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any April fools format flips?
- Thread starter 36james
- Start date
Too much at stake in the PPM world, I would think.
T
Thomps2525
Guest
Remember April Fools Day 1988 when KRLA had Ted Quillin re-creating the sound of KFWB 1958, Johnny Hayes re-creating KRLA 1963, and Don Steele re-creating KHJ 1968? For April Fools Day 1989, Bill Ballance re-created KFWB 1959, Dave Hull re-created KRLA 1964, and then the station aired edited 1969 KHJ airchecks of Humble Harve.
On April Fools Day 1993, KROQ switched to a 1970s oldies format, which at that time was a novelty, and KPWR "Power 106" became "Disco 106" and one of the DJs was Lucky Pierre (Pierre Gonneau), who had jocked at KGFJ for six years and served as KUTE music director & program director for ten years.
When KRLA was still around---the original KRLA at 1110---I asked official KRLA historian Bill Earl why they didn't keep doing the April Fools Day specials. He said that so many people move out of southern California every year, there aren't that many people still here who remember the old stations and the old DJs. Naturally I disagreed. Every year I think it would be fun if KRTH would bring back Charlie Tuna, Charlie Van Dyke, Bobby Ocean, Shana, Gary Mack and some of the other "Boss Radio" survivors to re-create the sound of KHJ circa 1965-67. Shotgun Tom Kelly would do the afternoon show, of course. Bllbllbrbrllbldddllbl---Ya better believe it, baby!
On April Fools Day 1993, KROQ switched to a 1970s oldies format, which at that time was a novelty, and KPWR "Power 106" became "Disco 106" and one of the DJs was Lucky Pierre (Pierre Gonneau), who had jocked at KGFJ for six years and served as KUTE music director & program director for ten years.
When KRLA was still around---the original KRLA at 1110---I asked official KRLA historian Bill Earl why they didn't keep doing the April Fools Day specials. He said that so many people move out of southern California every year, there aren't that many people still here who remember the old stations and the old DJs. Naturally I disagreed. Every year I think it would be fun if KRTH would bring back Charlie Tuna, Charlie Van Dyke, Bobby Ocean, Shana, Gary Mack and some of the other "Boss Radio" survivors to re-create the sound of KHJ circa 1965-67. Shotgun Tom Kelly would do the afternoon show, of course. Bllbllbrbrllbldddllbl---Ya better believe it, baby!
Yes...I've received notice that KPWR Power 106 will become the Original Power 106 from from the 80s when the station actually sounded good. :
Steve, I seem to remember the Big 11-10 (KRLA), the Heart and Soul of Rock and Roll, doing some of those April Fools Day re-creations of KFWB, KRLA and KHJ as far back as 1984 or 85. I loved those shows, they were great fun. This also reminds me of the time that KMET-94.7 in the early-1970s, got some of the old 1950s and '60s KFWB DJs to recreate the old Color Radio Days of Top 40 KFWB Channel 98. I believe B. Mitchell Reed, who was part of KFWB back then, and was on KMET at the time, took part in the KFWB re-creation with Bill Ballance and others.
I'm sure there are plenty of the Baby Boomers still in the Southland who grew up with the Top 40 days of KFWB, KRLA and KHJ, but are getting older, dying off, etc. and many younger listeners to K-Earth wouldn't remember those days or may not care. Personally, I'd love to hear those again, but at least we have the airchecks to let us remember those great days of radio.
Jim
I'm sure there are plenty of the Baby Boomers still in the Southland who grew up with the Top 40 days of KFWB, KRLA and KHJ, but are getting older, dying off, etc. and many younger listeners to K-Earth wouldn't remember those days or may not care. Personally, I'd love to hear those again, but at least we have the airchecks to let us remember those great days of radio.
Jim
T
Thomps2525
Guest
Jim, I remember Hallowe'en of 1981 when Emperor Hudson was back on KRLA. ""Get off the freeway, peasants---his highness is coming home."
The KMET tribute to KFWB's "glory years" (1958-62) took place on November 11 1972 and featured Ted Quillin, Gary Owens, Joe Yocam, Elliot Field, B. Mitchell Reed and Bill Ballance. They played the old music and the old jingles, but the regularly scheduled commercials interrupted the programming. It was jarring to hear Gary Owens play Hey Baby by Bruce Channel, followed by a "Color Radio Channel 98" jingle...and then a commercial for Waterbed Warehouse!
