YOUR MEMORIES OF MICHAEL O'BRIEN........

Feedback.pdxradio.com message board: Portland Radio: YOUR MEMORIES OF MICHAEL O'BRIEN.....................
Author: Stoner
Wednesday, May 06, 2009 - 6:12 am
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O'brien was a great morning man. He shined on Kisn. His method was the "your never going to guess what I'm going to say next"
concept. It was amazing how hard he worked for the outside cash (remotes)...You could hear him at Westmans on Sandy Blvd and then at General Pants Co downtown on the same day-night. I remember the accounting office at Kisn trying to figure out his talent fees! A classic line during Rose Festival time was 'Well the young ladies are down at the waterfront waiting for the shops to arrive....my goodness there will be sea-man flowing through our streets! My Brother was driving (us) to Cleveland High that morning and almost drove off the road. To show you how great he was and how many were tuned in, that day every kid was talking about that line which was WAY out there for the day. I remember him mixing it up with "Fearless Freddie" who was actually a sales guy at Kisn who made High School Football predictions during Mikes show. I remember all the ladies chasing him.....and how he had a big heart for charity drives.
O'brien was one of Stumptowns great radio morning men.

Author: Stoner
Wednesday, May 06, 2009 - 6:13 am
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SHIPS! (sorry)

Author: Brade
Wednesday, May 06, 2009 - 8:03 am
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Mike was great! He was the first jock I heard do regular bits involving put-on phone calls. (He called it being "O'Brienized.") I remember one bit where he played a poultry farmer trying to hire some dude to ride in the truck with the chickens and scare them into the air when the truck reached a weigh station so the truck would weigh less. I heard that bit when I was in high school and it still makes me laugh. That's talent!

Author: Jimbo
Wednesday, May 06, 2009 - 10:08 am
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"To show you how great he was and how many were tuned in, that day every kid was talking about that line "

I am willing to bet that would not happen today.....

Author: Waynes_world
Wednesday, May 06, 2009 - 10:33 am
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He was fun to listen to. is he still alive? I liked the Obrianizers he had. he brought a few to the 88 reunion show. It would be great to see more of them. Him and Whitey were such pros.

Author: Semoochie
Wednesday, May 06, 2009 - 11:05 am
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The last I heard, he had an antiques store near Bremerton.

Author: Kq4
Wednesday, May 06, 2009 - 11:10 am
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Michael O'Brien's website

Author: Semoochie
Wednesday, May 06, 2009 - 11:17 am
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Click on "the radionuts" for a brief biography.

Author: Richjohnson
Wednesday, May 06, 2009 - 12:01 pm
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Worked for him in '77 at KPAM - he created a gig for me to keep me around: overnight weekends, fill-in, cart rewinder and walker of Wally's Dalmation. Also a couple of, uh, backup duties that shall remain off this thread.
Hey... it was the 70's.

Author: Kkb
Wednesday, May 06, 2009 - 12:14 pm
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okay did OBrien pass away?

Author: Tombrooks
Wednesday, May 06, 2009 - 1:34 pm
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Mike O'Brien had the best laugh of anyone doing radio -- He was just as funny off the radio as on.. O'brien hired me from All nights at KISN in FEB 1974-- Went to KPAM with hime and Tom Michaels-

At the time I had a horrible break-up with my first love and was having a difficult time - He gave me great LOVE advice - I can remember one advice comment he gave - even from 30 some years ago...but this is a family friendly web site - so I can not repeat it-- but he was correct!

I am sure people who worked with him or for him would agree the guy was just like the "KISN Good Guy" on the air - off the air...

STONER - Ya "Fearless Freddy" what a great bit that was - The guy was a salesman too! - He actually had talent!

Author: Stevenaganuma
Thursday, May 07, 2009 - 7:55 am
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If you did overnights before O'Brien's morning shift, you better have fresh coffee brewed before he got to the station. Here is one of his KISN remotes from 1972. Enjoy!

http://www.divshare.com/download/7305521-c05

Author: Tombrooks
Thursday, May 07, 2009 - 10:31 am
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Steve--
That was great--
- I wonder if Thunderbird Village is still there?
- I doubt the drive to Portland from Vancouver is still "A few minutes" (Like he mentions from Beaverton)


After listening to O'Brien's remote, I started thinking about my cool tan leisure suit - Now what ever happened to it?

(Loved his comment about "wall-to-wall" carpet too..)

Author: Semoochie
Thursday, May 07, 2009 - 10:57 am
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Michael is alive and well. I e-mailed him and got a reply. I'll see if I can get him to contribute here!

Author: Skeptical
Thursday, May 07, 2009 - 2:50 pm
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More than a few O'Brien airchecks are here: www.live365.com/stations/skeptical2

Author: Listenerpete
Thursday, May 07, 2009 - 3:23 pm
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When Michael was at KB101 he said he was working on a house and had wood that could be used as kindling and was offering it for free. So I called him and set a time on Saturday for me to come and pick it up.

After picking it up I asked him if he could give me a tour of the studio. A few weeks later on a Saturday, he gave me a tour of the studios on SW 1st. Uncle Don Wright was on the air and knowing that my wife was probably listening, he asked me who the woman I was with.

Author: Waynes_world
Thursday, May 07, 2009 - 3:26 pm
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Michael has posted one time on here. I know he would have a few stories to tell. the Obrienizers were very funny.

Author: Semoochie
Friday, May 08, 2009 - 2:16 am
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OK, I put the word out. Let's see if he bites!

Author: Stoner
Friday, May 08, 2009 - 3:51 am
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Ever hear a remote better than that?

Author: Theradionut
Friday, May 08, 2009 - 7:23 pm
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OK, I'll bite! Hi Dave Stoner!!! You still do the best impression of me that I've ever heard. I wish we'd worked together longer.
OK, I listened to the "Thunderbird Village" remote and laughed my jockeys off. Here's an irony that's hard to beat: In 1981, I was working for Robin Mitchell at KB101 and of course did lots of remotes (where the money is). It was November 21st, (Saturday) and I was doing my "Michael O'Brien traveling dog show" (I cooked chilli and hotdogs) from 3-6p, at the Vancouver Goodyear Tire Store, 4 cut-ins per hour. Place was packed. Hey, free food...and this vision of loveliness walked in and out of the corner of my eye, I saw her scoping me out. I walked over to her and said, "Can I buy you a hotdog or WHAT"? She smiled politely and declined but I managed to ask her if she lived nearby and what did she do...anything to keep her there because I was smitten! She said she lived at.............."Thunderbird Village" and I laughed out loud! I gave her the lowdown of how I did the grand opening for that joint and asked her if it was still habitable. Turned out she was a speech therapist at the deaf school and had a masters degree. A real keeper! Well boys, my Mom used to say, "You can marry more money in a minute than you can make in a lifetime" That was almost 28 years ago and I can still make her laugh. She's still a speech therapist only in Tacoma and I'm still doing radio only in a different way.

My website is <theradionut.net> and as you can see, I can't get fired or make any housecalls but it sure is fun. I hung it up 1995 because its not cool playing rock and roll at 55. Somehow the sizzle went out of the biz so I took a year off and decided I liked it better than getting up at 4am.

I could write a book but some of the husbands are still alive!

Michael O'Brien

Author: Craig_adams
Friday, May 08, 2009 - 7:41 pm
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Great Story! Thanks for posting it.

I was Music Director of KPCC Portland Community College in 1977. It was my job to come up with records to play on the station. Michael was nice enough to go through his spare current 45's as KPAM-FM PD and donate some to us. Always appreciated that. Thanks Michael.

Author: Markandrews
Friday, May 08, 2009 - 11:03 pm
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Michael James Anthony O'Brien...glad you bit!!

Hope you'll share again soon.

Looked at your site...fun stuff! Your photo on the radionuts page where you have your chin propped in your hand behind that beautiful console shows age has treated you well...That smile is still electric. (It looks like you could be plotting another O'Brienizer!)

Author: Waynes_world
Friday, May 08, 2009 - 11:08 pm
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You were a pro so was Whitey, Michael I want to hear some of your Obrienizers!

Author: Waynes_world
Friday, May 08, 2009 - 11:20 pm
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PS Michael, maybe some Obrianizers could go on Robin Mitchell's website.

Author: Stoner
Friday, May 08, 2009 - 11:39 pm
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Mornings have never been the same since O'brien left the airwaves.
In all the years there have been only a few morning drive jocks that stuck.
O'brien- Uncle Don- Craig- London & Engleman-Johnny Williams who's voice I already miss- P.O.A- Barney of course. Currently Bob Miller is a solid talent always, Chase has a load of pure talent-Nelson & Terry actually like each other & it shows......Sorry if I left someone out that really counts...it's late.
Oh...and Murdock & his team is solid. I have always thought that Erickson is the best news guy to ever work in this town. He tells you the news and never sounds like he is reading it. Les we miss you. Roger W Morgan Yes!

Author: Waynes_world
Saturday, May 09, 2009 - 12:10 pm
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Don't forget Les Sarnoff RIP You mentioned him already, sorry. Oh well mention him twice.


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