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JOEY REYNOLDS PROFILED IN NY TIMES
- Thread starter Call Me Sherlock
- Start date
A
alw
Guest
Interesting look at Joey........never thought I'd see him refered to as "lanky".
When I knew him he was anything but.
When I knew him he was anything but.
Ok, here we go with yet another old time KB discussion. This is a very good article, but I take exception to a few "facts" in this paragraph of the article:
He started at KB when he was 19? I thought he came their from stops in Syracuse and Hartford. And when I briefly worked at WBUZ/Fredonia, they told me he started there professionally. If this is true, a pretty meteoric rise to dj fame.
Getting fired in 1962? I thought he started at KB that year(after Tommy Shannon jumped over to WGR, when GR tried Top 40 for awhile). He actually got fired in late 65 or 66. I heard he got fired for showing up at the annual Channel 7 telethon(perhaps drunk) and asking F Troop co-star Larry Storch if it's true that F Troop star Forest Tucker was a drunken irishman who sleeps with a bottle(which supposedly pissed off Larry).
Elsewhere in this article, the WOR marketing director disputes Joey's claim that he has 9 million listeners nationwide(more like 250,000, says the MD), so it sounds like Joey likes to play fast and loose with the facts.
Sorry to you younger readers of this board for yet another trip down baby boomer memory lane.
He started at KB when he was 19? I thought he came their from stops in Syracuse and Hartford. And when I briefly worked at WBUZ/Fredonia, they told me he started there professionally. If this is true, a pretty meteoric rise to dj fame.
Getting fired in 1962? I thought he started at KB that year(after Tommy Shannon jumped over to WGR, when GR tried Top 40 for awhile). He actually got fired in late 65 or 66. I heard he got fired for showing up at the annual Channel 7 telethon(perhaps drunk) and asking F Troop co-star Larry Storch if it's true that F Troop star Forest Tucker was a drunken irishman who sleeps with a bottle(which supposedly pissed off Larry).
Elsewhere in this article, the WOR marketing director disputes Joey's claim that he has 9 million listeners nationwide(more like 250,000, says the MD), so it sounds like Joey likes to play fast and loose with the facts.
Sorry to you younger readers of this board for yet another trip down baby boomer memory lane.
While it is the NY Times, I guess it wasn't essential to the story that they get all those Joey career details right.
Maybe Joey is adding up all the weekly cume numbers for the year! Then again, even if you do that, you still only come up with 5 million. Oooops.
By the way, I happen to agree with most, if not all of the criticisms.
Maybe Joey is adding up all the weekly cume numbers for the year! Then again, even if you do that, you still only come up with 5 million. Oooops.
By the way, I happen to agree with most, if not all of the criticisms.
Not mentioned in the article, but I've also heard Joey claim to have been Larry King's intern in the early years. I believe King at the time would have been on the air in Miami.
I guess that would have been before Joey became Buffalo's #1 disc jockey at night at the age of 19.
He's a great talent and a very bright guy, but I think he does tend to rewrite his own early history from time to time.
Maybe Joey suffers from some sort of memory lapse.
I guess that would have been before Joey became Buffalo's #1 disc jockey at night at the age of 19.
He's a great talent and a very bright guy, but I think he does tend to rewrite his own early history from time to time.
Maybe Joey suffers from some sort of memory lapse.
Getting fired in 1962? I thought he started at KB that year(after Tommy Shannon jumped over to WGR, when GR tried Top 40 for awhile). He actually got fired in late 65 or 66. I heard he got fired for showing up at the annual Channel 7 telethon(perhaps drunk) and asking F Troop co-star Larry Storch if it's true that F Troop star Forest Tucker was a drunken irishman who sleeps with a bottle(which supposedly pissed off Larry).
I heard it had something to do with Batman. He was interviewing someone from the show on the air and somehow insulted them. The producers called for his neck and Cap Cities gave it to them because Channel 7 was such a big time ABC affiliate at the time. Don't know for sure if it is true but the time frame would be about right.
