April 3 Radio History

➦In 1930...The Second Academy Awards: "The Broadway Melody", Warner Baxter & Mary Pickford win. First time Academy Awards are broadcast on the radio.

➦In 1939...The radio crime drama 'Mr. District Attorney' debuted on NBC Radio. Later it carried by ABC Radio  until it ended June 13, 1952. The series focused on a crusading D.A., initially known only as "Mister District Attorney," or "Chief", and was later translated to television. On television the D.A. had a name, Paul Garrett, and the radio version picked up this name in the final years when David Brian played the role.

➦In 1942...'People Are Funny' was first heard on NBC Radio.  The game show was created by John Guedel and aired from 1942 to 1960.  Contestants were asked to carry out stunts in order to prove that "People Are Funny." Many of these stunts lasted weeks, months, or even years. But contestants who were successful received prizes. "People Are Funny" rarely had celebrities, focusing instead on everyday people. As a result, few recordings of the show were saved.

On October 1, 1943, host Art Baker was replaced by Art Linkletter, who continued for the rest of the series. For a memorable stunt of 1945, Linkletter announced that $1,000 would go to the first person to find one of 12 plastic balls floating off California. Two years later, an Ennylageban Island native claimed the prize.

As the popularity of the program escalated, a movie musical titled People Are Funny was released in 1946, offering a fictional version of the show's origin in a tale of rival radio producers. Phillip Reed appeared as Guedel, with Linkletter and Frances Langford portraying themselves. Also in the cast were Jack Haley, Helen Walker, Ozzie Nelson and Rudy Vallée.

The radio series moved to CBS from 1951 to 1954, returning to NBC from 1954 to 1960.

➦In 1948…The Louisiana Hayride debuted on KWKH 1130 AM in Shreveport, LA.  The country music show broadcast from the Shreveport Municipal Memorial Auditorium in Shreveport, Louisiana, that during its heyday from 1948 to 1960 helped to launch the careers of some of the greatest names in American country and western music. Elvis Presley performed on the radio version of the program in 1954 and made his first television appearance on the television version of Louisiana Hayride on March 3, 1955.

Elvis

Within a year of its debut, the program was so popular that a regional 25-station network was set up to broadcast portions of the show, and was even heard overseas on Armed Forces Radio. The popularity of Louisiana Hayride spawned various incarnations in other parts of the United States, most notably in Cincinnati on WLW radio and later television; its version was dubbed Midwestern Hayride.

The Hayride was where talented, but virtual unknowns, were also given exposure to a large audience. Over the years, country music greats such as Hank Williams, Webb Pierce, Kitty Wells, Jimmie Davis, Will Strahan, Slim Whitman, Floyd Cramer, Sonny James, Hank Snow, Faron Young, Johnny Horton, Jim Reeves, Claude King, Jimmy Martin, George Jones, John and The Three Wise Men, Johnny Cash, Frankie Miller, Tex Ritter, Cowboy Jack Hunt & Little Joe Hunt of the Rhythm Ranch Hands, Nat Stuckey, and Lefty Frizzell, among many others, performed on Louisiana Hayride.

On October 16, 1954, Elvis Presley appeared on the radio program. Presley's performance of his debut release on the Sun Records label, "That's All Right".  Presley was signed to a one-year contract for future appearances. Presley became so popular that after his final appearance on Hayride in 1956, emcee Horace Logan announced to the crowd a phrase that would become famous: "Elvis has left the building."

Within a few years, rock and roll had come to dominate the music scene, and on August 27, 1960, Louisiana Hayride ended its primary run.

➦In 1949...The Martin and Lewis radio show debuted on the NBC Radio Network and continued until July 14, 1953.

After losing The Jack Benny Program and Amos 'n' Andy from its Sunday night lineup to what had been called "the CBS talent raids" of 1948-49, NBC turned to the young comedy team of Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis, a pair "virtually unknown to a radio audience." Reinehr and Swartz commented in their old-time radio reference book, "the program ... was never as successful as the network had hoped, because much of Martin and Lewis's comedy was visual.

Billboard magazine reported that the network spent approximately $400,000 over five months getting the show ready. The basis for NBC's investment was a five-year radio contract signed in December 1948. The deal guaranteed the pair $150,000 per year and "a choice time slot."

➦In 1949...KQW-AM, San Francisco, California changed call letters to KCBS-AM.

Charles Herrold

KCBS has its roots in the experiments of San Jose engineer Charles "Doc" Herrold as far back as 1909, making the broadcaster a leading contender for the title of oldest continuously broadcasting station in the United States and possibly the world.

Herrold used a variety of different radio call signs in the early days, including FN, SJN, 6XF and 6XE. In the very beginning, Herrold used a simple greeting like "San Jose calling."

That greeting and the initial FN sign (which was an inverted abbreviation of "National Fone") reflected the fact that he had been partially working on the idea of a radiotelephone.

On December 9, 1921, Herrold received a commercial license under the callsign KQW. It was the 21st licensed radio station in the United States and the 11th in the state of California.

Original KQW Transmitter (courtesy of The Radio Historian)

However, the "arc-phone" Herrold had been using for over a decade had to be scrapped. It would only work at wavelengths above 600 meters, and all radio stations were restricted to 360 meters (roughly the equivalent of 833 kHz). He quickly created a replacement, using a tube-like transmitter drawing power from San Jose's streetcar lines. However, he never recovered financially from the loss of his arc-phone, and was forced to put the station on the market in 1925. After initially giving an option to a civic foundation, he sold it to the First Baptist Church of San Jose. Herrold stayed on as a technician for the station he had created for a few years, but died in obscurity in 1947.

There is at least one authentic broadcast recording chronicling this early history. On November 10, 1945, KQW presented a special program called "The Story of KQW," commemorating Herrold's early broadcasts. It includes a brief recorded statement by Herrold, just before his 70th birthday. During the introduction to the program, a KQW announcer explains that the program was produced to mark the 25th anniversary of the broadcasting industry as well as the 36th anniversary of KQW. The announcer then goes on to say that KQW was the first radio station in the world to operate on a regular schedule. The major events in Herrold's work are then dramatized.

