Back in the day when radio was more like TV is today, they used to run shows like the “Lone Ranger” and “The Shadow Knows.” Whenever the producers were casting for a new drama they would put the hopeful voice actors into a blind studio and as each actor read their script, the producers would mark “Black Hat” or “White Hat.” It didn’t matter what words they used or how they looked; the producers could tell from their voice alone if the listeners were going to perceive them as a good guy or a bad guy.It’s no different today; the listeners still continue to put a black hat or white hat on radio people.
When Bob Christy and I launched Boston’s first Country station, we found this great jock to do nights. He’d never done country but because he sounded so good, we decided to give him a shot. Unfortunately, even though he sounded great, his ratings were a disaster. The folks had figured out real quick that he was only a Rhinestone Cowboy who probably wasn’t wearing a black or white hat let alone boots.
Doing mornings at the time was the legendary team of Loren & Wally.(pictured above with the whole crew)The listeners definitely knew that Loren was wearing a big ole black hat because whenever he answered the phone the caller would nervously ask if they could speak to Wally. Delilah, on the other hand, was definitely wearing white but afternoon funnyman Tom Doyle (pictured above in front, on the right) who wanted to be perceived as a white hat guy, was spotted early on as just another angry Irishman. His listeners knew that he was probably dressed in black while doing his best to hide behind humor which was all part of his charm.
Doing mornings at the time was the legendary team of Loren & Wally.(pictured above with the whole crew)The listeners definitely knew that Loren was wearing a big ole black hat because whenever he answered the phone the caller would nervously ask if they could speak to Wally. Delilah, on the other hand, was definitely wearing white but afternoon funnyman Tom Doyle (pictured above in front, on the right) who wanted to be perceived as a white hat guy, was spotted early on as just another angry Irishman. His listeners knew that he was probably dressed in black while doing his best to hide behind humor which was all part of his charm.
JUST A FEW MORE THINGS TO GET OFF MY CHEST…
Without trust, there is no loyalty.
Every industry has its own jargon; I wonder why Doctors and Pharmacists chose Latin to be theirs?
I find it strange that one of the biggest companies on the planet, (Amazon), doesn’t really manufacture anything.
Is it just the government and a few business types who understand why we give away so much free money to foreign nations?
The two types of people in radio who deserve most of the money are … Those who can get someone to listen to their radio station and those that can get clients to advertise.
The way it’s supposed to work at a radio station is a bunch of people accomplishing a mission while having fun.
If your radio station is failing, it’s not fatal. However, not changing it is.
When a gifted person decides to get creative, it’s time for the rest of us to get out of the way.
People only notice the inconsistencies of a radio station, good and bad.
The only good show on radio is the one which produces a good promo.
Wrapping a hundred dollar bill around a commercial doesn’t make it sound better.
If you’re not talented, I suggest getting famous. Right, Ryan.
Inspiration is at least ten times more powerful than motivation.
A radio station sounds totally different outside the walls of the station.
When you manage a business from the bottom up, it puts enormous pressure on the employees to come up with something worth managing.
There are two types of women out there, those with babies and those without.
Music is either up, or it’s not, and it’s either loud, or it’s not.
There is no finer celebration than a huge rating party.
A radio station eventually begins to sound like its program director.
Why do people who are not at all funny try to tell jokes on the radio?
Holding on to what you have usually keeps you from having what you want.
Radio has survived the onslaught of TV, CB’s, Satelite, Computers, Video Games, iPods, etc. but we weren’t ready for the accountants.
What a strange World Series huh?
I recently read that the young people today prefer praise more than sex or money. Well, that certainly screams old at me.
Does anyone on welfare ever vote Republican?
Much more @ George Johns.com and on Twitter @GeoOfTheRadio. Sharing and commenting encouraged.
I was lucky enough to have Loren Owens as my PD at KIMN, and when he left for Boston, I was even luckier to become PD. Loren was (still is, I’m sure) super smart, and generous with his time and wisdom, He taught me a lot. And he’s a great talent.
He ran that morning show just like a great PD would Doug.
Answers to your first two observations: (1) So they can be sure nobody except priests (who are sworn to silence) can understand them. (2) They do manufacture something. They manufacture DEMAND. Something Radio needs to re-learn how to do.