Readers respond to recent stories
For an industry that seems to constantly be falling on hard times as of late, it is gratifying to know that so many still love radio, and have so many great memories listening to radio. This has been bourn out by your letters in response to our ongoing series of personality flashbacks, reminding me of the iconic line from the 1989 movie “Field of Dreams” – if you build it, they will come.
Unlike television and even streaming services, radio has a very intimate relationship with listeners. Personalities are your friends, and they are talking and playing music just for you. The magic of radio persists even among the competing entertainment sources, and it is why after almost four decades, I am still here writing about it.
What makes radio relevant in our lives is not just the music. It’s what’s between the records that counts. I suppose for talk radio it’s what’s between the commercials. Regardless, radio still thrives when personalities — especially local personalities — are given the freedom to shine. And that’s partly why I am still here.
What else can explain our strong memories for people who haven’t been on the air for years … in some case, decades?
“Ahhh, those formative years – 60’s, 70’s and 80’s – mostly in the San Fernando Valley,” writes John Francis. “First car, put in back seat speakers… today’s missive raised many memories of radio waves from the past. I enjoyed Rick Dees on KHJ and KIIS. OMG – the Heinie Winery commercials and more. Among things I looked forward to were the temperature announcements. My 45 yr old son, who now lives in San Antonio, will often ask about the temperature here. My response always includes ‘xx Dees-grees.’ Thanks for the memories.”
I have to say, Dees got me through my commute to UCLA during my first quarter there. Traffic on the 405 was no match for his show! And I, too, used to install back speakers in my cars as well as my friends … my first job, so to speak!
D.L. Zellers has similar memories, writing “I loved your piece on Dees, and the memories came laughing back. I remember Dees’ face EVERYWHERE, changed my radio preset to KIIS-FM and never changed it till Rick moved on. Even today, I sometimes make reference to Chuy from LaPuente and the Heine Winery without remembering where I got it from until I read your excellent piece today.”
Craig Newnes has some Jim Healy memories. For the record, Craig is one of the reasons I did the Healy piece, suggesting it periodically over time. “I have a ton of favorites,” he writes of Healy’s famous drop-ins used on the show. “Like when Georgia Frontiere got married for the seventh time, and he`d play the 60s standard ‘Love is Wonderful the Second time around,’ saying ‘seventh’ over the song’s original lyric.”
Two more quick facts from Newnes: “Healy did Boxing in the movies before Stu Nahan did, and that ‘snicker’ after almost every comment is actually former Angel Manager Norm Sherry.”
Herb Redholtz writes of Phil Hendrie, recognizing Hendrie’s talent of making everything sound so real. “Thank you so much for today’s article highlighting the genius of Phil Hendrie, he said. “I loved listening to his nightly parade of zanies on KFI. His ability to literally talk to himself in different voices, expressing different opinions in varying emotions seamlessly, keeping all the balls in the air, is without peer.
“The best part was the callers arguing with the characters on the air, I’m surprised that I didn’t drive into a ditch, I was laughing so hard! Phil’s talent is beyond description.”
Doug Brooks agrees, writing “It was pure radio theater! I remember when I first came across the show; after a couple of days I thought to myself, ‘he’s doing all the voices!’ I then did some research to verify that. It was so fun telling friends to listen, and then watching their response when I told them the secret. Phil was gifted like no other when it came to changing voices in a nano second. It was some of the best radio entertainment EVER!”
The interesting thing was that you thought it, but had to research. Hendrie was so good, so smooth, there are some who never figured it out!
Erik Orre has a better memory than me regarding some of Hendrie’s shows, and he wrote in to share. “Current news one time was about seals taking over one of the Santa Barbara Islands which was a known issue. The local government wanted to reduce the herd and were going to use hunters. This was the true story.
“But, Phil’s ‘guest’ had a better, cheaper, and more ‘organic’ plan,” he recalls. “Have people dispatched to the island with baseball bats and just whack the seals on the back of the head to dispatch them. This of course caused the phone lines to light up with upset folks.
“Or the Citizens Auxiliary Police who wanted to reduce injuries and deaths on busy LA freeways. Sounds credible. But, how they would to that was to perform a ‘flare drop’ where if traffic was moving along too fast and too smooth, they would drive along and randomly throw out a lit flare which would instantly reduce the speed of traffic.”
As you allude, the best part was that things could be made to sound somewhat credible, and if you were not paying attention, it might seem like the “guests” were truly serious. I have to agree with so many – Hendrie’s show was like no other.