Where was 'Radio Waves'?

[mailman ron]

Thanks to all of you "old-timers" for chiming in on Sherwood, Carter B., and the other Bay Area legends who could and would only shake their heads at most of the current crop of "entertainers"..I appreciate radio that engages my mind...I was fired from radio in Las Vegas in the late 70's because I was told, " You have San Francisco humor."...What a complement!!...It was Terry McGovern, Carter B, Dan Sorkin & Gene Nelson who I tried to emulate as I started in radio out of City Colllege ( w/ Henry Leff - who played Woody Allen's father in "Take the Money & Run")...These were my heroes, guys who prepared 2 or 3 hours a day to do their "ad-libs", crafting them to the interests of the day or continuing characters I looked forward to hearing ( thanks, Dan)... Now-a-days, only Armstrong & Getty on KNEW/KSTE can make me chuckle and entertain me in the way these men did..Again, if I need music, I have my MP3 & CD player...if I want crude and unimaginative frat boy humor..well, I never do so thank God for podcasts. If only we could get these guys on podcasts. Finally, I have no desire to live the 60's, 70's, 80's, and 90's again. I don't want to live in the past..just be entertained and challenged mentally like these Bay Area pioneers did in those years..But it takes talent, depth, ryeness (?) and preparation ( San Francisco humor)..Who, if anyone these days, fits that criteria?..Steer me and I'll listen.

 

[Starbucks]

Re: Don Sherwood

Well said Calguy Carter B.

After reading about this great legend.....I thought I asked you because you seem knowledgeable, when was Don Sherwood's final year (s). How did it end?

 

[LKellerIII]

I don't want to pile onto Mr. Kaye - but here's my 2 cents. First, Ben often does write current radio news, so I don't think it's entirely accurate to say Radio Waves is just a wallow in radio nostalgia - it's not. But because Ben has to write the column so far ahead for the Sunday paper, he is constrained by the format, and "breaking" radio news (sudden format flips, favorite DJs being fired, etc.) are old news by the time Radio Waves gets to print.

Second, though I'm not a radio professional, what Rick said makes sense - that's its important to understand radio history and the work of people of radio pros who worked in radio in past decades.

As far as nostalgia goes - I really don't have a nostalgic bone in my body. This decade we're in (what are we going to call it anyway - "the Os"?) is my favorite decade of life so far - I don't go to high school reunions, or spend time reminiscing with friends from childhood. But I remember when I discovered radio (I was about 11), and was enthralled with it. Since I grew up in LA, I missed Sherwood, but fondly remember the top 40 jocks I listened to, as well as the LA MOR jocks of that era like Gary Owens and Bob Crane. Listening to airchecks from the 60s and 70s is not only entertaining, you can get some real historic perspective and a snapshot of the times - not only from the DJs, but the news of the time, and even the commercials.

Thank god for the internet, and people like David Jackson and Uncle Ricky at Reelradio, or we wouldn't have access to this great stuff. Its the one nostalgia trip I do wallow in for a couple of hours every month, and I appreciate Ben's column for doing the same.

 

[rickradio]

Well said Calguy Carter B.

After reading about this great legend.....I thought I asked you because you seem knowledgeable, when was Don Sherwood's final year (s). How did it end?

Well, heaven knows I'm not Carter B., but until he has a chance to respond, Don Sherwood was at KSFO until 1969, when former KYA morning man Gene Nelson took over mornings on KSFO (doing KSFO overnights between KYA mornings and KSFO mornings). Mr. Sherwood came back to KSFO to do mornings for one last, brief go-around in 1975, then hung up his headphones once and for all.

He passed away Autumn 1983.

 

[Newname]

Well said Calguy Carter B.

After reading about this great legend.....I thought I asked you because you seem knowledgeable, when was Don Sherwood's final year (s). How did it end?

Well, heaven knows I'm not Carter B., but until he has a chance to respond, Don Sherwood was at KSFO until 1969, when former KYA morning man Gene Nelson took over mornings on KSFO (doing KSFO overnights between KYA mornings and KSFO mornings). Mr. Sherwood came back to KSFO to do mornings for one last, brief go-around in 1975, then hung up his headphones once and for all.

He passed away Autumn 1983.

