The 1970's and KFRC; 'Dr Don' Ruled AM Radio DJ Landscape; Bay Area Pop Culture Scene; 'The Big 610' Personality Galore; 'Your Duke, Dave Sholin'; Bobby Ocean; 'Marvalous Mark McKay'; Days on Green at Coliseum; Bill Graham Influence; 415 Media Retro Sunday

THE SUMMER OF '76; Growing up in the Bay Area a ripe, wide-eyed 14 year-old listening to KFRC; AM Radio with personalities galore; Dr. Don Rose in the morning drive; 6-10 AM. It was mandatory listening and appointment radio. Who could forget, "Sacra-tomato!" and …"San-RAQUEL!" --to this day, there is NO ONE, no one, who can even come close to Donald B. Rose (real name, Donald Rosenberg)

Dr. Don was corny funny. He had great timing and great corny jokes, an AM staple. He was unique; he was original; he was hysterical. It wasn't an acquired taste because everyone loved the Doctor. In this case, sound drops worked because Rose played off them and developed a distinct cohesion between listener and host. It was, like I said, corny funny.

But insatiably original.

It's a good thing I was too young to drive back then because I may have driven off the road laughing my ass off. Rose had that aura with me and everyone else. It was a constant.

Dr. Don Rose

I remember something distinct back in the time. Rose was broadcasting from his home in Danville; actually from his bed. He was battling issues with his leg. He was so important to KFRC and listeners loved the Doctor so much that KFRC built a makeshift studio in his bedroom that allowed him to broadcast his show; try doing that today; would never happen; maybe for a Howard Stern but nobody else. It spoke volumes to the popularity and power that was one Dr. Don Rose.

I thought he would live forever but he battled several health issues and hard to believe Rose passed away over a decade ago.

How BIG was Dr. Don? He was one of the most highly-paid DJs in the country making over $400,000. That's big today but even bigger back in the 1970's. Only "Aku" (Hal Lewis) earned in the vicinity what Rose was making.

KFRC, like the old KGO, was a gigantic part of the Bay Area culture scene. It was the pop music equivalent of the old KGO; more than just a radio station and purveyor of bubblegum music, 70's hits--KFRC had a distinct line-up of individual personalities and was constantly on the social Bay Area radar, particularly music and teen culture. In association with Bill Graham, KFRC produced many "Days on the Green" at the Oakland Coliseum Stadium; its contests gave away tickets to lucky listeners trying to score freebies to see the Grateful Dead and Beach Boys (what a combo, eh?)

Friday nights in Summer; listening to Bill Lee on KFRC. Don't forget, "Marvelous" Mark McKay and the always hilarious, Bobby Ocean. Your "Duke", Dave Sholin, was too good to be true. A funny, thought-provoking AM DJ with a gigantic personality and vibe to boot. Sholin would later in life be an editor of the influential industry newsletter, "Gavin Report."

They were all great.

And as crazy as this sounds, the whole 70's/KFRC experience defined an era in Bay Area pop culture. It was distinct and brilliant. Cozy and authentic. It was emblematic of the times and chicken soup for those of us wanting an escape away from some not so cool things taking place in the 1970's miles from the music and culture scene.

We needed it. I needed it. And I loved it too.

It's a special part of Bay Area radio history that made for entertaining, nostalgic days and nights. It broke up boredom and created magical moments. Those of you that were fans of that era and like myself had an affinity for KFRC can relate to my enthusiasm.

Peter Frampton at a "Day on the Green" at Oakland Coliseum, 1976

It's an enthusiasm that is lacking today in the vanilla mainstream abyss known as millennial culture, whatever that is.




*At 415 Media, I am passionate about vintage radio and TV and will occasionally venture back into a time when the appreciation of the electronic media meant something.

If you like coming here and enjoy reading about current and past TV/Radio culture, then please CONTRIBUTE to this independent, edgy (sometimes) media blog that relies solely on reader contributions and donations; to donate, go to the "donate" button on the right side of the blog --just click on the "Pay Pal" button and make your contribution. It takes only a minute and will help keep 415 Media sustainable and at your service, 24/7.

#This column is dedicated to the life and memory of my mom, Anne Landau: 1922-2018.

Vicki Liviakis Now and Then

 

Vicki Liviakis -KRON News Anchor

KFRC and Rolling Stones Promo/SF Gate photo

Some of you may not remember Ms. Vicki had a stint at KFRC way back in the 70's--she's the lady, second from the right, standing next to Mike Sugarman.

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Seattle Copter Crash Tragedy Brings to Mind Jane Dornacker; KRFC/WNBC 'Trafficologist' Died in Similar Accident; On-Air Account

This morning's tragic Seattle TV traffic helicopter crash killing 2 brought back my own chilling reminder of KFRC and SF musician, Jane Dornacker, who also perished in a similar accident, live on the air no less.


Dornacker moved from SF to NY to do traffic for WNBC. On October 22, 1986 Dornacker was doing a live report when she and pilot, Bill Pate, were in a copter that crashed into the Hudson River. They were both killed. (The pilot survived--Dornacker drowned).


Here's the chilling audio from that afternoon: Caution: the audio contents are extremely disturbing and may not be suitable for everyone. Listener discretion advised.


**Dornacker was a SF media/performing artist fixture in the 80's --she was only 39 when she died. In 1981 she got the job that earner her the broadcast acclaim as the "trafficologist" for KFRC.

