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The legendary voice of late-night Detroit radio was stilled in 2015. Alan passed away, June 16. He was 67. In remembrance of his passing, on this website, please go HERE.
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‘A SOLDIER’S SILENT NIGHT’ as read by FATHER TED BERNDT
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A NEW FEATURE ON MOTOR CITY RADIO FLASHBACKS!
DETROIT FREE PRESS: WNIC ‘WNIC Wins Second Top Radio Ranking’
Above WNIC article is courtesy freep.com newspapers archive. Copyright 2016. Newspapers.com
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THE ENIGMATIC, MYSTERIOUS AND PRIVATE PERSONA THAT WAS ONE ALAN ALMOND.
JIM HARPER, WHAT DID HE REALLY LOOK LIKE?
Former WNIC morning personality Jim Harper responded to this very question posed to him on his personal Facebook page (June 23 at 8:31 p.m.) —
“I shared a link yesterday that featured the late, great Alan Almond and your response was huge. But some of you are still asking “What did he really look like…tell us please!” Here’s the closest photo (see photo below) of a gentleman who I always thought resembled Alan. It’s the iconic ladies man, Errol Flynn. I’m sure many who worked with Alan would agree, this is pretty close. Not identical, but close.”
Jim Harper, formerly from within the WNIC prime while you were there, having known Alan Almond during the three years I was at WNIC, in the early-mid 1980s, I can attest of your assessment you best described of Alan’s features. Yes, indeed. The Errol Flynn contrast (and even the hair!) is, for the most part, rather close. “Not identical, but (it is) close.” — Jim Feliciano
ALAN ALMOND R.I.P. (1948- 2015)
(Click the name ALAN ALMOND for the Detroit Free Press 10/10/1993 article)
FOR THE ABOVE STORY PLEASE VISIT FREEP.COM. FOR MORE ON ALAN ALMOND, ARCHIVED HERE ON MOTOR CITY RADIO FLASHBACKS, PLEASE GO HERE.
FRED JACOBS | MARCH 27, 2015
We’ve been showcasing innovators here in this space since last August, without a single sexual reference – until now. Sexually Speaking, featuring the most unlikely radio talent of all time – Dr. Ruth Westheimer – took on historic mores and standards in radio broadcasting – and turned them on their side. The story behind this innovative concept is an amazing example of risk-taking and being in-sync with a changing America.
It was the dawn of the ‘80s – and a new era in American sexual freedom. And of course none of that was on the radio. In September of 1980, WYNY, an Adult Contemporary station in New York City made the move, launching a 15-minute pre-recorded segment that aired on Sunday nights after midnight.
They called it “Sexually Speaking” featuring a German immigrant who had lived in Switzerland, Israel, and France before coming to the United States in 1956. Dr. Ruth Westheimer did not have a classic radio voice, but she had the expertise, the candor, and a disarming personality that made her a radio star. In a truthful, direct, and entertaining way, she truthfully answered blunt and honest questions about sex and sexuality that WYNY listeners called in.
It was compelling radio. I remember being in a bar in New York City one night when Sexually Speaking came on. The bartender tuned in WYNY and patrons listened to Dr. Ruth like it was an important Yankees game.
MCRFB NOTE: For the rest of this Jacoblog article by Fred Jacobs (March 27, 2015), please GO HERE.
‘Sexually Speaking’ w/ Dr. Ruth Westheimer was heard in Detroit on WNIC-FM 100.3 in the 1980s and 1990s.
A MCRFB ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
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 March 27 article above, “Radio’s Most Innovative: ‘Sexually Speaking’ With Dr. Ruth Westheimer.”
The Jacobs media logo and all photos presented herein strictly sole property of Fred Jacobs and JACOBSMEDIABLOG.COM. All rights reserved.
FRED JACOBS | FEBRUARY 13, 2015
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.
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.
