The uber-terrific Eve Fuller mentioned recently that KLYC has a new overnight announcer.

Anyone care to weigh in with more information?

Herb

I think I've met this Dude!

http://www.dougquick.com/automation_schafer_903.gif

Why not get the info from the source? Call Eve.

They had a spat.

Does anyone remember the "Step Now" function on a Schafer?

Otto Fan Club.

LOL at Littlesong's link.

Craig, we had something like that at KINK in the late '70s, 'cept I think it was all carts, some very, very large. Had to dial us up an "8" to go live; the station was not doing it live around the clock as it is now and has for many years. That Dennis is allowed to continue to man/woman the Underground Link or KINK-O-Rama 24/7 is pretty remarkable and cool.

Wow, I forgot all about "Step Now"! We had one at KUPL in 1973. Where was yours?

I've got an 8" for ol' Dennis, and hopefully it'll hurt. Take that.

I heard the new dj, Saturday Night.
I can't remember the name!
We'll see him at Turkey Rama with the crew and his voice tracks will disapear in two weeks, just like the other "disgruntled Employees" Larry brags about firing!

I suspect that in every market, there is some radio folklore about disaster surrounding one of these cart-based automation systems. In Rochester, NY, in the early 1980s, a McDonald's commercial cart jammed in the automation at WPXY "Pixie 98" during a weekend. The same McDonald's commercial got free airplay until the following Monday.

Same thing happened at KEDO with our old SMC Carousel left in manual, only instead of a commercial, it was a song. I think it was Norman Greenbaum's "Spirit In The Sky". It played many times overnight one night!

Those of us on the weekend overnight shifts on 62KGW routinely had to run down the hall to reset the "KINKELODIAN" or "Ancil's Pain" as it was known. We had a red light alarm in the AM control room that would flash when something was wrong with the cart carrousels in the automation system. The machine would default to one of those huge 30 minute carts with fill music. I just loved making the call to the engineer when what they told us to do to reset the damn thing didn't work!

I heard some pretty deep cuts this morning on Eve's show. They're playing some diverse stuff you won't hear anywhere else.

Kudos to Larry, Eve, Stella and the new guy.

Herb 'KLYC' Milhous

The only diverse stuff is the drivel you spew here about KLYC.

You should go see your proctologist about possible brain damage.

On Sunday morning, I heard KISS playing on KLYC, so I will give these guys credit for having an interesting playlist.

Oh wow. Kiss played on KLYC. That makes them unique or special how????

I will defer the answer to Herb....

Who will no doubt make reference to Eve in his answer.

"I will defer the answer to Herb...."

Thank you.

Simply stated, it means that KLYC is diverse. These guys play everything from Neil Sedaka to Kiss.

I mean, c'mon. There's something for everybody on KLYC. If that's not diversity, you guys are kidding yourselves. And most of the tunes have a decent melody, to boot.

Look. They're locally owned. You guys rail about distant, corporate control. For my money, even KBOO, though local and diverse, is more corporate than KLYC.

It's a matter of those who don't, won't or can't, criticising those who do, will & can.

Viva La KLYC!

Herb

Herb is right. KLYC is amongst a dying breed--that is of locally owned and run radio stations in "bedroom communities" to medium and large metro areas.

Alfredo_t is right.

It's merely a matter of time before Larry gets an offer for 1260 AM that he and Stella won't be able to refuse.

Plus, they run some darn good local programming, like their 'Political Cup of Coffee' and don't bury it in their weekend programming when no one's listening like so many Portland stations do.

Who among us would be able or willing to hold out as long as Larry has? I've never met the guy, but he's probably a good egg.

Herb 'sunnyside up' Milhous

Happy to say the station in Coos Bay where we voice track is also locally owned. Probably one of the reasons we've been broadcasting there for over 7 years.

KYKN in Salem/Keizer IS locally owned with live bodies in various times, good Saturday morning talk show that is filled with local sponsors and interviews.
It is a salesperson's dream to sell it. Strong signal from south of Albany to (according to some listeners) north of Wilsonville and all points in between.
Good strong conservative talk voices (no matter your political bent, Rush is still king in talk radio, like him or not) that bring in strong listenership.
Promotions, remotes, contests and more. KYKN is THE leader in the State Capital!

I like 1430AM. They broadcast an early feed for Laura Ingraham's show.

Herb

Larry has already gotten offers he couldn't refuse, yet somehow he did. He's Yamhill County's version of Forrest Smith, the guy who hung onto KOHI well past the point where he should have unloaded it.

KLYC's music play list is no more diverse than most stations on the air today. To make a big deal about it is a waste of bandwidth.

Sure, KLYC is locally owned. But it's level of service to it's city of license is less than something to brag about.

