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Wally Philips is gone
- Thread starter b344077
- Start date
Wanted to post a quick note passing on my condolences to the Philips' family and Wally's friends and colleagues.
In a way, Wally was responsible for me getting into the business--he of course was the one who took a chance on my dad, Larry, when he was still on the Chicago Police Department and shooting news stories as a freelancer, and if dad had never gotten into radio, I don't think I would have gone that way either.
I don't know if someone put Wally in touch with my dad or the other way around, but at the beginning, when my dad called in once with a story, Wally asked him where he wanted to go to dinner as a way of thanking him. Dad's reply was something along the lines of "how about you send me a check instead?" and, as they say, the rest was history.
I hate to sound like a bitter old f**t at the age of 35, and yes, my personal biases are pretty obvious, but I don't care--with Wally gone, that's just one more piece of what made WGN great be gone as well.
They can put the memorials up on their website, they can play old soundbites and bits on the air, they can even call up some of the "old-timers" and get their memories (by the way WGN, my dad's phone number hasn't changed), but they can never get back to what they used to be, which is one of the greatest stations this country ever had.
God speed Wally. You've earned your rest.
In a way, Wally was responsible for me getting into the business--he of course was the one who took a chance on my dad, Larry, when he was still on the Chicago Police Department and shooting news stories as a freelancer, and if dad had never gotten into radio, I don't think I would have gone that way either.
I don't know if someone put Wally in touch with my dad or the other way around, but at the beginning, when my dad called in once with a story, Wally asked him where he wanted to go to dinner as a way of thanking him. Dad's reply was something along the lines of "how about you send me a check instead?" and, as they say, the rest was history.
I hate to sound like a bitter old f**t at the age of 35, and yes, my personal biases are pretty obvious, but I don't care--with Wally gone, that's just one more piece of what made WGN great be gone as well.
They can put the memorials up on their website, they can play old soundbites and bits on the air, they can even call up some of the "old-timers" and get their memories (by the way WGN, my dad's phone number hasn't changed), but they can never get back to what they used to be, which is one of the greatest stations this country ever had.
God speed Wally. You've earned your rest.
Wally Phillips was the best person to ever grace the airwaves in Chicago!!! He delivered an audience to WGN that will never be matched
again in radio. I remember when I was younger that almost every older relative I had listened to Wally, and his show was often times
the talk at the dinner table. In my heart Wally was as much a part of Chicago as was Mayor Richard J Daley. He was a hero of mine
and I can honestly say if not for him I might never have gotten as interested in radio as I did. Wally was the first talk show host to
take LIVE calls on the air. He was an innovator, and he will forever be a Chicago legend.
My heart goes out to Wally's many friend's and family.
Rest In Peace, Wally
again in radio. I remember when I was younger that almost every older relative I had listened to Wally, and his show was often times
the talk at the dinner table. In my heart Wally was as much a part of Chicago as was Mayor Richard J Daley. He was a hero of mine
and I can honestly say if not for him I might never have gotten as interested in radio as I did. Wally was the first talk show host to
take LIVE calls on the air. He was an innovator, and he will forever be a Chicago legend.
My heart goes out to Wally's many friend's and family.
Rest In Peace, Wally
I didn't grow up listerning to Wally Phillips (I'm an East Coast kid), but we all owe a debt of gratitude to Phillips, and guys like him, for keeping AM viable.
I was lucky enough to grow up in the western burbs from the late 60's, into the 70's and early 80's. Had the chance to hear some of the best talent in the country on a daily basis... and will never forget the star power and respect that Wally both earned and commanded. Anybody else remember the parody Steve Dahl used to play on his show back in about '77 or so: "Oh Wally", sung of course to the tune of "Oh Mandy"? Suffice it to say, you know you've made it when the other shows in town are singing about you
Condolences to his family and friends... and a sincere thank you to the man who OWNED Chicago radio for a very long and memorable time.
Condolences to his family and friends... and a sincere thank you to the man who OWNED Chicago radio for a very long and memorable time.
In 1965, the first year Wally was on in the morning, my buddy got a summer internship at WGN and invited me down to the station one day to watch Wally's show. I'd been listening for years and jumped at the chance to actually watch how Wally and his record turner and his engineer put together the Radio Magic. On this particular morning, Wally called Tiffany's in New York to ask if they really served breakfast, and ended up ordering some cuff links. He told them his name was Jack Brickhouse and ordered the initials "JB" to be engraved. Off the air, he and Lloyd Pettit, his newsman at the time, were joking around and Pettit said it was a good thing he didn't tell them his name was Fred Underwood because the initials would have been "FU." 15 minutes later, after reading a live commercial in Lloyd Pettit's newscast, he tossed it back by saying, "read the weather, Fred." Pettit totally lost it, laughing hysterically, until Wally grabbed the copy and finished reading the weather. That quick wit of his was amazing to behold.
Also amazing to behold was the string of obscenities Pettit unleashed in the control room after he left the studio.
Wally Phillips was a genius and one of a kind. There can be no greater tribute to him than the wonderful comments today from Steve Dahl who famously competed against him in the late 70's. Read them here:
http://www.dahl.com/weblog/today.asp
Also amazing to behold was the string of obscenities Pettit unleashed in the control room after he left the studio.
Wally Phillips was a genius and one of a kind. There can be no greater tribute to him than the wonderful comments today from Steve Dahl who famously competed against him in the late 70's. Read them here:
http://www.dahl.com/weblog/today.asp
It's a shame that he is gone. My thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends at this most difficult time. Rest in peace Wally.
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