September 11, 2015 [Friday] Issue #1441

ALL THE NEWS THAT IS NEWS

CLASSIC HOUSTON ASTROS VOICE GOES SILENT Born on March 26, 1922 in Fort Dodge, IA, in the late 1940s Gene Elston’s big break on radio is calling Cleveland Rams NFL games. From 1955 through 1957 his major league debut is with the Chicago Cubs on WIND-560. He lasts three seasons on the Mutual Radio Network Game of the Day. From 1962 through 1986, Gene broadcasts Colt .45s and Astros games on radio and TV. On Saturday, September 5, 2015 National Baseball Hall of Fame member Gene Elston dies at 93.

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IS THIS THE END OF CBS RADIO? In April 2015, after CBS Radio Chief Dan Mason exits, CBS Corporation President/CEO Les Moonves replaces him with former Journal head Andre Fernandez. StreetTalk reports that Andre’s task is possible liquidation of CBS Radio’s 117 stations in 26 major markets. Likely candidates include: Hubbard Radio, Cumulus, Alpha Media and Entercom. CBS Radio slashes high-earning radio personalities: Ross Brittain, Shotgun Tom Kelly, Charlie Tuna, Christina Kelly, Harry Donahue and Don Carpenter.

THREE NEW ENGLAND CLUSTERS MELD INTO COASTAL RADIO Port Broadcasting co-owner Carl Strube and co-owner Pete Falconi radio empire triples in size. Port Broadcasting Oldies WNBP-1450/W291CC FM Newburyport, MA and Oldies The Legends WWSF-1220/W272CG FM Sanford, ME, Aruba Capital Classic Hits WXEX-1540 Exeter, NH/WXEX FM Sanford, ME and Garrison City AC WBYY FM (The Bay 98.7) Somersworth, NH/News Talk WTSN-1270 Dover-Portsmouth, NH instantly become Coastal Radio.

2016 PRESIDENTIAL RACE BRIGHTENS UP BINNIE MEDIA In preparation for New Hampshire being one of the early epicenters of the 2016 Presidential race, Binnie Media flips Classic Rock WNNH FM (Frank FM 99.1) Henniker/Concord to News/Talk 99.1 NH1 News on Monday, August 31, 2015. WNNH FM features a lineup of Conservative Talk hosts, local newscasts, plus simulcasts of WBIN TV 6:00 and 10:00pm newscasts on NH1 News. NH1 syndicated hosts include Howie Carr 3-6pm and Michael Savage 7-10pm.

TRIVIA QUESTION: What is TV network’s first half-hour weeknight news broadcast? The answer appears below.

MOVERS AND SHAKERS

•HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Ron Samuels Friday, September 11, 2015. •TIM RYAN KDFW TV FOX CH 4 Dallas-Fort Worth, TX morning anchor celebrates 20 years on Good Day morning show. •RONN OWENS Newstalk KGO-810 San Francisco, CA morning host welcome back from Parkinson’s symptoms surgery. •JOE GILLESPIEKXNT-840 Las Vegas, NV news vet exits after 5 years. joedgillespie@gmail.com. •VIN SCULLY 88-year old L-A Dodgers play-by-play announcer returns in 2016 for his 67th season on Dodgers’ flagship KLAC-570.

ENTERTAINMENT AND NEWS MILESTONES

•1954 1ST MISS AMERICA TV broadcast on September 11th. •1965 FORTY-ACRE FEUD movie opens on September 8th in Nashville, TN with Loretta Lynn, George Jones and Ray Price. •1971 EGYPT adopts its constitution on September 11th. •1982 JERRY REED’s single She Got The Goldmine (I Got The Shaft)strikes #1 in Billboard Country on September 11th. •1995 SOYUZ TM-22 Russian spacecraft lands on September 11th. •2012 LITTLE BIG TOWN’s album Tornado releases on Capitol records on September 11th.

