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Half of Y100.7 turns over...

So not only did Donnie Michaels depart last week, Rob Roberts was promoted to CC/Miami cluster OM, and as such left his PD post. And apprently, Kenny of the morning show left effective today. Just thought you might like to know...
 
> So not only did Donnie Michaels depart last week, Rob
> Roberts was promoted to CC/Miami cluster OM, and as such
> left his PD post. And apprently, Kenny of the morning show
> left effective today. Just thought you might like to know...
>

Wow, Kenny Walker had just finished up his tenth year at Y; this is surprising. Could this indicate (gasp!) a format change?
 
>
> Wow, Kenny Walker had just finished up his tenth year at Y;
> this is surprising. Could this indicate (gasp!) a format
> change?
>

Maybe if they let Footy go. Otherwise, no chance. The station is obviously rebuilding after an ugly Fall Book.
 
> >
> > Wow, Kenny Walker had just finished up his tenth year at
> Y;
> > this is surprising. Could this indicate (gasp!) a format
> > change?
> >
>
> Maybe if they let Footy go. Otherwise, no chance. The
> station is obviously rebuilding after an ugly Fall Book.

There's not a chance for a format change for the heritage CHR that turns 33 years old soon. Afternoons and evenings (with Michael Yo and Adam Bomb) are solid, but mornings and middays will be overhauled with new (likely) out-of-town personalities brought in. Perhaps there will even be a national syndication deal involved ? A new Program Director (and Assistant) will also be hired.

"Kenny & Footy" was hot and fresh in 2001 when it debuted (replacing "Footy & The Chix At Six" which pretty much bombed). I didn't listen to Y-100.7 in 2002 and 2003, but I returned in 2004, and I've been a loyal listener since then. "Kenny & Footy" seemed old and stale over the past two years, but that didn't stop me from listening to them every single morning.

I see a radical overhaul to the morning show, and it probably won't include the legendary Footy. But Footy will remain with Clear Channel Miami in some capacity.

THE MAJOR
 
>
> There's not a chance for a format change for the heritage
> CHR that turns 33 years old soon. Afternoons and evenings
> (with Michael Yo and Adam Bomb) are solid, but mornings and
> middays will be overhauled with new (likely) out-of-town
> personalities brought in. Perhaps there will even be a
> national syndication deal involved ? A new Program Director
> (and Assistant) will also be hired.
>
> "Kenny & Footy" was hot and fresh in 2001 when it debuted
> (replacing "Footy & The Chix At Six" which pretty much
> bombed). I didn't listen to Y-100.7 in 2002 and 2003, but I
> returned in 2004, and I've been a loyal listener since then.
> "Kenny & Footy" seemed old and stale over the past two
> years, but that didn't stop me from listening to them every
> single morning.
>
> I see a radical overhaul to the morning show, and it
> probably won't include the legendary Footy. But Footy will
> remain with Clear Channel Miami in some capacity.
>
> THE MAJOR


This kind of comment has no place on the internet. It's well thought out, considered and intelligent. If you don't stop Major, you could infect the entire population of this board!
>
 
> this is surprising. Could this indicate (gasp!) a format
> change?
>

Not according to Footy - http://cbs4.com/local/local_story_031175839.html

I'm really (pleasantly) surprised by how calmly everyone seems to be taking this...the interview with Kenny (also at the link above) shows no sour grapes whatsoever, and Footy seems a little sad but not upset. The whole 'coolness' of the situation seems so unnatural<P ID="signature">______________
Need part-time or weekend production/air talent? Email me</P>
 
> > >
> > > Wow, Kenny Walker had just finished up his tenth year at
>
> > Y;
> > > this is surprising. Could this indicate (gasp!) a
> format
> > > change?
> > >
> >
> > Maybe if they let Footy go. Otherwise, no chance. The
> > station is obviously rebuilding after an ugly Fall Book.
>
> There's not a chance for a format change for the heritage
> CHR that turns 33 years old soon. Afternoons and evenings
> (with Michael Yo and Adam Bomb) are solid, but mornings and
> middays will be overhauled with new (likely) out-of-town
> personalities brought in. Perhaps there will even be a
> national syndication deal involved ? A new Program Director
> (and Assistant) will also be hired.
>
> "Kenny & Footy" was hot and fresh in 2001 when it debuted
> (replacing "Footy & The Chix At Six" which pretty much
> bombed). I didn't listen to Y-100.7 in 2002 and 2003, but I
> returned in 2004, and I've been a loyal listener since then.
> "Kenny & Footy" seemed old and stale over the past two
> years, but that didn't stop me from listening to them every
> single morning.
>
> I see a radical overhaul to the morning show, and it
> probably won't include the legendary Footy. But Footy will
> remain with Clear Channel Miami in some capacity.
>
> THE MAJOR
>
I really don't think Footy is out of the morning show. Face it, He has been the only staple of the moring show from Tanner to Sonny Fox to Doug Dunbar to Bobby Mitchell to The Chix at 6 to Kenny Walker. FOOTY IS Y-100 and they aren't about to change that.
<P ID="signature">______________
Stuart Elliott/TOP 40 DJ</P>
 
> I really don't think Footy is out of the morning show. Face
> it, He has been the only staple of the moring show from
> Tanner to Sonny Fox to Doug Dunbar to Bobby Mitchell to The
> Chix at 6 to Kenny Walker. FOOTY IS Y-100 and they aren't
> about to change that.

