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Citadel Layoffs

I do talk to Mike - he's doing very well at Fox. Still the one of the nicest people on the planet, too.

Eileen is doing great. I'm very excited for her.

I hope all is going well for you in Colorado!
 
Not upset about Christina - maybe we'll finally be able to get an accurate traffic report!!!!
 
Wow! Look what I stumbled into...and so glad that I did.

I'll take care of old business first.

Jay Marvin...you have changed my life so significantly. You really have. Before hearing you on the air years ago on WLS I would always think "bullsh*t" whenever I would hear someone say "BS", but ever since hearing your late night outbursts I now think "brainstem" when someone utters "BS". Thank you Jay. It took me awhile, but I really grew to admire you. You have great passion, energy, and you're such a cheerleader for humanity...all of that earns great respect from me. And I always enjoyed you talking about your wife, Mary. I wish you continued success and remember..."Ham off the bone man!"

On to new business.

Jake. Oh my!

For selfish reasons I was really saddened to hear of the treatment that you got at WLS. Forget "Sleepless in Seattle"...I'm "Jakeless in Chicago"...totally woeful. Even though over the past few years it was tough catching much of your show because although I have a clock radio next to my bed I am too technologically illiterate to know how to use it correctly. I know that's a lame excuse, but it's true.

Shame on me for not downloading the owner's manual and becoming Sony© savvy enough to listen in each Saturday AM. Even if I tried I'm certain I wouldn't have gotten too far...downloading, as far as I know, involves the presoak cycle on our washer before stuffing our feather pillows in to give them a sound thrashing.

I must admit that most of the time when I tuned into your show over the last several years it was while I was driving any of our four kids to either baseball or softball practice, games, or tournaments. These early Saturday morning treks continue, but what am I to do now Jake? When I get the urge to partake in some zaniness early on a Saturday morning just calling in and messing with the *999 operators isn't going to cut it. The least you could do is steer us forlorn Jakeless listeners to a recording of some sort of the No Name Polka...I miss it so much already! My ears, and perhaps even my brain, are starting to feel the pangs brought on by your absence from the airwaves. Stuffing cotton in there isn't helping much...maybe I'll try stuffing my ears!

I think this website comes equipped with a Private Message function. If that is the case then please, if you choose, drop me a note with any details regarding your on-air status...I truly do miss your show. I'll even learn how to master the controls on that Sony© clock radio when you're back on the air...I promise!

This whole messy affair reminds me of a song...one so appropriate.

Have a listen: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-BQMgCy-n6U


You'd think the mucky-mucks at Citadel could read...The Use of Jake Brakes Strictly Prohibited. I really feel they polka me in the eye with a sharp stick. Ouch!


Forever a fan,
Michael from Riverside


P.S. Try to lock down that Saturday night slot...those *999 operators are on to me I think!
 
Jay, Jake and Steve, It is so good to see you on here. It's like a BIG 89 REWIND on the computer. I miss all you guy's being on WLS!
You truly are some of the best talents to ever grace our airwaves! By the way Jake, Do you know how many people are going to set
their clocks the right way this weekend and show up at the right time? What fun is that?
 
Michael! Thanks for the very kind words. My time at WLS was very special even though it did get messy at the end. Good to see Steve and Jake on her too. Many thanks again!

Jay
 
What a sad turn of events in the history of a grand Chicago radio institution. So many talented men and women shown the door...not the way we envision WLS in 2008 when a few of us gathered at WLS's former studios at 360 North Michigan in the summer of 1989 to relaunch the station as "Talkradio 890." With a lineup that included Don Wade & Roma (still hanging in there,) Stacy Taylor middays (now on 1700 AM in San Diego and occasionally guesting on AirAmerica,) a new guy nobody at that time had ever heard of named Rush Limbaugh, and the late Bob Lassiter a/k/a "The Mad Dog."

Along the way, I made plenty of mistakes--- even painfully downsized more than a few folks myself when "Z-95" crashed and burned and began simulcasting on WLS AM & FM. But with the dynamic programming visionary Drew Hayes and a team of exciting young people on both sides of the microphones, we slowly but surely dragged WLS out of the ratings swamp and returned it to its rightful place among the top Chicago radio stations. Some hopped aboard our little radio train along the way (Jay Marvin, Roe Conn, Jake Hartford, Nate Clay) and some hopped off (Eddie Vrdolyak, Ty Wansley.) One-- Lt. Gov. Bob Kustra-- hopped on THEN hopped off.

Was it perfect? No radio station is. "Fair and Balanced?" Absolutely not. But did it prompt organic growth of opinions and a free and open exchange on the air? Absolutely, defiantly, and proudly.

Sadly, radio has evolved from a vibrant, 24/7 "license to print money" into-- many times-- a Monday-Friday, 6AM-8PM companion, devolving into crummy "Best Ofs" at night and infomercials all weekend. That's the linear equivalent ofd trying to operate a McDonald's franchise thru breakfast and lunchtime, but bringing in the beer and scantily clad women at night to try and generate some revenue. McHooters doesn't work, as the beancounters and lawyers will eventually figure out.

