Jack Spector

Jack Spector was born on September 15, 1928, in New York.

He began working as a disk jockey in New York in 1961 at radio station WMCA, where he was a member of The Good Guys. He labeled himself Your Main Man Jake and usually closed his shows saying, "Look out street, here I come!"

In late December 1963, WMCA, with Spector, earned the distinction of being the first New York City radio station to play the Beatles' Capitol Records' single, "I Want to Hold Your Hand" (Outside New York, the single's broadcast debut is widely accepted to have occurred earlier at WWDC in Washington, D.C.) WMCA was keen on playing new product and breaking new hits, and consequently, Spector became associated with the radio station most credited for introducing Beatlemania - and the "British Invasion" musical movement - to New York City listeners.

Mr. Spector, is at WMCA some time in 1967. [ LISTEN ] (2:06)

WMCA would change formats away from Top 40 in just a few short years. But on this short, scoped aircheck, Jack still has the station cookin'.

Vik Venus

In 1969, while continuing to work as a DJ in New York, Spector released a single on Buddah Records under the name, "Vik Venus, Alias: Your Main Moon Man".

The single, "Moonflight", was a novelty "break-in" record in the style of Dickie Goodman. In it, a reporter asks the astronauts questions about a fictional "Achilles moon flight", with the responses taken from snippets of popular songs of the day. All response fragments used for this record were from previous hits on Buddah. The record peaked at #38 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart.

The Good Guys meet the Beatles. Jack is in the back behind George and Ringo.

WMCA stated that..."Jack Spector is very New York: hard to type. He devours six newspapers a day and he dotes on the franks at Nathan's. He knows rarified mathematics and in the Brooklyn stickball league, he's know as a long ball hitter. Spector loves his city and sounds it. He thinks if he has a good time on WMCA, everyone else will, too. He does. It's catching."

WMCA moved to a talk format September 21, 1970, one day after the final top-40 broadcast. Spector stayed on as host of a sports talk show. In about 1971 Spector moved to WHN, then a vocal-based easy listening station. He remained for a while after WHN became a Country music station in 1973.

In 1974, Spector left WHN to go to WCBS-FM where he hosted a 1955-1964 based Oldies show called "The Saturday Night Sock Hop" and another regular weekend shift. He was also a full-time swing host there, filling in for various airstaffers over the years. In 1983, Cousin Brucie began doing every third Saturday night of the month.

WCBS-FM
1985

Spector remained at WCBS-FM until the Spring of 1985.

Later in 1985, Spector was at WNBC as the original host of "Sports Night", eventually replaced by Dave Sims. He went then to WPIX-FM, which was playing an adult contemporary format. Upon their change to NAC and soon after to smooth jazz, he became one of the first air personalities on CD 101.9. Spector also worked as an optician when he was not on the air.

Jack with fans in the 1960s.

Late in 1988, Spector left WQCD and joined the staff of WHLI at Hempstead, New York playing an Adult Standards format. That station began mixing in more rock and roll oldies by the early '90s. After a few Radio Greats Weekends at WCBS-FM, Jack Spector returned as a part-time swing announcer there in 1993 while working full-time at WHLI.

On March 8, 1994, shortly after starting a recording of Louis Prima's "I'm In The Mood For Love", he suffered an apparent heart attack and collapsed. Following a long silence after the song had finished, radio station employees ran into the studio and found Spector on the floor. Attempts to revive him failed. He was 65.

Some materials found on this page were originally published by the following: New York Times, Wikipedia.

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John Rode

John Rode worked mid-days at WALT and was its program director in 1966. Before moving to Florida, the Wisconsin native did overnights at WKLO and worked at WINN, both in Louisville. Following the brief Tampa gig, he moved to WSAI Cincinnati, WRKO Boston, WIBG Philadelphia, and WDRC Hartford.

Around 1970, he crossed the border into Canada to work for Toronto’s CKFH, CHUM and CKEY, and Vancouver’s CFUN.

