It wasn't just here in the Bay Area--Jazzbo had a historic run in NY at WOR and was a popular force in the big apple.
I'm concentrating here at KGO. He also worked the " purple grotto" overnights at the old and vintage, KSFO.
Jazzbo, I got to know. I was even a guest on his Channel 26 variety show in the late 1970's at the studio on top of San Bruno mountain. Collins opening theme? "Yes, we have no bananas."
His wonderful theme song on KGO and KSFO: The Count Basie Orchestra's "Blues in Hoss Flat."
Miss ya, Jazzbo.
I loved listening to him. I actually have a few cassettes of his shows on KGO, including when they introduced a new sound package in late 70s and he was jamming to it. A few days later someone at the station combined the jingle with the 2nd half of the Blues in Hoss Flat.
ReplyDeleteHis show on KTSF 26 was a gem too. It went away when the station went off the air for a couple weeks to upgrade for Select TV pay thing that was in the evening hours.
Maybe you're not aware that Al had an early morning show weekdays on KGO. I used to watch him while getting ready for school. All his guests had to recite his "I don't got to show you no stinkin' badges" pledge from THE TREASURE OF SIERRA MADRE. He was amazingly entertaining.
ReplyDelete>>It wasn't just here in the Bay Area--Jazzbo had a historic run in NY at WOR... <<
ReplyDeleteNot exactly. WOR would have never hired him, they were too stodgy and he was too, uhh, unique. (WOR already had their own "unique" talent, Jean Shepherd.) Al was on – and off, and on again – the legendary WNEW/1130, along with other unique characters like Gene Klaven, William B. Williams, Ted Brown and Jonathan Schwartz.
Also, don't forget how Jazzbeaux ended his career, doing nights on little Jazz 91.1, KCSM at the College of San Tomato.
He also guest hosted The Tonight Show in the months between Jack Paar and Johnny Carson.
ReplyDeleteI think his last stint was on jazz 91
ReplyDeleteKCSM. 91.1 FM. In the early 90s.
Today on the FM dial.
97.7 FM. Running a "cume cleanse" non-stop tape for format change.
95.3 KRTY. Country. NO MORE.
Only country station now is 94.5
he was supposed to arrive at the site where ''beeps burgers'' is on ocean avenue in 1960 by helicopter-it never happened-just a rumor ?
ReplyDeleteAl Collins, Gene Burns, Ronn Owens, Jim Eason my KGO Mt. Rushmore apologies to Ira Blue and Jim Dunbar.
ReplyDeleteDon’t forget Ira Blue.
DeleteGood old time radio...not like the - - - - we have today.
ReplyDeleteToward the end of his storied careee in the late 1980s, ‘Jazzbo’ did on show on KEST. San Francisco. He would open his program with the sound of running water and would say: “ welcome to the purple grotto.”
ReplyDeleteJazzbo had a sidekick he referred to a ‘Juanito Burrito’ who would call in from unusual places around SF, and do live spots.Very amusing and different radio. You don’t hear anything like it in the air today!
who has the host that called himself the "slimly limey"?
ReplyDeleteJazzbeaux created an imaginary world on the radio. His spaciness reminded me of Eric Burden and War's "Spill the Wine."
ReplyDeleteChris Clarke, I think
ReplyDeleteI remember him taling about driving his Porsche Speedster up to Cader Farms in Petaluma on weekends
ReplyDeleteJon Miller talked about Al Jazzbeaux Collins and the purple grotto in the middle of a Giants game earlier this year. I remember listening to Jazzbeaux late night on ksfo. Great entertainer.
ReplyDeleteBut the greatest radio entertainer we've ever had here is Jon Miller.