Radio Waves Podcast #24

Those of us over a certain age ... we all know who we are ... who grew up in Southern California cannot help but remember the amazing advertisements from Larry “Supermouth” Huffman.

 

He spent some time on Orange County radio when anyone actually cared about Orange County radio: KWIZ/Anaheim (now KNVR 1480 AM) from 1966 to 1969; and KEZY/Anaheim (now KGBN, 1190 AM) from 1969-1970.

 

He was the spokesman for the former shoe store chain, The Wild Pair which for some reason I remember well even though I don’t recall any of the stores being near me. He starred in and co-wrote the movie “On Any Sunday,” directed by surf film maker Bruce Brown and said by some to have done for motorcycle racing what Brown’s “Endless Summer” did for surfing.

 

He did some television spots for Southern California Jeep and Eagle dealers. He did some national radio advertisements for the Dodge division of Chrysler. But what most fans remember, out of all the advertising he ever did, was three words:

 

“Sunday, Sunday! SUNDAY!”

 

Those words were legendary for the radio advertisements of motorcycle, stock and funny car races in and around Southern California that Huffman voiced for what seemed like my entire childhood. Huffman’s style was so unique that Lexus even used him in a very memorable radio advertisement trying to change the perception of Toyota’s luxury-car division -- and the calm, cool and collected spokesman -- from luxurious but boring into luxurious and fun.

 

Friday (or perhaps I should say Friday, Friday! FRIDAY!) March 7, Huffman will be honored for his work in advertising by receiving a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Inland Empire chapter of the American Advertising Federation, which will present the award at their “Mega Monster Advertising Awards” banquet at the Mission Inn in Riverside. It begins at 6 PM but is sold out ... fitting, I suppose, for someone of such calibre as Huffman.

 

Down on the Corner

 

KNX takes to the streets again and heads on down to San Juan Capistrano for its next edition of KNX On Your Corner scheduled for March 14... the same day as my 22nd wedding anniversary.

 

The station will broadcast live from the Mission Grill, 31721 Camino Capistrano (across the street from Mission San Juan Capistrano) for much of the broadcast day: 5 - 9 a.m. with news anchors Dick Helton and Vicky Moore, the Business Hour with Frank Mottek from 1-2 p.m., and the afternoon news with Diane Thompson and Chris Sedens from 2-7 p.m. You’re invited, and refreshments will be served.

 

The team will talk with local business and political leaders from Orange County’s southernmost communities, including Mission Viejo, San Clemente, Aliso Viejo, Lake Forest, Rancho Santa Margarita, San Juan Capistrano, Laguna Hills and Dana Point.