Chris Rathaus

[DeltaDon]

The Program Director of WDAE, 1976-1977, died May 18 at a New York City hospice apparently of cancer. He was 63.Known on the air as Chris Randall and Chris Ryan, he programmed WDAE and WOWO-Ft. Wayne in the 1970s before turning to audio production in Tampa, West Palm Beach, San Francisco and for Sirius satellite radio in his native New York beginning in 2003.He is survived by an ex-wife, Marie, and hundreds of friends and admirers.

 

[smedge2006]

Too bad this didn't get more attention. I think he actually took a turn screening or producing the John Eastman talk show in the evenings on WDAE, and was credited by name in that role. I always wonderedwhy DAE didn't go ahead and take the plunge into talk in the 70s. It had hours and hours of talk every day when WFLA was still promoting its "means music" handle and avoiding anything topical like the plague. (Think back to the apolitical Jack Harris of that period: "How much is corn at Tampa Stadium? A buck an ear!")

 

[DeltaDon]

Before John Eastman got the late evening talk show spot on WDAE, Gil Gross tried out for it. WDAE also had Rosemary Haddad doing talk and Mark Champion with a sports talk show in that era. If I remember right, the station was all talk from 6P-Midnight.Rathaus' talent lineup playing music during the rest of the day wasn't too shabby either: Bob Dearborn in the morning, Bill Campbell in the afternoon, Tom Daren in midday and Don Beckman overnight. Ronald J. Ebben did the news in the morning and there was a funny pilot -- Al-something or other -- who provided airborne traffic reports.

 

[jefflaurence]

Hey Delta Don..are YOU Don Beckman? He used to take vacations and go on Delta's unlimited..fly anywhere for one price promotion..He was (you were) the BEST all night man I had ever heard in Tampa Bay..He (you) took phone calls from all night shift workers and played the hits between calls.Chris Rathaus hired me after I left WLCY, and started a commercial recording studio on Florida Ave..went nealry broke, and needed a job. I started on DAE in 1978 doing weekends for Chris..and he was an amazing production man with a razor blade, and a grease pencil. Nice guy too. He moved to the studio ownership arena after WDAE and started a company called MediaAide..with a nice sudio in a house near Hyde Park before it was chic..I'll bet the house would sell for a fortune now! Smedge..you seemed to know a lot about Chris..thanks for the info!Chris and I came up with the idea for pressing a long version of the WDAE jingle on a 45rpm record. We would get bar owners to load it on thier jukeboxes (we even made up title strips so it looked legit)..and at night go in and pay somebody 5 dollars (enough to drink 1.00 pitchers for a nice long while) and a roll of quarters to play the record over and over all night. They actually usually did it, and after awhile everyone knew the jingle by heart..When I was there Tom Darren did afternoons..Jerry Gordon did mornings I think..Ed Fairbanks did middays, and John Eastman did talk at nights before Taft bought the station and put Rosemary Haddad on the talk show..Suzanne Boots was the producer back then. Al Ford did traffic..Scott Walterman was in news as was Rosemary and Ronald J. Ebben..and a wondeful lady newscaster by the name of Eva Jones. She was dry, and had a real unusual sense of humour..Very nice woman.. I wonder what ever became of her.

 

[DeltaDon]

Many of those names bring back fond memories, Jeff.No, I'm not Don Beckman. Just another radio geek, living on the fringe of radio, remembering when it really mattered, when people like the ones you spoke of were "friends" I looked forward to spending time with every day. Whatever happened to Don Beckman? He may not have been the most dynamic air personality ever, but I always found him very entertaining. And so friendly sounding. If you know he's really an s.o.b, PLEASE don't tell me!Somewhere I hope Chris Rathaus is smiling, at peace, knowing colleagues like you and radio fans like me appreciated his spirit, his efforts, and his all too brief appearance in our midst.

 

[Dark Mark]

Chris was a dear, dear friend of mine. He mentored me in the art of audio production at his small studio in Tampa, Studio C, while he was working as the freelance audio director for WFTS, FOX28. At the time I was a brash young kid who got a foothold in 28 as a writer/producer under Laura Barton. I spent many hours and days with Chris at the studio and together we produced countless radio spots, many of which won local and national awards. After the day was over, we would spend hours in his office playing Wheel of Fortune on his computer over several drinks. Chris and I produced a spot for Wilson's Bookworld, called The Western. This spot was our biggest award winner and attention getter. In fact, it secured Chris' last job with Sirius Satellite Radio and I was offered a position with him there as well, just on that one :60 commercial. I couldn't take the job as my mother developed cancer and I sold my business to move back here to care for her. I regret I didn't get to work with Chris after that. It was truly a wonderful and inspired partnership. I spoke with Chris a week before he passed on. He was still in good spirits, in spite of the blows his health had dealt him. I loved Chris and will miss him dearly. You are right Don, I am sure he is smiling knowing he is so warmly remembered. His contribution to my life was priceless. I only hope I can try to match his generous spirit, warm humor and boundless creativity. A real icon of the lost days of radio has passed.God's speed, Chris. God's speed.Mark Phillips