First DJ In Oregon To Play R&B?

Feedback.pdxradio.com message board: Portland Radio History: First DJ In Oregon To Play R&B?
Author: Craig_adams
Thursday, March 08, 2007 - 10:05 pm
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This question comes from Ron Kramer and will be covered in his book on the history of Oregon radio, if we can come to some definitive answer.

As we know, it was R&B music that paved the way for rock to enter radio. Who was the first Oregon R&B Jock? Who had the courage to start it in the Beaver State and more importantly, convinced the PD/GM that it was OK to play Rhythm & Blues music.

Author: Chris_taylor
Thursday, March 08, 2007 - 10:15 pm
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me!

Author: Semoochie
Thursday, March 08, 2007 - 11:26 pm
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I'll guess Dick Novak.

Author: Humbleharv
Thursday, March 08, 2007 - 11:44 pm
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They are probably long gone......

Author: Craig_adams
Thursday, March 08, 2007 - 11:56 pm
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Ok Semoochie, Dick Novak on KPOJ.

Dick joined KPOJ in March 1955. Was his show entirely R&B?

Author: Tdanner
Friday, March 09, 2007 - 8:02 am
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If Dick was the first to play R&B, it didn't last long. By the time I worked as music director for KPOK in '71 with Novak, I had to report to the GM every week after the music meeting so that he could review the station's playlist. His only question was "Is this performer a negro?" If yes, we did not play the song.

Author: Roger
Friday, March 09, 2007 - 12:25 pm
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my guess is djfreeeesh.

Author: Jimbo
Saturday, March 10, 2007 - 3:38 am
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Don't know if he was the first but George Page was playing R&B late 60's and early 70's.

Author: Robin_mitchell
Saturday, March 10, 2007 - 2:39 pm
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As Semoochie declared, I too believe DICK NOVAK was the first.

It must be remembered in '54 stations were either network...or beginning to feature records with hosts...that became known as "disc jockeys."

The format was the record show. The DJ's gift was knowing which recordings to play...that would be embraced by the audience.

DICK NOVAK played a health dose of R&B. More on that here:

http://www.rma1.com/Obit/index.html

Author: Markandrews
Saturday, March 10, 2007 - 6:33 pm
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Robin, thanks for sharing that link again... When I had the pleasure of working with Dick at KYXI in the early 70s, this young pup got to pry an occasional radio story out of him. He taught me something that I use to this day: "You can say anything, as long as you say it with authority." He made sure I saw the twinkle in his eye to convey that you should never use that privilege for anything other than good intentions.

He was a humble man, never comfortable about anything that might remotely resemble bragging but yes, he WAS the first to play R&B songs in the Rose City. The man was true class...and as your tribute pointed out, he gave a lot to the community without worrying about claiming credit...He lived by his words, and acted with authority. Dick Novak's "Rhythm Room" was fun to listen to when I first heard it on KPOJ in 1959...

Author: Craig_adams
Saturday, March 10, 2007 - 7:40 pm
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Robin: Fantastic! I don't remember reading all the radio history in Dick's 2002 obit. Didn't know he had been with the original KGON before making the move to KPOJ.

This pretty much gives Ron the definitive answer. I want to encourage anyone with other R&B DJ memories to post their thoughts along with other Dick Novak memories of the "Rhythm Room".

I do have a question. When did Dick Novak start playing R&B music regularly? Was it on "Scotty's Party Line with Dick Novak" or did it begin with the name change to "Richard's Rhythm Room"?

Author: Robin_mitchell
Saturday, March 10, 2007 - 10:29 pm
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It was Scotty's Party Line...which broadcast live from the drive-in Monday-Saturday 7pm-2am.
What a long gig.

Dick debuted music that he believed in...got leads on from other markets. The kids at the drive-in...voted for their favorites, plus Dick got thousands of mail votes weekly. I believe he actually updated the Top 50 on the Reader Board at Scotty's NIGHTLY.

I was in grade school when this was going on, but I recall Dick always played "my music," so I think the premise kept him on target with the teens musically...and that's who really began driving popular music by '56/'57 with the advent of the Transistor radio.

The city/police decided rock'n'roll & Portland's "teen Pied Piper" were a nuisance after a couple of years...and threatened not to "renew" Scotty's business license if the broadcast continued. Rock'n'roll scared 'em. That's when Dick put on a coat & tie and began broadcasting "Rhythm Room" from Amato's Supper Club. (I believe I transposed the sequence as Amato's...then Scotty's...In my original Chronology posting...but Dick confirmed the Scotty's-Amato's chronology in my telephone conversation within him several months before his death.

Author: Craig_adams
Saturday, March 10, 2007 - 11:38 pm
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Robin: Thanks A bunch! This R&B area of research like R&R at the time was not covered very well by newspapers. I'm sure Ron would love to find newspaper microfilm about the kids at Scotty's but unless you have a date it's like looking for a needle in a haystack.

I wonder if any of those Top 50 surveys Dick compiled still exist? That would really show the R&B impact.

This from the 1957 Portland Pacific Telephone book:
_________________________________________________

SCOTTY'S HAMBURGERS
"When you want a snack or meal Scotty has the deal"
Ask for a Forty-Niner--Open 11am-2am
1221 NE Sandy Blvd----------BE6-8085
_________________________________________________

Amato's Supper Club
706 SW Main-----CA3-6261
_________________________________________________

Amato's Theatre Restaurant
706 SW Main-----CA3-6261

Author: Semoochie
Sunday, March 11, 2007 - 12:02 am
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Isn't that about where the Tic-Tok was?