I heard it had something to do with Batman. He was interviewing someone from the show on the air and somehow insulted them. The producers called for his neck and Cap Cities gave it to them because Channel 7 was such a big time ABC affiliate at the time. Don't know for sure if it is true but the time frame would be about right.
What a neat thread you started, Sherlock!
Google Joey Reynolds and enjoy reading any one of these classic Joey Reynolds links.
Like most Western New York radio rug rats, I listened to Joey in his glory days at WKBW, which featured the great change-overs with Dan Neaverth that usually lasted at least five minutes with plenty of "inside" stuff, the wacky bits and characters like "the engaged woman." It was the Royal order of the Night, purple candles and all. I think we're all the better for having heard Joey in his prime.
Though I haven't spoken to him in years, I've known Joey personally since 1986 when I worked with him when he filled in doing mornings at WNYS and Classic Hits WHTT when Sandy Beach went on vacation. (Jay Thomas also did a few weeks of fill-in in the WNYS days, until he pissed off the entire community of Depew with one of his bits.)
Reynolds went into syndication in 1996 on the WOR Network, doing his all night show from New York and WGR was one of the first stations to sign him... really, how hard of a decision was that! He was pure gold. There were many nights when his show sounded like it originated from Buffalo rather than the Big Apple.
WGR brought Joey to town for the Buffalo Broadcasters ceremony when he was inducted to the Hall of Fame, along with Liz Dribbon, formerly of Channel 7's Dialing For Dollars, who was frequently the brunt of Joey's bits on KB radio.
It was a classic night. Ask Al Wallack and any number of radio people who were there. When Dribbon, after her introduction, asked for and received a chair to "make a few comments" we knew it was gonna be a long night. Most of the people in the audience were waiting for Joey to be inducted. Envision people in the audience checking their watches (which seemed to be running backwards) as Liz, god bless her, told story after story after... all the while sitting in that big chair on stage.
After a while, Liz yielded the stage to Joey, who was introduced by Larry Norton. The first thing Reynolds says (after dramatically looking at HIS wristwatch) was, "I've been waiting so long to get up here tonight, I think the Kiss morning show is ready to be inducted into the Hall of Fame!" Big laughs. He went on to tell a few stories and had the audience in the pam of his hand.
I don't think the Times article did justice to Joey and his career. I don't understand the comments from the WOR staff. They were kind of insensitive. Maybe they were trying to be humorous, but their comments sounded more disparaging than graceful and complimentary. It could have been a better story.
As to Joey's early career before KB, I was sure he did a stint at WHOT-AM 1330, Campbell-Youngstown, Ohio before he hit Syracuse. The stories on this thread of him leaving KB in 1966 are classics... and true.
It was Jeff Kaye who came from WBZ Boston to succeed Reynolds on the 7-midnight shift at KB around 1966. The "Jeff Kaye Underground" replaced the Royal Order of the Night.
The rest is history, and a great chapter of Buffalo radio history it is.
Google Joey Reynolds and enjoy reading any one of these classic Joey Reynolds links.
Like most Western New York radio rug rats, I listened to Joey in his glory days at WKBW, which featured the great change-overs with Dan Neaverth that usually lasted at least five minutes with plenty of "inside" stuff, the wacky bits and characters like "the engaged woman." It was the Royal order of the Night, purple candles and all. I think we're all the better for having heard Joey in his prime.
Though I haven't spoken to him in years, I've known Joey personally since 1986 when I worked with him when he filled in doing mornings at WNYS and Classic Hits WHTT when Sandy Beach went on vacation. (Jay Thomas also did a few weeks of fill-in in the WNYS days, until he pissed off the entire community of Depew with one of his bits.)
Reynolds went into syndication in 1996 on the WOR Network, doing his all night show from New York and WGR was one of the first stations to sign him... really, how hard of a decision was that! He was pure gold. There were many nights when his show sounded like it originated from Buffalo rather than the Big Apple.
WGR brought Joey to town for the Buffalo Broadcasters ceremony when he was inducted to the Hall of Fame, along with Liz Dribbon, formerly of Channel 7's Dialing For Dollars, who was frequently the brunt of Joey's bits on KB radio.
