Great station, great personalities, great memories. They had true pros: wonderful entertainers who were DJs such as Don Sherwood and Carter B. Smith, terrific newsmen such as Mike Powell and Kent Skov, and top notch sportscasters like Lon Simmons, who along with Bill King were the two best radio sports announcers in Northern California throughout the 1960s, 70s, 80s, and well into the 1990s. What a shame Golden West Broadcasting went out of business years ago. KSFO is now sadly a hybrid local/syndicated station that has mostly crappy right-wing, nutso talk shows. I don't understand why any intelligent person would listen to the drivel that is now being played on that station. How far the mighty have fallen!
Ah,that's right. My mistake. I haven't heard it in a while even though it is dusted off every few years by the dealership. I guess the day will come when even that wont happen. Dinah was a lifelong Democrat too.
...Listen to the broadcast on KSFO, turn up the volume and hear 'em go! KSFO as the sound of The City (and the Giants), and Candlestick Park: Bye, Bye, Baby.
Better than "I left my heart..." in my opinion, and not just because that song was obviously written by someone who didn't stick around. This song SOUNDS like fog rolling in over the hills. I can almost smell Chinatown and hear a cable car in the distance. Magic.
I listened to it in the late 80's-early 90's. "Emperor" Gene Nelson in the morning with some music, some comedy, movie reviews, Ginny Pryor & Dave Henderson with news and John Madden with sports commentary.
That KSFO compared to today’s radio station is comparable to the 49ers owned by Eddie D. & orchestrated by Bill Walsh and the current carpetbagger York family and its clueless minions.
This made me think of the city that was... the beautiful sophisticated sales ladies of I. Magnin, Ernies Restaurant, and other haunts of a more refined and sophisticated city. The San Francisco of that era was truly amazing.
I remember the first time I visited the KSFO studios in the Fairmont Hotel. As you got off the elevator and walked down the hallway you saw a red wall with large gold letters mounted on the wall saying: "KSFO 560 - The World's Greatest Radio Station". That was impressive and KSFO had the chops to back to it up.
BTW, the bass singer on the jingle is Thurl Ravenscroft - more famously known as the voice of "Tony the Tiger".
It's the sound of the Bay Area now.
ReplyDeleteGreat station, great personalities, great memories. They had true pros: wonderful entertainers who were DJs such as Don Sherwood and Carter B. Smith, terrific newsmen such as Mike Powell and Kent Skov, and top notch sportscasters like Lon Simmons, who along with Bill King were the two best radio sports announcers in Northern California throughout the 1960s, 70s, 80s, and well into the 1990s. What a shame Golden West Broadcasting went out of business years ago. KSFO is now sadly a hybrid local/syndicated station that has mostly crappy right-wing, nutso talk shows. I don't understand why any intelligent person would listen to the drivel that is now being played on that station. How far the mighty have fallen!
ReplyDeleteKENT Skov?? I think you mean Jeff Skov.
DeleteI like the upbeat version : K-S-F-Oooo, in San-Fran-sis-co!
ReplyDeleteI rank it right up there with Dinah Shore singing "See Ellis Broooks today for your Cheeev-rolet,corner of Broooks and Van ness!"
Then "When the Giants come to town.."
ALL topped by ..you know that song about a lost heart. On valentines day,a good memory.
Hey, Stan, is Brooks and Van Ness anywhere near Bush and Van Ness?
DeleteAh,that's right. My mistake. I haven't heard it in a while even though it is dusted off every few years by the dealership. I guess the day will come when even that wont happen.
DeleteDinah was a lifelong Democrat too.
Real old timers know that the Ellis Brooks singer was Ree Brunell.
Delete...Listen to the broadcast on KSFO, turn up the volume and hear 'em go! KSFO as the sound of The City (and the Giants), and Candlestick Park: Bye, Bye, Baby.
ReplyDeleteBetter than "I left my heart..." in my opinion, and not just because that song was obviously written by someone who didn't stick around.
ReplyDeleteThis song SOUNDS like fog rolling in over the hills. I can almost smell Chinatown and hear a cable car in the distance. Magic.
I listened to it in the late 80's-early 90's. "Emperor" Gene Nelson in the morning with some music, some comedy, movie reviews, Ginny Pryor & Dave Henderson with news and John Madden with sports commentary.
ReplyDeleteThat KSFO compared to today’s radio station is comparable to the 49ers owned by Eddie D. & orchestrated by Bill Walsh and the current carpetbagger York family and its clueless minions.
ReplyDeleteGene Autry really put together a string of great radio stations. That guy was a helluvan entrepreneur.
ReplyDeleteKCSFO in its former state needs to come back. So does KFRC.
ReplyDeleteThis made me think of the city that was... the beautiful sophisticated sales ladies of I. Magnin, Ernies Restaurant, and other haunts of a more refined and sophisticated city. The San Francisco of that era was truly amazing.
ReplyDeleteI remember the first time I visited the KSFO studios in the Fairmont Hotel. As you got off the elevator and walked down the hallway you saw a red wall with large gold letters mounted on the wall saying: "KSFO 560 - The World's Greatest Radio Station". That was impressive and KSFO had the chops to back to it up.
ReplyDeleteBTW, the bass singer on the jingle is Thurl Ravenscroft - more famously known as the voice of "Tony the Tiger".
The thing is, when Herb Caen passed, he took our beloved San Francisco with him. Thanks for the memories, Rich.
ReplyDelete