In 1926, station manager James Hart bought KQW's license and facilities, eventually buying the station itself in 1930. A series of power boosts brought the station's effective radiated power to 5,000 watts by 1935. It served as the San Jose affiliate of the Don Lee Broadcasting System from 1937 to 1941; during the time, that it was owned by Julius Brunton & Sons, the station's operations being co-located with KJBS at 1470 Pine Street in San Francisco.

However, in 1942 CBS offered to move its San Francisco affiliation to KQW after KSFO (560 AM) turned down CBS' offer to buy the station. KQW jumped at this offer, having been without a source of network programming for over a year. CBS moved its affiliation to KQW later that year, with an option to buy the station outright. KJBS Broadcasters then sold the station and KQW moved to a lavish CBS-owned studio at the Palace Hotel in San Francisco. For all intents and purposes, it became a San Francisco station, though it continued to be licensed in San Jose.

At the end of World War II, KQW found itself in a battle with KSFO for its longtime home on 740 AM, the last Bay Area frequency that was authorized to operate at 50,000 watts. When CBS affiliated with KSFO in 1937, it cut a deal with KQW to swap frequencies with KSFO, which would then boost its power to 50,000 watts. The change was awaiting Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approval when World War II broke out.

By 1945, however, KQW had become San Francisco's CBS affiliate, and CBS was obviously not about to give up the advantage of having the last 50,000-watt frequency in the Bay Area. While the FCC granted the frequency to KSFO, its owners, Associated Broadcasters, later decided to concentrate on plans for its new television station, KPIX-TV (channel 5). Eventually, Associated Broadcasters traded 740 back to CBS in return for KPIX getting the CBS television affiliation for the Bay Area.

CBS exercised its option to buy KQW in 1949, changing the calls to KCBS (the KCBS callsign predates the use on the CBS-owned television station (then KNXT) in Los Angeles by over 30 years, and KCBS-FM there as well). The station also officially changed its city of license to San Francisco after seven years. In 1951, KCBS signed on at 50,000 watts for the first time from an elaborate multi-tower facility in Novato originally intended for KSFO. However, the station is a class B station, not a Class A (clear-channel).

In 1968, KCBS became one of the first all-news stations in the country. However, it already had a long history in news dating back to World War II, when it was the center of CBS' newsgathering efforts in the Pacific Theater.

➦In 1953...The first issue of TV Guide was released in 1953, with a photograph of Lucille Ball and her newborn son, Desi Arnaz, Jr.   The publication reached a circulation of 1,500,000 readers in its first year.

➦In 1959…"Charlie Brown" by The Coasters was banned by the BBC because it contained the word "spitball."  The ban was lifted two weeks later.

➦In 1974...NYC Radio Personality Murray the K exited WNBC 660 AM.  He had joined NBC in 1972 for the weekend NBC Monitor and also for a regular evening weekend program on WNBC radio. Although it was low-key, Murray's WNBC show featured his own innovative trademark programming style, including telling stories that were illustrated by selected songs, his unique segues, and his pairing cuts by theme or idiosyncratic associations.

➦In 1978...Mutual Broadcasting System moved the "Larry King Show" talk show to Washington DC from Miami.

➦In 2014…WBT Charlotte and WSPA Spartnburg radio host Arthur Smith died at age 93.

Smith was also noted for his "Feudin' Banjos" (1955), which was also recorded by Lester Flatt. It was revived as "Dueling Banjos" and used as a theme song in the popular movie, Deliverance (1972).

Released as a single, it became a hit, played on Top 40, AOR, and country stations alike. It reached the Top Ten and hit #1 in the US and Canada.  Because he was not credited in the film for the song, Smith sued Warner Brothers, and gained a settlement. His name was added to the film credits for his piece, and he received a share of royalties.

➦In 2015...Morning host Jim Scott made his final broadcast on WLW 700 AM in Cincinnati after nearly 50 years on the air.

Known for his cheerful disposition and fast-moving show, Scott said he has always enjoyed the intimacy of radio as a medium: "It's just you and me."

Scott started in radio in Cincinnati in 1968. He had been with WLW since 1984.

Tony Orlando is 78

🎂HAPPY BIRTHDAYS:

• Actor Marsha Mason is 80. 
• Singer Wayne Newton is 80. 

• 

  Leona Lewis is 37

  Singer Tony Orlando is 78. 
• Singer Richard Thompson is 73. 
• Bassist Curtis Stone of Highway 101 is 72. 
• Guitarist Mick Mars of Motley Crue is 66. 
• Actor Alec Baldwin is 64. 
• Actor David Hyde Pierce (“Frasier”) is 63. 
• Comedian-actor Eddie Murphy is 61. 
• Singer-guitarist Mike Ness of Social Distortion is 60. 
• Singer Sebastian Bach (Skid Row) is 54. 
• Actor Jennie Garth (“Beverly Hills 90210″) is 50. 
• Actor Adam Scott (“Parks and Recreation”) is 49. 
• Guitarist Drew Shirley of Switchfoot is 48. 
• Actor Matthew GooAde (“Downton Abbey,” ″The Good Wife”) is 44. 
• Actor Cobie Smulders (“How I Met Your Mother”) is 40. 
• Singer Leona Lewis is 37. 
• Actor Amanda Bynes is 36. 
• Actor Rachel Bloom (“Crazy Ex-Girlfriend”) is 35. 
• Actor Hayley Kiyoko (“CSI: Cyber”) is 31. 
• Bassist Sam Kiszka of Greta Van Fleet is 23.

Houston Radio: Travis Moon Joins Cox Cluster As Director of Operations

Travis Moon

Cox Media Group announced Friday that Travis Moon has been named Director of Operations effective April 11. In this role, Moon will be responsible for all CMG Houston cluster content for KKBQ, KGLK and KTHT.

A country radio veteran, Moon was most recently Program Director for KUBL in Salt Lake City, Utah. Over his 30 plus years in radio, he’s held similar roles at KAJA in San Antonio, Texas, KASE and KVET in Austin, Texas, and content leadership positions in Cincinnati and Minneapolis.

“Travis is a talented and creative content leader with a rich history in Texas,” said CMG Regional Vice President Keith Lawless. “I am proud to have him join our CMG Houston family and excited for Houston’s next chapter under his leadership.”