Behind the WDRC mic speaking of Christmas Through The Years in 1968. [ LISTEN ] (4:28)

CHUM 1970, Roger Ashby, Tom Rivers, Johnny Mitchell, Chuck McCoy, John Rode, J. Michael Wilson and Jay Nelson.

John is playing records at CKFH on November 11, 1969. [ LISTEN ] (31:05)

CKFH switched to an oldies format in 1973 before completely abandoning rock when it became a country station in 1975.

Here's John behind the mic at CHUM on September 3, 1971. [ LISTEN ] (17:48)

Rode entertained at five different Toronto stations, numerous outlets south of the border and even did stints in Vancouver and Alaska. But he's probably best remembered for the many years he spent at CHUM.

With his prior experience in the radio industry as a broadcast engineer, radio personality, radio station manager, computer programmer, and system and software designer, John founded John Rode Data Systems in 1984 to create computer systems specifically for the broadcast industry. In 1993 the company was renamed MediaLAB and taken over by Mediastats, Inc., a telecom information research firm near Toronto.

Here is John at CILQ (Q-107) Toronto on May 22,1977. [ LISTEN ] (59:41)

Rode was Q-107's original morning man, followed by Murray Smith in late mornings and program director Dave Charles in early afternoons. Then it was John Donabie in afternoon drive, Mary-Anne Carpentier in evenings and Scott Marwood on the all-night show.

In 2007, John was senior vice-president and chief information officer of both companies and, as the head of technology, designed and supervised the creation of all in-house computer and communication systems. He was also the chief designer of the MediaLAB administration software product line.

Some materials found on this page were originally published by the following: Rock Radio Scrapbook.

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Wink Martindale

Winston Conrad Martindale was born on December 4, 1933, in Jackson, Tennessee, and started his career as a disc jockey at age 17 at WPLI in Jackson, earning $25 a week.

After moving to WTJS, he was hired away for double the salary by Jackson's only other station, WDXI.

"Mars Patrol"

He worked a total of three radio shows in Jackson before moving to Memphis to take an announcer job with WHBQ — all this before he was 20. Martindale's first break into television was in 1955 at WHBQ-TV as the host of Mars Patrol, a science-fiction themed television program which showcased Flash Gordon films in between interviews with local kiddies.

Hollywood beckoned, and Wink moved to California, where he landed bit parts in a couple of unforgettable movies and got announcing jobs with several Los Angeles radio stations. It looked like he was set to land a plum role as the host of a new TV show patterned after Dance Party, but at the last minute ABC handed American Bandstand to another newcomer named Dick Clark.

In 1959 Wink released a record album titled Deck of Cards. The collection of religious and inspirational songs, went to no. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and sold over a million copies. It also peaked at no. 5 on the UK Singles Chart in April 1963, the first of four visits to that chart.

Wink at KFWB in Los Angeles on June 2, 1965. [ LISTEN ] The “Principal of the Year” contest is in full swing. (17:19)

At his tenure with WHBQ, Martindale became the host of the TV show Teenage Dance Party, where his friend Elvis Presley made an appearance on June 16, 1956.

TOP 10 LISTENING PARTY

[ LISTEN ]. (36:14)

Also in 1959, he became morning man at KHJ in Los Angeles, California, moving a year later to the morning show at KRLA and finally to KFWB in 1962. He also had lengthy stays at KGIL from 1968 to 1971, KKGO/KJQI and Gene Autry's KMPC (now KSPN (AM)) from 1971 to 1979 and again from 1983 to 1987, the short-lived "Wink and Bill Show" on KABC during 1989, and KJQI from 1993 to 1994.

In 1967, Martindale acted in a short futuristic documentary film about home life in the year 1999 produced by the Philco-Ford Corporation which predicted, among other things, Internet commerce.

Martindale's first game-show hosting job was on the show What's This Song?, which he hosted for NBC (credited as "Win Martindale") from 1964 to 1965. From 1970 to 1971, he hosted a similar song-recognition game show, Words and Music, again on NBC.