November 4, '83, to be exact.
For David Jackson...do you have any clips of KSFO's Sherwood tribute from that date?
All I can remember is that my parents tried to call in, but the lines were busy.
Hap Harper's web site had (has?) a brief clip of him calling in on that day(at the time he was working for KNBR).

 

[BossRadioDJ]

For David Jackson...do you have any clips of KSFO's Sherwood tribute from that date?
All I can remember is that my parents tried to call in, but the lines were busy.
Hap Harper's web site had (has?) a brief clip of him calling in on that day(at the time he was working for KNBR).

I think that all I have is Hap's recording, plus one from Ronnie Schell. Give me until 3 p.m. (PDT) today, and I'll have them up on the Sherwood tribute page:

http://www.DonnieBabe.com

For a great look at the effect that Sherwood and KSFO had on listeners, take a moment to read:

http://www.bayarearadio.org/pages/sherwood_stockton-raid.shtml

DJ

 

[BossRadioDJ]

I think that all I have is Hap's recording, plus one from Ronnie Schell. Give me until 3 p.m. (PDT) today, and I'll have them up on the Sherwood tribute page:

http://www.DonnieBabe.com

The recording featuring Ronnie Schell (interviewed by Aaron Edwards) and other pieces from KSFO's coverage of Sherwood's death is now up on www.DonnieBabe.com. You will have to scroll down to the bottom of the list to access it.

The audio had a terrible hiss behind it, which I excised, hopefully gently. Please let me know if it might be better to include the original raw recording instead.

Does anybody recognize the announcer on the recording? Jerry Gordon perhaps?

The Hap Harper segment, which is from Hap's personal collection, is also posted at DonnieBabe.com (just below the Schell recording). It features Hap along with Buddy Hatton and Aaron Edwards.

DJ

 

[BossRadioDJ]

...as I started in radio out of City College ( w/ Henry Leff - who played Woody Allen's father in "Take the Money & Run")...

Strange coincidence. Ron mentioned Henry Leff, and I just received a message that his memorial service will be held this Friday (October 26) at the Temple Emanu-El, Lake & Arguello in San Francisco, beginning at 11 a.m.

DJ

 

[MikeAmatori]

Well said Calguy Carter B.

After reading about this great legend.....I thought I asked you because you seem knowledgeable, when was Don Sherwood's final year (s). How did it end?

Well, heaven knows I'm not Carter B., but until he has a chance to respond, Don Sherwood was at KSFO until 1969, when former KYA morning man Gene Nelson took over mornings on KSFO (doing KSFO overnights between KYA mornings and KSFO mornings). Mr. Sherwood came back to KSFO to do mornings for one last, brief go-around in 1975, then hung up his headphones once and for all.

He passed away Autumn 1983.

Dear Rick, I need to correct you. No I am not Carter, but we are friends and I went to Work for KSFO in 1973, while I was at SF State. Don did leave in 69. He was replaced by Terry McGovern who they got from KDKA. Then in late 71'
Jim Lange was moved up from KMPC. Jim was doing mornings when I got there. Gene, who was an instructor of mine
at CSM was doing 7-Mid shift when he first came over from KYA. KSFO lineup 1973 Lange 6-10 Gene 10-12n Dick McGarvin 12-4 Terry McGovern 4-7p John Gilliland 7-mid Russ Syracuse Mid-6a.

When Don came in 1975 He took over mornings and was also PD. He moved Lange to afternoons, Lange, who had just signed a contract to do mornings ONLY, left because his contract had been violated, Golden West paid out the contract. Don then moved Gene into afternoons. Terry quit and went to KSAN, Don fired McGarvin and put Russ in Mid Days. It was a real mess during the "Don's" last comeback. In early 76' they brought in Victor Ives from KEX to be PD, Don continued to do mornings untill (Don was very Ill) his health just gave out, he was also on wife #5 (Sandy). Don would walk around with an oxygen tank and shut it off to light up a Pall Mall. True story, When he was done with the morning show, I would give him a ride home, he was living on Jones St in SF about 5 blocks from the station, but his breathing was so bad, he could'nt walk it. I will have this visual in my mind forever of that 6' + guy with his Oxygen Tank and a Cigarette in his mouth folding himself up to get into my 1972 Ford Pinto.

