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I had lunch last summer with Al, Frosty Fowler and longtime KIXI newsman Bill Wippel. After our gathering, Al was heading off to Mexico, and promised to get in touch once he got settled. To date, none of us has heard from Al, who refers to himself as El Chingón de San Miguel.
So, here ya go – some memorabilia:
· A Seattle Magazine ad from 1965 with the lineup at Contemporary KING
· The photo of Al, Frosty and Bill Wippel
[Story and photos courtesy of Bill Taylor]
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Before there was a radio studio in the Space Needle (used at various times by KING, KIRO and KAYO), KVI had a broadcast facility in the early 1960s on the 8th floor of the Bon Marché.
If you could read it, the sign in the window says that on Friday, July 1, Dick Keplinger would do a noon newscast from the booth — located near the Skybridge — and that Buddy Webber’s show would air from the studio from 2-5:45 p.m.
[photo and story courtesy of Bill Taylor]
PRESSMEN’S strike which stopped publication April 12 of the Tacoma News Tribune, the city’s only daily, has expanded news and feature coverage on Tacoma’s radio stations and made business “awfully good,” according to station executives. A week after the strike hit Tacoma’s afternoon and Sunday publication, all local stations reported success in (1) meeting the community’s need for news, and (2) serving advertising requirements of local business. To its normal 12 daily newscasts, KMO Tacoma swiftly added special commentary programs, two extra news shows Saturday and Sunday, and an extra sportcast daily, Jerry Geehan., general manager, reported. Notices of club meetings, Philharmonic concerts and other public events, and a quarter-hour of funeral and obituary notices, were being aired as a public service. Mr. Geehan said advertisers who heretofore have used radio consistently found business up to standard, although department stores and others who threw in a quick spot schedule to substitute for their normal newspaper ads were not having equal success. KTNT (FM), the transit-radio station owned by the News Tribune, took over the AP bureau for Pierce County (Tacoma) and -added two persons to its news staff. Burke Ormsby, KTNT director of news and special events, reported the station also launched a Sunday program with eight actors dramatizing the weekly comics. Over-all spot business at KTNT doubled after the strike began, he said. KTAC (formerly KTBI) Tacoma, which began a concentrated news coverage when it went fulltime February 11, augmented its news schedule tremendously, according to H. J. Quilliam, president. Business at the station boomed after the strike began, he said. [1952--Broadcasting Magazine]
Bill Taylor passes along the names of more KTAC personalities you may remember. We have added these to the list at SeaTacRadio.com 850 AM KHHO
Personalities: Roall Erickson, Bill Luckhurst-Chief Engineer in the 60s, Murray Morgan, Clay Huntington [KTBI], Jerry Geehan, Len Higgins [KTBI], Burt McMurtrie, Dick Weeks, Ric Hansen, Gary Crow, Bruce Cannon, Bruce Bond (KTAC Production Director late 80s, Bobby Simon, Steve West, Bobby McAllister, Bob Case, Robert E. Lee Hardwick, Paul Thompson, Dudley, Robert O. Smith, Fred Ross–News, J.J. Valley, Don Wade, Doug Klippert, Joe Fiala, Bill Ogden, Dale Hubbard, Lou Robbins, Jaynie Dillon, Todd Mitchell, John Nelson, Rick Donovan, Tom Reddick, Dudley, Lee Askervold, Program Director-1967 [from KING Radio], Bob Robertson, Rob Sherwood, Kacie Sommers, John Williams, Don Patrick, Chuck Bolland, Mike Garland, Scotty McKay.
Others:
Jack Allen (DJ)
Dave Allen (DJ)
John Welch (DJ)
Lee Knudsen (DJ) from KING FM -1967
Bruce McMichael (news director, 1966)
Bill Taylor (news director, 1967)
And it’s Hardwick, not Hardwicke
**** Thanks, Bill — Updates/corrections have been made.
Former Q13 [KCPQ] morning news anchor, Mark Wright, was a guest on the Bob Rivers show [KJR FM] this morning. Wright discussed leaving the broadcast business [Apr 29] to spend time with his family, specifically his father who is fighting cancer. Wright also looks forward to doing some “farming” on the family farm in Whatcom County. Wright cited contract negotiations as one over-riding factor in the decision to leave at this time.
Here is a humorous moment from his time at Q13, probably shot during a commercial break…
Larry Gifford has been named Program Director at Bonneville/Seattle News/Talk outlets KIRO-FM and KTTH. Most recently PD at ESPN Radio west coast flagship KSPN/Los Angeles, Gifford’s radio resume also includes a two-year stint as PD of the ESPN Radio Network in Bristol, CT. Prior to that, he spent eight years as an anchor/reporter and editor at stations in Columbus and Dayton, Ohio. [ntsmediaonline.com]
CITADEL Country KATC/COLORADO SPRINGS, CO PD/PM drive personality NICK ALAN is joining ENTERCOM Country KKWF (100.7 THE WOLF)/SEATTLE as Night Personality/Imaging Director. Nights at KKWF were formerly handled by ALAN KABEL NICK will become the primary producer of station promos and imaging and he begins his new WOLF duties on MONDAY, APRIL 11th. [AllAccess.com]
Kathi Goertzen, absent anchor of the evening news on KOMO TV 4, recently underwent surgery again for a brain tumor which has affected her facial nerves. Kathi says “This turn of events has caused me to think quite a bit about appearances and what really makes us who we are. It’s also caused me to reconsider the way I always used to plan for tomorrow, instead of enjoying the present day.”
Clear Channel VP of Rock Programming Jim Richards moves from 91X San Diego to CLick FM Seattle now as the new PD …
Former KGY morning personality, Dick Pust, has announced that he is exploring a run for the offfice of mayor of Olympia.
ESPN 710 host Mike Salk has added network weekend duties with “Sportscenter Saturday with Mike Salk” which began at the end of January.
Billboard Magazine
Jack Adamson, KIRO 710, Ross McGowan
In 1978, Larry King, took his place behind the microphone at the nightly talk show on the Mutual Broadcasting System. Previous host, “Long John” Nebel had recently passed away. This Mutual network coast to coast program had been pioneered by Herb Jepko.
The program aired live Monday through Friday from midnight to 5:30 a.m. Eastern Time. Larry interviewed celebrities and news makers for the first three hours. This was followed by a segment called “Open Phone America”. Larry King went on to CNN Cable News television, where his popular interview program and 56 year career wraps up this week.
Replacing Larry King on CNN, Piers Morgan. Morgan is a British former editor of the tabloid newspapers the News of the World and the Daily Mirror. His television career includes judging performers on America’s Got Talent.
Saturday, May 19, 8:21 am
 Click the individual station links to find historical data regarding stations, personalities and formats at SeaTacRadio.com
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