Greg Jarrett To Wake Up In Chicago

According to Crain's Chicago Business website, former KGO (810 AM) afternoon news anchor Greg Jarrett (photo, right) has landed a plum gig -- morning anchor at the legendary WGN (820 AM) in the Windy City:

WGN-AM has hired a San Francisco radio news veteran to host its morning rush-hour show and will move the program’s current host, John Williams, to the mid-morning slot that until last month was the home of the “Kathy and Judy” talk show.

There's more juicy details on the Chicago Tribune's website, which rates the selection of Jarrett as a "stunner":

Even more of a surprise is the selection of a complete outsider in Jarrett, who brings a newsman's sensibility to his work as host.

In his memo to staff announcing the moves, WGN Program Director Kevin Metheny described Jarrett's new morning show as "an information and services intensive morning broadcast with emphasis on usable news and information, leveraging the substantial resources of Tribune Co. newsgathering assets."

Kava: High Level Cuts At KGO

Just moments ago, Brad Kava blogged about rumored cuts at KGO (810 AM):

Weatherman Leo Ciolino is gone, apparently, as is assistant program director Trish Robbins and news director Paul Hosley. If you have information to confirm or deny, drop me a comment.

UPDATE (6/9/09 2 PM): Subsequent to BK's post, Rich "Big Vinny" Lieberman has blogged on SFGate.com that he spoke with Trish Robbins, who confirmed that she has been terminated. Rich also notes that Paul Hosley's role will be covered by KSFO program director Ken Berry.

JV's Back ... Is Karel Next?

A post on the ba.broadcast Usenet group, picked up by the respected San Francisco Peninsula Press Club, predicts that Karel will be returning to the local airwaves soon -- perhaps as early as next week.

The ba.broadcast post reads:

Well it's official. Karel is going to be a syndicated on Energy 92.7 FM and KRXA 540 AM. The show airs Monday through Thursday from 9PM-12AM. Good to see Karel is back on the air.

Karel was fired by KGO (810 AM), along with his board op, back in November after his expletive-laden comments about a fictional plumber made it onto the airwaves.

Now, Karel has a "countdown clock" on his website, leading to next Monday (March 2).

What is it about KGO and ex-KGOers and dagnabbed countdown clocks?

Dots & Dashes (Nov. 18 Edition)

A few quick hits...

* All News KCBS (740 AM and on 106.9 FM, as they say) switched to a new, fresher "sounder" package today, obviously intended to brighten up the sound of the presentation on the FM side. The new package is close to the previous set, but with a livelier, more "techno"-ish feel.

The new sounders are heard leading into various news segments (sports, traffic, weather, business, etc.) on KCBS.

* Deposed KGO Newstalk 810 (and FM Don't Get Me Started) weekend performer Karel will be back in San Francisco at the Nikko Hotel's Rrazz Room (222 Mason St.) on Wednesday, Dec. 3, at 7 p.m. for a stand-up gig appropriately titled "Karel Stands Up."

Mo' info at Mr. Bouley's utterly fabulous website, www.RadioKRL.com.

* Speaking of KGO, heartiest congratulations to the almighty Ronn Owens, who celebrates his 40th anniversary on the air (including stops in Philadelphia, Miami, Cleveland and Atlanta) this Friday, Nov. 21. Here's a tip of the cap to you, Ronn, for four decades of greatness, and a wish for many more years (if not decades) of outstanding entertainment on the air.

"Countdown Clock" On New KGOFM.com

This morning, a linked line of text reading "Countdown Clock by Zoodu.com" has appeared on the brand-new KGOFM.com website ... but nothing happens.

As the website loads, it shows that it is trying to pull a file from http://mailhost.citcomm-sf.com/pics ... but nothing happens.

The corporate parent website for KGO (radio 810 AM, not TV Channel 7) shows something unusual, though.

...But wait a second!