That's what I'm actually hoping for - that Footy remains in place. Footy is a South Florida radio institution. When I arrived here in South Florida in late-1987 he was teamed up with Sonny Fox. Bobby & Footy were a classic duo. Those were the golden days of the "Y-100 Morning Zoo". I still have one of their tee-shirts and a couple of their 'psychotic' morning show cassette tapes that were available at retail. I even met Bobby & Footy in studio during the late-1980s when they were on East Sunrise Blvd. I won an "Uncle Buck" prize package from them, and I asked if I could not only pick it up, but also sit in during the entire morning show to watch it happen live. I did just that. I arrived in pitch darkness before 6 AM, and I was there for over 4 hours. It was quite memorable.

THE MAJOR
 
> > I really don't think Footy is out of the morning show.
> Face
> > it, He has been the only staple of the moring show from
> > Tanner to Sonny Fox to Doug Dunbar to Bobby Mitchell to
> The
> > Chix at 6 to Kenny Walker. FOOTY IS Y-100 and they aren't
>
> > about to change that.
>
> That's what I'm actually hoping for - that Footy remains in
> place. Footy is a South Florida radio institution. When I
> arrived here in South Florida in late-1987 he was teamed up
> with Sonny Fox. Bobby & Footy were a classic duo. Those were
> the golden days of the "Y-100 Morning Zoo". I still have one
> of their tee-shirts and a couple of their 'psychotic'
> morning show cassette tapes that were available at retail. I
> even met Bobby & Footy in studio during the late-1980s when
> they were on East Sunrise Blvd. I won an "Uncle Buck" prize
> package from them, and I asked if I could not only pick it
> up, but also sit in during the entire morning show to watch
> it happen live. I did just that. I arrived in pitch darkness
> before 6 AM, and I was there for over 4 hours. It was quite
> memorable.
>
> THE MAJOR
>
I hear ya Major. I've known Footy since I started in Radio 1975. We always met up when we did Thursday/Friday/Saturday High School Football Games in the 70s. People found it strange that 2 compeating radio stations (96X & Y-100) hung out together. But thats how we were...even if the higher-ups didn't like it. I finally got to work with him at Y-100 from 1988 to 1996. Sonny was the Morning guy with Footy when I started....then came Doug Dunbar....then Bobby....they actually had a great time working together. On and off air. Even tho i've departed radio almost 10 years ago, I consider Footy one of my closest "radio friends" and we do keep in contact& I usually spend one of the holidays at his home. I still volunteer my time with the Wing Ding every year, and promised him, even tho i'm not at Y anymore, due to our friendship, no matter where I was, i'd be there to lend a hand. Footy is one of, if not the best, level headed people in the business.<P ID="signature">______________
Stuart Elliott/TOP 40 DJ</P>
 
> > > I really don't think Footy is out of the morning show.
> > Face
> > > it, He has been the only staple of the moring show from
> > > Tanner to Sonny Fox to Doug Dunbar to Bobby Mitchell to
> > The
> > > Chix at 6 to Kenny Walker. FOOTY IS Y-100 and they
> aren't
> >
> > > about to change that.
> >
> > That's what I'm actually hoping for - that Footy remains
> in
> > place. Footy is a South Florida radio institution. When I
> > arrived here in South Florida in late-1987 he was teamed
> up
> > with Sonny Fox. Bobby & Footy were a classic duo. Those
> were
> > the golden days of the "Y-100 Morning Zoo". I still have
> one
> > of their tee-shirts and a couple of their 'psychotic'
> > morning show cassette tapes that were available at retail.
> I
> > even met Bobby & Footy in studio during the late-1980s
> when
> > they were on East Sunrise Blvd. I won an "Uncle Buck"
> prize
> > package from them, and I asked if I could not only pick it
>
> > up, but also sit in during the entire morning show to
> watch
> > it happen live. I did just that. I arrived in pitch
> darkness
> > before 6 AM, and I was there for over 4 hours. It was
> quite
> > memorable.
> >
> > THE MAJOR
> >
> I hear ya Major. I've known Footy since I started in Radio
> 1975. We always met up when we did Thursday/Friday/Saturday
> High School Football Games in the 70s. People found it
> strange that 2 compeating radio stations (96X & Y-100) hung
> out together. But thats how we were...even if the
> higher-ups didn't like it. I finally got to work with him
> at Y-100 from 1988 to 1996. Sonny was the Morning guy with
> Footy when I started....then came Doug Dunbar....then
> Bobby....they actually had a great time working together. On
> and off air. Even tho i've departed radio almost 10 years
> ago, I consider Footy one of my closest "radio friends" and
> we do keep in contact& I usually spend one of the holidays
> at his home. I still volunteer my time with the Wing Ding
> every year, and promised him, even tho i'm not at Y anymore,
> due to our friendship, no matter where I was, i'd be there
> to lend a hand. Footy is one of, if not the best, level
> headed people in the business.

