Buffalo Bill Edwards on July 29, 1974

We're moving on to afternoon drive in our series of KAAY airchecks from July 29, 1974.  And, it's Buffalo Bill Edwards having a high-energy time, playing the rock'n'roll and relating a lot of severe weather warnings.  And, at one point he refers to WLS' John Records Landecker, just for the fun of it. The aircheck runs from 4:00-5:13pm.

Thanks to Joe Martin for this series of contributions.

(or download here)

Greg Barman

Doug Virden and Phillip Jonsson

I had the honor and privilege to have a picture taken with Mr. Phillip Jonsson, owner of Signal Media radio stations. The stations consist of The Point 94.1,103.7 The Buzz, and 106.7 The Ride.  These radio stations are located at the former home of KAAY at 2400 Cottondale Lane.  He told me he wanted to buy KAAY but couldn't since he already owned AM 1010 KLRA at the time.  In those days an owner could only own one AM and FM.  And he was trying to sell KLRA before the sale officially went through.

I also remember reading on the blog that Larry Duke from Jonesboro wanted to buy KAAY when it went up for sale in the mid 80's.  Duke was under the impression he had the deal to buy KAAY from Multi Media from what I read.  If one of these guys could have bought KAAY, it more than likely would have stayed out of the hands of corporate radio.

Mr Jonsson also used to own KRLD AM 1080 in Dallas and his grandfather was the founder of Texas Instruments.  Phillip Jonsson is now in his early 90's and still comes to the stations about once or twice a week.  His son Steve is the GM of the stations and runs a lot of the day to day operations.  The Point 94.1 came in 2nd during the last ratings period.  These stations are among the last of the locally owned stations in Little Rock.

The picture of me and Phillip Jonsson was taken in the ballroom of the Arkansas Governors Mansion where 103 7 The Buzz was hosting the Pigskin Preview for the upcoming football season.

Ten years later Westinghouse which owns AM 1010 WINS in NY bought AM 1010 in Little Rock and took it off the air. If that offer were made 10 years earlier it would have left Phillip Jonsson to by KAAY.

 

Thank you, Doug, for your picture and information!  Bud S. (staceys4@hotmail.com)

 

 

 

Bob Robbins on July 29, 1974

From contributor Joe Martin, here's another in the series of 7 airchecks he made of KAAY on Monday July 29, 1974.  This time, it's The Bob Robbins Program from 1:00-1:30pm.


(or download here)
Greg Barman

David Ray on July 29, 1974

Here's an aircheck of David Ray on Monday July 29, 1974, the 3rd in a batch of contributions from Joe Martin.  12:29-1:00pm.  Thank you Joe!

(or download here)

Greg Barman

Jerry Sims, The 2nd "Sonny Martin"

It was a little over six years ago when Jerry Sims came through Mobile on his way back from Florida on the way home to Little Rock.  This was the first time we met, at The Original Oyster House on The Causeway.

It was five years and two days ago, August 7, 2011, that Jerry passed into Eternity, from heat stroke.  He told me the previous February or March that I needed to come to Little Rock, before something happened.  I believe now, as I did in August 2011, that he was prophetic in his statement.

By gosh, and what a trip that was back in April 2011!  Jerry, David B. Treadway, Charlie Scarbrough, Felix McDonald, Barry McCorkindale and Dale Seidenschwarz were there.  I'd met Barry a couple of times previous on some of his trips through Mobile, David B., Charlie, Dale and Felix I met there for the first time....

But back to Jerry; because of his insistence, I'd made "the pilgrimage" I'd wanted to do all my life.  Because of Jerry's insistence, I experienced things few fans of KAAY had ever lived.  Because of Jerry, I'd met people I'd only talked to via telephone or e-mailed.  I'd met some Gentle Giants of The Gentle Giant, KAAY.

A year later, almost to the day, I almost died from heat stroke myself.  I was in the attic, doing a "20 minute job" and had already been stressed from working in and out of the attic.  Instead of taking the flooring outside to the saw, I decided to whittle the little bit of wood I needed out of the way while up there.  It was almost a fatal mistake....

