Back when I was (mediocre) talent for a local Seattle-based broadcast company which included AM-FM-TV, we used to show up on nice days in shorts and flip flops. The owner/CEO didn't care. It was a really relaxed environment, and it showed on the air. Then a few years later, they did a major building renovation and expansion. The CEO/owner had some health problems, and was no longer around much. Instead, they hired some new group management out of NYC, which promptly sent out a memo that banned any non-business causal-appropriate attire, including tennis shoes, 24/7. Even if you worked overnights running TV Master Control, one risked being fired for wearing tennis shoes. We all agreed at the time, that was the beginning of the end.
-
Get involved.
We want your input!
Apply for Membership and join the conversations about everything related to broadcasting.
After we receive your registration, a moderator will review it. After your registration is approved, you will be permitted to post.
If you use a disposable or false email address, your registration will be rejected.
After your membership is approved, please take a minute to tell us a little bit about yourself.
https://www.radiodiscussions.com/forums/introduce-yourself.1088/
Thanks in advance and have fun!
RadioDiscussions Administrators
Dress code for on-air staff
- Thread starter seattlesarchiebunker
- Start date
These were Top 40 stations.
I don't believe that his demeanor had anything to do with it. Burden was found guilty of manipulating the news, to favor one senatorial candidate over another. In Oregon, he stated that he would put Mark Hatfield in the US Senate. The ironic thing of all this is that he was given the chance to save all but the Indianapolis stations but appealed and lost all five(2 FMs)!
I know who you are talking about, but I don't remember that edict...perhaps it came about after I departed! Thank God. Shorts and flip flops...those were the days! Long live Dorothy. (BTW, nobody hired by that company was mediocre!)
Last edited:
Coincidentally, she was born this day in 1892!
He was also found do have engaged in influence peddling and unlawful campaign contributions, and for rigging contests and fraudulent billing.
From the Facebook "I Loved AM Radio":
"On May 17, 1965 WIFE AM/FM filed FCC applications for renewal of licenses. This time, the applications were designated for a hearing on issues seeking a determination whether during the short-term license period, fraudulent contests had been held and whether false invoices and affidavits of performance had been rendered to advertisers and/or agents misrepresenting the times of presentation of commercial spot announcements, resulting in overcharges and over
payments.
And from the FCC via Google Books:
https://books.google.com/books?id=S...epage&q=don burden license revocation&f=false
The bulk of the offenses against Burden had to do with false billings, with a portion of contesting violations. His illegal contributions and political "influencing" were just icing on that cake; fraudulent billing was a very strongly prosecuted offense in that era.
You were lucky. My first radio job began at age 13 for Richard Eaton's United Broadcasting.
Eaton specialized in ethnic stations, mostly targeting Hispanics or Blacks. I was the token white kid at WJMO and sister FM WCUY in Cleveland. I began by getting coffee, doing some janitorial work (because Eaton would not pay for a cleaning crew) and, after a while, I got paid-by-the-hour work on the FM when the FCC required it do more than 6 PM to 11 PM Monday to Saturday.
Eaton was such a bad owner that there would be months without bathroom supplies as he required detailed "requisitions" from DC headquarters. The manager in Miami got cancer and was fired because Eaton owned the employee insurance company. He finally lost licenses in several markets; the one in DC was lost due to allowing illegal lottery numbers to be broadcast as if they were bible verses in a fake religious show.
In Cleveland, we were on the second floor of a car dealership. Eaton was in a wheelchair in later years, and we'd have a pool where the winner would get all the money if they guessed on which step the staff members would trip and drop him on the stairs when he visited. He never fell, but the pool went to buy toilet paper and soap and cleaning supplies... but we never lost hope.
Later, for only a short period, I worked for an LA owner who made going to work feel like a daily root canal. Sales meetings usually ended with at least one person in tears. Employees would quit by simply not showing up for work.
In another market, I hired some of the best people in all areas by recruiting them from stations where they were treated like slaves or servants, not professionals.
There were both kinds of owners... good and bad.