I don't know Footy personally. I met him in person once or twice and he seemed really cool. I know his persona on the morning show and his sometimes wild and crazy opinions and of course his ridiculous array of characters ('# 1 Stunna' immediately comes to mind). Footy says it best himself when he often refers to himself (his character) as a 'fake', a 'fraud', and a 'phony'. That's the Footy character on the radio. The real man behind the character and nickname seems real genuine to me. His 'Wing Dings' over the years and other work for charitable organizations proves that he's one of the good guys on radio. Given another good guy to pair off with and feed on Footy can very well continue to prosper as part of the Y-100.7 Morning Show. I just fear that Clear Channel Miami has some other ideas in mind that don't include Footy.

Stu - I actually remember listening to you (mostly late at night) back in the early-to-middle-1990s. Did you leave radio completely when you left Y-100 in 1996, or did you work anywhere else for a brief time ?

THE MAJOR
 
> > > > I really don't think Footy is out of the morning show.
>
> > > Face
> > > > it, He has been the only staple of the moring show
> from
> > > > Tanner to Sonny Fox to Doug Dunbar to Bobby Mitchell
> to
> > > The
> > > > Chix at 6 to Kenny Walker. FOOTY IS Y-100 and they
> > aren't
> > >
> > > > about to change that.
> > >
> > > That's what I'm actually hoping for - that Footy remains
>
> > in
> > > place. Footy is a South Florida radio institution. When
> I
> > > arrived here in South Florida in late-1987 he was teamed
>
> > up
> > > with Sonny Fox. Bobby & Footy were a classic duo. Those
> > were
> > > the golden days of the "Y-100 Morning Zoo". I still have
>
> > one
> > > of their tee-shirts and a couple of their 'psychotic'
> > > morning show cassette tapes that were available at
> retail.
> > I
> > > even met Bobby & Footy in studio during the late-1980s
> > when
> > > they were on East Sunrise Blvd. I won an "Uncle Buck"
> > prize
> > > package from them, and I asked if I could not only pick
> it
> >
> > > up, but also sit in during the entire morning show to
> > watch
> > > it happen live. I did just that. I arrived in pitch
> > darkness
> > > before 6 AM, and I was there for over 4 hours. It was
> > quite
> > > memorable.
> > >
> > > THE MAJOR
> > >
> > I hear ya Major. I've known Footy since I started in
> Radio
> > 1975. We always met up when we did
> Thursday/Friday/Saturday
> > High School Football Games in the 70s. People found it
> > strange that 2 compeating radio stations (96X & Y-100)
> hung
> > out together. But thats how we were...even if the
> > higher-ups didn't like it. I finally got to work with him
>
> > at Y-100 from 1988 to 1996. Sonny was the Morning guy
> with
> > Footy when I started....then came Doug Dunbar....then
> > Bobby....they actually had a great time working together.
> On
> > and off air. Even tho i've departed radio almost 10 years
>
> > ago, I consider Footy one of my closest "radio friends"
> and
> > we do keep in contact& I usually spend one of the holidays
>
> > at his home. I still volunteer my time with the Wing Ding
>
> > every year, and promised him, even tho i'm not at Y
> anymore,
> > due to our friendship, no matter where I was, i'd be there
>
> > to lend a hand. Footy is one of, if not the best, level
> > headed people in the business.
>
> I don't know Footy personally. I met him in person once or
> twice and he seemed really cool. I know his persona on the
> morning show and his sometimes wild and crazy opinions and
> of course his ridiculous array of characters ('# 1 Stunna'
> immediately comes to mind). Footy says it best himself when
> he often refers to himself (his character) as a 'fake', a
> 'fraud', and a 'phony'. That's the Footy character on the
> radio. The real man behind the character and nickname seems
> real genuine to me. His 'Wing Dings' over the years and
> other work for charitable organizations proves that he's one
> of the good guys on radio. Given another good guy to pair
> off with and feed on Footy can very well continue to prosper
> as part of the Y-100.7 Morning Show. I just fear that Clear
> Channel Miami has some other ideas in mind that don't
> include Footy.
>
> Stu - I actually remember listening to you (mostly late at
> night) back in the early-to-middle-1990s. Did you leave
> radio completely when you left Y-100 in 1996, or did you
> work anywhere else for a brief time ?
>
> THE MAJOR
>
I walked away...hung up the headphones. Was it a good move? Well...everytime I show up at the Wing Ding or at one of Footy's get togethers, I hear I left at a good time. Personally, starting radio in 1975 was a great time. I had a blast, and have worked with some of the best. Don't get me wrong, there are alot of great people in Broadcasting, but as an "On Air Personallity" you're not anymore. I'd say since the later 80's early 90's. You're hired to be a personallity and then told to stay quiet and let the music speak for the station.

