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Category: J. P. McCarthy

RADIO AM 760! WJR BACK ON THE RADIO: J. P. McCARTHY, APRIL 1994

https://mcrfb.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/WJR-J.P.-McCarthy-April-6-1994-complete-broadcast-remastered.mp3

https://mcrfb.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Motor-City-Radio-Flashbacks-Aircheck-Library-MCRFB2-2022.png

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A MCRFB NOTE: C-SPAN televised the J. P. McCarthy Morning Show in its entirety (4 hours) on April 6, 1994, 29 years ago today.

Throughout this entire show, you will hear the voices of Gene Fogel, Dan Streeter, Dick Heifner, Joel Alexander, Dennis Nuebacher, with the day’s news, traffic, weather and sports. And of course, J.P. speaking with guests and taking calls throughout the broadcast.

At time this broadcast was simulcast on C-SPAN, J. P. McCarthy was at WJR for 27 years. The WJR morning ‘voice of the Great Lakes’ passed away on August 16, 1995. J. P. was 62.

NEW! A special THANK YOU to the anonymous donor (from Allen Park, MI.) who expressed he remain as, ‘unnamed’. Thanks again for providing this rare J. P. McCarthy audio memory which aired — on this day — 29 years ago.

Audio recording was digitally enhanced by Motor City Radio Flashbacks

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Format AudioPosted on April 6, 2023April 6, 2023Author Jim FelicianoCategories J. P. McCarthy, MCRFB Back On The Radio, WJR4 Comments on RADIO AM 760! WJR BACK ON THE RADIO: J. P. McCARTHY, APRIL 1994

WJR’S McCARTHY IS TOP DJ IN DETROIT . . . JULY 2, 1966

Number One Air Personality — 18 Months After Returning to WJR

 

 

DETROIT — J. P. McCarthy of WJR is the king of the air personalities in Detroit, according to the record industry.

McCarthy received 52 per cent of the votes of record dealers, distributors, one-stop operators, and local and national record company executives as being the major influence on album sales. They also attributed him with having vast influence in creating sales of Easy Listening singles.

James H. Quello, program director of the Easy Listening format station, said that McCarthy, “seems to be able to pick them. He practically made Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass in Detroit.” A lot of the credit, too, should go to music director Harold Lake, Quello said.

“We try to play the bright new beats that aren’t rock,”Quello said, “try to be cheerful and entertain and sensible. McCarthy practically dominates all morning ratings because of his warm personality an the fact that he keeps his show interesting. For instance, he has little gimmicks he calls winners and losers -- sort of comments about topical matters. He also plays novelty records.”

WJR also scored as the major influence on classical record sales with 55 per cent of the votes. The programming of WJR has given the station tremendous billings. “Business in the last year and a half has been absolutely fantastic,” Quello said. “We’ve definitely proved that there’s room in a market for all kinds of music - country music, our music, or rock ‘n’ roll.”

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Information, credit, and news source: Billboard; July 2, 1966

J. P. McCarthy WJR 1965

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Posted on July 1, 2022June 30, 2022Author Jim FelicianoCategories Flashbacks, J. P. McCarthy, MCRFB (Billboard) News, WJRLeave a comment on WJR’S McCARTHY IS TOP DJ IN DETROIT . . . JULY 2, 1966

WJR 760 AM BACK ON THE RADIO: J. P. MCCARTHY

 

 

WJR RECALLED on MOTOR CITY RADIO FLASHBACKS

WJR-AM 760 * 1991 * J. P. McCARTHY

 

https://www.mcrfb.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/WJR-AM-J.-P.-McCarthy-Byron-MacGregor-The-Americans-Interview-MCRFB-AUDIO-ENHANCED.mp3

 

NEW! J. P. McCARTHY WJR aircheck date: unknown FEBRUARY 1991

*****

 

— BYRON MACGREGOR —

___

In this brief interview, J. P. speaks with Byron about the current 1991 resurgence of his 1974 patriotic hit, “The Americans”.