I'll spare you the details- I think I mentioned this before, but it bears remembering- but I finished the job over three hours later, after I'd somewhat recovered, with my wife tending to me and cooling me down.  That tunnel I was looking down almost closed and I nearly passed out.  I berated myself, after having been a Paramedic, I didn't notice the signs until it was almost too late!  I thought of my family and of Jerry; what would they do without me, and would I see Jerry in heaven?

My point to this post is: no matter where you are, heat exhaustion, heat stroke and heat cramps are nothing to play with!  I have since tended to another man who we almost lost at work, a customer at that; I remembered Jerry and my own experience and we were able to help him get back before the Paramedics arrived (I am a First Responder at my main job).

We have been experiencing triple-digit temperatures and heat indices here in Mobile already, in the first week of August.  This is no laughing matter; please keep yourself hydrated and cooled off, keep a cold towel around your neck and wipe your face often with it (I put one in the freezer and one on my neck and swap them every ten minutes or so, when working outside).

But for Jerry's insistence, I would have never met one of the nicest guys in the world.  Thank you, Jerry, for kicking me in the keester until I came to Little Rock... I'll see you again one day....

Bud S. (staceys4@hotmail.com)

Wayne Moss on July 29, 1974

Here is the 2nd aircheck we received from Joe Martin among those he recorded on Monday July 29, 1974.  It's Wayne Moss, from 10:00-11:15am.


(or download here)
Greg Barman

Airchecks from contributor Joe Martin -- Sonny Martin on July 29 1974

We love hearing from people who have discovered old KAAY tapes that have been sitting in boxes for 40 years or more.  Joe Martin of Wichita Falls TX let us know on a Facebook group recently about a tape he had with airchecks of 7 KAAY jocks, all recorded on Monday July 29, 1974 -- 42 years ago today (whew!).

Joe is an ex-radio guy who has worked numerous stations in TX and who almost came to work at KAAY.  Here is his story:

"I spent a number of hours recording this in 1974 in hotel room in Hot Springs on my Akai reel to reel.  I think I got every jock that worked the 24 hour period recorded.  

Here's my story.  In 1973, I was working at top 40 KTRN in Wichita Falls TX.  I blindly sent out a number of airchecks to about 20 stations looking for a new gig.  Many of the stations I had never heard before.  KAAY was one I had never heard.  I had been in Wichita Falls 18 months and was ready to move.  A short time later, I received a phone call from KAAY program director Wayne Moss informing me the all night show was coming open for a program called Beaker Street.  I knew KAAY was a top 40 operation with a strong signal, but I knew nothing of Beaker Street.

I told Wayne I would drive to Little Rock (420 miles away) to visit with him and see the station.  When I got to town on a Sunday, I checked into a motel and met with Wayne the following day.  After a tour of the downtown operation and meeting Sonny Martin, Wayne took me to lunch.  He suggested I visit the transmitter site that night to sit in on Beaker Street.   I do not remember who the jock was, but I am pretty sure Clyde Clifford had already left and I would be replacing his replacement that was moving on.  I could go into detail about my good impressions of what I saw at the transmitter site, but to keep things as short as possible, I contacted Wayne and said I would accept the job offer.  After I slept a while, I woke up and decided I was homesick for my girlfriend and called Wayne back and thanked him for the offer, but I felt I needed to return to Texas and KTRN.  

The recording you have here was recorded the following summer when I took my vacation with my girlfriend to listen to KAAY one more time.  I never heard it again.  I married the girlfriend and was divorced within 4 years.  Where am I now at age 65?  I'm still in Wichita Falls TX where I have lived for the last 44 years.  Remind me someday to share my KOMA story with you (lol)."

We will post these telescoped airchecks one by one, starting with Sonny Martin on that morning of July 29, 1974, from 6:36-7:40am.   Thank you Joe for your aircheck contribution and for your story!

