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KLAC Two Way Radio?
- Thread starter kilohertz
- Start date
D
doublecashkgb
Guest
I was pretty young but KLAC was the KFI of the 60's Joe Pyne, Joel A Spivak, Bob Grant, Len Hilburn, & B Mitchell Reed did weekends. A great station, basically they refined the talk format, I believe they had very high ratings (top 3) during their peak years.
Wasn't here then but I remember growing up in Springfield Ohio we had a morning talk show on one local station and Phil Donahue actually began as hosting a talk show on WHIO radio in nearby Dayton. That was when most stations were music with news on the hour. Donahue's early TV show on WLWD, also in Dayton, was basically a radio talk show on TV. In those days it was, "today our subject is... and now to the phones, thus "two way". I think other stations in other markets also used the "two way radio" moniker.
I do remember from that era Joe Pyne also had a syndicated TV talk show. Where Donahue was warm and fuzzy Pyne was a piece of steel wool. Donahue also brought guests on his TV show and had a live audience as well, where he started his roaming with a mike to take viewer questions and comments. Morton Downey, Jr. and Wally George thought they were destined as successors to Joe Pyne but no one could do it like he did and not look like a fool and or be hated as well. George and Downey both exemplified the truth in my perception.
How did we get ever go from there to Geraldo and more especially Jerry Springer?
My question here is: was Joe Pyne on Radio the same as he was on his TV show? Would love it if someone who has airchecks would post them someplace for others to hear.
I do remember from that era Joe Pyne also had a syndicated TV talk show. Where Donahue was warm and fuzzy Pyne was a piece of steel wool. Donahue also brought guests on his TV show and had a live audience as well, where he started his roaming with a mike to take viewer questions and comments. Morton Downey, Jr. and Wally George thought they were destined as successors to Joe Pyne but no one could do it like he did and not look like a fool and or be hated as well. George and Downey both exemplified the truth in my perception.
How did we get ever go from there to Geraldo and more especially Jerry Springer?
My question here is: was Joe Pyne on Radio the same as he was on his TV show? Would love it if someone who has airchecks would post them someplace for others to hear.
I believe WCBM in Baltimore still used the "two way" moniker as late as a couple of years ago.
I remember BMR and Elliot Mintz doing those weekend shows geared twoards a younger crowd. What a great station it was. I blows me away there are no airchecks of it and most people don't even remember it. By the way all this took place in 1965-66 when we had the Fairness Doctrine (I'm not saying it should be brought back) and Pyne and others were right-wing too. So that blows all the myth making about no right-wing radio until Limbaugh. Also Les Crane did afternoons. Anyone remember him? There has to be airchecks out there somewhere of the station.
I remember that halcyon time. Among the air talent were Joe Pyne, Louis Lomax, Joel A. Spivak, and Bud Haley. The hosts were called "Communicasters." The station was owned by Metromedia, which also owned Channel 11 and KMET.
Pyne had a TV show on sister station 11 at the time. Ran once a week on Saturday nights. During the Watts riots of '65, he went live on the air with a pistol, and challenged any rioter to try to rob him. He lost a leg during either the Korean War or WWII, and used a wooden leg. He was reportedly very bitter about that.
His catchphrase was "Why don't you go gargle some razor blades?"
Sam Benson (Lou's Garage, et al) was heard all day and night as the staff announcer. Last I heard, he is still amongst the living and playing a lot of golf.
Pyne had a TV show on sister station 11 at the time. Ran once a week on Saturday nights. During the Watts riots of '65, he went live on the air with a pistol, and challenged any rioter to try to rob him. He lost a leg during either the Korean War or WWII, and used a wooden leg. He was reportedly very bitter about that.
His catchphrase was "Why don't you go gargle some razor blades?"
Sam Benson (Lou's Garage, et al) was heard all day and night as the staff announcer. Last I heard, he is still amongst the living and playing a lot of golf.
Pyne had a TV show on sister station 11 at the time. Ran once a week on Saturday nights. During the Watts riots of '65, he went live on the air with a pistol, and challenged any rioter to try to rob him. He lost a leg during either the Korean War or WWII, and used a wooden leg. He was reportedly very bitter about that.
His catchphrase was "Why don't you go gargle some razor blades?"
Sorry I never got his radio show as I was back in Ohio then, but I do remember his TV show and it was interesting to say the least. All of the people who tried to do confrontational talk TV shows afterward never got it, or maybe they just didn't have the personality to carry it off.
Always wondered what the man was really like, anyone here who remembers?
KLAC "Two Way Radio" was highly rated - and Pyne was first or second in his time slot (morning drive) against some heavy competition like Bob Crane on KNX, Dick Whittinghill on KMPC, Robert W. Morgan on KHJ, etc. KLAC was fairly balanced, though, in terms of the hosts' politics - Spivak was liberal, as was Roy Elwell who did a couple of years at KLAC between Top 30 jock gigs.
I wasn't aware that Mintz and BMR did weekend shows on KLAC (you can bet THEY weren't conservative), but I'm sure it was a short trip down the hall from sister station KMET. Eventually, KABC built a stronger line-up of hosts, and lapped KLAC in the ratings. At that point ('68 or so, I think), KLAC threw in the towel and flipped to an MOR format, but continued to lag in the ratings - it would have been hard to beat KMPC. Then they switched to "California Country" a year or two later, and were hot again.
