FROM OUR COMMERCIAL VAULT . . . PAN AM AIRLINES

From WikipediaFounded in 1927 as a scheduled air mail and passenger service operating between Key West, Florida and HavanaCuba, Pan American World Airways became a major company credited with many innovations that shaped the international airline industry, including the widespread use of jet aircraftjumbo jets, and computerized reservation systems. Identified by its blue globe logo, the use of the word “Clipper” in aircraft names and call signs, and the white pilot uniform caps, the airline was a cultural icon of the 20th century. In an era dominated by flag carriers that were wholly or majority government-owned, it was also the unofficial flag carrier of the United States. During most of the jet era, Pan Am’s flagship terminal was the Worldport located at John F. Kennedy Airport in New York.

At it’s height, Pan Am was everywhere, including it’s signature skyscraper located at 200 Park Avenue in Midtown ManhattanNew York City. Now branded with “Met Life”, it is a key part of the Manhattan skyline and one of the fifty tallest buildings in the United States.

The Pan Am name surfaced again on September 25, 2011 when a television series about the airline launched on ABC.

In the ’60s and early ’70s, Pan Am spent millions on radio and television advertising, touting it’s worldwide reach and superior service. Here are three examples.

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PAN AMERICAN AIRLINES (a)

PAN AMERICAN AIRLINES (b)


 

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WKMH-AM SPOTS: MOREY’S ROYAL TWIST LOUNGE! ’61


WKMH 1310 LEE ALAN and DAVE PRINCE * MOREY’S ROYAL TWIST LOUNGE * 1961

MOREY’S ROYAL TWIST LOUNGE (A)

MOREY’S ROYAL TWIST LOUNGE (B)

MOREY’S ROYAL TWIST LOUNGE (C)

MOREY’S ROYAL TWIST LOUNGE (D)

Special THANKS to Greg Innis, Livonia, MI., for this audio donation!



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1976: CHARLIE VAN DYKE PAYS TRIBUTE TO “THE FLAG”

Charlie Van Dyke’s Bicentennial Salute to the American Flag in 1976

 

 

 


 

… Is it possible to wave the flag too much … provided of course, that you wave it with integrity….

 

Charles Leo Steinle aka Charlie Van Dyke, first launched his career in radio broadcasting in 1966, as a nineteen-year old with the legendary KLIF 1190 in Dallas, Texas. By the early 1970s, and rapidly-rising in the industry known for his baritone pipes, his distinct voice behind the radio microphone would eventually carry him to major markets around the country.

Harnessed by Bill Drake for his RKO radio stable, stops would include morning drives at KFRC in San Francisco, KHJ in Los Angeles, a short stint at CKLW in Windsor/Detroit and then it was on to WRKO in Boston.

But it’s the Bicentennial Year. 1976.

Seemingly what was lacking was a narrative to commemorate the country’s bicentennial celebration for that year. And that’s when Van Dyke decided to step in.

Charlie Van Dyke “The Flag” 45 RPM record sleeve from 1976

According to Charlie Van Dyke, he had retained a particular speech his uncle had written and prepared for an oratory-speech contest while in high school. His mother, in adding to the Van Dyke story, had saved a copy of that award-winning speech. That narrative saved would become The Flag.

With minor changes in the lyrics, Clive Fox worked on the produced project for release through United Artists Records. Jimmy Haskell would provide the music behind Van Dyke’s saturated, patriotic salute he voiced-over in The Flag. 

Today, while no longer in radio, Charlie Van Dyke continues to free-lance his voice talents for media markets in both radio and television affiliates across the country.  

Charlie Van Dyke, we thank and salute you for your acclimated 1976 display and show for true-American patriotism!


CHARLIE VAN DYKE * THE FLAG

Special thanks to George Griggs for contributing “The Flag” record/audio featured with this exhibit.



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THE ‘HISTORY OF ROCK AND ROLL’ HITS: A TIME SWEEP!

Philip Yarbrough’s impact on Top 40 radio can’t be overemphasized. Known to just about every aspiring 60s DJ, “Bill Drake” helped refine the format to it’s bare essence, generating millions of dollars of ad revenue for legendary stations like Ron Jacob’s KHJ and Paul Drew’s CKLW, when the Detroit Top 40 station first aired the program in March 1969.

Drake’s magnum opus has to be the gargantuan “History of Rock and Roll“, a “rocumentary” that covered the rock era with a depth and detail that still sounds fresh today. The show ran for 48 straight hours when it premiered in 1969. An updated version, broadcast in 1978, clocked in at 52 hours.

One of the program’s many highlights is a time sweep, featuring the musical hooks of every Billboard Top 40 number one song from 1957 to 1977.


