Radio History: July 26

Burns & Allen

➦In 1895...Grace Ethel Cecile Rosalie Allen was born (Died of a heart attack at age 69 – August 27, 1964). She was a vaudevillian and comedienne who became internationally famous as the zany partner and comic foil of husband George Burns, her straight man appearing with her on radio, television and film as the duo Burns and Allen.

For her contributions to the television industry, Gracie Allen was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6672 Hollywood Boulevard, while she and Burns were inducted into the Television Hall of Fame in 1988.

Co-star Bea Benaderet said of Allen in 1966: "She was probably one of the greatest actresses of our time."  Today, the annual Gracie Awards are named in her honor.

The Burns & Allen Show debuted on radio in 1932, and ended on TV with Gracie’s retirement 25 years later.

➦In 1903...Donald Voorhees born (Died at age 85 – January 10, 1989, Cape May Court House, NJ. He was a composer and conductor who received an Emmy Award nomination for "Individual Achievements in Music" for his work on the television series, The Bell Telephone Hour.

Donald Voorhees

Starting in 1926, Voorhees' orchestra recorded prolifically for Columbia, Edison, Pathe, Perfect, Cameo, and Hit of the Week, playing the piano in early recordings. His recording career mostly ended in 1931, when he approached the bigger opportunities radio offered at the time. His first broadcast work was NBC Radio's The Texaco Fire Chief Show, which starred comedian Ed Wynn. Other of the programs he worked for was the Maxwell House Showboat, appearing in a 1933 "picturization", the short Captain Henry's Show Boat.

From 1935 to 1941, and from 1949 to 1953 (with Ardon Cornwell), Voorhees was the musical director and conductor for the radio and television show, Cavalcade of America.

Voorhees also served as conductor of the Bell Telephone Hour orchestra for 26 years, from its first broadcasts on radio in 1942 until its final television episode in 1968. He was nominated for an Emmy Award in 1966 for "Individual Achievements in Music" for his work on the series.

➦In 1921...Jean Parker Shepherd Jr. born (Died – October 16, 1999). He was a storyteller, radio and TV personality, writer and actor. He was often referred to by the nickname Shep. With a career that spanned decades, Shepherd is known for the film A Christmas Story (1983), which he narrated and co-scripted, based on his own semi-autobiographical stories.

Jean Shepherd

After military service, Shepherd began his broadcast radio career in early 1945 on WJOB in Hammond, Indiana, later working at WTOD in Toledo, Ohio, in 1946. He began working in Cincinnati, Ohio, in January 1947 at WSAI, later also working at Cincinnati stations WCKY and WKRC the following year, before returning to WSAI. From 1951 to 1953, he had a late-night broadcast on KYW in Philadelphia, PA, after which he returned to Cincinnati for several shows on WLW. After a stint on television, he returned to radio. "Shep," as he was known, settled in at WOR 710 AM in New York Cit at the end of February 1955, and on an overnight slot in 1956, where he delighted his fans by telling stories, reading poetry (especially the works of Robert W. Service), and organizing comedic listener stunts.

When he was about to be released by WOR in 1956 for lack of sponsors, he did a commercial for Sweetheart Soap, not a sponsor, and was immediately fired. His listeners besieged WOR with complaints, and when Sweetheart offered to sponsor him he was reinstated. Eventually, he attracted more sponsors than he wanted.

His last WOR broadcast was on April 1, 1977. His subsequent radio work consisted of short segments on several other stations, including crosstown WCBS 880 AM, and occasional commentaries on NPR's All Things Considered. His final radio gig was the Sunday night radio show "Shepherd's Pie" on WBAI in the mid-1990s, which had him reading his stories uncut, uninterrupted and unabridged. The show was one of WBAI's most popular of the period.

Throughout his radio career, he performed entirely without scripts. His friend and WOR colleague Barry Farber marveled at how he could talk so long with so few notes.

He died Oct. 16 1999 at age 78.  In 2005 he was posthumously inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame.

➦In 1944...The New York Times took-over ownership of WQXR AM & FM in NYC.

➦In 195?...Veteran Radio Programmer Jim Ryan was born.

Trump’s Speech to Press Dinner Draws Tepid Response

President Trump complained about what he called the press’s unfair coverage, reiterated his pledge to keep Iran from building a nuclear weapon and joked about the prospects of a third term in his speech at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner Friday.