His first major success came in 1972, when he took the emcee position on a new CBS game show, Gambit. He spent four years hosting the original Gambit and later hosted a Las Vegas-based revival for 13 months in 1980-81.

Wink's other television game show credits include Moments to Remember, Instant Recall, Debt, Trivial Pursuit, Tic Tac Dough, The Last Word, High Rollers, Headline Chasers, Can You Top This?, Words and Music, How's Your Mother-in-Law?, Dream Girl of '67, What's This Song?, and Gambit.

WHERE DID WINK WORK? Here is the list: WPLI, WHBQ, KHJ (pre-Drake), KRLA, KFWB, KGIL, KKGO/KJQI, KMPC, KABC and KJQI.

Some materials found on this page were originally published by the following: Memphis Flyer, Airchexx, A/V Geeks.

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Carter B. Smith

Carter B. Smith
KRE Friday, April 26, 1963

It's Classical Carter, on an audition reel perhaps intended for the folks at KSFO, as he spins some Sibelius, shows off his musical knowledge, reads a few public service announcements, does the news and waxes sentimental about his lately departed cat, from the studio of Berkeley's KRE AM and FM. [ LISTEN ]

Carter Blakemore Smith was born New Year's Day, 1937, in San Francisco. He graduated from Lowell High School, City College of San Francisco and San Francisco State College, where he studied broadcasting.

As a teenager, he'd done a radio stint in Red Bluff, where his dad had moved after remarrying. His first local job, while still a student at State, was at KRE in Berkeley.

Smith studied broadcasting at San Francisco State and, while still in school, became a DJ on KRE. His music ranged from pop to classical, which he called "serious music." On weekends, he got serious on KSFR-FM, in San Francisco. In 1963, he landed a job at KSFO, which dominated the market with morning star Don Sherwood. The Program Director told Carter that he'd be working with Don Sherwood, and added that he should be very careful. If Sherwood didn't like him, he wouldn't be working there very long.

Smith didn't get credit for how much he added to the Sherwood show. He could compete with him -- he wasn't just a foil, and he soon had his own DJ shift.

The date is Juy 24, 1963 and the station is KSFO. [ LISTEN ] (31:40)

Carter moves from the news desk into the morning seat at almighty KSFO, if only as
a sub for the oft-absent Don Sherwood. "It appears that Mr. Sherwood is ill today,"
the new fellow notes during the broadcast, which includes a Mike Powell newscast.

Mr. Smith stood up to the test and became a sidekick fill-in during Sherwood's unexplained absences, which were often. Sherwood had a life in tatters at all times, but when he went into the studio, he was the most controlled man you ever met, according to Smith. Together they used to do radio as good as any radio was ever done.

"Super Frog: The Fairbanks Series" Circa 1965. [ LISTEN ] (35:39)

A series of seven episodes starring "the champion of the oppressed, scourge of the scurrilous," directly from KSFO's studio tape recording. The label on the tape reel reads "Fairbanks Series" (the villain in these episodes is from the Alaskan city).

After a decade at KSFO, Smith moved to KNBR, where his "Carter B. Smith Show" was the afternoon counterpart to "Frank and Mike in the Morning," another legendary show featuring Frank Dill and Mike Cleary. Smith's moniker was "the prince trapped in the body of a disc jockey." He was also called "the man with the million-dollar vocabulary."

Carter B. Smith on 560/KSFO
Thursday, September 10, 1970

A Viet Nam-era "V-Disc" of sorts, recorded in the KSFO studio for the local audience as well as for our fighting men and women in Southeast Asia. The music mix may be a bit more "Top 40" than usual for KSFO — note "Apache" by Electric Indian and "Yellow River" by Christie — to make it more appealing to the overseas audience. Also heard on the recording, which covers the half-hour from about 6 to 6:30 p.m., are psychiatrist Richard Sutherland, plus the tail-end of a Herb Kennedy newscast. [ LISTEN ] (28:21)

Smith returned to KSFO in the early 1980s, then moved to KFRC when it switched from pop to standards in the mid-'80s. His last stint was 10 years on KABL. When he signed on after a few years off the air, he said, "It's me, Carter B." - he didn't need to mention the last name. He changed stations but he never changed his style in the standards format, which he described as "play a little, talk a little, play a little."

