Radio’s Most Innovative: “Sexually Speaking” with Dr. Ruth Westheimer
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.
LINKED TO JACOBSMEDIABLOG.COM FROM MOTOR CITY RADIO FLASHBACKS
‘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.
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