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Passing of Ron Drake

RIP, the man with the Rubber Ducky

> Word out this morning of the passing of WHP legend Ron
> Drake, who passed over the weekend at a Fort Myers hospice.
>
Here's to Ron Drake, a huge part of Harrisburg radio history, who passed away over the weekend. He spent 35-years on "the Great 58, WHP." Many disliked him, but as Ron said (and I paraphrase), "You hate me, but you're still listening." And we did. Ron Drake had phenomenal ratings throughout his reign as Harrisburg's morning man with his Rubber Ducky by his side. Thanks Ron. Good luck on that great radio station above! <P ID="signature">______________
Apathy is bliss.</P>
 
Re: RIP, the man with the Rubber Ducky

> > Word out this morning of the passing of WHP legend Ron
> > Drake, who passed over the weekend at a Fort Myers
> hospice.
> >
> Here's to Ron Drake, a huge part of Harrisburg radio
> history, who passed away over the weekend. He spent 35-years
> on "the Great 58, WHP." Many disliked him, but as Ron said
> (and I paraphrase), "You hate me, but you're still
> listening." And we did. Ron Drake had phenomenal ratings
> throughout his reign as Harrisburg's morning man with his
> Rubber Ducky by his side. Thanks Ron. Good luck on that
> great radio station above!
>

Now, the real question...

Are there any airchecks of Ron Drake in existence? If someone has some, can they please make them available? (reel radio, or elsewhere?) R.J. Harris mentioned he was working on a history of Harrisburg radio at one time. Ron Drake should be an essential entry in the collection. Let Ron Drake live on in the digital archives!!

His jokes were corny, but that was part of his trademark style -- and that rubber ducky -- I had to laugh. I remember being up early with him Christmas morning tracking Santa by satellite.

RIP, Ron Drake!
 
Re: RIP, the man with the Rubber Ducky

I recall seeing a ratings book in the early 70s. Ron Drake had something like a 38 share 12+. Only Mac Macaulay at WCMB was close, with a 25. Nobody else was in the ballpark. We'll never see those kind of numbers again.

And you're right, he was polarizing. People either loved his corny jokes and nasal voice or they couldn't stand him. My parents were in the latter category, so I never heard him growing up, though I did see him on WHP-TV occasionally. He hosted some sort of Dance Party show, as I vaguely recall.

His humor was occasionally bizarre. I remember hearing him wonder if it was "safe to ovulate within 50 miles of Three Mile Island."

Over the years, people tried to coax him out of retirement, but he wisely declined, keeping his legend intact, a legend that may never be surpassed.

> Here's to Ron Drake, a huge part of Harrisburg radio
> history, who passed away over the weekend. He spent 35-years
> on "the Great 58, WHP." Many disliked him, but as Ron said
> (and I paraphrase), "You hate me, but you're still
> listening." And we did. Ron Drake had phenomenal ratings
> throughout his reign as Harrisburg's morning man with his
> Rubber Ducky by his side. Thanks Ron. Good luck on that
> great radio station above!
>
 
Re: RIP, the man with the Rubber Ducky

> > > Word out this morning of the passing of WHP legend Ron
> > > Drake, who passed over the weekend at a Fort Myers
> > hospice.
> > >
> > Here's to Ron Drake, a huge part of Harrisburg radio
> > history, who passed away over the weekend. He spent
> 35-years
> > on "the Great 58, WHP." Many disliked him, but as Ron said
>
> > (and I paraphrase), "You hate me, but you're still
> > listening." And we did. Ron Drake had phenomenal ratings
> > throughout his reign as Harrisburg's morning man with his
> > Rubber Ducky by his side. Thanks Ron. Good luck on that
> > great radio station above!
> >
>
> Now, the real question...
>
> Are there any airchecks of Ron Drake in existence? If
> someone has some, can they please make them available? (reel
> radio, or elsewhere?) R.J. Harris mentioned he was working
> on a history of Harrisburg radio at one time. Ron Drake
> should be an essential entry in the collection. Let Ron
> Drake live on in the digital archives!!
>
> His jokes were corny, but that was part of his trademark
> style -- and that rubber ducky -- I had to laugh. I
> remember being up early with him Christmas morning tracking
> Santa by satellite.
>
> RIP, Ron Drake!
>
Somewhere----and God only knows where---I had about 90 minutes to 2 hours of his final show on cassette. I doubt whether it would be playable even if I could find it. I was working at KBO at the time and he mentioned our call letters on the air, and next thing is "why's everybody looking at me?"
 
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