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Where was 'Radio Waves'?

1

1069_KIFR

I waited all week for the next edition of Ben Fong-Torres' column in the Pink Section. It wasn't here today. The last edition was 10-07-07. It has been two weeks. I didn't read of any notice that there would not be one today.

Is he on vacation? Anyone know the status of "Radio Waves'? Will it be in next weeks Pink Section?
 
It was in yesterdays Chronicle. They had an old radio piece and also had a bit on KOIT once again
switching to All-Christmas music by Mid November. I believe it was on page 45 or 47. You might
wanna check it out.
 
Hmmm...I was going to make fun of you for not being able to find Radio Waves, KIFR - then give you the link. But I couldn't find it online. So sfgate.com must have messed up. But you can find it the old fashioned way - in ink on pink paper. I read it yesterday, too. Good column, as usual.
 
Those of us from out of town are SOL I guess...I don't mean KSOL...:)
 
DyingMedium said:
Those of us from out of town are SOL I guess...I don't mean KSOL...:)
Click to expand...

Hmmm... you're right. It was in the print edition, but there's no link in the online edition (http://tinyurl.com/ynlh3g).

BFT mentioned that he'll be doing a new program on KFRC-FM called "Backstage" that will feature music he personally selects along with excerpts from interviews he's conducted over the years. "Backstage" will run 7 to 9 a.m. and 7 to 9 p.m.

DJ
 
Henry Ochs said:
It was in yesterdays Chronicle. They had an old radio piece and also had a bit on KOIT once again
switching to All-Christmas music by Mid November. I believe it was on page 45 or 47. You might
wanna check it out.
Click to expand...

Assuming someone wants to read about DJs who were around before most of us were born. How many people really care about Don Sherwood? Having listened to some of his airchecks, it's hard to imagine why he was so popular. And yet again, BF-T brags about the days he was on the radio. Really, how many of us care whether he worked at KFOG or KEWB or wherever?

If someone is going to do a radio column it would be good to read something about what's going on NOW in local radio. I don't expect that's going to be coming from BF-T any time soon.
 
DavidKaye said:
Assuming someone wants to read about DJs who were around before most of us were born. How many people really care about Don Sherwood? Having listened to some of his airchecks, it's hard to imagine why he was so popular.
Click to expand...

You have to listen to Sherwood in the context of the time that he was on the air. San Francisco was a different place back then, and radio was a different medium back then, too.

At the height of his popularity, Sherwood owned the city. He was on television and radio, and his name was in the papers on almost a daily basis (as evidenced by the amount of ink that Herb Caen, Bob Foster, Terrence O'Flaherty, Bill Fiset and Bob MacKenzie regularly devoted to his antics).

In the context of the times, Sherwood was as close to a Howard Stern as you could get during that era. Now, it appears tame and passe. Back then, it was cutting edge.

DavidKaye said:
And yet again, BF-T brags about the days he was on the radio. Really, how many of us care whether he worked at KFOG or KEWB or wherever?
Click to expand...

Come on, now. He mentions occasionally that he's done a few radio shows. That's not bragging.

Radio history -- and especially local radio history -- is a niche subject with a limited audience. There are a few people that are passionate about it; there are many more who don't have any interest in it at all.

I find it to be like people who do Civil War re-enactments, or who rebuild old locomotives. Why would anybody be interested in that? There's an easy answer: because, to them, it's interesting.

Personally, I collect airchecks the way others collect baseball cards or comic books. When I find a "new" Wolfman Jack from XERB, or a "lost" Real Don Steele, it makes me happy as a clam. They ain't making them any more, and it means something to me. The value is in the eye -- and ear -- of the beholder.

From the amount of visitors that the radio museum gets online, and the time spent listening to the audio presentations, you might be surprised at how popular, relatively speaking, old radio is.

DJ
 
Take it easy on BFT and Don Sherwood.
Ben and Brad Kava have been the only journalists with any appreciation for radio anywhere in NorCal.

