Radio Geo’s Media Blog (Memorable Things I’ve Seen and Heard) Part VII.

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@KevinRobison posted on my blog, Great stories, G. Unfortunately, the younger (and untrained) generation, when I talk about Radio Magic, they look at me like they’re Nipper The RCA Dog.

@StephenDinkel wrote; My first exposure to Jack McCoy was during my stint as Sales Manager at KSLQ in St. Louis, part of the Bartell group.
There was always a lot of talk about “this guy” in San Diego cranking out incredible station promos.
Later as VP/GM of KLSI in Kansas City, I sent many large checks to Jack’s company for promotional items such as the “Incredible Prize Catalog.” The checks were large, but the results were much larger!
And when the listeners would call the station asking to hear the promos… You knew he was making “Magic Radio,” and that’s what it’s all about.

@DickYancey commented, What the hell? We’re all at an age now where the long-term is next week.

@NickAlexander wrote, Geo, in 1986, KVIL billed 22.5 million, but when Mel took over in July ’87, the billing dropped to $16 mil.
The prize catalog was replaced with free movie Friday where the listeners could win two movie tix and a tub of popcorn.
KVUL used to pull 11s and 12s in the ARBs 12+. Much higher in women. Today they pull a 2. Like the jingle said: it’s a shame what happened to radio but they can’t afford to do it anymore.

@JoeTobin commented on my blog, My classic moment with a customer “service” guy from India: I asked him his name, and he replied: “Roy.” When I asked him to spell it, he very hesitantly said, “R….O…I ??”

@CrisConner posted on Radio Geo’s Media Blog; Radio is dead. I think you boys missed the story. It was a few years ago, and it received little notice. Few cared, and more laughed at its demise. It had become such an awful entertainment venue, more of a dead skunk in the middle of the road, a putrid roadkill carcass. Deregulation was listed as the cause of death, with boring musical formats and even more boring personalities listed as contributing factors. The fact of its timely demise is hardly worth writing about and yet here we are, commiserating over the beating of yet another dead horse. It was ruled a suicide.

@TimByrd posted on my blog, Ahh, the wit and wisdom of George Johns, pretty much factual and always entertaining. I’ll have a Corona with two limes, please…too soon? Lol.  Always nice to read your stuff, George.

@ChetTart wrote, Thank You for helping me see the real imagination and influence of radio from the first letter you forget you wrote to me, to the days I spend with you in San Diego at KOGO, to the days at WRMF where we ruled every rating book. Now it’s the Happy Hour conversations. Thanks for the journey, George!

@BobGlasco commented, Making us think while making us laugh…that’s why you’re the best, George! Thanks.

@JerryKiefer posted: Jim Hilliard was a prince and an inspiration to me and many others. Although he climbed the ladder thru programming, he was a Hell of a fine salesman with a pretty keen knowledge of engineering.

@NatHumphreys wrote on my blog, “If what one has to say is not better than silence, then one should keep silent.” – Confucius, 511 BC.
“Ask yourself, is that bit you’re about to do better than ‘Hey, Jude,’ If not, play ‘Hey, Jude’” – George Johns, 1974 AD.

@TomSnyder wrote on Radio Geo’s Media Blog: When I was a young boy (16) considering a career as a disc jockey, I had the pleasure of visiting Chuck one night in the control room at WIBC (same as the above pic). I don’t remember whether he encouraged me, but meeting my VO hero was a wonderful experience.  Later I became a disc jockey and an advertising producer and used Chuck many times for spots after I moved to Florida. He was my secret weapon. My spots were fantastic. He was the greatest personality and voice actor I’ve ever encountered or ever will.

@MaryFranco wrote, In an industry that glamorizes frailty and hands out awards to songs with self-destructive lyrics like “Rehab,” isn’t it great to hear George recognize his powerful daughters?

@DougHerman wrote, “Speaking of wealth, there is a huge difference between being rich and being wealthy.” Chris Rock explained this phenomenon a few years ago, “Shaq is rich. The guy who writes his paychecks is wealthy.”

@MarshallQuelch posted; I wonder how many entertainers and actors who give assistance to p.e.t.a wear leather footwear and clothes?

@CharlieFoxxFerguson posted on my blog I ran into Jack McCoy when KQWB in Fargo bought “The Last Contest.” I’d been pounding on the owners to upgrade the audio processing with the all-new BL-40 ModuLimiter. When we met with Jack, I asked if the station should get one; Jack got up, went out to the rental car, and brought one inside! It got installed that night, and we were off to the races with the new audio processor, a “rubber clock” with only select times to announce – to coincide with Arbitron time credits – and The Last Contest…DAMN, it was a FUN Time in Radio!!

@DebbieMartin wrote, George, I enjoyed reading your blog very much. I also enjoyed our time together. You’re a great teacher, and I love how you always strive to improve things. You believed in and supported me and helped me achieve the confidence I needed to go out on my own. Thank you, my friend.

@EricEdwards posted on my blog; I said it then, and I’ll say it now, “The Wrath of the Buzzard” was the best station Id ever produced. I also had the good fortune to work with Chuck Riley many times in Los Angeles; he was an amazing talent!

@JohnWalton commented on my blog; In 47 years of competing in good markets on fine radio stations (and still at it), nothing was ever so daunting as trying to pierce the impenetrable legend bubble of KVIL while at 106.1 from 86-88. You knew you were in trouble when you found yourself listening to the competition, not for reconnaissance, but because you liked it. I was sad when I heard that, somehow the legend had slipped into history. Success is fragile and fleeting…even for the best.

@MichaelGillespie commented on my blog; I don’t have to click on the picture of The Jury to hear “Until You Do” – I can hear it in my head! I can “hear” the acoustics and recognize the room where it was recorded!
Or I could walk over and open my box of treasured ‘45s’ and hold it to my forehead.

Radio Geo’s Media Blog is a politically incorrect inside look at Radio, TV, Music, Movies, Books, Social Media, Politics, Religion, and Life, primarily written with men in mind.
For a peek at upcoming Blogs or to see some you may have missed, go to GeorgeJohns.com. On Twitter @GeoOfTheRadio. Sharing and commenting is appreciated.
If you’d like to subscribe to Radio Geo’s Media Blog, send your email address to radiogeo@gmail.com.

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