Because the KGOFM.com page is trying to drag some Flash code from the Zoodu.com website, and since it isn't connecting, the KGOFM.com front page isn't loading correctly (at least for me).

But if you pop open the source code for KGOFM.com's front page, you find this in the HTML:

It begins

[ZOODU COUNTDOWN CLOCK CODE]

Tune into AM 810 to learn about the future

Three-and-a-half hours and counting...

UPDATE (9 a.m.): Br'er Rabbit, we've been had...

No FM simulcast. No new 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. host.

MEDIA ADVISORY

MADAM SPEAKER NANCY PELOSI THROWS SWITCH:
KGO NEWSTALK AM 810 GOES SOLAR
LIVE FROM THE RONN OWENS SHOW

WHAT: KGO Newstalk AM 810 will be the first commercial major broadcast media outlet in California to reach its listeners by harnessing the power of the sun and reducing its use of the power grid. In partnership with PG&E and SolFocus, KGO will unveil its new state-of- the-art solar power system during the Ronn Owens Show with Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi this Thursday, October 30. The system will generate clean, renewable energy, marking the first of many new green initiatives by KGO Radio.

WHY: KGO takes leadership in making eco-friendly business practices “the norm” through promoting public awareness about the benefits of renewable energy and sustainable practices. KGO Radio’s website [kgoradio.com] is featuring photos and blog updates that will allow the public to learn more about solar power. In addition, the station will be conducting a Bay Area-wide search for a student reporter who in 2009 will report on green initiatives in his/her school through KGO Radio’s “Making the Grade Green Program.”

UPDATED UPDATE: Although it may change down the line, here's what the KGOFM.com website looked like post-announcement...

Thanks for playing, indeed.

KGO Hints At Big Announcement

Newstalk behemoth KGO (810 AM) is promoing that they'll have an "illuminating" announcement coming up on 10/30 (this Thursday) at 10:30...

Speculation in the ba.broadcast Usenet group (in threads here and here) has run to the naming of a new 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. host on the station, such as Alex Bennett (doubtful) (I think).

Christine Craft, posting in ba.broadcast, noted "Engineers (were) building a new studio where the old Dean Edell studio used to be ... All seemed hush/hush when I worked all last week."

Could the "103" in 10:30 and 10/30 refer to an FM dial position ... 103.7? 102.9? Is there a chance that Citadel could buy or LMA either KKSF (from Clear Channel) or KBLX (from Inner City)? Perhaps another FM signal can be lassoed, such as KNGY (92.7), KCNL (104.9), KRTY (95.3) or Stockton's KSTN-FM (107.3, which actually covers a lot of the Bay Area).

A WHOIS search shows that Citadel/KGO has registered KGOFM.com, just a few days ago:

Domain Name: KGOFM.COM
Created on: 24-OCT-08
Expires on: 24-OCT-09
Last Updated on: 25-OCT-08

Administrative Contact:
webmaster, FM engineering@abc-sf.com
Citadel Communications
900 Front Street
San Francisco, Ca 94111
US
415-954-8100
415 398-5995

Technical Contact:
Berry, Ken engineering@abc-sf.com
ABC Radio
900 Front Street
San Francisco, Ca 94111
US
415 954-8100

Comments? Go here...

Capacity Crowd Cheers BARHOF Class Of 2008

An overflow crowd of fans, friends and colleagues was on hand to welcome the latest group of inductees into the Bay Area Radio Hall of Fame on October 1 at the Doubletree Inn on the Berkeley Marina.

Sixteen of the seventeen members of BARHOF's Class of 2008 were represented at the gala luncheon, including Broadcast Legends Red Blanchard and Don Klein.

New inductees Rosie Allen, Alex Bennett, Renel Brooks-Moon, Bob Fouts, Mickey Luckoff, Terry McGovern and Dave Sholin were all present for the ceremony.

(That's me between Messrs. McGovern and Bennett après the ceremony.)