As for Sherwood.....There is currently no one, syndicated or local with the the popular appeal that Sherwood had in his day. I can recall seeing his ratings well over 30% of available listening. He exhibited flashes the crankiness of an Imus, and the sophomoric giddiness of a Letterman. He had a wicked laugh, a sharp wit and led a full life that we, his faithful, lived vicariously and enviably. Listening to Sherwood was a religious experience. No scoped aircheck of a single broadcast could do justice to his legacy.

this message was composed shortly after the slam of Sherwood and Ben. I note others are joining in the conversation as I write.
 
BossRadioDJ said:
BFT mentioned that he'll be doing a new program on KFRC-FM called "Backstage" that will feature music he personally selects along with excerpts from interviews he's conducted over the years. "Backstage" will run 7 to 9 a.m. and 7 to 9 p.m.
Click to expand...

On Sundays. I meant to say it will air on Sundays from 7 to 9 a.m. and again from 7 to 9 p.m. Some of you will be forced to TiVo "60 Minutes" from now on...

The morning edition of "Backstage" leads in to John Mack Flanagan's "Beatles Brunch."

(And thanks, Carter, for the nudge...)
 
DavidKaye said:
Henry Ochs said:
It was in yesterdays Chronicle. They had an old radio piece and also had a bit on KOIT once again
switching to All-Christmas music by Mid November. I believe it was on page 45 or 47. You might
wanna check it out.
Click to expand...

Assuming someone wants to read about DJs who were around before most of us were born. How many people really care about Don Sherwood? Having listened to some of his airchecks, it's hard to imagine why he was so popular. And yet again, BF-T brags about the days he was on the radio. Really, how many of us care whether he worked at KFOG or KEWB or wherever?

If someone is going to do a radio column it would be good to read something about what's going on NOW in local radio. I don't expect that's going to be coming from BF-T any time soon.
Click to expand...

Appreciation for the past, or at least knowledge of it, gives the present context. Sorry it bothers you to read posts from those who have the knowledge and are kind enough to share it, or worse from a respected columnist with a vast knowledge of the rich history of San Francisco radio. If it bothers you, don't read it or perhaps create a website that only speaks to those who only want to hear about today's radio.

The tapestry of Radio-Info is woven from information about the whole of radio, past, present and hopefully the future, it's one of its strengths.
 
How idiotic that someone would take a shot at Ben, who is one of the most humble and downright nicest guys you'll ever meet.

Most people don't realize how much Ben does for others...and he won't tell you about it. He makes very little money doing the Radio Waves column...He does it because he loves radio.

Now go post something about T-man and leave us old farts alone...:)
 
From Mr. DavidKaye:

Assuming someone wants to read about DJs who were around before most of us were born. How many people really care about Don Sherwood? Having listened to some of his airchecks, it's hard to imagine why he was so popular. And yet again, BF-T brags about the days he was on the radio. Really, how many of us care whether he worked at KFOG or KEWB or wherever?
Click to expand...

Ohhhh.......my.............goodnessssss!!! How old (or young) are you, DavidKaye? :eek:

There's a reason I ask:

When one considers the august body of broadcast heavyweights who not only read, but contribute to the San Francisco board of radio-info.com, putting a post like that on said board tells me you don't know whom you're among, Mr. Kaye, but that you also have cajones that one would only find in bowling alleys. Some people here (such as the wonderful gentleman whose post is a couple above mine) actually KNEW and WORKED WITH Mr. Sherwood. I not only echo Carter's kudos to calguy, but those of Ron Fell (another heavyhitter and Sherwood comtemporary), BossRadioDJ, Llew, and others who also have an appreciation of radio's rich history, and like me and so many others, have a strong drive to see and keep it alive for THOSE WHO WON'T REMEMBER TODAY (which is so important to you), because THEY are either too young, or HAVE YET TO BE BORN.

