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Mal Bellairs passes
- Thread starter cyberdad
- Start date
Cyberdad,
What you've said about missing Mal Bellairs is so true. After leaving WYEN Radio, I went to work as News Director for the Bellairs family in Crystal Lake at WIVS-AM and WXRD-FM in 1979. I was quite a bit younger then and I told my parents about accepting a job, working for Mal Bellairs and my parents were so enthusiastic about this. They had been regular listeners to WBBM during the Bellairs years, they just couldn't believe I'd have an opportunity to come and work alongside such a great broadcaster. Mal became my mentor in this business. His teaching was of the "watch how I do it" variety. He showed in his three hour talk show a professionalism beyond what I had known before. I learned about communicating thoughts and ideas, rather than spewing out empty words with no emotion attached. He showed a love for people and for conversation and an honesty and intregrity that have been with me through the years, and foremost, he warned me never to editorialize the news. Mal's voice was powerful, yet gave his listeners as sense of peace. You could listen and feel all is right with the world. Many recall his "Hi, neighbors, this is Mal Bellairs for White Fence Farm," but the totality of his work was so much more. He'd point to his interviews with Clark Gable and David Niven as highlights of a long career and his Christmas Around the World was a staple on radio and for many listeners, Christmas wasn't Christmas without this show. To me, Mal was on par with Clark Weber and Wally Phillips, and I knew all three at various times of my career. They were all different, but one thing all three had in common, they were all gentlemen broadcasters. I miss Mal's analysis of events and his ability to put people at ease. Thanks for mentioning Mal.
What you've said about missing Mal Bellairs is so true. After leaving WYEN Radio, I went to work as News Director for the Bellairs family in Crystal Lake at WIVS-AM and WXRD-FM in 1979. I was quite a bit younger then and I told my parents about accepting a job, working for Mal Bellairs and my parents were so enthusiastic about this. They had been regular listeners to WBBM during the Bellairs years, they just couldn't believe I'd have an opportunity to come and work alongside such a great broadcaster. Mal became my mentor in this business. His teaching was of the "watch how I do it" variety. He showed in his three hour talk show a professionalism beyond what I had known before. I learned about communicating thoughts and ideas, rather than spewing out empty words with no emotion attached. He showed a love for people and for conversation and an honesty and intregrity that have been with me through the years, and foremost, he warned me never to editorialize the news. Mal's voice was powerful, yet gave his listeners as sense of peace. You could listen and feel all is right with the world. Many recall his "Hi, neighbors, this is Mal Bellairs for White Fence Farm," but the totality of his work was so much more. He'd point to his interviews with Clark Gable and David Niven as highlights of a long career and his Christmas Around the World was a staple on radio and for many listeners, Christmas wasn't Christmas without this show. To me, Mal was on par with Clark Weber and Wally Phillips, and I knew all three at various times of my career. They were all different, but one thing all three had in common, they were all gentlemen broadcasters. I miss Mal's analysis of events and his ability to put people at ease. Thanks for mentioning Mal.
Read Mal Bellairs story in his own words: http://bellairs.org/MAL.html
Grew up listening to Mal, especially on "Wives" (WIVS-850) He was a classic broadcaster and few will ever match him!
Grew up listening to Mal, especially on "Wives" (WIVS-850) He was a classic broadcaster and few will ever match him!
The WYEN Guy said:
Somewhat similar for me. I went to work for Mal in late '76 and left during in mid '78 (to go to WYEN). My mom had also been a regular listener....especially on Sunday afternoons....and thrilled that I'd be working for him. She was also delighted when I was able to tell her that Mal was as warm and genuine off the air....if not more so....than on. Frankly, I didn't get to know him all that well being on the sales side of things. Most of my time was spent working with his son, Jerry, who was doing most of the "heavy lifting" in running WIVS/WXRD. (I enjoyed working with Jerry, too).
Anyway, I did get to take Mal with me on a few sales calls, and it was always memorable....especially being in the car en-route to/from an appointment. I'd just sit there and soak up everything he had to say about the business. To this day, I have strong feelings about only bringing someone with me on a sales call if he/she can add value (for me as well as the customer).
With Mal, let me put it this way....more than a few deals were closed when it became clear to the customer that Mal would be their on-air spokesman! And that included people who'd never heard of the guy!
Regretably, I don't think I'm going to be able to make it to the visitation today or the funeral tomorrow, but I'm sure there'll be no shortage of people whose lives he touched that will be paying tribute and respects. He'll certainly be in my thoughts/prayers.
We loved Mal's show. Mal had a "Swap Shop" or similar on his show, about 1967. We called to Post that we were looking to purchase a camper-trailer for a trip. Mal stated HE had a unit of his own to sell - We purchased his camper. We then proceeded to drive up the Alaska Highway from Chicago- traveling thru Canada and to multiple stops in Alaska. We sold the camper up there, and flew home. Anyway, Mal's show including the "Swap Shop" was a good memory.
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