 

NOTE: This WJR interview was conducted some days before the Gulf War came to a rapid close, ending this country’s direct U.S. military involvement in the liberation of Kuwait. A military cease fire was declared by President George Herbert Walker Bush, formally ending the conflict on February 28, 1991.

Four years after this 1991 interview - 25 years ago - J. P. McCarthy passed away on August 16. Eight months and two weeks after we lost Byron MacGregor on January 3, 1995.

 

 


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Format AudioPosted on April 1, 2020April 1, 2020Author Jim FelicianoCategories Byron MacGregor, Flashbacks, J. P. McCarthy, MCRFB Back On The Radio, WJRLeave a comment on WJR 760 AM BACK ON THE RADIO: J. P. MCCARTHY

‘GOOD MORNING, WORLD’! J. P. MCCARTHY: WJR 760

 

—Joseph Priestly McCarthy—

This year will mark 25 years having passed since we lost J. P. McCarthy. August 16, 1995

 

https://www.mcrfb.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/WJR-AM-Joseph-Priestly-McCarthy-Good-Morning-World-AUDIO-ENHANCED.mp3


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Format AudioPosted on March 10, 2020March 9, 2020Author Jim FelicianoCategories Flashbacks, J. P. McCarthy, WJR1 Comment on ‘GOOD MORNING, WORLD’! J. P. MCCARTHY: WJR 760

NEW! ’65 WJR BRACE BEEMER TRIBUTE: J. P. MCCARTHY


 

WJR RECALLED on MOTOR CITY RADIO FLASHBACKS

WJR-AM 760 * 1965 * J. P. McCARTHY

 

https://mcrfb.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/WJR-AM-Brace-Beemer-Tribute-650302-host-JP-McCARTHY.wav

 

 

NEW! J. P. McCARTHY WJR aircheck date: Tuesday, March 2, 1965

*****

* THE PAUL URBAHNS COLLECTION *

 

 


 

 

BRACE BEEMER REMEMBERED

___

 

Friday, March 20, 2015

Today’s story is a condensed version of an article written by Radio Historian and Troy resident, Larry Zdeb. Mr. Zdeb has provided many presentations on early radio and radio personalities, especially The Lone Ranger.

“On January 31st, 1933 the Lone Ranger radio show made its debut. After a few actors portrayed the Ranger, an audition turned up a 24-year-old Wayne State University student with a big voice, Earle Graser, who became the first long-running Lone Ranger! Brace Beemer was a station manager at WXYZ at that time. In station owner George W. Trendle’s mind, Earle Graser sounded great but did not look like the character Mr. Trendle envisioned as the Lone Ranger. Brace Beemer, however, looked the part! He was six foot three with rugged good looks. For all public appearances it was decided that Brace Beemer would appear as the Lone Ranger even though he did not play the character on the radio at the time.

The first public appearance of the Lone Ranger was on July 30th, 1933 on Belle Isle for the Detroit Parks and Recreation jamboree! During the intermission, atop a borrowed horse named “HERO”, Brace Beemer appeared as the Lone Ranger. When he rode out in front of the estimated 10,000 children assembled in front of the casino, the kids went wild with excitement and rushed the Masked Man! Brace was afraid someone might be injured in the crush and ordered the children back to their posts! The children obeyed the Lone Ranger, a disaster was prevented, and a new American hero was born.

Everything ran successfully at WXYZ until Monday, April 7th, 1941 when Earle Graser fell asleep at the wheel while driving home and was killed when his car struck another vehicle. The Lone Ranger was broadcast every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Graser died on early Tuesday morning and WXYZ needed a Lone Ranger for the next evening’s broadcast.

Brace Beemer was chosen by Mr. Trendle to become the new Lone Ranger. Not wanting to shock the listeners with a new voice immediately, Trendle had the next few episodes rewritten with a story-line that the Lone Ranger was severely injured and could barely talk. Beemer played the part brilliantly and turned out to be the longest running Lone Ranger in history, playing the role from 1941 until the last live broadcast on September 3rd, 1954.

