Cuz I live and breathe
this Philadelphia freedom
From the day I was born
I waved the flag
Philadelphia freedom took me
knee-high to a man
Gave me peace of mind
my daddy never had
In Chapter XXXVIII, I was writing about flying to Boston for what was supposed to be a six-month project with Jim Hilliard and was thinking about a few of the projects Jim and I had worked on when we were at Fairbanks in Indianapolis.
One of the more difficult ones was our trying to resurrect WIBG in Philadelphia, which Jim had beaten badly years ago when he was the PD of WFIL.
Even though we were an FM company, Jim couldn’t resist the deal because he got WIBG for pennies on the dollar.
Even though we were an FM company, Jim couldn’t resist the deal because he got WIBG for pennies on the dollar.
However, as I said, Jim had scorched WIBG so badly back in the day, that trying to raise it from the ashes now would prove to be very difficult.
In those days, the FCC required you to do an ascertainment whenever you bought a radio station.
You had to meet with the community leaders to better understand the city’s problem and adjust your programming accordingly.
You had to meet with the community leaders to better understand the city’s problem and adjust your programming accordingly.
To speed things up, Jim shipped in most of the corporate staff, including our owner, Mr. Fairbancks.
Everything was going well until Mr. Fairbanks began arguing with some community leaders.
Everything was going well until Mr. Fairbanks began arguing with some community leaders.
The next day, there we were, gathered in the station’s parking lot, watching Mr. F lift off in a helicopter, and I can still see that shit-eating grin on his face as he waved farewell.
Doing the ascertainment was tough, but I do believe that Dick Yancey had the toughest duty of us all. (Dick pictured above)
Most of Dick’s interviews took place in the inner city, you know, that part of town where you wouldn’t want to be caught at night.
Doing the ascertainment was tough, but I do believe that Dick Yancey had the toughest duty of us all. (Dick pictured above)Most of Dick’s interviews took place in the inner city, you know, that part of town where you wouldn’t want to be caught at night.
One of Dick’s appointments was at an old department store, and as he was being escorted to the back by a couple of big black dudes, Dick said that it wasn’t apparent what they sold there.
When they entered this huge office, the man sitting behind the desk was even bigger than the other two asked, “What the hell do you want,” and Dick said to him, “As soon as I get over being afraid, I’ll tell you.”
When we launched the “All-New WIBG,” we stunted by bringing in Chuck Riley from Indy, Big John Gillis and The Magic Christian from Boston, Larry Dixon and Bill Gardner from Dallas, and our new hire, Chuck Knapp from Minneapolis. (Chuck pictured above on the billboard)
When they entered this huge office, the man sitting behind the desk was even bigger than the other two asked, “What the hell do you want,” and Dick said to him, “As soon as I get over being afraid, I’ll tell you.”
When we launched the “All-New WIBG,” we stunted by bringing in Chuck Riley from Indy, Big John Gillis and The Magic Christian from Boston, Larry Dixon and Bill Gardner from Dallas, and our new hire, Chuck Knapp from Minneapolis. (Chuck pictured above on the billboard)
We planned to go with the All-Star lineup for three days and then send them all home except for Gardner and Knapp, who would remain behind as co-program directors.
We put them all up at a huge apartment, and I don’t even want to hazard a guess about what went on in there, but having dinner with them was hilarious.
We put them all up at a huge apartment, and I don’t even want to hazard a guess about what went on in there, but having dinner with them was hilarious.
What an incredible-sounding radio station it was; hell, we even had news you could dance to, and right out of the box, we scored a nifty 6.7 share.
And yes, having the Phillies and 76ers sure helped, but I was, and still am, very proud of the sound Bill and Chuck put together.
While visiting WIBG one day, I was approached by our midday guy, Don Cannon.
Don wanted to know if his buddy who was shooting a movie, could use one of our jingles in it. (Don is pictured in the group shot shown above in the top left corner)
While visiting WIBG one day, I was approached by our midday guy, Don Cannon.Don wanted to know if his buddy who was shooting a movie, could use one of our jingles in it. (Don is pictured in the group shot shown above in the top left corner)
When I asked him what the movie was about, Don told me that it was a low-budget, feel-good movie about a boxer who was training for the fight of his life.
The jingle, he explained, would be playing in a scene where the boxer was listening to Don on the radio while he was preparing his early morning breakfast before going out for a run.
The jingle, he explained, would be playing in a scene where the boxer was listening to Don on the radio while he was preparing his early morning breakfast before going out for a run.
It all sounded innocent enough, so, “What the hell!”
Although, I did have to ask, “Who the f*ck would wanna see a movie about some boxer named Rocky?”
Although, I did have to ask, “Who the f*ck would wanna see a movie about some boxer named Rocky?”
Chuck Knapp: What a crew. What a wild ride. The Delaware Valley noticed WIBG rising up from the ashes and standing strong among Philadelphia’s finest radio stations. I’ll always believe that the “All-New WIBG” was one of the greatest sounding stations in America. Working with you George helped me immensely when I moved on to take the reins of KS95 in Minneapolis. (Philadelphia Freedom)
Geo: Had it been on FM, Chuck, the radio landscape in Philly would be much different today.