Among Carter's greatest accomplishments was his effort in 1982 to publicize the need to restore San Francisco's landmark cable cars. In addition to taking an 18-hour marathon ride on "Cable Car 68" to raise funds for the restoration effort, he appeared on radio stations from coast-to-coast (and around the world via shortwave) to increase awareness of the venture. His interests were varied and wide-ranging, and included aviation history and ham radio.

When KABL switched to talk-only, in 2005, Mr. Smith found himself out of a job for the last time, as it turned out, 50 years after he'd started in Red Bluff. But he never formally retired.

As a local celebrity, Mr. Smith lent his talents and mellifluous voice as an auctioneer and emcee for various causes, including the Muscular Dystrophy Association. He also served on the board of the San Francisco Zoological Society and the Marin Family Service Agency.

Carter B. Smith was elected to the Bay Area Radio Hall of Fame in 2007.

After a lengthy illness Carter B. Smith passed away in 2011. He was 74.

Some materials found on this page were originally published by the following: Bay Area Radio Museum, SFGate.

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Scott Regen

Born Robert Bernstein in Brooklyn, Scott was an early devotee of Alan Freed and William B. Williams. He cut his teeth in Tampa, was noticed by Bob Green in Miami and came to Keener from a stint in Kansas City as WHB’s hot morning guy.

Scott Regen, more than any other WKNR jock, was able to inculcate himself with his audience and with the artists that served up the vinyl diet demanded by Keener’s ravenous listeners. The secret of his success? He studied his audience so much that he ‘became’ the product.

William B. Williams used to do a live Saturday show at WNEW, complete with an orchestra and guests. He was 14 at the time and was able to work his way into the studio and watch the program as it happened. It was his first taste of broadcasting. He got to be a regular and hung out whenever he had the chance.

Scott with the Beatles at Olympia Stadium on August 13, 1966.

Regen's first real radio job was at WPKM, which played music that was pumped into stores. He used Henri Renee’s “You Are the One” which was William B’s theme song. The thing he remembered about that station was that all the commercials were on five inch reel to reel tapes. After a while, he moved to WALT. Bob Walters put him on the air as “Robert B. the Double, B Bobby B that’s me.”

They were a 50,000 watt day-timer and had an excellent signal that covered a good portion of the state. Regen did a two hour music program Sundays from 9 till 11 AM. That station played everything on electronic transcription discs. He had four turntables which he used for everything from the music to the commercials.

1966: Scott Regen's ‘BURGER CLUB’. [ LISTEN ] (2:23)

If you signed up for the “Burger Club,” the popular WKNR DJ, “Scott Burger,” whose picture bore on the card as well, would call out the member’s number (printed on the card) for various station prizes, giveaways during his 7-10 nightly show, 1966-67.

After the music, he ran the board for live church programming. Back then, the churches came to the station, complete with speakers and live organ music.

November, 1966. ‘Record A Record With The Supremes‘ contest with Motown Records. It was a contest that Scott Regen sponsored exclusively during his nightly shows.

For the next five years, he developed the persona of Rock Robins, playing his wares at WINQ, and WLCY in Tampa. And when he got a chance to sub on overnights at WFUN in Miami, it went well and became a permanent assignment.

Bob Gordon was the PD at WFUN. He took Regen along to Cincinnati to be music director. He did a six month gig at WCPO before heading to WHB to do mornings. George Armstrong, who was the number one guy at Storz brought him to Kansas City. WHB was a union shop so he had a board op and could concentrate fully on his on air presentation.