It was a classic night. Ask Al Wallack and any number of radio people who were there. When Dribbon, after her introduction, asked for and received a chair to "make a few comments" we knew it was gonna be a long night. Most of the people in the audience were waiting for Joey to be inducted. Envision people in the audience checking their watches (which seemed to be running backwards) as Liz, god bless her, told story after story after... all the while sitting in that big chair on stage.
After a while, Liz yielded the stage to Joey, who was introduced by Larry Norton. The first thing Reynolds says (after dramatically looking at HIS wristwatch) was, "I've been waiting so long to get up here tonight, I think the Kiss morning show is ready to be inducted into the Hall of Fame!" Big laughs. He went on to tell a few stories and had the audience in the pam of his hand.
I don't think the Times article did justice to Joey and his career. I don't understand the comments from the WOR staff. They were kind of insensitive. Maybe they were trying to be humorous, but their comments sounded more disparaging than graceful and complimentary. It could have been a better story.
As to Joey's early career before KB, I was sure he did a stint at WHOT-AM 1330, Campbell-Youngstown, Ohio before he hit Syracuse. The stories on this thread of him leaving KB in 1966 are classics... and true.
It was Jeff Kaye who came from WBZ Boston to succeed Reynolds on the 7-midnight shift at KB around 1966. The "Jeff Kaye Underground" replaced the Royal Order of the Night.
The rest is history, and a great chapter of Buffalo radio history it is.
one other thing
Jim Pastick's post indicates both these stories are true. I do remember one other thing regarding Joey and the Ch. 7 telethon. When his firing was announced in J. Don Schlearth's(correct spelling?) daily Radio/TV column in the Buffalo Evening News, the official reason given was he failed to show up at the telethon. That struck me as a dumb reason to fire someone with what - a 40% share of the evening audience in Buffalo? Years later a former KB engineer known for his great anecdotes about the old days at KB (I don't know if I should mention his name here - many of you know who I'm talking about) - he told me about the "Forest Tucker/Drunk Irishman who sleeps with a bottle?" story.
So perhaps there was more than one straw than broke the camel's back.
Jim Pastick's post indicates both these stories are true. I do remember one other thing regarding Joey and the Ch. 7 telethon. When his firing was announced in J. Don Schlearth's(correct spelling?) daily Radio/TV column in the Buffalo Evening News, the official reason given was he failed to show up at the telethon. That struck me as a dumb reason to fire someone with what - a 40% share of the evening audience in Buffalo? Years later a former KB engineer known for his great anecdotes about the old days at KB (I don't know if I should mention his name here - many of you know who I'm talking about) - he told me about the "Forest Tucker/Drunk Irishman who sleeps with a bottle?" story.
So perhaps there was more than one straw than broke the camel's back.
Dan and Joey were both big influences on me growing up. I was glued to the radio at 7pm for the change over. While not on the inside I understood lots of the inside references somehow and being interested in radio I was greatful for the inside peek into the biz.
I have heard that before KB Joey worked in Miami at WAME 1260 the station later went R&B. There were a few stations before the KB days. I also heard he used to hang at WWOL. The '62-'66 timeframe at KB sounds about right to me.
Joey had a satellite talk show called "Satellite Live" in the '80's. Most of the time he interviewed show biz types. I don't think the show lasted long but it was one of the first.
When I first heard his WOR show it was very much like what he did at KB, complete with the Royal Order of The Night People. I often wonder is Seasame Street got their character "Count Numbers" from the bits Joey did on KB years ago. At some point his WOR show changed direction and I no longer heard his funny commentary. I always enjoyed his slant on things, Joey can tell a good story! Instead there were more comments from his group of less that talented hangers on who always seem to think they had something to say. That too has passed in favor of more interviews with studio guests.
With Joey you're never quite sure of what you're going to get. I remember listening to one of his WOR shows from Buffalo. Joey and his group of blabby NYC yakers just complained about the snow and cold all night. I thought it was a real downer, it could have been great.
