Saturday, May 11, 2024

Radio History: May 12


➦In 1908...wireless Radio broadcasting was patented by Nathan B Stubblefield.

Nathan Stubblefield
Stubblefield (November 22, 1860 - March 28, 1928) was an American inventor and Kentucky melon farmer. It has been claimed that Stubblefield demonstrated radio in 1892, but his devices seem to have worked by audio frequency induction or, later, audio frequency earth conduction (creating disturbances in the near-field region) rather than by radio frequency radiation for radio transmission telecommunications.

He made public demonstrations of voice and music transmission to five receiving locations on the courthouse square in Murray on January 1, 1902, witnessed by at least 1,000 people, apparently using voice frequency transmission through earth conduction, to a radius of one-half mile. Later he demonstrated wireless telephony in Washington, D.C. on March 20, 1902, where voice and music transmissions were made over a third of a mile from the steamer Bartholdi to shore. He demonstrated wireless telephony as well in Philadelphia on May 30, 1902 to a distance of a half mile. His experiments were discussed in leading scientific journals.

In 1903, he could transmit 375 feet without earth connections, using induction. In 1904, he could transmit 423 yards. The total wire required for the transmitting and receiving coils was of a greater length than what would be required to simply interconnect the transmitter and receiver, but the invention would allow mobility.

By 1907, with a 60-foot transmitting coil, he could work 1/4 mile or 1,320 feet "nicely." On May 12, 1908, he received U.S. patent 887,357 for his Wireless Telephone, using the voice frequency induction system. He said in the patent that it would be useful for "securing telephonic communications between moving vehicles and way stations". The diagram shows wireless telephony from trains, boats, and wagons. In foreign patents he showed wireless telephony with cars. However, there is no indication that he was using voice-modulated continuous high frequency waves, as used for radio today.

Stubblefield's inventions did not lead directly to radio as the technology works today, but the public demonstrations in 1902 and the press coverage in the New York Times, the Philadelphia Inquirer, the Washington Post, the Louisville Courier-Journal, Scientific American, and elsewhere helped to spur public interest in the possibilities of wireless transmission of voice and music. Most other inventors of the era sought to provide point-to-point messaging, to compete with telephone and telegraph companies.

Stubblefield in the 1902 was in a sense the "Father of Broadcasting", in that he said to the St. Louis Post Dispatch reporter in 1902, "..it is capable of sending simultaneous messages from a central distributing station over a very wide territory. For instance, anyone having a receiving instrument, which would consist merely of a telephone receiver and a signalling gong, could, upon being signalled by a transmitting station in Washington, or nearer, if advisable, be informed of weather news. My apparatus is capable of sending out a gong signal, as well as voice messages. Eventually, it will be used for the general transmission of news of every description".

➦In 1914...Howard K Smith born (died at age 87 - February 15, 2002).  He was a journalist, radio reporter, television anchorman, political commentator, and film actor. He was one of the original members of the team of war correspondents known as the Murrow Boys.

Upon graduating, Smith worked for the New Orleans Item, with United Press in London, and with The New York Times. In January 1940, Smith was sent to Berlin, where he joined the Columbia Broadcasting System under Edward R. Murrow. He visited Hitler's mountain retreat at Berchtesgaden and interviewed many leading Nazis, including Hitler himself, Schutzstaffel or "SS" leader Heinrich Himmler and Propaganda Minister Joseph Goebbels. When Smith refused to include Nazi propaganda in his reports, the Gestapo seized his notebooks and expelled him from the country. He left for Switzerland on December 6, 1941, the day before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

He was one of the last American reporters to leave Berlin before Germany and the United States went to war. His 1942 book, Last Train from Berlin: An Eye-Witness Account of Germany at War describes his observations from Berlin in the year after the departure of Berlin Diary author William L. Shirer. Last Train from Berlin became an American best-seller and was reprinted in 2001, shortly before Smith's death.

Unable to leave Switzerland, where he and his young wife spent most of the war, Smith reported whatever the Swiss government would permit. After the liberation of France, he began reporting on Germany and central Europe from Berne. By the winter of 1944–1945, he began sending vivid radio accounts of the German counter-attack in the Ardennes known as the Battle of the Bulge, and he accompanied Allied forces across the Rhine River and into Berlin.

Smith became a significant member of the "Murrow Boys" that made CBS the dominant broadcast news organization of the era. In May 1945, he returned to Berlin to recap the German surrender.

He moderated the first Kennedy-Nixon presidential debate, and went on to be anchor of the ABC evening TV news.

➦In 1930…Syndicated gossip columnist Walter Winchell made his radio debut on WABC (then a CBS Radio affiliate) in New York. From 1930 to the late 1950s, his Sunday night broadcasts on the ABC Radio Network were heard by an estimated 20 million people.

Walter Winchell
Winchell was raised in New York City, and when he was 13 he left school to go into vaudeville with Eddie Cantor and George Jessel.

Then he teamed with a singer named Rita Greene (whom he later married and later divorced) as Winchell and Greene.

After two years of service in the U.S. Navy during World War I, he returned to the Winchell and Greene act.

Quick-witted and inquisitive, Winchell rapidly learned personal and family background and gossip about others with him on the vaudeville circuit, and he took to posting such intelligence, neatly typed and punctuated and with often far-fetched puns, on theater bulletin boards. One of these documents reached the publisher of Vaudeville News, and he became its Western correspondent. This evolved into a full-time job in 1927, and Winchell’s career as a gossip columnist was launched.

In 1924 he was given a show-business column, “On-Broadway,” in the New York Evening Graphic, which he conducted for five years. He moved to the New York Daily Mirror, where his widely syndicated column appeared until 1963. He introduced a weekly radio program in 1932, continuing it until the early 1950s. Winchell’s news reports, always very opinionated, brought him both admirers and detractors. But the reports interested millions of people, as did the Broadway idiom in which he wrote and spoke.

Here's audio from a 1941 broadcast...

➦In 1965…In Hollywood, the Rolling Stones re-recorded "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction," which they had first recorded in Chicago two days earlier. It was this Hollywood version that was released.

The first track was recorded pm 10 May 1965 at Chess Studios in Chicago, which included Brian Jones on harmonica. The Stones lip-synched to a dub of this version the first time they debuted the song on the American music variety television program Shindig!  The group re-recorded it two days later at RCA Studios in Hollywood, California, with a different beat and the Maestro fuzzbox adding sustain to the sound of the guitar riff.


In 2004, Rolling Stone magazine ranked "Satisfaction" #2 on its list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time, runner-up to Bob Dylan's "Like a Rolling Stone." In 2006 it was added to the Library of Congress National Recording Registry.

