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Robert Hummel on Imus April 17, 2007 Last Week, the Radio news was filled with comments on a racial slur made by Mr. Don Imus. In fact, it must have really been a slow news week, as every station I listened to or watched made sure the slur was repeated at least twice in each newscast.
Frankly, I never
listened to Don Imus, and if he would still have a job I
still would not be listening to him. It's not my kind of
radio.
Like many of us
I grew up in a world that would get a person fired if they
said so much as "Hell" on the air. Responsibility was the
first and foremost.
It's a
sign of the times? No, I don't think so. I've heard worse
racial slurs in some music from 25 years ago, and I've scene
and heard worse slurs on cable TV channels, and many
different movies. Not that I would stay tuned to these
stations, I'm just stating a fact. I've heard some
terrible remarks made about many different people.
Over blown
response? With such an overwhelming negative response, after
the third day I really felt that this was getting out of
hand. I have to be honest, after hearing it I really didn't
understand what he was saying if it wasn't for a 30 year old
Stevie Wonder song.
Tune in the
Amateur Radio bands some evening, now here's something to
really be ashamed of. You will be able to hear
language that would make a sailor blush. You'll be able to
hear almost any kind of racial slur imaginable.
Are these people making these transmissions loosing their
licenses? Are the newspapers across the nation obsessed
with writing about this kind of activity? No. They're not.
In fact, the problem is getting way out of hand.
I once was
able to say I was "Proud" to be an Amateur Radio
Operator. A title that was earned. Today, they're
known as "those ham guys", If anyone really knows what an
Amateur Radio Operator is. Chances are many do not.
In the
'60's, AM radio's second wave and a boon for Rock and Roll,
an Amateur License and a First Class phone would just about
get you a job before your employer knew your name. You had
to be responsible to EARN these licenses.
Today, Most
station owners don't even know what these "tickets" are, or
their significance. If something breaks down, there usually
isn't anyone on staff to repair it. It's contracted out.
There was a time you would not be on the air without a
"First Phone" operator on duty.
Now all of these
statements I've made are not to say I'm for or against what
Mr. Don Imus broadcast all over the nation, and repeated by
99.9% of the stations during the newscasts. I feel sorry
for the Rutgers team, for they will always be associated
with Mr. Imus's description that day. Listening to his
apology, I'm not sure Mr. Imus made the statement with any
intent to be mean. His description
seemed to me a
very poor choice of words. We have a long way to go to
"clean up the mess", on all the radio & TV services!
Mr. Imus was
given a 14 day suspension as a result of his ill fated
description, but that wasn't enough for America. Almost
every columnist in the Nation demanded nothing less than his
job. I can't say I didn't agree at first.
However,
after hearing both sides, I'm not sure Mr. Imus really made
the statement with any intent. I believe he was following
the protocol CBS radio laid before him. I've heard some of
the programming from CBS "Talk" radio and I must say there's
too much of an "underlying theme" to be a coincidence.
This week begins
with just how valuable Mr. Don Imus was to CBS broadcasting.
All this he lost almost makes you feel sorry for the man
who made a terrible mistake. But my point is this.
AMERICA.... Do the words "LET IT GO?" Mean anything?? Do the
words "Forgive and Forget" Mean anything??
We have
some serious issues to deal with. We need some serious
people to deal with them. They're not going to go away with
another talk show host. Radio as a whole must change it's
entire attitude.
We have many
other "Talk Show" hosts, if you will, saying some pretty
ugly things about quite a few minorities AND majorities. If
CBS Radio and now the Columnists of America feel that we
lost something, perhaps they should have thought of what
they were writing about in the first place!
I once was a
teacher. I taught radio theory, and I would teach
"teamwork". When asked to teach someone how to handle a
situation, I would tell this story.
One day, I
was working on a County paving crew. I was just out of high
school, and had a nice job with the county. Yes, before a
job with radio came other jobs. We all had hem. My job was
to "check the loads" of black top. They were not to arrive
under a certain temperature. They were not to be
accepted with the wrong gravel to oil ratio.
As I was
awaiting the next load, I was having a nice conversation
with another man next to the paving machine. The paving
machine gets very hot as it lay's "hot mix".
As I stepped
back one step, this man whose back was turned to the paving
machine grabbed me and pulled me into his body as hard as he
could. So far, he burned his back on the paving machine. I
was totally caught by surprise and I was scared, "Had I said
something to offend this friend?"... Just then, I felt the
tire of a giant black top hauler brush past my back.
If the man had
not put himself in harm and pulled me in, I would have
been "Flat as a Pancake", that very afternoon.
I've
just painted a true picture.
I would then
ask, would this story be any different if the man who saved
my life was a Mexican? A Canadian?, an American? Would his
race have made any difference? If he were Asian, African,
North American?
The resounding
answer would always be no, and some would then some would
show remorse. You never know what dangers are ahead, and who
may save you. If I were a prejudiced man, would I have had
time to ask for someone else to save my life?
This is a
true story. No, I will not tell you the nationality or the
race of the person that saved my life. I wish I could find
him today to tell him thank you once again!