But let's not prematurely bury WLS. History proves two things repeatedly: Robert Feder always finds out the real story behind the management spin...and no radio station stays in the swamp forever. We brought it roaring back in '89....maybe it will see a renaissance in '09, as well. Meantime, my thoughts and prayers are with each and every person impacted by the current layoffs...and their families, friends, and listeners who share their sadness. They are a great team, and creative winners always bounce back.
 
Tom! Good to see you on here. No WLS was not fair and balanced, in fact I used to call it "WGOP" on the air. But unlike most big stick AMs of today you could get a gig if you were good (I'm not saying that because I worked there) not because you had the right political take on things. You and Drew never said word one to me about the content of my show, unless I did something that was wrong, and then I got talked too. WLS was a great radio station back when you and Drew ran it. It was also good under Mike Elder. I can not say the same for those who came along later. Who can forget the lunches with Norm or the Sport Marty stuff. You were the best Tom!

Jay
 
Tom Tradup! Another long-time survivor in an industry known for chewing up and spitting out it's young. Good to see you here!

Tom was GM when I first started at WLS as morning traffic reporter and fill-in news anchor/reporter in 1993 (?). Thank goodness Jim Johnson and Jeff Hendrix got so much vacation time - I got a lot of fill-in days!

I agree with Tom - never write off a radio station...especially one with the heritage of WLS. I would like to think that those legendary call letters will survive and flourish.

Hey Tom...been to Hegewisch lately? :D
 
b344077 said:
A 50K power house will not languish. Citadel may have bit off more than they can chew. They will likely be looking to dump a couple of properties.
Click to expand...

I knew Citadel would do they when they first announced the deal. Thanks Disney!
 
Is it true that Citadel got by with giving only two-weeks severance to long-term ABC employees because of the ownership change?
Did they really fire an engineer by phone on her way in?
Can anyone confirm this?

Mitch Dolan should be publically humiliated and canned for his part in this fiasco.
 
I have been listening to WLS since 1958 when I moved here as a child. WCFL was popular back then. That was when they had the Rock and Roll format.

I am really sorry that all you guys are gone. I still have a Jay and Eileen magnet on my refrigerator. When Eileen got the axe, I did not want to listen to that Canadian guy. I found that Cisco Cotto had moved to WIND (a station that my parents used to listen to when I was a child). Now I listen there more often than I do to WLS. They really blew it when they gave me reason to start channel surfing.

I lke Medved better than Roe Conn, especially now that Christina is gone. I find Michael Savage to be hilarious...he does not like anybody. And I much prefer Dennis Miller to that Canadian guy. I always come back for Rush (Sorry, Jay) and usually prefer Don and Roma to Big John and Cisco.

So I went from an exclusive lifetime listener to an occasional listener. They blew it with me BIG TIME. Can't put that Genie back in the box, now.

Dick Hourigan
www.RichardHouriganInc.com
 
I like Roe Conn. I liked him better with Garry Meier and thought Christina was an great part of the show. The other day I heard Roe and Ron Magers, who I also like and respect very much, talking about radio in general. It was a fascinating discussion on the state of the business today and where it is going in regards to HD, the internet etc. But, it also sounded the entire time like they were trying to convince the listeners and themselves that they will always be around. They made the usual digs at newspapers and satellite radio and how their mediums, radio and tv, will always be there and remain strong. Probably true but still what a shame to see good talented people be shown the door. Especially when they have built a great following and it is acted like they never existed. Has Roe addressed the "where's Christina" situation on the air? I am not able to listen enough to know. I just know from my 50 years on earth and many in broadcasting, no one is totally safe.
Thanks.
 
1316wwood said:
I like Roe Conn. I liked him better with Garry Meier and thought Christina was an great part of the show. The other day I heard Roe and Ron Magers, who I also like and respect very much, talking about radio in general. It was a fascinating discussion on the state of the business today and where it is going in regards to HD, the internet etc. But, it also sounded the entire time like they were trying to convince the listeners and themselves that they will always be around. They made the usual digs at newspapers and satellite radio and how their mediums, radio and tv, will always be there and remain strong. Probably true but still what a shame to see good talented people be shown the door. Especially when they have built a great following and it is acted like they never existed. Has Roe addressed the "where's Christina" situation on the air? I am not able to listen enough to know. I just know from my 50 years on earth and many in broadcasting, no one is totally safe.
Thanks.
Click to expand...

I listen some every day one way home from work when within 250 miles of home, and I've heard no mention directly of those departed, but several references to changing situation.
I too think it was foolish to break up the Roe-Garry-Jim-Christina chemistry.
 
Dave Jennings surfaced doing overnight news on WGN Sat. morning. Spoke to Nick briefly saying it was nice to "be anywhere" given the current state of affairs.
 
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