NEW! WKNR KEENER 13 BACK ON THE RADIO: STEVE CLARKE! JULY 19, 1966

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NEW! A special THANK YOU to Mark Yurko, of Langhorne, PA., for his recent WKNR aircheck contribution for our Motor City Radio Flashbacks airchecks repository.

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A NOTE ABOUT STEVE CLARKE

Steve Clarke, who filled-in for Jim Jeffries (two weeks) in July 1966, was also a WKFR radio personality at Keener 14 in Battle Creek (also a Knorr station at the time). Since WKNR had another “Clark,” as in Ted Clark, the name Steve Clarke was dropped by WKNR management for Steve Robbins when hired to replace Jim Jeffries (who left WKNR for WQXI in Atlanta) before the end of 1967.

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Newly restored! This audio recording was digitally enhanced by Motor City Radio Flashbacks.

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MUSIC BUSINESS | A LONG ISLAND LETTER to the EDITOR: ‘THANK GOD THERE IS A TOM SHANNON’ . . . . MAY 22, 1965

A Letter Addressed in Long Island, New York, Props Highly Tommy Shannon at CKLW Radio

 

 

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A RAVE FOR SHANNON

To the Editor,

Now that WINS in New York is no longer a music station, we in New York have lost another fine disc jockey in Joel Sebastian. Just recently, Murray the K left New York radio. Because of this lack of good disc jockeys and radio stations in New York, I, and many of my friends have been listening to some fine stations out of town.

MUSIC BUSINESS May 22, 1965

I’d like to call to the attention of those who read your fine magazine that there is one very fine disc jockey who is on CKLW in Detroit-Windsor. He is Tom Shannon, formerly of WKBW in Buffalo, and he is on every evening from 6:30-11:30.

He plays a good amount of new records, and he is very well informed about the pop music situation in the world. CKLW is at 800 on the radio dial, and it is a fine station.

I hope many people take note of Tom Shannon, the best DJ in the business. It is too bad that in New York, one station plays only 28 different songs a week, and the other is totally mediocre. Thank God there is a Tom Shannon and CKLW.

Sincerely,
Jon Stroll
127 Circle Drive
Roslyn Heights, L. I., N.Y.  11577

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REMEMBERING TOM SHANNON

Tom Shannon passed away in Salinas, California, on May 26, 2021, while under hospice care for pancreatic cancer. He was 82.

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MCRFB Note: You can click the above digitized image for largest PC view. Or, tap on  image, then stretch article (Music Business 5/22/65) across your device’s screen for detailed read.

Information, credit, and news source: Music Business, May 22, 1965

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WXYZ RADIO 1270: THE DETROIT SOUND SURVEY! MAY 17, 1965

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This list is selected each week by WXYZ Radio reports of records sales gathered from leading record outlets in the Detroit area and other sources available to WXYZ.

The above WXYZ 05/17/1965 chart survey was digitally restored complete in its entirety by Motor City Radio Flashbacks.

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By mid-January 1965, the Detroit Sound Survey charts was no longer printed for the public in general. The WXYZ charts, as featured above, were instead published solely for Detroit record retailers, music outlets, one-stop jobbers, and distributors only.

These Radio 1270 top 40 charts was the largest of the WXYZ Detroit Sound Survey charts ever printed, having measured 17.5″ W x 22 L” inches in size. These charts were primarily used for weekly record rank based by popularity, position, retail sales, and were used for record retail rack displays as well.

For the very first time, Motor City Radio Flashbacks will be featuring a dozen or so — as chart dated — of these extremely rare WXYZ 1965 surveys throughout the year, 2024.

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ON YOUR PC? Click on chart image 2x for largest detailed print view.

ON YOUR MOBILE DEVICE? Tap over WXYZ chart image. Open to second window. “Stretch” chart across your device screen to magnify for largest detailed view.

 

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TONIGHT, 7 P.M. . . . ON KEENER 13: THE SCOTT REGEN SHOW! MAY 20, 1965 [Detroit Free Press] DETROIT RADIO BACK-PAGE AD

Audio digitally remastered. Audio courtesy of Bob Green Productions

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This article/advertisement courtesy freep.com newspaper archive. Copyright 2024. Newspapers.com

Originally printed in black and white, the featured Detroit Free Press ad was digitally re-imaged, colorized, and was entirely restored by Motor City Radio Flashbacks.