A native of Nebraska, Moon has also served for 17 years on the Country Cares Advisory Board for ALSAC/St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The board provides support to St. Jude by enhancing country music’s fundraising efforts that help in the fight against childhood cancer.

”CMG Houston has such a rich history of success in both community and industry impact,” said Moon. “I am thrilled to return to Texas and work with Keith Lawless; Stephanie Callihan, CMG Director of Sales; Rob Babin, CMG SVP for Radio; and Chris Eagan VP of Audience and Operations. I also look forward to partnering with the CMG Houston team to add new chapters of success filled with great moments and impact we can share together.”

Chris Eagan, CMG VP of Audience and Operations added, “Travis is a strategic programmer in every sense of the word. I’m looking forward to watching him apply his winning approach to our Houston radio brands and take them to new heights.”

Charlotte Radio: Beth Troutman Joins WBT For Mornings

Radio One Charlotte heritage News Talk WBT AM/FM has announced veteran news anchor, multiple Emmy-winning documentarian, television host, and former Congressional candidate Beth Troutman has joined morning drive as co-host of Good Morning BT with Bo Thompson & Beth Troutman.

Having first been called upon by Thompson in 2016 as a correspondent from the Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Troutman has been a regular guest with Thompson on WBT, bringing her media experience and personal insight to the conversation with the station’s listeners. The duo’s ability to seamlessly move the discussion from news and politics to sports and entertainment and their shared Charlotte-native experiences has brought a fresh approach to the airwaves of WBT as it approaches its 100th Anniversary this April 10th.

“I was immediately impressed by Beth from our first meeting,” said Marsha Landess, Regional Vice President and Market Manager for Radio One, Charlotte. “Her contribution as a guest with Bo, and her infectious positivity, has only reinforced that impression. Together, they’re able to speak to the moms and dads and working professionals of Charlotte as generational peers, and we are incredibly excited to have Bo and Beth begin WBT’s second century as our morning team.”

“This is a fantastic opportunity to work alongside Bo Thompson,” said Troutman. “He is one of the best broadcasters in the business, and I know we’re going to create something really unique, fun, and informative together for the WBT audience!”

“The opportunity to bring in a talent like Beth is one we couldn’t pass up,” Thompson added. “I respect her so much as a broadcaster and can’t wait to have her join me for this new chapter of the show.”

The Grammys Ready To Honor Winners

The top names in music will gather Sunday to honor their own at the Grammys, now in its 64th edition, with pop juggernauts joining jazzman Jon Batiste as the leading nominees, reports AFP News.

This year, the gala will take place in Las Vegas for the first time, after organizers postponed the original January 31 event over a surge in Covid-19 cases, and then moved it from Los Angeles to the US gambling capital.

The field is wide open -- especially after the Recording Academy expanded the top four categories yet again, this time to include 10 nominees, in a bid to improve diversity.

The timing of the Grammys just one week after Will Smith stunned the world by slapping Chris Rock on stage at the Oscars adds an extra layer of unpredictability to what is already usually one of the more bizarre nights on the showbiz awards circuit.

Justin Bieber will vie for eight trophies at the ceremony hosted by late night host Trevor Noah, as will R&B favorite H.E.R. and singer-rapper Doja Cat.

Grammys darling Billie Eilish is in the running for seven prizes. The same holds true for Olivia Rodrigo, a former Disney channel actress who exploded onto the pop scene last year with her breakout smash hit "drivers license."

The 19-year-old Rodrigo landed expected nods for her much-touted debut album "Sour," and is a near shoo-in for Best New Artist -- she is up against Eilish's brother Finneas, rapper Saweetie, experimental pop act Japanese Breakfast and others.

Like Eilish in 2020, Rodrigo has the opportunity to sweep the top four categories, which would make her only the third artist to do so.

TX Radio: KNDE Reveals New PD, PM Drive Host

Bryan Broadcasting’s KNDE Candy 95 has announced a new program director/afternoon host and a permanent morning co-host.

From Bryan Broadcasting general manager Ben Downs:

Robbie Mack has been named program director and afternoon host. The ratings-juggernaut programmer makes the move to the Lone Star State after a highly-successful run as program director at Adams Radio Group Top 40 WJFX (Hot 107.9) and WWFW (103.9 Wayne)/Ft. Wayne, IN.

Mack succeeds former program director Katy Dempsey, who made the move to San Antonio alongside longtime show partner Tucker Young in December.

After filling in since January, Ted Hallowell was named permanent morning show co-host.

Bryan Broadcasting general manager Ben Downs commented “When you’re finding a replacement for people who worked here for 10 years, you know you’ll need to find someone with special skills and talents. Like Frito and Katy before him, Rob understands radio and knows how to reach an audience. And he has the gift of being a person who can make our systems run like the Marconi-winning station we’re used to. He’s a great fit and an extremely gifted programmer. We plan on learning a lot from him.

Mack added “I can’t wait to get to Texas and get started at Candy 95 and Bryan Broadcasting. Through each step of the process, it became more and more apparent that this was the place to be. They still do radio the right way, with jocks in the studios and on the streets. They wrap their arms around the local B/CS community and the listeners return the favor. Anyone that knows me knows I’m passionate about local radio. I feel like I just got the best gig of the year.”

Report: Jen Psaki Planning To Exit TWH For MSNBC

White House press secretary Jen Psaki is in exclusive talks with MSNBC to join the network after she leaves the White House around May, according to Axios citing a source close to the matter.

It's been speculated for weeks that Psaki would leave the White House for a TV gig. White House communications staffers often negotiate TV jobs once they leave an administration.

Psaki has been in close consultation with the White House counsel's office about her departure, according to two sources familiar with the plans. She's been treading carefully on the ethics and legal aspects of her plans.

No contracts have been signed.   Psaki has not yet formally told the White House press team about her departure, an administration source tells Axios.

Psaki will host a show for MSNBC on NBCUniversal's streaming platform, Peacock. She will also be a part of live programming on MSNBC's cable network as a voice on different shows, but she will not be hosting the 9 p.m. hour replacing Rachel Maddow, which has been speculated.

The streaming era has afforded networks more opportunities to poach top talent and give them their own shows.

Political spokespeople are often prime targets for cable networks, whose audiences tend to be political junkies.

