Friday-Monday, August 31-September 3, 2007

Ad spending edge goes to the Internet...

I couldn't resist following up on the latest news regarding a topic I've been pounding for a while now - advertising spending. Sometimes stories fall right into your lap and when I saw the Forbes headline Web Ad Spending To Eclipse Radio in '07 I knew I had my next feature story. U.S. Internet advertising spending will pass radio advertising for the first time this year giving radio another wake-up call as we go into the unofficial summer-ending Labor Day weekend. As the Beach Boys remind us every June, "There's a time for joy, a time for tears, a time we'll treasure through the years" but these times won't be treasured through the years for the radio industry unless they wake up now...

eMarketer senior analyst Ben Macklin has radio ad spending inching up 1.5% in 2007 to $20.4 billion while online ad expenditures go up 22% from last year's figure to $21.7 billion. Macklin claims that radio station Web sites and online audio advertising "will be the principal drivers for radio advertising growth". He also expects the sluggish radio advertising market to continue to be so sluggish that by 2011 online ad spending will double radio, $44 billion to $22.6 billion...

Why will Internet ad spending money dwarf that of radio ad spending? Here's why. According to a study released earlier this year (Arbitron and Edison Media Research) only 17% of U.S. consumers consider radio the "most" essential medium, down from 26% five years ago. That's why. But there is some light at the end of the revenue radio tunnel. Macklin has this advice, "Advertisers should not abandon radio in favor of the Web but combine the two media to take advantage of the unique attributes of each". Here's Mel's advice, if your radio station is not utilizing its website to make money in addition to telling everyone how great your contests and personalities are, you lose!!!

10 Timeline Memories for August 31:

1. 1888] The Ripper strikes: Mary Ann "Polly" Nicholls is found murdered in London's East End becoming 'Jack the Ripper's' 1st victim on his rampage but as many as 13 may have been victims...
2. 1950] Joining the club: Gil Hodges of the Brooklyn Dodgers hits 4 home runs in a 19-3 pasting of the Boston Braves...
3. 1954] Oh Carol: Hurricane Carol hits the northeast, killing nearly 70 (60 in New England alone) and resulting in millions of dollars in damage...
4. 1969] We lose the real 'Rocky': Undefeated heavyweight champion Rocky Marciano from Brockton (MA) dies in a light plane crash in Iowa, the day before his 46th birthday. Rocky is the only undefeated heavyweight champ in history. This is a terrific tribute to the Rock: http://youtube.com/watch?v=Hp_fqTpt9EA ...
5. 1974] Curtains: After 4 years on the air, "The Partridge Family" ends. Here's David Cassidy, Shirley Jones and the rest of the family ending their roller coaster ride: http://youtube.com/watch?v=AO0GamSg19k ...
6. 1976] Here come de judge: A judge rules that George Harrison is guilty of copying from the Chiffon's hit "He's So Fine" when writing "My Sweet Lord"...
7. 1985] Gotcha!: Richard Ramirez, later convicted of California's "Night Stalker" murders is captured by residents of an East Los Angeles neighborhood. He would be judged guilty of 13 murders, 5 attempted murders and numerous sexual assaults and burglaries...
8. 1995] Debuted on this date: The doors of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame are opened to the public in Cleveland...
9. 1997] The death of a princess: This was the day that Princess Diana met her death in that tragic crash in a French tunnel. Diana was just 36...
10. 2002] "Happy Trails": The legendary Lionel Hampton dies from cardiac arrest at 94...

Music Memories: All our music videos were #1 on Labor Day Weekend...

• 1957] 50 years ago: "Tammy" - Debbie Reynolds. Debbie sings her biggest (and only) hit in a scene from "Tammy and The Bachelor": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkXBRPmekAI ...
• 1967] 40 years ago: "Ode to Billy Joe" - Bobbie Gentry from the movie "Ode to Billy Joe": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q4VPCaOBWsE ...
• 1977] 30 years ago: "Best of My Love" - Emotions. The Emotions sing to scenes from the O.C.: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2kxcTf6Sprk&mode=related&search= ...
• 1987] 20 years ago: "La Bamba" - Los Lobos (the excellent remake of the Ritchie Valens hit which was made into a movie): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YicJPLT1dWU ...
• 1997] 10 years ago: "Mo Money Mo Problems" - Notorious B.I.G./Puff Daddy/Ma$e (no movie - just mo money): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6nzHIx4fVuE [To ensure accuracy of dates and content, multiple reference sources are used in each timeline]...

Commentary...

Checking in with e-mails were: Harvey Mednick, Frank Kingston Smith and Gordon Brown. Harvey reminds that re: Glenn Ford, his remake of the classic "3:10 to Yuma" is now out, FKS remembers when he played "634-5789" by Wilson Pickett that a lady in Milford (MA) got called which only proves Pavlov's theory and Gordie who thanked me for linking his birthday with that of Kitty Wells but his birthday is not until September 5th. Gordie: you've already had more mentions of a birthday than anyone has ever received. Finally to everyone: Make it a safe and happy Labor Day weekend...

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":

(8/31) Deborah Gibson (37), Marcia Clark (54), Richard Gere (58), Tom Coughlin (61), Van Morrison (62), Itzhak Perlman (62), Jerry Allison (Crickets) (68), Frank Robinson (72), Dan Rather (76) and Daniel Schorr (91)...

(9/1) Gloria Estefan (50), Dr. Phil McGraw (57), Archie Bell (63), Lily Tomlin (68), Alan Dershowitz (69) and George Maharis (79)...

(9/2) Salma Hayek (41), Lennox Lewis (42), Keanu Reeves (43), Jimmy Connors (55), Mark Harmon (56), Terry Bradshaw (59), Joe Simon (64), Jimmy Clanton (67) and Peter Ueberroth (70)...

(9/3) Charlie Sheen (42), Valerie Perrine (64), Al Jardine (65), Eileen Brennan (72), Anne Jackson (81), Hank Thompson (82) and 'Beetle Bailey' cartoonist Mort Walker (84)...

Saturday-Monday, September 1-3, 2007

10 Timeline Memories:

1. 1897] (9/1) The 1st subway that didn't make sandwiches: The 1st subway system in the U.S. opens in Boston. Over 95% of the original subway tunnels remain in use today...
2. 1942] (9/3) The 1st "Dooby dooby doo": Frank Sinatra starts his solo career...
3. 1942] (9/3) Curtains: "The Lone Ranger" airs on radio for the last time after 2,956 episodes covering a period of 21 years...1966] "The Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet" ends after 14 years. It ran on radio for 10 years and then on radio and TV...1967] After 17 years, "What's My Line" ends its run...1977] "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" bows out with the famous group hug. All of these shows had their finale on 9/3...
4. 1956] (9/1) Pink Cadillac: Elvis Presley shares early success with his family, buying his mother a pink Cadillac...
5. 1963] (9/2) #1 Angels: The Angels become the 1st white female group to have a #1 record in the pop music era with "My Boyfriend's Back"...
6. 1970] (9/1) The dream ends: The last episode of "I Dream of Jeannie" airs. The show premiered on September 18, 1965...
7. 1970] (9/3) "Happy Trails": Legendary coach Vince Lombardi dies from cancer at 57...1991] Movie director Frank Capra is the victim of a heart attack in his sleep at 94...2001] Movie critic Pauline Kael passes away from Parkinson's disease at 82...(all on 9/3)...
8. 1983] (9/2) O Solo Mio: Tom Brokaw becomes sole anchor of NBC's "Nightly News". His final broadcast was Dec. 1, 2004. Brian Williams replaces him...
9. 1985] (9/1) The real Titanic: Is found by a joint U.S.-French expedition. The wreck site is located 963 miles northeast of New York and 453 miles southeast of Newfoundland...
10. 1995] (9/2) The rock rolls on: The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (already opened to the public) holds a 7-hour concert starring Jerry Lee Lewis, Aretha Franklin and Bob Dylan as part of the opening celebration...

Timeline Countdown (as of Sept. 3, 2007) Today is Labor Day and 3 days remain until the NFL opener on Thursday night...

Thursday, August 30, 2007

Spector trial coming to an end...

Superior Court Judge Larry Paul Fidler ruled out manslaughter as a possible verdict in the Phil Spector murder trial yesterday. He instructed the jury not to consider any possible lesser decision than second-degree murder. If convicted, Spector will face a sentence of 15 years to life with a possible addition of 10 years for use of a firearm. If acquitted, Spector walks...