➦In 1975...WNEW-FM sponsored a free concerts with Jefferson Starship for a crowd of 60,000 in New York’s Central Park. Later the band and WNEW-FM were charged $14,000 to cover the cost of the clean-up and damage did to the park.

Perry Como
➦In 2001...Entertainer Perry Como died at age 89 ( Born - May 18, 1912). During a career spanning more than half a century he recorded exclusively for RCA Victor for 44 years, after signing with the label in 1943. "Mr. C.", as he was nicknamed, sold millions of records and pioneered a weekly musical variety television show. His weekly television shows and seasonal specials were broadcast throughout the world. In the official RCA Records Billboard magazine memorial, his life was summed up in these few words: "50 years of music and a life well lived. An example to all."

Como received five Emmys from 1955 to 1959, a Christopher Award (1956) and shared a Peabody Award with good friend Jackie Gleason in 1956.  He was inducted into the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Hall of Fame in 1990 and received a Kennedy Center Honor in 1987.

He has the distinction of having three stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his work in radio, television, and music.  He scored fourteen No.1 singles among 150 US chart hits, including the singles ‘It’s Impossible,’ ‘Magic Moments’ and ‘Catch A Falling Star.’  In the 1960’s Como had been television’s highest-paid performer.

➦In 2016… Singer/radio host (WNEW 1130 AM and WNSW 1430 AM NYC) Julius LaRosa, who gained notoriety for being fired by the host on a live, national radio broadcast of "The Arthur Godfrey Show," died at the age of 86.

Steve Winwood is 76
🎂HAPPY BIRTHDAYS:
  • Actor Millie Perkins (“Knots Landing”) is 88. 
  • Singer Jayotis Washington of The Persuasions is 83. 
  • Country singer Billy Swan is 82. 
  • Actor Linda Dano (“Another World”) is 81. 
  • Singer Steve Winwood is 76. 
  • Actor Lindsay Crouse is 76. 
  • Actor Bruce Boxleitner is 74. 
  • Singer Billy Squier is 74. 
  • Actor Gabriel Byrne is 74. 
  • Blues musician Guy Davis is 72. 
  • Country singer Kix Brooks of Brooks and Dunn is 69. 
  • Drummer Eric Singer of Kiss is 66. 
  • Actor Ving Rhames is 65. 
  • Guitarist Billy Duffy of The Cult is 63. 
  • Actor Emilio Estevez is 62. 
  • Actor April Grace (“Lost,” ″Joan of Arcadia”) is 62. 
  • TV personality Carla Hall (“The Chew”) is 60. 
  • Keyboardist Eddie Kilgallon (Ricochet) is 59. 
  • Actor Stephen Baldwin is 58. 
  • Actor Scott Schwartz (“A Christmas Story”) is 56. 
  • Actor Kim Fields (“Living Single,” ″The Facts of Life”) is 55. 
  • Actor Samantha Mathis (TV’s “The Strain”) is 54. 
  • Actor Jamie Luner (“Melrose Place,” ″Profiler”) is 53. 
  • Actor Rhea Seehorn (“Better Call Saul”) is 52. 
  • Actor Mackenzie Astin (“Scandal,” “The Facts of Life”) is 51. 
  • Bassist Matt Mangano of Zac Brown Band is 48. 
  • Actor Rebecca Herbst (“General Hospital”) is 47. 
  • Actor Malin Akerman (“Trophy Wife”) is 46. 
  • Actor Jason Biggs (“Orange is the New Black,” “American Pie”) is 46. 
  • Actor Rami Malik (“Bohemian Rhapsody,” ″Mr. Robot”) is 43. 
  • Actor Clare Bowen (“Nashville”) is 40. 
  • Actor Emily VanCamp (“Revenge”) is 38. 
  • Actor Malcolm David Kelley (“Lost”) is 32. 
  • Actor Sullivan Sweeten (“Everybody Loves Raymond”) is 29.
✞REMEMBRANCES: 
  • In 1992..Robert Reed, Actor (The Brady Bunch - "Mike"; Nurse), dies of AIDs at 59
  • In 2001..(Pierino) Perry Como, American singer ("Catch A Falling Star") and TV personality (The Perry Como Show), dies at 89
  • In 2016..Julius La Rosa, Singer & WNEW-AM Radio Personality (fired by Arthur Godfrey on the air), dies at 86

NYC Radio: WABC Suspends Rudy Giulani For 'Stolen' Election Rant


Former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani was suspended without pay from his Talk Radio 77WABC radio show Thursday for ranting about the “stolen” 2020 election — deepening the legally embattled ex-lawyer’s financial woes.

In a further fall from grace, the bankrupt, twice-indicted ex-attorney for Donald Trump was yanked from the air by billionaire supermarket mogul and radio station owner John Catsimatidis, The NY Post is reporting

“He did it to himself,” Catsimatidis told The Post on Friday.

“I thought he was a great mayor for the city of New York so I always try to support him. But you can’t cross the line.”

Rudy Giuliani
Giuliani, 79, went on a “stolen election” tirade during the final three minutes of “The Rudy Giuliani Show” Thursday, violating a company-wide policy “not to state, suggest or imply that the election results are not valid,” according to Catsimatidis, who runs Red Apple Media.

Catsimatidis said he had sent Giuliani a letter warning him that he’s “prohibited from engaging in conversations relating to the 2020 Presidential Election” — prompting the disgraced mayor to allegedly fire off a defiant text to the billionaire.

“Please understand I am disregarding every order given in this letter,” he purportedly texted after his show.

Catsimatidis said he fired back Friday afternoon, “I’ve got to take you off the syndicated network effective immediately.”

“Does that mean you’re firing me?” Giuliani asked — to which Catsimatidis had not yet responded as of Friday evening.

Giuliani told The Post he had no idea the company policy existed, claiming he’s been talking about the 2020 election on the air for the past three years. “They don’t want me to say it’s stolen, they don’t want me to talk about the election at all. It’s so broad,” he said.

The NY Times reports Catsimatidis said the former mayor earned a percentage of the show’s advertising revenue, rather than a salary. The Times reported last year that Mr. Giuliani earned roughly $400,000 a year from WABC; more recent court filings suggested he was losing money on the endeavor.

Catsimatidis has his own long history with Trump, who continues to insist that the 2020 election was “rigged” against him. He hosted the former president on WABC in 2022, and was recently listed as a co-chair of a major fund-raiser in Palm Beach, Fla., last month for Trump’s campaign and the Republican National Committee.

But at a time when other conservative media outlets have been sued for defamation related to false claims about the 2020 election, Mr. Catsimatidis appears to have grown increasingly concerned that Mr. Giuliani’s continued presence on air could put WABC in legal jeopardy.

Giuliani says that he still has shows on X and on Newsmax that generate income.

