Don Keyes ... read or listen at www.RadioDailyNews.com ... some help from David Eduardo on XETRA ... please

[Phantom]

Don Keyes ... read or listen at www.RadioDailyNews.com ... some help from David Eduardo on XETRA ... please

Last night, Hal Mayfield, the long-time program director of KXEZ, told me a little about the incredible life of Don Keyes, Gordon McLendon's long-time national programmer.

If you would like to learn more about Mr. Keyes' experiences in broadcasting, simply go to:

www.radiodailynews.com/

On the right side of the page are special contributors, click on Don Keyes.

Months ago, I was fascinated to read the chapters of the McLendon era from the success of KLIF to McLendon's failed run for the U.S. Senate against Ralph Yarbourgh, one of the greats in Texas politics.

Now CDs are available of the chapters that Mr. Keyes originally wrote.

For example, did you know that Gordon McLendon ran for U.S. Senate and governor of Texas?

Did you know that he opposed the Vietnam War although a political conservative?

Well, McLendon may have been the greatest innovator in broadcasting history.

However, when the old Scotchman challenged Ralph Yarborough ... the best man won.

Read on

Ralph Yarborough was a Texas politician who served in the United States Senate (1957-1971) and was a leader of the progressive or liberal wing of the Democratic Party in Texas in his many races for statewide office. As a U.S. Senator, he was a staunch supporter and author of "Great Society" legislation that encompassed Medicare and Medicaid, the War on Poverty, federal support for higher education and veterans. He co-wrote the Endangered Species Act and was the only southern senator to vote for all civil rights bills from 1957 to 1970 (including the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act). Yarborough was known as "Smilin' Ralph" Yarborough and used the slogan "Let's put the jam on the lower shelf so the little people can reach it" in his campaigns.

Read about that and more ... KLIF, KABL ... the incredible story by the Bay, KADS, the all-ads station, XTRA/XETRA (Extra, extra, read all about it! as the newsboys used to scream) ... one of the first all-news stations in Tijuana, Mexico (although David Eduardo once indicated it was not THE first), KTSA, KAKI ... and so many others.

Great reading and listening ...

Until next time

Live life fully now ...

Tony

Tony Lyndell Williams
[email protected]

 

[DavidEduardo]

Re: XETRA clarification

>
> Read about that and more ... KLIF, KABL ... the incredible
> story by the Bay, KADS, the all-ads station, XTRA, one of
> the first all-news stations in Tijuana, Mexico (although
> David Eduardo once indicated it was not THE first),

XETRA 690 was the first all news station serving an American audinece.

About 12 years before, all news broadcasting started in Cuba, with Reloj Nacional (now "Radio Reloj") going on the air as an extension of national rado leader CMQ. Reloj Nacional (National Clock) had a tick tick tick as a background, and a couple of tone beeps at each minute (now they are Morse for RR) with a time check following, The rest of the time, two announcers read alternating sentences or paragraphos of news stories non/stop. It has been this basic format for 58 or 58 years. It's thought that McLendon got the idea either from Cuba or the clone in Puerto Rico, WKAQ, Radio Reloj, which had the same format until the late 60's.

 

[Phantom]

Reloj Nacional ... what happened when Batista fled? Thoughts on the movie "Havana"

> >
> > Read about that and more ... KLIF, KABL ... the incredible
>
> > story by the Bay, KADS, the all-ads station, XTRA, one of
> > the first all-news stations in Tijuana, Mexico (although
> > David Eduardo once indicated it was not THE first),
>
> XETRA 690 was the first all news station serving an American
> audinece.
>
> About 12 years before, all news broadcasting started in
> Cuba, with Reloj Nacional (now "Radio Reloj") going on the
> air as an extension of national rado leader CMQ. Reloj
> Nacional (National Clock) had a tick tick tick as a
> background, and a couple of tone beeps at each minute (now
> they are Morse for RR) with a time check following, The rest
> of the time, two announcers read alternating sentences or
> paragraphos of news stories non/stop. It has been this basic
> format for 58 or 58 years. It's thought that McLendon got
> the idea either from Cuba or the clone in Puerto Rico, WKAQ,
> Radio Reloj, which had the same format until the late 60's.


David,

Thanks for the clarification.

I remember your posts from months ago but had forgotten the details.

Another question: I am guessing that the all-news station in Cuba would have started about 1953 ... about 12 years before XETRA.

Is that correct?

If so, then obviously, that station predated Castro's rise to power.

So what happened to the all-news format when Castro took over? Did it end immediately?

Oops, one more question ... did you ever see the movie "Havana" with Robert Redford about one man living the last days of the Batista era?

Interesting ... but I am uncertain how accurate it was.

Just curious.

Thanks for all your help.

Tony<P ID="signature">______________
Tony Lyndell Williams</P>

 

[DavidEduardo]

Re: Reloj Nacional ... what happened when Batista fled? Thoughts on the movie "Havana"

>
> Another question: I am guessing that the all-news station
> in Cuba would have started about 1953 ... about 12 years
> before XETRA.

XETRA started in 1960, I think. Reloj Nacional started in 1947 or 1948.

> If so, then obviously, that station predated Castro's rise
> to power.
>
> So what happened to the all-news format when Castro took
> over? Did it end immediately?

No, it became, like all radio stations, official organs of the socialist government. It continues today, with about 10 transmitters across Cuba.
>
> Oops, one more question ... did you ever see the movie
> "Havana" with Robert Redford about one man living the last
> days of the Batista era?

Long time ago... can not rember it. I was only in Cuba once, in a hijacked airplane, so my memories are not fond.

I know many who had relatives killed by Castro in is unwritten purge of dissidents, including one person whose father was shot in front of her in her home. There is not much that makes me think castro was an improvement over Batista.

 

[Phantom]

The future of Cuba ... and Cuban radio

> >
> > Another question: I am guessing that the all-news station
>
> > in Cuba would have started about 1953 ... about 12 years
> > before XETRA.
>
> XETRA started in 1960, I think. Reloj Nacional started in
> 1947 or 1948.
>
> > If so, then obviously, that station predated Castro's rise
>
> > to power.
> >
> > So what happened to the all-news format when Castro took
> > over? Did it end immediately?
>
> No, it became, like all radio stations, official organs of
> the socialist government. It continues today, with about 10
> transmitters across Cuba.
> >
> > Oops, one more question ... did you ever see the movie
> > "Havana" with Robert Redford about one man living the last
>
> > days of the Batista era?
>
> Long time ago... can not rember it. I was only in Cuba once,
> in a hijacked airplane, so my memories are not fond.
>
> I know many who had relatives killed by Castro in is
> unwritten purge of dissidents, including one person whose
> father was shot in front of her in her home. There is not
> much that makes me think castro was an improvement over
> Batista.


Nor do I.

I have wondered how Cuba will change, if at all, when Castro dies.

And how radio in Cuba will change?

Of course, it all depends on Castro's successor ... and most importantly, the people of Cuba.

Tony <P ID="signature">______________
Tony Lyndell Williams</P>