Author: Craig_adams
Sunday, March 11, 2007 - 12:21 am
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--Tik-Tok Sandwich Shop--
1230 E Burnside--BE5-0273

Author: Jimbo
Sunday, March 11, 2007 - 4:02 am
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Scotty's was on the NE corner of the big intersection of Burnside, Sandy Blvd., and 12th Ave.
The Tic Toc was across the street on the SE corner of the intersection. You could turn right off 12th or Burnside, east bound. I got off work one morning at 4:30AM (1964)and went to the Tik-Tok and ordered a hamburger and they told me they could not serve that at 4:30 because it was breakfast time.

Dick Novak's booth at Amatos was inside the entrance on Broadway. Eventually they moved out of Amatos Supper club and went over to a bowling alley on SE 11th or 12th.....I think it was Amato's Bowling Alley.

Another factoid on Dick Novak was that he started the Bill Haley Fan club locally and was its president when Rock Around the Clock came on the scene.

Author: Craig_adams
Sunday, March 11, 2007 - 4:39 am
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Jimbo: Great Info!

No Amato's Bowling Alley listed in 1957. Could you give me the cross streets around 11th & 12th, where it might have been? Can't find any bowling alley's using numbered streets around those numbers.

Author: Jimbo
Sunday, March 11, 2007 - 6:14 am
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Craig,
It was later than 1957... more like in the early 60's. It was on either 11th or 12th between Stark and Hawthorne.

Author: Semoochie
Sunday, March 11, 2007 - 11:53 am
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That sounds like Grand Central Bowl.

Author: Kq4
Sunday, March 11, 2007 - 12:35 pm
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Grand Central was at 808 SE Morrison. I found a reference to an "Eastside Bowl." Anyone remember where that was? Is it listed in your phone book, Craig?

Author: 62kgw
Sunday, March 11, 2007 - 1:07 pm
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The amatos/bowling alley in question was in building at SE12th & Taylor (SW corner). That corner of building now looks kind of in sad shape, but its other corner on 11th looks better. There is a turquoise stripe on the building. Parking lot across on other side of 12th.

"Eastside Bowl" was on SE 35th just south of Powell behind in same building as Taco House. I think it had maybe just 6 or 8 lanes.

Author: Kq4
Sunday, March 11, 2007 - 1:11 pm
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Thank you, 62!

Author: Andy_brown
Sunday, March 11, 2007 - 1:56 pm
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Old man Amato owned quite a bit of property in the vicinity of the bowling alley on Taylor. The building runs the length of the block on the Taylor side, at least it used to when I did some work for him 20 years ago. The bowling alley became a dinner/rental hall for a while before the first bingo parlor came in.

Author: Semoochie
Sunday, March 11, 2007 - 2:43 pm
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Eastside Bowl was still there a few years ago. It had more lanes than 8, maybe 25. I'm surprised they stayed in business for so long with another bowling alley within about 2 blocks of them!

Author: Craig_adams
Sunday, March 11, 2007 - 5:11 pm
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Kq4:

EAST SIDE BOWL
3620 SE 35th Pl.

Author: Semoochie
Sunday, March 11, 2007 - 8:05 pm
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...and now back to our regularly scheduled thread: It looks like I was right! That's because I got my information from Robin's site.

Author: Craig_adams
Monday, March 12, 2007 - 4:19 am
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When I started this thread, I also called Bob Gallucci. We played phone tag for a few days before connecting. Bob ran Yesterday Records for 30 years in the Hollywood District and is a HUGE R&B fan, back to growing up in Portland. Wanted to hear what he would say.

He remembered "Fat Daddy" on KLIQ but this was in the early 60's. Another DJ was "Eager Beaver". Bob couldn't remember what station he was on or the time period. He did remember that Beaver was his real last name. Does anyone remember Eager Beaver playing R&B? Bob said he'd try and track down one of his family members that he met awhile back and get more info.

Author: Robin_mitchell
Monday, March 12, 2007 - 6:38 am
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I verified Dick Novak...Scotty's Drive-In lore in an article I photocopied at The Oregon Historical Society immediately after Dick's death.

I'm not sure where my copy of it is now, but I believe it may have been a Willamette Week article written as a retrospective piece while Dick was the booth announcer at KATU. Sorry I'm vague about this connection...I was excited to verify Scotty's serving up 2,000 burgers a night to teens surging to Dick's remote broadcast on 1330/KPOJ.

Author: Roger
Monday, March 12, 2007 - 9:28 am
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Don't be silly. Teens don't go to remotes. My last PD told me that himself!

:-) Damn, I miss those days! Fun times!

Create the atmosphere give people a reason to turn out and they will. Maybe not in those numbers though.

" Stop in, spin the prize wheel and check out the huge discounts at Al's Xtra Kleen Used Cars"...
just doesn't do it.

Author: Radiohead
Monday, March 12, 2007 - 12:54 pm
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I remember being interviewed by Dick Novak on a romote at the Home Show. He picked me out of the crowd. I was in the 6th grade, 11-years old, and Novak asked me to make a dedication. I dedicated what ever song to "all the guys in Mr. Fleuette's class". It turned out that most kids in my class heard it. It was the first time I understood the power of radio. Novak was cool. I eventually worked with him on air at KYXI. He was about as funny a guy as I have ever met.

