Is Dan Ingram Known Outside the New York Metropolitan Area?

[BruceNYC]

Excluding radio professionals and enthusiasts, is Dan Ingram known outside the New York metropolitan area? The only national show that he hosted was the Dan Ingram Top 40 Satellite Survey in the mid 1980s?

Thanks

 

[Joylovepulse967]

Excluding radio professionals and enthusiasts, is Dan Ingram known outside the New York metropolitan area? The only national show that he hosted was the Dan Ingram Top 40 Satellite Survey in the mid 1980s?

Thanks

I don’t know but Iit good question

 

[TheBigA]

Hard to say because he didn't seek fame outside New York the way Brucie and a few others did. Certainly he voiced a lot of commercials and things like that, but they were uncredited. So people might know the voice (like Scott Muni), but not the name. At the same time, there were a lot of similar DJs in pretty much every town in the country, combining the deep voice and child-like irreverence. The national show you mention only lasted from 1984-86, and it certainly wasn't as big as Casey Kasem, Dick Clark, or even Rick Dees at the time.

Rick Sklar listened to a lot of tapes trying to find DJs who sounded like him, and that's how he hired Roby Yonge.

 

[gr8oldies]

I would go with no. He did some fill in or maybe an aiudition at KRTH in L.A.

 

[davideduardo]

Excluding radio professionals and enthusiasts, is Dan Ingram known outside the New York metropolitan area? The only national show that he hosted was the Dan Ingram Top 40 Satellite Survey in the mid 1980s?

Thanks

The WABC signal covered a significant part of New England and the Northeast (and parts of Canada, too) in late afternoons and evenings, particularly in the winter when sunset came early and the signal boomed into many places where there was no Top 40 radio or local stations were just not as good.

So, yes, he was known well outside of NYC and, but back in the era when teens and young adults listened to AM from far away to find the best station and the best music.

And Dan Ingram was one of the absolute best.

 

[radiophiler]

I grew up in east central Pennsylvania and WABC definitely came in.
Also, Dan Ingram had a nationally syndicated top 40 countdown show in the mid 80s after WABC went all talk. I remember hearing that on a top 40 FM station during the time.

 

[John FL]

Rick Sklar listened to a lot of tapes trying to find DJs who sounded like him, and that's how he hired Roby Yonge.

Interesting. I didn't know that angle. From what I read and heard, it was mostly around the fact that in 1968, WABC was no longer required to carry non-music network programing, long newscasts, commentaries and play-by-play sportscasts to name a few. Roby was added because more music programing air time became available. Perhaps a personal observation on my part, but I never considered Roby as a Dan Ingram sound-alike. In fact, what was so interesting about WABC was the jocks all had a unique personality. Hugely talented but the station's personality always came through. I long thought Roby sounded like he didn't belong at WABC. As many of us know, he didn't last long.

As the 1970s moved along, Dan with his polished production voice, his timing, delivery etc., was in big demand. He was almost always the voice behind contests, promotional spots, weekly countdown promotional announcements etc at WABC. Where people around the country would become familiar with Dan, at least by his voice, is he landed freelance commercial work on television, radio, and even motion picture soundtracks.

With Dan's very busy schedule and his superior ratings, he negotiated more and more vacation time and Saturdays off. Rick Sklar had tremendous respect and admiration for Dan. He wrote about this and talked about this in many interviews. But, he was concerned about the ratings with Dan off the air more and more. So to BigA's point, I would think it was logical for Rick to gravitate toward a Dan personality and one who could push the envelope just far enough. But then there was the sound.

A young broadcaster who was doing traffic reports in Tampa sent Rick a tape. He was looking for a critique and not necessarily a job. But, it was Bob's dream to come back to his NYC roots. He went by the name of Bob Morgan. Rick was so impressed by what he heard that he had local programmers he knew tape Bob on the air. He sounded exactly like a young Dan Ingram. Good personality too. Bottom line was Bob was hired. His real name was Bob Cruz and he wnet on the air at WABC with that name. He filled in a lot for Dan. Bob had weekend shifts and eventually got Dan's afternoon slot when Dan moved to mornings for a little while. Some of you may remember Bob was the voice behind ABC News' 20/20.