CKLW * HISTORY of ROCK & ROLL TIME SWEEP * 1969


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UP ON THE WEBSITE: JIMMY HAMPTON RADIO RECALL!

JIM HAMPTON has had a prolific career both in front of and behind the microphone. After cutting his teeth at Flint’s WTRX, Jim worked his way toward Detroit and memorable stints at WXYZ, WABX, WJBK and WCAR before taking his act WLS in 1970.

As the years passed, Jim amassed an amazing resume as a program producer, creating literally thousands of syndicated shows for independent stations. In 1999, Jim launched Greenhouse Marketing Group, “helping the biggest brands and the hottest start-ups grow their businesses with strategic thinking and ahead of the curve marketing.”

We’re honored to showcase Jim’s talents HERE at Motor City Radio Flashbacks!


JIM HAMPTON * RADIO RECALL – HR 01 (WPON) * MEMORIAL WEEKEND 2009


 



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A WKNR CONTACT NEWS PRESENTATION: DETROIT 1965

Once upon a time, there were authentic journalists who worked at rock radio stations.

They covered the cops, city hall and the community, asked tough questions and interpreted what they heard for the listener.

From the moment the WKNR brand launched in Dearborn, Contact News was an important part of the format. With the award winning Philip Nye at the helm, Keener Contact News was the career launching pad for some of Detroit’s greatest broadcast journalists.  George HunterJohn Maher,  Ed MullenBob NeilErik SmithLou Morton, Jim Brooker and Bill Bonds all sharpened their chops on the Contact News team. Listening for what passes for radio news on most stations today, it’s hard to believe that such amazing journalism emanated from a “music station”.

At the height of WKNR’s popularity, the Contact News team produced a series of annual albums, highlighting the top news stories of the year. The project was done primarily for historical purposes and the LPs were distributed broadly to schools and libraries in the Detroit area. But many were also sold to Keenerfans. The production values stand the test of time and the content takes us back to the seismic events that were happening behind the music.

Here’s a 45 minute taste of WKNR’s own radio news coverage for the Motor City back in 1965.


WKNR-AM Philip Nye WKNR KEENER CONTACT NEWS 1965 (Play 49:37 audio)



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DETROIT WINTER, 1965! WKNR WAS THINKING SUMMER

A ’65 Motor City Radio Flashback

WKNR HEATS UP DETROIT WINTER, 1965

 

 

 


 

H E Y   D O   Y O U   R E M E M B E R  the Think Summer campaign Keener launched in Detroit in the winter of 1965?

Think Summer Susan Wayne WKNR 45 RPM jacket 1965

Well let’s see . . . .  I can still see those Think Summer newspaper ads, and there were those Think Summer button give-aways, there was also a Think Summer contest as well, those Think Summer billboards around town, and then there was a Think Summer song, yeah . . . that was played on the radio on Keener 13!

According to the WKNR music guides posted on Keener13.com, Think Summer by Susan Wayne debuted during the week of February 18, 1965. But by the time Think Summer peaked at the No. 25 spot on WKNR, March 3, 1965, well, that would be it . . . just three short weeks on the WKNR Keener 13 playlists.

But that was enough for WKNR to generate some kind of ‘mirage,’ if you will, a brief winter’s thaw we must have felt, at least momentarily, during the station’s contest with all their summer-time give-a-ways during that February.  If all else, the Think Summer promo became the ultimate Keener event during that cold winter here in Detroit 47-years ago.

Straight from the Keener vaults, courtesy of WKNR’s own Bob Green, here’s three of those WKNR Think Summer promos from that memorable winter’s brief “summer-time fun” contestants cashed in on listening to Keener 13, 1965.

And Last, from the MCRFB music archives, here we present Think Summer as it was recorded by Columbia’s own, here she is, folks . . .  Susan Wayne!

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From the MCRFB Audio Archives

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WKNR-AM – Think Summer – Keener 13 Contest (1965 Promo A)


WKNR-AM – Think Summer – Keener 13 Contest (1965 Promo B)


WKNR-AM – Think Summer – Keener 13 Contest (1965 Promo C)


SUSAN WAYNE * 1965


Enjoy the WKNR 1965 “THINK SUMMER” audio flashbacks!


A MCRFB NOTE: By the way, according to Bob Green, that was Danielle David and her Dearborn Dolls singing along in the ‘Name Game’ Think Summer promo. Thanks, Bob, for sharing with us these classic WKNR audio gems with Motor City Radio Flashbacks!


WKNR Keener 13 Bumper Sticker (1965)


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AIRCHECKS LIBRARY: THE ‘HISTORY OF DETROIT RADIO’

Everyone who is anyone in the radio biz knows “Radio’s Best Friend.” Art Vuolo is literally the video archivist of the broadcasting profession. VuoloVideo.com is a must-visit site for both aspiring and accomplished broadcasters who want to watch the best of the best in action.