KSFO was in freefall after that, FM was killing AM music radio, We got a terrible GM and PD after that who then lost us the Giants in 1978, They were fired, then another lame PD and GM. Then King Broadcasting bought it in 1983, and got to make their own mistakes $$$$. I really can't remember it all as well as I used too, but I have had KSFO on my resume from 1973 thru today. I did leave in January of 92-Sept 94 while Ron Unkafer owened it. I returned at ABC's invitation when they bought it from Unkafer in Sept 1994.

 

[rickradio]

Interesting!! Hey, correction's enthusiastically welcomed here when necessary! If there's one thing I love to do, it's learn!

No, you don't have to be Carter to know what went on at KSFO, but since it appeared starbucks was asking Carter, I referred to him in my reply. After reading yours, though, I'm kinda wishing I hadn't.

You filled in a lot of holes for me, though. I always wondered about McGovern, like when he started at KSFO and from where he came. I guess it didn't take long for him to get moved to 9:05-Noon, according to a July 1969 KSFO print ad.

Yeah, Don was a legendary heavy smoker. I can easily see how he wouldn't have the lung capacity to walk what the healthier among us would consider a lousy 5-block walk home, especially with the hilliness of that area of the city.

Thanks, Prod Boy!

 

[CarterB]

After a few "not Carters" here is one. Having left KSFO in the early 70's I am really unclear as to Don's appearence and reappearence at the station. You all have gotten a good view of his later days at the place. Present day DJ's could still learn from him. He was the most organized fellow I ever saw. He never did more than one thought per stopbreak and would scrub any idea before it was totally worn out. His airchecks were in many cases not much. He differed from present day talent in another aspect....his personality would very greatly from day to day. Upbeat on Monday, morose on Tuesday and so forth. Folks would tune in just to see how he was doing in the area of emotions. Workng with him was a trip. Carter B.

 

[tripton99]

How 'bout a round of clap for Carter B. The man played a critical role in the legend of Donnie Babe. CB was more than an Ed McMahon to Don's Johnny Carson. Sometimes Sherwood wouldn't show up until 6:30am for his 6am to 9am show and guess who had to hold down the fort? KSFO's PD Al Newman taught me before I ever became a PD myself, that KSFO was built on the principle of consistent unpredictability....even if the majority of that unpredictability was Sherwood himself.
Anyway, Carter B was a glue that held the show together. Well, maybe he was just a Post-it note, but it wasn't the same without him...though I often thought Aaron Edwards was a good second-hand foil.

Miss it all.

 

[MikeAmatori]

So do I. It was truly "The Worlds Greatest Radio Station" and for those of us who worked there during those Golden West B'casters Years...it still is.

I met Carter when I was a student at SF State, he was still at KSFO then, When I came to work for them he had left for KNBR...The week I started, McGovern led a commando raid on Carters Car and plastered it with KSFO Loves You Bumper stickers. I did finaly get to work with CB when King Broadcasting bought the station.

 

[LKellerIII]

When I moved to the Bay Area (73) I was too rock-centric to get into middle-of-the-road KSFO. My radio addictions were KFRC, KYA, KSAN, and KTIM in Marin - even though I'd been a fan of Golden West sister station KMPC as a kid in LA. So I mostly missed the last best years of the "world's greatest radio station." - But I did stumble into John Gilliland's show in the mid 70s, and listened often in the evening. It first caught my ear because I remembered John from KRLA, the brilliant Credibility Gap, and the Pop Chronicles. His KSFO show was a great combination of music, old radio shows, comedy, and the CBS Mystery Theater.

I also used to listen to Jean Sheppard's great radio essays around that time - but can't remember if they were part of Gilliland's show, or not. Maybe the Production God remembers?

 

[jprg]

I live in San Diego and was born and raised in the Bay Area. I walked into a used bookstore about a month ago and found a book written by Laurie Harper, the wife of Hap Harper called "Don Sherwood, The Life and Times of The World's Greatest Disc Jockey." Would you believe when I opened the front cover, it was signed by Carter B? How cool is that! Carter signed it "to Don and Cindy" Laurie signed it as well. Very cool!

