: "George Putnam's voice is the greatest in radio and television." George was born in Breckenridge, Minnesota, on July 14, 1914. In college, he was the president of the freshman class, a champion orator, he ran on the track squad and played basketball and football. In 1934, his family suffered severe financial reverses and George took a job with WDGY-Minneapolis on his 20th birthday. Next job was with KSTP-Minneapolis/St. Paul and then NBC in New York where he did 14 programs a week, concentrating on news and special events. He shared the role of commentator for Fox Movietone News with Lowell Thomas. During World War II, he served as a first lieutenant in the Marine Corps, winning two citations during his three-year stay. After the war he was seen and heard on the Mutual Broadcasting System, BBC and the Du Mont Television Network. During the summer of 1996 George appeared in the blockbuster film, Independence Day. His signature line: "And that's the up-to-the-minute news - Up to the minute, that's all the news! - See You Then!"

Executives at KIEV asked George how he wanted to celebrate his birthday and he said not to bother. So they didn’t. Yesterday George arrived at work and wondered what the station was doing to celebrate his birthday. It’ll be a surprise to everyone.

KNX listener Alan Oda is back in the Southland after celebrating "a glorious honeymoon in Kawai" and along the California coast. Yesterday morning around 7:15, Alan heard the following on KNX. "Reporter Frank Mottek was doing a story about the record electrical power demands during the current heat wave, including the need to reduce electrical usage during the daytime. Mottek ended his report by imploring news anchor Tom Haule to ‘Turn off your computer, Tom!’ This led Haule to retort, ‘Turn off your mike, Frank!’" Welcome back, Alan.

Jefferson Starship is featured in a classic "Rockline" with Bob Coburn on "Arrow 93" tonight at 8:30…"XTRA Sports 1150" is busy giving away its third Montero Sport SUV as part of the "Jim Rome Jumble" contest. Big Ben Maller and Dave Smith are sitting in morning drive today and Ken Levine and A. Martinez fill the early afternoon slot.

John Boyle of KLSX’s John & Jeff Show crashed the Playboy Mansion to interview former WWF wrestler, Sable. How in the world did you get in I asked John? "Not only is it great to know the PR folks, but also the caterers and valet guys," said John in a phone interview. "And, no, I didn’t climb over the wall." Sable was wearing a "very, very short skirt," according to John. Any exclusive in the interview that you ran on your show? "She wants to star in a movie with Michael Douglas or Nicholas Cage," said John. Ah, don’t they all. It’ll probably be a movie with one of the Baldwin boys.

Ralph Stewart, award winning apd and md at KTWV is off to Greece for two weeks. Ralph is married to KLOS account executive Mary Bedrossian. "We met while working together at a station in Seattle," emailed Ralph. "It turns out sales and programming can get along after all. We'll spend most of our time on Mykonos and Santorini with stops in Athens and London."

Bill Ballance is headed for the Southland at the end of the month. He’s visiting his twin sons and his two granddaughters. Then he’s off to Galena, Illinois, to visit General Ulysses S. Grant’s home. "I have his personal memoirs from 1885 and his home is one of the rare Civil War sites I haven’t visited," said Billo, a huge Civil War buff, in a recent phone conversation. "His writings are the best personal memoirs ever written."

KABC’s new morning team of John & Ken took a shot at their KFI replacements, Karel & Andrew the other morning. After reading about Karel’s very public quest to lose 44 pounds (he’s put on 27 pounds since joining the afternoon slot), John Kobylt remarked: "He better hang on to that because they’ll be out of a job soon and he’ll be all hungry. That extra fat will get him through the rest of the year when he’s on unemployment."

Last Sunday T. Michael Jordan remembered veteran programmer Rick Carroll on the anniversary of his death. The thoughtful piece prompted another memory from former KHJ dj, Big John Carter:

"Rick never really made it into the cellular age. He would have LOVED wireless communication. I have a picture of him at poolside, talking on the phone. Poolside was his office. Of all the lovely, decent human beings I have ever known or worked for, no one could compare to Rick Carroll. I can't remember him saying a mean thing about anybody, even those who took it upon themselves to sit in judgment on him. If for no other reason than he refused to hold meetings, any jock would find working for Rick a breath of fresh air. No meetings, no memos, no hotline calls.

I asked him once how he thought I was doing. He guessed I was doing OK. ‘I knew that when I hired you. I don't get up early enough to hear you. But I know when you're on the station is cookin' and our license is safe,’ said he. I wonder if some folks out there who are in a much better position than the rest of us could consider sending along a check to AIDS research so that these kinds of tragedies never have to happen again.

That life, it was explained to me once, that is best is the one that begins with you lying there and people looking down on you, smiling, and ends with you lying there and people looking down on you, crying. We are all looking down today, and we are all crying..."
HAPPY BIRTHDAY: George Putnam and David Schwartz

(July 15, 1999) KPFK’s sister station in San Francisco, KPFA, hits the front page of this morning’s LA Times. Apparently hundreds of protesters showed up at the Berkeley station after 53 people were arrested yesterday during a sit-in. KPFA, founded in 1949 to aid the pacifist movement, has been at the center of a dispute between station veterans and the Pacifica Foundation, which is attempting to apply a higher national profile for KPFA, KPFK and the three other stations in its network. Tensions at KPFA-FM offices in Berkeley remained high Wednesday as activists stood vigil outside the station and vowed to protest again. You can view the San Francisco tv coverage of the story. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/ramhurl.cgi?file=1999/07/14-kpfa_kronv.rm . In this morning’s radio column in the Times, there is a profile of our community-sponsored stations, including KPFK.