The KMET tribute to KFWB's "glory years" (1958-62) took place on November 11 1972 and featured Ted Quillin, Gary Owens, Joe Yocam, Elliot Field, B. Mitchell Reed and Bill Ballance. They played the old music and the old jingles, but the regularly scheduled commercials interrupted the programming. It was jarring to hear Gary Owens play Hey Baby by Bruce Channel, followed by a "Color Radio Channel 98" jingle...and then a commercial for Waterbed Warehouse!
Thanks, Steve. I barely recall the 1981 show with Hudson. I did not hear the 1972 KMET broadcast, but I think I remember people I knew talking about it. I also have a CD of the 1972 KLAC-570 public service Sunday show "Inside Radio" with Don Page. The guests were B. Mitchell Reed, Lohman and Barkley, Dick Haynes and 2 other DJs I can't recall from KMPC and KGIL. During the program, Reed talks a bit about the upcoming KFWB reunion on KMET. With I had a better quality recording of this program, only about 30 minutes of the 60 minutes is clearly audible and the rest is very low in audio quality, muddy, for some reason. Anybody have a better copy, or do other copies of this show exist at all??
Jim
Jim
In addition to KRLA, I also remember KPWR and KROQ switching formats on 4/1/98 with Big Boy playing alternative rock all morning and Kevin and Bean playing all hip hop. Mark Wallengren paired up with Brian Simmons for the Mark and Brian show on KOST. I recall KRTH becoming Disco 101 for a day in the late eighties. There was also a year when KROQ became Pirate Radio for a day. In New York WMCA went from top 40 to talk in 1970. On 4/1/71 they brought back the Good Guys and the hits for one day. I remember most of the callers the next day having negative comments probably because the talk format had older demos and the top 40 appealed to a completely different demographic.
This thread only serves to prove a point that radio is lacking "fun" nowadays.
The April Fool's stunts I remember were KROQ going Spanish and playing ranchero music and jocks like Jed The Fish doing his Jed The Fish thing with very bad (err muy malo) phonetic Spanish liners. Also, I remember KQLZ Pirate Radio and KROQ swapping jocks and format. The late Tawn Mastery was spinning hair band metal on 106.7 and taking calls from irate listeners who hadn't looked at the calendar, exclaiming upon all points high about the tragedy that had befallen World Famous KROQ (and vice versa on Pirate). I cannot confirm for sure but I seem to recall Pure Rock 105.5 KNAC going disco or adult standards one year.
KFI will probably have Mike Nolan report about a herd of elephants jamming the four-level during traffic sometime today, that's about as deep of a joke any station will do for April Fools. The bigger spirit of this silly holiday appears more on the web with Google and Youtube doing some inventive stunt (my favorites were Google releasing the brand new Google Maps for the Nintendo Entertainment Sytem and Youtube changing every video into a sepia-toned silent movie kinescope from the late 1800's) and the traditional cool fake gadgets on thinkgeek.com where one of them eventually becomes an actual real product.
The April Fool's stunts I remember were KROQ going Spanish and playing ranchero music and jocks like Jed The Fish doing his Jed The Fish thing with very bad (err muy malo) phonetic Spanish liners. Also, I remember KQLZ Pirate Radio and KROQ swapping jocks and format. The late Tawn Mastery was spinning hair band metal on 106.7 and taking calls from irate listeners who hadn't looked at the calendar, exclaiming upon all points high about the tragedy that had befallen World Famous KROQ (and vice versa on Pirate). I cannot confirm for sure but I seem to recall Pure Rock 105.5 KNAC going disco or adult standards one year.
KFI will probably have Mike Nolan report about a herd of elephants jamming the four-level during traffic sometime today, that's about as deep of a joke any station will do for April Fools. The bigger spirit of this silly holiday appears more on the web with Google and Youtube doing some inventive stunt (my favorites were Google releasing the brand new Google Maps for the Nintendo Entertainment Sytem and Youtube changing every video into a sepia-toned silent movie kinescope from the late 1800's) and the traditional cool fake gadgets on thinkgeek.com where one of them eventually becomes an actual real product.
I remember WMCA doing music for that one day..April 1,1971. They had been all talk for about six months. Jack Spector, an original Good Guy was still there doing a sports show, so he sounded very much in his element. Fred Gale and Barry Gray also sounded good doing music. On the other hand,Bob Grant said what a dumb idea this was on the air and ridiculed most of the songs he played. It did make for some fascinating listening.
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