In an accident only a few months earlier that saw her copter crash into the Hackensack
River she told Herb Caen,  "I'm a strong swimmer. I swam from Alcatraz to Aquatic Park twice,
but it's different with a 2-ton helicopter strapped to your waist."


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Jane Dornacker

Old-Fashioned Radio in the SF Bay Area; MZ and a Passion for the Future; Oh, and Respect for the Listeners

Remember the old KFRC?

The 'Big 610?"

Dr. Don, Bobby Ocean, Bill Lee, Marvelous Mark, Don St. John, Bam!

I loved Dr. Don, (San -RAQUEL!")

Let's retreat from 1976 and concentrate on Today, shall we?

Those of you that miss talk-radio in the Bay Area; those of you that have an insatiable love of genuine conversation with host and caller; those that miss the idea of an audio-broadcast bar to commiserate, to celebrate, to vent and to rage, I do believe all of you have hope. Listen to me.

There's this maverick businessman out there. You'll have to excuse me because I'm biased here. He's a close friend. His name is Michael Zwerling. "MZ", as he's known to his friends, is a broadcast impresario. Among other businesses he oversees, he has a love for the radio business when radio meant something, particularly local, independent, original radio that has a pulse and that listens, that covets, that respects its core audience: its Listeners.

Recently, I asked MZ about the idea of acquiring a San Francisco radio frequency. He told me that he has a grand vision. Keep in mind that MZ already owns KSCO and KOMY Radio in the Santa Cruz-Monterrey Bay Area. He also has several vested business interests in SF too. So, what about radio in SF? I asked him point blank if he had the resources to nail down a Bay Area frequency.

MZ told me that if he wanted something he could apply himself to "do anything." I believe him. In fact, I'd go as far to say that I think MZ has a plan in his head that transcends a mere new, exciting radio station in the SF Bay Area--I can't speculate specifics yet because, A. I don't want to jinx, and B. I don't know the full-scale business model of radio but I also know he's on to something and has a passion for the craft.

Let me know what you feel. Tell me, all of you, including the ex-KGO legion, how you feel about vintage radio; the radio you looked forward to and that you could trust and respect and have adulation for your favorite host and hostess? Give me your thoughts. More importantly, tell me how you'd love to have YOUR radio station back.

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*Be sure to listen to me today on my radio show on KSCO/KOMY from 1-4 PM PT--we'll discuss all of this and I invite you to call in and/or listen. The phone number is 831-477-1340.

Broadcast Maverick, Michael Zwerling, Has Sights set on Bay Area Radio Frequency; Talk Radio Format on his Radar

In the 17.5 months since quality live and local TalkRadio all but died in the Bay Area NOTHING has been done to revive it.  On the contrary, it has gotten even worse: example: dropping of Len Tillem (John Rothmann?) and other local voices by Clear Channel's KKSF AM 910.

Killing quality local programming seems to be the trend at Clear Channel -- recently veteran broadcaster Mark Carbonaro's very popular 6A to 9A morning drive program was dropped by KION AM 1460 Salinas-Monterey-Santa Cruz and replaced by Armstrong & Getty from Clear Channel's Sacramento outlet, also carried on KKSF AM 910.

Over the weekend the San Jose Mercury News published an interesting story about Family Radio, Inc. the Oakland-based, donation-supported religious broadcaster that owns radio stations, translators, and shortwave outlets throughout the country, including locally, KEAR AM 610, the old KFRC (Dr. Don Rose, etc.)

It seems that donations to that radio ministry are down significantly as a result of a sluggish economy AND fallout from repeated predictions of impending Rapture (end of the world) dates which failed to materialize.

As I read this Mercury News story (see it at http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_23224368/end-world-oaklands-family-radio ) I could not stop thinking about how GREAT it would be if somehow, some way, some TIME soon, this channel could be tapped to reinstate ( perhaps more appropriately, "resurrect" in this case :-) quality LIVE AND LOCAL talk radio in the Bay Area.

Then I thought about Michael Zwerling, "MZ", the major sponsor of this blog, and the owner of KSCO AM 1080 and KOMY AM 1340, the Monterey Bay stations that originate the Lieberman Live daily three hour talk show.

Last month I wrote a story about MZ ( http://richliebermanreport.blogspot.com/2013/04/how-i-got-current-kscokomy-radio-gig.html ) planning to bring independent (non-corporate) talk radio back to the Bay Area.  But that story wasn't up for fifteen minutes before the Boston Bombing mega-story hit, so a story that is particularly meaningful to me and many other talk radio enthusiasts -- pretty much got buried...

I have encouraged MZ to follow his dream of establishing his brand of talk radio in 415 -- as well as in 510, 925, 707, 650, and 408!

He says any frequency will do, AM or FM, so long as it has a strong signal into San Francisco, Oakland, Berkeley, Marin, and the peninsula.  Concord, Walnut Creek, and Martinez would be a plus.  

He will buy from, lease from, or partner with an operator who wants their channel to perform better.

MZ is a pretty clever and creative guy.  Herewith I re-offer the audio red meat I put forth in the April 15 post:  Attention Bay Area radio broadcast operators who are tired of swimming upstream in a business that is going south fast:  Make a deal with MZ: he GETS IT -- and knows how to turn negatives into positives--AND put smiles on many faces.  



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