Had a lotta funat F-105
When “Austin in Boston”
made Bean Town
come alive.
Show us a sign
you wanna win free money.
RKO went talk
Cuz they ain’t no dummies.
What I liked about working at Fairbanks was that we ran a variety of formats.
For example, when I first arrived in Indianapolis, WIBC was an M-O-R that we were moving towards AC like KVIL in Dallas, and WNAP was an AOR station that we were evolving to a more Hybrid sound.
For example, when I first arrived in Indianapolis, WIBC was an M-O-R that we were moving towards AC like KVIL in Dallas, and WNAP was an AOR station that we were evolving to a more Hybrid sound.
During WNAP’s evolution, we did ultra-hip things like the 25th hour, BMFs, Fantasy Park, and 2093 to disguise that the “Buzzard” was becoming squarer musically.
The distraction continued with huge events like the 50% Off Free Fair and the legendary WNAP Raft Race, which rivaled the Indy 500 in attendance.
WNAP’s Raft Race, which became one of the most significant events staged in Indianapolis, unfortunately, had to be disbanded after the 9th running because it was unmanageable.
The Cars trying to get to the event were stalled for miles all around Indy, which shut down most of the roads and highways.
The distraction continued with huge events like the 50% Off Free Fair and the legendary WNAP Raft Race, which rivaled the Indy 500 in attendance.
WNAP’s Raft Race, which became one of the most significant events staged in Indianapolis, unfortunately, had to be disbanded after the 9th running because it was unmanageable.The Cars trying to get to the event were stalled for miles all around Indy, which shut down most of the roads and highways.
As George Harrison said, “All Things Must Pass,” and pass they did; WNAP is now gone.
Thankfully though, Dave Fulton captured a lot of the goings-on of the Buzzard in his Emmy-winning movie/documentary called “Naptown Rock Radio Wars.”
Thankfully though, Dave Fulton captured a lot of the goings-on of the Buzzard in his Emmy-winning movie/documentary called “Naptown Rock Radio Wars.”
While Cris Conner was busy de-hipping the music at WNAP, I was across the hall hipping up the music on WIBC.
Our combined efforts turned out well as WIBC soared to a 19.3 share in the ratings, and WNAP slipped into 2nd place right behind “Big Mama.” The rating party that followed was epic.
Our combined efforts turned out well as WIBC soared to a 19.3 share in the ratings, and WNAP slipped into 2nd place right behind “Big Mama.” The rating party that followed was epic.
Meanwhile, in Boston at F-105, GM Jay Williams, while waiting for my brother Reg to join him from CFTR in Toronto, was running a promotion Reg had created, which he used to beat CHUM with called “Show Us A Sign.”
The F-105 jocks were combing the streets of Boston, handing out hundred-dollar bills to anyone who had F-105 written on anything.
The F-105 jocks were combing the streets of Boston, handing out hundred-dollar bills to anyone who had F-105 written on anything.
There were F-105 signs everywhere, including on folks running the Boston Marathon and, best of all, at most of WRKO’s events.
My favorite sign, though, I saw while watching the Patriots on TV.
My favorite sign, though, I saw while watching the Patriots on TV.
Near the end of the game, Jim Plunkett threw the game-winning touchdown to his tight end, who had to go high in the air right in front of a huge F-105 sign to grab it.
They must have run that clip a hundred times, and I saw every one of them.
They must have run that clip a hundred times, and I saw every one of them.
In those days, WRKO was the big top 40 in town, and F-105 was the upstart that was much hipper musically and had outrageous jocks who would continually attack them on the air.
One of the nastiest things we ever did, though, was to retire them.
One of the nastiest things we ever did, though, was to retire them.
We started out by complaining that as big as RKO used to be, shouldn’t the mayor do something special about the fact that they were retiring?
Didn’t we all listen to them while we were growing up? Shouldn’t they be given a plaque or something recognizing their years of service?
Didn’t we all listen to them while we were growing up? Shouldn’t they be given a plaque or something recognizing their years of service?
Do we have to involve Cardinal Law just to get something done in Boston?
