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Ron Chapman stuff

G

gordontalk

Guest
I've heard that Ron was very difficult to work with. People have said that he would yell and scream at his staff and treat them very badly. Is any of this true, and are there other interesting stories that you would like to share?
 
I'm sure Jody and Steve Eb will give you some well-thought responses, but on the outset, sure, Ron was all of that and more...but his former herd will all tell you that they learned the trade and art at the feet of the master--that he taught them more than anyone else in the industry. Ron DEMANDED perfection, and anyone that fell short, well...you were either 100% with him, or not with him at all. But the consensus always seems to be that, no matter what a tyrant he could be, you had to respect the guy for what's he done and what he could do.

I don't recall what date the article appeared, but the best insight into Chapman was in a D Magazine article published around 1989. It was a lengthy, no-holds-barred piece that Chapman did consent to an interview (and photography) for. Most area libraries have Ds in their magazine archives; this one has a full-length shot of Ron on the cover, bending backwards in a hearty laugh while holding a coffee cup. I'll see if I can find mine.
 
Does anyone know if he actually made Terry King cry? I would love to hear the story behind that one.
 
Chapman yelled at Terry, "WHY CAN'T YOU BE MORE LIKE EBERHART?!?" Terry cried and bellowed out, "I sound like him, I kinda look like him, he's my radio idol, we both do afternoons, I've partied in Lindsey TX and I've got KIKM on my resume, too!"

Ron paused for a moment. Rubbing the bristling gray hairs of his thick beard, he kicked back in his throne and finally said, "Well, so be it. So be it." Ron abruptly twirled around in the oversized, leather office chair and yelped, "Jody? Jody! Tell the limo driver I'm headed downstairs!" Jody rolled his eyes, and sauntered over to the telephone. Terry, who was in a fetal position in the corner of The Big Office at this point, kept mumbling, "Treat her like the lady she is, treat her like the lady she is." "It's just not good enough anymore, Terry," Ron finally blurted out, while extracting a sliver of wax from his left hearing aid.

All of a sudden, Terry lept to his feet. "I CAN BE SELDEN! I CAN BE SELDEN!!" he gleefully exclaimed. "Tell me what records to play, and I won't play them! I can say 'Great Googa Mooga' three times fast! I'll bring in Chicago's 'Questions 67 & 68,' and tell the listeners that we'll save '69' for later! I'll go home and practice my shuck-and-jive! I can do this!!"

"Too little," Ron muttered, "and too late."

Terry slowly melted into the lush carpet, and Ron promptly stepped on him on the way out of the office.


Chapter 2 of "KVIL: The Fiction Collection" coming soon.
;D
 
Haha...I was working at Bonneville's top 40 back in the mid 80's (KAFM) and Ron allowed me to come in for an aircheck session. I was so green and awkward. While listening to it, He paced the room stroking his beard, looking stoic....freaked me out. But what he told me was gold and I am thankful I did it. I'd heard he gave each personality a "Top 10" list; the one that had "Teens Do Not Exist". Any such list really exist?
 
Paul Donovan...sure, I remember you on KAFM! Back in the Pete Thomson-Andy Barber-"Maximum Hits 92.5" days, right? What are you doing these days?
 
MikeShannon914 said:
I'm sure Jody and Steve Eb will give you some well-thought responses, but on the outset, sure, Ron was all of that and more...but his former herd will all tell you that they learned the trade and art at the feet of the master--that he taught them more than anyone else in the industry. Ron DEMANDED perfection, and anyone that fell short, well...you were either 100% with him, or not with him at all. But the consensus always seems to be that, no matter what a tyrant he could be, you had to respect the guy for what's he done and what he could do.

I don't recall what date the article appeared, but the best insight into Chapman was in a D Magazine article published around 1989. It was a lengthy, no-holds-barred piece that Chapman did consent to an interview (and photography) for. Most area libraries have Ds in their magazine archives; this one has a full-length shot of Ron on the cover, bending backwards in a hearty laugh while holding a coffee cup. I'll see if I can find mine.
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i have mine somewhere around here.

As i recall, it showed Ron out on his farm in Palmer.
There may have been a good Lynn Haley story in there, too.
 