Spector's new lawyer Dennis Riordan says "We're asking the court to roll the dice for us." Riordan recently replaced the departing Bruce Cutler who dreamed of the good old days when he would just have to defend John Gotti, a piece of tiramisu compared to the 'Wall of Sound' maestro. It seems that this trial which started in April (2007) has dragged on forever but the end is near...

Alan Jackson is handling the prosecution's closing arguments while Patrick Dixon handles the rebuttal argument for Spector. Linda Kenney Baden will take care of the science portion of the defense's case. The arguments should last about 2 days before the jury gets the judge's instructions, followed by deliberation by the panel. What makes this case seem much longer than the 4 months it took is the actual death of Lana Clarkson which occurred on February 3, 2003. The decision is sure to be followed by some vicious bargaining by the networks for an exclusive interview with Phil Spector and another spectacle. Meanwhile let's not forget that a person lost her life in this case. It's something that got lost somewhere on the way to a verdict...

There are some very interesting items in my Commentary on people you know. It follows the timelines...

10 Timeline Memories:

1. 1963] Beechwood 4-5789: The hot-line communications line between Washington and Moscow goes into operation. This was the second most important hot-line. The first? The Drake bat-phone...
2. 1965] Confirmation day: Thurgood Marshall is confirmed by the Senate as the 1st black Supreme Court Justice...
3. 1976] Debut day: Tom Brokaw joins the "Today Show" as news anchor...
4. 1984] SOLD to the highest bidder: An auction of Beatles memorabilia in London, including Ringo Starr's snare drum and an unpublished John Lennon book fetches $270,000 (USD)...
5. 1988] "D-I-V-O-R-C-E": Julianne Phillips files for divorce from Bruce Springsteen...
6. 1989] Queen of Mean guilt: A federal jury in New York finds Leona Helmsley guilty of income tax evasion but acquits her of extortion. The late 'Queen' just left $12 million to her dog (The New York Post yesterday had a picture of Leona holding the pooch with the headline: The Rich Bitch, one of the Post's classic headlines)...
7. 1992] An Emmy for the moose: "Northern Exposure" wins an Emmy for "Outstanding Series" (that is was and here's the final scene of this outstanding series): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZIVfE0GJgdQ ...
8. 1993] Dave TV: David Letterman begins his "Late Show with David Letterman" on CBS-TV and here's the opening of that show: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VA90LEUwTfI ...
9. 2005] Katrina II: A day after Hurricane Katrina hit, floodwaters cover 80% of New Orleans, looting spreads and rescuers in helicopters and boats pick up hundreds of stranded people...
10. 2006] "Happy Trails": Following a series of strokes, veteran actor Glenn Ford passes away at 90 (remember "Blackboard Jungle"?)...

Music Memories:

• 1961] #1 on this date: 1961] "Michael" - Highwaymen...1965] "Help!" - Beatles...
• 1964] A Beatles sighting: The Beatles draw 18,000 to the Atlantic City Convention Hall. This was a great year, I was a jock at WMID and my daughter Lynn had been born at AC Hospital in January. The Democrats held their National Convention where the Beatles played that summer also...
• 1970] Paint it Wight: Jimi Hendrix, the Doors, the Who, Joni Mitchell, Jethro Tull, the Moody Blues and more, appear at the 'Isle of Wight Pop Festival'...
• 1972] One to One: John Lennon & Yoko Ono perform at their "One To One" benefit for children at Madison Square Garden...
• 1981] Released on this date: "Tatoo You" (LP) - Rolling Stones...[To ensure accuracy of dates and content, multiple reference sources are used in each timeline]...

Commentary...

"Happy Trails" to Hilly Kristal, who had just closed his club, CBGB last October and had talked about opening a new one in Las Vegas never got a chance to do it. 75-year old Hilly passed away yesterday after a long battle with lung cancer. Hilly was instrumental in exposing such successful acts at his club like Blondie, the Ramones and Talking Heads. Sorry to hear about his passing. There is better news though... Joe McCoy brought to my attention the latest Freddy Cannon song. "Down at Fenway Park" which is being played at Fenway and here's a video of the song's opening: http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=14115295 . Good job Freddy and perfect timing with the Red Sox trying to hold on to their lead over the Yankees. Good luck to you my friend...Congratulations to Mitch Lebe. Mitch, a mensch, was nicknamed "The Teenage Disk Jockey" when he was hired by then Top 40 WINS at the age of 16, 49 years ago today on August 30, 1958 by PD Mel Leeds. Mitch moved from jock to newsman after WINS and is currently at business radio formatted WBBR...Finally, thanks to Ron Alexenburg, Jim Charne, Jim Scully and those who just mailed out the final Columbia/Epic Records Alumni Associate Newsletter as a tribute to Tommy Noonan who toiled over it for years until his passing last October. It's packed with photos of Tommy and the stars he worked with, along with tributes. I shall treasure my copy...

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":

Andy Roddick (25), Cameron Diaz (35), Michael Chiklis (41), Robert "The Chief" Parish (54), Timothy Bottoms (56), Peggy Lipton (60), Elizabeth Ashley (68), Warren Buffett (77), Bill Daily (79) and the "Queen of Country Music" Kitty Wells (88). As a tribute to Kitty and Gordon Brown (68/WRKO) who celebrate their birthdays on the same date, here's Kitty: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YStk4mgKGxc ...

Timeline Countdown: The College Football Kickoff is tonight, 4 days until Labor Day and 7 days until the NFL opening game...

Wednesday, August 29, 2007

The Good...The Bad...The Ugly of the Month...

The Good
August was a big month for achievements in baseball (Bonds, A-Rod, Glavine) and both the Baseball and Pro Football Halls of Fame welcomed new members but none of these folks get the 'Good Award of The Month'. That award belongs to James S. Oddo. James S. Whoddo??? James S. Oddo is the Staten Island Republican who was in the forefront of a movement to ban aluminum bats in New York City high school baseball games. A New York City Council bill banning metal bats in March was upheld by a U.S. District judge yesterday. Given the death of an 18-year-old American Legion pitcher in 2003 and more recently a 12-year-old from New Jersey, critically injured from a ball to the chest, councilman Lewis A. Fidler summed it up well when he said "We will never know what parents' child we saved by passing this bill today." James S. Oddo is our 'Good Award Winner of The Month"...

The Bad
No question that dirty NBA referee Tim Donaghy qualifies for this award. So too does Britt Reid, son of Eagles' coach Andy Reid, picked up again the other day and jailed but neither one gets this award. That goes to Mitch Cozad, backup punter for Northern Colorado who was found guilty of second-degree assault but acquitted of attempted first-degree murder in the stabbing of first-string punter Rafael Mendoza last September. Cozad's motivation? He wanted Mendoza's job. Cozad will be sentenced October 2nd. He faces up to 16 years in prison. Mitch Cozad - congratulations, you're our 'Bad Award Winner of The Month"...

The Ugly
"Hozay, hozay, hozay, hozay" No not that Jose (Reyes). Jose Offerman who made a human pinata out of a couple of opponents in a Long Island Ducks game. Jose finishes a close second to our winner. There can only be one 'Ugly Award Winner of The Month" and that honor goes to, who else? Michael Vick. The latest Vick update is an expected meeting with NFL commish Roger Goodell sometime soon. December 10th is the sentencing date for Vick, who's already been indefinitely suspended by Goodell and is liable for the $22 million in bonus money paid to him by the Atlanta Falcons. Keep your eye on this potentially future 'Ugly' winner, Houston Rockets guard Rafer Alston. Already accused of a misdemeanor assault and public intoxication in Houston 3 weeks ago, Alston was released without bail after being charged with stabbing a man at a Manhattan nightspot last night. But for August, we say congratulations Michael Vick, you are are 'Ugly Award Winner of The Month"...

10 Timeline Memories:

1. 1886] Chop what?: In New York City, Chinese Ambassador Li Hung-chang's chef invents chop suey. Suey - Isn't that how they call pigs???
2. 1892] Corkscrewed into the ground: Bill "Pop" Shriver of the Chicago Cubs catches a ball dropped from the top of the Washington Monument. It takes several days to extract Shriver who could only be seen from the neck up...
3. 1965] Casey bows out (with a bird under his hat?): 75-year old Mets manager Casey Stengel retires after a 56-year career...
4. 1967] Dr. Richard Kimble bows out: The last episode of "The Fugitive" draws 72% of the TV audience as Kimble is freed in a wild water tower chase where Lt. Philip Gerard kills the one-armed guy who was about to kill the good doctor. A witness agrees to testify that the one-armed dude killed the wife of Kimble. Here's a great flashback montage of the show: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pY1qkygzcQE ...
5. 1977] Would-be body snatchers: Three people are arrested for trying to steal Elvis Presley's body. Would this have made Elvis a nobody???
6. 1977] Legalized larceny: Lou Brock breaks Ty Cobb's 49-year old stolen base record with his 893rd swipe...
7. 1982] "Happy Trails": Swedish film star Ingrid Bergman dies on her 67th birthday after a long battle with breast cancer. No one lit up the screen like Bergman, seen here in scenes from "Casablanca": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nNMTZMncvQ4 ...
8. 1996] Oops: Bill Clinton's chief political strategist, Dick Morris, resigns amid a scandal over his relationship with a prostitute...
9. 2002] Guilty as charged: Kennedy cousin Michael Skakel is sentenced to 20 years-to-life for bludgeoning his then teenage neighbor in 1977 - Martha Moxley. His attorneys keep appealing the ruling every year to no avail...
10. 2005] Katrina: Hurricane Katrina makes landfall along the Louisiana coast, overwhelming the levees protecting New Orleans. The massive flooding takes more than 1,500 lives and here's New Orleans mayor Ray Nagin in action: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W53k7uHh_t4 ...

Music Memories:

• 1958] George brings his guitar: George Harrison joins John Lennon and Paul McCartney as a member of the Quarrymen...
• 1964] Released on this date: "Oh, Pretty Woman" - Roy Orbison...1970] "Lola" - Kinks. Here's a video of the Kinks in a live performance of the tune: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IMsnqQHOwFg ...
• 1966] The Beatles Last Date: The Fab Four play their last U.S. date at Candlestick Park in San Francisco. Bob Sherwood recently mentioned that he still has tickets for that show, an eBay gold mine, no doubt. Two years earlier on the same date in 1964 the Beatles played their second appearance in Forest Hills. Pete Bennett was at both shows with Murray the K..
• 1971] #1 on this date: "Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey" - Paul McCartney...1982] "Abracadabra" - Steve Miller...[To ensure accuracy of dates and content, multiple reference sources are used in every timeline]...

Commentary...

Frank Kingston Smith in regard to the 1988 timeline about an air disaster: "Actually the team was the Italian Air Force Fricci Tricolori and they were anything BUT stunt planes. The formation crossing maneuver they were performing was risky at best and was performed with massive energy directed toward the spectators. This is something that is outlawed in the U.S. and Canada. Spectators have to be at least 1,500 feet from the performance line, while in Europe, spectators line up right at the edge of the runway. No spectator has sustained so much as a hangnail as a result of an aerobatic performance at any U.S. airshow since the 1920's". FYI: Frank in addition to possessing one of the finest radio voices in the business, is a pilot and recently lost a close friend at an air show...

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":

Rebecca DeMornay (45), Michael Jackson (49), Robin Leach (66), Elliott Gould (69), Senator John McCain (71) and Richard Attenborough (84)...

Timeline Countdown: One day from the College Football Kickoff, 5 days until Labor Day and 8 days until the NFL opener...

Tuesday, August 28, 2007

Hearst goes to court to name names...

The strength of the Hearst Corporation these days is no longer their newspaper business, it's magazines. Minus San Francisco (the Chronicle) you would be hard pressed to name a Hearst newspaper where you live. Their New York paper is in Albany. The same is not true with their magazine division which numbers Cosmo, Esquire, Good Housekeeping, O and Popular Mechanics but the grand old news corporation is getting feisty these days. They went to federal court yesterday in an attempt to make public the names of baseball players implicated in obtaining steroids, the infamous George Mitchell list...

That list was obtained by IRS Special Agent Jeff Novitsky who gathered all the scraps of papers he could find at the home of New York Mets clubhouse attendant Kirk Radomski. The government said former players were supplied drugs by Radomski but those two dozen or so names were blacked out when the search warrant was unsealed in April. Hearst wants the names on the list to be made public. Wouldn't that make a nice exclusive headline? The government and the Major League Baseball Players Association says I don't think so...

Chances of this happening are as good as Michael Vick starting the Falcons 1st game as quarterback or Mike Mussina pitching a good game but then you never know how a federal judge will rule. In July a federal judge in Phoenix rejected an AP request for the names but U.S. Magistrate Edward C. Voss said his ruling could change once the government probe ends. Says the judge, "When the investigation concludes, the weight of the government's argument against disclosure will change dramatically." Since the New York press gets and publishes every list of "John's", wacko judges, naughty pizza delivery guys and
tainted people they can find, this is a challenge to the media here. Get that list and publish it...

10 Timeline Memories:

1. 1922] Spot Radio is born: The 1st radio commercial airs on WEAF (which becomes WNnnnnBC) in New York City and no it was not a commercial for Carvel or Castro Convertibles, it was a 10-minute ad for the Queensboro Realty Co. which cost $100 to air...
2. 1963] "I have a dream": A quarter of a million people participate in a peaceful civil rights rally in Washington where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. eloquently delivers his "I have a dream" speech in front of the Lincoln Memorial. Peter, Paul and Mary sing "Blowin' in the Wind" and from a "Bitter End" appearance: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MmnENmCoyl8 ...
3. 1968] Democracy at work?: Police and anti-war demonstrators clash in the streets of Chicago as the Democrats nominate Hubert H. Humphrey for president...
4. 1972] Gold Standard: Swimmer Mark Spitz captures the first of 7 gold medals at the Munich Olympics: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGuxfoZoq9Q ...1973] "Monster Mash" - Bobby 'Boris' Pickett...1973] "Smoke on The Water" - Deep Purple...
5. 1988] Emmy Gold: "Thirty Something" and "The Wonder Years" are the big winners at the 40th Emmy Awards...
6. 1988] Tragedy in the air: 2 Italian stunt planes collide during an air show at the U.S. Air Base in Ramstein, West Germany. 70 are killed...
7. 1991] Busted: A #4 subway train operator is charged with manslaughter after his New York City train derails at 14th Street and kills 5. 133 are injured. The operator had been drinking...
8. 1995] Wedding Bells: The biggest bank in the U.S. is created when Chase Manhattan and Chemical Bank announce a $10 billion dollar deal...
9. 1996] "D-I-V-O-R-C-E": Prince Charles and Princess Diana end their 15-year marriage...
10. 2005] Women and children first: New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin orders everyone in the city to evacuate ahead of Hurricane Katrina...

Music Memories:

• 1961] Released on this date: "Please Mr. Postman" - Marvelletes, the 1st #1 pop hit for Motown. The Marvelletes do this medley from an Apollo Theater appearance: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ObLHPaBClgI ...
• 1964] Live from Forest Hills: On the day the Beatles appear on the cover of LIFE magazine, they play at the Forest Hills Tennis Stadium before a sellout crowd of 16,000 in the 1st of 2 shows...

Commentary...

The U.S. Open started in Flushing Meadows yesterday and doesn't conclude until the week after Labor Day and the Red Sox with a sizeable lead over the Yankees are in town for a 3-game series starting tonight. Usually the Mets are at Shea when the Open starts but this time are on the road in Philadelphia and then Atlanta in crucial series. Next weekend they will be home to confuse the folks who get off at the same #7 Shea Stadium stop. New York is hoppin' as we head for September...

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":

Leann Rimes (25), Jason Priestly (38), Jack Black (38), Shania Twain who is "Still The One" at 42: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7z4Fek2rCmQ , Scott Hamilton (49), Ron Guidry (57), David Soul (64), Lou Piniella (64), Ben Gazzara (77) and Billy Grammer (82)...

Timeline Countdown: 2 days until College Football Kickoff, 6 days until Labor Day and 9 days until the NFL opener...

Monday, August 27, 2007

Suleman's star has risen...

There was always a high regard in the then Viacom hallways for Farid Suleman who had just ended his 16-year relationship with Mel Karmazin to run Citadel Communications. That was in 2002. In 5 years Citadel has become the 3rd largest radio group in the country. Suleman topped his Citadel Communications sundae with a giant cherry when he purchased ABC from Disney last year for $2.7 billion. Farid Suleman became his former mentor with that purchase. No one is bigger in the radio industry at the moment, not even Mel Karmazin who sweats it out to see whether he'll be running one satellite company or two...