Author: Andy_brown
Monday, March 12, 2007 - 1:26 pm
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Dick Novak loved to spin stories about his radio days when I worked with him at KATU. He took an instant liking to me since I'd come from a radio background, and in the 10 years I spent there I don't think I ever heard him tell me the same story twice. He knew he was the last generation of "live" TV announcers as more and more of TV operations became automated and pre-recorded.

Author: Robin_mitchell
Monday, March 12, 2007 - 1:56 pm
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World Famous Tom Murphy checked in with this via e-mail. Turns out EAGER BEAVER did a weekend R&B Show at daytimer KPDQ-AM in '57. Tom says they had a combination of DJ shows & paid religious shows in '57.

*****************************

HELLO ROBIN:
I'VE BEEN FOLLOWING THE POSTS ON PDX.COM REGARDING WHO ( WHOM? ) PLAYED RHYTHM AND BLUES
AND SAW THE MENTION [S] OF "EAGER BEAVER."
"EAGER BEAVER'S" NAME WAS FITZGERALD BEAVER.
IN THE LATE SUMMER OF 1957, "BEAVER" WAS WORKING A WEEKEND SHIFT AT KPDQ.

PHIL BOYER WAS WORKING PART-TIME AT KPDQ. PHIL IS THE "KID" WHO CREATED KFOJ. PROBABLY YOU, JIMBO AND I ARE AMONG THE FEW WHO FREQUENT THIS SITE WHO WOULD HAVE A CLUE ABOUT KFOJ OR PHIL BOYER.
PHIL CALLED ME AND TOLD ME TO HURRY DOWN TO THE STATION BECAUSE LOUIS ARMSTRONG, WHO WAS
IN PORTLAND FOR A CONCERT, WAS COMING BY THE STATION TO BE A GUEST ON "BEAVER'S" SHOW.
PHIL WANTED ME TO DO AN INTERVIEW WITH LOUIS WHILE HE WAS AT KPDQ FOR KFOJ.
SO, MY VERY FIRST RADIO INTERVIEW WAS WITH LOUIS ARMSTRONG. NOT MUCH PRESSURE THERE!!
I DON'T REMEMBER ANYTHING ABOUT THE INTERVIEW BUT I'D BE WILLING TO BET I WASN'T VERY GOOD. I DO REMEMBER LOUIS COULDN'T HAVE BEEN NICER AND I AM REASONABLY SURE I DIDN'T ASK HIM IF HE LIKED PLAYING THE TRUMPET.

SHORTLY AFTER I STARTED AT KISN IN THE SUMMER OF 1959 ( SUMMER SEEMED TO WORK FOR ME IN THOSE DAYS ) LOREN HASSETT...THE EVENING NEWSMAN BEFORE BILL HOWLETT JOINED KISN IN 1960...AND I DECIDED TO PAY "EAGER BEAVER" A VISIT AFTER WE GOT OFF THE AIR AT MIDNIGHT. "E.B." WAS DOING A REMOTE FROM A RECORD STORE ON UNION AVENUE. I DON'T REMEMBER WHAT STATION HE WAS BROADCASTING ON. THERE WEREN'T THAT MANY STATIONS ON 24 HOURS THEN, BUT I CAN'T REMEMBER WHICH ONE HE WAS ON.
ANYWAY HE MADE A BIG FUSS OVER US AND HAD ME INTRO A FEW SONGS. HE WAS "COOL."
"TIGER" TOM

Author: Craig_adams
Monday, March 12, 2007 - 8:06 pm
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Tiger Tom & Robin: Yes! That makes sense. KPDQ didn't go full time religion until April 1, 1959. I believe "Eager Beaver" was on KGON 1520 later. (known as "The 24 hour station") I seem to remember reading some where, maybe in an obit about a weekend DJ on KGON in the late 50's or early 60's who would broadcast his show from a record shop.

Author: Semoochie
Monday, March 12, 2007 - 8:54 pm
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I didn't realize KPDQ was religious before '59!

Author: Craig_adams
Monday, March 12, 2007 - 9:05 pm
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Yes! KPDQ began its first weekday religious program on November 27, 1950. The program was listed in the newspaper as "religious", title unknown. By 1958 KPDQ's broadcast schedule consisted mostly of religious programs.

Author: Jimbo
Monday, March 12, 2007 - 11:19 pm
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Craig,
When you mentioned the Eager Beaver, it brought memories because I remember him and said to myself that I do remember him now that you mentioned it and then I got down to Tiger Tom's message and all I can say is I echo what he said. I can't contribute any more. I do not remember Fat Daddy.

And yes, I do remember Phil Boyer and KFOJ. KFOJ was in Phil's basement...... down the stairs and to the left. Using an old console/mixer he got from KWJJ, I believe. Yes, those were the days of carrier current radio stations. I believe it was the Cauthers in Parkrose that had one, also. The FCC knocked on our door one evening when we were eating dinner and told me to turn mine off and turn down the power. They told my dad that he had better pay more attention to what I was doing or he could lose his ham license, also.
Yeah, that lasted about a week.

Author: Craig_adams
Tuesday, March 13, 2007 - 12:07 am
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As long as we're talking about carrier current stations, let's not forget KDAG 550kc St. Johns, run by Pat Pattee. Anyone remember the calls of Tom Cauthers station?

