Yeah, blog on my friend.

I suppose you are right - radio is a behemoth that nothing can kill. Still, it sounds like it is in critical condition. Or maybe I'm just old. Hell, my dad used to think radio died when Jack Benny, The Whistler, and The Life of Riley made way for recorded music. Yet there was a time when radio had personality and a show was a show, complete with staging. I don't even get some of the formats anymore. Jack?? What the hell is Jack??? I could keep track of MOR, C&W, Easy Listening, and Top 40. (Usually 3 things are about all I can remember but I could do 4 formats when there were essentially only 4.)

I've enjoyed reading about the GMs and PDs with whom you worked. My most interesting experience was one of each. And they were the same guy - "Wild Child Lyle" Evans. You may remember Lyle as he did some fill in work at WDUZ. I think he was in sales or something full time at some little station in Manitowac or someplace. Somehow he got the Lauermann Brothers (who owned a department store in Marinette) to hire him as GM/PD of their Top 40 entry, WLOT. I worked afternoon drive and production there for several months. I don't think the station ever made a dime but did we have fun trying. And Lyle could spend the brothers' money. We had the best of everything in terms of equipment (QRS Quickstart turntables with Grace tonearms, Tomcat cart machines, Ampex open reel decks), top drawer jingle packages, (some PAMS and a whole lot of Johnny Mann Drake jings), and even a Shelby Mustang Cobra with shamrocks (for "The Lucky Thirteen") painted on the doors and hood. We always had full spot loads but I believe Lyle was giving time away to get that big station sound. As I said, I don't believe we made a nickel. The station is long gone and the calls seem to have evaoporated into the ether somewhere. Lyle went on to buy some TV stations but ultimately lost his proverbial shirt. He has since gone the way of WLOT.

If you have any photos of some of your old stops along the dial please do include them on the site. You are a marvelous story teller so I can picture most of the scenes. Still, it would be cool to see the Modesto studios with the control room in a bedroom.

And speaking of eating festivals . . . (Well, we weren't really but that's the best I can do for a segue) Ever been to the Gilroy Garlic Festival?? God knew what he was doing when he made garlic. 'Course that's comin' from a pure bred Italian.

I thought of you a year ago last summer when I dropped into the Alameda County Fair and saw, of all things, Herman's Hermits (or at least Peter Noone and some blokes who called themselves the Hermits). It was the second time I'd seen them. The first was in 1966 (is that the right year?) when WDUZ sponsored their appearance at the Brown County Arena. Holy shit. Are we that damn ancient?

One of these days we'll have to get together for lunch and pretend we're at Chili John's or the Blackstone.


Marco

There are just some wonderful characters in radio. Lyle Evans was certainly one of them. Those Green Bay characters have to include Al Knight. Al picked up legions of the ugliest women in Door County and enticed them into spending time with him by taking them on a tour of the radio station while I was on the air. Several times he brought along an extra "for me" but I would rather have poked my eye with needles. If you remember, our morning man had time to read the bible while music was playing...I think I have mentioned that to this day the record for the dirtiest joke I've ever heard goes to our Chief Engineer at WDUZ.

I have been to the Gilroy Garlic Festival twice. The first time I hated it cuz it was hot and I was crabby and the drive to Gilroy from Modesto had been terrifying. I swore I would never join the hundreds of thousands of participants again..but....I did. The second time I went there on the train and as anyone who knows me understands....anything involving a train is wonderful. California has so many festivals it is difficult to keep track. And of course, in San Francisco, they have neighborhood festivals almost one per week. The most famous is the most scandalous, the Folsom Street Festival. I worked a booth once at the Folsom Street Festival handing out free condoms. Truly it was the peak of my career. There is a popular North Beach eatery, the Stinking Rose. Lots of garlic and lots of tourists but really good. Speaking of Chili John's.....never understood the noodles. Must have been a Belgium thing. Now the Blackstone....I could easily travel back in time for one of their hot beef sandwiches. But...what was that weird hamburger place in downtown Green Bay? I think there were a couple of them around town and they sort of were holes in the wall like Chili John's. Kind of a buy them by the bagful place.

I always enjoy a walk down memory lane. I must leave now and meet someone at Old Country Buffet. I try to get there a half hour early so I can get a salad and get a head start. Later....R