Re(5): What's the likelihood? Posted on February 2, 2026 at 11:17:03 PM by Maalox
Well I sensed that from all the jocks except nights and mornings where I was swapped out with Meade. His attitude was hardly surprising, being a rip and reader and liking it. He ended up at BZ producing for Heckerson. I remember they were very cold from my very first day, in 1976 tho they badmouthed the GM and Johnny Dolan, the PD as well. HB was where I developed my dislike for corporate radio ownership.
I replaced Wayne Combs doing afternoon news. On my first day, Dolan had me sit in the studio until 6pm when he went in and fired Combs. Not a great first impression at the outset. What it never WAS, was the World's Happiest Broadcasters. Draw your own conclusions.
In modern times we call that a toxic work environment. It was a Storz station that forced their jocks in 1976 to wear dress shirts and ties. Jay and Roberts were my friends and if Jim's recollection is accurate, they were very convincing backstabbers; the others no. Very cliquish. The only others who were decent there were the union engineers, who were always nice and helpful...in their own world from the production staff.
I've always characterized that gig as a 'toilet bowl' but again, shit falls downhill and everyone shuddered when the honcho from Omaha came to town. With FM killing our ratings, no one felt safe and I got out of there when my previous station hired me back as News Director of a 6 member staff.
There was zero upward mobility there. Ron Eric left suddenly for their sttion at Miami but I heard he didn't stay long. Ended up also back at a smaller Market...Wichita, but I heard he did very well there. Lotta turnover in many markets during those 70s of radio consolidations and the end of AM radio. Replies: