ANOTHER ALAMO CITY REVELATION
In a recent conversation with my friend, CHET MAXWELL, who was the General Manager at KENS-680 (San Antonio), KILT-610
(Houston) and KBOX-1480 (Dallas), the name of HARREL BANKS was brought up.
CHET MAXWELL (San Antonio, TX) chetmaxwell@sbcglobal.net Yes it is too bad that Harrel is gone. When you get around my age a lot of old friends go. It's sad...but that's
life.
MAXWELL speaks as if he's trogloditic. Not so. When we sat at the round table at the 2004 Texas Radio
Hall of Fame induction banquet in San Antonio (October 2004), CHET looked and acted like a spring chicken. In between
bites of tenderloin, MAXWELL and I made the attempt to bring each other up to date since our days at KBOX (1971-72). Seems
like yesterday, but that was 35 years ago. WOW! When CHET divulged that shocking communique regarding HARREL BANKS, my
heart went numb.
In the mid 1970s, TOM TURNER bought KXOL. KFJZ's third Program Director, BROTHER JON RIVERS, gave me an exit visa. TURNER had dispatched BANKS to clean house at KXOL. So, in late
1974, met with HARREL at KXOL's wonderful studios on Lancaster Avenue. It was almost like old times. Here was HARREL BANKS
and JIM ROSE reunited to sing the old year out and the new year in, but this was a month before Christmas.
HARREL announced that the Program Director's position had already been filled. MICHAEL JAMES LUCAS was due in Cowtown
from the Alamo city in about a month. BANKS asked how many bucks KFJZ paid me. Should've lied, but my radio seasoning never
included fibbing, even in compensation negotiations. HARREL laid down an extra $10 a week for me to join KXOL's new air force.
So, I became KXOL's au courant Music Director.
In the course of time spent under BANKS' management at both KBUC FM-AM (1968-70) and KXOL (1974-76), there are numerous
events which amaze, mystify and bring lots of smiles. A couple of examples come to mind.
One day HARREL announced to me that he was going to have a time clock installed at KBUC for the DJs to punch in and punch out.
This brought back memories of when I sacked groceries at Wyatt's (Kroger's) grocery in Dallas when just a teenybopper in the
Fabulous Fifties. Over three decades later, some of these stories are comical to say the least, but made a huge impact on this 26 year
old programmer.
One time, when I was to perform a remote broadcast in Poteet, which is the strawberry capital of the world. HARREL
contracted a private helicopter for my grandiose appearance. Thousands of people from all over the world converge onto Poteet
during this annual Strawbeery Festival.
After we became airborn, the pilot let me steer that magnificent flying machine. Both sides of the helicopter were
wide open. You could look straight down to the earth below, which must have been hundreds of feet down under.
This heliocraft had only one stick for mobility. Much the same as an auto's elongated floor-shifter. Pull the stick back,
we zoom to the heavens. Push it forward, we aim for territory below our feet. Draw it to the right or left and the aircraft
drifted in this or that direction while it leaned quite a bit. Took some real getting used to, but I was anxious and
rearing to go.
Another factor to consider is that when you pulled back on the stalk, the speed increased as the nose pointed
upward. Push it forward and the flying cup slowed down. Frightened of heights, but this was absolutely fantastic. Very
cautious with that thick twig - no quick tugs or pushes.
After a few minutes in flight, the pilot gently asked, Are we going to land in the lake? We did seem
to hover over water and the aqua was closer and closer. The navigator said, Pull it back. So, I gave
that lever a strong jerk backward and we pointed toward the stars at a fast gallop. He yelled, Push it forward.
Then, we became pointed straight toward the water below like a bird diving for a worm. Finally settled down
and got the grasp of that curved stalk down pat. We sailed on to Poteet. Never quite knew what to expect of BANKS, but this was an extremely nice gesture on HARREL's part.
Then there was the time that BANKS called me into his office just 5 minutes before airtime at 2 pm (Late 1970). As
I headed to the honcho's tee-pee, BIG DADDY GLENN DEAN eased through the control room door with a sheepish look on
his face. What was DEAN doing here this late in the day? BIG DADDY was going to do my show. BIG DADDY was the 550
pound AM Drive DJ at KBUC FM. Boy, many, many adventurous tales abound around that round mound of sound.
GLENN's surname was DANIELS. EDDIE DANIELS was the PM Drive DJ on KBUC. EDDIE and BANKS were on the same team at KBER
FM-AM prior to KBUC. When HARREL accepted TOM TURNER's offer to become KBUC's General Manager, he brought fast EDDIE along
for the hayride. EDDIE possessed a smooth deep voice which tantalized Bexar county's pistillate population. BANKS decided
that KBUC cannot have two DJs calling themselves DANIELS in the daylight hours, so the moniker of DEAN popped up. All this
circumstance and pomp took place before I entered KBUC in August 1968.
Very early 1969, HARREL dismissed EDDIE. These two pals of the saddle had steered into separate pathways. BANKS was
a real go-getter with that chopping block. DEAN was my Music Director, but I never let him really direct the tunes. GLENN
had the title, but his duties only involved each week's changing of the guard for the 45 rpm platters.
Years later, discovered that BIG DADDY had been proclaiming himself as KBUC's Program Director to everyone within earshot.
In 1975, the Capitol records promo guy and I sat in the Music Director's office at KXOL and discussed new tunes. He told me
that he never could understand why some of his records were never added to KBUC's playlist even though BIG DADDY assured him
that they would. Capitol's record pusher had been dealing with wrong user.
DEAN was a real hoot. GLENN was as big as a hippo, but sly like a fox. BIG DADDY had been holding daily conferences
with HARREL. GLENN was hell-bent for leather to steal my position as Program Director of KBUC. Suspicions were lodged in the
back of my mind that this was going on but they were ignored. Just knew that HARREL stood up for me in absentia. At one time, BANKS informed me that he wanted to fire DEAN, but a couple of years later, tossed me out instead. GLENN
only lasted a few more months, then his huge can was canned.
Anyway, HARREL had his side-kick BUBBA REDING seated behind his desk off to the side, with BUBBA's chair next to BANKS'
own throne. Guess HARREL had his security guard handy in case I happened to punch in his fabled time clock. BANKS told me
that I was being relieved of my post of duty.
When I got home, realized that my First Class FCC license still hung on the wall inside KBUC's master control. This
was my first taste of radio's madness. Much the same as a fresh taste of spinach. Wet behind the ears and certainly not prepared
for situations such as this. Later, years of seasoning taught me to always keep a loaded revolver handy and be enguard with
a plan in hand. Should have stormed back to KBUC and ripped my license off the wall in rage, but instead used what I thought
was proper protocal. Dialed Ma Bell. Informed H-B about my license.
To further set this up, HARREL had all the KBUC sales staff, plus all the Turner Oil sales crew's vehicles endowed
with KBUC car tags. These state metal scraps began with simply the upper case characters, KBUC, which was happy HARREL's caption,
and soared as high as KBUC-38 or greater. Made it appear that TURNER's KBUC corps was enormous. Show-biz pizazz was in full
swing.
BANKS told me to take my KBUC auto badge downtown, exchange it for my own regular identification number and bring the
KBUC plates back to his tent. Then I could pick up my license. JOE SOUTH's 1969 hit was certainly coming into focus, Oh,
the games people play, now, every night and day, now. Never meanin' what they say, never sayin' what they mean. Already
in dismay about the situation which HARREL had placed me in. Made matters worse. Now this. Told BANKS that I needed to spend
that time to find another radio position.
BANKS was in federal violation by holding my FCC license in ransom. HARREL figured I was too young and easy-going
to even think about what to say or do in a situation such as what had just occurred. Held a sense of fear, but never
became capable of loathing. Only remember the many good times HARREL BANKS and I had. And there were countless wonderful experiences.
A kind of hush came around this place when CHET informed me of HARREL's death. Remain in trauma
regarding that sad news. MAXWELL told me that HARREL passed away about 4-5 years after he retired from radio. TOM
TURNER had already turned in his spurs. Longed to search out BANKS to shake his hand before he met his maker like so many
other of my friends, but will only be able to do that in thoughts.
BOB SCHIEFFER is one of broadcast radio-TV's living legends. BOB was a KXOL newscaster way back in the early 1960's,
then moved over to WBAP CH 5-TV. SCHIEFFER has replaced another Texas radio-TV news pioneer, DAN RATHER, as CBS' network TV
news anchor. That dynamic duo possesses neither personality nor style in parallel.
In the 1960's, KXOL's broadcast facility was at 1705 West 7th Street. In the 1970's, KXOL's studios had moved into
beautiful new quarters at 3004 West Lancaster Avenue. In the 1980's, this became the Democratic Party headquarters of Tarrant
county. Truly have enormous passion for KXOL (1974-76) and its entire building on West Lancaster Avenue. Everything was exactly
where it should be, the equipment was supurb, plus we had a fine staff.
Esteemed friend of a decade at the time, CAL DRUXMAN, was a member of the KXOL sales cadre. CAL was the liberator who
pulled me out of deep mud at KTER (1965-66) in Terrell and brought me to safety inside the beautiful KHFI FM building in Austin
(1966-67). This was the home of KHFI FM-AM-TV 42. Friend CAL went on to meet his maker in the mid 1980's. Quite a loss.
The KXOL Music Director's office was the best I ever encountered, even as a Program Director, elswhere. It was a narrow
8' wide, rectangular-shaped chamber as deep as the control room. Must've been a recording studio in its early life because
the door was a heavy sound-proof barrier. Sure, other times, I had the use of larger lodges, but this chamber shared a double-pane
glass window with the control room at my left elbow and an excellent wooden 45 rpm record wall file to the right. Had a huge
16" turntable to my rear so I could hear the hits. KXOL had a really fine set up all around.
Many stories come to mind, including the fateful format change to Country in the fall of 1976. That was a genuine shocker.
How about the time, while seated at my big steel desk, I leaned down to pick up something on the floor? As I raised up, the
sharp edge of one of the upper steel drawers poked a hole in the top of my noggin. That crown of mine has stood the test of
time with all kinds of injuries. Survived a head-on car crash on my birthday, November 16, 1962, where the windshield was
pushed out almost to the hood of that 1958 Ford.
BOB MEADOWS was still hanging around. BOB was KXOL's illustrious AM Drive DJ. MEADOWS rushed me to the emergency
room just a stich in time. When we returned, felt very faint. Apartment was less than a mile away. Went home and brother BOB
filled my three hour dejay show. Forgot all about that until just this moment.
Oh yeah, there was this high-spirited fast-talking deejay by the name of TRIPPY DOMINO RIPPY who was one of
several 6-10 PM deejays at 1360 in 1975, myself included. DOMINO looked and dressed like a wild hippie from the 1960's - huge
reddish bushy beard with inflamed jungle hair to match. Each night just before RIPPY went on the air, he swung wide open the
front doors of KXOL's building on West Lancaster and perched himself on the front porch for a few minutes. That's where I
found out where the TRIPPY part came from. Never knew a deejay who could talk as fast and as loud on the radio. TRIPPY's face lit up like a cherry. Kinda funny
what a little night breeze can do for one's broadcast ability. Last time I talked with DOMINO was in the late 1970's, he was
at a radio station on the California coast near Los Angeles.
KXOL's all-night show host was a legendary deejay from days of old, the MAD LAD, REUBEN T. WASHINGTON. In
the 1960's, The MAD LAD starred on Ft. Worth's premier Rhythm 'n' Blues radio station, KNOK-970, and was as smooth as silk
with his jive talkin'. REUBEN T. was perfect for the 1-5 AM time period on KXOL.
1975 presented KXOL with quite a diversified deejay staff. TRIPPY and the MAD LAD were just about as different as any
two human beings on the face of GOD's green earth. Both were my buddies.
For awhile it was the mellow fellow, JIM ROSE, who bridged the gap, from 10 pm-1 am, between these two dramatic
shows. Several KXOL slots had been mine, including Homework Hotline from 6-10 pm. That ditty got my picture
in the Ft. Worth Star Telegram when a reporter came by the KXOL studios for an interview.
