yes.... i hosted "swap shop" during my first full-time radio gig (at a small-market station in nova scotia). someone called in to announce they found a pair of false teeth." she gave the location and phone number and i followed up with: "you'll know the right person is calling, in my best gummy impression -> if they sound like this."

Last edited by the original hank (March 15, 2016 12:13 am)

All of the foregoing are yours weekdays from 560 CFOS ("Can't Find Owen Sound"):      Death & funeral announcements at 11:55 AM, is the daily lunch appetizer and that's followed by hockey & curling standings from Chatsworth and Wiarton, then the Lost Oldies (dusty 45s purchased at an estate sale tipped off by one of the funeral announcements) and then at 1:30; and this is the big one, well worth waiting for particularly if you're looking for used tractor tires or a bar fridge . . . DIAL-A-DEAL!

Thank God I never had to do that during my brief time on air, but I well recall going on vacation to the States and hearing small town stations air similar shows under the not-so-clever name "Tradio," an apparent amalgam of "trade" and "radio." I especially remember one incident on a tiny station, WTGR in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina in the early 70s. The host took a call from someone who was obviously very young and you could almost hear disaster in the making. 

But he took him anyway, and apparently without the proverbial 7-second delay. The kid proceeded to reel off about five different items he supposedly had for sale, before concluding with, "And I'd like to sell my goddam mother!" He was immediately cut off and the host made reference to kids being out of school without anything better to do. But the damage was done.

This kind of radio, while it may ostensibly serve a local community, is purgatory for the poor schmuck who has to front it and pretend it's interesting. Only once did that actually happen and it was the late, great John Michael at CKTB a long time ago. An old guy with a thick accent called up and requested that anyone with some "used ply-use" should call in. Michael spent the next 15-30 minutes trying to figure out what he was saying and despite repeated attempts, the caller's accent was so thick and he was mispronouncing it so badly, it still wasn't clear.

But it was hilarious, as caller after caller rang up to try to explain what they thought he wanted. In the end, it turned out to be some "used pliers" but by then, it had become a cause celebre on the station. For years, Michael would refer to that incident as one of his favourite moments and would replay it occasionally on his anniversary shows.

Which just proves with the right person in that chair, even the most boring radio can be turned into some magic moments. 

Now where did I put those used ply-use?

Last edited by RadioActive (March 15, 2016 2:05 pm)

RadioActive wrote:

  
    
  with the right person in that chair, even the most boring radio can be turned into some magic moments. 

  

Amen to that !!!


 

The first time I EVER played Led Zeppelin's "Stairway to Heaven" on CFRA Ottawa in 1976 it was interrupted for a news bulletin from CFRA Radio News: "The results of the Briar in curling this evening..."
(The GM Terry Kielty was really INTO curling)