Category: WXYZ

WAY-BACK DETROIT RADIO PAGES: WXYZ . . . MAY 11, 1946

Motor City Radio Flashbacks logoFrom the MCRFB old radio news scrapbook: 1946

King-Trendle Sale To ABC Adds 5th Outlet To Network

 

 

 

 

FLASHBACKNEW YORK, May 4 — Expansion plans of American Broadcasting Company took a long step forward this week with the web’s purchase of all outstanding stock of the King-Trendle Broadcasting Corporation of Detroit for $3,650,000. The deal was announce Thursday, May 2, by Edward J. Noble, chairman of the board of ABC, is now contingent upon FCC approval.

King-Trendle Corporation, which grossed $2,357,000 last year, owns WXYZ in Detroit, WOOD in Grand Rapids, and the Michigan Network, servicing a gropu of outlets within the state. WXYZ is an ABC affiliate and WOOD is an NBC affiliate.

WOOD To Be Sold

Under present plans, the King-Trendle Corporation, a wholly-owned ABC subsidiary, will retain WXYZ and the Michigan Network, but will sell WOOD.

 

Billboard Issue May 11, 1946
Billboard Issue May 11, 1946

ABC, with the acquisition of WXYZ in Detroit, now has five owned and operated stations — the others being WJZ in New York, WENR in Chicago, KECA in Los Angeles, and, KGO in San Francisco.

Disclosure of the sale of WXYZ proved a surprise even to staff members here, although negotiations, closely guarded, had been underway for about six months. Price was set high and the deal was not expected to go through for this reason. Expectation here now is that another network, unnamed, may make a bid for the station before the deal is finally okayed by the FCC.

Plans of George W. Trendle, originally head of the present United Detroit Theaters Circuit before he switched 100 per cent to radio, are to operate as a production agency after the deal is finally met approval in Washington. He is retaining rights to The Lone Ranger, The Green Hornet, Challenge Of The Yukon, and Ned Jordan, Secret Agent — the last name no longer in production — and would continue to produce these shows, presumably using the facilities of WXYZ for both the direct origination and the Coast rebroadcast.

H. Allen Campbell, general manager of WXYZ, is slated to leave with Trendle, while James G. Riddell, assistant commercial manager, is expected to be promoted to the post of general manager. Merritt Schoenfeld, who has been in the local ABC office for some months, is expected to take over in a supervisory capacity. Also slated to go with the new Trendle agency are Earl Moore, formerly station supervisor, who is currently handling television research, together with the entire of the Lone Ranger group, including Fran Striker, principal writer. END.

 

(Information and news source: Billboard; May 11, 1946).

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WAY-BACK DETROIT RADIO PAGES: WXYZ . . . JULY 27, 1946

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From the MCRFB old radio news scrapbook: 1946

WXYZ, WOOD SALE APPROVED TO AMERICAN BROADCASTING NETWORK

 

 

 

 

 

Commission also approves web’s purchase and resale of Noble stock

 

FLASHBACKWASHINGTON, February 20 — The Federal Communications Commission appears strongly determined to build up American Broadcasting Company as a major rival for Columbia Broadcasting System and National Broadcasting Company, even to the extent of compromising of its often expressed policy of holding down prices paid for station transfers.

 

Billboard Issue July 27, 1946
Billboard Issue July 27, 1946

Latest evidence of this is seen in speedy approval of FCC this week of  ABC’s bid to buy Detroit’s WXYZ and Grand Rapids’ WOOD for $3,675,000 from King-Trendle Broadcasting Corporation. Tossed in with two standard stations, almost as an afterthought, are Detroit video and FM grants. At the same time, FCC announced approval of ABC’s stock deal in which the web takes control from Edward J. Noble and resells about $12,000,000 worth of stock to its affiliates.

Acquisition of WXYZ gives ABC a profitable Detroit outlet to add to owned and operated stations in New York (WJZ), Chicago (WENR), Los Angeles (KECA), and San Francisco (KGO). When proceeds of the stock begins to flow into ABC coffers, it is anticipated that the net is likely to be shopping around for one or two more stations in profitable market areas. WOOD is to be disposed at a later time. END.

 

(Information and news source: Billboard; July 27, 1946).

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VETERAN DJ ED MCKENZIE QUITS ON WXYZ . . . MARCH 16, 1959

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From the MCRFB NEWS archive: 1959

McKENZIE BOWS OUT IN ‘FORMULA RADIO’ PROTEST

 

 

 

 

Capitol jazz artist Nat King Cole with Detroit radio personality Ed McKenzie on WXYZ radio, earlier in 1954. (Click image for larger view).
Capitol jazz artist Nat King Cole with Detroit radio personality Ed McKenzie on WXYZ radio, earlier in 1954. (Click image for larger view)

DETROIT — Veteran deejay Ed McKenzie resigned from station WXYZ here last week in protest of the station’s “formula radio” programming policy.

