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Favorite Radio Personality In The Pittsburgh Market-Past Or Present

Why, thanks Sahisko!

Getting into particulars would be petty, but let's say that famous scene in "Private Parts" where Howard Stern is kind of excited to meet Don Imus and then the I-Man tells him to "F- Off"

You get the picture.

I'm betting Hoerth's arrogance may have cost him at least one job I know of. When I was a kid in 1987 I remember there was some sort of catastrophe in the South Hills and people did not have water. I remember for months people had to go to "water buffalos" for water.

Now, in 1987 people don't have the 'net- it was a Saturday night so there were no official offices open- and people have one source of information- KDKA Radio. It truly was a time where you have to stop and become that information source- a community forum for people in need.

They called Hoerth's show in search of help.

Hoerth blew 'em off. Wouldn't reschedule his Saturday regulars.

I remember it was a great show about old records- but it was the wrong time to air it.

The next week he actually blasted people who complained.

He was gone soon afterwards.

Coincidence? Perhaps.

But let's face it- NOBODY is taken off the air for Michelle Madoff unless you've seriously ticked off your bosses.
 
I loved the story Pratt, but I am curious to hear you talk about your interaction with Hoerth!

Oh and I sent you a personal message about my story so when you get a chance, get back at me!
 
But let's face it- NOBODY is taken off the air for Michelle Madoff unless you've seriously ticked off your bosses.


Couldn't be further from the truth. Evenings were a mess at KD after Cigna transferred to mornings and they were desperate to fix them. You may recall that at one point they had Perry Marshall on a shift that ran from about 10 p.m. to 2 a.m.

Madoff was a big name at that time for her high profile on City Council and the people at KDKA thought (incorrectly, it turns out) that having her on the air would create a buzz and draw attention to the station after dark.

The same people you think were "seriously ticked off" actually hired Hoerth back later.
 
Hoerth returned to do weekends- not his old nightly shift.

In fact, in the very time when Marshall was on the air from 10 to 2 and not overnights in 1986, Hoerth was working the weekends.

I would think if the evenings were such a mess, that would imply they were a mess because of Hoerth. He was the one who replaced Cigna circa 1983- and then Cris Cross replaced Hoerth.

Gee, Boss- why do you have it in for him?

I'm a boy when I'm listening to Hoerth back then- tuning in before or after the Pirates game. And though I don't like him now because I've actually spent some time around him- I have to give him credit.

In 1983 Hoerth had it. Great enthusiasm. There were times when the Pirates game was on and he asked people to call him off the air- in the studio- and he'd talk to them just like it was on the air.

If he's happening enough that he can actually GET CALLS WHILE HE'S NOT EVEN ON THE AIR- then how could the station be in a mess at night?

Hoerth even had a grip on the pop culture of the early 1980s. One thing I remember was how pro wrestling was very popular then- and Hoerth talked wrestling.

But that was a quarter of a century ago- a bygone era when the Pirates were perennial contenders, gas had lead, most people got their TV through antennas and the Star Wars Trilogy could be viewed at the Warner Theatre downtown and VCRs, microwave ovens, and our beloved hair bands were just coming into their own.

Sadly, today Hoerth is Willie Mays in 1973.

But Hoerth was most definitely not a "mess" in 1983. He was Willie Mays in 1954 then.
 
Why do you assume that things are personal? I have no issues with Hoerth. KD's post 6 p.m. ratings were in the tank and they took a shot with the Michelle Madoff hiring. They were looking to improve the ratings. The move wasn't made because Hoerth "ticked off" his bosses, as you posted earlier.

And if he had alienated people there, he wouldn't have been hired back by the same GM (Rick Starr) who fired him to clear the spot for Madoff.

A handful of radio freaks calling off the air doesn't have anything to do with attracting a mass audience. The ratings were horrible.

By the way, that era when the Pirates were "perennial contenders?" They finished last for three straight years (1984-86) with a 104-loss season in 1985.
 
Well, Boss, maybe because you have a history of making everything personal on this site.

Now, start treating posters on here with respect and dignity- and you'll receive the same in kind.

Yes, the Bucs were perennial contenders until 1984- and I clearly was referencing 1983- three times in fact- in my post.