In a wide-ranging address that ran more than an hour at the Waldorf Astoria ballroom, Trump also emphasized the need to build the new White House ballroom, spoke of his popularity on TikTok and defended his record in making America great again. He took jabs at many of his usual targets in politics and the media but also paid tribute to a press with which he has had a complicated and sometimes combative relationship.

Trump told attendees that they were “the largest group of Trump Derangement Syndrome people ever put together at one time” and referred to some as “fake news,” while also calling himself a champion of press freedom and noting his willingness to answer the phone when journalists call. His remarks elicited occasional laughs, but he spoke to a mostly silent ballroom for much of the time as he shifted to tried-and-true lines such as referring to Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D., Mass.) as “Pocahontas” and California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, as “Newscum.” He blamed his speechwriter for lines that fell flat. 

Trump said he opted against giving the speech he had planned to give in April. “It was going to be a doozy,” he said. “But we’ll do a little ripping, if you don’t mind.”

Reporters and media executives gathered alongside administration officials including Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick for the do-over event, this time in a more intimate setting—and with notable extra security. Nearly 700 people were expected to attend Friday’s affair, compared with the 2,600 who typically participated in the event at the Washington Hilton. 

They dined on peach and burrata salad, as well as filet and lobster, before a stage whose backdrop featured the text of the First Amendment.

Trump addressed the crowd three months after the original gala dinner at the Washington Hilton was cut short by an assassination attempt. The White House Correspondents’ Association said it coordinated with the U.S. Secret Service and with a private security firm for the rescheduled event and had more visible security measures around the venue.

TRUMP at WHCA Dinner: “You people have no idea how lucky you are. When I'm gone, you're all going to be broke. Your business model is going to be finished. No. It's true.”

“When I'm not around, you're going to be broke. There's not going to be anybody to report on. Nobody gives… pic.twitter.com/3UfuDKMN9r

— Fox News (@FoxNews) July 25, 2026

The dinner, billed as a celebration of the First Amendment, was held a day after Trump’s Justice Department agreed to withdraw subpoenas related to several New York Times reporters’ recent articles on a jet gifted to the U.S. by the Qatari government that was being used as Air Force One. 

Historically, presidents used the dinner to crack good-natured jokes about the press corps and about themselves. “Good evening, everybody. Let’s try this again,” the evening’s host, Weijia Jiang, said to open the dinner Friday. Jiang, the senior White House correspondent at CBS who just completed her term as president of the White House Correspondents’ Association, thanked Trump for his support in rescheduling the dinner and commended her colleagues for jumping into action during the April event. “You came as guests, but within moments, you went to work.”

Paramount, WBD Merger Just Got Messier

Paramount will not close its $81 billion merger with Warner Bros. Discovery until legal challenges are resolved or June 1, 2027, whichever comes first, the company said Friday.

The decision marks the latest setback for the deal, which faces antitrust challenges from 12 states and the Writers Guild of America. A California federal court had issued a temporary restraining order blocking the merger from closing within 28 days. A hearing next week on a preliminary injunction that could have further delayed the deal has been canceled.

The delay risks significant costs for Paramount. Its agreement with Warner includes a “ticking fee” requiring payments of roughly $650 million per quarter to Warner shareholders starting in October until the deal closes. Paramount had aimed to complete the transaction this month or before the fee kicked in. Its outside deadline is March 4, 2027, automatically extending to June 4, 2027, if only regulatory or governmental obstacles remain.

Analysts said bypassing the preliminary injunction hearing could accelerate the overall legal timeline. 

“Even if Paramount loses in District Court, this would accelerate the time frame for an appeal to the Ninth Circuit Court and potentially to the Supreme Court in 2027,” said Rich Greenfield of LightShed Partners. Forrester Research’s Mike Proulx noted: “The deal may still close or it may not. What we know is that the path to either outcome just got longer, messier, and likely more expensive.”

The combined company would control two major movie and television studios, the CBS network, cable channels including CNN, and the streaming services Paramount+ and HBO Max. Paramount argues the merger would strengthen competition against Netflix and other streaming giants and that the states’ market definitions do not reflect today’s landscape. 

“This transaction is good for competition, good for consumers, and good for creators,” the company said Friday.

The states, led by California, contend the deal would raise prices, lower quality, and reduce content. In granting the restraining order, U.S. District Judge Araceli Martínez-Olguín cited the combined film studios’ theatrical market share as grounds to presume the merger is likely to violate antitrust laws.

Philly Radio: The Fanatic, 94WIP Go LeBron Crazy

Philadelphia's two major sports radio stations, 94WIP and 97.5 The Fanatic, erupted in celebration Friday after LeBron James agreed to a two-year, $8 million deal (with a player option) to join the 76ers. 

