My peeps told me to continue to expose the truth, and never give up...never give up...never give up that SHIP.
My peeps also told me that radio in NJ needs to be more daring in order to compete with the big signals from across the rivers.
My peeps also said that since McNally has been telling about the Atlantic City market and the old days there, I'm kinda GLAD Gary Lane didn't hire me back in '71. WMID was a superb station for its size back in the late 60's early 70's.
It never ceases to amaze me what nonsense and goofy behavior went on behind the scenes at stations in that market. I've heard it from several follks who have worked there over the years...Yet, some wonderful personalities DID make it out of there and went on to fabulous on and off-air careers.
Same can be said for some of the middle shore stations...and the Trenton area. CTC had it's own share of folks who went on to greatness, as did some of the other stations Central and in Northern, NJ. What a rich history.
But as I've said before..is it only us radio pigs who like to talk about that stuff, or do just plain normal NON-radio-types find it interesting to name drop some of the folks who entertained them over the years? I think it was either YOU Harry or McNally who asked that question a while back.
So my BIG question to all of you NOT in radio....
Do YOU have favorite people that YOU liked on the radio...ONLY NJ RADIO over the years? I mean really liked.
So many of them came and went so quickly up the ladder to bigger markets, etc.. I myself have SEVERAL faves over the years before and during my time on the air. I used to LOVE Famous Amos and World Famous on 11-7. Harry, YOU always made me stop and listen. You are a masterful story teller. Joey goes without saying. Kevin Fennessy was another super voice there.
I liked Dick Gunton on OBM-FM..early 70's, as he always sounded a bit cocky..and that was sorta cool for such an MOR station..Greg Koziar always had that same air to him. (I saw him in Shop-Rite the other day and he was so snotty to me..it was great. Thanks Greg. I can always count on you for that. Love ya man. HE was the first person to show me how to run a board at OBM-FM circa 1970).
Dick Lewis' voice at WJLK was always authoritative. That guy Devon on WADB was so out there, it was almost like Zacherle was on a beautiful music station. Some of the jocks that worked at the heritage AM stations in Trenton had that sound too. Jack Pinto, and many others.. I didnt' get to hear the WERA's, the WMTR's, and the many other stations up north when I was younger. They just didn't come in down the shore. But I've learned since that they have rich histories too. I applied to WNNJ-AM back in '76. There was an ad in a trade paper that said.."Contemporary Music station needs afternoon jock in Northern NJ very near NYC.)
So I drive all the way up there from Jackson where I lived at the time...and when I got within 5 miles of Newton I was able to hear the station..and it was playing Peggy Lee, Perry COmo, Percy Faith..etc.. I got out of the car went in to meet the PD as scheduled and I said..."THIS isn't a contemporary music station." No lie..the guy said..."Well if you're a pro, you should be able to do ANY kind of format". I said "why does your ad say contemporary?" He exclaimed, "because otherwise we'd get no one to work here!" I asked one more question..
Since when does 70 miles from NYC mean NEAR NYC?" He got mad at that point..and I said.."well what does the job pay? He said $150 a week". I said...well, thanks for getting me here under false pretenses. Nice seeing you." He told me to $#*@ myself on the way out. I made a lasting impression didn't I?
But that's the kind of stories that are SO real to SO many of us. People have NO idea the kind of crap we have had to put up with at stations. And the wack jobs who ran them are a book unto it self. Just ask ANYone who worked on the air in 70's or 80's at local stations.
Ok..someone elses turn..
Oh..and let's hear from some of the NON radio industry people who actually remember having favorite jocks or voices they used to listen to when radio was relevant to their lives.
BE BIG
Jack Trachsler
Is this just a function of reminiscing, or a true tribute to the wonderful talent that has graced our once royal airwaves?
My peeps also told me that radio in NJ needs to be more daring in order to compete with the big signals from across the rivers.
My peeps also said that since McNally has been telling about the Atlantic City market and the old days there, I'm kinda GLAD Gary Lane didn't hire me back in '71. WMID was a superb station for its size back in the late 60's early 70's.
It never ceases to amaze me what nonsense and goofy behavior went on behind the scenes at stations in that market. I've heard it from several follks who have worked there over the years...Yet, some wonderful personalities DID make it out of there and went on to fabulous on and off-air careers.
Same can be said for some of the middle shore stations...and the Trenton area. CTC had it's own share of folks who went on to greatness, as did some of the other stations Central and in Northern, NJ. What a rich history.
But as I've said before..is it only us radio pigs who like to talk about that stuff, or do just plain normal NON-radio-types find it interesting to name drop some of the folks who entertained them over the years? I think it was either YOU Harry or McNally who asked that question a while back.
So my BIG question to all of you NOT in radio....
Do YOU have favorite people that YOU liked on the radio...ONLY NJ RADIO over the years? I mean really liked.
So many of them came and went so quickly up the ladder to bigger markets, etc.. I myself have SEVERAL faves over the years before and during my time on the air. I used to LOVE Famous Amos and World Famous on 11-7. Harry, YOU always made me stop and listen. You are a masterful story teller. Joey goes without saying. Kevin Fennessy was another super voice there.
I liked Dick Gunton on OBM-FM..early 70's, as he always sounded a bit cocky..and that was sorta cool for such an MOR station..Greg Koziar always had that same air to him. (I saw him in Shop-Rite the other day and he was so snotty to me..it was great. Thanks Greg. I can always count on you for that. Love ya man. HE was the first person to show me how to run a board at OBM-FM circa 1970).
Dick Lewis' voice at WJLK was always authoritative. That guy Devon on WADB was so out there, it was almost like Zacherle was on a beautiful music station. Some of the jocks that worked at the heritage AM stations in Trenton had that sound too. Jack Pinto, and many others.. I didnt' get to hear the WERA's, the WMTR's, and the many other stations up north when I was younger. They just didn't come in down the shore. But I've learned since that they have rich histories too. I applied to WNNJ-AM back in '76. There was an ad in a trade paper that said.."Contemporary Music station needs afternoon jock in Northern NJ very near NYC.)
So I drive all the way up there from Jackson where I lived at the time...and when I got within 5 miles of Newton I was able to hear the station..and it was playing Peggy Lee, Perry COmo, Percy Faith..etc.. I got out of the car went in to meet the PD as scheduled and I said..."THIS isn't a contemporary music station." No lie..the guy said..."Well if you're a pro, you should be able to do ANY kind of format". I said "why does your ad say contemporary?" He exclaimed, "because otherwise we'd get no one to work here!" I asked one more question..
Since when does 70 miles from NYC mean NEAR NYC?" He got mad at that point..and I said.."well what does the job pay? He said $150 a week". I said...well, thanks for getting me here under false pretenses. Nice seeing you." He told me to $#*@ myself on the way out. I made a lasting impression didn't I?
But that's the kind of stories that are SO real to SO many of us. People have NO idea the kind of crap we have had to put up with at stations. And the wack jobs who ran them are a book unto it self. Just ask ANYone who worked on the air in 70's or 80's at local stations.
Ok..someone elses turn..
Oh..and let's hear from some of the NON radio industry people who actually remember having favorite jocks or voices they used to listen to when radio was relevant to their lives.
BE BIG
Jack Trachsler
Is this just a function of reminiscing, or a true tribute to the wonderful talent that has graced our once royal airwaves?