In 1983 the Pirates had not finished in last place since 1957. The '83 Bucs- the first year of the Post-Stargell era- were in the race until being eliminated on the last Wednesday of the season- entering September in first place- buoyed by the June 15 trade of Junior Ortiz for Marvell Wynne.

Do you want me to continue with my bitter memories of the Bucs dropping three-game series with the Phillies and Mets during that September?

I really think '83 was the last year where people truly thought the Pirates were a glamour team- and they were- from that Rice Krispies commercial ("Captain- Where do Pirates come from? Pittsburgh! Where else!") to the references on ABC sitcoms (Chrissy Snow talking about Willie Star Trek, Benson telling the Governor Willie Star-Gell was his favorite Pirate- and not Willie Stargell but Willie STAR-GELL).

Even during the early 90s there was this sense the team's success was merely temporary. You really did not have that in '83- as there was still a good young nucleus of talent (Ray, Pena, DeLeon- who we all thought would be a 20-game winner instead of a 19-game loser back then). Chuck Tanner was even quoted as saying "We'll be contenders for years" after the Bucs were eliminated that year.

Trust me. A preteen boy in love with his baseball team remembers everything. I'll be able to tell you Jason Thompson finished with 18 home runs that year to lead the team when I have Altzheimers.

Back to topic- I don't know what the ratings were when Hoerth was taken off the next year.

You don't either.

What I do know is that the show was irreverent and hip and was replaced not just by Madoff but by Chris Cross as well AFTER the game- who provided the same sort of irreverency.

Now, I'm sorry. But what you're theorizing makes no sense. Cross did a similar show to Hoerth's- though more sports orientated.

And Hoerth has often gone on the air and spoken about how he IMPROVED the demographics at KDKA before being let go.

Why would you replace a host who is making enough buzz that he will land at another station with another in the same style UNLESS said host was difficult?

We all know Hoerth. As one of his executives once told me- "He's a baby."

You're telling me he was Mr. Manners back then?

You're telling me in 1986 Starr's theory couldn't have been "Well, he's difficult, but he's also talented. Let's put him on in the weekends when he won't be around the rest of the staff. That should keep any personal run-ins to a minimum."

Sorry, I don't buy it, and nobody who has ever been around Hoerth would buy it either.
 
Sorry, I don't buy it,


You don't have to. Besides, your fantasies that it's a personal issue is much more interesting than the fact the ratings were bad and they hoped Madoff would boost them. Cross didn't replace Hoerth, Madoff did. And she didn't do a pop culture-oriented show. When she flopped, that was the start of Pintek in the slot because he was brought in as co-host to compensate for her total lack of radio skills.

Hope you find a baseball board for your reminiscences.
 
Hoerth having an attitude problem is my fantasy.

That's rich.

Perhaps you're defending those with attitude problems- I don't know.

I do find it interesting that you recently went off on a 25-year-old telephone conversation about John Cigna saying Dave Parker wasn't fundamentally sound because he didn't bunt, but when I defend my factual statement about the Pirates' competitive status in 1983 in response to you trying to lump that in to the following season- you wish me well in finding a baseball board.

But the fact is what Hoerth was doing in 1983 on KDKA was good enough to keep him in the market for a quarter of a century and he is high maintainence.

Hoerth himself has bragged on the ratings he received at KDKA- as mentioned before.

If you can produce the 25-year-old radio ratings of KDKA at the time of his dismissal, please do.

Until then, your arguement is to simply try and refute things I didn't say.

When did I say Michelle Madoff did a pop culture orientated show?

And are you saying Cross DIDN'T come on after Pirates games after Hoerth did in the year before?

That's interesting. I thought he gave the jump start to Bruce Keidan's radio career in this town. I thought he pushed positives of the Pirates in a sea of negative. I thought he was there to lobby for Bob Prince's all-too-short return to the KDKA airwaves and was beside The Gunner at his deathbed.

I don't remember if he did directly- but I know Hoerth used to come on after the ballgame and then Cross did.

And if it wasn't directly, it was such a short period of time between the two that my original point of "why would you replace one quirky guy after the game with another if that style wasn't working?" still stands.

