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So who has live (local) DJ's on during the overnights?

It was digital that killed the overnight radio. Back in the 80s when automation was tape-based and rather boring, having a live operator spin vinyl or "compact digital discs" was more feasible. That and what I think was the requirement to have a warm body at the controls all the time...
 
joebtsflk1 said:
It was digital that killed the overnight radio. Back in the 80s when automation was tape-based and rather boring, having a live operator spin vinyl or "compact digital discs" was more feasible. That and what I think was the requirement to have a warm body at the controls all the time...
Somebody correct me if I'm wrong, but, going retro to the late '60s & early '70's, I believe the only "overnight" requirement was for the so-called presence of a 1st ticket engineer. And stations I worked at felt that the conspicuous posting of the engineer's license anywhere on a studio wall would satisfy the mandate for "presence". I had only a 3rd class license, and ran graveyard shifts on more than one AM station. The engineer's presence for me was his home phone# number on a roster fastened to a clipboard. They were easy to contact when needed and responded quickly, especially if the station had that new state-of-the-art phone service, touch tone dialing.
 
Some, by no means all, AM directionals required a First Class license holder to be on duty during night pattern operation. There was a time that all directionals had to have a First Class licensee as Chief Operator who ha to work at least 20 hours a week. This spawned the 6 week wonder school industry (such as REI in Sarasota). A 3rd Class/Endorsed needed to be on duty other times through about 1980 as I recall
 
In the New York City area, there are several non-commercial FMs have live DJs all night, all week.

The Jazz station WBGO, Newark, with new transmitter in Manhattan is live 24/7, just like the old days.

And WFMU, a free form station with studios in Jersey City, transmitter in West Orange, NJ and a full-time relay in New York's Hudson Valley is live all night.

WFDU-FM, transmitting from the legendary Armstrong tower, built by FM's inventor, is on with live DJs all night mostly with gospel music.

WKCR, transmitting from Manhattan, has live DJs all night often playing classic jazz.

And in NYC's Northern Suburbs in The Hudson Valley, both 50-kw WHUD, and its sister-station WSPK, are live 24/7. Both music stations are commercial and owned by Pamal Broadcasting.
 
borderblaster said:
There was a time that all directionals had to have a First Class licensee as Chief Operator who ha to work at least 20 hours a week. This spawned the 6 week wonder school industry...
Yes, and boy did they ever turn out some 1st class loonies. One in particular landed at our front door. He was late for his very 1st airshift, and in fact for almost every one of his shows. He once surprised me, showing up at the board meeting of a county hospital, where I was taking notes for the next morning's local news. He shocked me, to say nothing of the board, by announcing a plan to bring Waylon Jennings to town for a hospital fundraising concert. No such show had been planned!

Back in the '60s & '70s, small-town AM's were a perfect fit for those alumni. To be fair though, I did work with some 1st ticket 6-week-grads who were fine individuals. One in particular was quite talented, attracting quite a loyal overnight cult-following in New Mexico.

That being said, back to the thread...
 
REI, Sarasota, class of spring 1980. The beach was nice, the school and dorm had hot and cold running cockroaches. We got conspiracy theories mixed in with electronic theory.
 
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