Scott is at The Roostertail Supper Club with Tammi Terrell on September 19, 1966. [ LISTEN ] (12:53)

Scott interviews the Righteous Brothers and WKNR Promos 1965-1967.
[ LISTEN ] (39:10)

On Air Highlights 1965-1970. [ LISTEN ] (38:55)

On-air highlights with: John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Marvin Gaye, Motown founder Berry Gordy, Jr., Herman’s Hermits, The Righteous Brothers, The Lovin’ Spoonful, The Supremes, Smokey Robinson, Simon and Garfunkel, Martha and the Vandellas, The Four Tops, The Temptations, Stevie Wonder and more.

After hearing that jock Gary Stevens was leaving WKNR Regen, after sending numerous audition tapes, was hired. he decided to abandon the Rock Robins moniker on arrival. He settled on Scott and grabbed a phone book looking for a last name that sounded good. He came across Regen and it clicked.

Scott at WKNR in 1965.

That led to gigs at WCPO Cincinnati, and WHB Kansas City. Next up was WKNR Dearborn, Michigan. Hearing that Gary Stevens was leaving the station, Robbins applied for the job.

After three audition tapes, he got the show, and in typical 1960s radio promotion style, he rode into Detroit from Kansas City on a skateboard! The station even ran a contest asking listeners to guess how many skateboards it would take Robbins (who had never skateboarded before) to complete the trip. Such was the anything goes world of Top 40 radio in the '60s.

"Motown Mondays" presents the Temptations, hosted by Scott Regen on October 3, 1966. [ LISTEN ] (51:18)

“Motown Mondays” at Detroit’s Roostertail Supper Club were broadcasted each Saturday at 11 P.M. Artists of Motown Records appearing on the show included the Four Tops, Junior Walker & The All-Stars, Marvin Gaye, Martha & The Vandellas, Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, The Marvelettes, The Supremes and The Temptations. This marked the first time that “live” entertainment and music would have been broadcasted on WKNR exclusively from the location for the nightly popular Scott Regen Show.

Upon arriving at WKNR in 1965, Robbins changed his air name to avoid confusion with Robin Seymour, a popular Detroit radio jock. He became Scott Regen, getting his new last name out of the phone book. It was at WKNR that Regan got involved interviewing artists, and visiting high schools and drive-ins to find out what the kids really wanted to hear. The result was that Regen got to know the artists and his listeners personally, creating that "special connection" he had with his audience.

Scott working at CKLW on March 24, 1970. [ LISTEN ] (1:38:41) and later, at WKNR, in September, 1970. [ LISTEN ] (1:58:00)

Regen moved across the river to CKLW in 1968 for the late-evening shift, returning to WKNR in late 1971 just before the end of that station's Top 40 days in April, 1972. He also jocked in Detroit at WCAR and WDRQ.

Scott is running the turntable at WKNR in February of 1967. [ LISTEN ] and Scott at KEENER again some time later that year. [ LISTEN ]

Scott discusses the July 29th Monkees' concert and their opening group "The Jimi Hendrix Experience".

On-the-air at WKNR on May 12, 1967. [ LISTEN ] (23:55)

Behind the mic at CKLW on March 30, 1970. [ LISTEN ] (24:10)

Here are two airckecks from WCAR on September 8, 1971 [ LISTEN ] (26:51), and this undated classic. [ LISTEN ] (1:14:21)

Scott was certified a meditation teacher from the Integral Yoga Institute in New York in 2002. In retirement, he dedicates much of his time teaching meditation and yoga in Florida, where (at this writing) he currently resides.

WHERE DID SCOTT WORK? Here is the list: WKNR, CKLW, 92KTU, Z100, WXRK, WYNY, and LITE-FM.

Some materials found on this page were originally published by the following: Motor City Radio Flashbacks, Keener 13, YouTube, w2qyv.