I have never met the man and not sure I want to. What if he turned out to be a jerk in person? I'd rather not find that out if it's the case. I don't think he is because I have heard from others who have met him. They all say he was very kind to them and generous with his time. So maybe I did miss something.
One thing is sure, you either love him or hate him but you are aware of Joey. That's more than came be said for a lot of people on the radio.
A fan,
Mike
I have heard that before KB Joey worked in Miami at WAME 1260 the station later went R&B. There were a few stations before the KB days. I also heard he used to hang at WWOL. The '62-'66 timeframe at KB sounds about right to me.
Joey had a satellite talk show called "Satellite Live" in the '80's. Most of the time he interviewed show biz types. I don't think the show lasted long but it was one of the first.
When I first heard his WOR show it was very much like what he did at KB, complete with the Royal Order of The Night People. I often wonder is Seasame Street got their character "Count Numbers" from the bits Joey did on KB years ago. At some point his WOR show changed direction and I no longer heard his funny commentary. I always enjoyed his slant on things, Joey can tell a good story! Instead there were more comments from his group of less that talented hangers on who always seem to think they had something to say. That too has passed in favor of more interviews with studio guests.
With Joey you're never quite sure of what you're going to get. I remember listening to one of his WOR shows from Buffalo. Joey and his group of blabby NYC yakers just complained about the snow and cold all night. I thought it was a real downer, it could have been great.
I have never met the man and not sure I want to. What if he turned out to be a jerk in person? I'd rather not find that out if it's the case. I don't think he is because I have heard from others who have met him. They all say he was very kind to them and generous with his time. So maybe I did miss something.
One thing is sure, you either love him or hate him but you are aware of Joey. That's more than came be said for a lot of people on the radio.
A fan,
Mike
Well, I guess the board hasn't gone fishin'. Tie up the bass boat, Mike.
Newspaper articles and in station accounts from people who worked with Joey seem to confirm that he was bounced out of KB after mixing it up with Forrest Tucker on one of the Variety Club Telethons. I'm guessing that was only the straw that broke the camel's back and there were issues long before that incident. Joey's friends say he was one of the most lovable, affable guys to work with, generous to a fault, but he also had a mean streak and didn't know his limitations. It's almost as if he begged to get fired by taunting management, stretching and eventually breaking the rules.
In an interview a while ago, Dan Neaverth talked about Joey's character traits in the early days at KB, "If you gave Joey a thousand dollars, he'd have it spent in 15 minutes. If the PD told him he couldn't say the word 'blue' on the air, Joey would start his show with a ten minute bit using the word 'blue' fifty times."
To his credit, Joey seems to have come to terms with himself and mellowed over the years. Maybe it was rehab, maybe it's from being a parent, maybe it's being "born again" as he's often said he is. I agree with Mike Sheridan about his show being very good and very bad. Some nights it's very interesting while other nights it's just plain boring, like something you'd hear from two sophomores on college radio.
Newspaper articles and in station accounts from people who worked with Joey seem to confirm that he was bounced out of KB after mixing it up with Forrest Tucker on one of the Variety Club Telethons. I'm guessing that was only the straw that broke the camel's back and there were issues long before that incident. Joey's friends say he was one of the most lovable, affable guys to work with, generous to a fault, but he also had a mean streak and didn't know his limitations. It's almost as if he begged to get fired by taunting management, stretching and eventually breaking the rules.
In an interview a while ago, Dan Neaverth talked about Joey's character traits in the early days at KB, "If you gave Joey a thousand dollars, he'd have it spent in 15 minutes. If the PD told him he couldn't say the word 'blue' on the air, Joey would start his show with a ten minute bit using the word 'blue' fifty times."
To his credit, Joey seems to have come to terms with himself and mellowed over the years. Maybe it was rehab, maybe it's from being a parent, maybe it's being "born again" as he's often said he is. I agree with Mike Sheridan about his show being very good and very bad. Some nights it's very interesting while other nights it's just plain boring, like something you'd hear from two sophomores on college radio.
