THE SATURDAY NIGHT BEECH-NUT SHOW . . . WITH DICK CLARK!

THE DICK CLARK BEECH-NUT SHOW

— THE LITTLE THEATER NYC —

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**The Dick Clark Beech-Nut Show** debuts on ABC-TV, February 15, 1958

The Dick Clark Saturday Night Beech-Nut Show was Dick Clark’s second attempt at a prime time show. His first, a prime-time version of American Bandstand, ran only 13 weeks. The Beechnut Show was much more successful lasting almost 3 years.

The Dick Clark Saturday Night Beechnut Show was broadcast live, on ABC-TV, Saturday nights from the Little Theatre in New York City. Every weekend, Dick Clark commuted from Philadelphia to NYC to do the “Beechnut” show.

There was actually two shows done each Saturday. The first was a rehearsal show where the artists could sketch out their performances and Clark could line everything up. This would have a different audience then the second show which was the one that was televised.

Beechnut Gum was actually picked up as a sponsor for the third episode to the conclusion of the show’s run. The artists that appeared usually “lip-synched” to their records. Very few actually performed live.

This is the only show to be able to make the claim of having Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and the Big Bopper as guests (though on different episodes). All three were killed together in a plane crash on February 3, 1959.

Amazingly, Elvis Presley and Ricky Nelson, two of the biggest stars of the period, never appeared on the show. The first show aired on February 2, 1958 with guests Jerry Lee Lewis, Chuck Willis, Johnny Ray and the Royal Teens. The final show aired on September 10, 1960. MORE . . . .

**Beech Nut Chewing Gum was the sponsor** of this short-lived Dick Clark production three-years on ABC-TV from February, 1958 through September, 1960 *(Click image for larger view)*

FLAVOR-I-F-I-C!

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For our previous fourth installment four-video posting of ‘Saturday Night Beech-Nut Show with Dick Clark,’ published on MCRFB on November 4, 2015 GO HERE.

Above information provided by TV.com. For the complete 1958-1960 Dick Clark Beech Nut Show summary and artist-appearance listing for every show go over here to TVdb.com.

About the IFIC button seen worn by attendees in the Beech-Nut show audience? Well, it stands for ‘FLAVOR-I-F-I-C.’ As in Beech-Nut chewing gum! Special thanks to Edward Bowman for sharing that ‘trivia’ bit of information with Motor City Radio Flashbacks.

Motor City Radio Flashbacks will be showcasing these rare Dick Clark video presentations here on this website from time to time.

In this fifth installment, we present four video classics (below) from the Dick Clark Beech-Nut show as was first broadcast on national television during that memorable late-’50s rock and roll era, featured below.

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FEATURING

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THE CHAMPS (May 3, 1958) SAM COOKE (March 14, 1959) JACKIE WILSON (March 21, 1959) SANTO & JOHNNY (August 1, 1959)

**Beech-Nut Chewing Gum**: sole sponsor for Dick Clark’s Saturday Night Beech-Nut Show over ABC Television 1958-1960

DETROIT MOTOWN MONDAY: RECORD FLASHBACK! 1963

—MARY WELLS—

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Released October 26, “What’s Easy For Two Is So Hard For One” peaked at #8 (charted 21 total weeks R&B overall) on the Billboard R&B chart in 1963 into 1964. B-side: “You Lost The Sweetest Boy”

MOTOWN 1048 (Source: Billboard Top R&B Singles)

WABX 99: BRAND X FREE-FORM ‘AURAL ABSURDITY’ . . . WITH A SIGN-OFF MEMORY

WABX 99X DETROIT

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The station began broadcasting on May 4, 1960, as WABX, beginning as a classical music station before adopting the MOR format in 1964. For a short period beginning in August 1967, the station adopted an all-girl jock policy during the day, playing jazz-oriented pop music and humorous bits. The idea came from Mickey Shorr, who was program manager and creative director of Century Broadcasting Corp., the station’s then-owner.

During the Fall of 1967, WABX began airing a new music show called “Troubadour” from seven to eight in the evening, hosted by station manager John Small. The show featured blues, folk, and rock music. During this time, WABX was still airing an MOR format, with an emphasis on up-tempo music from artists like Mel Tormé, Frank Sinatra, Nancy Wilson, and Joe Williams.

