J.B., You and I were on different ends of Texas in '76. I was working 1000 ways of day time power at KEGG Dangerfield, TX. Going no where and getting there fast. Still, radio was all I aspired to since I used my walkie-talkie to broadcast from my bedroom to my mother's kitchen. Top 20 was what I wanted. San Antonio, Dallas, or Chicago was what I wanted. I even went so far as to get a broadcast/Radio Television degree at East Texas State (didn't run into Sheldon though). My dad owned a shoe store and made a deal with the Manager of the KEGG. He bought adds and at 15 I began my radio career. Even got my third class ticket. I started on Sunday mornings playing preachers on tape and a few live ones in the studio. Then in the Summer I was promoted to Saturday afternoons. Not knowing to wear the headphones, because the monitor speakers mute to prevent feedback, my first official words on air " Charlie" , the stations Manager, "What the hell's wrong with this thing?!" I still laugh about that. I continued with "The kegg" management hated to be called that, but I did it anyway, through summer breaks until I graduated college. My lucky break, sounds bad to call it that forgive me, was Alvin Lee King in 1980. We always capped our religious broadcasting with a live feed from the First Baptist Church of Dangerfield. " THIS IS WAR!" still echos in my mind. I got a piece on The Texas State Network. TSN carried it a couple of days. Then other things happened and people's attention moved on. However, the news director for TSN came down from Dallas a few days later. Charlie's big nose was poked in the room as I was more or less felt out. We had AP and UPI teletypes, I knew how to tear the news, write copy and edit. Not my cup of tea. I still wanted that intro outro top 20 record spinning dj gig I just knew was coming. Man I'm so glad that never happened. I wasn't looking for the storm of Rush Limbaugh, Shawn Hanity and automation that was soon to kill music on AM. Yes kids they used to play records on AM radio.
Ah jeez, now I gotta esplan AM, records, maybe even radio. This has gone on too long. Glag you found your dream in broadcasting J.B.
I'm not sure it was my dream, amigo. Was just a way to pay bills while I focused on becoming a better writer, and then it took over because it required so much energy and dedication to be competent at TV news. BTW, I flunked my third class license exam the first two times I took it. Eventually, it became meaningless since the FCC no longer required it to read instruments on the broadcast tower.
I made more money working five sixes than friends in college did working six eights in really shitty jobs. I graduated, spun records a few more years. Worked my way to a couple of medium markets. But we needed healthcare, retirement all that stuff I didn't see coming .
Had a couple of my cousins, my father's niece and her husband, working for Belo in Dallas. They were pretty people. Me, not so much. She found her escape writing romance, got a few NYT best sellers. Me, I found mine in computers. I got my first class ticket with the help of their retired chief engineer. I fell in love with the guts of things.
Anyway, I had a hell a time behind the mike. Met some characters, some of the biggest laughs of my life. Ask about the receptionist bringing a live sparrow into the booth...
I know the romance novelist of whom you speak. She has had far more than a few bestsellers, and has gotten quite rich after leaving TV. I worked for Belo in Houston as a correspondent and did a lot of national reporting for the chain. When they got big, they lost their way, though I think WFAA still does a solid job of TV journalism. I left when they decided to cut my salary in half. I agree radio was fun, but not a way to make a living, though there were people doing fairly well with it in the major markets. Must have been a lively segment in the booth with a sparrow zipping around, assuming it still had use of both wings. Not sure what the receptionist thought her job description was....
Wow! What a story! I saw a large bird with white feathers glide right over my car at night in Alice TX but I’m sure it was an owl. Never heard of the Big Bird 5 ft tall. So wild!
Mr. Moore, you had me at Corpus Christi...where I was born! I’m on the edge of my seat to find out what happened next. ‘Put’ that next chapter on...please.
Reminds me of the days of Wolfman Jack and his howl in the late of night. I yearn more for the hurricanes that batter our coast. We hill country folk have been forever selfish for rain. Can’t wait to hear about Corpus, television, and the glamorous world of reportage.