D-C Weatherman Called Home With Warning For Family

NBC Washington's meteorologist Doug Kammerer Thursday made a phone call to his kids mid-broadcast as he reported on a tornado heading straight toward their home. 

He zoomed in to show the street view and noticed the danger zone was right over his house, so he called his son Kent. 'Kent, you there, buddy?' he said on live TV. Hey man, I want you to get down in the basement. We got a tornado warning.' 

His children Kent and Cally were home alone as their mother wasn't there at the time and Kammerer later said they were safe.

 

Yes, had to warn my family! Kids were home alone and I knew they were not watching me on TV! They are safe. Thank you! Scary moment for me though, I was freaking out inside a bit. https://t.co/To8mPxibBh

— Doug Kammerer (@dougkammerer) April 1, 2022

'I was freaking out inside a bit,' he said. 'I had to make the call on live TV. I have never done anything like that before.' The weatherman did inform his followers that the tornado did touch down in Fairfax County and two gas stations were damaged, but no injuries were reported.

Will Smith EXITS Stage Left

 

Daily Mail 4/2/22

Will Smith has resigned from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences in wake of his onstage assault of Chris Rock during last Sunday's Oscars show. 

Smith, in a statement obtained by Variety, called his actions during the ceremony 'shocking, painful and inexcusable,' adding that he would accept any additional consequences the Academy's Board of Governors deemed appropriate. 

'The list of those I have hurt is long and includes Chris, his family, many of my dear friends and loved ones, all those in attendance, and global audiences at home,' Smith said. 

'I betrayed the trust of the Academy. I deprived other nominees and winners of their opportunity to celebrate and be celebrated for their extraordinary work. I am heartbroken.' 

His resignation comes ahead of a scheduled disciplinary hearing with the Academy's Board of Governors in which he faced suspension, expulsion or other sanctions.

The Jimmys Prank Their Late Night Fans

Late-night TV hosts Jimmy Fallon and Jimmy Kimmel swapped talk shows and networks in an elaborate April Fool’s Day prank on Friday.

Fallon and Kimmel sat at each other’s desks and did some of  other’s recurring bits as part of the epic switcheroo, which was a complete surprise to the shocked studio audiences at 30 Rock and the El Capitan Entertainment Centre.

The Roots remained in New York to warm up the crowd for Kimmel, whose sidekick Guillermo Rodriguez stayed in Tinseltown to serve up Fallon with punchlines.

“I love being here in New York. I want to tell you about this crazy thing that happened in LA this week. So um, you know the actor Will Smith? Oh you’ve heard this story? I didn’t know if it made it east, I’ll skip it then,” Kimmel cracked.

“Are you figuring out what’s happening now? You’re noticing what day it is? Or no, maybe … April Fool’s everybody.”

In a bewildering musical gag, the Red Hot Chili Peppers appeared on both shows to mark Friday’s release of their first album in six years, playing “These Are the Ways” from the Roosevelt Hotel in LA and “Black Summer” in the 30 Rock studio.

R.I.P.: Bill Fries, C W McCall 'Convoy' Creator

Bill Fries (aka C W McCall) November 15, 1928 – April 1, 2022

Bill Fries, an advertising executive better known by his stage name, C.W. McCall, who had hit country records in the 1970s about long-haul truck driving during the height of the citizens band radio craze and whose song “Convoy” inspired an action film directed by Sam Peckinpah, died April 1 at his home in Ouray, Colo. He was 93, reports The Washington Post.

After creating the character of C.W. McCall, a truck driver in a series of commercials for a Midwestern bread company, Mr. Fries (pronounced “freeze”) adopted the name as his alter ego and recorded several humorous, freewheeling songs about renegade long-haul truckers.

He had top 20 country hits with “Old Home Filler-Up an’ Keep On-a-Truckin’ Cafe” and “Wolf Creek Pass,” about two truckers hauling a load of chickens down a mountain.

His best-known song was “Convoy,” which became a No. 1 country and pop hit, pushing aside the Bay City Rollers’ “Saturday Night” at the top of the Billboard chart in January 1976.

Fries wrote the words of “Convoy” and delivered them in a deep, fast-talking twang. The song helped popularize the lingo that truck drivers used over their citizens band, or CB, radios and is almost incomprehensible without a glossary of CB terms.

It was not the first song about evading the police on the open road. Chuck Berry had recorded “Maybellene” in 1955, and Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen had a hit in the early 1970s with a remake of the old rockabilly tune “Hot Rod Lincoln.” But “Convoy” came along when truckers faced rising fuel costs and a nationwide 55 mph speed limit, and the use of CB radios was becoming widespread.

“Convoy” sold an estimated 7 million copies and became an unexpected phenomenon, spawning Peckinpah’s 1978 film of the same name, starring Kris Kristoffersen. During the same period, Burt Reynolds’s “Smokey and the Bandit” movies were box-office hits, and the “outlaw” country music of Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson was gaining popularity.

“We always took ourselves seriously, but we never thought it would get as big as it has,” Mr. Fries said in 1975. “I’m flabbergasted by the success of ‘Convoy.’ It spread like a grass fire.”

Performing as McCall, Mr. Fries had five other top 20 country hits, including the sentimental 1977 ballad “Roses for Mama.” He sold about 20 million records before largely abandoning his performing career in the late 1970s.

Wearing jeans, a vest and a battered cowboy hat, Mr. Fries performed as McCall on network television programs, including Johnny Carson’s “Tonight Show,” and headlined national concert tours.

April 2 Radio History

➦In 1872…Samuel Finley Breese Morse died at age 80. (Born April 27, 1791).  Morse was an American painter and inventor. After having established his reputation as a portrait painter, in his middle age Morse contributed to the invention of a single-wire telegraph system based on European telegraphs. 

He was a co-developer of the Morse code and helped to develop the commercial use of telegraphy.

Gertrude Warner

➦In 1917...Gertrude "Trudy" Warner born (Died from cancer at age 69 – January 26, 1986). She was a voice talent who played multiple characters on radio productions during the Golden Age of Radio.

Warner's first starring role on radio came when she was 23, playing Rebecca Lane in Beyond These Valleys on CBS.  Her successful radio career continued for 28 years and well over 4,000 performances. She was considered one of the queens of daytime radio, appearing in dozens of daytime serials. Among her accomplishments was being the female lead on the dramatic anthology Brownstone Theater on Mutual.