EMAILS YES WE HAVE EMAIL

FRANK HALEY [KDAZ-730 newscaster – ex KLIF-1190, KILT-610, KTRH-950, KVIL FM & KOB-770] (Albuquerque, NM) Jim, Have you ever run across a newsman with a very deep (voice) by the name of B. William Johnson? We worked together at KLIF (1190) in 1967 & 8, don’t know where he went after that. Have never seen his name any where. Just wondered. Frank Haley (KDAZ, KKIM, KFLQ, KOB, KTRH, KILT, KLIF, KVIL, KTBB, KDOK, KEEE, KGAF, KCPA, KDNT)

BILL JOHNSON In 1968, when I’m a DJ on 50,000 watt clear channel WFAA-820 in Dallas, TX, a very deep voice guy by the name of Bill Johnson becomes the new newscaster on my 7 pm-midnight DJ show. Bill is formerly on KLIF-1190. Bill sounds fabulous on the air! He is stocky built. Like you, I wonder what ever happens to the guy. On his first night, I call downstairs to the WFAA news department and welcome him to WFAA. Not long after that, I accept an offer as PD/MD/PM Drive DJ on KBUC FM/AM in San Antonio, TX.

FRANK HALEY (Albuquerque, NM) That’s got to be him, great voice, nice guy, a big heavy guy. He was Bill Johnson. KLIF (1190) gave him the B in his air name. Just wondered what happened to him. Thanks, Frank

PAT MCGOWAN [Engineer-In-Charge New Century Productions] (Chandler, AZ) Subject: KUHF. Hello Jim, Been reading the comments regarding KUHF-FM. That is where my now 47 years (and still counting) career in Broadcasting started. Then operating on 91.3, if memory serves correct, and under the direction of Dr. Bill Hawes (RIP), actual STUDENTS ran the station and learned the craft! NOT paid professional staff who (in my opinion) should be out working in commercial radio. We had folks like PD Rob McCain, News Director Ron Sonntag, Lyn Salerno, Milton Dooley and Ken Williamson. All who went on to very successful Radio or TV careers. That is what University owned NON-commercial stations are supposed to do! As you can tell, I feel VERY strongly about this, even close to 50 years later. I am as proud of my KUHF Distinguished Award as I am of my three national NATAS Emmys. Sent from my iPad Patrick McGowan Engineer-In-Charge NEP US Mobile Units (www.nepinc.com)

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JACK PARNELL [former Program Director WHBQ-560] (Memphis, TN) You got the best of gigs didn’t you? Those 2 stations (KBOX-1480 & KLIF-1190) were powerhouses. I bet you know Mitch Craig; he was PD at KLIF-FM for awhile wasn’t he? He came to Airplay at The William B. Tanner Co., while I was still there. He went on to become a great production man for stations all over the country….probably all over the world. Jack

TRIVIA ANSWER: On September 2, 1963 The CBS Evening News with anchor Walter Cronkite is network television’s first half-hour weeknight news broadcast. It lengthens from its original 15 minutes.

DAVID HOUSE [Former Ft. Worth Star-Telegram Senior Editor] (North Richland Hills, TX) Hi, Jim. Sorry for being out of touch for so long. Glad to see your work doing so well. Thought you’d like to know that I’ve launched a website sketching my mom’s career in Country music (www.jewellhousetribute.com). Sources include former Paula Records vp Don Logan, who’s retired from a great radio career with stations such as KCUL (1540) in Fort Worth, Texas, and KEEL (710) in Shreveport, La. Don’s among those listed on the website’s Special Thanks page. Like so many radio vets, he’s a walking encyclopedia of America’s music industry. He’s still in the Shreveport area and doing well. I’m sure Dandy Don would want me to say hello to your readers for him. Give Suzie a woolin’ for us. Very best regards, David House; Freelance Writer; Member: SPJ, Online News Association

GENE ELSTON (March 26, 1922 to September 5, 2015) There it is.

Jim Rose and Suzie
Houston, Texas – Laus Deo