KFRC's Frank Terry Passes Away

[michael hagerty]

Thanks again Michael; I do recall Bill Wade also doing a lot of vacation relief at KHJ as Frank did.

 I also recall that Wade was doing morning drive for awhile between the time that RWM left for WIND/Chicago and Charlie Van dyke's contract at another Windy City radio station was up so that he could return to KHJ.

I was attending a JC here in LA in from Sept. 1970 until 1974, and I do remember Charlie Van dyke worked 9AM-NOON, followed by Mark Elliott during part of that time period.

On a very somber note I grimly recall Elliott crying on the air when the news broke that the police were looking for 'Humble Harve' Miller after his wife had been murdered, until Bill Wade scrambled down to the station to finish Elliott's airshift that day.

Marv:
  Recollections are funny things. When Morgan left for WIND in October, 1970, Charlie Tuna took his place. Tuna's midday slot was filled by Pete McNeal. Van Dyke entered the picture twice. The first time, in January, 1972, when Morgan came back and Tuna wouldn't accept KHJ's offer of his old midday slot. Van Dyke came up from KGB, San Diego (where he'd been PD). That's when Charlie did 9-Noon (Mark Elliott did Noon-3).
  Van Dyke stayed until September, 1972 when he went to WLS for mornings. In June, 1973, Morgan walked out of KHJ (along with the Real Don Steele). Van Dyke was hired to replace him in morning drive, but couldn't leave WLS until September, 1973. That's where Bill Wade did the fill-in work. Van Dyke did morning drive at KHJ from September, 1973 until May, 1977, adding the PD job in January, 1975.
   As for the Harve incident, it happened while the Real Don Steele was on vacation and Jerry Butler (who had been working 9-Midnight) was filling in. Mark returned to do Harve's 6-9 shift, with Jerry back again in three hours. If Mark had a problem earlier in the day (which I find hard to believe, because he's a total pro), it would be highly unlikely he'd be back to do Harve's airshift. They probably would have brought Wade back in. 
   Tape exists of that day. KHJ handled it very cooly, with newsman Marv Howard referring to him as "Los Angeles Radio Personality Humble Harve Miller" at the beginning of the story and then only as "Miller" from then on.

---Michael Hagerty

[michael hagerty]

P.S.: Wade didn't do the entire stretch between Morgan's departure and Van Dyke's arrival. Tape exists of Jim Carson (who'd been doing mornings at KFRC the past couple of years) doing morning drive on KHJ on Wednesday, July 11, 1973. 

I don't know if Carson ever returned to KFRC (Dr. Don Rose took over mornings in October and Beau Weaver had the shift for a short time prior to that), but in December, 1973, he was part of the launch of K-100, with Morgan in mornings, Eric Chase middays, The Real Don Steele afternoons, Billy Pearl evenings, Jerry Butler late nights and Carson in overnights.

---Michael Hagerty

[Stacy Without An E]

I had the honor of working with Frank Terry when he was doing mornings at Froggy in Santa Rosa back in the late 90's.  With my limited knowledge of Bay Area radio at the time, I had no idea who he was.  After listening to other veterans who had worked with him in the past, I expected him to come in and make egotistical demands and talk down to those younger than him simply because of his time behind the mic.

I was pleasantly surprised to learn he was a consummate pro who had a great sense of humor and I had a chance to learn a great deal from.  Frank mentioned when Amaturo let him go that he was probably going to retire to the Sonora hills and enjoy time visiting with family and fishing with his cherished dog.  He never let on that he was suffering from any illness and never missed a shift.

God speed Frank and thanks for everything.

[Marv-L.A.]

Thanks Michael, your memory is indeed better than mine; I certainly do remember listening to Pete McNeal, Jerry Butler, & Walt 'Baby Love' on the air at KHJ.

Bill Wade was certainly a solid relief guy as Frank Terry was, and listening to him that afternoon when Elliott broke down on the air is among the most compelling things I've ever heard on a radio station anywhere.

I do recall that Marv Howard DID handle the entire 'Humble Harve incident' very delicately from the time the story broke until Miller was arrested; I believe that he turned himself in, but I'm not quite certain of that.

Thanks also for tracing Charlie Van Dyke's tours of duty at KHJ; I never knew that he was the PD there once upon a time. I believe you wrote in another thread that 'Shotgun Tom' Kelly was on his (Van Dyke's) airstaff at KGB when he was PD.

[calguy]

Thanks Michael, your memory is indeed better than mine; I certainly do remember listening to Pete McNeal, Jerry Butler, & Walt 'Baby Love' on the air at KHJ.

Bill Wade was certainly a solid relief guy as Frank Terry was, and listening to him that afternoon when Elliott broke down on the air is among the most compelling things I've ever heard on a radio station anywhere.

I do recall that Marv Howard DID handle the entire 'Humble Harve incident' very delicately from the time the story broke until Miller was arrested; I believe that he turned himself in, but I'm not quite certain of that.