In 1949, in addition to radio, the Lone Ranger began as a television show. From 1949 to 1954 the program was broadcast simultaneously on television and radio. Brace wanted to play both parts but Clayton Moore was chosen to be the television Lone Ranger. He got the part partially because he sounded like Brace Beemer. After the final Lone Ranger live radio broadcast in 1954, Beemer became Sergeant Preston of the Yukon for a short time. After that show ended, Beemer dabbled in radio commercials and was an entertainment promoter. Even in retirement, he still received fan mail.

Brace Beemer died on Monday, March 1st, 1965. As many as two hundred cars were in the funeral procession to the White Chapel Cemetery in Troy. His grave is near the World War I Polar Bear statue which is fitting because Brace was the youngest World War I American volunteer at 14 years old.”

 

Source: ‘The Story of the Lone Ranger‘ c/o The 365 Project; March 20, 2015

 

 


 

THANK YOU!

 

A special THANK YOU to Paul Urbahns of Radcliffe, Kentucky, for recently sharing this special WJR ‘Bruce Beemer Tribute’ as aired on WJR radio, Tuesday, March 2, 1965. Hosted by J. P. McCarthy.

 

DETROIT FREE PRESS March 2, 1965

DETROIT FREE PRESS March 2, 1965

 

 

Tuesday, March 2, 1965

A DETROIT RADIO BACK-PAGE

___

DETROIT FREE PRESS: BRACE BEEMER

Above article is courtesy freep.com newspaper archive. Copyright 2019. Newspapers.com.

The above featured article was �?clipped,’ saved, and imaged from the credited source by Motor City Radio Flashbacks

 

 

 

A MCRFB VIEWING TIP: On your PC? You can read this entire article ENLARGED. For a larger detailed view click above image 2x and open to second window. Click image anytime to return to NORMAL image size.

Click your server’s back button to return to MCRFB.COM home page.

 

On your mobile device? Tap over image(s). Open to second window. “Stretch” across your device screen to magnify for larger print view.

 

 

Brace Beemer as the Lone Ranger. A WXYZ radio Lone Ranger publicity shot from 1942

 


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Format AudioPosted on April 12, 2019April 12, 2019Author Jim FelicianoCategories Brace Beemer, J. P. McCarthy, MCRFB Back On The Radio, WJR, WXYZ2 Comments on NEW! ’65 WJR BRACE BEEMER TRIBUTE: J. P. MCCARTHY

WJR RADIO 760: J. P. TALKS TO J. ALLEN HYNEK, 1977


 

WJR RECALLED ON MOTOR CITY RADIO FLASHBACKS

WJR 760 * 1977 * J. P. McCARTHY

 

https://mcrfb.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/WJR-AM-J.-P.-McCarthy-guest-Dr.-J.-Allen-Hynek-Friday-December-9-1977.mp3

 

WJR AM aircheck date FRIDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1977

___

NEW! A special THANK YOU to Jason Chase, of Lake Orion, MI, for recently donating this WJR radio aircheck to the Motor City Radio Flashbacks aircheck repository.

 

 

J. P. McCARTHY speaks with DR. J. ALLEN HYNEK

41 YEARS AGO

___

 

Tonight, Tuesday, January 8 (10/9c) the History Channel premieres the anticipated and much acclaimed new drama series, ‘Project Blue Book’, described by the network as having been “based on the true, top-secret investigations into Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs) and related phenomena conducted by the United States Air Force from 1952 to 1969.