Author: Craig_adams
Tuesday, March 13, 2007 - 9:02 pm
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Just got off the phone with Bob Gallucci again. Was talking to him more about "Eager Beaver" on KPDQ. Bob remembers "Dick Novak" playing R&B occasionally in an hour of music. Where as The Eager Beaver show was entirely R&B!

Bob remembers visiting the home of the former owner of KPDQ and going through nothing but R&B records. Bob never knew why KPDQ would have R&B records until now. If you remember from my earlier post, Bob couldn't remember what station "Eager Beaver" was on at the time.

Author: Craig_adams
Thursday, March 15, 2007 - 2:29 am
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Was at the library last night to continue my research on the KXL history. Thought I'd take an hour and see what I could find on Dick Novak & Eager Beaver. That hour turned into the entire night, until they kicked me out at 8:00pm.

The most interesting fact? From day one, the program listed in The Oregonian & Oregon Journal was either "Rhythm Room" or "Dick Novak's Rhythm Room".

"Rhythm Room" debuted on KPOJ April 11, 1955 and was on 9:30pm to 2:00am. "Rhythm Room" replaced a program called "The Hop" which ran at least back to 1953. "The Hop" began at 10:30pm. Nothing was written about the beginning of "Rhythm Room" in newspaper columns. Only a brief mention on April 12, 1955 under "KPOJ Radio Listening Highlights--- Rhythm Room 9:30.....features Dick Novak with new twist to personality show."

On February 3, 1958 Mark Allen took over "Rhythm Room" when Dick Novak moved to KGW 2:00pm to 5:00pm. "Mark Allen's Rhythm Room" was moved 8:00pm to 1:00am.

On January 23, 1959 Dick Novak returned to "Rhythm Room" 8:00pm to 1:00am. On April 20, 1959 "Rhythm Room" expanded one hour, 7:00pm to 1:00am. Some of these broadcasts were interrupted in the middle with Baseball. KPOJ would pick up "Rhythm Room" after the game.

May 1, 1959 Oregon Journal ad: [Dick Novak picture]
Here's 'Dick' "Mr. Music" the GIANT of Night Time Radio.
MAN he DIGS the MOST! GO with NOVAK!
For Modern...Exciting Radio Always Tune KPOJ 1330 ACTION RADIO.

Traced "Rhythm Room" to November 1959 when the newspapers were on strike and listings we next to nothing. Needed more time to look closer to figure things out and go further into 1960 but time had run out, the library was closing.

Bob Gullucci called me when I got home. He had talked to friends older than himself about "Rhythm Room". They remember Dick from some of his first shows on KPOJ. They also remember hearing the songs: "Shake, Rattle And Roll" by Joe Turner and "Sh-Boom" by The Chords.

Author: Robin_mitchell
Thursday, March 15, 2007 - 11:23 pm
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Remember, before the term "rock'n'roll" was coined, the music was commonly referred to as "race records." Novak told me he hated that, thus he came up with the moniker "Rhythm Room."

I don't know if KPOJ was still owned by the "Portland Oregon Journal" in '59...if so, this was probably a reciprocal trade ad. Obviously, there was interest in "protecting" Dick's franchise. May 1, 1959 was the first full broadcast day of KISN.

Dick Novak brought his show to nights at KPOJ from KGON 1230...where he was already playing the hits on "a daytimer." He spotted nights as the place where the format would really "take off" and pitched KPOJ's GM...and as they say...the rest was history.

Tiger Tom mentioned Dick Novak was always nice to him, had interviewed him once at one of his remotes...pre-KISN.

Author: Semoochie
Friday, March 16, 2007 - 12:12 am
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Was 1230 only a daytimer then? I think that may have been when night power on local channels was only 100 watts so it might not have been worthwhile to broadcast past sundown.

Author: Jimbo
Friday, March 16, 2007 - 12:21 am
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I know Bob McAnulty played jazz, but does anyone remember if he also played some R&B? Ray Horn played a little of everything (to be employed, like Sammy Taylor) but preferred jazz, I believe.

Author: Craig_adams
Friday, March 16, 2007 - 1:19 am
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Robin: In mid 1961 KPOJ, Inc. was reorganized to stockholders directly, severing ties to The Oregon Journal. This was done with the anticipation of the sale to The Oregonian. (duopoly regulations).

KGON 1230 was 250 watts day and night from it's beginning on July 4, 1947 broadcasting 7am to midnight. On April 29, 1950 KGON began 24 hour operation. At the time KGON was Portland area's only 24 hour station. This continued to 1520. Most likely you would not remember KGON broadcasting at night unless you were in the night coverage.

Author: Kq4
Friday, March 16, 2007 - 8:50 am
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Article on Ray Horn with good historical information

Author: Jimbo
Friday, March 16, 2007 - 9:35 am
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Good Article, KQ4.
It touches on several things discussed on this forum.
He was on the now defunct KHTV CH27.
It validates what Craig just said about KGON being 250 watts and all night operation. It also notes that they were originally on McLoughlin in Gladstone (I went there and saw it, also). "250 Watts of Power-Packed Personality".

It mentions the remotes from Scotty's.

It mentions Bob McAnulty and Dick Novak also working there in the '50's.

Good history there.

Author: Craig_adams
Friday, March 16, 2007 - 6:50 pm
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KQ4: Great piece! I see Jimbo hit just about everything I wanted to touch upon.