Irving..er..Ron is a local legend. He represents a time when "The Business" was more than just consulting and aiming a set list and ads for Women 25-54, he was "Somethin' Else". He was the guy who put together a weekly sunday morning show where you heard the backend stories of radio, he was the guy who coined the phrease "Come To Jesus Meeting", where you shut your yap and listened. Too bad noone in this business today has the backbone to run their own ship.
 
And I'll never forget the incredible sound of KVIL circa 1977. Chapman in the morning and the BEST sounding station the rest of the day!
 
Slambang said:
Irving..er..Ron is a local legend. He represents a time when "The Business" was more than just consulting and aiming a set list and ads for Women 25-54, he was "Somethin' Else". He was the guy who put together a weekly sunday morning show where you heard the backend stories of radio, he was the guy who coined the phrease "Come To Jesus Meeting", where you shut your yap and listened. Too bad noone in this business today has the backbone to run their own ship.
Click to expand...

Ron was all that and more during his radio career, but he did not coin the phrase "Come to Jesus Meeting".
 
LTL, he did so coin the phrase...;)
 
I coined the phrase, "Which one of you gentlemen actually OWNS the hog, and how did you get it in the car?"

It never quite caught on.
 
TheLaffer said:
Slambang said:
LTL, he did so coin the phrase...;)
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I coined the phrase...listen to win :D
Click to expand...

I coined the phrase "playing what we want". I still get royalty checks from Jack-FM! :D

R
 
I can't wait to find out who coined the phrase "we're going to go stopless for the next 40-minutes". Who made up the word "stopless"?
 
There was a two page "basic training" list that he handed to each new air talent upon hiring and conducted a one hour session going over each entry in exhaustive detail as to each's merit and requirement so there could be no misunderstanding as to the station policy on the various aspects of operations. "No teens exist" was indeed one of the entries.
I still have my tattered copy from the day I was hired in July of 1978 along with his personal notes on it. In fact, I still refer to it from time to time as a reminder, but I could probably quote it verbatim without looking.
I also remember him making perhaps the most important point while going over it, which was, "...we could give this list to every jock in the market but without my explanation and description, it would be essentially worthless..."
 
Steve Eberhart said:
There was a two page "basic training" list that he handed to each new air talent upon hiring and conducted a one hour session going over each entry in exhaustive detail as to each's merit and requirement so there could be no misunderstanding as to the station policy on the various aspects of operations. "No teens exist" was indeed one of the entries.
I still have my tattered copy from the day I was hired in July of 1978 along with his personal notes on it. In fact, I still refer to it from time to time as a reminder, but I could probably quote it verbatim without looking.
I also remember him making perhaps the most important point while going over it, which was, "...we could give this list to every jock in the market but without my explanation and description, it would be essentially worthless..."
Click to expand...

I also remember him making perhaps the most important point while going over it, which was, "...we could give this list to every jock in the market but without my explanation and description, it would be essentially worthless..."

ROTFFL!!!!!!! ::)

For those of you who know me you know about my popular air personality brother...for Ron Chapman to claim without HIS explanation and discription, it would be essentially worthless?? Such a crock of SHI*!

In just about every top 20 market i can name you a programmer/talent (including my brother) just as talented and MORE than Ron Chapman. They have accomplished more, better ratings, more versatile and generally more entertaining. Yes Ron is good but NOT THE GREATEST by far.

Some of you on here who constantly have orgasms over Ron is getting a bit old.

Oh and please Jody, we know, we know the Great Ron Chapman picked you personally so you gotta be the ONLY one. ::)

I know personally there were two OTHER candidates that "Others" at CBS wanted instead of Jody but for POLITICAL reasons Jody got the job.

Now may we please have a break on Ron Chapman stories. (yawn)
 
TheLaffer said:
In just about every top 20 market i can name you a programmer/talent (including my brother) just as talented and MORE than Ron Chapman. They have accomplished more, better ratings, more versatile and generally more entertaining. Yes Ron is good but NOT THE GREATEST by far.
Click to expand...

This whole "Who is better, Ron or (insert some other jpck's name here)" is the only thing getting old.

What makes Ron good in my book, is what he did for radio, behind the scenes. He truly understood what radio was, and is supposed to be about. He put the listener first, and profit second. Sure anyone can claim one jock is better than another. But Ron had an understanding that went way beyond just being a jock. You're not going to find too many people in radio today, with that kind of passion, knowledge, understanding and direction.

R
 
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