Missed any previous ‘Detroit Radio Back-Pages‘ features? GO HERE

A special THANK YOU to WKNR legend Bob Green (Bob Green Productions) of Austin, Texas, for having shared with us, years ago, this May 1965 WKNR promo for our Motor City Radio Flashbacks archives.

Special THANKS to our friend, John Bartony (a.k.a. Jukebox John) St. Clair Shores, Michigan, for providing the above Detroit Free Press WKNR 1310 ad (May 20, 1965) for this site, as featured today.

A special thank you to senior MCRFB consultant Greg Innis, of Livonia, MI., for contributing the Newspapers.com archives (Detroit radio related) articles, ads, and images we have provide for this site since 2016.

Thank you, Greg Innis, for making these historic Detroit radio features possible. 🙂

ON YOUR PC? You can read this entire newsprint article/ad — the fine print — ENLARGED. For a larger detailed view click above image 2x and open to second window. Click image anytime to return to NORMAL image size.

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COMING TO WKNR . . . NEW KEENER DJ! MAY 17, 1965 [Detroit Free Press] DETROIT RADIO BACK-PAGE AD

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This article/advertisement courtesy freep.com newspaper archive. Copyright 2024. Newspapers.com

Originally printed in black and white, the featured Detroit Free Press ad was digitally re-imaged, colorized, and was entirely restored by Motor City Radio Flashbacks.

Missed any previous ‘Detroit Radio Back-Pages‘ features? GO HERE

MCRFB Note: Special THANKS to our friend, John Bartony (a.k.a. Jukebox John) St. Clair Shores, Michigan, for providing the above Detroit Free Press WKNR 1310 ad (May 17, 1965) for this site, as featured today.

A special thank you to senior MCRFB consultant Greg Innis, of Livonia, MI., for contributing the Newspapers.com archives (Detroit radio related) articles, ads, and images we have provide for this site since 2016.

Thank you, Greg Innis, for making these historic Detroit radio features possible. 🙂

ON YOUR PC? You can read this entire newsprint article/ad — the fine print — 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 on newsprint image. Open to second window. “Stretch” image across your device screen to magnify for largest print view.

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WXYZ RADIO 1270: OCTOBER 10, 1955 [The Detroit Free Press] DETROIT RADIO BACK-PAGE AD

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This article/advertisement courtesy freep.com newspaper archive. Copyright 2024. Newspapers.com

Originally printed in black and white, the featured Detroit Free Press ad was digitally re-imaged, colorized, and was entirely restored by Motor City Radio Flashbacks.

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

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MCRFB Note: Special THANKS to our friend, John Bartony (a.k.a. Jukebox John) St. Clair Shores, Michigan, for providing the above Detroit Free Press WXYZ 1270 ad (Sunday, October 2, 1955) for this site, as featured today.

A special thank you to senior MCRFB consultant Greg Innis, of Livonia, MI., for contributing the Newspapers.com archives (Detroit radio related) articles, ads, and images we have provide for this site since 2016.

Thank you, Greg Innis, for making these historic Detroit radio features possible. 🙂

ON YOUR PC? You can read this entire newsprint article/ad — the fine print — 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 on newsprint image. Open to second window. “Stretch” image across your device screen to magnify for largest print view.

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MICHIGAN MOBILE RADIO BIG ON AUTO SOUND . . . MAY 14, 1966

Tape Player Installer Advertises Heavily in Weekly Ads on Local Radio in SE Michigan

 

 

DETROIT — An $1,800 investment about five years ago has grown into the flourishing Michigan Mobile Radio, Inc., which bills itself as the “world’s largest automotive sound specialist.” The present 11,000- square-foot installation handles the complete Muntz line of 4-track stereo tape CARtridge players for car and home.

Jack Frankford, 27-year-old president of the corporation, estimates sales of about 500 units a month from the present 11,000-square-foot outlet, which does retailing and installations.

Michigan Mobile also carries the cartridge catalogs of ITCC and Muntz, and recently completed a deal with Motown Records to distribute Motown tapes in 4-track cartridge. Frankford said the Motown arrangement means the label will sell and promote tapes as a separate item for the first time. The importance of Motown in the Detroit scene was evidenced by Frankford’s initial order of 1,500, followed by an additional 1,500 order.

