New old pictures of KOTN

[artmorris]

I just posted some new 'old' radio station pictures on my personal website, including some pictures of KOTN in 1972, when I worked there for Buddy Deane.Enjoy!Art Morriswww.artmorris.com

 

[voicetrack]

Boy, do I remember those green record shucks! ;DNice pics. Thanks for sharing.

 

[Musicradio]

Great photos of the studios!I used most of that equipment at stations over the years.Thanks for the memories!

 

[radiosaur]

Cool!I have a QSL card from KGBX from about the same period.

 

[Media Mogul]

I am guessing that the FM was 92.3??Did they simulcast back in that day?Buddy Deane was a heck of a broadcaster... I have some of the old KOTN jingles laying around somewhere....

 

[artmorris]

I graduated from high school in Stuttgart, AR in May of 1972, and went to work at KOTN within a month. I had previously worked at KWAK in Stuttgart, but had been let go for being an idiot. I walked in the door, with no audition tape and got the overnight job. (Apparently, they needed somebody real bad).My first night, I showed up about 1/2 hour early to meet the PD (John Wellington) who was there to fire the overnight guy.It was a different world than KWAK. The music was important. Buddy Deane chided me for not playing enough oldies. (of course in 1972, he was talking about music from 1957 to 63). KOTN was the only Pine Bluff station that was on after midnight. Even KOTN-FM signed off from midnight to 4am. KOTN had a huge audience, since "Beaker Street" was the only real alternative, over on KAAY. KLAZ-FM had just hit the air (doing album rock), but for Top-40, we were it.I worked midnight to 5am, 7 days a week, and would probably have done it for free. But, I did make $1.60 an hour. The daytime staff had no idea who I was, except that they hated my coffee. I made the coffee in a 30-cup percolator at 430, since Buddy came in at 5am to do the morning show. By 9am, it was pretty strong.It was the most fun I've heard had in radio, period. To paraphrase Scotty from Star Trek, when I think about all the stations where I've worked, "this ... one I miss". And, I really miss Buddy. (I saw him in 2002, when I stopped in one morning. I came in and introduced myself and said "I heard you were dead!". He said , "sit down, sit down, let's do that bit on the air". And we did.)More memories later.Art Morriswww.artmorris.com

 

[u-j]

Art--I am disappointed that there no pictures of me at KOTN (I'm the artist formerly known as Lynn James), but glad to know you're well.

 

[artmorris]

Honest to God...I actually have a picture of you. I didn't post it, because, like John, I didn't know if you had any contact with radio anymore.You were working the 7-midnight shift when I was there.Remember, when I quit, I was followed on the overnight shift by a very large man who went by the name "Spider Webb".Listening to airchecks of myself at the time, I was awful, and it took me at least five more years to mature on the air.You were pretty good, as I recall, and had a lovely wife at the time.Art

 

[u-j]

Except for a few years out, trying to find myself or a fortune--neither of which were found--I've been in radio now since I went to work at KOTN in 1971. For younger readers, yes there were dinosaurs roaming the earth. I spent a little over 15 years in Little Rock at, what is now, the Point and KSSN. The last years at KSSN I was the Production Director. Moved to NWA in '98 and hope to wrap up my radio career here. Hopefully not today or tomorrow, though. Like you, I've listened to some old airchecks and been amazed by how bad and full of myself I was. I think I'm better than I was, but then again I thought I was pretty good then. So I'll let listeners decide that. Thanks for the compliment, regardless. Take care, Art.

 

[artmorris]

You're in NWA? I'm not far up the road in SW MO.In fact, one of my old friends in the radio biz recently purchased the AM station over in Siloam Springs. In fact, I've been down there a couple of times to assist.We can hear some of the NWA stations up here, especially KIGL, which is quite good.Contact me off list sometime. We need to catch up.BTW, is Mike Chase still working in NW Ark?Art

 

[mikl73]

nice pics

 

[artmorris]

Just added a couple more in the KTTN area, including a 1972 picture of the artist formerly known at LYNN JAMES!Art

 

[u-j]

Art--Thanks. I can't believe I was that skinny or had that much hair.