The one
thing radio had going for it was it was at one
time broadcast in "black and white". Radio, was
color-blind You could not see that announcer, you
could not see his staff, except in your own mind.
With Radio
Drama, everyone had a different idea of the people and the
set. When a young man first exposed to Television was
asked which he liked better, Radio or TV, the answer was
Radio. This baffled the man who had asked the question, and
he then asked why that would be. The young man replied "The
pictures are so much better"!
Radio was a
tremendous media. Baseball games were lots of fun, as you
imagined the game unfolding. I'm sad to say that I never
thought I would ever see the day that radio
began broadcasting in color. We used to "kid" about it with
some of our radio commercials. I'm afraid we're not kidding
anymore. I'm afraid that day has come.
As I stated
earlier "America, Do the words Let It Go? Mean anything
anymore?" As Jesus taught "Let you who have not sinned cast
the first stone". I've seen quite a few stones tossed this
last week. Let's drop them this week.
It's time for
the major network players to step down and let some real
talent in the doors. It's time to stop all the talk and
begin with some action. It's time for radio to inform and
entertain once again, and NOT at the expense of others.
Insulting people
does NOT a dollar make.
Rob Hummel
RADIO
HISTORIAN
e-mail wls890@msn.com October 12, 2006 While I'm not a
great "fan" of Delilah's show,
Robert E.
"Rob" Hummel e-mail
wls890@msn.com
September 18, 2006 The Ron Riley Show, a devoted Riley Rebel Raider's Report: When I first heard the news that Ron Riley would be turning
XM channel six
into the "BIG 89", WLS Personality Radio,
I was
ecstatic. With the help of a couple of friends, I was
able to tune in for
the show last Friday night.
I knew Ron had
been doing television for quite a few years,
and he hadn't really
done any radio for a long while.
The moment came, And there he was.... his voice
quavered for
just a few moments, then like magic...
Zap! Ron Riley was
back on the air, sounding as if he hadn't
missed
a single day since WLS! If I'm not mistaken, I believe
I
even heard Bruce Lovely in the background yelling "go Weber"!
The evening was a
great reminder of what radio once was,
and could be once
again. The show was loaded with lots of
music and old air
checks from many of the early WLS personalities!
These were the
fellows that put WLS on the map as a Rock and Roll
radio station!
The stories, the promos, even some of the old commercials
and many of the old
jingles were heard all over again!
There were many
times during the show I was taken back
to the carefree
day's of youth, listening to Ron Riley,
Art Roberts, and the
whole crew at WLS! They were absolutely
the right people
with the right music, jingles, and personality, at
the right radio
station! Something that we are not likely to ever
hear again in our
lifetimes. We were certainly lucky to be listener's
in that
same moment of time!
Ron did a fantastic
job of representing WLS, and a tremendous
job of recreating
all the fun we would eagerly wait for, night after night!
Good transistor
portables were on the market, so back then WLS
was in everyone's
hands! Not just those teens who were
lucky enough to have
a drivers license and a car!
WLS had a tremendous
following during those early years.
To this day, that
WLS remains as a "household" word if you will.
You just didn't
change the dial, truly afraid of
missing something
really special or funny!
Somewhere out there
in the radio grave yard I'm sure there
are some tuning
mechanisms frozen to WLS radio!
It was a fabulous
evening of fun and reminiscing, and like
all good things, it
came to an end all too soon.
Some Scientists say
that the radio signals that were emanated from
Earth continue out
into the Galaxy forever.... I'd like to think that
may be true, and
someone else, whoever or where ever they may be, will have
the thrill of
hearing all that great radio for the very first time!
Imagine that for a
moment if you will!
Thanks Ron, For all
those memories from so long ago,
and Thanks, for
putting it together and getting it all back on again!
When anyone asks me
what my favorite radio station was, I can
proudly say it was "
Personality Radio W L S " !
Robert E.
"Rob" Hummel e-mail
wls890@msn.com
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WHB, WLS KIOA and KOMA July 5, 2006 I never thought I would ever see the day, when I returned to Missouri some years back
and found the switch in call
signs...
I never thought WHB 710 would
ever quit playing the great music of the
Early, Mid and late '60's, plus
the '70's. That AM station has tremendous
coverage during the Daytime....
When KIOA was still ALIVE, on 940, Would tune
into them until the Iowa Missouri
line on Hwy 65. THEN, it was WHB for the remainder of the
trip.
WHEN KIOA went under, THEN it was
710 just OUT OF ROCKFORD, all the way to central
Missouri!
WLS WAS ALREADY A WRITE OFF...
LONG GONE TALKER....NO MUSIC... NO INTEREST....
WHEN WHB was on 710, playing
music, THIS WAS THE RULE, NOT THE EXCEPTION
NO MATTER WHERE YOU WERE
IN MISSOURI, DAYTIME ANYWAY, you could
COUNT ON anyplace you
stopped, visited, or went in your car, WHB 710 would
be tuned in..... IF you were
lucky enough to be in that giant Night time pattern,
North or South, you had it made.
OTHERWISE, WHB dropped like a rock just past
the stadium a ways.... Now there
would be a place for FM to pick up the night time
and simulcast it.... for the best
it could, OR another AM that does have the EAST WEST
night time coverage....