J.B., You and I were on different ends of Texas in '76. I was working 1000 ways of day time power at KEGG Dangerfield, TX. Going no where and getting there fast. Still, radio was all I aspired to since I used my walkie-talkie to broadcast from my bedroom to my mother's kitchen. Top 20 was what I wanted. San Antonio, Dallas, or Chicago was what I wanted. I even went so far as to get a broadcast/Radio Television degree at East Texas State (didn't run into Sheldon though). My dad owned a shoe store and made a deal with the Manager of the KEGG. He bought adds and at 15 I began my radio career. Even got my third class ticket. I started on Sunday mornings playing preachers on tape and a few live ones in the studio. Then in the Summer I was promoted to Saturday afternoons. Not knowing to wear the headphones, because the monitor speakers mute to prevent feedback, my first official words on air " Charlie" , the stations Manager, "What the hell's wrong with this thing?!" I still laugh about that. I continued with "The kegg" management hated to be called that, but I did it anyway, through summer breaks until I graduated college. My lucky break, sounds bad to call it that forgive me, was Alvin Lee King in 1980. We always capped our religious broadcasting with a live feed from the First Baptist Church of Dangerfield. " THIS IS WAR!" still echos in my mind. I got a piece on The Texas State Network. TSN carried it a couple of days. Then other things happened and people's attention moved on. However, the news director for TSN came down from Dallas a few days later. Charlie's big nose was poked in the room as I was more or less felt out. We had AP and UPI teletypes, I knew how to tear the news, write copy and edit. Not my cup of tea. I still wanted that intro outro top 20 record spinning dj gig I just knew was coming. Man I'm so glad that never happened. I wasn't looking for the storm of Rush Limbaugh, Shawn Hanity and automation that was soon to kill music on AM. Yes kids they used to play records on AM radio.
Ah jeez, now I gotta esplan AM, records, maybe even radio. This has gone on too long. Glag you found your dream in broadcasting J.B.
I'm not sure it was my dream, amigo. Was just a way to pay bills while I focused on becoming a better writer, and then it took over because it required so much energy and dedication to be competent at TV news. BTW, I flunked my third class license exam the first two times I took it. Eventually, it became meaningless since the FCC no longer required it to read instruments on the broadcast tower.
I made more money working five sixes than friends in college did working six eights in really shitty jobs. I graduated, spun records a few more years. Worked my way to a couple of medium markets. But we needed healthcare, retirement all that stuff I didn't see coming .
Had a couple of my cousins, my father's niece and her husband, working for Belo in Dallas. They were pretty people. Me, not so much. She found her escape writing romance, got a few NYT best sellers. Me, I found mine in computers. I got my first class ticket with the help of their retired chief engineer. I fell in love with the guts of things.
Anyway, I had a hell a time behind the mike. Met some characters, some of the biggest laughs of my life. Ask about the receptionist bringing a live sparrow into the booth...
I know the romance novelist of whom you speak. She has had far more than a few bestsellers, and has gotten quite rich after leaving TV. I worked for Belo in Houston as a correspondent and did a lot of national reporting for the chain. When they got big, they lost their way, though I think WFAA still does a solid job of TV journalism. I left when they decided to cut my salary in half. I agree radio was fun, but not a way to make a living, though there were people doing fairly well with it in the major markets. Must have been a lively segment in the booth with a sparrow zipping around, assuming it still had use of both wings. Not sure what the receptionist thought her job description was....
Mostly to look good and shake her tail feathers. Kept the owner and the add geeks happy 😁
A great read...enjoyed every minute...sometime stupid works out...glad it did for you and your young wife...
Thanks, Frank. Things did work out, just not quite the way I had planned, but I think that's how it goes for most everyone.
Wow! What a story! I saw a large bird with white feathers glide right over my car at night in Alice TX but I’m sure it was an owl. Never heard of the Big Bird 5 ft tall. So wild!
Mr. Moore, you had me at Corpus Christi...where I was born! I’m on the edge of my seat to find out what happened next. ‘Put’ that next chapter on...please.
Reminds me of the days of Wolfman Jack and his howl in the late of night. I yearn more for the hurricanes that batter our coast. We hill country folk have been forever selfish for rain. Can’t wait to hear about Corpus, television, and the glamorous world of reportage.