 

[artmorris]

I was never skinny, and thinking 12 10-ounce bottles of Coca-Cola every night didn't help my size any.But, at least I still have some hair. I have three brothers (all still live in AR, but none are in radio), and they're all bald.I was surprised how much those old pictures had faded. I really had to work them over to get the color back. But, then again, it was almost 35-years ago.At least there are a couple of us who are still in radio.I can't imagine doing anything that wasn't connected with RF in some way.Art

 

[Media Mogul]

There have been a number of Arkansans apparently that worked at KTTN in Trenton.... Art, I know that you and U-J were there apparently, and Paul Coates had told me that he went up there for a year or two... Was there an Arkansas connection in place there or was it just an open job....That seems to be a good market... I have listened to KTTN-FM and KGOZ before when I was dating a girl who liked to visit family in Iowa. Kirksville was another one that had some decent locally programmed stations. Most of those stations were in what seemed to be one horse towns as far as the radio business went.

 

[u-j]

Actually Art and I worked together at KOTN in Pine Bluff (when it was relatively safe) for the legendary Buddy Deane. A lot of people--even those in the business--aren't aware that Buddy was oneof the biggest Jocks in the country early in his career. He was the basis for the radio/TeeVee host in the old movie "Shampoo" and Buddy, as I understand it, was offered the American Bandstand job before it was offered to Dick Clark but because of his contract with Westinghouse he was unable to accept it.

 

[artmorris]

You know, I hadn't actually thought of that, but you're right about several formerly Arkansawyers working at Trenton, MO.Myself, Paul Coates, Jimmy Burnett come to mind immediately. Paul Coates' name is well known in small markets in northern Missouri. I guess he worked at several over the years. So did I, but I'm not quite as well remembered.I came to Missouri chasing a female (I've been married to her for 33 years, so I guess that worked out), but decided there were opportunities here and stayed. I guess it's odd that I've worked for KOTN & KTTN. I can't recall ever getting the calls confused. I still do some contract engineering for them. The current owner, John Anthony, is an old friend. We both started there in 1973. I left, he stayed. Now he owns the place.Regarding KOTN, I was only there for a few months. One of my few regrets in my career was that I didn't hang around KOTN longer. But, at age 18, I didn't realize what a unique and special station it was. If I had stayed long enough to get off the overnight shift, I'm sure my talents would have developed a lot faster. I wonder where the rest of the former KOTN'ers are? Larry Hart, John Wellington, Duane Haaman. And, KOTN had an outstanding sales department, too. They were making money hand over fist when I was there. I remember the program log was unique. Programs were in black, PSA's in green, commercials were written in Red, if recall. Never seen another station like it.Funny the things you remember. I used to drive over to Pine Bluff from Stuttgart (where I lived) and I'd stop by the Church's chicken place on the way to work. It was quite a scene. A whole parking lot full of 'brothas' and this one fat white boy munching fried chicken.Art

 

[u-j]

I know where some of the folks you mentioned are. John is an accountant working for the state of Arkansas, Larry Hart has retired from radio for health reasons--his last job was working for Clear Channel in LIttle Rock and I think he lives in Magnet Cove, and Duane Hamann is still in radio working for the Fordyce stations, the last time I saw him.I'm not sure where all the sales folks are but Mike Waymack, at last report, was still running the travel agency he and Buddy opened several years ago. I'm not sure where Steve Carter is, so if anyone knows I'd like to hear.

 

[lifeinthehills]

Hey u-j I think we worked together briefly at 94 K Country before I left for Channel 16. Were there when Scott Howard was PD. I also started in PB and had the privilege of working at KOTN. Larry Hart hired me awaty from KCLA. Speaking of KCLA anybody know where Royce Wolfe is?

 

[u-j]

Would you be the former Religion Director for the Mighty 10-90? And if you find Royce let me know.