Jay Severin Praises Peter Smyth But History of Smyth And Talk Radio Is...

[Casablanca]

Funny how time and position change people's thoughts and positions. Today, Jay Severin praised Peter Smyth, President of Greater Media, Inc. for having the foresight to dump the Smooth Jazz format in 1999 and go to talk.

However, when Peter was the Sales Manager of the old WROR-FM when owned by General Tire which also owned WRKO he had a different thought about talk radio.

He tried to shut up Jerry Williams on WRKO because Jerry was taking on the beer industry who fought the "bottle bill" to the death. One of Peter's accounts was Budweiser and they threatened to pull all their spots on WROR if Jerry didn't stop talking on TALK RADIO about the beer industry's resistance to the bottle bill.

Of course, Jerry did not stop talking which further angered Peter who at that time though Talk Radio was the worst format on radio.

As Jerry would also say, the state would be rolling in money if we had a hypocrisy tax.... He was right then and right today.

Oh, by the way, happy 8th birthday to Peter Smyth's TALK RADIO station WTKK 96.9.

 

[Mickey37]

As Jerry Williams would say, the state would be rolling in money if we had a hypocrisy tax.... He was right then and right today.

He was indeed right then. He's not right today, because unfortunately, he can't speak those words. Jerry has passed. Quite a while ago, actually. I assume he left something for you in his estate each time you bring him up?

 

[Casablanca]

Are the words of JFK, Lincoln, Shakespeare, and Harry Schwartz no longer valid because they too have passed?

I trust that Jerry being the doting father and grandfather that he was left his estate to his daughters.

His legacy, as the Dean of Talk Radio, he left to the rest of us. By comparison to those who tried to walk in his steps we can see how valuable that legacy has become.

As Jerry Williams would say, the state would be rolling in money if we had a hypocrisy tax.... He was right then and right today.

He was indeed right then. He's not right today, because unfortunately, he can't speak those words. Jerry has passed. Quite a while ago, actually. I assume he left something for you in his estate each time you bring him up?

 

[Mickey37]

You're comparing the words of Jerry Williams to Lincoln or JFK? Jerry was a talk show pundit. An entertainer. A good one, but far from an elected leader. Let's keep some perspective, shall we?

 

[Finn]

Sometimes entertainers get elected - like Sonny Bono, Clint Eastwood, Ronald Reagan, and we'll see with Fred Thompson.

 

[Casablanca]

I believe you missed my point entirely as you dismissed Jerry for being dead. How about making the obvious your own conclusion.

You're comparing the words of Jerry Williams to Lincoln or JFK? Jerry was a talk show pundit. An entertainer. A good one, but far from an elected leader. Let's keep some perspective, shall we?

 

[Mickey37]

I believe you missed my point entirely as you dismissed Jerry for being dead. How about making the obvious your own conclusion.

Your point seems to be that Jerry Williams had a lot to say, and you miss him greatly. Same point I've seen you making on these boards for a couple of years now.

Another poster notes quite accurately that some entertainers have become elected leaders. Williams was not in that group, from what I can remember.

Look, I'm not slamming the guy. He had a great show, and he made a difference. But his time has passed. I just question why our friend White House (the literal translation of his nom de plume) tends to view everything through the prism of Jerry Williams?

 

[Casablanca]

We are getting a little off point here. The point of my post was to note how much Peter Smyth's view of talk radio had matured over the years.
Peter is actually one of the 'good guys ' in a business that doesn't have many.
Just thought it was interesting to note how his view of the world of talk radio has changed over twenty years.

By the way, the bottle bill passed over that beer distributors vehement and threatening objections and the law seems to be working fairly well.

 

[TSBench]

However, when Peter was the Sales Manager of the old WROR-FM when owned by General Tire which also owned WRKO he had a different thought about talk radio.

He tried to shut up Jerry Williams on WRKO because Jerry was taking on the beer industry who fought the "bottle bill" to the death. One of Peter's accounts was Budweiser and they threatened to pull all their spots on WROR if Jerry didn't stop talking on TALK RADIO about the beer industry's resistance to the bottle bill.

Of course, Jerry did not stop talking which further angered Peter who at that time though Talk Radio was the worst format on radio.

Now, I'm certain that your version of the event is the correct one, but perhaps you could clear up a few things.

How, exactly, did Smyth 'attempt' to muzzle Jerry Williams?

If Smyth went directly to Jerry, since Jerry had no reporting relationship with Smyth, Jerry blowing him off required no cojones at all on Jerry's part.

Did Smyth go to the WRKO GM, and demand that he muzzle Jerry? If the GM told Smyth to stuff it, then the credit goes to the GM, not Jerry.

Did the GM go to Jerry and tell him to shut up, in which case the GM is the biggest goat here, not Smyth.

If so, did Jerry then tell his GM to go pound sand? If so, Jerry does get the credit.

Thanks in advance.

Regards,
TSB

 

[Casablanca]

First, Peter went to the Executive Producer, me, and then to the General Manager, a slug whose name I seem to have forgotten. He was a fishy character but he did tell Peter to pound sand. The only time the WRKO general manager told Jerry to shut up was when Jerry complained on-air about the urine stenched city of Boston parking garage when was... ah....let's say a personal money stream to the then mayor of the sityofboston. Hizzoner, told the general manager that if Jerry didn't shut up Mr. bottom feeder would lose his parking space [ free parking space] in said garage. Jerry caved.