Hailed as “America’s Mayor” in the 9/11-era, Giuliani now faces a mountain of legal bills to fight criminal cases in Arizona and Georgia, where he was charged with trying to overturn the 2020 election.

Apple Apologizes For The Crush Commercial


Apple Inc. issued a rare apology for an advertisement touting its latest iPad Pro that upset many creatives and other customers. The company also said it won’t air the ad on television as planned.

Bloomberg reports the ad, which depicted musical instruments, TVs, paint cans and other creative tools being crushed into an iPad, was widely ridiculed on social media — an unprecedented response for an Apple marketing campaign. Actor Hugh Grant said the ad promoted the “destruction of the human experience.”

Others said the advertisement didn’t bode well for Apple in the age of artificial intelligence and as regulators look to break up key properties like the App Store.

“Creativity is in our DNA at Apple, and it’s incredibly important to us to design products that empower creatives all over the world,” Tor Myhren, the company’s vice president of marketing communications, said in a statement to AdAge. “Our goal is to always celebrate the myriad of ways users express themselves and bring their ideas to life through iPad. We missed the mark with this video, and we’re sorry.”

An Apple spokeswoman declined to comment further. The ad, which remains on the X account of Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook, has over 53 million views. The campaign cast a shadow over an otherwise positive introduction of major new iPad versions and a new M4 chip on Tuesday.

One user wrote that “this ad effectively convinced me I need less technology in my life,” while others said it made them “hate” Apple products. “Totally unnecessary and extremely depressing ad!,” another user said. “For me, it had the opposite effect of what Apple wanted.”

NFL May Air On Netflix Christmas Day


Puck News' serial sports-media scoop getter John Ourand reported that a "bevy of sources" has confirmed that Netflix is close to a deal with the NFL to stream multiple Christmas Day games on its platform.

According to NextTV.com, the story was first reported Wednesday by former NFL quarterback turned CBS Sports Network radio broadcaster Boomer Esiason, who suggested the reason the NFL pushed back its 2024 schedule announcement to May 15 was to accommodate the Netflix news.

"Do not be surprised if the NFL and Netflix get in bed," Esiason said, "for nice little Christmas Day football games. I would not be surprised."


Neither the league or the streaming giant have confirmed this report. And it's unclear as to whether Netflix is negotiating for an exclusive window..

Notably, Netflix, which has nearly 270 million subscribers globally was able to generate around 6.2 million hours of viewing and 2 million account views on its global platform Sunday for the premiere of the The Roast of Tom Brady, which featured more than few retired NFL legends.

The NFL, meanwhile, charged NBCUniversal $110 million to break off one post-season Wild Card game for a Peacock streaming exclusive back in January.

The NFL is currently spreading its TV rights up between Fox, Paramount Global, NBCU, Amazon and Google.

Benjamin Hall To Host Special Fox News Sunday


  • Hall Will Interview Injured Veterans for an In-Depth Look at the Challenges Facing Our War Heroes
FOX News Channel (FNC) correspondent Benjamin Hall will guest anchor FOX News Sunday this Sunday, May 12. During the program, Hall will visit Walter Reed National Medical Center where he will interview injured veterans for a special look at the challenges they face and the dedicated staff who help with their long road to recovery. Notably, this marks Hall’s first-time guest hosting FOX News Sunday.


As the nation’s premiere rehabilitation hospital for our military, Walter Reed National Medical Center provides state of the art care for those who have suffered severe injuries both at home and abroad. Hall, who was catastrophically injured in 2022 while covering the war in Ukraine, will sit down with veterans to examine the challenges our heroes face when injured on the battlefield. He will also speak to them about the importance of community and the mentoring network provided to help amputees transition to their new lives off the battlefield.

Net Revenue Drops 8.6 Percent At Salem Media Group


Salem Media Group, Inc. has released its first quarter 2024 Quarterly Report.

Despite a 7% revenue decline, Salem Media Group managed to hold its net revenue steady at $58.60 million for Q1 2024, compared to $63.48 million in the previous quarter. 

The first quarter of 2024 brought in net revenue of $58.6 million, a decline of 8.3% from the same period in 2023 for Salem Media Group. 

The company’s broadcast revenue fell 4.6% to $46 million, while its digital media revenue rose 1.9% to $10.7 million. 

The company reports a net loss of $5.1 million, basically the same as it reported in Q1 of 2023.

Former KROQ DeeJay Richard Blade Getting Walk of Fame Star


Richard Blade, the former KROQ radio personality, is set to receive the 2,782nd star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The dedication ceremony will take place on Thursday, June 6, 2024, at 11:00 AM PT at 1625 Vine Street. Blade will be honored in the category of Radio.

Walk of Famer Jimmy Kimmel and Richard Blade Fan Club Coordinator Oscar E. Alvarez, Jr. will be the guest speakers at the event. The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, which administers the iconic Walk of Fame, proudly hosts these globally recognized star ceremonies. Millions of people from around the world have visited this cultural landmark since its inception in 19601.

Richard Blade’s impact on music and entertainment is significant. Born in England and educated at Oxford, he became one of the most popular and well-known DJs in America. In the 1980s, he held the top-rated morning-drive DJ position at KROQ in Los Angeles. 

Blade also hosted and directed various TV shows and series, including Video One, MV3, and VideoBeat. His accolades include awards such as The Golden Microphone, California’s Best DJ, Brit-of-the-Year, and the American DJ Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award. Last June, he was honored with a special resolution proclaiming Richard Blade Day in Los Angeles for his contributions to music and entertainment.

Earth Is Being Bombarded By G5 Geomagnetic Storm


A geomagnetic storm that's now hurtling into the Earth has been classified as "extreme," or a G5 storm, the highest level, the Space Weather Prediction Center said Friday evening. It's the first G5 storm to hit our planet since 2003.

Radiation from this activity began to hit the earth’s magnetic field on Friday and will last through the weekend, said the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). On Friday evening, NOAA upgraded the storm to G5 or “extreme,” marking the first such event since October 2003.

The solar activity NOAA’s talking about involves the release of energy from the sun that travels through space and eventually reaches Earth.

When that radiation hits the magnetic sphere surrounding the planet, it causes fluctuations in the ionosphere, a layer of the upper atmosphere.

Those changes can directly affect satellites and other spacecraft in orbit, altering their orientation or potentially knocking out their electronics.

Moreover, the changes to the ionosphere can block or degrade radio transmissions trying to pass through the atmosphere to reach satellites. And they can also prevent radio transmissions from successfully bouncing off the ionosphere — which some radio operators normally do to increase the range of their signals.

What is a Geomagnetic Storm? A geomagnetic storm is a disturbance in Earth’s magnetosphere caused by solar wind and solar radiation. These storms can result in fluctuations in Earth’s magnetic field and can have various effects on our planet.