(or download here)

Greg Barman

Stayin' Up Late At Night....

I'd sent A.J. a note a number of years ago (posted 12/19/2007) about how I'd stay up late at night during the summer, listening to KAAY and Beaker Street:

"Beaker Street Theater Remembered

You know, Doc, I also remember when I was a kid, keeping that ol' Bakelite green Zenith table radio's volume 'way down, especially when that spooky creaking door opened on the Theater at 2:00AM! I'd be snuggled right at the edge of the bed, with my head as close to the radio as possible, while having the covers over my head! Of course, I knew that old tube radio generated heat, so I didn't put the cover on it! But, this was during the summer, while I was out of school and I could sleep a little late in the morning, until I got yelled at to go feed the chickens & cows! Heck, it was worth it! Lotsa spooky fun!

Oh, to have some of those recordings and airchecks of the Theater! Are any available?"

http://kaay1090.blogspot.com/2007/12/beaker-street-theater-remembered.html

Since then, the players on A.J.'s blog have broken, the site not being maintained, since no one in his family had his password and could not send it on to anyone to continue maintaining the blog.  We here at The Mighty 1090 KAAY Blog have now become the leading authority and repository for many, many airchecks and full recordings of KAAY during many hours of the day, including prime time and Beaker Street!  This because of your kindness and your contributions, dear reader!

Thanks to the Lindsey family, giving us permission to continue on in A.J.'s tradition; we have done as much as possible to continue the legacy, and expand upon it for the enjoyment of all who visit!

Bud S. (staceys4@hotmail.com)

Goin' Retro: Unidentified Poster

Just got to thinking about what antics KAAY participated in during the summer...and I found this post on A. J. Lindsey's KAAY blog:

"Beaker Street Comment Posted On Amazon":

http://kaay1090.blogspot.com/2007/12/beaker-street-comment-posted-on-amazon.html

I never found who the poster was.

I'd also commented to A.J. about something similar:

"A.J., here's a similar bit of trivia and comments on Blivet 2.0 about KAAY, Beaker Street and Jaime Brockett's "legend of the U.S.S. Titanic", much along the same lines of this comment:

http://halrager.org/WordPress/jaime-brocketts-legend-of-the-uss-titanic/

Bud, Mobile, AL"

More to come, as we "go retro"....

Bud S. (staceys4@hotmail.com)

"Hot Seat" Revisited.

I'd looked for a picture of the "reviled" yellow Funmobile for years now...it MAY be by chance that one has popped up on Facebook!

To keep from re-explaining it all, here is the link to the original post, related by engineer Dave Montgomery:

http://mighty1090kaay.blogspot.com/2009/10/hot-seat.html

It was also related by David B. Treadway that they hated the yellow Funmobile.  It burned on the side of the road one day, most likely from a leaky gas line, on the way back from a remote location.  here is the Facebook link:

https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=1739527516336091&id=100008365783774&comment_id=1739902736298569&notif_t=comment_mention&notif_id=1468151389596079

I hope some more light can be uncovered on this; as in Mark Wallace's words:

"Mark Wallace Yes, I can fill in the blanks on what happened, Jay C. Jayson Brentlinger and I were bringing the vehicle back from a remote in Conway. I was behind it in a news car when I spotted smoke pouring out of the back. Jay pulled over and got out quickly and we stood and watched the vehicle burn to the ground in a matter of minutes. The fire department got there just in time for the gas tank to explode. I have some photos of it somewhere, I'll have to dig through some boxes. They figured out there was a leak in the gas line somewhere that caused the fire. That was a crazy day!"

And: "Mark Wallace

I don't remember it being yellow though. Perhaps it had been repainted. It was totally ragged out at the time anyway, it lived a good life. I spent many days in that thing at the State Fair giving away albums and tee shirts. I do miss those days. Radio just isn't the same anymore. 😔"

Well, it's all very interesting...we hope this IS a picture, we'll know for sure later, perhaps!

Thanks to all who is involved in this research, unearthed via Facebook!