In a New York Post column from this morning's edition, Peter Lauria suggests that Suleman is the front-runner to sign Don Imus. Last week he signed Bob Grant, a New York radio outcast since his tasteless comment on the late Commerce Secretary Ron Brown who died in a plane crash. Is the I-man next? Suleman told the Post that Imus' availability would be an opportunity and he would consider hiring Donald only if he could make the numbers work. Suleman's comments can be found in the dictionary under the word "coy". Like Suleman would turn down a $30 million addition to the Citadel coffers!!!

The Citadel website proudly trumpets its "177 FM stations, 66 AM stations in the nation's leading markets, a network that reaches more than 4,000 affiliates and such syndicated radio programs as Paul Harvey, Sean Hannity, Tom Joyner, 24/7 music formats and a company focused exclusively on the radio business." Will the name Don Imus go up next on their website? Stay tuned...

10 Timeline Memories:

1. 1859] Oil, black gold, Pennsylvania tea?: The 1st oil well is drilled successfully in the U.S. by Colonel Edwin L. Drake near Titusville, Pennsylvania...
2. 1921] Cheeseheads are born: The owner of the Acme Packing Co. buys a football team for the town of Green Bay (WI). J.E. Clair pays tribute to those who work at his plant by naming the team - The Green Bay Packers. To this day, the only community owned team in any sport...
3. 1961] Are you talking to me?: Francis the Talking Mule is mystery guest on "What's My Line"...
4. 1966] The King meets the Beatles: Elvis Presley invites the Beatles over to his Bel Aire house to jam. It's the 1st and last meeting of the pop icons and the Beatles remember that meeting: http://youtube.com/watch?v=KtTM7tnDGLI ...
5. 1976] Not that there's anything wrong with that: Sex-change tennis player Renee Richards is denied admission to the U.S. Open in Forest Hills. They couldn't figure out whether Renee would be in the men's or women's competition...
6. 1982] Legal larceny: 23-year old Rickey Henderson steals his 119th base, breaking Lou Brock's season record. Now first base coach for the Mets, Rickey still holds the career record of 1,406 SB's...
7. 1984] Teacher in Space: President Ronald Reagan announces his "Teacher in Space" project, 11,000 teachers apply and Christa McAuliffe of New Hampshire is selected but will tragically lose her life aboard Challenger. Barbara Morgan, a former teacher and part of the program recently returned safely from her mission...
8. 1990] "Happy Trails": 35-year old Texas rocker Stevie Ray Vaughan (who took his brother Jimmie's seat) and 3 members of Eric Clapton's crew are killed in a helicopter crash in Wisconsin in bad flying weather...
9. 1992] Sold to the highest bidder: John Lennon's handwritten lyrics to "A Day In The Life" are sold for $87,000 at auction: http://youtube.com/watch?v=gZez_k4vAzU ...
10. 2001] A lasting memorial: Work begins on the future site of a WWII memorial in Washington, D.C...

Music Memories:

• 1965] Released on this date: "Highway 61 Revisited" - Bob Dylan...1966] "Cherish" - Association... [To ensure accuracy of dates and content, multiple reference sources are used in each timeline]...

Commentary...

Get well wishes go out to Joe McCoy. Belated birthday wishes go out to Jeff Mazzei of WCBS-FM. Happy Birthday to Gordon Brown and Joe D'Ambrosio, who are celebrating birthdays this week...

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":

Paul Reubens a.k.a. Pee Wee Herman (55), Tuesday Weld (64), Daryl Dragon a.k.a. The Captain (65), Tommy Sands (70) and Ira ("Rosemary's Baby") Levin (78)...

Timeline Countdown: 3 days until the College Football Kickoff, 7 days until Labor Day and 10 days until the NFL opener...

Friday, August 17 - Sunday, August 26, 2007

The stars rain down on Sunday...

"Starry, starry night"...If you like watching shooting stars you're in for a real treat on Sunday night. The annual Perseid meteor shower will be peaking late Sunday into early Monday. That's when you'll see more stars than a Jerry Lewis Labor Day Telethon can produce. How many stars, you ask? Astronomers estimate as many as 60 meteors (or shooting stars to you and I) per hour...

"Ground control to Major Tom"...This year's show comes with a bonus - Mars will be visible as a bright red dot in the northeastern sky. Although last year's show was a dud because of the moon's glare, no worries this year. "Say, it's only a paper moon"...With a new moon Sunday night, the skies will be dark and perfect for more shooting stars than Dick Cheney could hit with a shotgun. "Stars shining bright above you"...Unlike other shooting star sightings (say that fast 10 times in a row) that required a telescope or binoculars, no need this time. You'll be able to see the stars with your naked eye. This year you won't have to sing "where are you little star?"...

Enjoy the show and since I live in New York can someone tell me how it was???

10 Timeline Memories:

1. 1790] Musical capitals: The capital city of these United States moves from New York City to Philadelphia...
2. 1877] Notch #1: F.P. Cahill becomes famous. He's 'Billy the Kid's' first victim and here is a video profile of the notorious bandit: http://youtube.com/watch?v=nBB-Qtuiegw&mode=related&search= ...
3. 1896] Thar's gold in them thar hills: The Klondike gold rush is set off by George Carmack who discovers gold in Rabbit Creek, Alaska...
4. 1903] What a prize: Joseph Pulitzer donates a million dollars to Columbia University. This starts the Pulitzer Prize awards...
5. 1920] "Happy Trails": 29-year old Ray Chapman of the Cleveland Indians is beaned by Yankees fastballer Carl Mays on the 16th and succumbs to the beaning on the 17th. It's the first and final time a baseball player is killed in a game...1973] 34-year old Paul Williams of the Temptations dies from a self-inflicted gun shot wound...1987] Nazi murderer Rudolph Hess suffocates himself in prison at the age of 93. No love lost there...
6. 1969] Curtains: The Woodstock Music and Art Fair (the official name) ends after 3 days of music, mayhem, mud and luvvvv, man...
7. 1969] 'Cane catastrophe: Hurricane Camille slams into the Gulf Coast killing 248...
8. 1969] Tee it up: The Jets and Giants play their 1st pre-season game with the J-E-T-S winning...
9. 1988] A presidential admission: President Bill Clinton finally admits to an improper relationship (but not sex, right?) with ("That woman") (Miss) Monica Lewinsky...
10. 1992] Daddy Dearest: Woody Allen admits to being romantically involved with 17-year old Soon-Yi Previn, the adopted daughter of Mia Farrow, Allen's longtime companion. They are now married. Woody and Soon-Yi, not Woody and Mia...

Music Memories:

• 1964] Released on this date: "You Really Got Me" - Kinks...1968] "Hush" - Deep Purple. DP does it live in this video: http://youtube.com/watch?v=L58M88CweFg ...

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":

Jorge Posada (36), Donnie Wahlberg (38), Sean Penn (47), Belinda Carlisle (49), Robert DeNiro (64) and Maureen O'Hara (87)...

Timeline Countdown: 17 days until Labor Day and 20 days until the NFL opener...

Saturday-Sunday, August 18-19, 2007...

10 Timeline Memories:

1. 1937] FM CP: The 1st FM construction permit is issued in Boston. W1XOJ in Paxton goes on the air 2 years later. That station is now WSRS in Paxton (MA) (8/18)...
2. 1960] Convicted: A tribunal in Moscow convicts American U-2 pilot Francis Gary Powers of espionage. Gary will serve his time and eventually be released (8/19)..
3. 1961] That wall is not for handball: Construction of the Berlin Wall separating the western and eastern sectors of Berlin is completed (8/18)...
4. 1967] All news all the time: WCBS in New York goes all-news as they decide to compete with WINS. Both stations are now owned by CBS Radio (8/18)...
5. 1967] Brutal beaning: Red Sox star outfielder Tony Conigliaro is beaned by the Angels' Jack Hamilton at Fenway Park. A promising future is cut short although Tony C. will recover from the beaning but never be the same player again (8/18)...
6. 1973] Wedding Bells: Rita Coolidge and Kris Kristofferson say "I do". The marriage ends in 1980 (8/19)...1993] Kim Bassinger and Alec Baldwin unite and what exactly were they thinking??? (8/19)...1993] Mattel and Fisher Price walk down the aisle (8/19)...
7. 1977] "Happy Trails": The legendary Groucho Marx dies of pneumonia at 86. Groucho always said he wanted to be buried above Marilyn Monroe (8/19)...
8. 1981] Curtains: The final episode of "Charlie's Angels" airs after 5 years as a series (8/19)...1992] One of the greatest players to wear Celtics green, Larry Bird announces his retirement after 13 years and here's the video (8/18): http://youtube.com/watch?v=0BsHdQ4VuD4 ...1993] "Cheers", one of the most popular sit-coms of all-time ends its 11-year run (8/19)...
9. 1996] Tapped out: A record 6,654 (or 13,308 feet if my math is correct) tap their brains out at Macy's "Tap-o-mania" in front of Macy's on 34th Street. They set a new world's record. They should be damn proud of it too (8/18)...
10. 2004] A private matter: Google goes public, opening at $85 and closing at $100 with 22 million shares sold (8/19)...