Not so today. KCMO 94.9 is
tuned in where it can be heard. OTHERWISE,
It's no radio at all,
or it’s the local country
station.....
The legendary KOMA!!
Same thing! When we were in
the "dark" night time
no signal area of WHB, we still could hear KOMA!!
I will never forget the "Summer or '63"....
Daytime it was WHB, Night time it was WLS!!
Those were great years!
Dick Bionde was on night time during that vacation!
Soon to be replaced by my later close friend Art
Roberts.
That, was a trip! I'm glad I took pictures.... AT
least I have
a "Photograph"... to bad I don't have some audio photo
graphs!
WWL New Orleans could be heard. I was a fan of
the
NO TALK, ANYWHERE.
I wonder when Radio is going to
get the message?
Robert E.
"Rob" Hummel e-mail
wls890@msn.com
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"It's quite
amazing how five + generations have been |
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While listening to 20 to 60 year
old programs, I find myself "caught up" with the stories,
the jokes, the music,
the frequently innocent content of the various programs.
I have been astounded by some
simply amazing ingenuity, in the jokes and skits that were
written
so many years ago.
Some amazingly simple things that
can happen to us almost daily, have been written into skits
that are truly captivating and
hilarious!
It takes true ingenuity and
talent to produce a really entertaining and funny program,
without dipping into the vulgar
sex and profanity bucket.
I would like to know why would
an otherwise intelligent person or persons, put their entire
career
on the line, or wish to develop
a risky or poor reputation with the use of such
profanity on the air?
Are there some kind of rewards
with this type of broadcasting that I'm not aware of?
Do these people feel our society
has lowered itself to such a level that we cannot
communicate an idea or be
entertained without the use of profanity?
Do stations that are allowing
this to happen feel that America has become so ignorant
that filthy profane humor is the
only type we can grasp and find funny?
How does it sound to you, while
overhearing someone else's conversation in public
when every other word they use
is profane? Sounds terrible to me.
I wouldn't wish to be regarded as
a person who speaks like this! We've all heard them!
Is it no longer possible to
produce a truly hilarious program without it being profane?
The newspaper media doesn't seem
to have this problem, and I have read quite a few TRULY
amusing stories from newsprint.
Why does radio seem to have this
problem?
Why are station managers allowing
this to occur?
Do these people feel as if it is
a "free speech" issue? Do they feel the people who
don't want to hear it can turn it
off, or change channels? Let's turn the tables for a moment.
When a broadcaster hires an
individual, that individual agrees to the rules set forth by
the
company, and in going on the air
in itself agrees to the rules set forth by the FCC. In effect,
the "Free Speech" issue, does not
apply. When you signed your contract with this station, or
company, you gave up your right
to "Free Speech" over the airwaves. You knew the rules before
you even stepped up to the microphone.
So why must you continuously
challenge the rules that were set before you before you were
hired.
Did the station or company hire
you for your vulgarity?
Did they hire you to put their
license in jeopardy, and to cause them to incur huge fines for
not
following the guidelines?
Are the ratings of these
individuals really that great to take a chance of their use of
profane material?
Are that many people tuned in to
these individuals in make it worthwhile?
Are there that many advertisers
willing to taint their businesses by purchasing time during the
person or person's producing
these questionable shows? Personally, I don't think so.
Finally, did the station or
company that hired these persons know what they were getting?
And if they
knew up front that this person or
these person's were "risky", why did they hire them in the first
place?
I submit there are hundreds and
hundreds of genuine "Radio People" who would love the chance to
do
Morning or Afternoon drive, and
do a tremendous job without the risk, but are not at your door
step
due to your pay scale, for newer
people.
Perhaps it would be a great
idea to hire some of these individuals, instead of a name that
might just cost you in fines as
much as your yearly payroll FOR THE ENTIRE STATION!!"
To sum up, Burridge D. Butler, GM
of then 870 WLS, put it best with his "WLS CREED".
To understand Burridge Butler,
you would have to know that you could be fired for playing the
"Beer Barrel Polka"... He insisted it be sung as "The "MILK"
Barrel Polka", He had what may have seemed harsh rules for the
period, but he had his ideals. If you didn't abide by his
ideals you would find yourself looking hopelessly for another
job. You would abide with his rules whether you agreed with
his degree of ideals or not.
The WLS Creed, as I understand,
was posted on the entrance to the WLS studios.
I try to remember these words any
time I am behind ANY microphone.
The WLS Creed
"To me radio is
far more than a mere medium of entertainment. It is a God-given
instrument which makes possible vital economic, educational and
inspirational service to the home-loving men, women, and
children of America. As long as it is our privilege to direct
the destinies of WLS, we will hold sacred this trust that has
been placed in our hands. No medium developed by mankind is
doing more to broaden the lives of rich and poor alike than
radio."
"When you step
up to the microphone never forget this responsibility and that
you are walking as a guest into all those homes beyond the
microphone."
Burridge D.
Butler
November
12, 1938
It is my sincere hope that my small commentary makes a
difference.
Sincerely,
Robert
E. "Rob" Hummel
e-mail
wls890@msn.com
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