 

[gameon]

When I moved to the Bay Area (73) I was too rock-centric to get into middle-of-the-road KSFO. My radio addictions were KFRC, KYA, KSAN, and KTIM in Marin - even though I'd been a fan of Golden West sister station KMPC as a kid in LA. So I mostly missed the last best years of the "world's greatest radio station." - But I did stumble into John Gilliland's show in the mid 70s, and listened often in the evening. It first caught my ear because I remembered John from KRLA, the brilliant Credibility Gap, and the Pop Chronicles. His KSFO show was a great combination of music, old radio shows, comedy, and the CBS Mystery Theater.

I also used to listen to Jean Sheppard's great radio essays around that time - but can't remember if they were part of Gilliland's show, or not. Maybe the Production God remembers?

Oh my god! John Gilliland!!!? I haven't thought about him in years. What a great personality! He used to do a comedy hour late every weeknight on KSFO. Its where I first heard Firesign Theater, National Lampoon, Bill Cosby, George Carlin, Steve Martin, and more and more and more. Thanks for reminding me of one the shows from my childhood that made me excited about radio as a medium.

I have been in the biz for the last twenty years and the past few have been pretty tough. Its great to remember a great personality like Gilliland and the show that got me thinking about this medium all those years ago. It reminds me that even with all the corporate bs we are forced to deal with in this day and age, its still a great gig and a great industry.

 

[BossRadioDJ]

Re: Sherwood & KSFO Memories

Oh my god! John Gilliland!!!? I haven't thought about him in years. What a great personality! He used to do a comedy hour late every weeknight on KSFO. Its where I first heard Firesign Theater, National Lampoon, Bill Cosby, George Carlin, Steve Martin, and more and more and more. Thanks for reminding me of one the shows from my childhood that made me excited about radio as a medium.

I have been in the biz for the last twenty years and the past few have been pretty tough. Its great to remember a great personality like Gilliland and the show that got me thinking about this medium all those years ago. It reminds me that even with all the corporate bs we are forced to deal with in this day and age, its still a great gig and a great industry.

The museum received thirteen boxes of reel-to-reel tapes a few weeks ago -- each carton holding maybe 20 or 25 reels. Several of them that I plucked out included notes on their boxes reading "Gilliland - Pop Chronicles."

It may take a while to get them digitized (the museum's Mighty Tascam is going into the shop today) but I'm hoping they'll get done soon.

(Over the years, I've heard from many people promising copies of their Pop Chronicles airchecks, but have yet to receive anything. Check your collection ... if you have anything to contribute -- from KSFO or any other local station -- please get in touch with me via private message here on Radio-Info.com)

I also have a print interview I did with Terry McGovern around 1992, while he was at K-101, that details a lot of his thoughts about his time at KSFO (and KSAN). It will be available on the museum website over the weekend.

DJ

 

[MikeAmatori]

When I moved to the Bay Area (73) I was too rock-centric to get into middle-of-the-road KSFO. My radio addictions were KFRC, KYA, KSAN, and KTIM in Marin - even though I'd been a fan of Golden West sister station KMPC as a kid in LA. So I mostly missed the last best years of the "world's greatest radio station." - But I did stumble into John Gilliland's show in the mid 70s, and listened often in the evening. It first caught my ear because I remembered John from KRLA, the brilliant Credibility Gap, and the Pop Chronicles. His KSFO show was a great combination of music, old radio shows, comedy, and the CBS Mystery Theater.

I also used to listen to Jean Sheppard's great radio essays around that time - but can't remember if they were part of Gilliland's show, or not. Maybe the Production God remembers?

Well LKeller, thanks for upgrading me to a God, I think I'll stay with Boy though. You did hear Jean Sheppards essays on Gillilands show, Comedy Hour. Anyone remember Horn Man? I workred with JG a lot during his time a KSFO. And was one of the people who helped advise Johns Sister to get his Vast Audio collection from pop chronicles donated and digitzed to JG's College (I think TCU.) They now reside in the library there. I would be interested Boss Radio if I'm mentioned on any of those Pop Chronicles Airchecks...No Kidding, John would come in with a hand full of open real tapes, 45's, Carts,
and LP's and we would produce the show live frome time to time, John would call the Update shows. I produced about a dozen of them live in the KSFO Control Room. On 2 turntables, 4 Sparta cart machines and 2 open reel Ampex decks.
God it's great to be young...What a blast. I remember John doing a Beatles update Pop Chronicles, They had long since broken up, but John did the show from the perspective that they were still together, but were doing solo albums. What a blast. Compleat with The lads comments from the Pop Chronicles interview archives. Now that Boy's and Girls Was REAL RADIO, Live production. Now thats why I got into this business!

