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A New Beginning

J

John Mack Flanagan

Hello! A friend keeps saying, "The mentioned you on the web!", so I said, "Let me at em'". It's been six years since my last shift (did I really do all that stuff?). I am very ready to discuss a business I was in from the age of 17. New Mexico, West Texas, Arizona, and 28+ years in the San Francisco Bay Area. Before I left KRIZ in Phoenix to join the staff of KFRC, I was told, "You won't last 6 months out there! You're a country boy from New Mexico, what do you know about big cities?" Well, September 17th marked my 33rd year in the bay area! Guess I'll stick around. I sure am ready to hear from you. Let's communicate. -John-
 
John Mack Flanagan said:
Hello! A friend keeps saying, "The mentioned you on the web!", so I said, "Let me at em'". It's been six years since my last shift (did I really do all that stuff?). I am very ready to discuss a business I was in from the age of 17. New Mexico, West Texas, Arizona, and 28+ years in the San Francisco Bay Area. Before I left KRIZ in Phoenix to join the staff of KFRC, I was told, "You won't last 6 months out there! You're a country boy from New Mexico, what do you know about big cities?" Well, September 17th marked my 33rd year in the bay area! Guess I'll stick around. I sure am ready to hear from you. Let's communicate. -John-
Click to expand...

Hey!

I remember you from KRUX (I am really David Gleason) when I was OMing there for Larry Mazursky. Good to see you on the group.
 
John:
What an honor! I've always enjoyed your work. You have a standing invitation to check in and comment at www.reelradio.com where several of your airchecks are online.

---Michael Hagerty
 
Hello again, I'm being invited to other sites for postings, but I don't know the first thing about how to do it. Please forgive me. I'll continue to work on it, and hope to see you around. ... By the way, I've created a web page: power of u.org -John-
 
John,

There are many fans of your work out there, including myself. As Michael Hagerty mentioned, the website www.reelradio.com has hundreds of airchecks from disc jockeys all over the country - mostly from Top 40 AM radio in the 60s and 70s. If I remember correctly, there are three of your airchecks - one from an Arizona station earlier in your career, the other two from KFRC. For each aircheck, people are invited to comment - so you can also check out out the comments section. There is also some biographical information on your career there, provided by Elizabeth Salazar, Ms. "Ocean." She forgot to note your time at K-Big 98.1, if I remember correctly. I'll respond to this thread again later with the links, which you can then cut and paste into the address line on your internet browser.

A personal note - I was co-owner of a video retail business in the mid 80s. One of our customers was a sales person for KCBS-FM, and he convinced us to buy advertising on the station. Though it didn't occur to us to ask for your services, we were delighted when we heard the commercial, with your voice as the announcer. You were always very entertaining to listen to, and in my opinion, still have the best voice on Bay Area radio. Your talents are missed. I hope you have timecheck in with more comments.
 
For some reason, only the last link I just posted came up as an actual link. But if you cut and paste the other 2 into your browser minus that "(U)" formatting indicator, they should work
 
And, may I add, the 1977 aircheck is quite possibly the best aircheck of Michael Spears-era KFRC that I've ever heard. The formatics are great, the processing is dead-on, and John, you were energetic and relatable... the Farrah Fawcett bit over the intro to "The Bitch Is Back" belongs in the Hall of Fame.

---Michael Hagerty
 
Ms. Ocean missed a couple of things on my bio, wherever (?) I saw it. 1.) I was not fired by Gerry Cagle at KFRC. I left KFRC on my 15th anniversary in radio (resigned), and joined the staff of the Dale Carnegie Courses (How to Win Friends and Influence People) in San Mateo, California. August 15th, 1979. Cagle didn't arrive at KFRC until 1980. Les Garland was PD of KFRC when I left, and let me state loud and clear; Les Garland was and is a Great Human Being. It's too bad he had to put up with me. I was very hard on myself and other people, while I was behind a mic. I'm sorry for all the bad that happened when Les and I were together. I really am sorry. 2.) After my start in New Mexico I went to West Texas (my wife Joann and I. We've been together since I was 15. I met her when I was 13. We've been married 41 1/2 years!) I worked La Mesa (La Meesa), Slayton, and Lubbock. 3.) I was a U.S. Army draftee at Ft. Huachuca, Arizona. Joann and I lived in Tombstone the town too tough to die (what a life!) and 4.) I served in Vietnam. I Corps. 1968. (the northern part of Vietnam). I did radio my last 55 days: "It's What's Happening" a live request hour noon-1 p.m on Armed Forces Vietnam/Da Nang. I did nighttime sports on tv. (God, I hope no one saw that. Yikes!) Somewhere the last 24 hours I saw Gary Gears name. He did a show out of Saigon at night called "Go!". The two hours were called "Go!-Phase One" and "Go!-Phase Two", Gary Gears was one of the most dynamic voices to ever sit behind a mic. God Rest His Soul. He was Great. -John-
 
Any Fond Memories Of Your Stint At KJOY-99.3 Stockton?