Or- why would you bring him back to do weekends in a couple of years?
 
Sahisko said:
Yes you might have heard the story of how he started. I was there!
Click to expand...

Were you at, WTAE AM?
Click to expand...

No he started at WFTL in Fort Lauderdale it was very clever how he got there. Our PD Michael O'Shea was being interviewed by our station talk show host John Stupak and Doug called up and said anyone could do radio. Good natured O'Shea took the bait and put Doug on at midnight one night to do a music show for an hour or two. He was full of himself till he found out he would have to run his own board, I would stay just down the hall able to come in and take over if he messed things up. I give him credit he did well for someone coming in for the first time. He went to Miami to a broadcasting school run by Bob Gaynor, cam back and worked at WFTL before going to WWSW. We made a big deal out if it on the air giving him the name "Rock Douglas". Call him that if you ever talk to him. If everyone called him "Rock Douglas" it would really mess with his head, which I would like to see for many reasons!

I was more than a bit jealous to hear him on KDKA, but then I made it to WBT which ain't bad either.

I don't think he's a bad guy but I find it easy to believe he could be difficult.
 
Doug's actually told that story a few times.

Have to say this about KDKA. They have had quite a few people there with attitude problems through the years.
 
Pratte4Life said:
Doug's actually told that story a few times.
Click to expand...



I figured he might have mentioned it a few times.

Pratte4Life said:
Have to say this about KDKA. They have had quite a few people there with attitude problems through the years.
Click to expand...



Sorry to hear that. I ususally found there were more attitude problems at smaller stations. By the time most made it to the big ones they acted more professionally.
 
Pratte4Life said:
Have to say this about KDKA. They have had quite a few people there with attitude problems through the years.
Click to expand...

What an ironic comment!
 
Snafu said:
I can think of at least a dozen people in the Pittsburgh market who prove that statement wholly false.
Click to expand...

Here is what I, the idiot kid who has virtually no radio experience besides a sad college radio show has to say about Hoerth:

Let's look at Jack Bogut, the man is a saint, I met him on several occasions and the thing about Jack is that he not only takes the time to not only acknowledge his fans, but he shakes their hand and actually converses with them and that is why I think Bogut defined Pittsburgh radio because he has developed an intimate relationship with Pittsburgers. Whether you liked him or not, and even if he was not a successful radio person, no one can disagree that jack bogut is a genuine person

Personally for me, I used to be a fan of Hoerth and admired him and wanted to be 'Hoerth' when I was a child. But when I met him in person and he was very ignorant to me as he has been to a lot of other people, I found myself not only loosing my respect for him, but turning his show off. Now I know a select of you will rip into that statement because I don't nearly have enough experience in the radio business as compared to all of you but I know that your off air personality is probably just as important as your on air personality and if you are going to treat the people who look up to you and listen to you like garbage than you will loose some listeners.

Oh, and as for the content for Hoerth's show, I mean, if he is bringing in some type of ratings, then someone is listening even though she should of been retired because as someone once said in here, ' he went stale decades ago.'
 
You hit it on the head.

The way Bogut carries himself makes you think "That guy is a living legend."

And I don't really know much about Jack Bogut's career. But he commands respect because he respects you.
 
Some years ago...early 80's....when I was a part-timer at B-94, (Alfred E, Newman !) I used to eat at the Eat 'N Park on Banksville Rd., BEFORE my 10p-2A shift. About every other time I did this, I would run into Doug who was apparently in the habit of having a late dinner alone. I knew who he was but, of course, he didn't know me from Adam (Lynch ??(lol)). After seeing him there the second or third time, I finally introduced myself. Our first conversation was...umm...barely cordial...yes, he seemed grumpy. The next time we met, we had a pretty nice conversation about the biz, oldies music..etc. I have no ax to grind here and Mr. Hoerth and I haven't spoken since those days but, I just thought I'd write to say that I had, at least briefly, a less than negative experience with Doug Hoerth.
 
I really think we've exhausted the talk about Hoerth's self-centered attitude, but the man was married for a period of time, so I'm sure that at least temporarily he can open up to people.
 
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