WFIL Mid-day Jocks

[Starbucks]

Since someone brought up the name Tom Dooley, as I remembered him as a short term jock at mid mornings or mid-days......I noticed between the years of 70-74.....'FIL went through quite a bit of 9-12 or even 12-3 jocks. Dick Heatherton, Kris Chandler, Randy Robbins, Geoff Richards, and a few more I can't think at the top of my mind at the moment, but the one's mentioned lasted no longer than a year at average.
Yes there was Jim O' Brien, Dan Donovan that started at these time slots themselves, but went on to long term morning or afternoon drive shifts at 'FIL. And Dave Parks lasted a long time at 12-3....after years at overnights. And the other shifts usually had a 3 year or more plus tenure. But when it came to mid days, there was some turnover.
The question is why? Not a high paying shift, or was it 'FIL's weakest rating area?

 

[jhguthlac]

Dick Heatherton was another short-termer in the late 60's-early 70's. He was kind of a weak link as I recall.

 

[stevations]

Dick Heatherton did a great job on WCBS FM 101.1 in the afternoons in the late 70s and early 80s. He could be funny and amusing without being corny like some other well know jocks of yesteryear like Dr Don Rose. I am not saying I did not like Dr Don but Dick Heatherton had a real smooth style.

 

[athegymtday]

And don't forget the late Jay Cook the original PD and mid-day jock.

 

[jimmyt1962]

About the mid-day WFiL boss jock lineup (my memory is a little shackey about early 69).
First in late 1969 when the late great Jim Nettelton exit the station (to go to WABC), Wfil went form 3 DJ's having 4 hour shifts from 6 a.m.- 6 p.m, to having 4 DJ's to 3 hours shift from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The line-up in late 1969 to very early 1970 was as follows:
Dr Don 6-9 am
Dick Heatherton 9-12n
Jay Cook 12n-3 (exist to start longer career as succesful PD of wfil)
J.J. Jeffrey 3-6 pm

Early 1970 to late Summer 1970 :
Dr Don 6-9 am
Dick Heatherton 9-12n
Dan Donovan 12n -3
J.J. Jeffery 3-6 pm

Late summer 1970 to early 1971
Dr Don 6-9 am
Jim O'Brien 9-12n
Dan Donovan 12n -3
J.J. Jeffery 3-6 pm (left in early 71' to go to WLS)

Early 1971-June 1972
Dr Don 6-9
Jim O'Brien 9-12n
Tom Dooley 12n-3
Dan Donovan 3-6

June 1972-October 1973
Dr Don 6-9 (Joe Niagara fills in from October1972-May 1973)
Jim O'Brien 9-12n
Dave Parks 12n-3 (original Boss Jock moved form the overnight shift)
Dan Donovan 3-6

Nov 1973-Aug 1974
Jim O'Brien 6-9
Kris Chandler 9-12n (exists the station to go to Solid Gold WCAU FM)
Dave Parks 12n-3
Dan Donovan 3-6

Sept 1974-Nov 1975
Jim O'Brien 6-9
Geoff Richards 9-12n
Dave Parks 12n-3 (exits fil in late 75 to go to the All New WIBG)
Dan Donovan 3-6

Nov 1975-July 1976
Jim O'Brien 6-9
Geoff Richards 9-12n (in Aug 76 moved to weekends+fill-ins, stayed with FIL till early 1978)
Tom Tyler 12n-3 (from doing weekends+fill-ins)
Dan Donovan 3-6

Aug 1976-April 1977
Jim O'Brien 6-9 (retires from Radio in April 77, to conitue TV Career at Channel 6)
Tom Tyler 9-12n (exits FIL in April 77)
Randy Robbins 12n-3 (exits FIL in April 77)
Dan Donovan 3-6

April 1977-WFiL goes back to 3 DJ's working four hour shifts from 6 a.m.-6 p.m.
Don Cannon 6-10 (who stayed with Fil to 1981 right before the swith to Country)
Tony Mann 10-2
Dan Danovan 2-6 (who stayed with Fil to early 1979)

A few moths later Fil stared it's gradual switch from Top 40 to AC.

Hopes this information helps out.

 

[John1]

A few moths later Fil stared it's gradual switch from Top 40 to AC.

Yes, by that time, the moths had eaten away at what was once the dominant top 40 station (lol)

 

[ixnay]

jimmyt, based on your chart, it looks like I have found the identity of the Boss Jock (whose name always escaped me) who my middle school radio club saw in action on our field trip to WFIL (and WPVI) in the big round building on City Line in early 1975: Geoff Richards!* We stood in the control booth watching and hearing Geoff patter out of a song from the other side of the glass, then cuing the engineer who popped in the commercial cart in less than a nanosecond. The Drake format in action, observed by me personally! Thanks, jimmy, for answering the question that has gnawed at my brain for 35 years! BTW my mom (then in her late 30s) was an 'Fil listener when on the road at the time.

*It had to have been during Richards' shift because Dialing for Dollars, hosted by Jimbo, was just letting out. We met (and got autographed pics) of O'Brien, a fine sounding and acting man (RIP).

ixnay