Hosts on both stations framed the move as one of the biggest moments in recent Philly sports history, highlighting the instant boost in energy, star power, and championship contention alongside Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, Jaylen Brown, and VJ Edgecombe.

On 94WIP, the reaction was immediate and high-octane. Hosts described home games as set to become “bananas” and “a movie damn near every night,” with one calling it “one of the greatest days in Philadelphia sports history.” The station aired unfiltered breakdowns of the news, noting how James’ arrival transforms the franchise’s outlook after years without a title. Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro even joined the airwaves, proclaiming it “LeBron James Day” and expressing the statewide excitement. 

While some pre-signing segments had featured skepticism about media attention or fit, the post-announcement consensus leaned heavily into the upside. 

97.5 The Fanatic, the Sixers’ flagship station, matched the enthusiasm. The station posted rapid breaking-news updates, a celebratory “Bringing him to South Philly!” message, and a video urging fans to “Enjoy Every Second, LeBron James Is A 76er.” 

Hosts and the official account went live to react, reflecting the broader Philly sports community’s joy at landing the all-time leading scorer for what James himself called his “last decision.” The stations’ coverage aligned with the wider local frenzy—teammates, other Philly athletes, and fans flooding social media with celebrations—while focusing on on-air analysis of roster fit, title odds, and the electric atmosphere expected at the Wells Fargo Center. 

Both outlets treated the signing as a seismic, largely positive shift for a franchise seeking its first championship since 1983.

NAB: FCC Must End TV's 'Unique Disadvantage'

The National Association of Broadcasters has endorsed the FCC’s plan to eliminate the 39% national television ownership cap, with President and CEO Curtis LeGeyt arguing the change is needed to spare local broadcast television the same contraction that has hit the newspaper industry.

In a July 21, blog post, LeGeyt wrote: “We have already watched one cornerstone of local journalism — the newspaper industry — struggle under the weight of profound marketplace change while policymakers were slow to respond. We should not make the same mistake with local broadcasting.” 

The post closely tracked arguments FCC Chairman Brendan Carr advanced last week when he set an Aug. 6 vote on the proposal, including the newspaper parallel and the observation that streaming platforms, social media companies and other digital competitors face no comparable limits on audience reach.

“This debate is not about giving broadcasters a special advantage,” LeGeyt added. “It is about ending a unique disadvantage.”

The NAB represents broadcast station owners, among them large groups such as Nexstar, Sinclair and Gray Television that could pursue additional consolidation if the cap is lifted. The organization has long pressed for relaxed ownership rules. 

LeGeyt contended that greater scale would bolster local journalism, broaden emergency coverage and enable investment in technologies such as NextGen TV.

He did not address whether prior rounds of consolidation under fewer corporate owners have historically produced more local news or less. Research on the question has yielded mixed results, and critics of media concentration have maintained that earlier station-group mergers often led to newsroom staff reductions and heavier reliance on centralized content. 

The newspaper analogy cited by both Carr and LeGeyt also faces a complication: the 2017 elimination of cross-ownership restrictions failed to reverse the decline of local newspapers. LeGeyt’s post did not claim that removing the ownership limit by itself would solve the industry’s challenges, but rather that the change would give broadcasters “every opportunity to compete, invest and continue serving America’s local communities.”

Baltimore Radio: 105.7 The Fan Launches Show With Femi Ayanbadejo

105.7 The Fan (WJZ-FM), an Audacy station in Baltimore, launches “The Final Drive,” a new afternoon show with Femi Ayanbadejo. Ayanbadejo will co-host the show with Ken Weinman and Tim Barbalace weekdays from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. ET starting July 29.

“Femi’s sports knowledge spans far beyond football, encompassing the entire Charm City sports scene. His fearless opinions and local sports knowledge will complement Ken’s fiery takes and Tim’s sharp insights,” said Joe LaCroix, Brand Manager, 105.7 The Fan. “We can’t wait for our listeners to experience the next chapter of afternoons with ‘The Final Drive’.”

Femi Ayanbadejo

“I’ve known Tim and Ken for a long time, and I’ve always admired their talents. Now, I’m excited to join them and create something fresh—an informative, entertaining show that Baltimore sports fans genuinely enjoy and that can be one of the top shows in the market,” said Ayanbadejo. “That level of success is familiar territory for Tim and Ken, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to help build what comes next.”