Roy Storey, who could not be present, was represented by his sister Marcia Johnson, while Bill Gavin, Hap Harper, Mikel Hunter Herrington, Russ Hodges, Dude Martin, Doug Pledger and Russ "The Moose" Syracuse, inducted posthumously, were represented by friends or family members.

Presented under the auspices of the Broadcast Legends, the BARHOF 2008 program was emceed by David Jackson, executive director of the Bay Area Radio Museum. Joe Starkey, radio voice of 49ers and Cal football, inducted the four legendary local sportscasters -- Hodges, Storey, Klein and Fouts -- into the Hall of Fame.

NFL Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Fouts, a successful sportscaster in his own right, presented his father, Bob Fouts, with a funny and heart-warming speech. "We've all worked for a variety of stations with a variety of call letters -- KFRC, KCBS, KPIX," Dan Fouts commented. "But this is one set of call letters that's for life -- BARHOF."

The senior Fouts, early voice of the 49ers on radio and television as well as a longtime sportscaster on KSFO and KCBS, regaled the audience with tales of his the Niners ... and pro wrestling!

Other presenters included Bill Faust (for his step-father, Doug Pledger), Bob Matheson (for Red Blanchard), Ed Baxter (for Rosie Allen), Ronn Owens (for Mickey Luckoff), Dana Jang (for Mikel Hunter), Mike Preston (for Dave Sholin), Ted "Hezzie" Johnson (for Dude Martin) and Al Newman (for Terry McGovern).

Ben Fong-Torres and Tommy Saunders presented their memories and an audio montage of their friend, Russ Syracuse. New Hall of Famer Dave Sholin presented his former boss, Bill Gavin, for induction.

More than 6,000 votes were cast in the BARHOF 2008 balloting. Renel Brooks-Moon, host of 98.1 Kiss FM's morning show and voice of the Giants at AT&T Park, was named on more than 25% of all ballots -- most of any nominee -- and, along with KGO's Rosie Allen, was one of only two women to be inducted this year.

Other notable guests in the capacity crowd included sportscaster Barry Tompkins, KGO production superstar Mike Amatori, popular KYA disc jockey Chris Edwards (now an account exec with KFRC), legendary R&B disc jockey John "Bouncin' Bill" Doubleday, longtime radio personality Ward Glenn and voice artist Gary Mora (now hosting Classic KYA Radio).

But it was Celeste Perry, Dave Sholin's partner on KFRC's morning show, who got off the line of the day. During his acceptance speech, Sholin introduced Perry, noting that she, too, will someday be inducted into BARHOF.

Perry quickly replied "I'm not old enough!" and was met with raucous laughter and applause from the multitude.

Photograph by courtesy of Robert Mohr.

RIP: Les Crane

Norman Davis has sent along word that Les Crane (born Leslie G. Stein) passed away on Sunday (July 13) from pneumonia. Crane was 74 years old and had resided in Belvedere (Marin County).

Crane was PD at 1260/KYA in the early 1960s, where he worked as "Johnny Raven" and built one of the most talented radio teams in local history.

He then moved to KGO/81 (as Les Crane), where he became very successful as the host of a nightly talk show from the hungry i night club. ABC later moved him to KGO-TV, then the entire ABC television network, with a short-lived late-night program called "Night Line ... With Les Crane." The program was later renamed "The Les Crane Show." It became another in the long list of challengers to Johnny Carson's "Tonight Show" that fell by the wayside.

Among the more interesting accomplishments in his life: his fourth wife (out of five) was Tina Louise, who played "Ginger" on "Gilligan's Island"; he started Software Toolworks, whose most notable release was "Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing"; and in 1971 he won a Grammy for "Desiderata," the year's best spoken-word recording.

You can hear Les Crane (as Leslie G. Stein) on the "Sounds of San Francisco from the KGO Music Tower" recording on the radio museum website by clicking here.

The New York Times included a detailed obituary of Les Crane in today's online edition. (Registration required.)

