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Great Moments on KTAR

B

BobinPhoenix

KTAR turned 85 years old today. Having grown up in Phoenix, and having been a KTAR listener for most of my life, here are a few great things I remember hearing on the station.

Bob Capps in the middays in the 60's when KTAR was a music station.

The evening guy doing his show from the Big Apple on Van Buren street.

The very first Phoenix Suns game in 1968. Bob Vache' did the play-by-play. Bobbie Gentry sang "Ode to Billie Joe" at halftime at the Coliseum. The Suns beat Seattle in their first game.

The Suns losing the coin flip for Lew Alcindor (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar) to Milwaukee after their first season.

Lucky Lawrence in morning drive.

Los Angeles Dodgers baseball, which was on KTAR in the 1970's. It was also on KOY for many years.

Lee "Hacksaw" Hamilton signing on for his first night as host of the "620 Sportsline" by calling KOY's John Moynihan "The Dog Down the Street." Just what exactly was the "High speed sportswire?"

Larry King doing overnights on Mutual Radio.

Governor Ev Mecham being impeached.

Pat McMahon on the air the day the St. Louis Cardinals announced that they would be moving to Tempe.

The entire 1992-93 Phoenix Suns season.

Bill Strauss doing his show from the airport while waiting for the Suns to arrive late at night after game five of the NBA finals in 1993. The Suns had beaten the Bulls in Chicago earlier in the evening to force the series back to Phoenix for a sixth game.

The 2001 World Series.

I could go on and on about the great things I've heard on this station throughout the years (and continue to hear.) I know the recent trend has been to bash KTAR on this site....but you don't stick around for 85 years without doing something right.
 
Wow! Was it five years ago KTAR turned 80? I remember hearing a tribute late one Sunday night.... I might have even taped it. It was pretty good, and went through the station's entire history... all I can remember is the segment they did as a tribute to Mike Nutzman who was killed when his helicopter crashed into a house off Shea Blvd.

I think if KTAR hadn't moved to 92.3 it probably wouldn't be bashed as much. That was probably the worst decision ever made.
 
henry said:
Wow! Was it five years ago KTAR turned 80? I remember hearing a tribute late one Sunday night.... I might have even taped it. It was pretty good, and went through the station's entire history... all I can remember is the segment they did as a tribute to Mike Nutzman who was killed when his helicopter crashed into a house off Shea Blvd.

I think if KTAR hadn't moved to 92.3 it probably wouldn't be bashed as much. That was probably the worst decision ever made.
Click to expand...

You meant that as a joke, right?

Going FM was the best thing KTAR did in the last 10 years. Hiring Tisa as program director was the worst decision ever made. There are many others like firing Al McCoy, screwing up the Preston departure, putting Tony Snow on the radio, not picking up Hannity when he was available, running scared when KFYI started coming after them years ago, cutting their news staff several years ago, giving Ted Simons a talk show, allowing east side west side traffic to be stolen.

I think switching to FM and hiring Ankarlo and Kid are all good decisions. Fire McMahon and they'll be a lot better.
 
I don't live in Pheonix, but I do know Bonneville putting KSL on FM has been "meh..." not terrible, but not great. They still get like 90% of their listeners on the AM.

But dumping KTAR off the AM in Pheonix (if I understand correctly) is really dumb.
 
I'd disagree that moving it from AM to FM was a mistake. Just a matter of time before KTAR whips on KFYI 25-54. They'll automatically get 25-54 listeners on FM. Free FMs departure will also help. KFYI, to me, has lost its edginess and swagger. Clear Channel seems asleep at the wheel now when it comes to news/talk. Aunt Carlos has brought KTAR back to life. Can't wait to see the spring book. TMISU may be poppin the champagne corks.
 
kzewdude said:
I'd disagree that moving it from AM to FM was a mistake. Just a matter of time before KTAR whips on KFYI 25-54. They'll automatically get 25-54 listeners on FM. Free FMs departure will also help. KFYI, to me, has lost its edginess and swagger. Clear Channel seems asleep at the wheel now when it comes to news/talk. Aunt Carlos has brought KTAR back to life. Can't wait to see the spring book. TMISU may be poppin the champagne corks.
Click to expand...

No champagne at Bonneville; perhaps a swig of Dad's Rootbeer? ;D
 
kzewdude said:
I'd disagree that moving it from AM to FM was a mistake. Just a matter of time before KTAR whips on KFYI 25-54. They'll automatically get 25-54 listeners on FM. Free FMs departure will also help. KFYI, to me, has lost its edginess and swagger. Clear Channel seems asleep at the wheel now when it comes to news/talk. Aunt Carlos has brought KTAR back to life. Can't wait to see the spring book. TMISU may be poppin the champagne corks.
Click to expand...

Aunt Carlos bringing KTAR back to life? Thanks for the laugh, it's been awhile since I've let out a good one. If you take a peak at the book you'll notice there's little Aunt Carlos is bringing to KTAR... VERY LITTLE.

As for KFYI / Clear Channel being asleep when it comes to programming news/talk, Hmm... let's see, they beat KTAR in most dayparts in most demos, have the two biggest names in talk in the country--whether you like it or not, I don't know, looks like they're doing okay to me. If KTAR wants to be competitive, they need to eliminate the dead-weight, Aunt Carlos and McBland cannot possibly relate to the 25-54 demo... especially McBland. If they cut out the survey radio style of talk, I would be willing to bet they could be a bit more competitive as well.

As for the Free-FM listeners; they are not going to go to KTAR or KFYI for talk, I highly doubt the average Tom Leykis listener is all too interested in what's going on around them, they are far more concerned with how to hook up with some "broad" and attempt to read at a 4th grade level.
 
KMGX said:
Aunt Carlos bringing KTAR back to life? Thanks for the laugh, it's been awhile since I've let out a good one. If you take a peak at the book you'll notice there's little Aunt Carlos is bringing to KTAR... VERY LITTLE.
Click to expand...

Judging Aunt Carlos on his first ratings book? Thanks for the laugh, it's been awhile since I've let out a good one.

Aunt Carlos is better than Barry Young any day of the week. BY has a huge head start, but AC will catch up after he's been on the radio for a while here.
 
How did KT'R celebrate the anniversary on Friday?
Did they have a ceremony on both AM and FM?

I don't recall any mention in several listens to
Snooze 92/3 during AMD and PMD.

Did anyone play 16 Candles by the Crests?
(If so, I hope the wife of the Bonneville honcho wasn't listening. ;D)
 
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