Some added trivia but it was part of Rick's strategy (I would think.) When Bob Cruz filled in for Dan, especially on Saturday, he never/rarely identified himself. Rick felt that if half the audience would think Dan was on the air, the less negative impact there would be on the ratings. Rick wrote that Dan never liked this arrangement as one would expect, but Rick had to answer to the ratings. Plus, there was this little thing called FM that was becoming more of a challenge.

While I'm thinking of big name personalities, I suspect Rick Sklar saw Bruce Morrow's star falling long before we may have suspected. Dan showed lots of irreverence as we all know. One day and I'm thinking this was late 1973 or early 1974, Dan said stay tuned for "The No Name Show." Bruce Morrow/Cousin Brucie went on vacation and from what I can recollect, the substitute jock Johnny Donovan (Rush Limbaugh's voice image guy) never mentioned Brucie's name that entire week. Almost always it would have been something like "Johnny Donovan in for Cousin Brucie tonight." I always wondered if Rick was testing the waters seeing if the audience would complain that Bruce was off the air. By late summer 1974 Brucie was gone.

Dan Ingram wound up staying on the air at WABC until the very end in 1982 when the station made the transition to news/talk. Dan did things his way. He often didn't say the tagline exactly as "written" and often he didn't say what the other jocks said. Rick ran a tight ship but obviously Dan was given lots of leeway - more than anyone else. But he delivered the goods. No wonder Rick wanted more Dan types on the air.

 

[TheBigA]

A young broadcaster who was doing traffic reports in Tampa sent Rick a tape. He was looking for a critique and not necessarily a job. But, it was Bob's dream to come back to his NYC roots. He went by the name of Bob Morgan. Rick was so impressed by what he heard that he had local programmers he knew tape Bob on the air. He sounded exactly like a young Dan Ingram.

Correct...I had forgotten about Cruz, but that story you give is on page 171 of Rick's biography.

 

[Gunsmoke]

I was just listening to a copy of the Dan Ingram show on 8-7-63, the news director said WABC AM and FM New York, did WABC simulcast the AM, just the way WIBG did in the 60's. What was the frequency and was it in stereo. WIBG was on 94.1 very weak in mono.

 

[dumber than a box of hair]

I was just listening to a copy of the Dan Ingram show on 8-7-63, the news director said WABC AM and FM New York, did WABC simulcast the AM, just the way WIBG did in the 60's. What was the frequency and was it in stereo. WIBG was on 94.1 very weak in mono. Some of the songs Memhis-Lonnie Mack, Denise, Tie me kangeroo down sport, Abeline-Georgie Hamilton great stuff that would never cut it in NYC nowadays, my how have times changed...

WABC was simulcast on WABC-FM/95.5 back then, although I don’t know if it was stereo. Today the FM is WPLJ.

 

[Gunsmoke]

WABC was simulcast on WABC-FM/95.5 back then, although I don’t know if it was stereo. Today the FM is WPLJ.

The FM must of had a great signal in the metro...back then..

 

[RMarino]

Generally, no he was not known well outside of the NYC area. As a lifelong radio fan myself, I had never heard of him until I went through NYC in 1993 and heard him on CBS-FM. Of course I was blown away and have been a fan ever since. I have spoken with others who grew up in the 60s/70s Top 40 heyday and they did not know of Dan Ingram. However, most everyone knows Cousin Brucie.

 

[Kemosabe]

A young broadcaster who was doing traffic reports in Tampa sent Rick a tape.

Traffic reports? Mr. Cruz was a disc jockey at WLCY.

He filled in a lot for Dan. Bob had weekend shifts and eventually got Dan's afternoon slot when Dan moved to mornings for a little while.

Bob Cruz was hired to host the all-night show (replacing Jay Reynolds); he substituted for Dan Ingram 36 Saturdays a year.

When Bob Cruz filled in for Dan, especially on Saturday, he never/rarely identified himself.

Though he opened the Saturday shows without a monologue, he closed them with Ingramesque remarks to the accompaniment of Billy May's "Tri-Fi Drums."

