Have You Ever Listened to a Station for the Jock?

[Mike in Destin]

Dan Ingram WABC
Jim Obrien WFIL
Don Imus WNBC

I remember one time Dan Ingram announced there was a fire in their transmitter, which required shutting it down. They were only off the air for about 20 seconds.

 

[vw86]

I've listened to stations because they run a particular show that I want to hear (AT40, Bill St. James, etc.) and often will choose that station over others at other points during the week.

 

[Weiserguy]

Dan Ingram WABC
Jim Obrien WFIL
Don Imus WNBC

I remember one time Dan Ingram announced there was a fire in their transmitter, which required shutting it down. They were only off the air for about 20 seconds.

All three of these great radio personalities are deceased, but were each a part of NYC radio history.

Ironically, neither the Ingram nor the Imus photos were taken at the stations you mentioned. Big Dan was at WCBS-FM in those days (that one probably in the latter '90s), and Imus was at WABC doing AM drive by then. (Dan looked good back then, Don looked like he'd recently been embalmed.)

Jim O'Brien, in another irony, was part of the jock team that launched the Bill Drake/Sebastian Stone era at WOR-FM before moving to WFIL in Philly, and eventually to anchor the news at one of their TV stations (WPVI, IIRC). He died in a tragic accident, doing a skydive for a piece he was working on and not having the parachute open.

 

[Mike in Destin]

Thanks for that info! I know Jim joined 'FIL in 1970, but never knew he worked at WOR. That was very sad when he died. I hadn't heard the entire story when that happened. He got tangled up in the other guy's parachute, but was able to save the other guy. They sent his remains back to his native TX. I once heard Jim say on the air the first time he ever "said hello" was at a station in Waco, TX. I think it was 1963.

 

[nd2023]

I listen to WABC for Cousin Brucie.

 

[Mike in Destin]

Dan Ingram WABC
Jim Obrien WFIL
Don Imus WNBC

I remember one time Dan Ingram announced there was a fire in their transmitter, which required shutting it down. They were only off the air for about 20 seconds.

Here's a pic from ' ABC

 

[vchimpanzee]

Someone mentioned Phil Hendrie on another thread. I used to like to hear his crazy callers. I had no idea they were all him.

 

[nexgencoop]

Someone mentioned Phil Hendrie on another thread. I used to like to hear his crazy callers. I had no idea they were all him.

Phil Hendrie in my mind is one of the most talented radio professionals I have ever heard. His radio show from the KFI days was talk radio satire at it's finest. Unfortunately his new online only show is limited to just him and his characters. The improv that was fueled by clueless callers is what made the show.

 

[AM-FM-DXer]

Phil Hendrie in my mind is one of the most talented radio professionals I have ever heard. His radio show from the KFI days was talk radio satire at it's finest. Unfortunately his new online only show is limited to just him and his characters. The improv that was fueled by clueless callers is what made the show.

Once I learned Hendrie's routine, I did not find his show all that compelling. It was clear, after listening a few times, that the calls were fake and that it was all satire. His swerve into conservative talk in the 2000s also seemed a bit odd for him.

 

[nexgencoop]

Once I learned Hendrie's routine, I did not find his show all that compelling. It was clear, after listening a few times, that the calls were fake and that it was all satire. His swerve into conservative talk in the 2000s also seemed a bit odd for him.

He was a pro Iraq war guy. Got really into politics, and told everyone who wanted him to keep doing comedy to go to hell. Now days he hates trump and MAGA people. And does bits to make fun of them.