Larry and Stella micro-manage and it is not a fun place to work. The glory days of KLYC were killed when Mike Symons ran it into the ground. Larry and Stella don't have the finances or the broadcasting common sense to do anything about it. It's a dead signal walking until the day they unload it to someone who has the resources and the expertise to build it back up again.

Will Herb be first in line to buy the day that they do unload KLYC?

>>Will Herb be first in line to buy the day that they do unload KLYC? :-)<<

Only if Eve comes along with the station.

'It's a dead signal walking until the day they unload it to someone who has the resources and the expertise to build it back up again.'

Fair enough, Outsider. But when KLYC is sold, do you actually believe it will be a locally owned purchaser, or more likely a corporate giant?

Herb

'Will Herb be first in line to buy the day that they do unload KLYC?'

In my dreams.

Were I KLYC's owner, there might be a little 'block programming' [including some music]with local appeal, and I'd attempt to pull a shift with either an evening, or late-night call-in show.

We'd run appropriate PSA's with a focus on helping the area's needy.

I'd also look for great talent with a Northwest background. One of the first guys I'd call would be Jack Hammer.

Herb

And for you liberals, the guy sometimes known as Jack Hammer sure doesn't sound like a rightie to me:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ugjyaBlTh1o

How in the world would I know who would buy it Herb?

And, block programming? Where has block programming EVER worked? Too much potential to lose listeners permanently when their block isn't on.

PSAs are fine. But you sound like you'd want to turn KLYC into the KBOO of Yamhill County. You'd lose your shirt faster than you could say Oh, that was a stupid decision."

As far as 'Jack Hammer' goes, I suspect there are countless number of Jack Hammer's in the business, like there are numerous Rick O'Shay's, Mike O'Brien's or other phony names.

Outsider-

KPDQ has done quite well over the years with block formatting. They get some big bucks from some of those national programs.

Even though KPDQ will never be a ratings powerhouse if you saw their monthly flow charts from paid programs, many stations in town would be envious.

Herb, I believe you mentioned Jack Hammer before on a KKEY thread. That appears to be the same guy and part of the reason I think so is that he mentioned his real name, John Benneth, another name with which I'm familiar but hitherto was not aware was the same person.

"Step Now" at KUPL-FM 1979-1984...As I said on the air one afternoon...

"This is couple, KUPL at 98 FM...the relaxing place to pee" (I should have read: the relaxing place to be)... Yikes!!!, Craig Lukenbaugh, "Step now"!!!

Chris,
KPDQ, while using a type of block formatting, is still going after just one section of society: Those interested in religion. I believe that to be a much different type of block programming than say, a KBOO airs. If a listener hears a block of programming you like, then finds that programming on a station that airs more of it, I'd think a listener would be more likely to go with a station that airs more of the type of programming that interests them.

Crawford's operations make (I'm assuming KPDQ is in the same boat) good money on the religious programming they air, which is paid for by the people who air the programming. (At least this was the case during that nightmare time I worked there) It's the same as those gawd-awful infomercials KLYC and other stations air for Ruby Reds and similar type products. Stations get paid to air those "programs." I worked at a station that aired those shows. Needless to say, the day I screwed up and one didn't air when it should, my boss wasn't thrilled.

I don't imagine Larry and Stella are going to turn down those informercials, because the money theu receive is good. I also imagine they don't get calls from listeners asking when the next one airs, because they want to be sure they get to hear it. Block formatting, if it's too diverse, would tend to increase the potential to drive listeners away, rather than attract and keep them.

Outsider:
those "informercials" are only played if they are getting significant calls from the area they are played in.
We play 6-8 different ones each weekend and though I hate them and you might hate them, they keep renewing because the callers in the area flood them with enough buys that they see it as profitable and we get a nice check each month.
Again, I hate them, I call em "snake oil saleman" but, someone likes them or they wouldn't stay on the air, and keep paying a lot of money to do so.

I understand how they work. I wonder how many calls equal significant though. I would doubt there's a "flood" of calls, but there must be a sufficient number.

I don't like those shows, you don't like them and I know my boss didn't care for them much either. But, as long as they continue to generate revenue for the station, they'll continue to run.

I agree, I don't know what the "magic" number is for callers, but I am told by the ae in charge that this particular company used the exact word "flooded" with calls.
They LOVE our market.

"Herb, I believe you mentioned Jack Hammer before on a KKEY thread. That appears to be the same guy and part of the reason I think so is that he mentioned his real name, John Benneth.."

Thanks, Semoochie. I never knew Hammer's real name until I recently found it online.

Aside from the link I posted, I only remember him as being smart, somewhat controversial and fun to listen to. This is one guy for whom I would be willing to completely break format, even if he were an outright leftie. He's good. His voice and approach kind of reminds me of Peter Weisbach, if only a tad.