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Kris Stevens

Stevens started in radio in 1962 at WJPD Marquette, Michigan, before moving to KOIL Omaha in 1966 as Johnny Mitchell and then to the Big 8 in 1967.

Kris Erik Stevens came to the Rock of Chicago in 1969 to work at WLS. Kris replaced the legendary Art Roberts when Roberts moved to midday as WLS program director John Rook began to reshape the WLS lineup. Kris occupied the 6 - 9 pm slot from October 1970 until the end of 1971.

CKLW as Billy Mack
August 16 1967
[ LISTEN ]

Kris Erik Stevens joined WLS from KQV in Pittsburgh. KQV personalities Fred Winston and Gary Gears would also join WLS in the next few years, as would KQV Program Director Mike McCormick.

CRUISIN' 1970
[ LISTEN ] (41:22)

Kris began his career in May of 1962 at WJPD in Ishpeming, Michigan. Kris moved on to WLTH in Gary, Indiana before moving on to KOIL in Omaha. Kris was known as Johnny Mitchell while was part of the legendary KOIL, Omaha staff. The KOIL staff also included Fred Winston, Gary Gears, Sam Holman, Lyle Dean, and Mike McCormick.

Kris's other stops include CKLW in Winsdor, WQXI in Atlanta, WCFL in Chicago, and KIIS in Los Angeles.

Seeking a new challenge, he opened a broadcast creative services company specializing in advertising, recording and syndicated radio programming. Shortly thereafter, Kris Stevens Enterprises began winning awards for its radio commercials and nationally syndicated radio programs.

In 1985, Stevens conceptualized, produced and hosted one of the first weekly radio programs delivered via satellite for the CBS Radio Network. "Entertainment Coast to Coast" won the Gold Medal Award for "Best Entertainment Radio Program" of the year.

Eric is featured in this interview on Jim Hampton’s Radio Recall show. In it, they talk about Stevens’ career at WLS and at WCFL, as he was one of a few jocks who worked both sides of the river in one of America’s closest Top 40 battles in the early 1970s.
[ LISTEN ] (9:30)

Kris owns Kris Stevens Enterprises, and remains a multitalented voice performer who has been the spokesperson for such clients as Pontiac, National Geographic Specials, The Orkin Man, Stouffers, The Family Channel, McDonald's, Southwestern Bell, ABC Television, Movie Tunes and many more.

In his free time, Stevens can be found skiing in Colorado, scuba diving in the Caymans or yachting off the California coast.

WHERE DID KRIS WORK? Here is the list: WJPD, WLTH, KOIL, CKLW, KQV, WQXI, WLS, WCFL, KIIS and WFXD.

Some materials found on this page were originally published by the following: Radio Spirits, Discogs, Kris Erik Stevens.

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Frank Jolley

Frank Jolley first aired in 1960 at WKIK. Hired after his four years in the Navy he was offered afternoons 12noon to signoff on WKIK, Leanardtown, Maryland. After interning at WPTX in Lexington Park in 1959 with Gene Eike behind the microphone.

WMAK 1963.

Jolley then found work at WPLO Atlanta in 1962. As part of the WPLO staff that was rotated out Jolley Began looking for work finally landing 7PM-12 Midnight at WMAK in Nashville. He also worked part time at WLAC, also in Nashville, and he was a top contributor to Paul Drew's Southern Music Survey.

Arriving at 6:55 PM on January 3rd in 1965 unshaven and tired, car running in the parking lot Frank dropped in to say hello. Ken Scott said "Hello you're on the air, that's the mike, those are turntables and those are cart machines, I gotta go! KBOX has a basketball game and he left! Jolley's first night on the air was mostly music and Jingles.

Legendary Doug China and Bill Weaver hired Jolley at WKBW in December of 1966. He moved to Buffalo and preformed an on-air marathon over the year end and it ended January 7th. Fired by Weaver after only 3 weeks on the air at WKBW, he was sought by Bill Stewart for WNOE.