Music Memories:

• 1962] Released on this date: "If I Had A Hammer" - Peter, Paul & Mary (8/18)...1973] "China Grove" - Doobie Brothers (8/18) Here's the video: http://youtube.com/watch?v=z9TzmgK91bg ...
• 1979] #1 on this date: "My Sharona" - The Knack (it stays at #1 for over a month) (8/19)...

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":

(8/18) Jeremy Shockey (27), Dennis Leary (50), Patrick Swayze (55), LaBelle's Nona Hendryx (62) and Sarah Dash (64), Martin Mull (64), Matt Snell (66), Frankie Avalon (67), Robert Redford (70), Roman Polanski (74) and Rosalynn Carter (80)...(8/19) Matthew Perry (38), Lee Ann Womack (41) I hope she dances: http://youtube.com/watch?v=xIAWY4LLsEw , Kyra Sedgwick (42), John Stamos (44), Ron Darling (47), Adam Arkin (51), Mary Matalin (54), Tipper Gore (59), Bill Clinton (61), Billy J. Kramer (64), Fred Thompson (65), Jill St. John (67), Johnny Nash (67), Ginger Baker (68)...[To ensure accuracy of dates and content, multiple reference sources are used in each timeline]...

Monday-Sunday, August 20-26, 2007...

10 Timeline Memories for the Week of Monday, August 20, 2007:

1. 1906] Nipper sighting: The Victor Talking Machine Company of Camden (NJ) begins to manufacture the Victrola. The hand-cranked machine with horn cabinet sold for $200, a bloody fortune in 1906 (8/22)...
2. 1959] Book it Dano: Hawaii becomes the 50th state as President Dwight D. Eisenhower issues the order for the 50-star U.S. flag (8/21)...
3. 1966] You say hello, they say goodbye: The Beatles play their final appearance in New York at Shea Stadium before a less-than sellout crowd of 44,600 (8/23)...
4. 1966] With no limes available, Juan puts the bat in the coconut: Giants pitcher Juan Marichal hits Dodgers catcher John Roseboro in the head with a bat during an on-field fight. Jose Offerman takes notes (8/22)...
5. 1981] Guilty as charged: Mark David Chapman is sentenced to 20 years-to-life for the murder of John Lennon (8/24)...
6. 1985] Oh Doctor: The Mets' Dwight "Doc" Gooden at 20 becomes the youngest pitcher to win 20 games. Gooden finishes the season at 24-4 (8/25)...
7. 1986] A preppie murder in the park: Jennifer Levin is found strangled in Central Park. 'Preppie Killer' Robert Chambers (now out) eventually confesses but uses a 'rough sex' defense. He served 15 years and was released at age 36 in August of 2005. Chambers was sentenced to 100 days in jail for heroin and cocaine possession about a year ago (8/26)...
8. 1989] A self-defense claim: Record executive Jose Menendez and his wife Kitty are shot to death by their sons Lyle and Erik, who claim self-defense after being abused. The 1st trial ends in hung juries but eventually the brothers are convicted and are still serving their terms (8/20)...
9. 1989] Banned from baseball: Baseball Commissioner Bart Giamatti bans Pete Rose permanently for betting on sports, including baseball as manager of the Reds (Tim Donaghy takes notes)(8/24)...
10. 1992] 'Scud Stud' is a dud: NBC fires 'Scud Stud' Arthur Kent after he refuses an assignment to Croatia, this after becoming a star for his Gulf War coverage. Arthur Kent is now seen as often as Jimmy Hoffa (8/21)...

Music Memories:

• 1961] #1 on this date: "Wooden Heart" - Joe Dowell (8/24)(here's the karaoke version including German lyrics: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dsOTzv3nl18 ... 1962] "The Loco-motion" - Little Eva (8/23) doing it live on TV: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i1mQwXW2MVg ... 1972] "Brandy" - Looking Glass (8/23) live on TV: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oR0oHQxlzGs ...1973] "Brother Louie" - Stories (8/24)...


• 1964] Hottest selling LP: "The Chipmunks sing the Beatles" (8/22)...


• 1965] Released on this date: "Eve of Destruction" - Barry McGuire (8/21) Barry sings it live on TV: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=39ESOKkU1ho ...1965] "Do You Believe In Magic" - Lovin' Spoonful (8/21) John Sebastian hugs his zither and he and ze Spoonz zing: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TzyOrcL69Ss ...1966] "Beauty Is Only Skin Deep" - Temptations (8/20) All 7 of them sing in this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GYKLldAUH7c ...1967] "Purple Haze" - Jimi Hendrix (8/26) Jimi is on fi-uh: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5hSW67ySCio ...1973] "Ramblin' Man" - Allman Brothers (8/25)...1974] "Angie" - Rolling Stones (8/20) and here's the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zY24FA6pZdc&v2 ...1975] "Born To Run" LP - Bruce Springsteen (8/25)...1976] "Boston" LP (8/25) and from the album, Boston does "More Than A Feeling" live in 1988: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8y_c9rBpLBo ...1979] "Cars" - Gary Numan (8/25) and one great video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2cdgTWitj_o ...1986] "Graceland" LP - Paul Simon (8/25)...


• 1980] Debuted on Broadway: Linda Ronstadt in "The Pirates of Penzance" (8/21)...

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday": (8/20) Joan Allen (51), Al Roker (53), Robert Plant (59), Jim Pankow (60), Connie Chung (61), Graig Nettles (63), Isaac Hayes (65) and George Mitchell (74)...(8/21) Amy Fisher (33), Kim Cattrall (51), Harry Smith (56), Patty McCormack (62), Jackie DeShannon (63), Kenny Rogers (69) and Melvin Van Peebles (75)...(8/22) Tori Amos (44), Cindy Williams (60), Steve Kroft (62), Bill Parcells (66), Valerie Harper (67), Carl Yastrzemski (68), General Norman Schwarzkopf (73) and Ray Bradbury (87)...(8/23) Kobe Bryant (29), Rick Springfield (58), Shelly Long (58), Ron Blomberg (59), Barbara Eden (73), Mark Russell (75) and Vera Miles (77)...(8/24) Dave Chappelle (34), Marlee Matlin (42), Craig Kilborn (45), Cal Ripken Jr. (47), Chi-Lite Marshall Thompson (65), Mason Williams (69) and Kenny (R2-D2) Baker (73)...(8/25) Claudia Schiffer (37), Billy Ray Cyrus (46), Elvis Costello (53), Gene Simmons (58), Walter (O'Jays) Williams (64), Tom Skerritt (74), Regis Philbin (76), Sean Connery (77), Monty Hall (86) and Van Johnson (90)...(8/26) Macaulay Culkin (27), Bob Cowsill (58), Lee Trevino (59), Valerie Simpson (59), Geraldine Ferraro (72), Tommy Heinsohn (73) and Ben Bradlee (86)...

Timeline Countdown for Sunday, August 26th: 8 days until Labor Day and 11 days for the NFL opener...

Thursday, August 16, 2007

George Klein remembers Elvis...

I met George when we were both RKO General a.k.a. 'Drake' program directors. At the time I was in Boston at WRKO and George was at WHBQ in Memphis. George would often regale all the RKO program directors at our annual meetings with stories of growing up with Elvis. He would hold up a flashy ring and proudly tell us about his latest birthday gift from Elvis or the new Cadillac he received for Christmas. George Klein was a member of the "Memphis Mafia" that surrounded Elvis all his life. I remember George describing Elvis as an 'oddball' in the way he dressed and was accepted at school. He would buy purple shirts and other clothes that good ole white boys never wore, opting to shop where black people did. George was recently interviewed by the Voice of America...