Bud S. (staceys4@hotmail.com)

 

From July 10, 1977 -- KAAY's David Brian Treadway

Hey all, how about a re-post from the old KAAY Blog -- an aircheck from 39 years ago today.

I was in-between radio jobs, and took a long drive from the midwest out to the west coast and back.  I hooked up a cassette recorder to the car radio and airchecked stations along the way.  On my way back I drove thru Arkansas, eager to hear KAAY on the groundwave and capture it on tape.  This was Sunday afternoon July 10, 1977, and David Brian Treadway was on the air.  It sounded like KAAY was pared down to the very basics at this point -- I didn't hear any jingles or fancy voiceovers or ID's, just the jock, songs and spots.  

You'll hear that KAAY was promoting an upcoming Doobie Brothers concert with advance tickets going for just 6 bucks!   Hard to imagine that now.


(or download here)
Greg Barman

Jerry Don Pitcock, R.I.P. June 29, 2016

It is with deep sadness that we have been informed of Jerry Pickock's passing.  Jerry was a "Ken Knight" back in the late 1960s.

Here is the funeral announcement:

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/name/jerry-pitcock-obituary?pid=1000000180509467%2F

Tell the others who have gone before "hello" for us, and we'll see you later, Jerry....

(Thanks to Doug Virden for the information.)

Bud S. (staceys4@hotmail.com)

Happy Independence Day

Here's hoping everyone has a safe Independence Day, and please reflect on our Forefathers, who paid such dear a price for securing our freedom.

It's what Pat Walsh would want you to do....

Bud S. (staceys4@hotmail.com)

An Open Plea

Folks, even though things have slowed down a but in the information department for this blog, I still get an occasional e-mail...the following is an interesting one:

Hi,

This is probably a long shot but my mother-in-law's father used to sing on the radio in Little Rock. His name was Merrill Lemuel Dinger. He played the bones and sang. I was wondering if anyone has any archive of old radio programs so music. This was probably in th 1930s.

Thanks,
Elizabeth

ejandrews@rocketmail.com

 

Can anyone help Elizabeth, please?  Feel free to contact her direct at her e-mail....

 

Bud S.(staceys4@hotmail.com)

 

The Warehouse, New Orleans, LA

Many of you no doubt remember all the ads for The Warehouse concerts over Beaker Street.  Their website is still under construction and is bigger and better than ever!

http://www.blackstrat.net/

All new pictures, more mp3s (even a new one or two from Beaker Street that we provided for them, for historical purposes!) and MORE!  Their memorial project is one worthy of mentioning, too.  Let 'em know we sent you in the comments section, will you, please?

Bud S. (staceys4@hotmail.com)

1090 Coverage Maps

Thanks to Doug Virden for this link to different stations' radiation patterns on 1090 kHz AM; too bad KAAY's isn't still "there":

http://nf8m.com/pattern_maps/US-CA_nighttime/N-map_1090KHz.html

I remember a story by one of The Greats mentioning that the lady who either programmed or owned the station in Nashville, TN called KAAY one early morning and DEMANDED that they change their night-time pattern immediately, because it was interfering with their station coverage locally.  As the world turns (pun intended!), it would be several minutes before the station would automatically switch from the night-time to the day-time pattern, from daylight in Nashville to daylight in Little Rock.  Whoever she talked to refused to change things just to suit her- KAAY was well within its legal limits.

Also, in my opinion, you can't fool with the nature of the atmosphere and how it affects radio waves.  That's another subject entirely for another time....

Thank you, Doug!

Bud S. (staceys4@hotmail.com)

Memoirs And Memories

Folks, I have some rare time off and an evening to myself that I'm not totally worn out and in bed-yet- but it's near time for dreamland, since I have an 18-hour day to work tomorrow....

Nonetheless, I'd just gotten off the phone with "Steve Scott" (Steve Morris) minutes ago and he mentioned gathering "stuff for posterity" so his family can enjoy him when he's gone.  Steve is 69 years young now and is chock-full of memories.