I am new to this board. This looks like a interesting site. What caught my eye was John Mack Flanagan's post. I have a question for John? I am from Modesto and I remember you on KJOY-99.3 Stockton. John, Do you have fond memories of KJOY? I met Joel Gamble once and he seemed like a nice guy. I applied for a job but did not get it. But I did listened to "Joy 99 FM".I remember that the studio was in a fine old mission style building in Downtown Stockton. And I remember listening to you. A friend of mine didn't believe me because he told me that you worked in San Francisco and He thought going from a radio market like San Francisco to a smaller city like Stockton seemed like a step down. Did you live in Stockton at the time or did you commute? I lived in nearby Modesto and I absolutely hated the weather. You were a great voice on the radio. Sure miss you!
 
More bio material you might find interesting ... (bizarre?) Gerry Cagle and I were competing program directors in Phoenix. I programmed KRUX (I'd been transferred by my company from Tucson) and Cagle programmed KRIZ, but his name was Gerry Peterson, not Gerry Cagle. Gerry What's-his-name (hee hee) and I sat together at the Elvis concert, Mother's Day 1973 in Phoenix. It was part of Elvis' Aloha From Hawaii concert. Cagle came over to visit me a KRUX and we had a great time. Third competing PD in Phoenix was Chuck Browning. Now, believe it or not, Chucker and I missed each other when he was at KFRC before me, he was at KIOI San Francisco, and he was PD of KUPD ("Cupid"). Chuck Browning and I never met formally like Cagle and I did, but chucker and I were around the same people and the same places for many years. One day in Phoenix, I noticed the record people visiting the station were very 'cool' toward me. Not much to say. In and out. ... Finally I asked one, "What's going on?!?". After hemming and hawwing, he said, "You know, that thing you did to Browning." I said, "I did something to Chuck Browning?" He said, "You know, that telegram you sent." I found out Chuck Browning had sent himself a telegram signed by me, and he'd blown it up into a poster and mounted it over the door of the station saying, "You know you're not s--t, and I'm gonna kick the s--t out of you!" - John Mack Flanagan/Program Director/KRUX. I'd never sent anything like that, and never would. But I got a hoot out of it. Cagle threw a rock throught Brownings window and shouted, "I'll break you like I broke that window!" (Ha Ha) Those were sure the days of radio fun! (Phoenix-1973)
-John-
 
KTKT Tucson circa 1971 was a hot-sounding station, with John Mack
as PD and PM drive. Lew Jones/AMD, Rip Jefferies/middays (Shadoe's
brother, IIRC), Drake rum-pum jingles. Similar to sister KRUX Glendale
in that era--KRUX is sampled on Bootleg Top 40 volume 1.

Who else was on airstaff then? Ron Wiley? Can't recall any others.
Also "Bill Blannon, KTKT 20/20 News"--later a PHX TV reporter. And
lest we forget Tonie Stanton! :-*

One thing that stood out about KTKT then, and even back to the mid-60s
was that I hardly ever heard cue burn, and I know you were playing the
45s "live" then.
 
Madman-(I've got to get off this thing...it's eating my life!) Madman, yes, I worked KJOY, Stockton 1994-1995 when I came back to work in San Francisco at K-BIG 98.1 (My wife swears K-BIG is the best station I worked. I liked KWSS in San Jose 1985-1989 the last station to play Micheal Jackson to Bruce Springteen and everything in between: Miami Sound Machine, Expose, all when it was new, out-of-
the-box.) I loved my time in the Big Valley. I met Joel Gamble the owner of KJOY (his dad and uncle Loftis started KJOY-Central freeway in Stockton is dedicated to Loftis...) I met Joel when Joel was in college and he toured KFRC. I gave most, or at least 90% of the tours through KFRC, September 1973-August 1979. Joel told me if I ever needed a job, to just let him know. Well, after the 1992-1994 layoffs at KSFO/KYA...KFRC-FM 99.7...KYA-FM...KYA at KFRC-FM (whew!) I needed to clear my head! Joel paid me $37,000 a year to work a five day week, and this was huge (!) money. The morning show in Stockton paid $17,000. I did o.k., huh? Madman, I come from a small town in New Mexico (Roswell-population about 25,000 when I left in October 1965 to go to La Mesa (La Meesa) Texas a town of 7,000 (!) then to Slayton a town of 4,000 (!!) of course Slayton was on the edge of Lubbock 125,000 (then) Texas Tech University, Lubbock was fun! My whole career was fun. I met Steve Burger the President of Nationwide Communications in 1989, and as he walked into the control room (of KWSS), he said, "I can't believe John Mack Flanagan is working here!" I said, "Steve, I'll be here as long as it's fun. But when it's not fun, I'll be gone." My trip to Stockton was 100 miles each way. I've been in my house 31 years. I went to Stockton to "make friends". I told Joel, all I wanted from Stockton was "friends". I made a bunch, Madman. Mark Maier in Lodi is one of the dearest people I know. -John-
 
