Right, which is what I wrote in different words.
Not being a PD in Kansas City is really beside the point.
It seems lost on you that she went to work at WHB in Kansas City in 1955 and in three years (1958), she learned enough from Todd Storz as his programming assistant to be named Program Director of WMGM, New York, and, two years later (1960), to move across the street to the better, stronger, WMCA.
That is an epic, historic and remarkable achievement, and no one in New York City, regardless of their connections with Todd Storz, would risk the future of their radio station unless they knew Ruth could program a winning station.
No, Michael, I take exception to your statement that "it seems lost on me." I think that's too condescending. :-(
Just googling "Ruth Meyer WMCA radio" would unearth a piece about her on the WABC tribute page, where you'd learn that Ruth graduated from Kansas City Junior College in the early 1950s, wanted to work in newspapers and was given one month by her mother to find a job in newspapers or become a secretary.
Michael, I take that as your implication that I should have done due diligence on Ruth Meyer before I wrote anything. You work in broadcast journalism, and you're very particular about detailed minutiae. That's a great quality to have in journalism. But we're not doing journalism here. We're just chatting back and forth, sometimes about our impressions and opinions. This board is more subjective, because it's more like social conversation. Nonetheless, you are on many threads, sternly correcting people who don't show the proper command of minutiae honed to military precision.
For example, if someone says that Grant Hudson must have been between age 24-27 at such and such a time, then you correct them. NO - he was between age 27-29, because of the news open theme at CKLW at the time. (Good grief. - Isn't this a first world problem? The news open 60 years ago at CKLW? That's worse than my OCD with KRLA DJ shifts in the 1960's - 90's)
For example, if someone opines that Bill Drake might have wanted to hide the news by scheduling it at 20 - 20, you say NO. because here is detailed proof of something Drake said about RKO news at least half a century ago.
In short, you're a stickler for absolutely precise, on-the-mark exact reporting of exactly what happened, or you will scoldingly fact check that person. So, I did two hours of research on Ruth Meyer, before I dared to answer, because I knew that you would fact check me with a fine tooth comb.
And now you say that it isn't important, and the real message about Ruth Meyer is "lost on me." Excuse me, Michael. It is not lost on me. So I have to speak up for myself, even though I would like to appear deferential to you. You have never been a member of a marginalized group, have you?
So, when you get fact-checked yourself, then all of a sudden, fact-checking doesn't matter. Well, I disagree with that, because Ruth Meyer's career trajectory is important.
And I found the audio interview that Ruth Meyer did with Rollye James, where she speaks in her own words. As you like to say when you reprimand someone for inaccuracy, "There's tape on that ! " So here's the tape:
Ruth Meyer in her own voice
As we all know here, radio is a business. And the way that one advances in business is to find a mentor, to be an apprentice to someone who can help teach you the business, who will support you, and who will recommend you for an advancement. And that's what Todd Storz did for Ruth Meyer. He acted as a mentor for her and answered her questions about Top 40 radio. So she learned about that format. But she wasn't a Program Director at WHB Kansas City.
Then, Ruth explains that one of her colleagues at WHB was Peter Tripp. He had moved to WMGM New York. He was frustrated working there, because he thought they didn't understand Top 40. So, he was in contact with Ruth, who wanted to make a move to get out of Kansas City. So, he suggested to WMGM that they hire her. This is the way that many people change jobs in business -- they are able to do networking and have a list of contacts who will let them know when a job opens.
On the interview with Ruth, Rollye James asks her, "So, you were hired in to WMGM as Program Director? Ruth replies, "No. I was writing public service announcements, contests, goofy stuff like that. They didn't have a clue as to what I was doing."
So, Ruth Meyer, advanced through the ranks with mentorship and networking, the same as most of us did in our chosen profession.
Rollye James says that female copywriters and female music librarians were fairly common in those days. Rollye describes them as being "chick jobs." ( Her own words on tape). But Rollye also says that female program directors were virtually unheard of, back in those days. ( mid to late 1950's).
So it was not easy for Ruth Meyer. If you are telling me that it was easy for women to get jobs in broadcasting in the 50's - 60's, all you had to do was be brilliant, then I disagree. I'm older than you, and it was not easy for women in the 50's -- 60's. Yes, Ruth was hired because of her brilliance. And she did well. But she did have to advance through mentoring and networking, which is the way that most of us advance in our professions. - Daryl