But before Art perfected his video artistry, he was a key chronicler of Detroit radio history. His 12 hour magnum opus, ‘The History of Detroit Radio’ became an instant classic when it first aired on WDRQ. 

According to WDRQ programmer Don Barrett, he commissioned Art Vuolo to produce the ‘History of Detroit Radio’ which aired the weekend prior WDRQ’s official new format launch (formerly WDEE) in June, 1971. The documentary was narrated by WDRQ morning news anchor Richard Mock.

The still program stands up as one of the best radio documentaries ever made. It’s one of hundreds upon hundreds of audio treasures in our Motor City Radio Flashback Aircheck Library.


 

History.Of.Detroit.Radio.Chapter.01.mp3
History.Of.Detroit.Radio.Chapter.02.mp3
History.Of.Detroit.Radio.Chapter.03.mp3
History.Of.Detroit.Radio.Chapter.04.mp3
History.Of.Detroit.Radio.Chapter.05.mp3
History.Of.Detroit.Radio.Chapter.06.mp3
History.Of.Detroit.Radio.Chapter.07.mp3
History.Of.Detroit.Radio.Chapter.08.mp3
History.Of.Detroit.Radio.Chapter.09.mp3
History.Of.Detroit.Radio.Chapter.10.mp3
History.Of.Detroit.Radio.Chapter.11.mp3
History.Of.Detroit.Radio.Chapter.12.mp3

 


 

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‘CK AM-AM: REMEMBERING THE SOUND OF ‘THE BIG 8’

Need a CK fix? Who can forget Tom Shannon, Pat Holiday, & Teddy Bear Richards. And, yes, we have some vintage Tom Clay material, along with some sounds of CK in the 90s via Lynn Martin and Rick Hamilton. It’s Radio 8-0 during it’s glorious Top 40 reign on the Detroit AM dial.

 


Try these 15 classic airchecks on for size. These CKLW memories will take you back! 🙂


CKLW.News.Lynne.Martin.8.12.93.mp3
CKLW.Pat.Holiday.3.3.77.edit.mp3
CKLW.Pat.Holiday.3.3.77.mp3
CKLW.Pat.Holiday.Realtime.December.31.1973.mp3
CKLW.Radio.80.Tommy.Shannon.Air.Check.C.K.L.W.1965.mp3
CKLW.Rick.Hamilton.2.19.92.mp3
CKLW.Rick.Hamilton.Part.2.mp3
CKLW.Rick.Hamilton.Part.3.Patti.Handysides.News.mp3
CKLW.Ted.The.Bear.Richards.December.1981.mp3
CKLW.Ted.The.Bear.Richards.Realtime.June.29.1973.mp3
CKLW.Tom.Clay.Aircheck.September.18.1964.mp3
CKLW.Tom.Clay.mp3
CKLW.Tom.Shannon.First.Day.Back.July.6.1976.mp3
CKLW.Tom.Shannon.From.Denver.To.Detroit.July.6.1976.mp3
CKLW.Tom.Shannon.WJBK.Terry.Knight.And.Tom.Shannon.mp3



 

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’60s DETROIT JINGLES MONTAGE: WJBK 15 / WKNR 13!

From the MCRFB Radio Jingles Archive

WJBK and WKNR

 

 

 


Here’s more radio memories during a time when jingles reigned supreme across the radio airways in the Motor City during the 1960s.

WJBK Survey May 12, 1958. (Click on image for larger view).

This set of jingles features more of WJBK Radio 15 from 1962 (PAMS). And we’ll also showcase a few jingles from WKNR Keener 13, notably from the Richard H. Ullman series here, from late 1963.

These very same jingles from the 1963 WKNR Ullman package had also been previously used in 1962, just the same, but with use of the WKMH call letters instead.

Here’s one feature from 1958 from WJBK Radio 1500… as you listen closely, classic vintage Motor City radio jingles, indeed!

WKNR Music Guide May 31, 1966. (Click on image for larger view).

We also have a jingles montage from WKNR Keener 13 in 1966. And here we have a promo from WKNR for an All Request Memory Weekend which was featured on Keener 13 during 1969 and 1970.

George Griggs, Scott Westerman, and mcrfb.com will have more of this from the website’s various archived files of airchecks, jingles, vintage radio commercials and radio ads which we’ll be adding more unto the site as we’ll progress forward from this day on. So stick around. There’s much more to come!

 

 

 


W K N R Keener 13 Jingles Montage PAMS Keener Jingles (1966)

W K N R An All Request Memory Weekend (1970 Promo)

W J B K Jingles W J B K Radio 1500 Jingles Package (1958)



 

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