All the outstanding work that Jim Hilliard’s staff, Gary Todd, Fred Heckman, Lou Palmer, Paul Page, Jerry Baker, Orly Knudson, Bob Lamey, and Chuck Riley, had produced over the years was gone forever.
As they say, timing is everything, and my timing was perfect when I took a job as a board op at CKY in Winnipeg those many years ago.
I got to learn firsthand how big-time radio worked as a rookie board op.
Unfortunately, though, years later, when I joined him in Indianapolis as his National PD, this ability got me dragged me into more meetings than I cared to attend.
All Jim would say was, “I need you in here, buddy; you’ll pick up on what’s going on real fast.”
Not only was he right, but occasionally, I even helped bring the meeting to a successful conclusion, but then again, even the smoothest-running machine has the occasional glitch.
As I entered Jim’s office, I saw that Cris Conner, the Morning Man/PD of WNAP, and Jim were in the middle of a very intense discussion.
It seems that Cris has recently discovered that his sales manager makes more money than he does, so I need you to help me explain why.”
Part 2 (The Great Gift) continues next week.
RADIO GEO’S LIFE-LINERS
I’m pretty sure that Psychologists could fix us much faster if they weren’t paid by the hour.
Who decided that managing art should pay more than the artist who created it?
If there are extraterrestrials out there, it’s gonna be like Columbus and the Indians, but unfortunately, we’re the Indians.
Speaking of extraterrestrials, are we sure that the probes the scientists are sending out will be answered in a friendly manner?
One of the most overlooked vices of all is unrequested advice.
I’m amazed that year after year; Businessmen still get away with only sharing their downside.
Sadly, the life of the party usually doesn’t have a life.
Sometimes handmade doesn’t mean well made.
If you can resist getting married, you shouldn’t do it.
I’ve always been envious of the guys who got to turn down pussy.
Is there anything better than being a young man in a warm-weather town?
The only good thing about losing is it usually teaches you how to win.
Your image is your everything.
Embrace the negative, it’s your best teacher.
We’re all prejudiced about someone or something.
I can understand being poor enough to steal, but I don’t understand anybody thinking that they have a right to do so.
As I have repeatedly said, “Don’t ever let Brady have the ball with two minutes to go.”
So we traded a bad boy for a bad girl, huh?
Speaking of Brittney, do you think there’ll be a welcome home parade for her?
COMMENTS
Jed Duvall: Unfortunately, after 1979, when Indianapolis’s Arbitron ratings periods went to quarterly from just the last two weeks in April and the first two weeks in May, WIBC found out that too-much Indianapolis 500 coverage (wall-to-wall) was not quite as golden and lucrative ratings-wise as it had been prior to 1978. The on-air hand-wringing over the challenge by the newly-formed Championship Auto Racing Teams (C.A.R.T.) (the drivers and most of the car owners) against the Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s sanctioning body, the United States Auto Club, (U.S.A.C.) (Speedway President Joe Cloutier and Tom Binford, Chief Steward since 1974 as well as U.S.’s representative to the international F.I.A.in Paris). C.A.R.T. wanted to take over the sanctioning and running of the 500 from the Speedway and U.S.A.C. and wanted more money from the Speedway, already the richest automobile race on the planet. C.A.R.T. sued U.S.A.C. and the Speedway (which had NEVER accepted ultimatums from any team, driver, or outside racing interest since 1909). The matter wound up in federal court. The Speedway was forced by the court because of the accepted entry form language to allow C.A.R.T. teams to practice, qualify and race in the 500 for 1979. U.S.A.C. withdrew, and the S.C.C.A. (Sports Car Club of America) sanctioned the race with Tom Binford as Chief Steward. WIBC covered every blow-by-blow from gavel to gavel with disappointing results. What we learned was that all the average Indianapolis metro area race fan cared about was Lou Palmer’s hourly practice reports, Lou and Donald Davidson’s qualification coverage, Donald Davidson’s nightly and weekend call-in programs, and the entire pre-race, race, and post-race coverage, including traffic reports from the 10-7-Oh Whirlybird! The U.S.A.C.-C.A.R.T. soap opera was of little interest to the average race fan. After 1979, the intense interest in anything beyond the key coverage of WIBC’s highly-successful and lucrative “Thirty Days In May”, was, in my opinion, a tune-out to the vast majority of WIBC-AM’s listeners. Such are the trials and errors of a program director of a heritage AM full-service radio station. George: As you always admonished us at WIBC in the glory days, “If it isn’t important and top-of-mind, wrap it up and play “Hey Jude”!” (Back Home Again)
Radio Geo: Those were the days, my friend; we thought they’d never end but end they did.
Wendy:Your buddy Big Bob has a disgusting attitude towards women, one that I don’t appreciate. I’ll bet he’s one of those Ice Age men who would want all women to be subservient to all men, and he would most probably want abortions to be banned in America! Yikes, not someone I’d like to know. (Fairbanks Management Conferences)
Radio Geo: Thanks for the read, Wendy but in the fine print below, I state that my blog is definitely not politically correct and is also written mostly for men.
With that in mind, occasionally, a few folks will find some things they disagree with, which I long for because I believe that communication leads to understanding. Your comments, though, are duly noted. Keep ’em comin’.
Radio Geo: Bruce, you need to take a few deep breaths or get out more. Love ya, old friend.
Kevin Robinson: From my front porch, I could see the 1070 towers. Up until two years ago. Retirement Condos are being built there now. Shame. (Coming to America Part 1)
Radio Geo: Very sad, Kevin, as the jingle sang, “It’s a Shame What They’re Doing To Radio.” Hard to believe that WIBC once had a 19.4 share overall with a 27 in the morning. Oh, and the Buzzard was right behind “Big Mama” in second place.