Some highlights of the interview include George Klein remembering his buddy: "I miss Elvis immensely and I think of him every day. He was the best friend I ever had. Elvis felt relaxed at Graceland. It's a comfortable home, it really is. When you walk in you feel comfortable, you feel safe and everything. Elvis could sing anything, he always said, 'As long as my voice doesn't fail me I know I'll be in show business." And what was Elvis's favorite music to enjoy when by himself? "It was gospel music" said George. How did Elvis feel about his movie career? George says "Elvis grew disenchanted with his movies. I'd ask him what his new movie was about and he'd say "same story, different location. I beat up the buy, get the girl and sing 12 songs." And what kind of 'girl' did Elvis prefer? "He liked ladies who were normal, everyday girls away from show business."...

If Elvis Presley were alive today he would be 72 years old. Elvis Presley was 42 the day he died in Memphis 30 years ago today. George Klein, one of Elvis's pallbearers the day Elvis was buried closed the interview with a final remembrance of his closest friend, "he was like a brother to me."...

10 Timeline Memories:

1. 1829] We are Siamese if you please: The original Siamese twins, Chang and Eng Bunker, 18, arrive in Boston to be exhibited to the Western world...
2. 1948] "Happy Trails": Babe Ruth loses his battle with throat cancer at 53. The legendary slugger was reduced to a shrunken frame at the time of his passing. His body will lie in state at Yankee Stadium as thousands pay their respects...1977] Elvis Presley dies suddenly at home in Memphis. Cause of death is listed as "coronary arrhythmia." 'The King' was just 42. The world mourns. Here's a 30th year anniversary tribute to Elvis: http://youtube.com/watch?v=XgJa6psPEg4&mode=related&search= ..2003] Idi Amin, former dictator of Uganda dies in exile in Saudi Arabia at 80. The world does not mourn...
3. 1954] S.I. sighting: Sports Illustrated publishes its 1st issue (showing Milwaukee star Eddie Matthews at bat on the cover)...
4. 1962] Musical chairs: Ringo Starr replaces Pete Best as Beatles drummer. In 2005 Pete Best was interviewed on life with the Beatles: http://youtube.com/watch?v=i_p3tKjy1xA&mode=related&search= ...1975] Peter Gabriel leaves Genesis which leaves lead vocals to Phil Collins...
5. 1983] Wedding Bells: Paul Simon and Carrie Fisher rock down the aisle...1985] Madonna and Sean Penn tie the knot...
6. 1987] Peace and love: Thousands of people worldwide began a two-day celebration of the "harmonic convergence" which believers called the start of a new, purer age of humankind. Or Woodstock without music...
7. 1988] Vote for me: George Bush names Dan Quayle as his running mate...2000] The Democrats choose Al Gore to run for president...
8. 1993] Rescue me: A 68-year old manufacturer of tuxedos, Harvey Weinstein, is found buried alive in a bunker near the Hudson River after being kidnapped 12 days earlier. Ransomed for $2 million, the money and suspects are arrested including a longtime employee of the victim...
9. 1995] The Union jack forever: Voters in Bermuda reject independence from Great Britain...
10. 2003] Busted: A car driven by U.S. Rep. Bill Janklow runs a stop sign on a rural road in South Dakota, collides with a motorcyclist who dies in the accident. Janklow will be convicted of manslaughter and forced to resign from Congress...

Music Memories:

• 1966] Released on this date: "Last Train To Clarksville" - Monkees. Here's the video of the song from an episode of the TV show: http://youtube.com/watch?v=1ISEV3evXwc ...[To ensure accuracy of dates and content, multiple reference sources are used in each timeline]...

Commentary...

One interesting and telling statistic from those that visit Graceland is the demographic of visitors. About half of the visitors making the pilgrimage to Elvis's home in Memphis are 35 or younger. They were either not born or ranged in age from 1 to 5 at the time of Elvis's passing...

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":

Sports interviewer Bonnie Bernstein (37), Steve Carell (44), Timothy Hutton (47), Angela Bassett (49), Madonna (49), 'Titanic' director James Cameron (53), J.T. Taylor (Kool and The Gang) (54), Kathie Lee Gifford (54), Leslie Ann Warren (61), Julie Newmar (74), Eydie Gorme (75), Frank Gifford (77), Robert Culp (77), Ann Blyth (79) and Fess Parker (82)...

Timeline Countdown: 18 days until Labor Day and 21 days until the NFL opener...

Wednesday, August 15, 2007

The first shoe drops...

With Boomer Esiason and Craig Carton, signed, sealed and delivered as Don Imus' replacements as morning show hosts on WFAN, the next question is when does the I-man resurface???

I've heard Esiason many times and he's good. Carton, his side-kick comes to the Fan from WKXW in New Jersey where he was to say the least - controversial. He was the jock that encouraged listeners to call in and report on illegal immigrants. I've never heard Carton but he's expected to add an edge to Esiason who can be testy himself as the sports expert among the two having gone from star quarterback to broadcaster. Esiason will continue to handle his other sports boradcasting commitments while doing the morning show...

With Mike (Greenburg) and Mike (Golic) making inroads across the street at WEPN (ESPN Radio) this should be quite a battle with the edge going to the Fan which has a superior signal at 660 as opposed to SportsRadio's 1050 frequency. Mike and Mike go together like "two straws in a coke" as the Moonglows once sang, it remains to be seen or heard to be more accurate, whether Esiason and Carton can work together, something they've never done...

Now that the first shoe has dropped, when will the second shoe drop, I-man??? Stand by...

10 Timeline Memories:

1. 1848] Let the torture begin: The dental chair is patented by M. Waldo Hanchett...
2. 1911] What is this stuff?: Crisco is introduced by Procter & Gamble...
3. 1935] "Happy Trails": Humorist Will Rogers and aviator Wiley Post, 37, are killed when their experimental, top-heavy plane crashes near Point Barrow, Alaska. Rogers was 56...
4. 1939] Premiered on this date: The MGM musical "The Wizard of Oz" premieres at Grauman's Chinese Theater in Hollywood. Here's the trailer: http://youtube.com/watch?v=X-ZULpr8m5o ...1948] CBS-TV inaugurates the 1st nightly news broadcast with anchorman Douglas Edwards...
5. 1945] V-J Day: The Allies proclaim V-J Day, one day after Japan agrees to surrender unconditionally...
6. 1948] Korea Day: The republic of Korea (South Korea) is proclaimed...
7. 1958] Wedding Bells: Buddy Holly and Maria Elena Santiago rock down the aisle in Lubbock (TX)...
8. 1971] Freeze: Richard M. Nixon puts a 90-day freeze on wages, rents and retail prices. We didn't feel the rent or retail freezes as much as the wage freezes, did we???
9. 1990] Bad break: Cancer sufferer, Giants pitcher Dave Dravecky breaks his arm while throwing a pitch in a televised game...
10. 2001] Chandra's parents: Chandra Levy's parents appear on "Larry King Live" discussing their daughter's disappearance on April 30th...

Music Memories:

• 1965] Live from Shea Stadium: The Beatles set a record for the largest single crowd at a concert as Shea Stadium swells to 56,000 fans screaming their brains out for the Fab Four. This video clip is phenomenal, showing Ed Sullivan introducing the group: http://youtube.com/watch?v=_mUXwnEWEnE ...
• 1969] Live from Woodstock: Richie Havens opens the 3-day historic music event and here's the actual footage: http://youtube.com/watch?v=Fk0sBEbqU5M . Also appearing during the 3-day festival of music, mayhem, mud and luvvvv (man) include acts like: Janis Joplin, Sly & the Family Stone, Joe Cocker, Jefferson Airplane, Santana, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Blood, Sweat & Tears and Crosby, Stills & Nash, seen here: http://youtube.com/watch?v=MVEUbIgJa9Q&mode=related&search= ...
• 1991] Live from Central Park: Paul Simon plays a free concert in Central Park before a gathering of 750,000...[To ensure accuracy of dates and content, multiple reference sources are used in each timeline]...

Commentary...