Hey, it’s not their fault that AM has gone jive.
Hey, it’s not their fault that AM has gone jive.
We kept the whining going up for a while before saying, “Hey, this is getting embarrassing; if the city’s not going to do the right thing, F-105 will.
Then we announced we were throwing WRKO, the best retirement party this city has ever seen. Hey, we even think Whitey’s gonna show cuz I bet he listened to RKO when he was growing up, too?
Then we announced we were throwing WRKO, the best retirement party this city has ever seen. Hey, we even think Whitey’s gonna show cuz I bet he listened to RKO when he was growing up, too?
We held the party at a posh downtown nightclub and invited everyone to join us to say their goodbyes to the once-great radio station.
It’s a shame nobody from WRKO showed up because they missed a wicked crazy party.
It’s a shame nobody from WRKO showed up because they missed a wicked crazy party.
As I said earlier, we had some outrageous talent at F-105, but perhaps the most controversial was “Austin in Boston,” who gave GM Jay Williams fits. (Austin is pictured above)
Austin used to talk to God every morning, which was strange enough, but he almost drove Jay over the edge when God started talking back to him. Oh, and did I mention that he added an extra one hundred thousand folks to our cume?
Austin used to talk to God every morning, which was strange enough, but he almost drove Jay over the edge when God started talking back to him. Oh, and did I mention that he added an extra one hundred thousand folks to our cume?
Austin, like a lot of great talent, though wasn’t what you would call reliable.
For example, when he challenged his newsman Mark Davis to a bike race through downtown Boston, the city cordoned off the streets so the spectators could safely watch the race.
For example, when he challenged his newsman Mark Davis to a bike race through downtown Boston, the city cordoned off the streets so the spectators could safely watch the race.
Then, for some unknown reason, a block into the race, Austin disappears down a side street and is gone for three days.
When he finally showed up and was asked where he had been? He replied, “I’m sworn to secrecy, but it has something to do with the Beatles”
When he finally showed up and was asked where he had been? He replied, “I’m sworn to secrecy, but it has something to do with the Beatles”
Perhaps the strangest thing he ever did was to fly to Hollywood to sing “Mammy” on Al Jolson’s star on the Walk Of Fame.
Thankfully, even though it was the middle of the night in LA, it went off without a hitch, and we all breathed a sigh of relief until we heard Austin say, “Hey, I just found a massage parlor that’s still open, I’ll be right back right after this.”
Thankfully, even though it was the middle of the night in LA, it went off without a hitch, and we all breathed a sigh of relief until we heard Austin say, “Hey, I just found a massage parlor that’s still open, I’ll be right back right after this.”
When the commercial break was over, he introduced us to his masseuse Trina who must have been excellent because before long, Austin, started making bizarre sounds.
Then suddenly, it went quiet and we thought we’d lost the connection until we heard, “Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, Trinaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!”
Then suddenly, it went quiet and we thought we’d lost the connection until we heard, “Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, Trinaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!”
Bill Gardner: And HOW did you and Austin in Boston connect? One afternoon during my time at KVIL Dallas-Ft. Worth, my phone rang, and it was my friend George Johns! George said, “Bill, you know all kinds of radio guys across the U.S.A. I’m looking for a morning guy for F-105 Boston….but I need an absolute maniac!” I said, “Boy, do I have JUST the right guy for you. Let me connect you with my friend Greg Aust, (soon to be Austin in Boston.)”
I knew Greg since 1969 in his hometown of Kansas City. Helped him get on KVI Seattle when he visited me during my KING-AM Seattle time. Hired him myself for weekends and production while I was PD/Morning Man at K-101 San Francisco.
I remember when he showed up, our beautiful and classy receptionist calling my office and said, “Bill, there’s a drunken guy in our lobby with food all over his shirt, but he SWEARS he’s here to see YOU!” Yep, my old friend Greg. But what an air talent. R.I.P. old friend. (Dirty Tricks)
Geo: An incredible talent, Bill but as you also know, incredibly scary. However, I loved the extra 100 thousand he added to our cume.