Dude Martin Documentary On KTEH, KQED

David S. Washburn's documentary on Berkeley's own "Broadcast Cowboy," Dude Martin, will air this Monday, March 17, on KTEH (Channel 54) at 11 p.m.

It will be rebroadcast on KQED Digital Channel 9.2 (Comcast Channel 189) on Saturday, March 22, at 11 p.m.

Dude, whose real name was Steve McSwain, was a hugely popular Western bandleader and radio show host from the 1930s through the 1950s on KLX, KGO, KYA and other local stations. He was part of the Bay Area's thriving Western Music scene during that era that included Black Jack Wayne, Cottonseed Clark, Cactus Jack, Longhorn Joe and Red Murrell, who appeared in nightclubs and on the air on a regular basis.

Oddball fact: late in his career, Dude moved to L.A. and hosted programs on KTTV (Channel 11) in the late 1950s as "Steve Martin."

More information on the documentary at BroadcastCowboy.com.

Jim Goggin has also written an interesting book, "The Dude Martin Band Story," which is available from Trafford Publishing.

Mindless Meanderings...

Things that probably won't come true, but that are worth repeating fourth-hand...

• If KGO Newstalk 810 is looking for a first-rate talent with local connections, they needn't look any farther than Alex Bennett. If Karel, Len Tillem and Dr. Dean Edell can do it by long-distance telephonic hookup, so can Alex. Of course, if Citadel has the money to pay Farid, but not enough to pay the talent, scratch that idea...
  
  
• Dean Goss is back weekending on Classic Hits KFRC (106.9 FM). Dean is the prototypical morning man. A legendary voice of KFRC. Wonderfully, brilliantly talented guy. But KFRC already has a morning guy who fits all these qualifications, don't they?
  
  
• Along the same lines, Clear Channel recently blew out my friend Charlie Tuna at KBIG/LA, and he landed a weekend gig at Oldies monster K-Earth 101. Charlie Tuna is not a weekend guy; he's a morning guy. One of the greatest in the history of broadcasting. But K-Earth already has a morning guy...
  
  
• I hope that Clear Channel doesn't pull the same act on the great Don Bleu at Star 101.3 FM. (As Dr. Phil says, "The best indicator of future behavior is past behavior." Right Paul Robins?) But if they do, there would be no more perfect fit than "Bleu In The Morning" at KFRC. But KFRC already has a morning guy...
  
  
• Michael Zwerling has had his family-owned KSCO/1080 and KOMY/1340 on the market for several months. Both have significant transmitter repair issues that must be addressed. Simple solution: KLIV's Bob Kieve does an LMA-to-buy of KSCO, diplexes it through 1590's towers in San Jose...
  

  Oh, stop laughing, would ya.

Bay Area Radio Hall of Fame Names Class of 2007

The Bay Area Radio Museum has announced the sixteen newest members of the Bay Area Radio Hall of Fame.

More than 6,000 votes were cast during the public voting, and a stellar group of legendary broadcasters has been chosen for induction as the Class of 2007:

• Don Barksdale (KROW, KWBR, KDIA)
• Don Bleu (KYUU, KIOI)
• Mike Cleary (KYA, KNBR)
• Frank Cope (KJBS)
• Belva Davis (KSAN, KWBR, KDIA)
• Jerry Dean (KJAZ)
• Jim Eason (KNEW, KGO, KSFO)
• Aaron Edwards (KSFO)
• Bud Foster (KLX, Oakland Oaks, San Francisco 49ers)
• Bob Kieve (owner of KLIV, KARA, KRTY)
• Ron Lyons (KEWB, KNEW, KNBR, KCBS)
• Franklin Mieuli (KHIP, Warriors, Giants and 49ers)
• Don Mozley (KCBS)
• Ronn Owens (KGO)
• Carter B. Smith (KRE, KSFO, KNBR, Magic 61, KABL)
• Ernie Smith (pioneer sportscaster, KYA, KFRC)

This year's honorees join the 37 members of the Hall that were inducted last year.