Chosen as MC for the 1966 Miss Teenage America Contest in Dallas Jolley is pictured here with the Winner and runner up.

In April, 1967 KVIL in Dallas, changed from it's Beautiful music format that featured such orchestras as Lawrence Welk, Montovani and Guy Lombardo to Top 40. Jolley was hired as the morning man on the air from 6A.M to 9 A.M. "I remember it as if it were yesterday " says Jolley" I opened the mike and said Good morning Dallas this is Frank Jolley and I have an idea", and he played Lets Spend The Night Together by the Rolling Stones. The switchboard was closed so it wasn't until after Jolley was off the air that the calls started.

KVIL Pirates Nook Promo

Doctors, Dentists and Lawyers offices were calling to lodge their complaints. The switchboard was inundated with angry callers. The station had been the source of elevator background music for years and was heard mostly in the professional offices of Dallas. In your imagination just think how it would be if you turned on your favorite station and went to make the coffee in your office and a screamer came on inviting you to spend the night with him. An Outrage! Threats, profanity, and worst the words "I'll never listen to your station again." KVIL was in a battle "they Thought" with KLIF the originator of Top 40 radio. Jolley had left KBOX in Dallas when it was announced that the station was going to change to a country and western format.

After six months Jolley was fired because as the GM put it "You make too much money. Hell Frank, you make more money than I do, I have to let you go." And just like that, he was let go.

Next Jolley went to WNOE in New Orleans another 50 thousand watt station that he'd grown up with.

Working 7p.m. to midnight on one of the most powerful stations in America, Frank was heard as far away as the state of Washington at night but mostly throughout the midwestern states. One radio archive site has Jolley listed as "A Midwest Rock n Roll Legend"' probably as a result of being on WNOE. The station was good for Jolley, and it helped him regain his confidence and he developed an alter ego "COUNT DOWN" the whacky Vampire of the New Orleans French Quarter. His nighttime was filled with other whacky characters too, there was the Count, and the Count's coach driver Zero Zorro and the Beautiful Vampiress Missy Francois, Glen Simms, and one of Jolley's college Instructors who Jolley had adopted as a newscaster Ross Miles sometimes referred to as Raw Smiles.

WNOE made the decision to change format from TOP 40 Radio to an MOR format and Jolley wouldn't fit in.

Ward, Peter, Frank, Gordon, & McChesney.

Bob Magruder the station manager got on the phone and called his old friend Jack Roth the President of the National Association of broadcasters and owner of radio station KONO in San Antonio and when Roth heard Jolley was ready to be on the loose, he immediately hired him for the Afternoon 3p.m. to 7p.m. drive slot in San Antonio.

This was based on Jolley's previous numbers in both Dallas at KBOX and WNOE in New Orleans where he'd topped WTIX in the first book.

KBOX December, 1966

Jolley contacted Ken Dowe the newly appointed Operations Manager of KLIF in Dallas. He was offered a summer relief fill in position. He took it. This was the opportunity he was seeking, a possibility to return to Dallas and return to his earlier prominence. That didn't happen. Before Jolley could arrive at KLIF Rod Roddy from WKBW in Buffalo showed up on KLIF's doorstep and he was given the position that Jolley had been promised. This, as it turned out was the 'straw that broke the camels back' and Jolley worked a sometime relief shift until late December at which time he made the decision to find work in California and on December 31, 1969 loaded up a rent a car and headed west.

It wasn't until March 1970 that Jolley landed the 7-12 midnight shift at KNAC. Jolley and another KNAC jock Jerry Longdon put together what was called at the time an 'underground' movie theater deal at the Art Theater in Long Beach a venue which was held on Saturdays at Midnight. A Venue that exhibited student films, experimental films and some films he made himself. Running the Art Theater midnight movies for the first two years of his stay at KNAC.

