RADIO’S INNOVATIVE: ALAN ALMOND’S ‘PILLOW TALK’

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Radio’s Most Innovative: WNIC’s “Pillow Talk” with Alan Almond

 

FRED JACOBS | FEBRUARY 13, 2015

Fred Jacobs
Fred Jacobs

Those of you who have been following our innovation series know that we’ve been bouncing around between today’s hot new innovations in radio broadcasting to the amazing inventions and experiments from the past that turned out to be highly successful.

Some of our innovations and the people behind them are familiar to you, but hopefully, there’s been a surprise or two along the way. I’m thinking that this week’s “Radio’s Most Innovative” honoree, WNIC’s Pillow Talk evening show starring Alan Almond, is one that many people don’t know about. And because it’s Valentine’s Day weekend, it is only appropriate to shine the innovation light on one of the most romantic, intimate radio shows of all time.

But Pillow Talk wasn’t just about love songs and candlelight. It is a great object lesson in risk-taking, boldness, trust, serendipity, teamwork, and what has always made radio a special medium: theater of the mind.

Because the origins of Pillow Talk date back to the late ‘70s, I gathered a group of the key WNIC cast members from that era to piece together the story.

MCRFB NOTE: For the rest of this Jacoblog article by Fred Jacobs (February 15, 2015), please GO HERE.

L-R: Ed Christian, Lorraine Golden, Mary Bennett, Jim Harper & Alan Almond (?)
L-R: Ed Christian, Lorraine Golden, Mary Bennett, Jim Harper & Alan Almond (?)
LINK TO JACOBSMEDIABLOG.COM FROM MOTOR CITY RADIO FLASHBACKS


A MCRFB ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: Special thanks goes out to Dick Kernen, of Specs Howard School of Media Arts,  for his personal recommendation, referral, and kind comments conveyed sharing this splendid WNIC-related article/link with Motor City Radio Flashbacks. February 19, 2015.


A special THANK YOU also goes out to Fred Jacobs for granting, as was requested by Motor City Radio Flashbacks permission to print in part, portions of his February 13 article above, “Radio’s Most Innovative: WNIC’s ‘Pillow Talk’ With Alan Almond.” 


The Jacobs media logo and all photos presented herein strictly sole property of Fred Jacobs and JACOBSMEDIABLOG.COM. All rights reserved.


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KING FEATURES: BEATLES CARTOONS ON ABC-TV 1965!

Beatles cartoon LTD.


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 M O T O R   C I T Y   R A D I O   F L A S H B A C K S

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The Beatles cartoons were televised on Saturday mornings in the US from September 25, 1965 to April 20, 1969 on the ABC Television Network.


A MCRFB ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: A special THANK YOU goes out to Kail Tescar for allowing Motor City Radio Flashbacks to use his remarkably splendid Beatles cartoon image(s) above and below. For more on Kail Tescar’s wonderfully created Beatles cartoon arts, you can visit his website here.


For previous Beatles’ cartoon features on MCRFB.COM go HERE and HERE.


Beatles Cartoon Frame

 Copyrighted material. Used by permission. All rights reserved.


 

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THIS WEEK 50 YEARS AGO: THE HOTTEST HIT IN THE USA!


NUMBER 1 IN AMERICA ’65 * Beatles  * WEEKS OF 3/7 – 3/20/1965

TEN WEEKS on the singles chart, Eight Days A Week by the Beatles peaked No. 1 (2 weeks) on the Billboard Hot 100, weeks of March 7, 1965 through March 20, 1965(source: Billboard).

MCRFB Link: For the previous No. 1 record in the U.S.A. 1965 GO HERE.


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WAY-BACK DETROIT RADIO PAGES: WXYZ . . . JULY 2, 1949

Motor City Radio Flashbacks logoFrom the MCRFB radio scrapbook pages: 1949

WXYZ Radio Sign Of Times

 

 

 

 

 

FLASHBACKDETROIT (June 25) —WXYZ goes formally into the business of selling space, as well as time July 1, when it unveils a new Translux sign, said to be the world’s largest measuring 90 by 7 feet, atop the Maccabees Building.

Space on the sign has been sold to 12 participating sponsors on one year contracts, in advance of opening — 

Hickory Oil Company, Philco Distributors, Michigan Consolidated Gas Company, DeSoto-Plymouth Dealers’ Association, Altes Brewing Company, Gordon Baking Company, Monroe Auto Equipment, Robert Hutton & Company, Pilgrim Laundry, Bronte Champagne & Wines, Felix Rhymes and Maccabees Building.

The sign will carry commercials, public service messages, and promotions for WXYZ, in addition to time, temperature and weather information and news flashes. END

(Information and news source: Billboard; July 2, 1949).

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WJBK 15 TOP 45 HITS IN DETROIT: ON THIS DAY IN 1958!


WJBK TOP 45 HITS SURVEY COMPILED BY LOCAL RETAIL SALES AND RADIO AIRPLAY

WJBK 1500 DETROIT FORMULA 45: NUMBER 05 * Four Preps * WEEK OF 3/10/58
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WJBK TOP 45 HITS SURVEY COMPILED BY LOCAL RETAIL SALES AND RADIO AIRPLAY

WJBK 1500 DETROIT FORMULA 45: NUMBER 21 * Mills Brothers * WEEK OF 3/10/58

WJBK. 57 YEARS AGO

MARCH 10, 1958

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A MCRFB VIEWING TIP: To fully appreciate this WJBK Formula 45 March 10, 1958 chart feature click on image 2x and open to second window. Click image anytime to return to NORMAL image size.

Click your server’s back button to return to MCRFB home page.


On your mobile device? Tap on chart image. Open to second window. “Stretch” chart across your device screen to magnify for largest print view.




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AMERICA’S HOT 100 HITS: BILLBOARD MARCH 10, 1962

M O T O R   C I T Y   R A D I O   F L A S H B A C K S

BILLBOARD HOT 100 AS COMPILED BY NATIONAL RETAIL SALES AND RADIO AIRPLAY
BILLBOARD SONG NUMBER 80 IN U.S.A. * Johnny Crawford * WEEK ENDING 3/10/62

BILLBOARD HOT 100 March-10-1962

BILLBOARD HOT 100 AS COMPILED BY NATIONAL RETAIL SALES AND RADIO AIRPLAY
BILLBOARD SONG NUMBER 94 IN U.S.A. * Robert Mitchum * WEEK ENDING 3/10/62

M O T O R   C I T Y   R A D I O   F L A S H B A C K S

A MCRFB VIEWING TIP: To fully appreciate this Billboard Hot 100 March 10, 1962 chart feature click on image 2x and open to second window. Click image anytime to return to NORMAL image size.

(Click your server’s back button to return to MCRFB home page).

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