Frankford, using the image of “Crazy Jack,” has relied heavily on radio advertising to spur business, buying 43 broadcast hours a week on stations in the Detroit area and nearby Canada. The idea is to hit the potential buyer via the car radio. The nickname was born as an ad lib, by a local disk jockey. It was used by Frankford when he began operations in a former car wash of 2,400 square feet because he felt the Michigan Mobile name would sound too imposing for the relatively small operation. The firm’s present advertising agency developed the name further to personalize the corporation.

After going from car lot to car lot since the age of 16 repairing auto radios, Frankford opened his first outlet to sell car radios in 1960. Late that year the business was expanded to include citizen bands. In 1962 Motorola Vibrosonic sound units were added, with record players coming 18 months later, the A. R. C. (Automatic Record Changer) Electronics 45 r.p.m. machine. Late in 1964 and early the next year, cartridge players were added.

Michigan Mobile Radio also is involved in the distribution of cartridges to other dealers, both in and outside of Michigan. Frankford pointed out that the cartridge market was different from the record field, thus making it difficult for record distributors to hit major outlets in the automotive field, including service stations.

Frankford said there were now three distinct markets, records, 8-track cartridges and 4-track cartridges. He conceded he couldn’t supply record dealers, who work through their record distributors, but he said he supplies an inventory of cartridge product to non-record outlet. END

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Information, credit, and news source: Billboard  May 14, 1966

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WKNR MUSIC GUIDE: THE KEENER 13 TOP 31! MAY 12, 1965

WKNR MUSIC GUIDE May 12, 1965 [A]

WKNR MUSIC GUIDE May 12, 1965 [B]

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The above WKNR chart was digitally restored by Motor City Radio Flashbacks

ON YOUR PC? To fully appreciate this WKNR Music Guide for the week of May 12, 1965 chart feature click on image 2x and open to second window. Click image anytime to return to NORMAL image size.

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ON YOUR MOBILE DEVICE? Tap over WKNR chart image. Open to second window. “Stretch” image across your device screen to magnify for largest print view.

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A sincere, thank you, Mrs. Patti Griggs. This featured presentation would have not been possible without your generosity, dedication, and your continuous support.

Above WKNR music chart courtesy of Mrs. Patti Griggs and the George L. Griggs estate.

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WJBK AMENDS ITS FORMAT TO SOFT ROCK . . . MAY 14, 1966

Station Lightly Modify Current Format Geared to Attract Younger 18 plus Audience

 

 

DETROIT — WJBK, 50,000-watt outlet here, has launched a soft-rock format, giving the market four Hot 100 stations. Program director John M. Grubbs said the format is more “amended,” than changed. The new programming operation is being changed slowly, but should be complete by May 9.

Dick Boyer has been added to the air personality roster to handle all-night chores. Jerry Blocker, a Negro, formerly of WCAR, will handle the 7-midnight slot, accenting light commercial jazz.

[MCRFB Note: Click on ad image 2x (PC) for largest detailed view. Or tap and stretch image across your device screen of choice for detailed DJ line-ups, names, and times.]

WJBK had tried a Hot 100 format before, but in August 1964, switched back to good music. The station is now injecting current Hot 100 Chart singles of non-raucous nature.

“What we’re looking for is the uptempo, but not specific, teen tunes,” Grubbs said. As an example, the station was playing last week, “Monday Monday” by the Mamas and the Papas. “Sloop John B” by the Beach Boys, “Secret Agent Man” by Johnny Rivers, “Daydream” by the Lovin’ Spoonful, “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry,” by B. J. Thomas and the Triumphs, “Rainy Day Women,” by Bob Dylan and “How Does That Grab You, Darlin’, ” by Nancy Sinatra. Album cuts with bright appeal are also being played.

“We’re trying to create a hip sound for the 18 and-up age bracket,” Grubbs said, “and we’re getting a good reaction.” Last July the station placed fourth in Billboard’s Radio Response Rating survey for influencing sales of albums in the market. There are presently three Hot 100 stations in the market besides WJBK. WKNR, CKLW, and WXYZ. WJBK just recently upped its daytime power to 50,000 watts from 10,000; the station hopes to soon add to its nighttime directional pattern with the increased wattage power. END

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Information, credit, and news source: Billboard  May 14, 1966

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