The death of "The Scooter" a.k.a. Phil Rizzuto marks another death in a long run of heroes of our youth for many, including this blogger. Rizzuto is remembered by most for his Yankee broadcasts which began in 1957 but he was also a terrific shortstop, enshrined in the Baseball Hall of Fame. It's hard to believe that he was the oldest living Hall of Famer but he was 89. Of all the people affected by his passing, former teammate and close friend Yogi Berra took it the hardest but still managed this Yogiism: "When I first came up to the Yankees, he was like a big - actually - small, brother to me. He's meant an awful lot to baseball and the Yankees and has left us with a lot of wonderful memories." R.I.P Phil "Scooter" Rizzuto...

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":

Ben Affleck (35), Debra Messing (39), Princess Anne of Britain (57), Jimmy Webb (61), Linda Ellerbee (63), Mike Connors (82) and Rose Marie (84)...

Timeline Countdown: 19 days until Labor Day and 22 days until the NFL opener...

Tuesday, August 14, 2007

Yahoo beats Google in user satisfaction...

The search engine world's Yahoo vs. Google battle reminds me of the Yankees and Red Sox, Dodgers vs. Giants, Giants vs. Cowboys, Oklahoma-Texas, Ohio State-Michigan, Notre Dame-USC. You get the idea. In this highly competitive sci-tech universe in which we live and spend most of our waking hours, you, like me, probably use both Yahoo and Google equally as much. A press release just out this morning has the results of the latest battle between the two search engines and this time Yahoo comes out on top...

Data from the University of Michigan American Consumer Satisfaction Index a.k.a. ACSI, shows that Yahoo's customer satisfaction score rose 3.9% from a year ago to 79 out of 100 points while Google's rating fell about 3.7% to 78 points. The ACSI method uses data from interviews of nearly 70,000 customers to measure satisfaction with more than 200 companies in 45 industries. The Internet business data was compiled in the second quarter with at least 250 respondents for each company studied. Ask.com's search engine went up a whopping 5.6% (remember yesterday's MPR findings?) to 75 points as it continues to improve its search technology in a more user-friendly environment. AOL, moving in more of an ad-supported e-mail/entertainment direction, slipped more than 9% to a score of 67 points, only slightly higher than the customer satisfaction agencies, notably the Internal Revenue Service tax authority. No lie...

My blog is on blogspot.com, owned by Google. I search both Yahoo and Google and use news from both. They are both excellent sources. Long may the rivalry last...

10 Timeline Memories:

1. 1935] FDR signs SSA: President Franklin D. Roosevelt signs the Social Security Act into law creating unemployment insurance and pension plans for those over 65...
2. 1953] Whiffed: The whiffle ball is invented providing lots of future major league players with their first taste of hitting a pitched ball...
3. 1973] No more bombs: Bombing in Cambodia comes to an end...
4. 1980] Vote for me: The Democrats choose Jimmy Carter to run for president at Madison Square Garden...1996] The Republicans opt for Bob Dole as their presidential candidate...
5. 1980] On strike: Workers go on strike at the Lenin Shipyard in Gdansk, Poland in a job action that results in the creation of Lech Walesa and the Solidarity labor movement...
6. 1985] Breaking the Beatles bank: Michael Jackson outbids Paul McCartney and Yoko Ono for the ATV Music Publishing catalog containing the rights to more than 250 songs written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney. Total price for the catalog: $47.5 million. Paul will regret this day as long as he lives or until he gets the catalog back...
7. 1992] "Happy Trails": The Platters' lead singer Tony Williams dies at 64 from diabetes and emphysema...
8. 1994] Jackal roped: International terrorist 'Carlos the Jackal' is captured in Sudan. He's extradited to France the next day...
9. 1997] Guilty as charged: Timothy McVeigh is sentenced to death for the Oklahoma City bombing...
10. 2003] Lights out: A massive blackout hits the northeast and parts of Canada with 50 million losing power. Guess who was unaffected on the Cape??? For those who would like to reminisce: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2_c3ZXM2ws ...

Music Memories:

• 1965] Released on this date: "Hang On Sloopy" - McCoys (with Rick Derringer singing lead): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=73epSGdTWaY ...1971] "Reason To Believe/Maggie May" - Rod Stewart (the 'A' side was "Reason" until everyone started flipping the record)...1976] "Rock 'N Me" - Steve Miller Band...

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":

Patriot's linebacker Mike Vrabel (32), Halle Berry (41), Magic Johnson (48), 'Far Side' cartoonist Gary Larson (57), Danielle Steel (60), Susan St. James (61), Steve Martin (62), David Crosby (66), Dash Crofts (66) and here's Dash with partner James Seals: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vLhDNvbtFp4 , Earl Weaver (77), Alice Ghostly (81) and Buddy Greco (81)...

Timeline Countdown: 20 days until Labor Day and 23 days until the NFL opener...

Monday, August 13, 2007

Search engine privacy or lack thereof...

CNET.News.com recently did a comparison on search engine privacy with mixed results. The purpose of the study was to determine how long the major search engines keep your personal information and what they did with it. Based on questions asked, only Ask.com said it would not record what users type into its search engine. There were answers to 5 categories of questions. The categories were: 1) How long was the data retained? 2) Was the data deleted or anonymized? (in other words would your data be anonymously used?) 3) Is your info linked? 4) Is behavioral targeting used? (ads based on recent search request topics) and 5) Can you opt out of behavioral targeting???

Data retained
Ask.com (minutes), AOL (13 mos.), Google (18 mos.), Microsoft (18 mos.), Yahoo! (13 mos.)...

Deleted or anonymized?
Ask.com (deleted), AOL (deleted), Google (partially anonymized) (which part?), Microsoft (deleted), Yahoo! (partially anonymized) (see my Google question)...

User info linked?
Ask.com (No), AOL (No), Google (No), Microsoft (Yes), Yahoo (Yes)...

Behavioral targeting?
Ask.com (No), AOL (Yes), Google (No), Microsoft (Yes), Yahoo (Yes)...

Opt out of behavioral targeting?
Ask.com (N/A), AOL (Yes), Google (N/A), Microsoft (No, but you can opt out on third-party sites but not MSN.com), Yahoo (No)...

Search engines in bold offer the most privacy in each category. Privacy is important because our searches provide a unique glimpse into our personalities and private lives. Search terms have been used to convict a wireless hacker (a good thing) and lock up a man charged with killing his wife (another good thing unless you're the ACLU)) but search engine activity is also a thriving field for nosy divorce lawyers and employment disputes (not good things). One relatively easy way to protect your privacy when using search engines is to configure your browser to not permit the placing of cookies on your computer and there are other ways as well but it gives you something to think about - doesn't it???

10 Timeline Memories:

1. 1907] The dawning of auto accidents: The 1st taxicab hits the streets of Manhattan. The 1st crash will follow shortly...
2. 1912] Now the real hams come out: The 1st experimental radio license for a college radio station is given to St. Joseph's College in Philadelphia...
3. 1934] L'il Abner debuts: Al Capp's comic strip makes its debut in newspapers. Some of us early WNAC to WRKO folks had the pleasure of working with this eccentric but brilliant man when he provided comedy material for the morning show...
4. 1942] A Bambi sighting: Walt Disney's "Bambi" opens at Radio City Music Hall in Manhattan...
5. 1959] Bridging the gap: Ground is broken in New York on the $320 million Verrazano Narrows Bridge which will link Brooklyn and Staten Island. Here's a brief history of the bridge: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFduBSjAD18 ...
6. 1961] United we stand, divided we fall: Berlin is divided by a barbed wire fence to halt the flight of refugees. Two days later work begins on the Berlin Wall...
7. 1971] "Happy Trails": Musician King Curtis, 37, is stabbed to death in Manhattan. King Curtis opened for the Beatles at Shea Stadium in 1965: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ML3IQVSwog ...1995] Baseball Hall of Famer Mickey Mantle loses his battle with liver cancer at 63. Mantle campaigned actively for the donation of organs to save lives during his final days...
8. 1990] Rock & Roll tragedy: Singer Curtis Mayfield is paralyzed after a light track falls on him during a concert in Brooklyn...
9. 2003] Blood money: Libya agrees to set up a $2.7 billion fund for families of 270 people killed in the 1988 Pan Am bombing...
10. 2004] Charley roars: A stronger-than-expected Hurricane Charley roars ashore Florida's Gulf Coast, taking at least 10 lives...

Music Memories:

• 1952] Recorded on this date: The original version of "Hound Dog" by Willie Mae "Big Mama" Thornton. This classic video features a nattily dressed Big Mama singing the song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P3s4v-02P6c ...
• 1965] Released on this date: "Help" (the single) - Beatles...1966] "You Can't Hurry Love" - Supremes...
• 1965] Performance debut: Jefferson Airplane at San Francisco's Matrix Club...[To ensure accuracy of dates and content, multiple reference sources are used in each timeline]...