I was also working with John the night he decided to play Carlins 7 words you can't say...No Kidding, there was a reporter from one of the east bay papers there. John had given the tape to Pat Hilliard, Terry's engineer, to edit
in SFX where the F-Bombs were...John started the show, cued me for the tape and, and about three words into the bit
we discovered on the ait that Pat had missed Mother-F*&#@. We just froze...the reporter was in hysterics...JG opened the Mic, and I had allready potted down...I think John said somthing like "Yes that is a word you can't say on the Radio. Nothing happened, I think I did write the worlds longest discrep, and when the show was over john and I went to the Tonga Room for a drink. I think I was about 23 at the time...It seemed like life and death at the time,
now it's just a great funny story about a great radio station. I know I still have a copy of the article the reporter
wrote...He noted that when it happened I shot straight up out of my seat like I had be hit with High Voltage.

John left the station to return home to Quana TX, to care for his Dad. True story, JG would come into the
station with a 1/2 Gallon of Jug Wine and 2 Packs of Camel Unfiltered Cigs. By the end of the shift they were both gone.
I'll have to guess that may have contributed to his fatal heart attack at age 63.

John, taught me so much about live production, how to edit interviews, how to be a good broadcaster, and how less was more, and the music, at the time, was the most important thing. What a Pro. I do miss him.

You know I was 22 years old when I went to work at KSFO, I was still at SF State, and I got to work with John Gilliland,
Jim Lange, Terry McGovern, Russ the Moose, Gene Nelson, Scott Beach, Dick McGarvin, Jeff Skov, Mike Powell, Aaron
Edwards, Bill Heyward, Elma Greer, Don Sherwood, Rick Cimino, Lon Simmons, Al Michaels, Dave Henderson. Al Neuman,
Pete Scott, Buddy Hatton, John Hardy,Carter B...Sorry, I know I missed a few. WOW! I was lucky enough to work with them, and to call them my friends. Many of them are gone now. All were/are consumate performers, most only need a live mic to hold your attention, because they were bigger than life. They/It's the reason I got into radio, and it's why I do what I do today. And I thank God every day I still get to work for people who still think that's important.

So you see my young broadcast friends, it can be done, all it takes is talent...And when some young person comes to me and starts blathering about equipment and software, and imaging voices, and lines they have recorded off some TV
show or movie...I usually just say, "Well for me it's the content not the equipment that's the most important thing."
Don't get me wrong, I use ProTools and a good mic I got CD's. They all aid creativity, But they are not a substitute for it. The most important tool in my studio is my imagination and creativity.

Forgive me, but that's what 38 years of doing radio gets you...Stories.

 

[LKellerIII]

"Forgive me, but that's what 38 years of doing radio gets you...Stories."

And they're great stories, PB. Feel free to tell more of them.

 

[BossRadioDJ]

Re: McGovern Interview (Circa 1990)

I also have a print interview I did with Terry McGovern around 1992, while he was at K-101, that details a lot of his thoughts about his time at KSFO (and KSAN). It will be available on the museum website over the weekend.

If you're interested, the McGovern interview is online in preview mode at:

http://www.bayarearadio.org/bard/mcgovern_interview_1990.shtml

As a bonus, I've tacked on a copy of his wonderful renditions of "Pachalafaka" (made famous by Soupy Sales, of course) (duh) and "Beam Me Up, Scotty," both of which are staples of the Dr. Demento Show. These songs plus other McGovern airchecks from KSFO, K-101 and KYA are at the bottom of the page referenced above.

My only puzzler here is the date. I looked all over my notes, and I'm guessing that the interview is from December 1990. ???

...And, of course, you can tune in to Dr. Demento each Sunday night at 7 p.m. on KEGR 97.7 FM in Concord (http://www.kegr.org).

DJ