Dr. J. Allen Hynek (Aiden Gillen), a brilliant yet underappreciated professor, is recruited by the U. S. Air Force to spearhead a clandestine operation called Project Blue Book. Along with his partner, the debonair Air Force Captain Michael Quinn (Michael Malarkey), he is summoned to investigate UFO sightings around the country and use science to discover what really happened.” . . . (Quoted source: History.com)

 

Dr. J. Allen Hynek


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Format AudioPosted on January 8, 2019January 8, 2019Author Jim FelicianoCategories J. P. McCarthy, MCRFB Back On The Radio, WJRLeave a comment on WJR RADIO 760: J. P. TALKS TO J. ALLEN HYNEK, 1977

J. P. McCARTHY: COVETED KING, DETROIT RADIO 1966


Detroit Free Press December 4, 1966

Detroit Free Press December 4, 1966

Detroit Free Press December 4, 1966

Detroit Free Press December 4, 1966

Sunday, December 4, 1966

A DETROIT RADIO BACK-PAGE

___

DETROIT FREE PRESS: J. P. McCARTHY

___

Above article is courtesy freep.com newspaper archive. Copyright 2018. Newspapers.com.

The above featured WJR-related article was �?clipped,’ saved, and imaged from the credited source by Motor City Radio Flashbacks


A MCRFB viewing tip: On your PC? You can read this entire article ENLARGED. For a larger detailed view click above image 2x and open to second window. Click image anytime to return to NORMAL image size.

Click your server’s back button to return to MCRFB.COM home page.


Missed any of our previous �?Detroit Radio Back-Pages�? features? GO HERE.


On your mobile device? Tap over image(s). Open to second window. “Stretch” across your device screen to magnify for larger print view.



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Format ImagePosted on July 25, 2018July 23, 2018Author Jim FelicianoCategories Detroit Radio Back-Pages, J. P. McCarthy, WJRLeave a comment on J. P. McCARTHY: COVETED KING, DETROIT RADIO 1966

WJR-AM BACK ON THE RADIO: J.P. McCARTHY!


WJR RECALLED ON MOTOR CITY RADIO FLASHBACKS

WJR-AM 760 * 1967 * J. P. McCARTHY

https://mcrfb.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/WJR-AM-JP-McCarthy-Guest-Joe-Gentile-1967-BOB-PRATT-COLLECTION.mp3

J. P. McCARTHY WJR (Guest: Joe Gentile) aircheck date (unknown): 1967

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NEW! A special THANK YOU to Bob Pratt, of Farmington Hills, MI, for recently donating this WJR radio aircheck to Motor City Radio Flashbacks!

* The Bob Pratt Collection *



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Format AudioPosted on November 28, 2017November 27, 2017Author Jim FelicianoCategories J. P. McCarthy, MCRFB Back On The Radio, WJRLeave a comment on WJR-AM BACK ON THE RADIO: J.P. McCARTHY!

DETROIT 1995 WJR-AM RADIO NEWSPAPER FLASHBACK





Thursday, August 17, 1995

A DETROIT RADIO BACK-PAGE

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DETROIT FREE PRESS: WJR-AM “Detroit Radio Legend Falls Silent”

___

(Above WJR related article is courtesy freep.com newspaper archive. Copyright 2017. Newspapers.com).


A MCRFB viewing tip: On your PC? You can read the entire 1965 article! For a larger detailed view click above image 2x and open to second window. Click image anytime to return to NORMAL image size.

Click your server’s back button to return to MCRFB.COM home page.


On your mobile device? Tap on image. Open to second window. “Stretch” image across your device screen to magnify for largest print view.


Missed any of our previous �?Detroit Radio Back-Pages�? features? GO HERE.



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Format ImagePosted on August 17, 2017August 16, 2017Author Jim FelicianoCategories Detroit Radio Back-Pages, J. P. McCarthy, WJRLeave a comment on DETROIT 1995 WJR-AM RADIO NEWSPAPER FLASHBACK

PRESS IMAGES FROM DETROIT RADIO’S PAST: WJR 1975

WJR-AM J. P. McCARTHY (Press Photo) 1975


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Format ImagePosted on August 17, 2017August 16, 2017Author Jim FelicianoCategories J. P. McCarthy, MCRFB Detroit Radio Press Photos, WJRLeave a comment on PRESS IMAGES FROM DETROIT RADIO’S PAST: WJR 1975

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