Motor City Radio Flashbacks

WKNR FM: ‘WHERE IS PAUL?’ JOHN SMALL PHONES JOHN LENNON, OCTOBER 1969

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It was the proverbial question raised by John Small, which he posed to John Lennon (via telephone), who was in London at the time. It was October of 1969. Three days after Russ Gibb fueled the rumor when WKNR FM aired his controversial two hour program, The Beatle Plot’ in his Sunday show, October 19, 1969.

In this radio interview with John Small, Lennon said that the rumor was “insane” but good publicity for Abbey Road (he further explains in the interview).

Last Friday (October 28) Motor City Radio Flashbacks featured an extension of the extremely rare and controversial WKNR program, ‘The Beatle Plot’. John Small, in collaboration with Russ Gibb and Dan Carlysle, shared their perspective, clues, and insights from their own ‘investigation’ they collective shared of the very question they raised on the night of October 19, Is Paul McCartney Dead?

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NOTE: In the event you may have missed our featured presentation — ‘Is Paul McCartney Dead? The Beatle Plot’ — you can find it HERE.

WKNR NEW RADIO 13! A 1963 [Detroit Free Press] DETROIT RADIO BACK-PAGE AD

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The above featured Detroit Free Press WKNR ad was digitally colorized, restored and re-imaged by Motor City Radio Flashbacks.

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 featured on this site, since 2016.

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

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

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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WKNR NEW RADIO 13! A 1963 [Detroit Free Press] DETROIT RADIO BACK-PAGE AD

**The Detroit Free Press** November 1, 1963

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The above featured Detroit Free Press WKNR ad was digitally colorized, restored and re-imaged by Motor City Radio Flashbacks.

‘Battle Of The Giants’ promo is courtesy of Bob Green Productions, Houston, Texas. Audio digitally remastered by Motor City Radio Flashbacks

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

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

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.

Eight-years ago. Detroit radio lost its preeminent radio friend.

In retrospect, we pause, here, today. Honoring the memory of George L. Griggs, founder of Motor City Radio Flashbacks

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We extend a sincere thank you to Mrs. Patti Griggs. This website, today, would not have been possible without your generosity, your contributions, your continuous love and your support.

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Motor City Radio Flashbacks will resume its website operations on Thursday, November 3, 2022

WKNR BACK ON THE RADIO: JOHN SMALL, OCTOBER 1969

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This WKNR recording was donated to the Motor City Radio Flashbacks archive, some years back. Accordingly, it was given to this site by the contributor who personally recorded the program on reeled tape, in October 1969. Since then, the recording had been converted into a digitized file for audio preservation.

A Sunday evening presentation, it appears the program may have aired on WKNR AM and, most likely was simulcast on WKNR FM. You will note the recording sounds as though it may have been recorded off the AM band instead, hence the static heard throughout the program.

Also, without any degree of certainty, not clear whether this was the original WKNR broadcast which initially launched the ‘Is Paul Dead?’ controversy. The nameless donor, in sharing this recording expressed complete anonymity. He resides elsewhere outside the State of Michigan today.

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CKLW RKO GENERAL: TOBY DAVID! A 1961 RADIO 8-0 TRADE AD

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By 1961, Toby David was a 25 year Detroit radio veteran, since having first been hired as a 21 year-old to do zany character voices in comedy and program frolics on Joe Gentile’s morning show at CKLW in 1935.

After 5 years at CKLW, he left for WMAL in Washington D.C. for his own morning show. Several years there, David made his move for mornings on WJZ in New York (an NBC affiliate) where his show was syndicated over the NBC Blue Network, coast-to-coast.

In 1946, David returned to Detroit, landing on WJR hosting three different programs there throughout the broadcasting day. After his stint at WJR, he left for WWJ as a side-kick morning man to Minnie Joe Curtis in the mornings.

In the early-1950s, CKLW legendary morning man Joe Gentile left CKLW for WJBK. Upon hearing of Gentile’s exit, David contacted the station manager at CKLW (he had previously worked under at CKLW eight years earlier) and was hired back with his own morning show throughout the 1950s.

By the late-1950s, Toby David also had his own show on CKLW-TV (Windsor, Ontario) doing a children’s program as Captain Jolly on Channel 9.

Long-since having been retired from radio (1964), Toby David died of a heart-attack, in Mesa, Arizona, September 1994. He was 80.

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Note: Click on featured ad image 2x on your PC for largest detailed view. Tap over ad image on your mobile device and stretch across your screen for detailed view.

CKLW RADIO 8-0: A 1960 [Detroit Free Press] DETROIT RADIO BACK-PAGE AD

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The above featured Detroit Free Press WKNR ad was digitally re-imaged by Motor City Radio Flashbacks.

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

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

_______________

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

ON YOUR PC? You can read this entire newsprint article — 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.