The strong, positive response generated by “Troubadour” was enough to convince the station’s owners to adopt a full-time progressive rock format. On February 1, 1968, “play lists” of acceptable tunes went out: the DJs picked their own music, and Century Broadcasting Corporation bit its tongue. With a free form progressive rock format, WABX became a springboard for the new music that no other station in the market (least of all CKLW and the other Top 40 stations) would touch.

The format, once having been branded in the media as an “aural absurdity”, the ABX revolution was one of style as well as sound. The station made itself a community catalyst for fun: free concerts and movies, kite-flys, bike-ins, and conferences.

Also, the station played a role in giving many artists the recognition that they did not have at the time, including The Doors, Jimi Hendrix, Cream, Iron Butterfly, and The J. Geils Band. The success of WABX inspired other Detroit stations such as WKNR-FM and WXYZ-FM to adopt the progressive-rock approach. “Air Ace” Dave Dixon was a musician himself who co-wrote the Peter, Paul and Mary hit “I Dig Rock and Roll Music.”

During the 1970s, WABX evolved into a more mainstream album oriented rock station, albeit one that took a softer, more laid-back approach than its competitors.

The station was branded as “WABX 99” during this era with a logo similar to the one used by the current WABX in Evansville, Indiana, featuring yellow lettering on a black background. The station’s studio also moved from its original location in the David Stott Building in downtown Detroit to a new facility in suburban Oak Park during this period.

By 1982, WABX was third-ranked out of three AOR stations in Detroit (behind WRIF and WLLZ). Century Broadcasting sold the station to Liggett Broadcasting that year. Under new program director Paul Christy, WABX shifted from AOR to “Hot Rock,” a Top 40/rock hybrid (known on the air as “Detroit’s New Music“), playing a wide variety of new wave, pop, rock and urban product with a slick, CHR-style presentation.

However, the station’s market share continued to decline throughout 1983, and a little over a year after WABX debuted “Hot Rock,” Liggett decided to change the station’s format and calls.

On January 9, 1984, WABX’s long-term reign as a high-rolling rock station came to an end with the song “When the Music’s Over” by The Doors, after which the station became “Class FM“, WCLS, with a soft rock format. However, the adult contemporary field in Detroit was as crowded as the rock format had become, and “Class FM” was not successful. At this same time, the station was sold to Metropolis Broadcasting.

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Source: WABX; Wikipedia

**WABX 99 * BROADCAST DAY SIGN OFF**

NBC O&O RADIO STATIONS PREPARING TO MOVE AHEAD . . . JANUARY 18, 1964

NEW NBC RADIO VP MICHAEL JOSEPH SETS NEW DIRECTION FOR UNSUCCESSFUL FLAGSHIP STATIONS AND OPERATIONS

NEW YORK — Six of the nation’s top radio markets will be in for increased competition in the near future as the NBC-owned radio stations prepare to make a bid for a healthier and more sizable share of audience in their respective cities.

The most significant move made thus far by NBC to become more competitive in this area has been the hiring of former independent station consultant Michael Joseph (Billboard December 28) to guide and develop each station’s operations and programming through the newly created post of vice-president, NBC-owned radio stations. Seasoned observers have noted that Joseph’s title carries with it the significance that Messrs. Sarnoff, Kintner and Welpot (executive vice-president of the NBC o.&o.’s) are not only aware of the serious decline of their owned radio outlets, but the vital need to do something about it now.

Joseph has been doing much about radio stations for more than 13 years. He began his executive career as program director in 1950. Since then Mike has served in the various capacities of program director, national program director, and program consultant for 36 stations representing virtually every type of format on the books.

Working almost exclusively (90 per cent) with net affiliates, Joseph’s list of credits includes several “blue chip” broadcasting groups. Among them are: Capital Cities —where he worked with “good music” outlet WROW MIN Albany, and as vice-president at the highly successful WPRO, Providence; the ABC owned-and-operated radio stations, where he was instrumental in the modernizing and reforming of WABC, New York, he also acted as consultant to KQV, Pittsburgh, and WXYZ, Detroit — as well as all-talker KABC, Los Angeles.

Great Rise

Prior to the switch in 1960 inaugurated by Joseph, WABC was 11th in Gotham. It has since moved into first place (experiencing softening ratings during the past year with the emergence of WMCA into the top slot).