In the earlier days, you were an entertainer. You had an imagination and were allowed to use it. Radio was always "Theater Of The Mind". I was lucky enough to have the type of mind for broadcasting where I put it to good entertaining use. The First 96X was the best. After we signed off and I went to I-95, my former PD allowed me to do things, but there was a line drawn. When I left I-95 to start up the new 96X, I was Asst. PD, MD, 6-10P jock. I tell you what, outside of the original 96X, I had total freedom to do as I wanted. I pretty much did a morning show at night. At that time, Teens were the market for advertising. I was either #1 or a close #2. I had always said as a kid, if I had ever become a DJ, remember what it was like as a listener & what you wanted your favorite station & favorite DJ to be like. And I really tried to stay true to that.


When I left 96X when it was in transformation to become Power96, I took a little time off, then headed to Y-100. That was in 1988. After 3 PD's came and went, a gentleman named Casey Keating became the 4th PD. Casey was old school like I was & let me stretch the bounderies. One Sunday night, we were going off the air at Midnight for Xmitter work. I didn't want to just sign-off and say we'll be back at 5:30 with Bobby & Footy & The Y-100 Morning Zoo. So..before my shift started at 8PM, I went to the production room and carted up some pink noise, oscillation tones & slowed down my voice. About 45 minutes into my shift, I started messing with my broadcast. Making it sound like something was breaking in and interfearing. I just played stupid to it and acted like it was some freak thing happening. About 4 minutes till midnight, the Engineers at the tower called up and reminded me that I had to be off at midnight. So....I was in the midst of playing "Can You Fell The Love Tonight" by Elton John & with about 2 minutes left in the song, I closed the pot & fired up the pink noise & oscillation tones. About 20 seconds into it, I hit my slowed down voice and it said somthing to the effect "We come in peace. We mean no harm. We are just trying to contact our mother ship. We will leave after we connect" With seconds left before I had to sign off, and nobody caught this, I played the slow voice giving the station I.D.. Then like that, we shut down the station. I picked up my stuff and left for the night, thinking I just had a good practial joke. The next day about 4 in the afternoon, my biggest listener (my mom lol) called me at my "real job" and said.."What did you do last night? All they've been talking about is some Alien invasion that happend around midnight". Well...I burst out laughing & said i'll explain later and hung up with her, immeadiately calling Y-100 and asking to talk to Casey. He picked up the phone, and I said "I hear there has been a little disturbance all day". His reply.."I knew it! If anyone was responsible for something like that, I knew it had to be you. As your Boss and Program Director, I can not condone what you did. The FCC frowns against doing things like that on the radio....but personally, I have to say, it was one of the best things i've ever heard". I explained to him what & how I came about doing it & told him i'd call Bobby & Footy when we were done, so I could fill them in on why their morning show was bombarded with calls about the invasion. The next morning (Tuesday) They called me on air and we played it up. I said i'd be in that night to "Transcribe" the tapes so the audience could re-live what had happened. I went to the station and left them the tapes I used. It was milked for about a week before they had to move on. Eventually Casey left & with the next PD came an eventual clamp down. After sticking it out for another couple of years, it became just a job. When that happens, when you go in and throw the headphones on and know that you're not happy because you can't be creative, it's time to go. And that is exactly what I did.

It boils to down to two words: Artistic Freedom I wasn't given that freedom anymore. I know radio is a business & it always has been, but it is cut-throat now & outside of morning shows and on some instances afternoon drive, nobody else gets to have that. I'm in the process of going thru 2 large boxes of air chex from when I was at 96X in the late 70s thru my days of Y-100, to make a kind of "Best Of". There is alot of fun, stupid, "how did he get away with saying that" kind of stuff that i'd love to share, and if I ever get thru these tapes, i'd be happy to pass it on. Until then...if there was a station out there that allowed me my artistic freedom, i'd consider doing it again. If not, I had a truly great time and am happy with my decision.