I believe Lohman and Barkley also did time at KLAC - but I can't remember if it was during the talk or MOR format, or whether it was before or after their time at KFWB. Does anyone remember?
I wasn't aware that Mintz and BMR did weekend shows on KLAC (you can bet THEY weren't conservative), but I'm sure it was a short trip down the hall from sister station KMET. Eventually, KABC built a stronger line-up of hosts, and lapped KLAC in the ratings. At that point ('68 or so, I think), KLAC threw in the towel and flipped to an MOR format, but continued to lag in the ratings - it would have been hard to beat KMPC. Then they switched to "California Country" a year or two later, and were hot again.
I believe Lohman and Barkley also did time at KLAC - but I can't remember if it was during the talk or MOR format, or whether it was before or after their time at KFWB. Does anyone remember?
D
doublecashkgb
Guest
I don't think KLAC switched formats due to ratings. I worked for an old Metromedia
executive who explained to me that it was especially tough sell to advertisers in those days.
Willis Duff was the genius behind the KLAC format, which prefigured Modern talk radio by
20 years. In comparison to KLAC's Two Way Radio KABC sounded like an old folk's home.
executive who explained to me that it was especially tough sell to advertisers in those days.
Willis Duff was the genius behind the KLAC format, which prefigured Modern talk radio by
20 years. In comparison to KLAC's Two Way Radio KABC sounded like an old folk's home.
Just had another memory spurt:
Sunday nights at KLAC also featured old, stodgy (meant in a respectful way) John J. Anthony, who started in radio about the same time Marconi did, and hosted a program where people talked about their personal problems, a precursor perhaps to Michael Benner and Frank Sontag. He always greeted every caller with:
"This is Mr. Anthony, and you are on the air."
LKeller, not meaning to nitpick, but I believe KLAC was located at the time on the Miracle Mile, separate from KMET & KTTV, not at Metromedia Square. Anyone remember for sure?
The great Jim Healy started his signature show with the telegraph sound fx at KLAC, but I'm not sure if it started during the talk radio or MOR era.
Sunday nights at KLAC also featured old, stodgy (meant in a respectful way) John J. Anthony, who started in radio about the same time Marconi did, and hosted a program where people talked about their personal problems, a precursor perhaps to Michael Benner and Frank Sontag. He always greeted every caller with:
"This is Mr. Anthony, and you are on the air."
LKeller, not meaning to nitpick, but I believe KLAC was located at the time on the Miracle Mile, separate from KMET & KTTV, not at Metromedia Square. Anyone remember for sure?
The great Jim Healy started his signature show with the telegraph sound fx at KLAC, but I'm not sure if it started during the talk radio or MOR era.
"LKeller, not meaning to nitpick, but I believe KLAC was located at the time on the Miracle Mile, separate from KMET & KTTV, not at Metromedia Square. Anyone remember for sure?"
Feel free to nitpick, RicoGregg - I just assumed they were in the same building.
"The great Jim Healy started his signature show with the telegraph sound fx at KLAC, but I'm not sure if it started during the talk radio or MOR era."
According to laradio.com, Healy worked at KLAC from 61 to 65, so he must have started before Two-Way Radio, when they first had an MOR format. He apparently left in 65 before the talk format became really hot. He was at KFWB for awhile, where I don't think they let him do his reports in his signature style. Healy then worked at KABC for a few years, then returned to KLAC during its country days. I was a student working in a Westwood deli in 73 - my boss only listened to jazz (KBCA), except during Jim Healy's sports reports, when the dial was switched to KLAC. That's when I became familiar with his great sports reports. As soon as Jim was done, and the "Ridin' Home with the Jaybird" (Jay Lawrence) jingle started, the dial was spun back to jazz on FM.
I also got the answer to my own question about Lohman and Barkley - also via laradio.com. Roger Barkley was the PD and KLAC, and hired Al Lohman as morning jock in 63 (pre-talk). When MetroMedia bought the station, Roger figured their days were numbered, and teamed himself up with Lohman so they'd both have an act to take to other stations when they got the ax But they stayed with the Two Way Radio format for about 2 years, then left for KFWB in 67, then to KFI in 68 when WB switched to all-news.
Feel free to nitpick, RicoGregg - I just assumed they were in the same building.
"The great Jim Healy started his signature show with the telegraph sound fx at KLAC, but I'm not sure if it started during the talk radio or MOR era."
According to laradio.com, Healy worked at KLAC from 61 to 65, so he must have started before Two-Way Radio, when they first had an MOR format. He apparently left in 65 before the talk format became really hot. He was at KFWB for awhile, where I don't think they let him do his reports in his signature style. Healy then worked at KABC for a few years, then returned to KLAC during its country days. I was a student working in a Westwood deli in 73 - my boss only listened to jazz (KBCA), except during Jim Healy's sports reports, when the dial was switched to KLAC. That's when I became familiar with his great sports reports. As soon as Jim was done, and the "Ridin' Home with the Jaybird" (Jay Lawrence) jingle started, the dial was spun back to jazz on FM.
I also got the answer to my own question about Lohman and Barkley - also via laradio.com. Roger Barkley was the PD and KLAC, and hired Al Lohman as morning jock in 63 (pre-talk). When MetroMedia bought the station, Roger figured their days were numbered, and teamed himself up with Lohman so they'd both have an act to take to other stations when they got the ax But they stayed with the Two Way Radio format for about 2 years, then left for KFWB in 67, then to KFI in 68 when WB switched to all-news.
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