Herb

I've long said that running those atrocious 'ruby red' type commercials is stunningly bad for KLYC.

Talk about poor use of a great local signal

Even I turn 1260 AM off when they're on.

Herb

"Great" local signal? I guess I can live with that statement.

But they gotta have something on the air between KISS songs and Eve reading from the Register-Guard.

Until they get the 'Herb Hour,' or better yet, Jack Hammer, perhaps KLYC could broadcast a few more remote broadcasts.

Maybe a local ball game, or a library, hospital or other fundraiser/benefit...or Eve, Stella & Larry from Turkey Rama.

Herb

I don't know about the "Herb Hour," but don't the Cannabis people have a show on public access cable?

How 'bout encore presentations of "The Best of KLYC Remotes"?

Have they ever considered calling that station "Alice"?

I seriously hope Larry wakes up and does some trade for a web site.

The forum section alone could be a money maker.

Herb

"Have they ever considered calling that station "Alice"?"

If thought of it being pronounced "Click" as in click it off.

Or, K-lick.

'Or, K-lick.'

I'm sure some San Francisco station already has that call sign.

Hey, it's Friday.

Herb

KKSL used to play those Ruby Reds commercials, too! What I find most interesting about these infomercials and similar commercials are some of the gimmicks that they use to get people to call in or to make the whole ordeal sound more official. The most common one is, "call within the next 30 minutes and we'll throw in as a special bonus...." This one is funny because KKSL would sometimes fill in gaps in its schedule with encore broadcasts of the Ruby Reds infomercials at times that the sponsor had no control over! The other gimmick is when the commercial instructs callers to postpone calling until later: "Callers with last names beginning with the letters A through N may call now. Callers with last names beginning with letters O through Z may call tomorrow, starting at 7:00AM."

I heard KKSL when it was all Elvis!

I was KLVS then.

You were?

I did not know that about you.

"I was KLVS then."

Correction: It was KLVS then.

KLVS kind of reminds me of KVIC.

Wonder whatever happened to Victor Ives.

Herb

http://victorives.com/

Thanks, Outsider!

Herb

Herb: Victor Ives station wasn't KVIC, it was KVIX. Victor most likely wanted the KVIC calls but they were already assigned to a station in Victoria, Texas.

Wow and duly noted.

You are a virtual encyclopediae of information, Craig_adams.

Herb

Thanks Herb. It's not all in my head. I knew Vic Ives couldn't get the calls at the time, so I looked it up on "Recnet" and found the KVIC calls had been there since 1981, which was before KVIX.

KLYC remote coming-up!.... this from the McMinnville Chamber of Commerce newsletter:

Please join West Coast Bank on Tuesday July 1st in Celebrating our Community Appreciation Day. Free Hot Dogs, Chips, Soda, & Pie will be served from 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM. Radio Station KLYC will be broadcasting from the BBQ at 2214 McDonald Lane, hope to see you there!!

Wouldn't miss it. Love them free hot dogs.

WOW, free food!

Too bad I have previous commitments that day, otherwise I'd say something like 'why not make this our next pdxradio get-together, it'll be even better since it's an event a radio station we always seem to talk about will be at!'
And, if Eve Fuller is broadcasting from there that day, we'd most likely be sure to meet Herb.
Oh well.

That's the only reason I'd go. Well, free food and a buck a ticket to swing a sledgehammer at the Yam Van.

Does the Yam Van even still run or do they just get the local tow company to drag it over there and drop it off?

What year is that thing anyway? It truly is a classic. Most stations had a remote vehicle very similar to the Yam Van, but they got rid of them some 20+ years ago.

It is hard to beat a full size van with shag carpet kit for versatility and broadcasting live from. Todays SUV and trucks just aren't the same.

It's a shame it's midday on a Tuesday, or I'd absolutely be there. It'd be like stepping-back in a time machine.... for better or worse.

"What year is that thing anyway?"

It's a 1972 with a 316 cubic inch engine.

well, there goes the KLYC carbon footprint...

It really is too bad that this is on a work day. To add insult to injury, KLYC isn't receivable in the building where I work.

Some time ago, I had been discussing the idea of constructing in-building AM and FM signal boosters with another techie who has the required licenses to be able to string cable inside commercial buildings. The AM booster would re-radiate from wires strung inside the ceiling. The FM version would require leaky coax, which would be more expensive. Does anybody know of buildings that have systems like this in place? I recall reading a post here that talked about KNBR being receivable inside of a sports arena several hundred miles from the transmitter.

Why would KNBR need to be receivable inside a sports arena several hundred miles from it's transmitter?