Transcontinent’s WGR Buffalo, also came under the station doctor’s soundscope in 1962 and early 1963. His most recent firecracker is WKNR (formerly WKMH) Detroit, which reportedly (see Billboard January 11) represents one of the most dynamic rating turn around in re-cent radio history.

Other chapters in the success story are WTAC, Flint, Mich; Capital Cities’ WKBW, Buffalo; Corinthian’s WISH (now WIFE), Indianapolis; WKBN, Youngs-town, and “good music” WEW, St. Louis.

“We want to and are going to progress to a point where the six NBC o.&o. radio stations are again pace-setters and leaders in an industry where the parent company enjoys an outstanding reputation,” said Joseph.

The new NBC exec intends to accomplish this seemingly monumental task by completely surveying, monitoring and personally working on the spot with management at WNBC, New York; WMAQ, Chicago; WRCV, Philadelphia; KNBR, San Francisco; WRG, Washington, and WJAS, Pittsburgh. It will be a “good” guessing game to foresee just what programming each will decide on.

Community Service

“Among the things that may be needed,” says Joseph, “is a possible streamlining of operations, techniques, and approach to programming, whatever it may be at these stations in order to ensure greater profitability and utmost service to the community.

“We intend to keep pace with the times in the rapidly changing radio scene.

“We will continue to capitalize fully on the award-winning NBC News and public affairs programming,” Joseph emphasized.

Indeed NBC does have a proud heritage and a royal back-ground that well should be capitalized on by its stations. Among their many other assets (besides a hefty bankroll) is the location of the stations in the nation’s first 10 markets; four are 50,000 watters and two, 5,000 watters. In combination the six stations blanket the major population areas of the United States.

Few, Messrs. Sarnoff, Kintner, Welpot and Joseph included, expect such an important and enormous transformation to take place overnight. However, few can deny that the move forward is long overdue. Behold, the giant awakens! END

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Information and news source: Billboard; January 18, 1964

FINAL 1970 RECALL: HIGHLIGHTING THE NATION’S NUMBER ONE HITS!

— NUMBER ONE 1970 —

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THIRTEEN WEEKS on the singles chart, “The Love You Save” by The Jackson 5 peaked at #1 on June 27 (2 weeks) on the Billboard Hot 100. Week ending June 27 through week ending July 11. (Source: Billboard)

For our previous Billboard Number One U.S.A. Hits 1970 go HERE

NUMBER 1 IN AMERICA * JUNE 27-JULY 11, 1970

A CKLW 20/20 NEWS LEGEND REMEMBERED. GRANT HUDSON

— GRANT HUDSON REMEMBERED —

DECEMBER 16, 2020

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The below post is courtesy of Amy Confer — January 6, 2020:

Tough to report we lost legendary 20/20 newsman Grant Hudson (Jim Reese) to cancer on Dec. 16. This tribute is by his former mate Amy Confer:

“ I wasn’t sure how else to get this out to people who might want to know, so . . . Jim passed away December 16 after a very lengthy battle with cancer.

James (Jim) Raymond Reese III was born 4/4/44 in Hagerstown, MD. He always liked the symmetry of that. He was the son of a divorced fundamentalist preacher and a home maker. He lived in various small towns in MD, VA and PA growing up. He loved the time he got to spend on South Mountain, PA and remembered fondly having the entire mountain to explore and the freedom to do so. It will come as no surprise to anyone who knew him that Jim hated school, not because he wasn’t an avid learner, he was, but because he hated authority and ‘having’ to do anything.

Jim did his first radio gig at 15 on one of his dad’s radio stations and, yes, according to him, he had that voice even then. He was very nearly continually on the air from then until his death at 76.

Grant Charles Hudson was ‘born’ in early 1971 in the newsroom at CKLW when news director Byron MacGregor yelled, ‘Try using Brent’ just as Jim went in to read the news having only decided on using “Hudson” as his last name. Grant Hudson it was when he misheard.

He was a rock n roll jock (WVAM), a country announcer (CKLW FM – yep), station manager (WNOE in New Orleans), a station owner (WJRB in Bradenton), but most of all, he was a newsman. His career as one of the Big 8 newsmen is legendary, but he was also on drive time at WWJ with Joe Donovan, WCAR, WFLA, WSRQ, WOWO and many other stations.