I've mentioned this to David B. Treadway and a couple of others that they need to jot down some notes of their memories; it doesn't have to be fancy prose or edited for each little detail.  Just MEMORIES for someone to enjoy.

So, I have a challenge for all The Greats out there.  Get a tape recorder or a CD recorder and a decent mic, turn off the TV, maybe put some music on, low volume, and start recording your memories.  I don't care if you ramble on and if there are rabbit trails, as long as the memories flow!  Make sure your family knows where these tapes or CDs are so they can go back and listen to your voice and memories for a long time to come...it would be a gift they would cherish forever.

(CD or other digital media will last MUCH longer than tape.)

And if you want, please put down your radio memories and get in touch with me; we'll put them here, in your own voice, for everyone to enjoy.  And keep it family-friendly!  Please?  Pretty please?

Bud S. (staceys4@hotmail.com)

Ear on Arkansas - The Ear Year 1968, Side 4

OK, we're winding down...had enough yet?  We hope not, because the players of "Ear On Arkansas" have one more side for you!

"Theater of the mind"... was what radio created.  Ah, nostalgia- and the spicy images the players of "Ear On Arkansas" provided!  Steely wit, sharp comments, barbed comments all skewered the intended targets!  Can't you just see their targeted objects squirming in their chairs one minute and laughing at themselves the next?!?!?  Matters of public interest were brought out in the glaringly satirical light with nowhere to go.  As it mentioned in the album: "KAAY stopped counting lawsuit threats years ago, since it's too time consuming."  I wonder if any of those threats were brought?

Nonetheless, we must push on and steel ourselves for more rib-splitting laughter at the expense of "Ear On Arkansas'" targets...thanks again to Greg Barman for getting these tracks down so we could get them here for your enjoyment:




(or download here)
And one more picture, in memory of my friend Jerry Sims, posing with his own red album from 1967.  Without Jerry's prompting and my wife's assent to scrimp & save for the trip, much of this material- and newfound friendships- would have not been possible.  Thank you, Jerry and the Sims family- and thank YOU, dear reader and visitor, for giving us the forum to allow us to share these sometimes rare and hopefully well-loved memories!

Thanks, Greg!  Job well done!  And THANK YOU, Tony Meyer, for your donation for the blog!  Ever so grateful!

Bud S. (staceys4@hotmail.com)

Ear on Arkansas - The Ear Year 1968, Side 3

OK, did you have to take a break?  Are your sides sore yet?  Wiping tears of laughter away?  Side 3 is about to begin!

A. J. Lindsey commented that people other than on-air staff got involved with "Ear On Arkansas"; I'd done a short search, but didn't come up with any off-air names (they may be hidden elsewhere on his blog, or in the memories of others.

We have one more inner flap picture for you: the table of contents!  It also lists the KAAY staff at the time of the album's creation.  Some you may be familiar with, others not...but they were ALL important in running this top-notch station!

So, gather your breath- take a couple of deep ones- hold your ribs and let your imagination run with Side 3...roll it, Greg!:



(or download here)
Thanks again to Greg Barman for getting these tracks down for everyone to enjoy!  Don't touch that dial, Side 4 up next!

Bud S. (staceys4@hotmail.com)

Barry Mac's Flashback Tracks is Now "On the Air"!

Our Blog's own Barry Mac, creator of "Tin Can Alley," has started a new weekly show, "Flashback Tracks"!  Here's what Barry had to say about it:

[It's] another weekly show that's more along the lines of Beaker Street, ...  currently airing on an Internet stream provided by Cumulus assistant engineer Daniel Appeloff, under the call letters of KDNQ.  ...  It will only occasionally feature some of the audio from the KAAY transmitter tapes, but I thought you might be interested anyway. 

Well, we definitely are interested! The first edition of Flashback Tracks is right here:

(or download here)
You will also find Flashback Tracks posted every week in the right column of the Blog, next to Tin Can Alley. 

 Thanks, Barry, for all the entertainment!

 ---Dave S.