A
alw
Guest
Re: one other thing
cee said:
J
jfc40ts
Guest
This has been an interesting thread. When he was here for the Hall of Fame induction, did he tell the story of his firing? The version I heard is a bit different...
Appatently, Forrest Tucker was one of the national cast appearing on the Variety Club Telethon and was supposed to make an appearance on Joey's show. When it became apparent that he was getting stiffed, Joey proceeded to start in on Forrest and then tell the telethon's dirty little secrets: that the national cast was getting good bucks to come here and that about 90% of the total was known beforehand and that the theatrics one sees at the end of the show were just that- theatrics. The Ch. 7 GM heard this and was quite upset and had called Joey to complain. One thing led to another and it ended up with the radio GM firing Joey. Supposedly, after his show was done, Joey went over to Ch. 7 (where both stations offices were), took his shoes and nailed them to the GM's door with a cheery little note saying, "Fill these, you little twirp"...
I'm sure this, as well as other stories" get bigger and more embellished as time goes by. If Jim Adler is able, perhaps he could enlighten us with the actual account of what happened...
Appatently, Forrest Tucker was one of the national cast appearing on the Variety Club Telethon and was supposed to make an appearance on Joey's show. When it became apparent that he was getting stiffed, Joey proceeded to start in on Forrest and then tell the telethon's dirty little secrets: that the national cast was getting good bucks to come here and that about 90% of the total was known beforehand and that the theatrics one sees at the end of the show were just that- theatrics. The Ch. 7 GM heard this and was quite upset and had called Joey to complain. One thing led to another and it ended up with the radio GM firing Joey. Supposedly, after his show was done, Joey went over to Ch. 7 (where both stations offices were), took his shoes and nailed them to the GM's door with a cheery little note saying, "Fill these, you little twirp"...
I'm sure this, as well as other stories" get bigger and more embellished as time goes by. If Jim Adler is able, perhaps he could enlighten us with the actual account of what happened...
Well, it's interesting to see where the legendary stories have ended up over the years. jfc40ts is right regarding the remarks about Joey's comments...on his show, not the actual telethon...when he told some of those dirty Telethon secrets. But as I recall (and Joey has told me this story a couple of times), Forrest Tucker did actually guest on Joey's show and was asked about his fellow actor's heavy drinking habits, which prompted Tucker to complain to the KB-TV GM, who then either went to the KB radio GM or the Cap Cities VP/radio and insisted that Joey be fired.
When he left the building he indeed nailed his shoes to the PD's door, although the exact wording of the sign he put on them was simply, "fill these."
As for whether or not Joey was drunk on the air, although he was a noted alcohol abuser in those days, he has never indicated to me that he did his show while under the influence.
I have known Joey since we worked together in Hartford in 1967 (which, if memory serves me right, is the city where he broke the 4 Seasons by playing "Sherry" over and over when he was at WPOP (and I was a member of The Royal Order of The Night People...I want to throw in a cheap one-liner here about being 47 at the time, but then you may actually think I'm older than Joey...or worse, Danny, which is...ahem...just not true). He and I remain friends to this day; I have visited him in NYC where I have been a guest on his show, which is a wonder to behold, and I generally credit him with introducing me to David Marsden, who brought me to Canada to work in 1985. To the person who wondered in another post what kind of person Joey is, I have always found him to be a wonderfully warm and caring man and absolutely fascinating to talk to.
And his friends! When I talked with him last week he was driving Sid Bernstein around Manhattan. He took me to see Les Paul at the guitar legend's regular Monday night gig at The Irridium, a tiny jazz club in Times Square. I'm not sure which blew me away more: the fact that I was seeing Les Paul (an amazing performance, btw) in a small club or the fact that Les stopped the show half way through and asked Joey to get on the stage, where he proceeded to do a 5 minute monologue.
Actually the thing that impressed me the most is that Joey has a Manhattan police parking "pass" on his car that lets him park absolutely anywhere he wants to in the city!