Solar Wind and Earth’s Magnetosphere: Solar wind consists of charged particles (mostly electrons and protons) emitted by the Sun. When these particles reach Earth, they interact with our planet’s magnetic field (the magnetosphere). The magnetosphere acts as a protective shield, deflecting most of the solar wind away from Earth.

Causes of Geomagnetic Storms: Geomagnetic storms occur when there are significant disturbances in the solar wind. These disturbances can be caused by:

Solar Flares: Intense bursts of energy and radiation from the Sun’s surface.

Geomagnetic Storm Categories: Geomagnetic storms are categorized based on their intensity using the Kp index:

  • G1 (Minor): Minimal impact on Earth’s systems.
  • G2 (Moderate): Slight power grid fluctuations, minor satellite anomalies.
  • G3 (Strong): Widespread voltage control problems, potential auroras at lower latitudes.
  • G4 (Severe): Voltage instability, satellite communication disruptions, significant auroras.
  • G5 (Extreme): Severe power grid disturbances, widespread satellite communication issues, intense auroras.

R.I.P.: Rick Sallinger, Veteran Colorado-Based Reporter


Veteran CBS News Colorado reporter Rick Sallinger died on Wednesday night in the Denver area. His death was due to natural causes. He was 74, according to CBS.

Sallinger started reporting at CBS News Colorado in 1993. In the decades after that he covered events including the Columbine High School shootings, the Oklahoma City bombing trials, the murder of JonBenet Ramsey, the Kobe Bryant case, catastrophic wildfires and the Aurora Theater massacre. In 2022 he interviewed would-be presidential assailant John Hinckley Jr.

Sallinger's stories appeared numerous times on the CBS Evening News, CBS This Morning, The CBS Early Show, CBS Sunday Morning and CBS Weekend News.

His investigative reporting received numerous commendations, including the George Foster Peabody Award, considered one of broadcasting's highest honors. In 2023, the Heartland Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences inducted Sallinger into the "Silver Circle," a recognition of more than 25 years of journalism service.

Sallinger's career included radio reporting in Cleveland and Chicago. He has been a television news reporter in Indianapolis (WRTV), Denver (KUSA/KCNC), Chicago (WMAQ) and London (CNN).

In 1990, Sallinger signed on to become a correspondent for CNN's London bureau. The very next day, Iraq invaded Kuwait, and within the next three years, he made five trips to Iraq, five to Jordan and one to Kuwait, and spent two and a half months, including the entire first Gulf War, in Saudi Arabia. During his years with CNN, he covered the reunification of Germany, the war in Yugoslavia and other major events in Moscow, Somalia, Northern Ireland, Paris, Geneva, Spain and Denmark.

R.I.P.: Sam Rubin, KTLA L-A Entertainment Reporter

Sam Rubin (1960-2024)

Sam Rubin, a veteran journalist who anchored KTLA’s entertainment coverage for more than 30 years, died Friday in Los Angeles. He was 64, reports The L-A Times.

Anchor Frank Buckley confirmed the reporter’s death during an emotional announcement on Friday afternoon. Fighting back tears as he announced the news on the air, Buckley called his colleague’s death “shocking” and “hard to comprehend in the moment.”

“Quite simply, Sam was KTLA,” he added before praising Rubin’s cheerful personality.

Rubin called in sick from Friday’s morning show, Buckley said, but the channel did not share additional details about his death.

A source familiar with the incident told The L-A Times that Rubin suffered cardiac arrest at his home and was transported to a hospital Friday morning.

“The newsroom is in tears right now,” Buckley said on-air. He added that there was “a lot of emotion” among Rubin’s colleagues.

“Sam was a giant in the local news industry and the entertainment world, and a fixture of Los Angeles morning television for decades,” KTLA said of Rubin in a statement shared on social media. “His laugh, charm and caring personality touched all who knew him.”

Radio History: May 11


Israel Berlin
➦In 1888...Irving Berlin born as Israel Beilin (Died at age 101 from a heart attack -  September 22, 1989) was an American composer and lyricist, widely considered one of the greatest songwriters in American history. His music forms a great part of the Great American Songbook. Born in Imperial Russia, Berlin arrived in the United States at the age of five.

Whether for Broadway musicals or films, for humorous songs or romantic ballads, his compositions are celebrated for their appealing melodies and memorable lyrics. His many popular songs include “There’s No Business Like Show Business,” “God Bless America,” and “White Christmas.” In 1968 Berlin received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.

➦In 1912...Foster Brooks born (Died at age 89 – December 20, 2001).  He was best known as a comedian for his portrayal of a lovable drunk in nightclub performances and television programs.

Foster Brooks
His career started in radio, notably with Marshall Krieger at station WHAS-AM in Louisville. He was a staff announcer, and his deep baritone voice was also well-suited for singing. Brooks gained fame for his reporting of the Ohio River flood of 1937, where he was featured on emergency broadcasts by WHAS and also WSM-AM from Nashville, Tennessee. In 1952, Brooks appeared on local TV in a short-lived spoof of Gene Autry and his "Singing Cowboys".

He later worked in local broadcasting as a radio and TV personality in Buffalo and Rochester, New York, before moving to the West Coast to launch a career as a stand-up comic and character actor. In Buffalo, Brooks performed with a country and western vocal group known as the Hi-Hatters.

In 1960, Brooks moved with his family to Los Angeles to seek more professional opportunities

He then began his drunk act, which went over well with crowds at Las Vegas nightclubs and on television. Brooks was a frequent guest on talk and variety shows and numerous Dean Martin celebrity roasts. Despite his on-screen personna he actually quit drinking in the early 1960s, on a bet, and remained a teetotaler for the rest of his life. He died Dec. 20 2001 at age 89.

➦In 1922...KGU Radio signed-on in Honolulu. In April 1935 it was used as a homing beacon by Captain Ed Musick and Fred Noonan during their survey flights of the Pacific in a Pan American World Airways Sikorsky S-42.

Friday, May 10, 2024

WBD Reports 7 Percent Revenue Loss


Warner Bros. Discovery reported first-quarter results on Thursday, missing analyst expectations on both the top and bottom lines despite strength in its streaming unit.

Here is how Warner Bros. Discovery performed, compared with estimates from analysts:

  • Loss per share: 40 cents vs. 24 cents loss expected
  • Revenue: $9.96 billion vs. $10.231 billion expected

Warner Bros. Discovery — which owns streaming service Max, a portfolio of cable TV networks including TNT and Discovery, and a film studio — said revenue fell 7% to $9.96 billion compared with the same quarter last year.

Warner Bros. Discovery posted a net loss attributable to the company of $966 million, or 40 cents per share, an improvement from the year-ago quarter when it reported a loss of $1.07 billion, or 44 cents per share.

