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Ron Chapman fills in for Paul Harvey?!?

And he'll be back again Friday and Saturday in case you missed Ron today.
 
Wonder if ol' paul is about to shuffle off this mortal coil, seeing he's going on 300 ;) I wonder if Chapman would ever consider a daily news/commentary slot if that happened?
 
ABC has been trying out people (like Tony Snow) for Harvey fill-in. Thought maybe Fred Thompson would make a return, but maybe it's too much for him. He could barely make it through the presidential race.
 
Tony Snow would be able to handle it, and he's about one of the only guys related to bush I have respect for. Plus he has a radio voice that illicits calm, what most harvey listeners are used to.
 
I thought Olbermann sounded really good....but his constant political harangue sure gets tiring. Tony Snow certainly has the cred, but I sure would like to adjust his mic audio chain for him...EQ in a small amount of mid-range edge....

J-D
TWR
 
I also heard Ron Chapman sitting in for Paul Harvey today.

He is, by far, the best Harvey fill-in ever.

He would seem an unlikely replacement for that day when Harvey steps down for two reasons:

First, I was under the impression based on earlier posts that he was loving retired life.

Second, Ron is 72. Wouldn't they most likely gravitate toward a replacement who they could put in that slot for 25-30 years?

All that said, he leaves all the other fill-in folks in the dust.
 
Just remember this, Ron Chapman's real name is Ralph Chapman! :D
 
KennyBosak said:
I also heard Ron Chapman sitting in for Paul Harvey today.

He is, by far, the best Harvey fill-in ever.
Click to expand...

In terms of content, he was excellent. Technically, though, the audio wasn't up to the standards that Ron Chapman would expect. There was excessive sibilance and it lacked a solid low end. Does anyone know where he did the broadcast from and how it got delivered to ABC's distribution point?
 
I haven't really paid much to attention to Chapman since his KVIL days but was he doing his normal delivery this morning. It may have just been the sound quality but he sounded more like Chapman doing Paul Harvey than Chapman doing Chapman.
 
Sure, I'd answer the call to fill in for Paul any day. Any of us would. Ron did, and I don't blame him. I just can't see how he got on the short list.

Who made that call, and why? Bottom line is he is not a radio journalist. He has no newsworthy credentials or credibility. He sounded nervous dancing around that death story. He was in unfarmilliar territory, without the "What's this world commin' to" jingle to punch. Otherwise he was just Ron. Love him or hate him.

If they were looking for a D/FW talent to fill in, there is plenty of talent at the Harvey affiliate, WBAP to pick from. Matter of fact, if I were a station veteran of WBAP, or an ABC anchor waiting in the wings to get THAT shot I'd be pretty P-O'd about now.

I think Ron would agree, but he's warming up for the :15 minute feed.

On a lighter note, if you would like to see what Paul Harvey's studio looked like about 15 years ago, follow this link: http://www.joeholstead.com/photoalbum.html
 
Holstead said:
On a lighter note, if you would like to see what Paul Harvey's studio looked like about 15 years ago, follow this link: http://www.joeholstead.com/photoalbum.html
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Joe -

1). This may be an FAQ, but here goes: Why the 'a' vs. 'o' in the last name (1983 billboard in the photo album)?

2). Do you know if those pictures of the Paul Harvey studio were in the Stone Container Building (same location for WLS). I was there back in the mid-70's and I recall that Paul Harvey's area was on the 3rd floor and WLS(AM) was on the 5th. I think the FM, (WDAI) was also on a different floor. I do remember that there was a lot of riding the elevator to get around the ABC O&O facility in Chicago. :)
 
Bob E. Nelson said:
Joe -
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Good Lord, Joe Holstead's been gone since October, 1995! I believe you're talking to his son "Rowdy" here. :)

Also, it is, without a doubt, H"O"lstead. I see it butchered quite often, and even his former employer obviously messed up with it before, too!

GREAT photos, Josh!
 
If I am correct (and it has been a while) WLS was on State Street at the time that photo was taken. I do not recall the name of the building where Paul Harvey had his offices. What I do seem to remember is his program was not on WLS, but on a smaller station just outside of Chicago. I think when Cap Cities bought the ABC O&O's that is when he started clearing on 890.
 
I did mornings at WDAI/WRCK/WLS-FM at the end of the 70's and we were, in fact, in the Stone Container Bldg.....4th Floor. Paul Harvey would record his stuff on the 4th floor. I would get off the air and go down the hall and watch him work. It was remarkable. If he spotted you watching, he would address his work to you to see if he would get a response. I can't remember the name of his writer/producer...It was Ron (I wanna say Sworski)......very cool experience, indeed........Also....Mort Crim has filled in for him on more than one occasion.
 
Correct! Mort Crim was a frequent fill in. As is Gil Gross. Paul W. Smith is really good too. I would like to know when the power shift happened and ABC started making the call on who was to fill in -vs- the Harvey camp.

I did not like Fred Thompson, nor did I care for the show when Sam Donaldson and Hugh Downs filled in. On the flip side, I do not think the network was much of a fan of Paul Jr. behind the mic. Behind the keyboard the boy is brilliant, and for those who do not know, is the announcer that opens and closes the broadcasts.
 
Heard Chapman today...sounded pretty relaxed and went well....
Never did like when Thompson filled in......He is a good actor but not the style needed in Harvey's chair.

Personally, I think Gil Gross would be a good replacement...hearing him during the Big89 Rewind was a blast (especially him and Landecker yukking it up).
 
The question remains..how did Ron get selected? I thought he retired..kaput,adios,cya
 
lbates said:
The question remains..how did Ron get selected? I thought he retired..kaput,adios,cya
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Farid Suleman. Citadel big Cheese.

Ron and Farid are big buds. Otherwise Ralph er Ron would not stand a chance IMHP
 
Ralph, eeerrrr, Ron's back on today (Gil Gross filled in yesterday.....) I wonder about Paul....his health/voice must be going downhill.........sorry to see that happen but he is in his 80s...(my mom is 89 and heading downhill fast.....in the last 3 years, its been a radical change)
 
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