Thanks also for tracing Charlie Van dyke's tours of duty at KHJ; I never knew that he was the PD there once upon a time. I believe you wrote in another thread that 'Shotgun Tom' Kelly was on his (Van dyke's) airstaff at KGB when he was PD.

As I heard it, CVD found Shotgun Tom at 55-KAFY in Bakersfield and brought him to San Diego.  He had KHJ sounding great, but RKO was extremely worried about Ten-Q.  He was followed by the always great Michael Spears who for some reason could not translate his KFRC success to KHJ.  His successor was John Sebastian who just about killed KHJ stripping is of jingles, personality and playlist.  They sounded terrible under his watch.  Chuck Martin tried, but never could bring back the essence of the Boss 93.  RKO killed KHJ themselves.  Sad...

[BossRadioDJ]

At today's Broadcast Legends lunch in Berkeley, there was a table reserved for a group of Frank Terry's friends, which included Chris Edwards, John Catchings, Tom Saunders, Sam Van Zandt and Tom Benner. Chris Edwards, incidentally, is now with KTRB.

Also present and notable today were Noah Griffin (ex-KGO), Matt Vasgersian (Padres TV play-by-play) and Dino Donikian, who was Jim Lange's last sidekick at KABL. Dino and Matt are old friends, and Matt's dad, Ed, had a featured role in today's presentation of an episode from the old Sam Spade radio series, which starred the wonderful Fred Lacosse and Terry Lowry as Sam and his doting sidekick, Effie.

Peter Cleaveland did his usual star turn as host of the proceedings, while Don Mozley (KCBS) and Bob Lazich (KNBR) masterfully delivered the news headlines from 1948.

You shoulda been there...

DJ

[Lkeller]

"You shoulda been there..."


I wish I coulda been, David - but I couldn't get the time away from work.  Next time, I hope.  I'll admit I'm having a hard time imagining the stiff Fred La Cosse from KRON "Newswatch" in the 70s as Sam Spade. That would have been eye opening...

[BossRadioDJ]

I wish I coulda been, David - but I couldn't get the time away from work.  Next time, I hope.  I'll admit I'm having a hard time imagining the stiff Fred La Cosse from KRON "Newswatch" in the 70s as Sam Spade. That would have been eye opening...

Not to get too far off topic here, but I'm wondering how much better the attendance for these events would be if they were held as a dinner rather than a lunch.

As for Fred Lacosse, he put everything into the role of Sam Spade -- tons of character and nuance -- and it didn't hurt to have Mrs. Lacosse on stage beside him. It was truly terrific to watch the "live drama" unfold, and the sound effects work by Alan Young and Brodie Giles (both of KSVY-FM/Sonoma) and Matt Ogaz (SVTV 28/Sonoma) was a wonder to behold.

DJ

[DyingMedium]

Hey there...

My father worked with Frank Terry and remembers him fondly (and with a lotta laughs!) 

A story he tells about Franks they were at a radio industry convention and a woman was coming on to Frank.  They disappared.  Everyone assumed that Frank was having a good time with his new friend.  They were very surprised when Frank was back within minutes. 

"What happened, Frank?"

"Well, she wanted me to come up to her room but told her...Honey! I'd love to, but I got my D*&ck shot off in 'Nam!"

I can't convey the Frank Terry Delivery...but it was a hoot...

BTW...can someone elaborate or steer me somewhere for the full Harve Miller story?

Thanks...

DM

[BeachBoy]

Frank Terry....
God, what a giant, and he got a little bitty obit in a Modesto paper.  It said he was a "radio announcer for 40 years".

I was an engineer at KNEW/KSAN.  One day, I heard this wierd warble in the music.  I went into the control room thinking the tape on the tune was stretched.  It was just Frank using the music triple stack for a high hat. I explained the problem, and he just found another spot for the high hat.

Frank told me the story of his entry into radio, and I always beleived it.  It seems he was in high school drama class in Fresno, and the teacher asked for a volunteer to go down to a local radio station and play Elvis records at night.  Frank raised his hand.  Upon graduation, he joined the Navy, and became a telegrapher.  Out on the street, he went to work for the railroad out in the desert, but they were phasing out telegraphers, and he mostly played cards in the caboose.  One day Frank got a message from his mother to call the Navy.  Upon doing so, he was told he could have his old job in radio back.  He took it, and the rocket ride began.  KHJ and KFRC, once doing mornings on one, and afternoons on the other.  The Country ride at KNEW and KSAN. The legendary nights of drinking with Ken Stabler the night before a big game. 

Frank, for his legendary status, never played on it.  In fact, he seemed to want to put it behind him, and was almost embarassed by it.  He was the most humble and unassuming guy you would ever want to meet, and although he was tightly focused, always had time for a good word. I hope somebody manages to put him in some Hall Of Fame somewhere.  I miss him already.

Ernie Hopseker