The company said total adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization were down roughly 20% during the first quarter to $2.1 billion, noting its Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League video game generated significantly lower revenue.

Streaming growth:  Warner Bros. Discovery said Thursday it added 2 million direct-to-consumer streaming subscribers during the quarter, bringing its total to 99.6 million. That segment earned an adjusted $86 million during the quarter, an improvement of $36 million from the prior-year quarter, the company said. It also saw revenue increase “modestly” to $2.46 billion from the prior-year quarter.

Advertising revenue for streaming proved to be a bright spot, increasing 70%, boosted by higher engagement on Max in the U.S. due in part to subscriber growth in the streaming service’s ad-lite tier and the launch of sports on the app.

The earnings release follows an announcement this week that Warner Bros. Discovery would bundle its streaming services with those of Disney— tying together Max, Disney+ and Hulu — and offer it to consumers this summer, a callback to the traditional pay TV package. Pricing has yet to be disclosed, but it will be offered at a discount, CNBC reported.

It marks the first time two media giants are joining forces to offer a streaming bundle as the push to make streaming profitable continues. While TV networks have long been a cash cow for media companies, the bundle continues to bleed subscribers.

WBD Actively Looking to Cut More Expenses


Warner Bros. Discovery Inc. Chief Executive Officer David Zaslav has ordered his lieutenants to find additional opportunities for cost-cutting in order to hit financial targets for the next couple years, people with knowledge of the matter said.

According to Bloomberg, they include the possibility of more layoffs at the company, which has eliminated more than 2,000 positions over the past year, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the plans are still being worked out. The streaming operation alone could bear hundreds of millions of dollars in budget cuts, mostly in marketing and technology, the people said.

The company, the parent of CNN, HBO and the Warner Bros. studios, has also decided to raise subscription prices as it seeks to reach $1 billion in earnings from the Max and Discovery+ streaming services next year, the people said. The Max streaming service costs $15.99 a month for its lowest-priced ad-free plan.

Warner Bros. declined to comment on any specific plans for cost cutting or price increases, but said in a statement:
“The company is focused on the long-term growth of the business overall, including Max, which has been a priority across WBD to expand the original content offerings for our streaming audiences including news originals from CNN, NCAA Men’s March Madness and NBA playoffs from sports, local language content from international, and a new distribution deal with A24.”

The business was formed in 2022 by the merger of AT&T Inc.’s WarnerMedia and Discovery Inc., the cable-TV programmer led by Zaslav. The deal created a company with more than $50 billion in debt at a time when cable TV, its largest business, was hemorrhaging viewers and advertising dollars.

Sinclair Puts 60 TV Stations Up For Sale


Sinclair, one of the largest owners of broadcast stations in the U.S., is looking to sell more than 30% of its footprint, according to CNBC citing people familiar with the matter.

The company has hired Moelis as its investment banker and has identified more than 60 stations in various regions of the U.S. that it would be willing to sell, said the people, who asked not to be named because the discussions are private. Sinclair owns or operates 185 TV stations in 86 markets.

The stations are a mix of affiliates including Fox, NBC, ABC, CBS and the CW. If sold together, their average revenue for 2023 and 2024 is an estimated $1.56 billion, the people said. Sinclair is willing to sell all or some of the stations, which are in top markets like Minneapolis; Portland, Ore.; Pittsburgh; Austin, Texas and Fresno, Calif., among others.

Chris Ripley
Sinclair CEO Chris Ripley said Wednesday that the company is open to offloading parts of its business, without providing specifics.

“As we’ve always stated, we have no sacred cows,” Ripley said during his company’s earnings conference call. “We want to unlock the sum of the parts valuation that we think we’re grossly undervalued for. And to the extent that asset sales makes sense in order to unlock that value and help us de-lever, then that’s something that we’d be open to as well.”

The company began officially shopping them in February, one of the people said.

Sinclair is also exploring options for its Tennis Channel, a cable TV network that features the sport and pickleball matches, the people said. Bloomberg earlier reported that development.

Broadcast TV station groups have suffered in the past five years as millions of Americans have canceled traditional pay TV. Most stations make money from so-called retransmission fees, paid on a per-subscriber rate by traditional TV distributors, such as Comcast, DirecTV, and Charter, for the right to carry the stations.

Sinclair has lost more than 70% of its market value in the last five years. The company’s market capitalization is about $975 million with an enterprise value of about $4.7 billion.

FOX Business Rundown Podcast Debuts Monday


FOX News Audio will launch The FOX Business Rundown Podcast on May 20th. Available on Monday and Fridays, listeners will be able to get an overview of what is trending in business news from FOX Business Network (FBN) anchors and correspondents including Taylor Riggs, Kelly O’Grady and Lydia Hu.

The podcast will feature the latest business headlines, along with trending topics such as inflation, artificial intelligence, and economic policy, among others serving as a resource to kick off the work week on Monday and close out the stock market on Fridays. It will also feature insights from CEOs, lawmakers, economists and other top FBN reporters to break down the stories impacting Wall Street and Main Street.

The launch of the podcast follows the success of The FOX News Rundown Podcast, which saw over 35 million downloads in 2023, with over five million unique listeners according to Megaphone. The FOX News Rundown Podcast is also a syndicated morning show on over 100 FOX News Radio affiliate stations nationwide.

Listeners can go to FOXBusinessPodcasts.com, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever podcasts are found to listen twice a week.

5/10 WAKE-UP CALL: Stormy Depicted As Hu$tler


Donald Trump’s lawyer sought to portray porn star Stormy Daniels as a fabulist who talks to ghosts and a hustler who profited from her story of sex with the former president. 
Her cross-examination in Trump’s hush-money trial hit upon her work as a porn star creating sexual fantasies and as a medium and self-described paranormal investigator. Daniels said that if she had made up the Trump tryst, it would have been a lot better. She made millions of dollars from a $130,000 payment, a book, #TeamStormy merchandise and a strip-club tour called “Make America Horny Again.” Trump, accused of 34 felony counts of falsifying business records for allegedly covering up a payment intended to silence Daniels, pleaded not guilty and has denied the encounter. The presumptive Republican nominee has said political spite motivated the office of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, a Democrat, to charge him.

➤BOMBARDMENTS HIT RAFAH:  Israeli forces bombarded areas of Rafah on Thursday, Palestinian residents said, as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dismissed U.S. President Joe Biden's threat to withhold weapons from Israel if it assaults the southern Gaza city. A senior Israeli official said late on Thursday that the latest round of indirect negotiations in Cairo to halt hostilities in Gaza had ended and Israel would proceed with its operation in Rafah and other parts of the Gaza Strip as planned. In Gaza, Palestinian militant groups Hamas and Islamic Jihad said their fighters fired anti-tank rockets and mortars at Israeli tanks massed on the eastern outskirts of the city.

