I saw on social media that affiliates for The Classics with Steve Downes received notice the show will end its run in a few weeks. It's been close to 10 years since Steve retired from 97.1 The Drive in Chicago, but he has kept hosting The Classics. Was he ready to retire fully, or is this another casualty of the cuts taking place at United Stations/Gemini XII? I'm not even sure if the current weekly editions of The Classics were first run shows still actively being produced, or if the show depends on repackaged previous episodes like some of the other USRN weekend shows like Time Warp and Absolutely 80s.
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The Classics with Steve Downes
- Thread starter vw86
- Start date
I know that Steve Downes still did some occasional voiceover work at 97.1 FM The Drive, but I just went to the show's Facebook page. Steve has acknowledged that United Stations Radio Network has indeed decided to wrap up production of "The Classics with Steve Downes" within the last couple of weeks. It seems hard to believe, but Downes hosted "The Classics" for 24 years.
He did thank longtime Chicago radio executive Greg Solk and current Drive Program Director Keith Hastings for airing the weekly syndicated series, which had been airing at 10P (CT) Saturdays on The Drive in recent months.
The Drive recently tweaked its own daily schedule within the last couple of weeks. They now have "Sherman & Tingle" starting at 6A weekday mornings followed by the return of longtime midday host Bob Stroud, albeit voice tracked, from 10A-1P & Janda Lane going back to afternoons from 1-6P Monday-Friday. The Drive also recently added the syndicated "Alice's Attic with Alice Cooper" to fill its 7P-Midnight shift. The Drive also moved John "Byrd" Kempf & Tim Spencer respectively to weekends with Dave Mazur to make room.
One school of thought could be a repackaged, weekend version of "Alice's Attic" to possibly fill the 10P-Midnight (CT) void on Saturday nights. I don't know if The Drive will air that or if "Chicago's Classic Rock" will stay local and likely jockless to fill "The Classics" void in the station's schedule.
As for Downes, the veteran radio personality & voice actor turns 74 on June 28. I hope that answers any questions about "The Classics" signing off for good.
He did thank longtime Chicago radio executive Greg Solk and current Drive Program Director Keith Hastings for airing the weekly syndicated series, which had been airing at 10P (CT) Saturdays on The Drive in recent months.
The Drive recently tweaked its own daily schedule within the last couple of weeks. They now have "Sherman & Tingle" starting at 6A weekday mornings followed by the return of longtime midday host Bob Stroud, albeit voice tracked, from 10A-1P & Janda Lane going back to afternoons from 1-6P Monday-Friday. The Drive also recently added the syndicated "Alice's Attic with Alice Cooper" to fill its 7P-Midnight shift. The Drive also moved John "Byrd" Kempf & Tim Spencer respectively to weekends with Dave Mazur to make room.
One school of thought could be a repackaged, weekend version of "Alice's Attic" to possibly fill the 10P-Midnight (CT) void on Saturday nights. I don't know if The Drive will air that or if "Chicago's Classic Rock" will stay local and likely jockless to fill "The Classics" void in the station's schedule.
As for Downes, the veteran radio personality & voice actor turns 74 on June 28. I hope that answers any questions about "The Classics" signing off for good.
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