Regards,
<P ID="signature">______________
Stuart Elliott/TOP 40 DJ</P>
 
> I walked away...hung up the headphones. Was it a good
> move? Well...everytime I show up at the Wing Ding or at one
> of Footy's get togethers, I hear I left at a good time.
> Personally, starting radio in 1975 was a great time. I had
> a blast, and have worked with some of the best. Don't get
> me wrong, there are alot of great people in Broadcasting,
> but as an "On Air Personallity" you're not anymore. I'd say
> since the later 80's early 90's. You're hired to be a
> personallity and then told to stay quiet and let the music
> speak for the station.
>
> In the earlier days, you were an entertainer. You had
> an imagination and were allowed to use it. Radio was always
> "Theater Of The Mind". I was lucky enough to have the type
> of mind for broadcasting where I put it to good entertaining
> use. The First 96X was the best. After we signed off and I
> went to I-95, my former PD allowed me to do things, but
> there was a line drawn. When I left I-95 to start up the
> new 96X, I was Asst. PD, MD, 6-10P jock. I tell you what,
> outside of the original 96X, I had total freedom to do as I
> wanted. I pretty much did a morning show at night. At that
> time, Teens were the market for advertising. I was either
> #1 or a close #2. I had always said as a kid, if I had ever
> become a DJ, remember what it was like as a listener & what
> you wanted your favorite station & favorite DJ to be like.
> And I really tried to stay true to that.
>
> When I left 96X when it was in transformation to become
> Power96, I took a little time off, then headed to Y-100.
> That was in 1988. After 3 PD's came and went, a gentleman
> named Casey Keating became the 4th PD. Casey was old school
> like I was & let me stretch the bounderies. One Sunday
> night, we were going off the air at Midnight for Xmitter
> work. I didn't want to just sign-off and say we'll be back
> at 5:30 with Bobby & Footy & The Y-100 Morning Zoo.
> So..before my shift started at 8PM, I went to the production
> room and carted up some pink noise, oscillation tones &
> slowed down my voice. About 45 minutes into my shift, I
> started messing with my broadcast. Making it sound like
> something was breaking in and interfearing. I just played
> stupid to it and acted like it was some freak thing
> happening. About 4 minutes till midnight, the Engineers at
> the tower called up and reminded me that I had to be off at
> midnight. So....I was in the midst of playing "Can You Fell
> The Love Tonight" by Elton John & with about 2 minutes left
> in the song, I closed the pot & fired up the pink noise &
> oscillation tones. About 20 seconds into it, I hit my
> slowed down voice and it said somthing to the effect "We
> come in peace. We mean no harm. We are just trying to
> contact our mother ship. We will leave after we connect"
> With seconds left before I had to sign off, and nobody
> caught this, I played the slow voice giving the station
> I.D.. Then like that, we shut down the station. I picked
> up my stuff and left for the night, thinking I just had a
> good practial joke. The next day about 4 in the afternoon,
> my biggest listener (my mom lol) called me at my "real job"
> and said.."What did you do last night? All they've been
> talking about is some Alien invasion that happend around
> midnight". Well...I burst out laughing & said i'll explain
> later and hung up with her, immeadiately calling Y-100 and
> asking to talk to Casey. He picked up the phone, and I said
> "I hear there has been a little disturbance all day". His
> reply.."I knew it! If anyone was responsible for something
> like that, I knew it had to be you. As your Boss and
> Program Director, I can not condone what you did. The FCC
> frowns against doing things like that on the radio....but
> personally, I have to say, it was one of the best things
> i've ever heard". I explained to him what & how I came
> about doing it & told him i'd call Bobby & Footy when we
> were done, so I could fill them in on why their morning show
> was bombarded with calls about the invasion. The next
> morning (Tuesday) They called me on air and we played it up.
> I said i'd be in that night to "Transcribe" the tapes so
> the audience could re-live what had happened. I went to the
> station and left them the tapes I used. It was milked for
> about a week before they had to move on. Eventually Casey
> left & with the next PD came an eventual clamp down. After
> sticking it out for another couple of years, it became just
> a job. When that happens, when you go in and throw the
> headphones on and know that you're not happy because you
> can't be creative, it's time to go. And that is exactly
> what I did.
>
> It boils to down to two words: Artistic Freedom I
> wasn't given that freedom anymore. I know radio is a
> business & it always has been, but it is cut-throat now &
> outside of morning shows and on some instances afternoon
> drive, nobody else gets to have that. I'm in the process of
> going thru 2 large boxes of air chex from when I was at 96X
> in the late 70s thru my days of Y-100, to make a kind of
> "Best Of". There is alot of fun, stupid, "how did he get
> away with saying that" kind of stuff that i'd love to share,
> and if I ever get thru these tapes, i'd be happy to pass it
> on. Until then...if there was a station out there that
> allowed me my artistic freedom, i'd consider doing it again.
> If not, I had a truly great time and am happy with my
> decision.
>
> Regards,

Stu - I absolutely loved your story. I actually read it a few times. Thanks for sharing it with us. Now I'm trying to figure out if I actually faintly remember 'Alien Invasion Week' on the Bobby & Footy Show because I listened to them virtually every single morning back then. Didn't the local TV stations even pick-up on the story as light fare ? Maybe my selective memory is playing tricks on me ? I have an excellent radio memory on certain events and during certain time periods. I remember a lot from the Bobby & Footy days. I also remember probably way too much from a certain AM radio station up in the Washington D.C. area in 1983. It was 'All Comedy Radio' - AM 1150 - WJOK. I remember all of the deejays, a lot of their comedy bits, and most of their I.D. jingles. It was my life in 1983. And speaking of old aircheck tapes I have hours upon hours upon hours of recorded bits from the old WJOK days. They were recorded on a really cheap AM-FM radio via really cheap cassette tapes (the type that cost three for a dollar back then). The sound quality of these tapes have held up amazingly well over the past 23 years. I listen to them occasionally to relive that golden year of radio for me. They just don't make radio like that anymore.