About 80,000 people have fled the southern Gaza city of Rafah this week as Israeli tanks gather on the edge of the city and humanitarian aid is choked off by border closures, U.N. agencies said Thursday. "The toll on these families is unbearable," the U.N. Relief and Works Agency said. "Nowhere is safe."

➤WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE CEASE-FIRE?:  Talks in Cairo were paused Thursday as hopes dimmed for a cease-fire agreement. No aid has entered through southern border crossings in two days because of the increasing intensity of Israel's military operations, which have also severed access to fuel, threatening hospitals, water wells and sewage pumps, which could run out of fuel within days, if not hours.

➤BIDEN THREAT SET OFF ALARMS:  President Biden’s threat to freeze some weapons deliveries raised alarm in Israel. If he went through with it, the country’s ability to fight on multiple fronts could have been at risk in the long-term, though not the short-term. The White House doesn’t want Israel to launch a major assault in the southern Gaza city of Rafah, where more than one million Palestinians are sheltering. Israel’s war and security cabinets were expected to discuss the country’s response to ruptured relations with its most important international supporter. The warning set up a showdown between Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has vowed to achieve a “total victory” over Hamas, including in Rafah.

➤Z FIRES SECURITY CHIEF: Volodymyr Zelenskiy dismissed the head of the unit that protects Ukraine’s top officials following the arrest of two colonels who were allegedly involved in a Russian plot to assassinate the president. Serhiy Rud, who was fired by a decree signed Thursday evening by Zelenskiy, had been in his post since 2019 and previously led the president’s personal security unit. He survived in his position since the start of the Russian invasion in February 2022 despite multiple reported attempts to kill the country’s leader.

Audacy Reports Slight Uptick In 1Q Revenue


Audacy, Inc. Thursday reported financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2024.

David J. Field, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, stated: “Audacy delivered a solid start to 2024 with Q1 EBITDA increasing 173% vs the prior year. Second-quarter revenues are currently pacing up low-single digits, and we expect another quarter of substantial EBITDA growth, enhanced by our continuing work on expense reductions.

David Field
"Our improving results are predominantly attributable to a significant acceleration in digital revenue growth, continuing meaningful revenue share gains, and declining expenses as our transformational investments bear fruit.

"As previously announced, we received court approval of our consensual pre-packaged Plan of Reorganization, which will reduce our debt by 80%, and are now awaiting FCC approval to complete the process. I want to salute our team for their excellent work in driving financial and operating progress while simultaneously executing our reorganization plan, all without disruption to customers, listeners, partners, vendors or our staff.

First Quarter Summary
  • Net revenues for the quarter were $261.8 million, up 1% compared to $259.6 million in the first quarter of 2023
  • Total Radio revenues decreased 2% while Digital revenues increased 10%
  • Total operating expenses for the quarter were $262.2 million, which includes a gain on asset sale of $15.8 million, compared to $271.8 million in the first quarter of 2023, which included a gain on sale of $12.4 million and a non-cash impairment loss of $5.1 million
  • Cash operating expenses for the quarter were $252.2 million, down 2% compared to $256.1 million in the first quarter of 2023
  • Operating loss for the quarter was $0.4 million, compared to an operating loss of $12.2 million in the first quarter of 2023
  • Adjusted EBITDA for the quarter was $9.6 million, up 173% compared to $3.5 million in the first quarter of 2023
  • As of March 31, 2024, the Company’s liquidity, which includes restricted cash and the Company’s undrawn Accounts Receivable Facility capacity, was $131 million.

MO Radio: Deep Cuts At Alpha Media Clusters


Alpha Media has recently made significant cuts in at least two of its Missouri markets. Let me share some details with you:

Farmington/Festus Cluster:

  • Country “J98” KTJJ
  • Talkers 800 KREI and 1400 KJFF
  • All but one on-air host has departed from these stations.

Among the exits:

  • Mark Toti, the morning host at KTJJ, had been with the stations since 1983. He previously held positions as News Director, Sports Director, and Program Director during his tenure.
  • Louie Seiberlich, the morning host at KREI, spent an impressive 46 years at the station1.

Moberly Cluster:

  • Christian AC “Glory 97.3” KTCM
  • Classic Hits “99.9 The Captain” KIRK
  • Country 104.7 KRES
  • News/Talk 1230 KWIX / 92.5 KWIX-FM
  • Unconfirmed reports suggest that the entire content team was let go.

Among the departures:

  • Brad Boyer, who most recently served as cluster Content Director, had a remarkable 38-year run at the cluster.
  • Other exits included news and sports reporters: JB Connelly, Steven Finley, Austin Ward, and Colin Schowe

Longtime NFL Bills Voice Stepping Down


John Murphy, the iconic voice of the Buffalo Bills, is stepping down from his role. His departure marks the end of an era for Bills fans who have grown accustomed to hearing his distinctive voice during games.

John Murphy has been associated with the Buffalo Bills for many years, and his contributions to the team’s broadcasts have left a lasting impact. As the play-by-play announcer, he has skillfully narrated countless thrilling moments, from game-winning touchdowns to unforgettable plays on the field.

Murphy spent the last 35 years on the radio broadcast for the Bills, including 16 years as a color analyst (1984-1989 & 1994-2003) and the last 19 years as the play-by-play announcer (2004-2022). The Lockport, NY native is still leaving the door open to be involved in the game day broadcast in a different capacity.

"John's love and enthusiasm for the Bills and Western New York has been evident for the past 30-plus years in the booth. We will all miss his great calls and passion as the play-by-play announcer. We continue to wish he and his family all the best during his recovery and we hope that he can remain a part of our organization in the future," Bills owner Terry Pegula said in a statement.

In an interview with Susan Rose of WBEN, Murphy shared that he's ready to move on to a new chapter of his life.

"I'll miss it a great deal." Murphy said. "I'll miss the people more than anything."

Murphy also shared that he and his wife Mary both agreed that this was the right time for him to step away and that he is at peace with the decision.


His voice has become synonymous with Bills football, and fans will undoubtedly miss his enthusiastic calls and insightful commentary. Whether it was a nail-biting finish or a dominant performance by the team, John Murphy was there to capture the essence of each game.


Atlanta Radio: Ryan Cameron Renews With Reach Media

Ray Cameron is happy to sign

Ryan Cameron, the award-winning radio personality, actor, comedian, and community advocate, has signed a multi-year agreement with Urban One Atlanta and Reach Media for his show, the “Ryan Cameron Uncensored Show” (RCUS), whic h oeriginates at WAMJ-FM Majic 107.5/ 97.5. 