Oldiesfan...THIS IS MY FINAL POST! (tonite...) a lot of the names you mention at KTKT (KTKT WAS A GRRREAT STATION!) (The music:"What's goin' on?"-Marvin Gaye, "I can see clearly now"-Johnny Nash), I don't remember? Toni Stanton? A newscaster that went to Phoenix? These don't ring a bell. I'll tell you who does: Lew Jones (mornings-not assistant PD...I didn't have one.) Roger Collins (Music Director, and close to APD as I had) Rip Jefferies was 6-10 p.m. and you're right, he is Shadoe Stevens brother. Dan Gates was PD before me, he suggested I use my middle name "Mack" I had used John M. Flanagan from my start in 1964 to 1970 when I expanded my name. John M. Flanagan sounded like a lawyer to me. I liked it. Plus people continually asked, "What's that 'M' for?" (Robert W. Morgan influenced me.) I was named after B Western cowboy star Johnny Mack Brown (my birth certificate says :Johnnie (sic) Mac (sic) Flanagan - please don't call me Johnny..) If you ever get a chance to see Johnny Mack Brown 1930-1938 you'll be shocked! He's one of the best looking people on film! (and such a sweet gentleman) I told Dan Gates, "They'll never get it right! They'll call me McFarrigan, McFinnegan and they do! Now I do highrise security and I'm John Flanagan. All my paperwork is John M. Flanagan.
C-YA! -John-
 
Your August 1969 KTKT aircheck on Reel Radio brings back
another "IIRC"--that you were on KIKX Tucson in the spring
of 1969, perhaps for only a short time.

Did you replace Shadoe Stevens when he went to WRKO
(circa March 69) or were you already there?

I gather that you didn't want to stick around when KIKX
flipped to MOR in late May (stations actually changed
formats back then? ;D) and went across the street--
well, up the freeway from Congress to Grant--to KTKT.
 
Thanks for your response John. I'm guessing I tried to apply at KJOY sometime in 1994, not sure, my brain cells are dying ;D I hear that Gamble sold KJOY-99.3 Stockton some time ago. I believe it is owned by Citadel Broadcasting?I hear the only stations in Stockton still locally owned are KSTN-1420 and 107.3. I left California some time ago and now living in Montana now but am planning to move back to California again.
 
Oldiesfan-Good God Man! You remember the streets of Tucson! Grant Rd. Yeah! KTKT was beautiful! They called it "the dove of the desert". Yes, at KIKX I replaced Shadoe Stevens, and was there 3 months before format change and move to KTKT. KTKT was huge even though KIKX sounded better. We (KTKT) got the Johnnie Mann jingles (um-pah you called them)...it was the KFRC Package. Cosmic, huh? "6-10,K-F-R-C" , "99, K-T-K-T". I got to go to the Johnnie Mann jingle session at Cherokee Studios, Hollywood where Cher cut her "Half-Breed" album. Bill Drake VP Programming for RKO Radio was at that session. oooh....cool...be quiet...very quiet...Paul Drew hired me at KFRC - through Michael Spears. and as KIKX was changed from Top 40 to beautiful music (Jackie Gleason? 101 Strings? Montavanti?) the President of Metromedia radio drove coast-to-coast and said KIKX ("The Great 58!"-580 am) was the best sounding medium market station in America. How do you think it felt to go from that praise to Mystic Moods Orchestra? Somehow I always managed to bob&weave my way from situation to situation. Now, today, I'm happy and contented because I was able to live my dreams and have really wonderful times. -John-
 
John, did you know or work with the late Jeff Colson when you were in Phoenix? I think that he was at KRIZ at the same time you were. He might have been using the name Jay Stone at the time. I think that he also worked in SF in the 1980s, possibly at KMEL.
 
Jay F said:
John, did you know or work with the late Jeff Colson when you were in Phoenix? I think that he was at KRIZ at the same time you were. He might have been using the name Jay Stone at the time.
Click to expand...

Jay Stone (Jeff Colson) was PM drive on KRUX in the "circa 1971" era I mentioned
in an earlier post in this thread. It's his voice you hear on the bottom-of-the-hour
Drake legal ID on the KRUX aircheck (Bootleg Top 40 volume one).

Stoner also did the legal stagers for KTKT at the time, and they were done "right"--
just the right amount of reverb and with the sustaining last note of the stager bed
held under both the voice intro and the legal ID jingle.
 
Jay Stone dead? I'm sort of shocked! If it's not too much trouble, could you let me know how he died? And when? I have a very interesting Jay Stone story, but will only relate it if you want me to. ... By the way, I work Friday thru Tuesday, 3 p.m. to midnight. (Highrise security, Financial District, San Francisco.) Off Wednesday/Thursday. Makes it hard to respond. If you don't hear from me, you'll know why. -John-
 
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