THE MAJOR
 
> > I walked away...hung up the headphones. Was it a good
> > move? Well...everytime I show up at the Wing Ding or at
> one
> > of Footy's get togethers, I hear I left at a good time.
> > Personally, starting radio in 1975 was a great time. I
> had
> > a blast, and have worked with some of the best. Don't get
>
> > me wrong, there are alot of great people in Broadcasting,
> > but as an "On Air Personallity" you're not anymore. I'd
> say
> > since the later 80's early 90's. You're hired to be a
> > personallity and then told to stay quiet and let the music
>
> > speak for the station.
> >
> > In the earlier days, you were an entertainer. You had
> > an imagination and were allowed to use it. Radio was
> always
> > "Theater Of The Mind". I was lucky enough to have the
> type
> > of mind for broadcasting where I put it to good
> entertaining
> > use. The First 96X was the best. After we signed off and
> I
> > went to I-95, my former PD allowed me to do things, but
> > there was a line drawn. When I left I-95 to start up the
> > new 96X, I was Asst. PD, MD, 6-10P jock. I tell you what,
>
> > outside of the original 96X, I had total freedom to do as
> I
> > wanted. I pretty much did a morning show at night. At
> that
> > time, Teens were the market for advertising. I was either
>
> > #1 or a close #2. I had always said as a kid, if I had
> ever
> > become a DJ, remember what it was like as a listener &
> what
> > you wanted your favorite station & favorite DJ to be like.
>
> > And I really tried to stay true to that.
> >
> > When I left 96X when it was in transformation to become
> > Power96, I took a little time off, then headed to Y-100.
> > That was in 1988. After 3 PD's came and went, a gentleman
>
> > named Casey Keating became the 4th PD. Casey was old
> school
> > like I was & let me stretch the bounderies. One Sunday
> > night, we were going off the air at Midnight for Xmitter
> > work. I didn't want to just sign-off and say we'll be
> back
> > at 5:30 with Bobby & Footy & The Y-100 Morning Zoo.
> > So..before my shift started at 8PM, I went to the
> production
> > room and carted up some pink noise, oscillation tones &
> > slowed down my voice. About 45 minutes into my shift, I
> > started messing with my broadcast. Making it sound like
> > something was breaking in and interfearing. I just played
>
> > stupid to it and acted like it was some freak thing
> > happening. About 4 minutes till midnight, the Engineers
> at
> > the tower called up and reminded me that I had to be off
> at
> > midnight. So....I was in the midst of playing "Can You
> Fell
> > The Love Tonight" by Elton John & with about 2 minutes
> left
> > in the song, I closed the pot & fired up the pink noise &
> > oscillation tones. About 20 seconds into it, I hit my
> > slowed down voice and it said somthing to the effect "We
> > come in peace. We mean no harm. We are just trying to
> > contact our mother ship. We will leave after we connect"
> > With seconds left before I had to sign off, and nobody
> > caught this, I played the slow voice giving the station
> > I.D.. Then like that, we shut down the station. I picked
>
> > up my stuff and left for the night, thinking I just had a
> > good practial joke. The next day about 4 in the
> afternoon,
> > my biggest listener (my mom lol) called me at my "real
> job"
> > and said.."What did you do last night? All they've been
> > talking about is some Alien invasion that happend around
> > midnight". Well...I burst out laughing & said i'll
> explain
> > later and hung up with her, immeadiately calling Y-100 and
>
> > asking to talk to Casey. He picked up the phone, and I
> said
> > "I hear there has been a little disturbance all day". His
>
> > reply.."I knew it! If anyone was responsible for something
>
> > like that, I knew it had to be you. As your Boss and
> > Program Director, I can not condone what you did. The FCC
>
> > frowns against doing things like that on the radio....but
> > personally, I have to say, it was one of the best things
> > i've ever heard". I explained to him what & how I came
> > about doing it & told him i'd call Bobby & Footy when we
> > were done, so I could fill them in on why their morning
> show
> > was bombarded with calls about the invasion. The next
> > morning (Tuesday) They called me on air and we played it
> up.
> > I said i'd be in that night to "Transcribe" the tapes so
> > the audience could re-live what had happened. I went to
> the
> > station and left them the tapes I used. It was milked for
>
> > about a week before they had to move on. Eventually Casey
>
> > left & with the next PD came an eventual clamp down.
> After
> > sticking it out for another couple of years, it became
> just
> > a job. When that happens, when you go in and throw the
> > headphones on and know that you're not happy because you
> > can't be creative, it's time to go. And that is exactly
> > what I did.
> >
> > It boils to down to two words: Artistic Freedom I
> > wasn't given that freedom anymore. I know radio is a
> > business & it always has been, but it is cut-throat now &
> > outside of morning shows and on some instances afternoon
> > drive, nobody else gets to have that. I'm in the process
> of
> > going thru 2 large boxes of air chex from when I was at
> 96X
> > in the late 70s thru my days of Y-100, to make a kind of
> > "Best Of". There is alot of fun, stupid, "how did he get
> > away with saying that" kind of stuff that i'd love to
> share,
> > and if I ever get thru these tapes, i'd be happy to pass
> it
> > on. Until then...if there was a station out there that
> > allowed me my artistic freedom, i'd consider doing it
> again.
> > If not, I had a truly great time and am happy with my
> > decision.
> >
> > Regards,
>
> Stu - I absolutely loved your story. I actually read it a
> few times. Thanks for sharing it with us. Now I'm trying to
> figure out if I actually faintly remember 'Alien Invasion
> Week' on the Bobby & Footy Show because I listened to them
> virtually every single morning back then. Didn't the local
> TV stations even pick-up on the story as light fare ? Maybe
> my selective memory is playing tricks on me ? I have an
> excellent radio memory on certain events and during certain
> time periods. I remember a lot from the Bobby & Footy days.
> I also remember probably way too much from a certain AM
> radio station up in the Washington D.C. area in 1983. It was
> 'All Comedy Radio' - AM 1150 - WJOK. I remember all of the
> deejays, a lot of their comedy bits, and most of their I.D.
> jingles. It was my life in 1983. And speaking of old
> aircheck tapes I have hours upon hours upon hours of
> recorded bits from the old WJOK days. They were recorded on
> a really cheap AM-FM radio via really cheap cassette tapes
> (the type that cost three for a dollar back then). The sound
> quality of these tapes have held up amazingly well over the
> past 23 years. I listen to them occasionally to relive that
> golden year of radio for me. They just don't make radio like
> that anymore.
>
> THE MAJOR
>
I don't believe any of the local media picked up on it...this time, BUT...I did do something similar in 1985 when I was at the reincarnated 96X. If you remember back then, some guy who was working at a satellite facility that ran HBO, took over the facility, posting on the screen his distaste for HBOs pricing. Well, the next night I went on the air and did the pink noise & tones, slowing down my voice and claimed to be the guy that took over HBO. I said if you didn't listen to 96X, i'd take over every radio in peoples homes. The next day, I got a call from a reporter from the Sun-Sentinel asking if what happened was true. I just laughed and said you're as gullible as everyone else! I think that person was more embarrassed than not and politely said thank you and hung up. It was a smaller version of what I did in `93, but that is where the idea originated from.

