California Radio Personalities

Radio Makes Us Lucky To Live in California

By C. MacDonald

California has always had some of the greatest radio personalities/sportscasters in the World. I've been lucky enough to hear them all over the state. There are too many good voices to mention but I thought I'd recall a few.

Years ago, I loved listening to KSFO in San Fancisco--Al "Jazzbeaux" Collins, Jack Carney and Jim Lange (who also worked radio in Los Angeles and became famous for hosting "The Dating Game.") I later worked with and wrote scripts for former award-winning KSFO News Director Chet Casselman, who was in Radio and TV broadcasting for more than 50 years. A nicer, more talented radio talent, you'll never find.

I loved listening to Russ Hodges and Lon Simmons broadcasting San Francisco Giant baseball games. It especially was exciting to hear Russ say "Bye-bye Baby" as Willie Mays hit one out of the park. Even when watching the game at Candlestick Park, many had radios listening to Russ and Lon.

Lon went on to become a legendary Oakland As personality with Bill King. The multi-talented King, who made famous the sports phrase, "Holy Toledo," also broadcast the San Francisco/Golden State Warriors and the Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders.

Merv Griffin was on KFRC before he went on to become a well-known singer, TV Talk Show Host and creator of Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune. Tom Campbell had a distinctive voice and huge following on KYA. His distinctive voice can still be heard on radio ads in California..

Ross McGowan was a substitute high school teacher during the years he was a popular radio personality at KLIV. He used to give students autographs with the message, "A funny little guy about 6-foot high." He went on to become a longtime hit on KTVU Television.

Several of the "NoCal" personalities ended up in Southern California, which might have the greatest radio broadcasters anywhere. How lucky were "SoCals" to get to listen to Vin Scully, arguably the finest baseball announcer ever. He broadcast for the Dodgers 59 years, starting off in Brooklyn and following the team to Los Angeles, where he finished his career last year.

No one was more humble, more smooth, more like-able, more classy, more of a walking-talking historian on "America's Favorite Past-time" than Scully. I always liked how he went out of his way to be balanced and treated opposing teams and players with respect. He reportedly said the best baseball player he ever saw was Willie Mays.

Then there was Los Angeles Laker longtime broadcast legend Chick Hearn, who popularized the basketball phrases, "Slaaaam Dunk," "No look pass," "Ticky-Tacky Foul," "Throws up a brick," and "No harm, no foul." Like Vin, Chick called it like he saw it. He pulled no punches and went after his own team when they weren't playing up to their capabilities. He was so much fun to listen too.

And then you have Ralph Lawler, still a broadcaster with the Los Angeles Clippers. He has done radio and TV since the team started in San Diego in the 1970s. Lawler popularized the basketball terms, "Bingo," "The first team to 100 wins" and "Oh me, oh my!"

Bob Miller, who recently announced his retirement as announcer of the Los Angeles Kings, has over 44 years experience behind the microphone, and is adored by hockey fans.

Perhaps the funniest radio broadcaster ever was Jim Healy, whose headlines and audio clips got devoted listeners to tune in regularly for his shows on KLAC. He would intertwine news with hilarious audio clips, like Howard Cosell saying, "Who goofed? I've got to know," Richard Nixon saying, "That's just plain poppycock," and someone else saying, "That's a bunch of bull."

His clip of Dodger Manager Tommy Lasorda's tirade, mouthing off about the talent of the San Diego Padres's Kurt Bevacqua is a radio classic. Jim used a teletype sound in the background and a variety of special effects, like whistles, to create a hilarity seldom heard elsewhere. His son, Patrick, is an award-winning television reporter for KNBC TV.

With all the traffic in Southern California and Northern California, it's great to have good radio--fun, entertaining and educational, to listen too. When stuck in traffic, I also enjoyed listening to the late author/radio show host Rich Buhler, who created, "Talk from the Heart," on KBRT.

There were (and are) so many other terrific radio shows throughout California that it's tough not being able to mention all the memorable ones. We're so lucky being able to pick and choose who we listen too, regardless of tastes, style, message and politics. There's really something out in Radioland for everyone--from talk to public broadcasting to country to rock to religious to smooth jazz to alternative to foreign language. Turn the dial and find just what you're looking for. It will help you when you're in gridlock on the freeway and even in the evening when you're falling asleep.