Ayanbadejo is an 11-year NFL veteran and a member of the Baltimore Ravens’ Super Bowl XXXV championship team. His radio experience began in 2012 with contributions to several programs, including “The Scott Garceau Show,” Ravens game-day radio with the legendary Gerry Sandusky, and, most recently, “The Bruce and Femi Show” on 105.7 The Fan.

📻Listeners can tune in to 105.7 The Fan (WJZ-FM) in Baltimore on-air and nationwide on the Audacy app and website. Fans can also connect with the station on social media via X, Facebook and Instagram.

Indy Radio: John Herrick Exits WIBC As News Director

John Herrick, news director at Indianapolis station WIBC and Network Indiana since 2023, is leaving the company, he announced July 23.

John Herrick

Herrick’s post indicated the departure was not his decision.

Andrea Kahrer, general manager for Radio One (WIBC’s parent company), confirmed Herrick is no longer with the organization but declined to discuss personnel matters. “We thank him for his contributions and wish him well,” Kahrer said.

The exit comes after the end of the popular “Kendall and Casey” morning show in May. Longtime host Rob Kendall was let go in February following a lengthy contract dispute. Co-host Casey Daniels announced her own departure in May, stressing that it was her choice. 

The 9 a.m. to noon slot is now listed simply as “WIBC 9AM-NOON” on the station’s website.

A Greenwood native and play-by-play announcer by trade, Herrick joined WIBC in 2017 as a multimedia content producer, according to his LinkedIn profile. He later worked briefly as a news anchor before his promotion to news director. He will continue his role as a broadcaster with the Indiana University Radio Network.

Tony Romo Arrested for DUI

Romo Mug Shot

Former Dallas Cowboys quarterback and CBS NFL analyst Tony Romo was arrested Thursday, July 23, 2026, in Milwaukee on suspicion of operating a vehicle while intoxicated (OWI), Wisconsin’s equivalent of a DUI. 

Romo, 46, was pulled over while driving southbound on Interstate 43 shortly after 6 p.m. (around 6:18 p.m. according to some reports). Deputies from the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office said he performed poorly on standardized field sobriety tests, after which he was taken into custody, booked on a first-offense OWI, and later released. 

A court date is set for Sept. 21. Formal charges had not been filed as of reports on July 24, and the case remains under investigation. No blood-alcohol content or toxicology results have been publicly released. 

insane bodycam footage of tony romo arrest in Wisconsin for OWI pic.twitter.com/CrHw6n0PQf

— MikeTX (@miketx95) July 24, 2026

In Wisconsin, a first-offense OWI is generally treated as a civil violation rather than a criminal charge and typically carries a fine of $150 to $300, along with possible surcharges, license consequences, and an alcohol assessment. 

Romo, a Burlington, Wisconsin native who still maintains ties to the state while living in Dallas, had been in the area competing in the Wisconsin Amateur Championship golf tournament at West Bend Country Club. The event ran Monday through Thursday; he finished tied for 73rd at 35-over par overall (11-over on the final day). CBS, where Romo has served as the lead NFL color analyst since 2017 after retiring from the league, declined to comment. Romo played his entire 13-year NFL career with the Dallas Cowboys, earning four Pro Bowl selections. 

He remains the franchise’s all-time leader in touchdown passes (248) and held the passing-yardage record until Dak Prescott surpassed it. 

Authorities have not detailed the specific reason for the initial traffic stop or whether additional testing occurred beyond the field sobriety evaluations. Booking records indicate this is Romo’s first such offense.

R.I.P.: Craig Walker, Longtime Portland OR Radio Personality

Craig Walker (1946-2026)

Craig Walker, a longtime favorite of generations of Portland radio and television listeners and one of the city’s most popular on-air personalities, died Wednesday, July 22, 2026, at his home. He was 80.

Walker died peacefully, according to longtime broadcaster and former colleague John Erickson, who worked with him at K103. K103 Portland announced the news in a social media post and said it would honor Walker’s legacy Monday, July 27, during K103 Mornings with Stacey and Mike.

From the early 1970s through his 2005 retirement, Walker was a familiar, genial presence whose market-leading morning shows and community appearances earned him legions of loyal fans. He first built a top-rated morning drive program on what was then KGW radio (620 AM), where he began in 1972 after earlier stints at stations including KPAM. In 1986 he moved to K103 (KKCW-FM), continuing to dominate the morning ratings until he signed off for the final time. He was also a longtime primetime host on KGW-TV for the evening programs PM Magazine and Good Evening.