KRTH’s "Shotgun Tom" Kelly will be one of the speakers this morning at the Star dedication at the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Harold Greene, anchor at KABC/Channel 7. Harold and "Shotgun" first worked together at KPRI-San Diego in 1966. "He was just out of the service and returned home from AFN in Korea, and his first job back in the states was in his home town of San Diego," emailed Tom. "I was a sophomore in high school at the time and Harold came in and said to me ‘So you’re the Kid with the Big Voice, I'm Harold Greene the new weekend man.’ From that point on we became pals. Later in 1974 at KGTV/Channel 10 Harold was the big news anchorman and I was the host of the syndicated game show for kid's called Word's-A-Poppin. I remember Harold also did a talk show called The "Harold Express." That year we both won Emmy Awards as hosts of our shows. On the night we won, Harold and his wife Chucky and my wife Linda went out to celebrate. That was a fun night in San Diego." Other LARP participating in the event this morning, former KFWB newsman Lou Waters and former KMPC personality Johnny Grant.

Tony Coles is leaving his post as apd/md at KBIG to program KWRM ("Warm 106.9) in Seattle. "I like to think of myself as a New Yorker who just happened to be born and raised in Ohio. I've been in the business 15 years, starting as a jock at WHIZ-Zanesville, Ohio," emailed Tony. He went on to work at WCOL-Columbus, WFWI-Fort Wayne, Indiana, WLTW-New York and pd at KIBB. "It will be tough leaving L.A. but I am really excited about this opportunity in Seattle. It is a great station and a great staff, in a city that is incredible. It should be fun."

Former KFWB and KLAC dj Gene Weed has been elected president of the Academy of Country Music for another term. "During the past three dozen years, I have been blessed with the opportunity to work with some of the most talented people in the industry, structuring an organization that has made many changes to the overall look and feel of country music throughout the United States and the World," said the Weedy One. "Exposing country music to as wide a market as possible is a challenge. I personally feel that television is the way to generate the greatest interest in our music and our artists. They are wholesome, attractive, talented and willing to work hard at looking and sounding good, and you can’t ask for more than that. These next few years will be fabulously formative ones for the Academy with growth potential like we have not seen in the past."

Rick Lemmo, gm of trimulcast 92.7FM, is leaving to join Caruso Affiliated Holdings, a company that builds shopping centers. Rick has spent the past 27 years in the radio business and was looking to make a change…We were looking for Dale Peterson who worked for KFAC at one time. "Dale was not an air personality at the old KFAC during the 70s," emailed Rich Capparela. "Dale was the Director of Sales for a couple of years, according to Ed Argo, who held that position a few years later and stayed until the end of the classical format in September 1989.

Did you work in Eugene, Oregon radio before getting to the Southland? Kenton Sturdevant, having been inspired by LARADIO.COM, has started his own Web site for Eugene radio. "Being able to receive a couple of Los Angeles AM stations up here at night, it is very entertaining to be able to follow some of the news about the talent in the market," emailed Kenton. "You have served as the inspiration for us to create a Eugene Radio Guide at www.angelfire.com/or/erg ." He’s working on a Where Are They Now? section. He knows about John Hockenberry of NBC/MSNBC, Lisa Stark of ABC News and Chaz Kelley at KRTH. If you worked in Eugene, give Kenton a call.

Every Sunday afternoon from 5 until 8, Kelly Lange features the theme of reinventing one’s self. Last Sunday KRLA gm Bob Moore called in saying he had successful acupuncture to correct a back problem from the doctor who was guesting with Kelly. "When he started putting those pins in my head, my family became skeptical, but within days I was walking with no pain," said Bob. Small world and a nice testimonial. Another small world story, Kelly was the first local voice when KRLA went all-Talk last November. She was sitting in for Michael Jackson, who was contractually prevented from starting until the New Year.

KACD is celebrating its One-Year Anniversary (a month early) with "The Channel 103.1 One-Year Anniversary Concert." Line-up includes Bonnie Raitt, Shawn Colvin, Bruce Hornsby and David Lindley. The concert is set for September 14 at the Greek Theatre…New music heard on the Charlie Van Dyke KRTH morning show this week: Garden Party by Rick Nelson and Lovely Rita by the Beatles.

Former KEZY morning man John Fox has accepted the position of production director for the West Coast division of Catholic Family Radio. "I'll be working with general manager Hal Brown at the KPLS studios on Batavia in Orange concentrating on client services, commercial writing and production, station imaging and what we hope will be an extensive presence in cyber-space," emailed John. "I'm excited about the challenge of making a name for this rookie outfit and about holing up in my production studio and further regressing into my second childhood with all my little imaginary friends." John will continue to work weekends at KFWB and KOLA.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Jed the Fish (KROQ)