November 5, 1972

Next Jolley was recruited by KKDJ in the Sunset and Vine tower in Hollywood, and was hired to hold down the 7-12 Midnight shift. The station was automated - a replica of the format created by Ed Shane at WPLO In Atlanta. Before Jolley could arrive at KKDJ Ed Shane was let go and Bill Comb was hired as Program Director, a situation that made Jolley's position tenable and as it turned out his position at KKDJ only lasted three months.

It was during his second stint at KNAC in Long Beach that Jolley had the foresightedness to see a boom on the horizon, namely cable television. In 1972 Jolley and Chris Thomas produced the first ever feature for cable television a ninety minute spoof on early black and white television that won a National Cable Television Association award for Cablecasting, titled 'ZEBRA9'. The show was shown nationally on the Times Mirror Cable Local O's. This set Jolley in motion to begin filming what Art Laboe wrote in his L.A. Free Press column "Jolleys First above ground movie". (Previously Jolley had made dozens of shorts ten to thirty minutes in length.). In 1973 with the success of Zebra9 (and a Cash award) Jolley and Company set out to produce the western feature John Wesley Hardin. Jolley was heralded by EARTH NEWS as coming of age in an Independent world of moviemaking.

With the help of Bernie Baker and Neal Williams, Jolley set up his own film company and organized a film shoot with 36 friends with benefits and they filmed forty four hundred foot rolls of film on a movie that was released as JOHN WESLEY HARDIN. Later in 1992 the movie was reedited and re-released under the new title "The Young'un", which opened to a standing room only audience at the Angelica Theater in New York City.

With John Wesley Hardin 'in the can' Jolley accepted the role with Hubert, Ducket, Mason and Dowe advertising agency to produce and appear in a series of both radio and television commercials. First he appeared in the Westinghouse WEDGE commercials as their spokesperson, then in the Hahn LTD Lawnmower commercials which both aired nationally.

In 1977 Jolley-Clark produced several pilots for the newly formed The American Cable Network. None of which were ever aired.

In 1979 it was back to radio and syndication was the name of the game. From 1979 till 1985 Jolley was regional manager of Drake Chenault a company known for it's highly popular and productive Special titled 'The History of Rock and Roll'. From there it was a matter of thirty six months before radio called him back to service. With the help of a partner from Hanna Barbera, Jolley set out on a buying spree, first buying KKDV in Eureka a small Northern California town, and then KPAK in Redding, another small California city.

Upon the sale of the radio stations Jolley again turned his efforts to producing and developed a syndicated series on Hometown USA simply titled "Frank Jolley Presents..." a twenty six week video musical half hour show targeted to the MTV audience in small markets where cable had not yet arrived.

In early 1992 Jolley produced 'The Young'un' another western feature and it was screened and picked up for foreign distribution as an official entry in the Independent Feature Film Market at the Angelica Theater in New York."

In 1998 Jolley slipped back to Radio and On-the-Air at KTKZ in Sacramento, Ca with a consumer oriented talk show until moving to 'The Arrow' a top 40 Klassic Rock station in Sacramento Until 2001. In 2001 Jolley's script, "Top 40 Soundtrack of the 60s" was selected and featured at the Independent Feature Film Market in New York. In 2004 Jolley became the Executive producer and Producers Rep of the Endeavor Productions film titled Elsa Letterseed. Also hired By Liberty Pictures to Produced a still untitled film in Pennsylvania which only went into Pre Production. 2005- 2006 Jolley worked as a Marketing Rep for the O'Hara - Klein Motion Picture Company of Hollywood to market their Producers services. Next in 2008 Aberle Films hired Jolley to represent their Feature film "Raveled".

Frank can currently (2019) be found hosting "Rock House" a streaming radio program, playing hits of the 60s, 70s, and 80s.

WHERE DID FRANK WORK? Here is the list: WKIK, WNEX, WPLO, WMAK, KBOX, WKBW, KVIL, WNOE, KLIF, KNAC, KKDJ, and KPAK.

Some materials found on this page were originally published by the following: VStudio.

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