It was Grant, not Byron MacGregor, who first read The Americans (by Gordon Sinclair) on the air at CKLW. Unfortunately, Grant was an American, so when Westbound Records asked for it to be recorded, they asked Byron to do it. It went on to sell 3.5 million copies.

One of his favorite stories about that time was when he did strident, in your face news for CKLW as Grant Hudson, would get off his shift, drive to the CBC affiliate where he would be introduced, ‘And now, news reader, James Reese,’ all somber and straight forward. The station manager for the CBC affiliate would sometimes rail about those awful people at CKLW, ruining the news . . . especially that Grant Hudson.

Jim was a voracious reader and had a keen and passionate mind. He started, but never finished, a book on how ancient Sumerian and Egyptian texts seemed to reveal an even more ancient, alien even, civilization. His politics were, as he would say, ‘Just to the right of Atilla the Hun,’ being perhaps even further right than the average far right libertarian. He was happiest when he could sit in a chair with a dog or two in his lap, a cup of coffee by his side and read.

Both Jim and Grant could strike up a conversation with anyone at any time for any or no reason. After a 30 minute phone call one day, I asked who he was talking to and he said, ‘I don’t know, it was a wrong number, but they were calling from New Orleans.’

Jim is survived by daughter Tiffany, grandson James, brother David, sister Carol and several half siblings. He is preceded in death by his son James (Jimbo), ex-wife Karen and both parents.

And I believe he would have loved the symmetry of dying in 2020.”

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(Courtesy of CKLW Facebook Page. Posted on January 6, 2021)

**CKLW Joe Donovan** and Grant Hudson *(Photo courtesy Charlie O’Brien; The Big 8 CKLW Facebook Page)*

— IN MEMORY —

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Grant Hudson was one of the best newscasters CKLW 20/20 news ever produced. Having said, the talent was there and present on day one.

Motor City Radio Flashbacks extends our heartfelt condolences to the Reese family.

Godspeed, Grant Hudson. R.I.P.

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CKLW Big 8 Break courtesy the Charlie O’Brien You Tube Channel

FINAL 1970 RECALL: HIGHLIGHTING THE NATION’S NUMBER ONE HITS!

— NUMBER ONE 1970 —

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FOURTEEN WEEKS on the singles chart, “Bridge Over Troubled Waters” by Simon & Garfunkel peaked at #1 on February 28 (6 weeks) on the Billboard Hot 100. Week ending February 28 through April 4, 1970. (Source: Billboard)

For our previous Billboard Number One U.S.A. Hits 1970 go HERE

NUMBER 1 IN AMERICA * FEBRUARY 28-APRIL 4, 1970

FINAL 1970 RECALL: HIGHLIGHTING THE NATION’S NUMBER ONE HITS!

— NUMBER ONE 1970 —

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THIRTEEN WEEKS on the singles chart, “Thank You” by Sly & The Family Stone peaked at #1 on February 14 (2 weeks) on the Billboard Hot 100. Week ending February 14 through February 21, 1970. (Source: Billboard)

For our previous Billboard Number One U.S.A. Hits 1970 go HERE

NUMBER 1 IN AMERICA * FEBRUARY 14-FEBRUARY 21, 1970

A SOUL ENCOUNTERED: A TRIBUTE TO A WJR LEGEND. MIKE WHORF

**MIKE WHORF** 1975 *(Photo: Peter Whorf; Detroit Free Press)*

‘A TRIBUTE TO MIKE WHORF’

— A SOUL ENCOUNTERED —

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In closing out the year, we pay homage to WJR broadcasting legend Mike Whorf, who passed away in November, at the age of 88.

In wake of his passing, Kevin Collard, former producer at WJR for over 16 years, created and produced a special two hour tribute to the award-winning “Kaleidoscope” program host. We found Kevin’s tribute he featured on his ‘Soul Encountered‘ podcast page (see our Blogroll link) just four days after Mike’s passing, on November 14.

Kevin Collard also worked with over 30 hosts at WJR (not to mention Mike Whorf) including: Paul W Smith, Ken Calvert, David Newman and wrapping up his career there working with Frank Beckmann in 2009. Kevin also stated he did production work for Larry Patton, John McCullough, Kevin Joyce, Mitch Albom and other luminaries affiliated with Detroit radio as well.

