Lady Bird Johnson dies

[gordontalk]

If you haven't heard the news yet: Lady Bird Johnson passed away yesterday. I hope to see her in the Texas Radio Hall Of Fame. She did an incredible job with running the LBJ Broadcasting Company. Were any of you fortunate enough to work there while she was running things? She would come in and hang out with everyone as if she were one of the guys. She will be missed.

 

[grantchester]

In my encounters with her, I found Lady Bird to be a kind and gracious person. That said, here's some info about 'The Bird Company'.

She bought a failing Austin AM station while LBJ was in congress, and immediately doubled billing. A sales manager revealed to me, LBJ used to have the weekly sales reports sent to him, even while president, to see who was buying time. Wonder why?

When KTBC-FM became KLBJ, they launched an album-rock format, with dee jays who made about $450 a month. They split the audience KRMH had built, and sent that station into bankrupcy. Their jocks were making in excess of $1000, and couldn't compete.

When the television allocations were made for central Texas, LBJ made sure channel 9 was reserved for the public station. That meant no other Austin station could be on VHF- all the others had to go to UHF. KTBC-TV was the only television station in Austin for more than 15 years.

When the LCRA bought a radio station to carry public service and emergency programming, the 'Bird Company' sent a representative to the LCRA, to tell them how much they would pay to run the operation.
It took a few minutes for the LCRA to understand they would be expected to surrender the frequency to the Johnsons, and pay them for the privilege of running it. To emphisise their leverage, the representative asked how the LCRA would like to be 'privitized'.

I could go on and on with the strong-arm tactics employed by the LBJ family, but I must say, in person, they were warm, kind, and quite gracious. LBJ and Lady Bird did many good things, from civil rights to head start to highway beautification and more... But this is the radio board, and that's my radio story.
g

 

[KPLEXCOMPLEX]

KLBJ (KTBC) had a historic past. When San Antonio was devoid of a good album Rock station after KEXL disappeared,KLBJ was a God send. Lucy Baines Johnson ran the stations(am included) for many years, and wss very skillful. It was a sad day when she sold it to Emmis.

 

[RADIO TRUTH]

Listen to the lyrics of Surfin' Bird-Trashmen. Was it written and sung for her?

 

[TheRover]

KLBJ (KTBC) had a historic past. When San Antonio was devoid of a good album Rock station after KEXL disappeared,KLBJ was a God send. Lucy Baines Johnson ran the stations(am included) for many years, and wss very skillful. It was a sad day when she sold it to Emmis.

Coming from the Dallas area in 1973, I was familiar with Q102 and KZEW for Rock music.
But hwen I got to Austin in September of 1973 to begin my Freshman year of college at UT, I was very pleasanlty surprised with wide variety of album rock that I listened to --for hours-- each day on KLBJ-FM !

I felt like it was a whole new world, for I didn't recall many of the artists/songs I heard on KLBJ having been played on KZEW or Q102. Lots of Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, CSN&Y, Frank Zappa, Bonnie Raitt, Michael Murphey, and Shwan Phillips. Sure, I heard the big "hit" numbers by the big artists back in Dallas..... but KLBJ-FM went deeper and there was no reliance or dpendence on "big hits"---- in fact, back then, you NEVER heard any pop hits like "I Shot The Sherrif" or "Walk This Way" on KLBJ-FM!!

What arefreshing difference KLBJ-FM made for me for those 4 years !!!!!!!!!!

Oh, and BTY.... THERE WAS NO "MORNING SHOW" !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

JUst cool, laid-back DJs who loved every song they played.... It was cool and groovy ALL OF THE TIME, 24 HOURS A DAY!!

Now, KLBJ-FM has lost all of that "charm" and is a CR Station, with all of the typical cookie-cutter addsand promos, and such.