Commentary...

"Happy Trails" to Merv Griffin, a victim of prostate cancer at 82. Merv was a terrific talk-show host for 23 years, creator of two of the longest-running TV game shows, "Jeopardy" and "Wheel of Fortune", a one-time owner of (17) radio stations, 6 casino resorts and 22 hotels. Merv was also a big-band singer for orchestra leader Freddy Martin. How many of you remember Merv's hit record, "I've Got A Lovely Bunch of Coconuts"? Here's a video of that hit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Td4uqWTDt9w ...Merv Griffin was the consummate entertainer. He will be missed. R.I.P. Merv...

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":

Danny Bonaduce (48), Scott Hamilton (49), Dan Fogelberg (56), Kevin Tighe (63), Dave "Baby" Cortez (69), Mudcat Grant (72), Pat Harrington (78) and Fidel Castro (81)...

Timeline Countdown: 21 days until Labor Day and 24 days until the NFL opener...

Friday-Sunday, August 10-12, 2007

The I-man checks in...

I swapped e-mails with Don Imus yesterday. Imus is at his ranch in New Mexico and says he will return to New York in September. Now don't read anything into that other than he'll be back sometime next month. I can't tell you that he'll be back on the air then because obviously he's not ready to make an announcement quite yet. For months I had been trying to reach the I-man to send not only my support but best wishes from some of the folks we had on the staff at WNBC when I was program director there in '76-'77. Although he didn't say so, I'm sure he appreciated that support. It had been years since we corresponded and he figured I was about 80 years old by now. I assured him that was not the case. We wished each other well and he said he considers my blog as being "very cool"...The name of another "I-man" surfaces in my Commentary below...

10 Timeline Memories:

1. 1869] Roll 'em: The motion picture projector is patented by O.B. Brown...
2. 1885] A streetcar not named Desire: The 1st electric streetcar to be used commercially was operated in Baltimore by Leo Daft. You would have to be daft to operate a streetcar...
3. 1921] Polio strikes: Franklin D. Roosevelt is stricken with polio at his summer home on the Canadian island of Campobello...
4. 1945] Raising the white flag: Following their second nuclear bombing, Japan announces they will surrender to the U.S...
5. 1948] Smile, you're on 'Candid Camera': 'Candid Microphone' which will become 'Candid Camera' one year later, debuts on New York's ch. 7 (WJZ-TV which will become WABC). Here's a typical scene from CC: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSf1GppmthQ ...
6. 1969] Bodies discovered: The bodies of the LaBianca's (Rosemary and Leno), victims of Charles Manson's murder spree are discovered...
7. 1977] Son of Sam: Postal employee David Berkowitz a.k.a. "The Son of Sam", is captured and arrested in Yonkers (NY). He will be sentenced to 6-consecutive terms of 25 years to life for killing 6 people on his killing spree...
8. 1984] Tripped and clipped: Mary Decker trips on the heels of Zola Budd in the Olympics with an outsider winning the race and a gold medal...
9. 1994] Presidential immunity: That's what Bill Clinton claims when asking a federal judge to dismiss a sexual harassment lawsuit filed by Paula Corbin Jones...
10. 1995] Guilty as charged: Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols are charged with 11 counts in the Oklahoma City bombing...

Music Memories:

• 1966] #1 on this date: "Summer in the City" - Lovin' Spoonful: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91uLJ00B1h4 ...1986] "Papa Don't Preach" - Madonna...
• 1968] Released on this date: "Magic Bus" - The Who...
• 1985] Platinum plus: Madonna's "Like A Virgin" becomes the 1st LP by a female artist to be certified for 5 million in sales...[To ensure accuracy of dates and content, multiple reference sources are used in each timeline]...

Commentary...

Congratulations to Dan Ingram, one of 5 new members of the National Radio Hall of Fame Class of 2007. One of the best Top 40 personalities in radio history, Big Dan was behind the WABC mic, making us laugh for 20 years. He made his debut at WABC in 1961. He spent the last 12 years of his career at WCBS-FM. Big Dan is entering the Hall with Jerry Coleman, the late Jimmy Durante, the late Richard Durham and Jazz piano great and former radio host Marian McPartland. The one-hour induction ceremony on November 3, 2007 will be carried on ABC Radio and Fox News Channel at 10 pm (EST) on that date...

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":

Angie Harmon (35), Antonio Banderas (47), Rosanna Arquette (48), Ian (Jethro Tull) Anderson (60), Veronica Spector Greenfield (64) and here's the all-time classic Ronettes hit, "Be My Baby": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8oL_l7m4gRk&mode=related&search= , Eddie Fisher (79), Jimmy Dean (79), Rhonda Fleming (84) and Al (Four Aces) Alberts (85)...

Timeline Countdown: 24 days until Labor Day and 27 days until the NFL opener...

Saturday-Sunday, August 11-12, 2007...

10 Timeline Memories:

1. 1877] Phonograph sighting: Thomas Edison invents the phonograph and makes the 1st sound recording. Clive Davis signs the Tom Edison Band to a longterm contract (8/12)...
2. 1934] The Rock: Alcatraz in San Francisco Bay, receives federal prisoners for the 1st time. Get ready for the 'Birdman', mates (8/11)...
3. 1965] Watts explodes: 34 are killed and more than 1,000 injured during rioting in Watts (8/11)...
4. 1969] For Sale...SOLD: The Boston Celtics are sold for $6 million. The highest price for an NBA franchise at the time (8/12)...
5. 1972] "D-I-V-O-R-C-E": Elvis Presley and Priscilla Presley file for divorce. They married in May of '67 (8/11)...
6. 1972] A good morning Viet Nam: The last American combat ground troops leave Vietnam (8/12)...
7. 1981] The 1st PC: IBM rolls out the 1st PC (8/12)...
8. 1984] Not funny to the Russians: Ronald Reagan jokes: "today we have signed legislation that will outlaw Russia forever. We begin bombing in five minutes." (8/11)...
9. 1994] Strike 3 - You're out: Major league baseball players go on strike rather than allow team owners to limit their salaries. The strike lasts 232 days, cancelling the World Series for the 1st time in 90 years (8/12)...
10. 2006] "Happy Trails": Former talk/variety show host Mike Douglas dies on his 81st birthday. He was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 1990 but was considered cancer-free when he dies from unknown causes (8/11)...

Music Memories:

• 1956] Released on this date: 1956] "Don't Be Cruel" - Elvis Presley (8/11)...1962] "Surfin' Safari" - Beach Boys (1962)..."Green Onions" - Booker T and MG's (both 8/11)...1968] "Hey Jude" - Beatles (8/11). The first Beatles release on Apple... 1973] "Free Ride" - Edgar Winter Group (8/11). This is from April, 2007 and Edgar still rocks: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YL8A0KmqE9Y ..
• 1964] #1 on this date: "Everybody Loves Somebody" - Dean Martin (8/11)...1974] "The Night Chicago Died" - Paper Lace (8/11). Whoever submitted this video has to be from Chicago: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kwwaGXcZ6Wo ...1984] "Endless Love" - Diana Ross and Lionel Richie (8/11)...
• 1966] Farewell Tour: The Beatles begin their final tour of America in Chicago. At a press conference at O'Hare, John Lennon apologizes for his statements comparing the Beatles with Jesus Christ (8/11)...
• 1967] Making their debut: Fleetwood Mac make their stage debut in Great Britain at the Windsor Jazz & Blues Festival (8/12)...1969] Diana Ross invites 350 guests to the Daisy Club in Beverly Hills to unveil her new discovery: The Jackson Five (8/11)...

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":

(8/11) Joe Rogan (40), Singer Joe Jackson (53), Hulk Hogan (54), Steve Wozniak (57), Eric Carmen (58), Kenny Gamble (64) and Arlene Dahl (79)...

(8/12) Pete Sampras (36), Peter Krause (42), Suzanne Vega (48), Mark Knopfler (58) who no doubt get 'money for nothing': http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U82WISdfT3A , George Hamilton (68) and Porter Wagoner (80)...

Happy Anniversary Diane (8/12)...

Timeline Countdown for Sunday (8/12): 22 days until Labor Day and 25 days until the NFL opener...