Earlier this month, Kevin shared his ‘A Tribute to Mike Whorf’ podcast with Motor City Radio Flashbacks. A professed “fan and follower of the site”, we are truly honored to share this beautifully produced, Mike Whorf rememberance, here, on our web page today.

Thank you, Kevin Collard

For more on the passing of this WJR broadcasting legend, go HERE

Mike Whorf was on WJR from 1964 to 2003.

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April 21, 1932 – November 10, 2020

Mike Whorf, longtime radio host of the Peabody Award-winning WJR program Kaleidoscope, died in Detroit on Tuesday, November 10th. He was 88. Born in Boston, Massachusetts, Whorf spent his childhood and teen years in Provincetown, Massachusetts.

Whorf attended Provincetown High School and upon graduation in 1950, enlisted in the United States Air Force where he trained as a radio announcer on the Armed Forces Network.

*(Photo credit: Lynch & Sons Funeral Directors)*

After military service, Whorf worked on the radio in Massachusetts and in Coatesville, Pennsylvania, where he met and married his wife of 49 years, Barbara Ann Brown. From the 1960s through the 90s, Whorf was part of a WJR Detroit line-up of radio personalities known throughout the Great Lakes region. Whorf’s Kaleidoscope topics ranged from politics to religion, from the arts to sports. In 1968, he was recognized with one of the world’s top media honors: the George Foster Peabody Award for his documentary on the life and work of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Mike Whorf also served during the mid-1980s as program director of classical station WQRS-FM in Detroit. While with WQRS, Whorf created the program “Quest for Excellence,” a juried music competition show for aspiring young talents broadcast live before a studio audience.

In 2008 he was inducted into the Michigan Broadcasting Hall of Fame by the Michigan Association of Broadcasters.

Aside from broadcasting, Whorf’s greatest joy was his life as a family man. He and his beloved wife Barbara and their son and daughters enjoyed traveling to the Eastern US for visits with many relatives. In their golden years, Mike and Barb were blessed to alternate time between overseas trips and watching their grandchildren grow.

Michael’s wife Barbara preceded him in death in 2006. He is survived by son Peter (Jennifer), daughters Sarah, Jennifer (Quinn), Suzannah (Ian) and grandchildren Daniel, Annemarie, Michael, Noelle, Jack, Sean, Nate, Noah and Olivia.

Private services have been held.

Memorials appreciated to St. Joseph Mercy Hospital, Pain & Palliative Care Center, 44405 Woodward Ave., Pontiac, MI 48341.

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Obituary (view online) courtesy of:

Lynch & Sons Funeral Directors | Clawson, MI.

A SOUL ENCOUNTERED: A TRIBUTE TO MIKE WHORF

Category: Flashbacks

THE SATURDAY NIGHT BEECH-NUT SHOW . . . WITH DICK CLARK!

THE DICK CLARK BEECH-NUT SHOW

FLAVOR-I-F-I-C!

FEATURING

DETROIT MOTOWN MONDAY: RECORD FLASHBACK! 1963

—MARY WELLS—

WABX 99: BRAND X FREE-FORM ‘AURAL ABSURDITY’ . . . WITH A SIGN-OFF MEMORY

WABX 99X DETROIT

**WABX 99 * BROADCAST DAY SIGN OFF**

NBC O&O RADIO STATIONS PREPARING TO MOVE AHEAD . . . JANUARY 18, 1964

FINAL 1970 RECALL: HIGHLIGHTING THE NATION’S NUMBER ONE HITS!

— NUMBER ONE 1970 —

A CKLW 20/20 NEWS LEGEND REMEMBERED. GRANT HUDSON

— GRANT HUDSON REMEMBERED —

— IN MEMORY —

FINAL 1970 RECALL: HIGHLIGHTING THE NATION’S NUMBER ONE HITS!

— NUMBER ONE 1970 —

FINAL 1970 RECALL: HIGHLIGHTING THE NATION’S NUMBER ONE HITS!

— NUMBER ONE 1970 —

A SOUL ENCOUNTERED: A TRIBUTE TO A WJR LEGEND. MIKE WHORF

‘A TRIBUTE TO MIKE WHORF’

Obituary for Michael Whorf