Wall to wall Christmas radio

[purpledevil]

Merry Christmas to all! Flipping around the dial this morning yielded several outlets for Christmas programming and music.

AM

700 KSEV playing Christmas classics
740 KTRH is running the Red Skelton Christmas special
1110 KTEK is running old CBS radio programs, one sounded like Lucille Ball...but couldn't stick with it long enough to find out.
1430 KCOH is playing Christmas and Gospel Holiday music.
1540 KGBC is all Christmas music as well.

FM

the usual suspects KODA and KSBJ as well as KKBQ, KHPT, KBXX (even though you won't hear "Ludichristmas" or Run D.M.C. in your traditional church), and KMJQ.

 

[ChuckTiller]

This morning at 5AM on 1070 KNTH, I played Christmas music from Arthur Fiedler and the Boston Pops, Elvis Presley, Charles Brown, The Carpenters, Eartha Kitt, Jose Feliciano, Peggy Lee,The New Boston Pops, Floyd Kramer, Ray Stevens, and Bing Crosby to name a few. I interspersed comedy routines from Red Skelton, Bob Hope at the Long Beach V.A., Bob Hope in a skit with a disgruntled Santa, Bob Hope and Bing Crosby together, The Bickering Bickersons (featuring Don Ameche and Francis Langford as John and Blanche Bickerson), Amos 'n Andy and Hudson and Landry. I did that 'live' show for two hours.

The Salem Radio Network shows, like Bill Bennett, Mike Gallagher, Dennis Prager, Michael Medved and Hugh Hewitt featured various Christmas programming from music to Christmas stories.

On 100.7 KKHT, we featured ministry programs which reflected the spirit of Christmas in discussions and in music. Both KNTH and KKHT played "The Moods of Christmas" with Anthony Ochoa at midnight. His program featured music. at 1AM, KNTH aired the Charlie Daniels/U.S. Air force Christmas special featuring musioc from Charlie's latest Christmas album.

I was the only one there. I gave my staff off for Christmas so they could be with their families.

Merry Christmas all!

 

[edriskill]

I remember being the 'designated single guy' for several years, so I would work Christmas eve and Christmas morning while the married guys stayed home with their families. I would always get New Years Eve and New Years day in return.
Christmas shifts were always pretty quiet, except for one year at KAUM. A lady called me on the request line and asked what I was doing for Christmas. I told her that I was working the evening and the next morning, then going to my parent's house for the afternoon. Later, she called again, and asked if it was OK if she brought me something 'for my Christmas'. It seemed a little creepy, but I said OK, and in a little while, the light for the door flashed. She had brought me a plate with a nice meal, and a bottle of wine. She came in, we talked a little bit, I ate the food, and she went on her way. I always think of that when I think of the kindness of strangers during the holiday season. Have no clue what ever happened to the lady.

Hope everybody had a nice Christmas. I, for one, feel blessed. I got to spend my day with my kids, my sister, my new fiance, and my 56th Christmas with my wonderful mother. Life is good.

 

[johndavis]

I remember being the 'designated single guy' for several years, so I would work Christmas eve and Christmas morning while the married guys stayed home with their families. I would always get New Years Eve and New Years day in return.
Christmas shifts were always pretty quiet, except for one year at KAUM. A lady called me on the request line and asked what I was doing for Christmas. I told her that I was working the evening and the next morning, then going to my parent's house for the afternoon. Later, she called again, and asked if it was OK if she brought me something 'for my Christmas'. It seemed a little creepy, but I said OK, and in a little while, the light for the door flashed. She had brought me a plate with a nice meal, and a bottle of wine. She came in, we talked a little bit, I ate the food, and she went on her way. I always think of that when I think of the kindness of strangers during the holiday season. Have no clue what ever happened to the lady.

Hope everybody had a nice Christmas. I, for one, feel blessed. I got to spend my day with my kids, my sister, my new fiance, and my 56th Christmas with my wonderful mother. Life is good.

One station I worked at was on the ground floor of an office building with a picture window overlooking a fish pond in the courtyard. On the other side of the pond was a popular local restaurant. I was pulling an overnight on New Years Eve when there was a tap at the window. The chef, whom I had met in the station a few times (he was dating our traffic director), saw me in the window and sent a server over with a plate of food and a beer. Good times.

 

[mmarshall]

Ed, was that when KAUM was still on the top floor of the Fannin Bank building?

 

[edriskill]

Ed, was that when KAUM was still on the top floor of the Fannin Bank building?

Yep... 1201 Fanning Bank Bldg. Actually, that wasn't the top... think there were 15 or 16 floors in the building. A beautiful view of the Medical Center (much more to see today), and the Holiday Inn. For that Christmas, the staff all chipped in and bought Willard Lockridge a telescope so he could get a better view of the business on the balconies at the Holiday Inn. It made going to the G.M.'s office more of an adventure...
I spent a relaxing day at Home Entertainment that day (I expect you did too), worked 8-midnite that night (maybe 7-midnite), then 6-noon Christmas morning. Gave the store and several of our brands more than a few plugs during those shifts. Fortunately, my parents had come down here for Christmas, so I didn't have to make the Christmas day trek to Crockett. The great think about working at Kirby and KAUM was they were close by, there were places to get drive-by food between them, one was a day job and the other was nights, and I was getting 2 full-time checks for about 2 or 3 months. Tired, yes. but wealth beyond imagination.

How are you doing these days? Ever get all of your kids through school? Are they supporting you, yet? My son is still in college, but I fortunately set aside some money back in the brief window that I actually MADE some, for the kids schooling. Makes the whole thing a little less painful. (I'll have to make my semi-annual book investment in the next week or two). I thought books were a rip-off when I was in school...

Are you doing any radio these days? I am doing a few radio spots from time to time from my home studio, but haven't found anything to really make it worthwhile, yet. Maybe someday...