Jack Webb

➦In 1920...John Randolph Webb born in Santa Monia (Died from an apprent heart attack at age 62 – December 23, 1982).  Best known as Jack Webb, he is most famous for his role as Sgt. Joe Friday in the Dragnet franchise (which he created). He was the founder of his own production company, Mark VII Limited.

Following his military discharge after WW2, Webb moved to San Francisco, where a wartime shortage of announcers led to a temporary appointment to his own radio show on KGO Radio. The Jack Webb Show was a half-hour comedy that had a limited run on ABC radio in 1946. Prior to that, he had a one-man program, One Out of Seven, on KGO in which he dramatized a news story from the previous week.

By 1949, he had abandoned comedy for drama, and starred in Pat Novak, for Hire, a radio show originating from KFRC about a man who worked as an unlicensed private detective. The program co-starred Raymond Burr. Pat Novak was notable for writing that imitated the hard-boiled style of such writers as Raymond Chandler, with lines such as: "She drifted into the room like 98 pounds of warm smoke. Her voice was hot and sticky--like a furnace full of marshmallows."

Webb's radio shows included Johnny Madero, Pier 23, Jeff Regan, Investigator, Murder and Mr. Malone, Pete Kelly's Blues, and One Out of Seven. Webb provided all of the voices on One Out of Seven, often vigorously attacking racial prejudice.

With much assistance from Sgt. Marty Wynn and legendary LAPD chief William H. Parker, Dragnet premiered on NBC Radio in 1949 and ran till 1957. It was also picked up as a television series by NBC, which aired episodes each season from 1952 to 1959. Webb played Sgt. Joe Friday and Barton Yarborough co-starred as Sgt. Ben Romero. After Yarborough's death, Ben Alexander joined the cast.

➦In 1947...The Big Story debuted on NBC Radio.  The show was a crime drama which dramatized the true stories of real-life newspaper reporters. The only continuing character was the narrator, Bob Sloane.

Its final radio broadcast aired March 23, 1955.

The radio series was top rated, rivaling Bing Crosby's Philco Radio Time.  Each week the program recognized the reporter who wrote the story on which that episode was based and the newspaper in which the story appeared. The reporter received $500, was interviewed on the air and was acknowledged in the introduction, as in this example:

"Pall Mall, famous big cigarette, presents The Big Story, another in a thrilling series based on true experiences of newspaper reporters. Tonight, to Russ Wilson of the Des Moines Tribune goes the Pall Mall award for The Big Story. Now, the authentic and exciting story of "The Case of the Ambitious Hobo."

The radio series was adapted for television where it debuted on NBC on September 16, 1949. The series continued to air on NBC until June 28, 1957, after which it appeared in syndication until 1958. The half-hour program was hosted by Robert Sloane, Norman Rose, Ben Grauer, and, finally, Burgess Meredith.

➦In 1964...As popular music’s most resounding commercial success, The Beatles have sold more than 2.3+ billion albums, while earning six diamond, 24 multi-platinum, 39 platinum and 45 gold albums in the United States alone. It is a remarkable sales record, by any measure, although their most historic, chart-making moment is easily the first week of April 1964, when the band held the top five positions on the vaunted Billboard charts, writes Kenneth Womack at Penn State University.

As the April 4, 1964, issue of Billboard magazine demonstrates, The Beatles were simply dominating the American music scene. And during that unforgettable week, their music occupied the top five chart positions — the only time in pop-music history that a single act has accomplished such a feat. With “Can’t Buy Me Love” holding down the top slot, “Twist and Shout” was second and “She Loves You,” “I Want to Hold Your Hand” and “Please Please Me” rounded out the top five.

Even more incredibly, the Beatles held seven additional positions on Billboard’s Hot 100, including “I Saw Her Standing There” at No. 31, “From Me to You” at No. 41, “Do You Want to Know a Secret?” at No. 46, “All My Loving” at No. 58, “You Can’t Do That” at No. 65, “Roll Over Beethoven” at No. 68 and “Thank You Girl” at No. 79. As if to underscore the awe-inspiring power of Beatlemania during that fabled period, two Beatles tribute acts clocked hits that very same week, including the Carefrees’ “We Love You Beatles” at No. 42 and the Four Preps’ “A Letter to the Beatles” at No. 85. For April 11, 1964, issue of Billboard, the Beatles added two more hits to the Hot 100, including “There’s a Place” at No. 74 and “Love Me Do” at No. 81, giving them a total of 14 hits songs on the Billboard charts at the very same time.

➦In 1973...the CBS Radio Network started airing its top of the hour newscast 24-hours-a-day.

During the 1970s and into the mid-1980s, the CBS Radio owned-and-operated news stations had a superior style and sound: tight and cohesive production, lively presenters, excellent engineering and outstanding "audio logos" from a company called Identitones. This compilation contains a few stagers and sounders from the heyday of the CBS Radio local news format.

In partnership with CBS Laboratories, CBS Radio developed a unique system to advise affiliates of news bulletins. When activated from network headquarters, CBS NetAlert transmitted coded information over the network lines to each station to communicate anything from the start of a special feed to a national emergency. The system had the capability to override local programming for a special report from CBS News. A NetAlert receiver is seen toward the end of this video.

➦In 2017…Warren "Rhubarb" Jones died from a heart attack at age 65 (Born - August 9, 1951).  He was a DJ at Country WYAY Eagle 106.7 in Atlanta, Georgia. He was the longest running morning radio personality in the Atlanta radio market, having been at the 106.7 spot on the FM dial from January 1985 to February 29, 2008.

Rhubarb Jones

His first job in radio was at WPID in Piedmont, Alabama.  He worked his way through West Georgia College by working in radio at WWCC in Bremen, Georgia. Upon graduation, Rhubarb moved to Columbus, Georgia and worked at WCLS. He later got into country music radio when he moved to WSKY AM in Asheville, North Carolina. In 1978, Rhubarb headed to WLWI-FM (I-92) in Montgomery, Alabama, where he served as program and music director and did the afternoon drive show.