However, when Peter was the Sales Manager of the old WROR-FM when owned by General Tire which also owned WRKO he had a different thought about talk radio.

He tried to shut up Jerry Williams on WRKO because Jerry was taking on the beer industry who fought the "bottle bill" to the death. One of Peter's accounts was Budweiser and they threatened to pull all their spots on WROR if Jerry didn't stop talking on TALK RADIO about the beer industry's resistance to the bottle bill.

Of course, Jerry did not stop talking which further angered Peter who at that time though Talk Radio was the worst format on radio.

Now, I'm certain that your version of the event is the correct one, but perhaps you could clear up a few things.

How, exactly, did Smyth 'attempt' to muzzle Jerry Williams?

If Smyth went directly to Jerry, since Jerry had no reporting relationship with Smyth, Jerry blowing him off required no cojones at all on Jerry's part.

Did Smyth go to the WRKO GM, and demand that he muzzle Jerry? If the GM told Smyth to stuff it, then the credit goes to the GM, not Jerry.

Did the GM go to Jerry and tell him to shut up, in which case the GM is the biggest goat here, not Smyth.

If so, did Jerry then tell his GM to go pound sand? If so, Jerry does get the credit.

Thanks in advance.

Regards,
TSB

 

[TSBench]

First, Peter went to the Executive Producer, me, and then to the General Manager, a slug whose name I seem to have forgotten. He was a fishy character but he did tell Peter to pound sand.

So, there was no meaningful pressure put on Jerry to kill the bottle bill conversation. Thanks.

The only time the WRKO general manager told Jerry to shut up was when Jerry complained on-air about the urine stenched city of Boston parking garage when was... ah....let's say a personal money stream to the then mayor of the sityofboston. Hizzoner, told the general manager that if Jerry didn't shut up Mr. bottom feeder would lose his parking space [ free parking space] in said garage. Jerry caved.

Just so we have this straight, Kevin White was taking graft from the owner of a parking garage? Just wondering, but if you knew this, why didn't you or Jerry use this as a trump card during a certain, shall we say, unpleasant personnel problem involving a White impersonator?

Regards,
TSB

 

[Casablanca]

Good question. In fact, word was there was a sitting grand jury [ state or federal - don't remember] on this and several other like issues. This poster's counsel, which will also go unnamed, was I found out later playing both sides of the litigation field and would not go after their friends at cityhall even though I directed them to do so. They would not play hardball. Now, Hizzoner is on his way out with Althziemers.So, it really does not matter now. But as the saying 'BLANK' Althziemers...the last thing they forget are the grudges."

First, Peter went to the Executive Producer, me, and then to the General Manager, a slug whose name I seem to have forgotten. He was a fishy character but he did tell Peter to pound sand.

So, there was no meaningful pressure put on Jerry to kill the bottle bill conversation. Thanks.

The only time the WRKO general manager told Jerry to shut up was when Jerry complained on-air about the urine stenched city of Boston parking garage when was... ah....let's say a personal money stream to the then mayor of the sityofboston. Hizzoner, told the general manager that if Jerry didn't shut up Mr. bottom feeder would lose his parking space [ free parking space] in said garage. Jerry caved.

Just so we have this straight, Kevin White was taking graft from the owner of a parking garage? Just wondering, but if you knew this, why didn't you or Jerry use this as a trump card during a certain, shall we say, unpleasant personnel problem involving a White impersonator?

Regards,
TSB

 

[TSBench]

Good question.

Good question? You just stated as fact that the mayor of Boston was taking graft, and when asked what that was based on you reply "Good question." ??

What I was looking for was a 'good answer' , which seems to be in pretty short supply in your storeroom of knowledge.

So, the real answer is you have no idea.

Thanks for clearing that up.

Regards,
TSB

 

[Casablanca]

Will give you the name of my EX lawyers and you can take up the argument with them. Maybe you will have more success than I did.
Thanks,
Casa

Good question.

Good question? You just stated as fact that the mayor of Boston was taking graft, and when asked what that was based on you reply "Good question." ??

What I was looking for was a 'good answer' , which seems to be in pretty short supply in your storeroom of knowledge.

So, the real answer is you have no idea.

Thanks for clearing that up.

Regards,
TSB

 

[TSBench]

Will give you the name of my EX lawyers and you can take up the argument with them. Maybe you will have more success than I did.
Thanks,
Casa

Huh? Your ex-lawyer told you Kevin White was on the take? Sounds like more of your patented ragtime to me.

One things I've learned on these boards is that if you ask someone for the time, and they start giving you instructions on how to build a watch, the only thing you can be sure of is that they don't know what time it is.

Thanks, anyway.

Regards,
TSB

 

[Casablanca]

His daughters has their own ponies and stables he had a Beacon Hill town house and a summer house and a house on one of the islands all on the mahoares salary. Yeah, he must have had a little tin box to stash his loose change. Much graft and many girlfriends. If you lived in the area during the time it was common knowledge. But kevinhagen was one of the Hibernian boys and they protected each other just as they did when the priest abuse scandal first broke. Welcome, to Boston's real history.

Will give you the name of my EX lawyers and you can take up the argument with them. Maybe you will have more success than I did.
Thanks,
Casa

Huh? Your ex-lawyer told you Kevin White was on the take? Sounds like more of your patented ragtime to me.

One things I've learned on these boards is that if you ask someone for the time, and they start giving you instructions on how to build a watch, the only thing you can be sure of is that they don't know what time it is.

Thanks, anyway.

Regards,
TSB