KLIF…Part One

PIN

So, who came up with the concept of Top 40?

Gordon McLendon


Todd Storz

Was it Gordon McLendon or Todd Storz? I’ve never heard a definite answer. The story I heard most was that the two men (both of whom already owned their own chains of stations) were together in a bar. Over the time they were there, they noticed that customers were repeatedly putting coins in the jukebox and the same songs kept being played. “So, why not do this on the radio? You know, play the favorite songs…maybe 40 of them.”

KLIF went with the concept and was unreachable in the ratings for decades. But, in my opinion, the secret was not just the music. KLIF had high profile disc jockeys, a dynamic news department (including the first mobile news units in the country. There were two cars, but they were called KLIF Cruiser 5 and 6 in a typically McLendon move), and highly creative promotions. It also had a “stationality” and constant connection with the market. If you are familiar with how KSFO was linked to the heart of San Francisco, you might say that KLIF had a similar approach…but with current, hit music.

Bill Stewart

Bill Stewart influenced both McLendon and Storz. At various times, he was National Program Director for both men.

Johnny Dark

When I joined KLIF, Johnny Dark (John Borders) was Program Director. The jocks used to joke that his primary focus every day was to make sure his hair looked perfect. Later, Borders was a successful station owner.

I held down two different shifts during my first round at KLIF. First, Noon-3PM then later, 3-6PM. (And yes, most all of us wore jackets and ties to work…well, not Jimmy Rabbitt.)

McLendon was a showman. So, he moved the station from a shabby second floor spot on Jackson Street to what would become known as KLIF Triangle Point at the convergence of Commerce Street, Jackson Street, and Central Expressway. Highly traveled location!. (There was a microphone placed outside so we could pick up the sounds of a busy downtown.)

The property had previously been a Magnolia gas station with corporate offices above the gas bay.

With a background that included running theaters, McLendon made sure that KLIF glowed in the dark. You couldn’t miss what was becoming a landmark.

The studio was at the end of the building, behind the biggest glass windows.

The history of KLIF has been well-documented. So, I’d like to introduce just a few of the people who made KLIF so strong during my time with them.

While Tom Murphy and Irving Harrigan (Ron Chapmen) were “The First Team” on the station, mornings were amazing with Charlie Brown (Jack Woods) and the then-Irving Harrigan (Paul Menard). They later moved on to great success with a well-known reign at KCBQ, San Diego. Super talents and really nice guys.

The KLIF Forty Star Survey was delivered to record stores every week.

Jimmy Rabbitt was King of Nightime with “The Jimmy Rabbitt All-Electric Memorial Experience.”

The Rabbitt was the “hip one” on the staff and had a way cool style on the air. To reinforce that image, I asked the programming secretary, Polly Gusa, to come on the air with me every afternoon at 5:30 to describe the custom wardrobe that Mr. Rabbitt would wear that night. We renamed her “Margo Fury.” The bit was that she adored “Mr. Rabbitt” and thought I was not worthy to shine his shoes. She was funny. Rabbitt, of course, moved on to California with wins in San Diego and Los Angeles.

The young man from Tyler, Texas found his voice.

“Margo” later became very involved with wildlife conservation.

From 9PM-1AM, college student Hal Martin (Michael Spears) kept the nights engaging as leader of “The KLIF Night People.” Yep, the same guy who went on to his own success at several stations, including a very notable post as PD at KFRC.

At some point, Borders left and Jim O’Brien became Program Director.

Jim and I had a strained relationship. I remember him primarily for his temper. He didn’t like what I was doing on the air and one Sunday afternoon, came storming into the studio and shouted, “If you are not a new disc jockey by 6PM, you’ll be out tomorrow.” (How’s that for motivation?) Our paths would cross again. More on that in another chapter.

He didn’t last long. Then began the fun when current morning man, Ken Dowe, became PD. “Ken and Granny” were out of the park hits. His newsman was Brad Messer. Those guys did some seriously great morning shows. And Ken was also an excellent PD. He helped me build confidence and polish my approach with gentle guidance . Ken’s later successes are well -known.

Ken upped the fun level on the air and the staff enjoyed a real lift in morale.

It was Dowe who came up with the idea for the KLIF radio adaptor, so you could actually “see” KLIF while listening. It was actually a photo of the staff with detailed instructions how to attach it to your radio.

Ken was at the helm when he chose our new mid-day jock, Michael O’Shea.

After his arrival, we teased Michael that we were going to name him “Harry Hines,” a well known street in Dallas. He seemed relieved. Michael had a warm, natural style and blended in abundant local content in his shows. O’Shea is another one of the guys who moved on to stellar success as a GM and station owner. One of his landmark achievements was the creation of KUBE in Seattle. He also was one time National PD for Golden West, which owned KMPC in LA and several other great stations.

About this time, we welcomed a new National Program Director, Don Barrett. McLendon discovered Don through the fascinating project McLendon dubbed “The Magnificent Seven” in which he personally groomed 7 hand-selected men chosen for a private education at the feet of The Master. I’ll ask Don to write about that as one who experienced the process. Don later moved on to great success in management of major market stations and enjoyed a long run in the motion picture industry. He now owns and moderates the popular web site, laradio.com.