Know who Fred Phelps is, Mr. Kaye? Ever see that clown in the Castro district? That's right...and you never will. Your post is analogous to Phelps wearing a sandwich sign that says "God hates (3-letter derogatory word beginning with "f" meaning homosexual males)" and parading around 18th and Castro.

I'm surprised DJ isn't picking brain chunks up off the floor by now. ;)

Remember, DavidKaye, that come tomorrow, today will be "yesterday."
 
Having listened to some of his airchecks, it's hard to imagine why he was so popular.
Click to expand...

Simply listening to an aircheck will tell you what records he played, what his voice sounded like and some of the things he did. What an aircheck cannot do is give you the feel, the flavor of what Sherwood did, or convey the time in which he was on the air, world and local happenings in 1958 or 1962, what was going on in a person's life at the time, and the paradigm a person had that accompanied it all. Listening to Sherwood was not just listening to a KSFO radio show every morning, it was a WAY OF LIFE. Don Sherwood was your friend. He made you laugh as you were stuck in traffic driving to work. He kept you company with a warm, funny presence as you washed the breakfast dishes and made the kids' beds. In other words, he made you LOVE HIM. Were you listening to KSFO the day they announced Sherwood's death in the fall of 1983? I was, and they actually SUSPENDED PROGRAMMING (all music and commercials) that day so that people could call in and reminsce about their old friend who kept 'em company and made 'em laugh on the radio for so many years so many years ago. How many stations do THAT anymore? Forgive the hyperbole, but I don't think Einstein could count the number of people there were who couldn't finish sentences (or had to hang up altogether) because they broke down in heaving sobs knowing he was gone.

You had to experience it for yourself...something you can do with today's radio shows (or can you?), but what a lot of people were not able to do because THEY WEREN'T BORN YET. Sherwood was actually warm and friendly to his listeners and had breakfast with a lot of them after he got off the air. They don't make 'em like Sherwood anymore. And with the state of things in the broadcast industry these days, I'm dubious as to whether there ever will be another Sherwood again. Corporate puppetry doesn't allow for daring individualists like Sherwood today.

I thank God for radio's old-and older-timers that have hung in there...and are still on the air...a lot of the so-called "talent pool" I hear nowadays in radio isn't enough to float a popsicle stick.
 
rickradio said:
I'm surprised DJ isn't picking brain chunks up off the floor by now. ;)

Remember, DavidKaye, that come tomorrow, today will be "yesterday."
Click to expand...

Rick, are you quoting George Harrison or the Talmud? ;D

With all due respect to everyone's opinions here, I know David Kaye, and he has worked in radio around these parts, and his opinion is correct.

And so is mine.

They just ain't the same opinion.

DK doesn't need me to stand up for him -- anybody who frequents the ba.broadcast newsgroup knows that -- but there's no reason to take any of this too seriously.

Ooh, lookit! Brain chunks! Yum!
 
Actually, DJ, what fueled my post was NOT animosity. I hope I didn't come across that way...my apologies if I did. What I meant to convey was actually something in the way of shock (kinda like in math class, when the class smart mouth calls the teacher a b----, and everyone's eyes practically pop outta their heads, darting back and forth between said smart mouth and teacher).

It was nothing personal at all...it was like..."WHOA...I can't believe he just said that!" In fact, maybe one day we'll meet, and hopefully, he won't want to take a swing at me... ;D

Now, Ben on the other hand, I don't know much at all about him. I used to read his column regularly (the station I worked at at the time subscribed to the Chron), and I know he used to work for Rolling Stone. I've always liked Ben's work...hopefully one day soon, I'll get to meet him, too.
 
Every single soul who is on the air right now stands on the shoulders of the Don Sherwoods, Carter B. Smiths, and their contemporaries and those who came before them in many great markets around the country. I'm sorry, but if you don't have an appreciation for that, you are a fool. Some of the rappers and hip hop artists have given props to the likes of Louis Armstrong, who opened the doors for them in music decades ago. Same is true in sports. We in this field are no less blessed by some of the awesome talent that led the way for us.
 
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