[Dixielandjazz] Re: Radio Shows -- Length Of Cuts

[Robert S. Ringwald]

Recently I asked:
 >
> A few days ago it was mentioned that Bill Haesler, on his radio show, will
>  not play a cut longer than 5 minutes.  I am wondering why?<

Bill answered:

> Not quite true.
> Although I do tend to play shorter tracks a lot, as mine is only a one
hour
> specialist program of classic and vintage jazz with tunes predominatly 3
> minutes long. Which programs, incidentally, take 4-7 hours to research and
> produce.

(snip)

 (I have always disliked the idea of presenters taking a bundle of records
> into the studio and ad-libbing their way through.

(snip)

> It depends on whether
> the program has a mix of bands or is devoted to one particular group. If
the
> latter, then long, interesting performances ARE included.

(snip)



OK, well, that does explain your thinking, especially only having one hour.

I used to have 3 hours & sometimes as much as 4 hours.

I usually had a general idea of what I was going to do but mostly winged it,
adlibbing my way through.  I had one of the most popular shows on the
station & in SoCal.

Once in a while, approximately once a month, I'd do some sort of special.
For this, I would reel heavily on listmate Stan Brager who liked to do more
research than I.  Stan engineered my show for about 10 out of the 16 1/2
years that I was on the air in the Los Angeles market.

While I was able to store most of my recordings at the station, Stan would
often bring in some of his recordings to augment my show.  We had a good
time.

During the 6.8 (Richter scale) Northridge Earthquake in 1994, all of the
record cabinets went over & came open.  thousands of LPs, cassettes,
R--tapes & CDs went on the floor.  The studios were located in Northridge on
the campus of the University of California at Northridge.

We, the station personnel were not allowed, by the authorities, to go into
the wrecked station to retrieve our recordings.  However, all kinds of other
people were.  Thus, a lot of the station equipment disappeared.

Our recordings were left on the floor, getting water damage & being
trampled.  The PD finally gave me 2 boxes of LPs.  I told him that there
were lots more.  He said that I was SOL.

Then, the station engineer, Lowell (Mad Dawg) Busching & myself sneaked
into the station & I was able to retrieve another 1000 LPs, or so.  We even
found some in the garbage cans with trash piled on top of them.

I had a complete card file of all recordings, but that was destroyed during
the quake also.  I never did determine how many more recordings I lost.

Shortly after the quake, we were able to get back on the air.  Luckily, Bob
Erdos of Stompoff & Matt Domber of Arbors Records came through with a case
of CDs each to keep me on the air.  Stan also helped with his collection
which had not been stored at the station.

In 1995 I moved back to the Sacramento area and have not gotten involved
with radio since.  Just too busy doing other things.  It was quite a
commitment doing a 3 to 4 hour show once a week for 16 1/2 years.  Been
there, done that...

Bob
mr.wonderful at ringwald.com
Placerville, CA  USA