Let’s dive into the details:

The Show: The Ryan Cameron Uncensored Show is currently broadcast on WAMJ-FM Majic 107.5/97.5 in Atlanta. It is also syndicated across the country through Reach Media.

Ryan Cameron’s Background: The Atlanta native has an impressive track record..Two-time Emmy Award winner, Member of the Georgia Radio Hall of Fame. First African American P.A. Announcer in the history of the Atlanta Hawks. His signature “for3eeeeeeeee” call is featured in the popular NBA 2k video game. Voiced a role in the NFL Pro Era video game.

Community Engagement: In 2002, Ryan Cameron founded The Ryan Cameron Foundation Leadership Academy: Recruits high school students. Provides opportunities in academic, leadership, and career development.

Industry Recognition: Named one of Atlanta’s 55 Most Powerful by Atlanta Magazine in 2015. Consistently ranked as one of The Source’s Top 20 Influencers in hip-hop for 10 years. In 2016, his show was ranked by Radio Facts as the number one non-syndicated radio show in the country.

Reach Media’s Roster: The Ryan Cameron Uncensored Show joins Reach Media’s impressive roster, which includes other notable talents like Rickey Smiley, Erica Campbell, DL Hughley, and Amanda Seales.

Townsquare, Saga Report Earnings


Townsquare Media has just released its first-quarter earnings report for 2024. Here are the key details:

Digital comprised 53% of first-quarter total net revenue and adjusted operating income, the company announced Thursday, noting that it also saw improvement in Broadcast Advertising versus the fourth quarter of 2023, and that its Digital Advertising and Subscription Digital Marketing Solutions segments returned to growth.

Earnings Per Share (EPS): Townsquare Media reported earnings per share of 3 cents for Q1 2024. This figure fell short of the analyst estimate, which was expected to be 5 cents per share1.

Revenue: The company’s revenue for the first quarter of 2024 was $99.63 million. This exceeded the analyst estimate, which projected revenue of $98.64 million1.

Adjusted Earnings: When adjusted for non-recurring gains, the earnings per share came to 3 cents2.

Overall, while Townsquare Media missed the EPS estimate, it managed to beat revenue expectations in Q1 2024. The company continues to navigate the dynamic media landscape, and investors will be closely monitoring its performance

Saga Communications’ Q1 Revenue Falls 2.5%

First quarter 2024 operating results for Saga Communications reveal net revenue of $24.7 million, a decline of 2.5% from the first quarter of 2023. The company reports a net loss of $1.6 million during the first quarter compared to the net income of $920,000 it reported in Q1 of 2023. Saga adds that its balance sheet reflects $28.8 million in cash and short-term investments as of March 31, 2024 and $23.7 million as of May 6, 2024. The company expects to spend approximately $5.0 – $5.5 million for capital expenditures during 2024.

Apple Music, Shazam Team for Daily Radio Spin Charts


Apple Music and Shazam have teamed up to launch a new Music Partner Program aimed at record labels and distributors. Here are the key details:

Music Partner Program:  The program provides tools for industry professionals to track trends in the music industry. Subscribers gain access to over 4,500 charts that rank up to 1,500 songs across 60 genres and 270 regions. These charts include real-time listener counts for songs in their catalogs.

Shazam Technology: Shazam’s technology is used to monitor airplay on over 40,000 broadcast and streaming radio stations globally. This allows subscribers to track radio spins and measure the effectiveness of marketing campaigns. The data includes insights on how many listeners are discovering an artist in real-time.

Publicly Available Charts: Some of these charts are made available to the public as charts on Shazam and playlists on Apple Music. Notably, there’s a Global Top 200 chart and breakdowns for sixteen formats/genres. These charts are updated daily and feature a mix of both new music and established hits.

This collaboration aims to provide valuable insights for the music industry.

Podcast Revenue Growth Slowed in 2023


After consecutive years of healthy double-digit growth, podcast ad revenues grew at a slower pace in 2023 posting a modest revenue increase of 5% to $1.9 billion, according to IAB’s “U.S. Podcast Advertising Revenue Study: 2023 Revenue & 2024-2026 Growth Projections.”

This was due in large part to a challenging advertising climate that particularly affected mid-tier companies, resulting in losses that tempered the sector’s overall growth trajectory.

The eighth annual IAB U.S. Podcast Advertising Revenue Study, prepared for IAB by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (“PwC”), quantifies annual podcast advertising revenues generated over the past year, analyzes revenue share by ad category and content genre, and forecasts future revenues through 2026.

“While a few of the largest podcast companies maintained double-digit growth, mid-tier companies hit a speed bump,” said Chris Bruderle, VP, Industry Insights & Content Strategy, IAB. “But revenue is already bouncing back.”

Podcasting is projected to return to double-digit growth (12%), with revenues of over $2B this year. It is on track to reach nearly $2.6B by 2026. Publishers will fuel growth through various initiatives, including measurement, programmatic, live events, more aggressive show promotion, and the continued development of video podcasts.

Comedy and Sports are Top Performers

Likely aided by shows from notable comedic personalities, comedy’s revenue share grew by four points in the past two years and is now among the most-listened-to podcast genres (overtaking news and sports) and gained nearly 300 new advertisers in Q4 2023 alone.

Sports is the second most popular content genre for the second straight year, down slightly from 2022 (15%) to 13%.

“Between comedy and sports, consumers are using podcasts to be entertained and delighted – which provides a sanctuary from other serious headlines playing out across the nation and the world”, said David Cohen, CEO, IAB. “It’s where the greatest engagement and subsequent ad dollars are.”

Conservatorship Appointed for Beach Boys' Brian Wilson


A Los Angeles judge determined Beach Boys' Brian Wilson is in need of a conservatorship due to "major neurocognitive disorder," according to The Associated Press.

Wilson's family filed to place the musician under a conservatorship in February after the 81-year-old Beach Boys co-founder was diagnosed with dementia, Fox News Digital confirmed.

The diagnosis, coupled with the recent passing of Brian's wife, Melinda Wilson, led his family and doctors to make the decision. 

"I find from clear and convincing evidence that a conservatorship of the person is necessary," Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Gus T. May said at the brief hearing. The judge said that evidence shows that Wilson consents to the arrangement and lacks the capacity to make health care decisions.

His longtime representatives, Jean Sievers and manager LeeAnn Hard, were appointed as his conservators.

In February, when his family initially sought the conservatorship, they released a statement to Fox News Digital, saying, "Following the passing of Brian’s beloved wife Melinda, after careful consideration and consultation among Brian, his seven children, Gloria Ramos and Brian’s doctors (and consistent with family processes put in place by Brian and Melinda), we are confirming that longtime Wilson family representatives LeeAnn Hard and Jean Sievers will serve as Brian’s co-conservators of the person."