Jones was widely known for his charity events like the Rhubarb Jones Celebrity Golf Tournament for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and his annual March Across Georgia for the LLS. Rhubarb was also an Atlanta co-host for the annual Jerry Lewis Muscular Dystrophy Association Telethon with WAGA TV 5 weathercaster Ken Cook.

Jones was a past winner of Radio Personality of the Year from the Country Music Association and the Academy of Country Music and served on the board of directors for both organizations.

He was inducted into the Country Music Disc Jockey Hall of Fame in June 2001. In 2007, he was one of the first inductees into the Georgia Radio Hall of Fame.

At 10:30 a.m. on February 29, 2008, Jones was dismissed from WYAY, along with 12 others from WYAY and sister station WKHX-FM. On April 21, 2008, it was announced that Jones would be a Senior Director of Development and a member of adjunct faculty as a Distinguished Lecturer of Mass Communications at Kennesaw State University in Kennesaw, Georgia. He also served as Director of Special Projects for KSU as a Senior Development officer. On August 16, 2014, Rhubarb began hosting a weekend show on KOOL Classic Hits WRBZ 95.5 in Montgomery. This once again joined Rhubarb with Don Day, whom he teamed up with in 1978 as part of the air staff at WLWI in Montgomery.

Linda Hunt is 77

🎂HAPPY BIRTHDAYS:

• Actor Linda Hunt is 77. 
• Actor Sam Anderson (“Lost,” ″ER,” ″Perfect Strangers”) is 75. 
• Singer Emmylou Harris is 75. 
• Actor Pamela Reed is 73. 
• Drummer Dave Robinson of The Cars is 73. 
• Country singer Buddy Jewell is 61. 
• Actor Christopher Meloni (“Law and Order: Special Victims Unit”) is 61. 
• Singer Keren Woodward of Bananarama is 61. 
• Country singer Billy Dean is 60. 
• Actor Clark Gregg (“Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.,” ″The New Adventures of Old Christine”) is 60. 

• 

  Bethany Joy Lenz is 41

  Actor Jana Marie Hupp (“Ed”) is 58. 
• Guitarist Greg Camp (Smash Mouth) is 55. 
• Guitarist Tony Fredianelli of Third Eye Blind is 53. 
• Actor Roselyn Sanchez (TV’s “Grand Hotel,” ″Without a Trace”) is 49. 
• Actor Pedro Pascal (“Game of Thrones”) is 47. 
• Actor Adam Rodriguez (“Criminal Minds,” ″CSI: Miami”) is 47. 
• Actor Michael Fassbender (“Shame,” ″Inglourious Basterds”) is 45. 
• Keyboardist Jesse Carmichael of Maroon 5 is 43. 
• Actor Bethany Joy Lenz (formerly Galeotti) (“One Tree Hill”) is 41. 
• Singer Lee Dewyze (“American Idol”) is 36. 
• Country singer Chris Janson is 36. 
• Actor Drew Van Acker (“Training Day,” ″Pretty Little Liars”) is 36. 
• Actor Jesse Plemons (TV’s “Fargo,” ″Breaking Bad”) is 34.

Disney's Stance On Parental Rights Bill Called 'Appalling'

Gina Ciarcia, a former teacher running for Congress in Virginia, called The Walt Disney Company's opposition to a Florida parental rights bill "appalling" and warned of the psychological damage that teachers can do to young children by teaching them about sexuality too early, reports Fox News.

Disney has taken a firm stance against the parental rights law H.B. 1557, which critics have branded the "Don't Say Gay" law, even though the law does not ban the word "gay." Rather, the law prohibits classroom instruction – not casual discussion – on "sexual orientation" and "gender identity" with children in third grade or younger, "or in a manner that is not age-appropriate or developmentally appropriate for students in accordance with state standards."

"It’s appalling to see Disney so adamantly protesting the Parental Rights in Education bill," Ciarcia, a mother of five children who led a home-school co-op and who taught history, logic, literature, Latin, and writing at two private schools, told Fox News Digital on Friday. "As a mother of five and a career teacher, I also find it extremely unnerving that a company responsible for creating so much of what our children watch would push against legislation to prevent content we know is harmful from reaching our children."

"This bizarre insistence of the left to push sexuality-focused teaching and even, in the worst instances, pornographic material, to our K-3 students is not only disturbing and appalling, but will be truly psychologically and developmentally detrimental to our children," Ciarcia warned.

Parents in Virginia and other states have sounded the alarm about books they call obscene and pedophilic, but which librarians and LGBTQ activists defend as essential for diversity. "Lawn Boy" by Jonathan Evison, for instance, includes long sections of a boy reminiscing about explicit experiences he had at 10 years old and "Gender Queer: A Memoir," by Maia Kobabe includes photos of sexual acts between a boy and a man. 

"Young children are not emotionally prepared to grapple with these subjects, nor are they naturally inclined to want to," the former teacher said. 

Nielsen: Significant Growth In Women Listening To Podcasts

Since 2018, the number of female podcast listeners has increased by 76%, according to a new reports released by Nielsen.

And according to Nielsen, perhaps more impressive—given that audio engagement is often associated with being away from the home—is the 41% increase since the beginning of the pandemic. The growth of podcast engagement also shows no signs of slowing down, as a recent Nielsen survey found that 61% of paid streaming audio subscribers plan to increase their podcast consumption over the next 12 months.

Because podcast listening has become far more mainstream than when podcasts first started to enter the media mix, light podcast listeners—those who listen anywhere between once and three times a month—represent roughly half of all podcast listeners. While this clearly validates that podcasts appeal to more than just a niche audience, advertisers know that more frequent engagement means more opportunity to reach listeners. Again, women should be a significant focus on this front.

 
In the four years since Nielsen established its Podcast Buying Power service, which provides with brands information about the buying behaviors of podcast listeners, the number of heavy female podcast listeners—those who listen 10+ times per month—those who listen has increased by 90%.

Podcast advertising—particularly when read by the host—drives a stronger brand recall punch than more traditional forms of advertisements. For example, Nielsen’s Podcast Ad Effectiveness (PAE) solutions have found that hostread ads drive a brand recall rate of 71%, which subsequently creates high levels of consumer interest, purchase intent and recommendation intent.

Nielsen’s PAE solutions also notes that podcast advertising drives an average increase in brand awareness of 14 points. Among female heavy listeners, however, the lift rises to 20 points—43% higher than average.