Man that KGON slogan is nice to have. I've documented it.

I'm wondering since Dick Novak came from KGON just as Ray Horn and Ray was doing the Scotty remote broadcasts on KGON, maybe Dick went to KPOJ with his idea of going to Scotty's and talking them into switching stations. KPOJ had 5,000 watts to KGON's 250. Maybe that's how the switch was handled.

From the article: Ray "hosting a teen-age show on channel 27, KHTV, (now defunct) called Ray Horn's Teen Scene, copied more or less from Dick Clark's American Bandstand".

I've been inside the old KHTV studio building and it's quite small. The kids must have really danced close! Can't imagine this!

Author: Jimbo
Friday, March 16, 2007 - 8:08 pm
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Yes Craig, the studio in the old KHTV building was small. just that upper floor. Maybe they rolled the camera out the door and shot in.

Too bad anyone involved in those things is probably long gone now so we can't ask them.

Author: Semoochie
Friday, March 16, 2007 - 11:03 pm
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The founder of KWJJ just recently died. There must be someone still living from 1959!

Author: Stoner
Saturday, March 17, 2007 - 5:07 am
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Bob McAnulty played standards & jazz...lots of jazz. Nobody in town knew Jazz better than Bob.

Author: Craig_adams
Saturday, March 17, 2007 - 2:30 pm
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Good point Stoner! I wonder how Jazz affected Rock & Roll early on? I know in TV Theme music it was big in the 50's & 60's and more acceptable than R&R.

Author: Craig_adams
Wednesday, March 21, 2007 - 12:09 am
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Finished up the R&B library research on "Dick Novak's Rhythm Room". After moving around the newspaper strike, found "Rhythm Room" listings continued into 1960.

The end of "Rhythm Room" came when KPOJ changed format. The last "Rhythm Room" was broadcast on Friday April 22, 1960. KPOJ slogan: Action Radio.

Then On Monday April 25, 1960 Dick Novak continued in his time slot without "Rhythm Room" mentioned. On this day the ad said: [TELL your FRIENDS about KPOJ's "MILLION DOLLAR MUSIC". Only the MUSIC THAT'S FIT TO PLAY on KPOJ.]

Then another ad on April 27, 1960: [Listen to your FAVORITE MUSIC of YESTERDAY on KPOJ. Songs made of GOLD on the "MILLION DOLLAR SOUND".]

"Eager Beaver" was next on my list to track down. Unfortunately regular program listings for KPDQ were not published. I was lucky KPOJ was owned by The Journal since complete listings were only published for the network stations. The Journal did list KPOJ even though it was independent since April 15, 1959.

Author: Semoochie
Wednesday, March 21, 2007 - 1:12 am
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How old of a "yesterday" was that? Would it be our first Oldies station? The timing of the format change sounds like they may have gotten spooked by payola!

Author: Craig_adams
Wednesday, March 21, 2007 - 1:25 am
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KPOJ most likely changed format because of KISN. Advanced ratings might have been issued. KISN would come out of April 1960 with a Pulse rating of 35.7! No. 1 in Portland needless to say.

Author: Robin_mitchell
Wednesday, March 21, 2007 - 10:34 am
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RHYTHM ROOM may have been dropped as a moniker, however DICK NOVAK continued with a requests and dedications show for at least a couple of more years in the night slot.

I don't recall a countdown feature on his show, but the music was solidly competitive vs. KISN...even though TM in the PM was a solid #1.

Stacy's Cleaners was a sponsor, and for a time Gillette Razor Blades. You simply stapled or scotch-taped a blade onto a card and mailed it to Dick to get your dedication played. Certainly seems dangerous, doesn't it!!!

I remember the ACTION RADIO slogan, but the MILLION DOLLAR MUSIC approach was largely an ADULT position for KPOJ during the day. It was more MOR than CHICKEN ROCK.

Author: Oldtom
Thursday, April 19, 2007 - 10:55 pm
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Couple o' comments/answers from somebody there. (I'm old.) The Cauthers carrier current AM radio system in Parkrose was KPAR. The studio and main transmitter were in the basement of our house at 102nd and Fremont. It's now the underpass from I-205 SB to I-84 EB. That transmitter was on 670 Khz. The first satellite transmitter was in a house about a mile north in what's now Maywood Park. The second satellite transmitter was located in the lumber yard at 102nd and Halsey. All were connected by "dry" telephone circuits. KPAR operated 4 PM to 8 or 9 PM weekdays and all day Saturday. Staff of about 20 kids from Parkrose, Grant and Reynolds High Schools.

I think Dick Novak was at KGON until an attempt was made to make it a union-only station. All the on air people walked out and set up pickets outside the building on McGloughlin Blvd. in Gladstone. That's when Dick and others working there moved on. My first radio gig was working there starting in 1955. I was hired to be the remote technician for the high school football games KGON broadcast for Oregon City and Milwaukie H.S.s. Other than setting up the equipment and riding levels, my main function, as a 14-year-old was to keep the sportscaster sober enough to get me and the equipment back to the station after the games. I also filled in a few times as the after-game disk jockey until I signed off the station I think at midnight. Pretty cool for a 14-year-old geeky kid.

My brother, Bruce tells me Eager Beaver bought air time on a number of stations after KPDQ, including KGRO in 1960....the year they got the 1230 KHz. frequency with KGON moving to 1520.