Before her death, Melinda provided Brian with his "daily living needs," involving "physical health, food, clothing, or shelter," according to a court document obtained by Fox News Digital. In his advance health care directive, Melinda was named as his agent for healthcare — but there was not a successor put in place before her death. Wilson announced the death of his wife on Jan. 30.

Radio History: May 10


➦In 1922
...WHB-AM, Kansas City, Missouri, signed-on.

According to fadedsignals.com, Sam Adair and John Schilling signed WHB on the air in 1922 from Kansas City.  Cook Paint and Varnish Company purchased the station in 1930.  It was an independent station until becoming a Mutual Network affiliate in 1936.

WHB operated as a daytime-only station until the FCC granted it full-time status in 1946.

Cook sold WHB-AM to Omaha entrepreneur Todd Storz in 1954.  He enjoyed success with a Top 40 pop format on his stations in Omaha and New Orleans.  Storz flipped WHB to the nation’s first 24-hour Top 40 format.  It became Kansas City’s most popular station by the end of the year.

WHB-AM’s 10,000-watt signal made the station one of the most powerful Top 40 stations in the country. It became a model for many stations around the nation seeking to copy the success of the Top 40 format.

Here’s a sample of what WHB sounded like in 1960:

Storz Broadcasting sold WHB to Shamrock Broadcasting in 1985.  The new owner dropped Top 40 for a oldies.  In 1989, KCMO-FM flipped to oldies, drawing away WHB-AM’s listeners.

WHB began simulcasting a farm/country music format in 1993.  It swapped frequencies with KCMO-AM in 1998, giving the station a larger daytime coverage area. (DA50Kw-D, DA5Kw-Night).  WHB had been broadcasting at 710 AM (DA10Kw-Day, DA5Kw-Night).

Union Broadcasting purchased WHB and flipped the station to its current sports format in 1999.

➦In 1929...Radio Personality Scott Muni was born Donald Allen Muñoz in Wichita, Kansas, Muni grew up in New Orleans, joined the U-S Marine Corps and began broadcasting in 1950, reading "Dear John" letters over Radio Guam. After leaving the Corps, he began working as a disc jockey; in 1953 he began working at WSMB in New Orleans. His mentor was Marshall Pearce. In 1955 he took over for Alan Freed at station WAKR in Akron, Ohio, and after that worked in Kankakee, Illinois.  Muni then spent almost 50 years at stations in New York City. He died on September 28, 2004 at the age of 74 in New York City.

➦In 1934...Gary Owens born Gary Bernard Altman (Died at age 80 – February 12, 2015). His polished baritone speaking voice generally offered deadpan recitations of total nonsense, which he frequently demonstrated as the announcer on Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In. Owens was equally proficient in straight or silly assignments and was frequently heard on television and radio as well as in commercials.

Gary Owens
Owens started his radio career in 1952 as a news reporter at KORN, Mitchell, South Dakota and two years later was promoted to news director. In 1956, he left KORN for a newscaster job at KMA, Shenandoah, Iowa before moving on to a disc jockey job at KOIL, Omaha, Nebraska. He also worked in Dallas, New Orleans, St. Louis, and at KIMN in Denver before relocating to California in 1959, working at KROY in Sacramento and KEWB in Oakland before finally settling in Los Angeles.

Owens moved to KEWB's sister station KFWB in Los Angeles in 1961. From there, he joined the staff of KMPC in 1962, where he remained for the next two decades working the 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. shift Monday through Friday.

A gifted punster, Owens became known for his surrealistic humor. Among his trademarks were daily appearances by The Story Lady (played by Joan Gerber); the Rumor of the Day; myriad varieties of "The Nurney Song"; and the introduction of the nonsense word "insegrevious", which was briefly included in the Funk & Wagnalls Dictionary.

Owens moved from KMPC to another Los Angeles station, KPRZ 1150 AM, in the early 1980s, hosting mornings at the "Music Of Your Life"-formatted station.

In the late 1990s, Owens hosted the morning show on the Music of Your Life radio network, where he later had the evening shift and hosted a weekend afternoon show until 2006.

He died Feb. 12 2015 of complications from his life-long diabetes, at age 80.

➦In 1954...Bill Haley and the Comets released the classic "Rock Around The Clock," which became the first rock and roll song to top the charts.

➦In 1972…George Washington Trendle died (Born - July 4, 1884).  He was a Detroit lawyer and businessman best known as the producer of the Lone Ranger radio and television programs along with The Green Hornet and Sergeant Preston of the Yukon.

George Trendle
During the 1920s, George W. Trendle was a Detroit, Michigan, lawyer who had established a reputation as a tough negotiator specializing in movie contracts and leases. Trendle became involved in the Detroit area entertainment business in 1928 when local motion picture theater owner John H. Kunsky offered Trendle 25 percent ownership in exchange for his services.

Trendle and Kunsky formed the Kunsky-Trendle Broadcasting Company in 1929 after purchasing Detroit radio station WGHP. The radio station's call letters were changed to WXYZ.

WXYZ was initially affiliated with the CBS but became an independent station within a year. Trendle's partner, Kunsky, legally changed his name to King in 1936, and the Kunsky-Trendle Broadcasting Company became the King-Trendle Broadcasting Company. WXYZ improved its technical facilities through the 1930s, expanding its studios, raising its daytime power from 1,000 to 5,000 watts in the late 1930s, and increasing nighttime power to 5,000 watts in time for its mandated 1941 move from 1240 to 1270 kHz under the North American Regional Broadcasting Agreement.

In 1931, Kunsky-Trendle acquired WASH and WOOD in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The two stations merged facilities, including studios and transmitters, but retained both station licenses. WASH was on the air from 8 a.m. to noon, and WOOD from noon to midnight. WOOD-WASH became an NBC Red affiliate in 1935. King and Trendle decided to drop the WASH license in 1942, keeping the WOOD identification.

In 1946, the newly formed American Broadcasting Company purchased the King-Trendle Broadcasting Company and its radio stations for $3.65 million. This sale was for the broadcast facilities (including WOOD, WXYZ, and the Michigan Regional Network) and a construction permit for what would later become WXYZ-TV (channel 7) but did not include ownership of Trendle's radio programs.

Here is an episode of The Lone Ranger from 1937...

➦In 1982...Top 40 formatted WABC 770 AM, New York City, played it's last record before converting to Talk Radio.

WABC ended its 22-year run as a music station with a 9 am–noon farewell show hosted by Dan Ingram and Ron Lundy. The last song played on WABC before the format change was "Imagine" by John Lennon, followed by the familiar WABC "Chime Time" jingle, then a moment of silence before the debut of the new talk format.