Don Barrett

Don and I have remained friends to this day. In fact, I had the chance to catch up with him in person not long ago when Ingrid and I were vacationing in Santa Barbara.

Don’s assistant was a young man named Rich “Brother” Robin. (Yep, THAT “Rich Bro”!) After a great run on air, Rich now runs a cool on line station, richbroradio.com.

Maybe by now, you are seeing a thread here. The people who ran through KLIF in that era were super creative and went on to increased success in their careers.

All that remains of KLIF and the Triangle Point legacy now is the shell of the former place so many of us were honored to call our radio home,

“Those were the days, my friends.” Many other top tier people went through those halls and graced the KLIF airways. This was just a sample.

We all were getting offers to move on and up. KLIF was an exceptional training ground for so many.

I didn’t want to leave…until a call came that changed the course of my career forever.

“And the beat goes on….”

You May also Like

Comments (12)

  1. Bob Tomlinson

    February 16, 2020 at 8:33 pm

    Charlie I’m really liking your story and glad your telling it for all of us. One favor, can you add the years that these events are happening? I’m trying to track when I was in high school and later after the Navy and in broadcasting school with what’s happening in Dallas.

  2. Frank Haley

    February 16, 2020 at 8:36 pm

    Those were the days. So glad I was part of the KLIF News dept. under Brad Messer. (RIP) . 1190 and out.

  3. Bob Lange

    February 16, 2020 at 8:45 pm

    I really enjoyed reading this. It was also great to see Don Robertson in the group pic.
    (I worked with Don at MIX 107.9 where he was manager). Although we only worked
    together remotely during my time at KKOB, I learned and had a great time doing it
    and enjoy your other posts as well. Thanks!

  4. Larry Tunforss

    February 16, 2020 at 9:09 pm

    I enjoy following your story. Yes I grew up to 93/KHJ. So I can’t wait j til you arrive in Boss Angeles.

  5. Ed Spencer

    February 16, 2020 at 9:22 pm

    Just an avid listener from those days. AM radio was magic…you and your colleagues made it so. Thanks for sharing. Any insight on Charlie Brown/Danny McCurdy?

  6. Tony Hayes

    February 17, 2020 at 2:43 am

    Great read Charlie. Michael O’Shea and Ken Dowe were my little league baseball coaches and got me interested in the business. I was fortunate enough that they let me in the Triangle Point studios on a number of occasions and later into the KNUS studios.

  7. Michael

    February 17, 2020 at 6:34 am

    You’re bringing back lots of great memories Charlie! Thank you! One that comes to mind is when my college roommate and I were granted a tour of KLIF studios….we were radio/tv majors from East Texas State University in Commerce, now TX A&M Commerce. Michael O’Shea gave us the tour and allowed us to watch Dave Ambrose do his show. We were both impressed by the friendliness and professionalism of everyone we met.

  8. Steve (Scott) Christiaens

    February 17, 2020 at 8:19 am

    Great stories of the glory days, Charlie! I was thinking(always a danger), if you had air checks you could link to some of these posts, it would really enhance the anecdotes. It’s not easy finding many old KLIF material, in particular. I only have one from my time there, and that was your last show.

  9. Kevin M. Fodor

    February 17, 2020 at 9:06 am

    Charlie:

    Don Robertson was a friend of mine…as we both worked at WING, though at different times. He told me an interesting story once about being in the station around the time of JFK’s death and confirmed that he saw Jack Ruby in the station, though he admitted that he was too young st the time to partake of Ruby’s largess.

  10. Brian Wilson

    February 17, 2020 at 5:16 pm

    Thanks for this Charlie. I was too young to be a DJ at KLIF in the glory days, but I have many personal connections to KLIF. Besides producing your voiceover work for Y95, I worked with Michael Spears at USA Overnight, Ken Dowe (my adopted dad) at KODZ, Ron Chapman briefly at ABC when he did a six week fill in for Paul Harvey, and Stan Webb at KMOD, who was one of the Magnificent Seven. I worked at KLIF from 1995 until 2002 with Norm Hitzges, John Shomby, Kevin McCarthy and David Gold. And KLIF was the first full time commercial streaming station in the world, heard on Audionet, brainchild of one Mark Cuban!

  11. Me

    February 18, 2020 at 4:55 am

    ChARLIE,
    So great to see you and read your story. You have always been one of my radio heroes as well as my biggest mentor Michael O’Shea. Please add audio!
    Glenn Beck

  12. Bobby Kraig

    February 27, 2020 at 5:52 pm

    Hey Charlie, when I was hired as PD for KPLX/Dallas in 1993… for some reason we all wound up in the old KLIF Building to check it out. There was crap every where as if it was all being readied for demolition or something.. in one of the offices on the floor with a bunch of other crap was a gold record and it was presented to “Charlie Van Dyke”….. I respectfully picked it up and sat it against the wall…. I mean it was “Charlie Van Dyke”…. respect. 🙂

Leave a Reply to Tony Hayes