But your experience is more with staff members, not owners. Overwhelmingly the staff of stations I have been associated with or known through associations, inter-station sports teams and charity events as well as conventions and seminars have been great people, dedicated and human.
Kinda getting back on track of "Dress Code" with studios now having webcams and now webcams that are tided to which mic is being spoken into. Do stations these stations have basic requirements for studio staff that will be shown in the live studio camera feed? Do the talent feel the need to dress up for the live studio camera feed? I see the cameras used more for morning shows and sports/talk stations.
I once knew a lady (who was frankly fastidious to the point of being fussy) who agreed
to host a local station for a week of live remotes from her business.
She became a huge fan of that station's morning guy. Would rave about him years after he'd
done the show from her place.
Why? "Because he was the only one who had enough respect to put on a coat and tie!
The rest of them were nothing but a bunch of slobs!"
to host a local station for a week of live remotes from her business.
She became a huge fan of that station's morning guy. Would rave about him years after he'd
done the show from her place.
Why? "Because he was the only one who had enough respect to put on a coat and tie!
The rest of them were nothing but a bunch of slobs!"
Indeed, long live Dorothy...and Ancil. Occasionally Ancil (President of the company) used to stop by the control room and just hang out and talk while I was on the air. One of the few companies I've worked for that really felt like family.
Just as we were finishing up the "New Building", Dorothy had some health setbacks, and didn't come into the office much. Ancil had one foot into retirement. The Board decided with the loss of both leaders, they would bring in a group out of NYC to modernize the business practices of the company. The dress code was part of those changes. I left, taking a gig with Golden West about two weeks later.
Pretty amazing way to keep it clean on here, David. May I borrow a few terms?
Colorful little conversation-piece from Puget Sound Media. I guess you never had another encounter with ole Don, David?
https://www.pugetsound.media/2018/11/29/don-burden-radio-stardom-stormy-end/
The reason you do not see live in other dayparts is that the content is so limited or the station is voice-tracked.
Usually the webcam shots are "waist up". I have known morning shows where "weekend style" shorts were worn, but never seen. In general, lifestyle casual is appropriate in tune with the expectations of the format's listeners.
1966 ... 54 years ago. WOR-FM, New York, was the first radio station in the country to air a progressive rock format on FM. Before that, there was pretty much nothing but classical and easy listening music. Here's a look at the opening day work attire. ROCK ON BABYYYYYYYY!
(L-R) Johnny Michaels, Murray the K, Scott Muni (sitting), and Rosko.
https://worfm.com/images/OR-FM Johnny Michaels, Murray the K Scott Muni, Bill Rosko.jpg
Except there was this crazy change between 1966 and 1976. Casual became common in a very short period for better or worse.
1966......This must have been before Murray had his "Swingin' Soiree" on "10-10 WINS, New York".....
And before Scott migrated to WNEW-FM.....???!!
Huh? WINS had switched from music to all-news a year earlier.
Well, just look at the poster behind them----the rock and roll musicians in it are wearing suits! And it was an illustration----they could have drawn them like the Grateful Dead.
Murray the K's "Swingin' Soiree" on 10-10 WINS was before ... 1958 to spring 1965. He got word that the station was going to all-news and resigned. His last show there was in February 1965 and 10-10 WINS became NYC's first all-news station a month later.
Before WOR-FM, Scott Muni was a 77 WABC All-American, Then came "OR-FM." Actually, the original progressive rock format didn't last long ... only a year or so, 1966-67. RKO General brought in consultant Bill Drake and 98.7 began moving toward top 40. That's when Scott-so went over to WNEW-FM, along with Rosko ... and the progressive rock format.
Here is a copy of FM Guide with an article about WOR-FM back in the day. Also, take a look at the radio station listings and what the choices were back then. Is it any wonder everyone was wearing suits? Talk about conservative.
https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Other-Documments/FM-Guide-New-York/FM-GUide-1967-02.pdf
I don't think WOR-FM played the Grateful Dead at that time. The poster was based on The Beatles, and The Beatles still wore suits in public appearances at that time.
- Status