Other key ad engagement stats:
73% of female listeners can recall the brand after exposure
54% of female listeners find podcast content interesting

Wake-Up Call: Russian Troops Leave Nuke Area

ZELENSKYY WARNS OF NEW ATTACK IN EAST: Russian troops left the Chernobyl nuclear site early Friday, giving control of it back to the Ukrainians. Ukraine's state power company said that took place after soldiers received what it called "significant doses" of radiation from digging trenches in the radiation-contaminated forest around the plant that was decommissioned after its 1986 disaster. AP noted there was no independent confirmation of the power company's claim. Meanwhile, in the besieged port city of Mariupol, other Russian forces blocked a convoy of 45 buses trying to evacuate people after Russia agreed to a limited cease-fire in the area. Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk also said Russian troops seized 14 tons of food and medical supplies in buses bound for Mariupol.

The Ukrainian government says Russian forces blocked 45 buses that had been sent to evacuate civilians from the besieged port city of Mariupol. Twelve trucks were able to deliver humanitarian aid, but those supplies were seized by Russian troops. https://t.co/OgOM7u4XyM

— The Associated Press (@AP) April 1, 2022

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned last night that Russia's withdrawals from northern and central parts of the country were a military tactic to increase forces for stronger new attacks in the southeast. Zelenskyy, the U.S., and others had previously expressed skepticism about Russia's talk of scaling back its military activity near the capital city Kyiv and the northern city of Chernihiv, and AP said there's growing indication the talk is cover for Russia to regroup, resupply its forces and redeploy them for a heightened offensive in eastern Ukraine. Zelenskyy said in his nightly video address, "We know that they are moving away from those areas where we hit them in order to focus on other, very important ones where it may be difficult for us. There will be battles ahead." Despite that, a new round of talks between the two countries is scheduled for today.

🛢BIDEN ORDERS RELEASE OF OIL FROM STRATEGIC RESERVE: President Biden yesterday ordered the release of one million barrels of oil per day from the nation's strategic reserve for six months, in an effort to control energy prices that have shot up after the imposition of tough sanctions on Russia after its invasion of Ukraine. Biden said it wasn't known how much gas prices could go down as result, but suggested it could be, quote, "anything from 10 cents to 35 cents a gallon." Biden also called for Congress to financially penalize oil and gas companies that lease public lands, but aren't producing on them. The higher prices have so far not led to be a meaningful increase in production by oil companies, and Biden charged that the companies are more focused on their profits instead of producing more barrels of oil, saying, "This is not the time to sit on record profits: It’s time to step up for the good of your country." At the same time, Biden said he'll invoke the Defense Production Act to encourage the mining of critical minerals for batteries in electric vehicles, part of the broader effort to move toward cleaner energy.

➤ISRAEL RAIDS WEST BANK CAMP AFTER ATTACKS, TWO PALESTINIANS KILLED: Israeli forces raided a refugee camp in the occupied West Bank Thursday in the wake of a series of deadly attacks in Israel over the past week, sparking a gun battle in which two Palestinians were killed and 15 wounded. The raid in the Jenin camp came two days after a Palestinian from a nearby village shot and killed five people in central Israel, the latest of three attacks that have left 11 people dead. The previous two attacks were carried out by Arab citizens of Israel. The Israeli military said the gun battle began when troops seeking to arrest three suspects linked to the attack were fired on. One soldier was wounded. The Islamic Jihad militant group announced a "general mobilization" of its fighters after yesterday's raid.

Congress could soon send to the president's desk a bill that would cap the cost of the lifesaving drug insulin at $35 per month — a move that could significantly reduce and rein in out-of-pocket drug costs for millions of Americans with diabetes. https://t.co/R1vfjVHEWs

— ABC News (@ABC) March 31, 2022

➤DEFENSE RESTS IN TRIAL OF FOUR MEN ACCUSED IN PLOT TO KIDNAP MICHIGAN GOVERNOR: Defense attorneys rested their case yesterday in the trial of four men charged with plotting to kidnap Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer in 2020, with closing arguments expected today. The defense rested after Daniel Harris testfied, the only one of the four to take the stand. The 24-year-old Harris repeatedly said, "Absolutely not" when asked if he'd agreed to abduct the Democratic governor before the 2020 election. He is charged along with Adam Fox, Barry Croft Jr. and Brandon Casserta, the four acused of conspiring to kidnap Whitmer because of their anger with government and her tough pandemic restrictions. The prosecution's case during the trial included testimony from undercover FBI agents, an informant, and two men who pled guilty and testified against the defendants.

➤KUSHNER TESTIFIES BEFORE JAN. 6 COMMITTEE: Jared Kushner, former President Donald Trump's son-in-law who was a senior White House adviser to him, voluntarily testified before the House committee investigating the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol yesterday. Kushner, the first close relative of Trump known to have spoken to the panel, appeared virtually, committee member Rep. Elaine Luria told MSNBC. The Virginia Democrat wouldn't go into detail about what Kushner told them, but she did say he was asked about published reports about the days leading up to the Capitol attack, saying he was able to, quote, "provide information to us to verify, substantiate, provide his own take on this different reporting." Kushner was traveling back to the U.S. from Saudi Arabia on the day of the Capitol attack.

➤LGBT RIGHTS GROUPS SUE OVER FLORIDA LAW CALLED 'DON'T SAY GAY' BY CRITICS: Gay rights groups sued Florida Governor Ron DeSantis yesterday to block the state's new law critics have dubbed the "Don't Say Gay" law banning classroom instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through third grade. The challenge was filed in federal court by Equality Florida and Family Equality, charging the law violates the constitutional rights of free speech, equal protection and due process of students and families. DeSantis and Republicans say children should learn about sexual orientation and gender identity from their parents, not in school.