The KPAR, Parkrose equipment was sold to John Lund and Jim Linenger, who ran the station from Eastmoreland. In 1965 or so the console I built for KPAR reappeared at KRDR. We used it as the production room board for a couple of years.

More than anyone wanted to know.

Author: Markandrews
Thursday, April 19, 2007 - 11:53 pm
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What a hoot! Thanks, Tom!

Author: Craig_adams
Friday, April 20, 2007 - 2:28 am
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Oldtom: Man that was tasty! I've documented what you wrote and did some research of my own using your information. Here's what I came up with:

As you said studio & main transmitter location are no longer there but I believe it was: 3425 N.E. Maywood Court. Correct? Maywood Court has disappeared.

The lumber yard satellite transmitter location mentioned would have been at "Woodland Park Lumber Co." 10245 N.E. Halsey. Is that correct?

Sounds to me like you guys covered 102nd Ave. for miles using the carrier current method.

What year did KPAR go on the air? (month?)

How long did KPAR last?

Did you ever try and sell spots on KPAR?

Did you give out a phone number for requests?

Did the DJ's bring in their own records?

Did you sign on & off with the National Anthem?

Was there any kind of newscasts?

Was there any newspaper articles or mentions about KPAR?

Author: Oldduck
Friday, April 20, 2007 - 11:01 am
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Dick Novak was great and an early leader in new sounds. . .but as I remember it
the Eager Beaver did the first show with R & B.
I think he did some remotes from his own record shop out on Williams Avenue (it was just a few blocks north of Braodway and may have been lost when they re-did the interchange and overpasses for the freeway. He may have been on KWJJ, but not certain.
Old Duck

Author: Jeffreykopp
Friday, April 20, 2007 - 6:19 pm
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A pre-1980 map would be needed to locate that block of Maywood; it appears it was where the curve in I-205 between I-84 and Skidmore is now.

Author: Jimbo
Friday, April 20, 2007 - 8:39 pm
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Thanks, OldTom, for filling in the holes. I knew the station was in your house. I did not remember the call letters but I went to your place once when I was just a kid of about 14, also. I do not remember who I saw there but I think whoever it was pointed me to an article in some Radio-Electronics magazine about the station at Perdue University for info on building a CC transmitter using a 12SL7 and a 50L6. Which I did. I remember first reading of your station in the newspaper. I knew that you posted and read here occasionally and thought it best that you fill in the info rather than me guessing it. Thanks for providing the input.
I remember it being at just about where Tom said it was. That would agree with the address you have, Craig.

It would not be where Jeffreykopp has it. First, Jeffrey is thinking Maywood Place. When going westbound on Fremont, after crossing 102nd, you came to a "Y". Going right would be Maywood Pl, going left would be Maywood Ct. 3425 would put it one block south of Fremont..... right where OldTom said it was. Skidmore is a cross of 4300, eight blocks north of Fremont. We used to use that Fremont-Maywood Pl.-Prescott diagonal jog all the time in the 50's to visit my relatives who all lived off Prescott closer to town.

On an additional note, regarding KFOJ where Phil Boyer and Tiger Tom Murphy were running a station, that was in Phil's basement which was at 2725 NE Dunkley (sp?), a block or two north of Fremont and just west of 33rd Ave.

Author: Craig_adams
Friday, April 20, 2007 - 10:46 pm
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Jimbo: Thanks! You were very close. The KFOJ address was 2724 N.E. Dunckly.

Author: Jimbo
Saturday, April 21, 2007 - 2:48 am
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Thanks Craig. You are correct. It was on the south side of the street so it has to have an even number. If 2725 exists, it would be across the street.

Author: Craig_adams
Saturday, April 21, 2007 - 6:06 pm
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Well Jimbo we were both off the mark! Tiger Tom just E-Mailed me. Turns out my 1957 phonebook had mis-spelled it!
__________________________________________________________________

Hello Craig:

Obviously I was on pdx.com today and noticed you and Jimbo referring to the address of KFOJ.

When I looked at the spelling of the street, both versions didn't "look right."

So, I went into one of my "many" radio Memorabilia files and found some old stationary I had saved from the KFOJ days. I was right regarding the spelling. The address was 2724 N.E. (and here we go) DUNCKLEY STREET PORTLAND 12, OREGON. The phone number was ATantic 8-1006. And speaking of right....

This is for "Jimbo". At the bottom of the basement stairs you took a RIGHT TURN into the KFOJ studio.

Still Enjoy reading all your postings on pdx.com.

A friend of mine sent me the Mark Lindsay/Yaws/K-Hits Rock and Roll Museum website which I visited and was thoroughly impressed. It sure looks as though they are doing it up right.

Take Care

"Tiger" Tom Murphy

Author: Jeffreykopp
Sunday, April 22, 2007 - 6:34 pm
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I regret the apparent contradiction. I'd forgotten OldTom's description of "now the underpass" when Craig later commented the street was gone, and ventured a guess after eyeballing a map.

I Googled around for some on-line pre-Interstate maps of Portland, but could only find a few much earlier ones:
http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/historical/portland_or_1917.jpg (1912, sketchy)
http://content.wsulibs.wsu.edu/sid/bin/show.plx?client=maps&image=wsu571.sid (1905, zoomable)

Author: Semoochie
Sunday, April 22, 2007 - 7:30 pm
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I like "Section Line Road". Notice anything missing? There's no Ross Island Bridge!

