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Fox13 story about WQOX
- Thread starter mikl73
- Start date
Wow, does that churn up some memories....
Things sure have changed in 20+ years at WQOX. I remember sitting in the back production room splicing tape, loading up carts (10s, 15s 30s, 60s), going to Pop Tunes on Summer to get this week's Hot 45's, and cutting and taping paper AP copy to build a newscast.
From the spot on Fox13 I saw so much new digital equipment. Today's students don't know how easy they have it. I remember when I had to walk to school in the snow uphill both ways.... ;D
Things sure have changed in 20+ years at WQOX. I remember sitting in the back production room splicing tape, loading up carts (10s, 15s 30s, 60s), going to Pop Tunes on Summer to get this week's Hot 45's, and cutting and taping paper AP copy to build a newscast.
From the spot on Fox13 I saw so much new digital equipment. Today's students don't know how easy they have it. I remember when I had to walk to school in the snow uphill both ways.... ;D
One of the instructors @ WQOX was Jim Futrell. He used a wheelchair, and when he wasn't looking, one of would sneak up behind him at his desk and place some form of "wedge-shaped object" behind one of his wheels. Acted like a speed-bump. Boy, could he yell....
Looking back, it was a very mean thing to do, but it was funny!! He even laughed about it after he yelled at us.
Looking back, it was a very mean thing to do, but it was funny!! He even laughed about it after he yelled at us.
R
radio_head
Guest
I agree, very nice story on the station! Hopefully it will shed some light on the positive thing that they're doing for the industry, producing future broadcasters, with industry standard equipment and music.
spin003 said:Wow, does that churn up some memories....
Things sure have changed in 20+ years at WQOX. I remember sitting in the back production room splicing tape, loading up carts (10s, 15s 30s, 60s), going to Pop Tunes on Summer to get this week's Hot 45's, and cutting and taping paper AP copy to build a newscast.
From the spot on Fox13 I saw so much new digital equipment. Today's students don't know how easy they have it. I remember when I had to walk to school in the snow uphill both ways.... ;D
Closer to 30 years for me. Some of the same gear we had at WQOX when I was there I saw in the museum section of Stax a year or so ago...
WQOX was a top 40 / rock station when I was there. It sounds a liitle too slick for me these days, but they do a good job.
You haven't ever really been a news person until someone lights your copy on fire in the middle of the newscast...
(pssst) In case you never learned....I memorized the weathercast before the show. Once the flames start go straight to the weather and let the jock figure out what to do with the extra 2 minutes...
O
Old School
Guest
Wow, I didn't even recognize the place. Back in the '70's when I was there, we were based out of Craigmont High. No fancy building of our own. But we did have (as Beck once sang) two turntables and a microphone, not to mention a Scully in the production room.
We didn't necessarily appreciate them at the time, but Futrell was great; so were Janice Knapp, Carol Koch Christianson(sp?) and Joe Dyer. (Remember "Dialing for Dollars"?) They took a lot of crap from us, too.
It's nice to see the station getting this kind of attention. And it's great to know that WQOX is actually registering in the local book. I don't think we ever struck it that rich when I was there.
But I saw a couple of things that bother me a little.
First, it appears the "general manager" is doing all the programming. When we were there, we had the chance to explore all aspects of running a station, including selecting the music and developing special programming.
And second, the "star" jock is a college kid? Seems like the manpower selection has changed a good bit, too. No longer just a training ground for high schoolers who want to learn the biz. The city school system is now providing technical training for kids out of high school?
Nonetheless, WQOX is a great asset to the Memphis community that's gone unrecognized for years. Going on the air as a teenager gave me additional self confidence and helped me hone writing and speaking skills that I put to good use in radio for many years -- before moving on to my current field.
Kudos to Fox 13. And thanks to the city schools for giving us WQOX. I wish I could establish a similar setup in my town. It would be one great way to "give back" what I was given.
Best,
Jim Beasley
We didn't necessarily appreciate them at the time, but Futrell was great; so were Janice Knapp, Carol Koch Christianson(sp?) and Joe Dyer. (Remember "Dialing for Dollars"?) They took a lot of crap from us, too.
It's nice to see the station getting this kind of attention. And it's great to know that WQOX is actually registering in the local book. I don't think we ever struck it that rich when I was there.
But I saw a couple of things that bother me a little.
First, it appears the "general manager" is doing all the programming. When we were there, we had the chance to explore all aspects of running a station, including selecting the music and developing special programming.
And second, the "star" jock is a college kid? Seems like the manpower selection has changed a good bit, too. No longer just a training ground for high schoolers who want to learn the biz. The city school system is now providing technical training for kids out of high school?
Nonetheless, WQOX is a great asset to the Memphis community that's gone unrecognized for years. Going on the air as a teenager gave me additional self confidence and helped me hone writing and speaking skills that I put to good use in radio for many years -- before moving on to my current field.
Kudos to Fox 13. And thanks to the city schools for giving us WQOX. I wish I could establish a similar setup in my town. It would be one great way to "give back" what I was given.
Best,
Jim Beasley
O
Old School
Guest
Good to hear from you, Radiosaur. Hope all is going well. Please drop me a note at [email protected] when you have a moment. I'd be interested in knowing what's been happening over the past 30 years (!).
One quick and very timely note about WQOX that might be of interest to the board:
Back in 1977 (I think it was), former President Gerald Ford hit a hole-in-one while playing the pro-am during the Memphis tourney, formerly known as the Danny Thomas St. Jude Classic. WQOX conducted a special weekend broadcast during the tournament and even had a couple of guys covering the course that day. WQOX was the first to go live on the air that day with a report about President Ford's accomplishment. It might not have been an earth-shaking newsbreaker, but it was exciting enough to give a bunch of high school kids their first taste of reporting competition.
Deepest respects for the man who entered office during one of the bleakest political periods in our nation's history.
jb
One quick and very timely note about WQOX that might be of interest to the board:
Back in 1977 (I think it was), former President Gerald Ford hit a hole-in-one while playing the pro-am during the Memphis tourney, formerly known as the Danny Thomas St. Jude Classic. WQOX conducted a special weekend broadcast during the tournament and even had a couple of guys covering the course that day. WQOX was the first to go live on the air that day with a report about President Ford's accomplishment. It might not have been an earth-shaking newsbreaker, but it was exciting enough to give a bunch of high school kids their first taste of reporting competition.
Deepest respects for the man who entered office during one of the bleakest political periods in our nation's history.
jb
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