MOUSETRAP: A 55-year-old state law has allowed the 'woke' theme park to govern itself, but that can soon change. https://t.co/KUx3r12anN pic.twitter.com/a5m41GE3IL

— Fox News (@FoxNews) April 1, 2022

🍺ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION AT ANY LEVEL MAY INCREASE RISK OF HEART DISEASE:  Bad news if you’re planning to have some wine with dinner. A new, large study finds that alcohol intake at all levels is linked with higher risks of cardiovascular disease. Researchers from Massachusetts General Hospital, MIT, and Harvard, say previous observational studies suggesting that consuming small amounts of alcohol may provide heart-related health benefits might actually be attributed to other healthy lifestyle factors that are typically followed among light to moderate drinkers. Study senior author, Dr. Krishna Aragam says, “The findings affirm that alcohol intake should not be recommended to improve cardiovascular health; rather, that reducing alcohol intake will likely reduce cardiovascular risk in all individuals, albeit to different extents based on one’s current level of consumption.”

Covid hospitalizations are at their lowest levels since the U.S. began keeping records at the start of the pandemic, according to @NBCNews analysis of data from the Dept. of Health and Human Services. https://t.co/tTGft4FuXK

— NBC News (@NBCNews) April 1, 2022

👰PEOPLE BORN IN THE 80S NOT LIKELY TO MARRY THEIR FIRST COHABITATING PARTNER:  There’s no rule that says you have to marry the first person you live with. Researchers from two universities looked at data from two different surveys with respondents from three birth cohorts: 1974-1979, 1980-1984, and 1985-1990. They found people born in the 70s had a 50/50 chance of splitting up with or staying with (or marrying) their first partner, while 43 percent of those born 1985-1990 split up with their first cohabitating partner. Study authors note that living with someone (rather than marriage) has become an almost universal form of first partnership regardless of socio-economic background or educational level. Co-author of the study, Dr Júlia Mikolai explains, “This could be a sign of the emergence of a new behavior such as short-lived relationships starting while in education or shortly after finishing a degree. Postponement of first partnership formation among those not pursuing further education could also be a marker of the increased economic hardship and uncertainties.” Researchers also point out that this research only considered those who formed their first partnerships before age 27.

💰COINS IN SHORT SUPPLY:  Coins are in short supply in circulation because Americans aren't using them, and retailers, laundromats and other businesses that rely on them want more help in changing that. A group of trade associations that represent businesses including banks, retailers, truck stops, grocery stores and more is asking the Treasury Department for more assistance in getting Americans to use coins and get them back in circulation. There was a coin circulation issue earlier in the pandemic too, as the crisis disrupted people's buying habits, shifting purchases largely to credit cards and reducing small transactions that generate change. Because of the problem, the Federal Reserve restricted coin orders by financial institutions in July 2020 and convened a task force, leading to a campaign encouraging people to get coins into circulation. While coin deposit volumes began to increase gradually, businesses say the problem has come up again as people have stopped using coins and have stuck to using credit cards. The issue has the biggest impact on people who don’t have bank accounts and rely on using cash.

🏀GIANNIS BECOMES BUCKS' ALL-TIME SCORING LEADER: Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo became the franchise's all-time scoring leader last night in the team's 120-119 overtime win against the Brooklyn Nets. Giannis reached the milestone on a three-point shot that forced overtime, part of his 44 overall points in the game. He'd come into the game 39 points behind Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the NBA's career scoring leader, who had 14,211 of his points with the Bucks. Giannis, who's played all nine of his NBA seasons with Milwaukee, now has 14,216 points.

🏒TORONTO'S MATTHEWS SCORES NHL-LEADING 50TH GOAL: The Toronto Maple Leafs' Auston Matthews scored his NHL-leading 50th goal of the season in the team's 7-3 win over the Winnipeg Jets last night. Matthews scored his 50th goal into an empty net with 2:06 left, moving past the Edmonton Oilers' Leon Draisaitl's 49 goals into the league lead. He also became the first Maple Leafs player with 50 goals in a season since Dave Andreychuk had 53 in the 1993-94 season.

🏌KUPCHO, LEE SHARE LEAD AFTER FIRST ROUND OF CHEVRON CHAMPIONSHIP: American Jennifer Kupcho and Minjee Lee of Australia share the lead after the opening round of The Chevron Championship yesterday, one of women's golf's majors. They both shot a 6-under 66 at Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage, California. This is the last year the tournament will be played at Mission Hills after starting there in 1972 and becoming a major in 1983. It is shifting to Houston next year under a deal with Chevon.

 

XAVIER WINS THE NIT CHAMPIONSHIP ON THIS GAME WINNER 😱 pic.twitter.com/05bgdae1gj

— ESPN (@espn) April 1, 2022

🏀XAVER BEATS TEXAS A&M FOR NIT CHAMPIONSHIP: Xavier beat Texas A&M 73-72 last night for their first NIT Championship in 64 years. Colby Jones scored 21 points for Xavier and was named the college basketball tournament's outstanding player. Dwon Odom had 18 points and Jack Nunge had 15 points, including the go-ahead basket with 3.1 seconds left. Xavier came back from being down eight points at halftime for the win at New York City's Madison Square Garden. It will be the last NIT title game at MSG for at least a few years, ending a college basketball tradition that dates to 1938. A bid process has begun to find new sites for 2023 and 2024, the NIT announced this week.

Chicago Radio: Keith Hastings Driving WDRV

Hubbard Radio Chicago Vice President / Market Manager, Jeff England, announced Thursday that starting Monday, April 18th Keith Hastings will join WDRV 97.1FM The Drive, as Brand and Content Director.

Keith Hastings

Hastings comes to The Drive from San Antonio where he served as Director of Operations while programming KISS, KTKX and serving as Rock Formats Leader for Cox Media Group. Prior to San Antonio, Hasting programmed Rock formats in Boston, Detroit, and Milwaukee.

“There is no greater opportunity anywhere for a Classic Rock programmer than The Drive. I want to thank Jeff England, Greg Strassell, Dave Bestler, and Ginny Morris for welcoming me. Hubbard Broadcasting is a world-class company and The Drive is the crown jewel in the greatest city in the world. It’s an honor and a privilege to be entrusted with leading The Drive’s supremely talented and creative staff.” said Hastings.

Hubbard Chicago Vice President / Market Manager Jeff England added, “We are thrilled to welcome Keith to Hubbard Radio Chicago. His extensive knowledge and experience in both the Classic Rock and Rock formats, coupled with his proven leadership skills, makes him the ideal person to lead our talented team at Chicago’s Classic Rock, 97.1FM The Drive.”