Author: Craig_adams
Monday, April 23, 2007 - 3:18 am
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On the 1905 map there was a "Race-Track" parallel with Union Ave, between Broadway & Alberta. Horse Racing?

You can also see the boundary lines for the "Lewis & Clark Fair Site".

Author: Kq4
Monday, April 23, 2007 - 9:09 am
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"The Multnomah Fair Association...was soon operating a race track in the area...
The barns and stables were approximately where Irving Park is today."

Author: Jimbo
Monday, April 23, 2007 - 10:27 pm
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Craig & Jeffreykopp, and anyone else who cares....
I have an old map scrounged from my dad's "ham shack" a few years ago. One of those things you think you should toss but don't for some reason. I believe the date was about 1960-1962 era. It is old and tearing on the creases. Anyway, it shows the streets and areas before I-205 and you can see the streets Maywood Place and Maywood Ct. off 102nd and Fremont. Sorry about the size of the file but you can zoom in and see the streets. The name of the map was Premiere Street Map of Portland. I only scanned the area in question.

http://www.rcwsshowski.com/map%202.jpg

Author: Craig_adams
Monday, April 23, 2007 - 11:57 pm
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Jimbo: Cool! My 1951 Portland Shell map and the 1959 Shell update both show Maywood Court but it's not marked with any name. It leads you to believe it's a continuation of Maywood Place. Thanks for clearing this all up.

On my 1951 map, there is no US Hwy. 30, "Banfield Expressway" as on the 1959 update. US Hwy 30 was Sandy Blvd.

P.S. Never throw anything away!

Author: Jimbo
Tuesday, April 24, 2007 - 9:05 am
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"P.S. Never throw anything away!"
I don't, unfortunately. That is why I can't walk in my house. It is also why I can't find anything. I can, however, find old tubes and things I haven't used or needed in 30+ years. Still have the spare tubes for tv's and amplifiers I no longer have.

Author: Oldtom
Monday, April 30, 2007 - 10:51 pm
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Maywood Place runs kinda N.W. to S.E. Maywood Court ran straight south from the southern end of Maywood Place. There were about 15 houses located on that dead-end street. About KPAR:
We did sell limited advertising. The Part 15 rules under which it (and KFOJ) operated did not permit making a profit from any on-air source. Therefore, the money recieved ffrom advertising went into records,upgrading equipment and paying for the phone lines to the satellite transmitters. Since KPAR was not recognized as a licensed radio station, we had to subscribe to several record companies, and pay a small fee to receive their monthly releases. Somewhere, Bruce still has a few mailing evelopes that advertise that "Decca Delivers the _Hits". The station did sign on/off with the National Anthem. As I recall, it went on the air in the spring of 1956. It operated those limited after school and weekend hours until the summer of 1960, when Bruce went off to OSU. Shortly after that our parents moved from the Maywood Court address, and all equipment was removed. There were irregular newscasts after school most days. We did a few remote broadcasts for functions at Parkrose High School. How? We took a transmitter with us and set it up in the school. Speaking of transmitters, our first transmitter was very unstable after we finished building it. Who would know more about broadcast transmitters than the FCC? We took that transmitter out to the FCC monitoring station on NE 148th and Halsey. One of the FCC monitoring technicians found and fixed the problem with that transmitter. So, the FCC was well aware of what we and KFOJ were doing. After an article in the Oregonian, we received a letter from the FCC informing us thay had done field strength tests on KPAR, and found it to be in compliance with Part 15 rules. On several occassions once of us would be interviewed on the air by, for instance, Dick Novak. Several years later I was shown an article in a national publication that mentioned the most popular frequency in the Northwest was 670 KHz. I don't know of anybody else using 670.

Regarding Dick Novak at KGON, in 1954 the employees of KGON tried to join the IBEW. The manager and half/owner, Irwin Adams locked out the entire air staff. Dick was part of that staff. That's when he made the move to KPOJ. Dick apparantly had the mid-afternoon shift on the air at KGON. The program at that time was called "The Rhythm Room". Even after Dick left, KGON was still playing Blues from 2 to 4 PM daily. The host then was Bass Harris.

Why do I remember this stuff, but can't remember what I had for lunch today?

Tom Cauthers

Author: Craig_adams
Tuesday, May 01, 2007 - 12:08 am
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Man that is fascinating reading! There has not been a lot found on Carrier Current stations on a local level.

I've E-Mailed Ron Kramer about your additional Dick Novak posted information.

Thanks Tom! Stop by pdxradio more often.

Author: Littlesongs
Wednesday, May 02, 2007 - 1:08 am
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This thread has got to be one of the best ever.

Tom, it has been forever and it is great to see you again, and enjoy your stories. I still laugh when I remember the one about the car race. I've had a lot of bosses, but you were tops.

Author: Jeffreykopp
Wednesday, May 02, 2007 - 10:17 pm
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For those who missed it tonight, "American Masters" on the history of Atlantic Records will be repeated Friday morning at 3a (set recorder Thursday night!); digital midnight Saturday night. (2 hours.)