The Class of 2007 will be inducted into the Hall of Fame during a special ceremony that will take place on Wednesday, December 12, at the Doubletree Inn on the Berkeley Marina in conjunction with Broadcast Legends. The event is open to the public, but advance reservations are required.

Please click here to make your reservation.

Bernie On KNBR; Cammy On The Sidelines

KNBR's Gary Radnich mentioned this morning that the caller that identified himself as "Mr. K-Go" on yesterday's show was, in fact, Bernie Ward. Bernie must have found the bill of fare at KNBR more palatable than listening to Ronn.

Bernie had given Uncle Gary several clues as to his identity, but Gary never quite caught on.

The podcast is downloadable (at least as I write this) on the Radnich page at KNBR.com.

(It's the Wednesday March 21 offering, about nine minutes into the recording.)

Meanwhile, Leah Garchik notes in today's Chron that "Cammy Blackstone, bumped from KFRC radio when the station went to its Movin' format, has landed a job as sideline reporter for Fox Sports Net."

More about Cammy from Leah at SFgate.com.

RIP: KABL's Adult Standards On The Internet

It's been gone for a month and a half, and I hadn't noticed it until today: Clear Channel has slinked away from the rotting corpse of the once proud KABL, disconnecting the life support from the Adult Standards audio stream.

Clear Channel has even cast aside the fabled KABL call letters, which they had exiled to Salinas; that station has since become KION. KABL joins KOME on the callsign scrap heap; I guess Clear Channel subscribes to the thinking that call letters really don't mean anything any more.

From KABLradio.com:

Goodbye...

Dear Friends of KABL,

Due to circumstances beyond our contol, it is our sad duty to announce that, as of January 1, 2007, Kablradio.com will be ceasing operation. On behalf of myself, our Webmaster Sean, and the KABL Gang...Jim Lange, Dino Donikian, Carter B. Smith, and Mario in Production, a heartfelt thanks for your loyal support. Perhaps at some point off into the future, a kabl 2.0 will appear. Meanwhile, please visit our friends at {LINK REMOVED}. There you will find great music and wonderful people who love this music and this era as much as we all do.

You should know that everybody is doing fine. Jim and Nancy are travelling a lot and enjoying retirement. Carter B. is plotting to corner the ENTIRE stock market. Dino is still the unofficial Mayor of San Leandro. Sean, Mario, and yours truly are busy with several radion stations in our company.

Again, our sincere thanks and best wishes for a great 2007.

Clark Reid
Program Director
kablradio.com

DOTS & DASHES -- Brad Kava reported in his blog this evening that veteran Bay Area broadcaster Leo Laporte will begin doing a computers and technology show on KGO/810, replacing Michael Finney's consumer news and views show in the 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. slot on Sundays. Finney will continue to be KGO-TV's consumer reporter ... The Marin Independent-Journal notes that KCBS/740 reporter and weekend anchor Janice Wright (Mrs. Mike Sugerman) "has joined Zanides Public Relations in San Rafael to specialize in managing bad publicity." Wright has been on the KCBS airwaves this week, however, doing that reporting thing she does...

Kevin Barrett is the guy to blame if you don't like the programming that will be emitted by Pappas Radio's new KTRB/860 in San Francisco beginning March 1. He's been named as program director for the transplanted AM station, a job he's already been filling at sister station KMPH/840 in magnificent Modesto ... Ron Stevens (ex-KOCN, KYAA) is Michael Zwerling's choice as new president of ZBS Radio's KSCO/1080 and KOMY/1340, both housed on the briny banks of Corcoran Lagoon in Santa Cruz. 10,000-watt KSCO is a news/talker anchored by Rush Limbaugh, while 1000-watt KOMY recently flipped to Oldies; those roles could potentially be reversed this Summer if a few things fall into place...