I've pulled many pranks over the years... An all-expense trip to nowhere *96X*, Winning the Lottery and signing off the air *Y-100* again, it was xmitter work & I just can't say bye..it has to be a production, My "vets office" called that my dog was hit by a car - I ate some bad sushi and got sick..it was a great cover - *96X* , Last night on I-95 - which it wasn't, Claiming to fall asleep on the air - when we just got hit by lightning & knocked off-*I-95*, Live broadcast from the median outside the station - I watched out the window of the studio, seeing people drive up and down the street looking and not finding it-*Y-100* I'd be more than happy to share those if you want.

In some respects, i'm really suprised I never was fined by the FCC...but then again, i'm a firm believer that it's not what you do, it is in the manner of how you do it that makes the difference! Your closing statement is right on target. They just don't make radio like they used to!

Regards-<P ID="signature">______________
Stuart Elliott/TOP 40 DJ</P>
 
> I've pulled many pranks over the years... An all-expense
> trip to nowhere *96X*, Winning the Lottery and signing off
> the air *Y-100* again, it was xmitter work & I just can't
> say bye..it has to be a production, My "vets office" called
> that my dog was hit by a car - I ate some bad sushi and got
> sick..it was a great cover - *96X* , Last night on I-95 -
> which it wasn't, Claiming to fall asleep on the air - when
> we just got hit by lightning & knocked off-*I-95*, Live
> broadcast from the median outside the station - I watched
> out the window of the studio, seeing people drive up and
> down the street looking and not finding it-*Y-100* I'd be
> more than happy to share those if you want.

You know I actually had a long dream last night that lasted for at least a few hours. I actually dreamt that Rob Roberts came on at the start of the Y-100.7 Morning Show stating that he was thrilled to announce that Bobby Mitchell was returning to team-up with Footy again, and that the 'New Zoo' would begin ... NOW !

That obviously doesn't have a shot of reality because Bobby is quite happy at home in Dallas at 99.5 The Wolf (Texas Country) as the host of the 'Wake Up' show there. Oh well. I can dream anyway.

Let's see here. The (fake) live broadcast from the median strip story intrigues me. Tell me how it all went down.

THE MAJOR
 
> > I've pulled many pranks over the years... An all-expense
> > trip to nowhere *96X*, Winning the Lottery and signing off
>
> > the air *Y-100* again, it was xmitter work & I just can't
> > say bye..it has to be a production, My "vets office"
> called
> > that my dog was hit by a car - I ate some bad sushi and
> got
> > sick..it was a great cover - *96X* , Last night on I-95 -
>
> > which it wasn't, Claiming to fall asleep on the air - when
>
> > we just got hit by lightning & knocked off-*I-95*, Live
> > broadcast from the median outside the station - I watched
> > out the window of the studio, seeing people drive up and
> > down the street looking and not finding it-*Y-100* I'd be
> > more than happy to share those if you want.
>
> You know I actually had a long dream last night that lasted
> for at least a few hours. I actually dreamt that Rob Roberts
> came on at the start of the Y-100.7 Morning Show stating
> that he was thrilled to announce that Bobby Mitchell was
> returning to team-up with Footy again, and that the 'New
> Zoo' would begin ... NOW !
>
> That obviously doesn't have a shot of reality because Bobby
> is quite happy at home in Dallas at 99.5 The Wolf (Texas
> Country) as the host of the 'Wake Up' show there. Oh well. I
> can dream anyway.
>
> Let's see here. The (fake) live broadcast from the median
> strip story intrigues me. Tell me how it all went down.
>
> THE MAJOR
>


It was one of those weekend nites where I just felt like doing one of my pranks....pretty much to make people suffer at the expense of my boredom. And it was much easier to pull off than I thought. In the control room, we had 3 mics. The main mic for announcing, and on the other side of the console (where Footy & guests would sit) there were two. If you ran the length of the console, they were set up equally spaced. I kept the main mic in front of me. I took the two on the opposite side and turned them around to face me. One high & tilted toward me but not direct and the other low in the same way. I grabbed a production CD with outside sounds (not alot of traffic, just like if you were outside on the porch enjoying the evening), and looped it for about 3 minutes. The air shift was 2a-8a.

