I had some wonderful emails arrive almost
immediately after last week’s column regarding what I miss about radio was
published. So many, in fact, that I cannot possibly print them all. But I’ll
shut up right now and get to as many as I can.
Elle from Venice: “OH YEAH, I remember some
entertaining DJs! In the early 70s, I remember driving to work in downtown LA,
sitting on the Santa Monica Freeway Parking Lot, and listening to the completely
politically-incorrect Hudson & Landry. They would also play cuts off their
comedy album. Listening to "Bruiser Larue," I laughed until I almost missed my
off-ramp and then had to repair my runny mascara before work. And it's still a
feeling of comfort and bringing back good days when I hear Charlie Tuna's
voice! Classy, always!”
From Cindy: “There is one thing that I really
miss that you didn't mention. I remember years ago when radio commercials were
fun and made to entertain listeners like mini radio shows, or just silly little
visual vignettes. My favorite was by a couple of L.A. tire guys named Ted and
Ed...or was it Ed and Ted; The gimmick was that they were going around the world
to sell tires. My favorite, the Matterhorn, where they were less than impressed
by the size of it but one of them noticed a giant mouse walking
by...”
Russ from Glendale: “What I miss most about
today's radio are the great public service shows I would listen to that were
usually aired on weekends. The shows I particularly remember listening to were
Powerline, SCAN, Open Door, Master Control, and my all time favorite,
Ask the Professor. Are any still aired? I wouldn't even mind listening to
older shows if I could find them, so far I haven't had much luck. Maybe you or
your readers might know where these show are now.”
(I loved Professor and Powerline too. I have
often wondered if they are still being produced).
Ardi Newton: I enjoyed your article today so
much. It really did bring back old memories. I graduated from high school in
1962. Our radio stations were KFWB and KRLA. I still remember the jingle:" KFWB,
radio 98, color radio, channel 98." Some of the names I remember are Wink
Martindale, Dick Whittington, and over at KMPC, Dick Whittinghill (or vice
versa). Remember Wolfman Jack and Doctor Demento? We always had 'the news at
the top of the hour'. Those were the days.”
Keeping in mind that I was simply stating what I
miss in radio, not condemning radio today, I was surprised by the responses.
These letters illustrate the difference between then and now: Radio was a
companion then. DJs were larger than life. Stations were so big that they
influenced teen culture more than parents and teachers. As Larry Lear of West
Covina wrote, “when you were almost anywhere other than in the classroom at
school, you had the radio playing.”
Today? Not so much. Most kids use other forms of
entertainment; if they want new music they go elsewhere. Many don’t even turn on
a radio, which in many ways makes me sad. But honestly, with so many stations
using canned DJs, cluttered on-air presentations and no compelling content, is
it any wonder that iPods and Pandora are the choice of a new generation? Without
good DJs and other important elements, you might as well be Pandora. You
certainly are not doing “radio.”
Get This App ...
... demanded reader Dennis Collier. It’s a talk
radio app for iPhones called “Talk Shows on Internet Radio” that brings the
world of syndicated talk radio right to your phone. I have not tried it (my
personal ban on most talk radio shows is still in effect) but reviews seem
decent. For $3.99 maybe it’s worth a gamble.
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