Eventually, noon-3 PM was the finale in 1976. That was after KXOL
had flip-flopped to a Country format. Kind of lonely, because all of my Top 40 compadres had left the building. New and different
faces were behind the mic. Stuck around for a few more months. Moved on to what I thought might be happier hunting grounds in Beaumont at KTRM-990 (1976-77)
for a solid year. That was all I could stand.
Then, on August 16, 1977, ELVIS died and I headed west on I-10
for Houston and a bunch more call letters: KIKK FM-AM (1977-78), KNUZ-1230 (1978), KULF-790 (1978-80), KMCV FM (1979), KGOL
FM (1980), KILT FM-AM [Top 40, then Country] (1980-81), KENR-1070 (1981), Shell Oil (1981-85), KSBJ FM (1986) and for a return
engagement to KILT FM-AM (1992-96). Now, all I seem to want to do is sit in front of this keyboard and write, and write.
JOHNNY SHANNON (San Antonio, TX) kirbystudio@yahoo.com Hi Jim, Noticed your column came out today. Still on Fridays too? Twice a week, how cool!
Also wanted to compliment you on the letter from my good friend
Blake Lindsay. Blake has alot of friends in the biz, and we all consider him a true inspiration, and very upbeat guy. Hope
you get to meet each other personally, if you haven't.
Congrats on the great kudos from the legendary Bob Hamilton,
good to know he's still out there. Wish I could find a replacement copy of my "Radio Handbook" (i think it was called). Did
You ever see it? Great publication which listed the on-air lineup, and other staffers of just about every station in
the country. Seems it only came out in the 1972-73 era.
Also, enjoyed your letter from Ed Guerrero on San Antonio's
Sonny Melendrez. It's true Sonny was emersed in his website since the KLUP days which ended last year, but did you know he
is back on the air doing the morning show (with Mary Martinez) on 1310 Talk Radio KAHL ("CALL")-- along with Eliza Sonniland
from 9 til noon and Carl Wiglesworth afternoons 3 til 6, both formerly on KTSA and WOAI? They are joined by George McKenzie
from noon til three on this John Barger-backed station.
Had a recent talk with Sonny, and he is really stoked about
his new career turn. Everybody in radio keeps on going around & coming around here in S.A., but alot would likely agree
it's always been the most fun and positive here at 550 KTSA & 102.7 K-ROCK, formerly KTFM. Keep those good old stories
comin', Jim! The best to you, Johnny
Yes, April 5 marked the very first Tuesday for my column. Fridays
are still in the pack, too. Due to so much email, plus my windy comments, cannot seem to hold the content down to a goal
of no more than 3000 words each Friday. Even that amount is way too many. Every week have to move thousands of words ahead.
LARRY SHANNON made a suggestion to add Tuesdays, in addition to the Friday edition, to aid in that endeavor. More elbow grease,
but a great idea.
JOHNNY SHANNON (San Antonio, TX) kirbystudio@yahoo.com Yo Jim, Thanks for the T-R-H of F gesture. Wow, what a guy you are, 2 years in a row! I'll be sure to nominate
you, too.
Gettin' nominated and inducted are two different things...a
lot of politics to get the majority of votes for induction. Might have to just retire as a 'would-have-been'.
Not sure yet if I'll make it to Dallas for the next gathering,
would be nice. will let you know.
The answer to your question I keep forgetting to tell you is...no,
I haven't seen or talked with Bruce lately. Only heard he is no longer with Metro Traffic, where he provided News to KKYX.
Don't know the circumstances, but heard he is doing well. That's good, he is a wonderful guy. Hoping to catch up with him
soon. Hope all is well for the Roses of Yewston. JS
Well, in 1977, I did get nominated for the CMA Medium Market Music
Director of the year when at KTRM in Beaumont (1976-77). That in itself was gratifying. Did not even know about it until began
receiving cards and letters from other broadcasters who conveyed congradulations.
BRUCE HATHAWAY is a living legend. BRUCE's American Bandstand style TV
show was enormously popular throughout the south Texas empire in the early 1960s, plus all those grand and glorious years
as a DJ and programmer at both The Big T, KTSA-550 and KTFM FM. Very proud to have BRUCE HATHAWAY as a friend.