"Atlantic Records: The House That Ahmet Built" http://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/database/atlantic.html

Author: Daveyboy1
Wednesday, May 02, 2007 - 10:58 pm
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I was an avid Kisn listener in it's start up. I heard all the deejays save for Pat Pattee. Did he stray from the format to be given free reign by the boss to play what he wanted? I had to go to bed early back them being an 8, 9,& 10 yr old on school nights. Did Pat play music akin to what Dick Novak played on KPOJ? Who was Portland's answer to ALan Freed? Here in The Puget Sound area I'LL give the honor to Pat O'Day. Great stuff Folks and howdy Tiger Tom.

Author: Jimbo
Wednesday, May 02, 2007 - 11:21 pm
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"I don't know of anybody else using 670."
Lewis & Clark College's KLC was using that frequency, among others, when I arrived there in mid 60's. They had a transmitter in each dorm. Each transmitter also fed into adjacent dorms so they had transmitters on staggered frequencies so as to not cause cancellations and other things. So, they had transmitters on 660, 670, 680,and 690. They said they were on 680. I don't know how they came to use those frequencies because at that time, KNBR would come in on 680, The "Mighty 690" would come in from Tijuana, and KBOI in Boise would come in on 670. All at night, of course. The transmitters stayed on 24/7 but programming would stop in the evening at different times. I would drive up and hear those distant stations over the carrier except in the dorms. I searched the dial at the time and determined that the area aroung 860 was best so we converted them to 860 +/-. After all the problems with different transmitters in each dorm and maintaining them...usually in boiler rooms that were hot...we took the two higher power transmitters, put them in the engineering room and buried coax cable to the dorms from the two transmitters. Each dorm had a coupler to the power line. The two transmitters fed dorms on opposite sides so they could both operate on the same frequency. Obviously, they could not operate on that frequency today. In fact, there really isn't any room to operate carrier current much anymore with the saturated bands. You also need to operate on the lower end of the dial to stay within radiation limits.

I did some work for the University of Portland back then, also, but I don't remember what frequency they were on. They had one transmitter that they fed to a wire on the roof of the building they were operating out of. Not quite legal, one would say. Got them to purchase a few LPB transmitters (Earl Meissner at United Radio Supply had stopped making Bauer copies by then) and put them in dorms and got them back on the air again as "real" carrier currents.

There are a couple people still on the air in Portland now who came out of the Lewis and Clark station from that era.

Author: Craig_adams
Wednesday, May 02, 2007 - 11:51 pm
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Jimbo: Wow! I didn't know KLC was on all those frequencies. Very interesting post.

According to the 1992-93 OAB Station Directory, KDUP at the Univ. of Portland was on 860kHz.

Carrier current station KPCC at PCC Sylvania campus was on 650kHz. and began in 1970.

Carrier current station KRCB at Reed College began in October 1955 on 660kc. This was before KRRC.

I remember Mt. Hood Community College ran a carrier current station in the 1970's called KMH but I don't have the frequency.

Author: Semoochie
Thursday, May 03, 2007 - 10:03 am
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600

Author: Littlesongs
Thursday, May 03, 2007 - 10:19 am
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Great stuff Jimbo! Again, a big thanks to everybody for this high powered discussion of low powered stations. This thread hasn't stayed on "R&B" per se, but I suppose that could stand for "Rinkydink & Brilliant" or something. :0)

I have had some great conversations with Michael Brown (of BBS and Stonehenge) about local campus carrier current, history and whatnot. I s'pose I could just drop him an e-mail, but perhaps Kent -- or someone else who gets up there more often than I -- could ask him personally if he would chime in with some history and specs. He knows quite a bit about the Lewis & Clark operation.

Author: Djfrresh
Thursday, May 03, 2007 - 1:26 pm
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about the rb thread the supe and spazz they one the first play rb on radio kboo now supe died the show its not on nore more also rev jimmy friday did black rock 88 on kboo as well

Author: Adiant
Saturday, May 05, 2007 - 3:00 pm
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Jimbo said "In fact, there really isn't any room to operate carrier current much anymore with the saturated bands. You also need to operate on the lower end of the dial to stay within radiation limits."

Why not 530 KHz? Last time I checked, the closest station would be a CBC repeater with 40 watts on 540 KHz on the West Coast of Vancouver Island (which I've heard with a good strong signal at high noon in Coos Bay). CBK Watrous (Saskatchewan) would probably dominate 540 at night.

Author: Greenway
Saturday, May 05, 2007 - 5:17 pm
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What was KDAG,a carrier current station from Portland that broadcast around 550 KHz or so from the late 1950s and the early 1960s,I think..

Author: Craig_adams
Saturday, May 05, 2007 - 6:30 pm
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Adiant: The closest station to Portland operating on 530kHz is in Portland. WPHG710 broadcasts with 10 watts from PDX Airport.

Greenway: KDAG began in 1958 in Saint Johns and was owned by Pat Pattee with Shann Atkinson as General Manager. The studio & transmitter were located at: 8927 N. Jersey. Phone: AV6-5027

Author: Semoochie
Saturday, May 05, 2007 - 10:21 pm
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I hope he doesn't still live there. People might start cruising by his house! :-)

Author: Don_from_salem
Monday, May 07, 2007 - 10:53 am
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According to the Social Security Death Index, Fitzgerald R. Beaver was born January 18 1922 and passed away January 1 1992, just 17 days before he would have turned 70.

Author: Jeffreykopp
Thursday, July 24, 2008 - 12:09 pm
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"Atlantic Records: The House That Ahmet [Ertegun] Built" is being repeated tonight (Thu) on OPB (American Masters), 9-11p.


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