For more information, I suggest you pick up Joey's book, "Let A Smile Be Your Umbrella." Like the author himself, it's chock full of wonderful stories and ruminations.
-Berns with an "e"-
When he left the building he indeed nailed his shoes to the PD's door, although the exact wording of the sign he put on them was simply, "fill these."
As for whether or not Joey was drunk on the air, although he was a noted alcohol abuser in those days, he has never indicated to me that he did his show while under the influence.
I have known Joey since we worked together in Hartford in 1967 (which, if memory serves me right, is the city where he broke the 4 Seasons by playing "Sherry" over and over when he was at WPOP (and I was a member of The Royal Order of The Night People...I want to throw in a cheap one-liner here about being 47 at the time, but then you may actually think I'm older than Joey...or worse, Danny, which is...ahem...just not true). He and I remain friends to this day; I have visited him in NYC where I have been a guest on his show, which is a wonder to behold, and I generally credit him with introducing me to David Marsden, who brought me to Canada to work in 1985. To the person who wondered in another post what kind of person Joey is, I have always found him to be a wonderfully warm and caring man and absolutely fascinating to talk to.
And his friends! When I talked with him last week he was driving Sid Bernstein around Manhattan. He took me to see Les Paul at the guitar legend's regular Monday night gig at The Irridium, a tiny jazz club in Times Square. I'm not sure which blew me away more: the fact that I was seeing Les Paul (an amazing performance, btw) in a small club or the fact that Les stopped the show half way through and asked Joey to get on the stage, where he proceeded to do a 5 minute monologue.
Actually the thing that impressed me the most is that Joey has a Manhattan police parking "pass" on his car that lets him park absolutely anywhere he wants to in the city!
For more information, I suggest you pick up Joey's book, "Let A Smile Be Your Umbrella." Like the author himself, it's chock full of wonderful stories and ruminations.
-Berns with an "e"-
I listened to Joey allot growing up and I have to agree I don't think he was ever drunk on the air. Just really giddy, and charged up. I never heard him slur a word. He's a little like Robin Williams his thoughts seem to run a bit faster than most of us!
It sounds like he is enjoying life in NYC where I think he always wanted to work anyway. It's nice to hear that someone who gave us so much fun is doing well. May he continue to enjoy life for many years to come.
I was a strange kid. As a teenager I had some Les Paul & Mary Ford records. My next door neighbor was a musician, really old school. He thought that Rock & Roll was a Communist plot. He approved of my Les Paul & Mary Ford records. Actually I think I surprised him! Les Paul is amazing and when Joey has him on the show it's always worth hearing what Les has to say!
Mike long time Joey & Danny fan
It sounds like he is enjoying life in NYC where I think he always wanted to work anyway. It's nice to hear that someone who gave us so much fun is doing well. May he continue to enjoy life for many years to come.
I was a strange kid. As a teenager I had some Les Paul & Mary Ford records. My next door neighbor was a musician, really old school. He thought that Rock & Roll was a Communist plot. He approved of my Les Paul & Mary Ford records. Actually I think I surprised him! Les Paul is amazing and when Joey has him on the show it's always worth hearing what Les has to say!
Mike long time Joey & Danny fan
JimPastrick said:
I was wondering if anyone else was going to pick up on that. The tone of the article seemed to be a little mean-spirited, almost like they were making fun of him. I ran the board for him when he was doing his show for two nights, on the road down here in Georgia...... really nice guy! Bought pizza, drinks, etc. Shared some stories. Talked about South Florida (which is where I grew up.) I even drove across the street to the gas station during a break..... to turn them on to a tradition here in Georgia, Moon Pies and RC Cola!! It was a long 2 nights....as I ran his show, and then my normal morning show duties here........ but had a blast, and learned a bit from an old-timer! Our station here...A rock station, was playing the show Rockline, which he heard as we past the studio. He mentioned he was the original host on Rockline, and mentioned the fact that he had been fired from 30+ gigs throughout his career. Good guy......though I'm still waiting on my payoff. No sign of any check even though it's been almost 11 months. LOL!! Even if I never see a check, it was worth the experience.
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