I always wondered if Rick was testing the waters seeing if the audience would complain that Bruce was off the air. By late summer 1974 Brucie was gone.

Are you suggesting Bruce Morrow was fired?

 

[Steve Green NEPA]

@ R Marino ....

Merely a guess here, but I would add the names Joey Reynolds, Jean Shepherd and Dick Biondi to that of Cousin Brucie as being a more recognized radio name outside the NY Metro.

Especially in the summer. Dan Ingram did a shift that began in broad daylight, year 'round. The others I mentioned had that nighttime-skip exposure to millions more, on the massive signals WKBW, WOR, WLS and that same WABC, respectively.

I'm a radio person, but one who would not recognize those super-jocks on the Coast -- Steele, Morgan, Tuna, Rose -- if they broadcast a remote from outside my house.

Great question, Bruce NYC !

 

[John FL]

Traffic reports? Mr. Cruz was a disc jockey at WLCY.

I strive for accuracy and I could have worded that comment better. The tape WABC PD Rick Sklar listened to was of Mr. Cruz giving a traffic report. At least that's what he said in his autobiography. Rick's recollections were not always accurate and certain things were embellished and this was discussed in one of my "Radio Days" strings in the North Florida board.

Bob Cruz was hired to host the all-night show (replacing Jay Reynolds); he substituted for Dan Ingram 36 Saturdays a year.

If my memory serves me correctly, Pulse ratings were used. There were quarterly reports, I believe. I do remember Dan worked 4 Saturdays in a row and then he was off a whole bunch of Saturdays. From what I remember the ratings covered a month period usually starting on a Thursday in mid-month and ending the following month on a Wednesday around mid-month as well. That would probably explain the 36 Saturdays. Harrison Harrison, the morning jock, eventually had a similar deal where he worked on Saturday only during the ratings period.

Though he opened the Saturday shows without a monologue, he closed them with Ingramesque remarks to the accompaniment of Billy May's "Tri-Fi Drums."

I believe all fill-in hosts ended Dan's show with the Tri-Fi Drums. They were among Dan's trademarks.

Are you suggesting Bruce Morrow was fired?

Rick wrote and discussed in interviews of Bruce's business ventures and other activities that distracted him from concentrating on his show. The engineer tended to parts of the show while Bruce was on the phone. There was less and less participation from Bruce. The WABC formula worked with talk-ups on virtually every song and lots of personality and interaction with the audience. Rick agreed to open up Bruce's contract so he could be tied to compensation based on rating points. Bruce saw an opportunity to jump ship to WNBC. I suspect Rick was concerned about Bruce's performance and future ratings impacts. Rick wanted to get him back on track. Speculation on my part but I suspect Bruce's contract had a good chance of not being renewed if the nighttime numbers continued to be negatively impacted by the FM challenges. Again, speculation on my part but it seems logical. I've always been fascinated with Rick and I think I knew how he thought about things.

 

[LibertyNT]

Dan's addition to KBOX Dallas in 1959-1960 brought that station the highest ratings it would ever have during its Top 40 run. There are probably a few folks that will remember Dan Ingram from that brief Dallas run, though KLIF was at a 40+ share compared to KBOX's 10.

 

[Kemosabe]

Harrison Harrison, the morning jock, eventually had a similar deal where he worked on Saturday only during the ratings period.

I haven't any recollection of such an arrangement with Mr. Harrison. After Dan Ingram took over morning drive, however, he never worked another Saturday at WABC.

 

[firepoint525]

Is Dan Ingram Known Outside the New York Metropolitan Area?

If you have to ask, the answer is probably no. Have to admit that I never heard of him.

 

[Ai4i]

Big Dan would have been known to some who might have recognized his voice when he announced during the early days of Home Box Office...who remembers that name?

 

[Steve Green NEPA]

Another name to add to that list 'outside the NY Metro' would be Bill St James, a fellow from Connecticut.

Well, another identiable 'voice', anyway. I doubt any civilian/non-radio person would know his name. Perhaps there are a few such souls in syndicated markets where his great show 'Flashback' got on the airwaves. But many more millions are familiar with his voice on those film-rental previews, where he ends with 'And nowwww ..... our FEATURE presentation .... '