Rallying to his side was his long-time competitor and another Detroit veteran spinner, Robin Seymour, of WKMH, who came out strongly last week for McKenzie and against “formula radio.” Seymour stated that, “It’s a crime and a shame when one of the true deejays – one of the men who made the jockey a major factor in broadcasting – has to bow to the dictates of a program director.”

Although Seymour and McKenzie – two of Detroit’s key deejays – have vied for audience ratings for the past eleven years (they occupied the same afternoon time slot) Seymour said they remained friends – their friendship dating back to the time McKenzie gave Seymour his first radio job at WJBK here.

Seymour had asked McKenzie to appear on his WKMH show to discuss the whole formula radio situation and his reasons for leaving WXYZ. Seymour said they will explore the jockey’s need for freedom of programming and will discuss further on whether the advent of “formula radio” has anything to do with the fact that no new name deejay (other than Dick Clark) has come up from the ranks in recent years.

WKMH deejay Robin Seymour
WKMH deejay Robin Seymour

Seymour said his station, WKMH, is now the only major Detroit station operating on a non-formula programming policy. The outlet did adopt a non-rock and roll format last year, but Seymour said the management dropped the policy last January, and put record programming back in the deejay’s hands. As a result, the jock said WKMH’s ratings are already showing a small rating climb – the first rating increase for the station in some time.

The WXYZ “formula” (featuring the Top 40 singles was adopted by the station about a years ago, and WXYZ vice-president in charge of radio, Hal Neal, opined “Our interpretation of radio is that it is a step moving forward.”

WXYZ's Ed McKenzie interviews jazz great Anita O'Day on his WXYZ radio show in the mid-1950s
WXYZ’s Ed McKenzie interviews jazz great Anita O’Day on his WXYZ radio show sometime in the mid-1950s (click image for larger view)

McKenzie on the other hand expressed his opinion that this “formula” did not jibe with his interpretation of radio as “being intimate and friendly.” He stated that his ratings were dropping since the “formula” policy had gone into effect and that he would sooner “dig ditches or sell hot dogs” than go back to formula radio “because I can’t do something I don’t believe in.”

The radio station disagreed with use of McKenzie’s bird calls on the air and his “on the air” comments on office typing and the programming. The station also found themselves in disagreement with McKenzie about their new policy to boost the station on his programs, which the jockey termed “unnecessary.”

McKenzie’s 3 p.m. to 6:15 p.m. spot is being taken over by Mickey Shorr, who will have another replacement for his own Night Train program. Reportedly making between $60,000 and $80,000 a year in his 29th year with radio, McKenzie was Jack The Bellboy at WJBK before he changed to WXYZ radio in 1952. END

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(Information and news source: Billboard; March 16, 1959)

WXYZ's Ed McKenzie with his friend, WKMH's Robin Seymour in the late 1950s.
WXYZ’s Ed McKenzie with his friend, WKMH’s Robin Seymour in the late 1950s.

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LOOK WHAT WE FOUND! DANNY TAYLOR (WXYZ-AM)

WXYZ-AM 1270 Air Personality Danny Taylor from 1965 (Press Photo)
WXYZ-AM 1270 Top 40 personality Danny Taylor in a press photograph from 1965.

WXYZ-AM Radio 1270 Danny Taylor 1966

We recently found this photograph of Danny Taylor. It was listed for auction on eBay (2012).

Lee Alan, WXYZ great and former program director at WXYZ-AM 1270 in 1966, recently wrote comments on Motor City Radio Flashbacks in regards to his friend and former WXYZ radio personality Danny Taylor:

“The big mystery here is: Whatever happened to Danny Taylor (not his real name)? We have all been searching for him for years. If anyone knows his name or anything of his whereabouts we would appreciate a heads up.

Danny was a great voice and talent. So great in fact that his was the voice on all the WXYZ – “Personality-Plus” IDs and intros in the mid 1960s.”

 

By the way, anyone who could provide information on Danny Taylor, or of his whereabouts today, let us know on MCRFB.COM or contact jim@mcrfb.com. Anyone who has any airchecks you are willing to share of Danny Taylor, and anybody else who was on WXYZ-AM from the 1960s, contact: jim@mcrfb.com.

 

UPDATE RE: DANNY TAYLOR

“The big mystery here is: Whatever happened to Danny Taylor (not his real name)? — Lee Alan (January 24, 2014)

Motor City Radio Flashbacks received information (10:08 p.m.; May 09, 2014) regarding WXYZ radio personality Danny Taylor. You may view Neal Tenhulzen’s comments here.

Lee Alan, if you wish to contact Mr. Tenhulzen further regarding Danny Taylor, let us know. We can provide you a contact email address. MCRFB.COM (May 10, 2014).

ADDENDUM: 1/30/2013: Special THANKS once again to our friend Jim Heddle from Arizona for sharing with us this *rare* Danny Taylor aircheck audio clip!

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