At the 2:50 break, I said that I was going to setup and go outside in the median and start broadcasting there, since it was a beautiful night & it was a good way to hang out on air with the people listening. Starting with the 3 o'clock Station I.D. I turned on all 3 mics at different volumes so it sounded hollow & hit the outdoor sound fx CD. I was startled that it actually sounded like I was outside. At that point, it was "Let the games begin". A couple of breaks later, I mentioned where the studio was, that if you were out, feel free to come by and join us..a nice crowd was starting to build.

I couldn't believe it worked....within a half hour, I started seeing cars drive down 29th Terrace were Y-100 was located. The cars were going up and down the street, and you could tell people were looking for the "crowd" but couldn't find anything. I'm sure it drove them crazy. Meanwhile, I found a small crowd on a cd and put that on to help feed the fact that there were people around me. I kept it up for about an hour and a half, then into a break saying I had to head back up to the studio, and thanked everyone who came by, that it was great to meet the listeners and I hoped they had as good a time as I did. Even after we "went back upstairs" you saw people still driving by looking. The funny thing was NONE of the people that actually came by called to say they didn't find me. I figured they knew they'd been had.


That...was just one of many....and the pranks just kept on coming!! I never really thought of it as being mean, just good old fashion radio.......


Regards-



<P ID="signature">______________
Stuart Elliott/TOP 40 DJ</P>
 
> It was one of those weekend nites where I just felt like
> doing one of my pranks....pretty much to make people suffer
> at the expense of my boredom. And it was much easier to pull
> off than I thought. In the control room, we had 3 mics.
> The main mic for announcing, and on the other side of the
> console (where Footy & guests would sit) there were two. If
> you ran the length of the console, they were set up equally
> spaced. I kept the main mic in front of me. I took the two
> on the opposite side and turned them around to face me. One
> high & tilted toward me but not direct and the other low in
> the same way. I grabbed a production CD with outside sounds
> (not alot of traffic, just like if you were outside on the
> porch enjoying the evening), and looped it for about 3
> minutes. The air shift was 2a-8a.
>
> At the 2:50 break, I said that I was going to setup and go
> outside in the median and start broadcasting there, since it
> was a beautiful night & it was a good way to hang out on air
> with the people listening. Starting with the 3 o'clock
> Station I.D. I turned on all 3 mics at different volumes so
> it sounded hollow & hit the outdoor sound fx CD. I was
> startled that it actually sounded like I was outside. At
> that point, it was "Let the games begin". A couple of
> breaks later, I mentioned where the studio was, that if you
> were out, feel free to come by and join us..a nice crowd was
> starting to build.
>
> I couldn't believe it worked....within a half hour, I
> started seeing cars drive down 29th Terrace were Y-100 was
> located. The cars were going up and down the street, and
> you could tell people were looking for the "crowd" but
> couldn't find anything. I'm sure it drove them crazy.
> Meanwhile, I found a small crowd on a cd and put that on to
> help feed the fact that there were people around me. I kept
> it up for about an hour and a half, then into a break saying
> I had to head back up to the studio, and thanked everyone
> who came by, that it was great to meet the listeners and I
> hoped they had as good a time as I did. Even after we "went
> back upstairs" you saw people still driving by looking. The
> funny thing was NONE of the people that actually came by
> called to say they didn't find me. I figured they knew
> they'd been had.
>
> That...was just one of many....and the pranks just kept on
> coming!! I never really thought of it as being mean, just
> good old fashion radio.......

HILARIOUS ! I LOVE IT !

OK my turn for a classic Y-100 story. It's not hilarious. It wasn't a prank. It's just one of those stories I so vividly remember from the Bobby & Footy years. I was stationed at Homestead AFB at the time. Incidentally I still work there today. Anyway a fighter jet had recently (a few days earlier) crashed just outside the southern (or southeastern) perimeter of the base. Mike Van Driver The 3RD was part of the Morning Zoo at the time, and he was doing one of his live remotes where you had to guess exactly where he was based on his vague clues that got clearer as he went on. I almost instantly figured it out, and coincidentally I had the day off from work. So I ventured a few miles around to the other side of the base (near the crash site) where I was the very first person to meet and greet Mike and pick-up my prize package (which I forget what it was). I waited awhile just to see if anyone else would show up, and eventually a few others found Mike as well. I think everyone else got smaller prizes.

THE MAJOR
 
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