South and Central Jersey Radio of the 70's

[HarrytheK1]

Anybody have any memories of this bygone era?

I'd love to hear from my old colleagues at WMGM, WSLT-FM, WMVB, WHLW (11-7 Radio) or WHWH (RIP).

Harry Kalish

[amfmsw]

My son was cleaning out the "Band Room" where they play, and turned up two cassettes of 106.3 WSLT-FM with their final hours of pop/adult contemporary music before WDVR 98.3 forced them to turn Classical.  Then LMA with WFPG as WKOE Country.  WDVR  (WTKU) blew them away.

[deff junction]

Chuck Flamini and Chuck Kramer, Where are they now? I hope all is well with them

[HarrytheK1]

I don't know the current whereabouts of Chuck Flamini.  I worked with him at WSLT-FM.  I was a weekender, it was my first job in radio, and the station was automated.  It took me a while to figure out exactly how that automation system worked.  I mostly remember Chuck for coming in on the weekend and telling me how I was doing everything wrong and that it was too late to fix my screw-ups.  I didn't like him very much.

Later on, when I was at WHLW, he had just been canned from WOBM and a mutual friend asked if Chuck could come and visit my morning show.  Of course, I said yes.  Then, I went to the men's room, I came back to the studio and Chuck had put all the carts out of order. 

It's funny the things you remember.

Chuck Kramer and I were great friends until we just gradually lost touch over the years.  The last I heard he was doing mornings at a radio station in Starke, FL, where I actually visited him about about 14 or 15 years ago.  I think he's still there and he actually may be in line to own the station.  I hope that happens.  That would be wonderful.

Unfortunately, Chuck also had a horrible tragedy occur a while back.  He lost his daughter in a car accident.  I hope he and his wife Mary (who was the president of his fan club in Millville) are doing all right.  They are two wonderful people.

[amfmsw]

Chuckles Kramer is at WEAG AM/FM.  He keeps the stations intensely LOCAL full service.  I've never worked with a more dedicated man.  Or a person with a keener wit.

[bigjay]

Harry The K...
You and I don't have to speak a word and we know how we feel about each other.
We did have something very special going on back in the 70's especially at 11/7 Jersey Shore. The more I think about those days, the more I miss them. I have tried not to dwell in the past but on THIS website, I've written TOMES about that station and my two different stints there. The odds were ALWAYS against us. First because we were a daytimer, and then because NOONE could undo the political stanglehold that the owners of WOBM had on the local ad community. It didn't help that some folks in the local community had a #&%-on for the owner. However even during the worst times, we got a paycheck, and frankly were allowed to be as creative and free as we could possibly be on the air. THAT alone was worth the ride. And if there is ever a documentary that would be so very cool, it would be about Jersey Shore Radio in its heyday. That would have to be the 70's. Many new stations suddenly popped up to do battle with the longtime local stations WHTG and WJLK. Some succeeded, some didn't, but it sure was fun. WE all have so many stories about the people who graced the hallways of HLW in Howell. I have my OBM stories, and a few from JRZ although I wasn't there long enough to catch the real madness that was allowed there. Nice hearing from you Harry. Contact me privately please. It's been a very disturburbing 13 months being off the air. But I'm working on several things at once.. When will this industry wake up once again, and hire personalities?
BE BIG
www.bigjayandanita.com

[bigjay]

Hey Classic Puker..
You're older than my sorry arse. (I figured that they'll never catch the British spelling...shhh.)
Not only that, what'dya mean Big Jay's FORMER morning partner?
I still do a show with her over the phone every day, and it's funnier than the one she's now on..or the one she was on before that.
And, what'dya mean Seymour Abramson. It was his WIFE who called the shots.
And, what'dya mean Nanny state? If you think we have a Nanny state NOW, just wait until Nobamma da Enemy gets elected. If you live in NJ, you won't HAVE any money to GIVE to uncle Sam because it's all going to tolls and taxes to pay for wasteful spending and greed by many administrations.. And while I'm at it, now all of the same people who griped about paying higher tolls realized that they may not be able to get to Motor Vehicle on a Saturjay, are freaking out. Something had to give. And I can't give any moe, larry or Joe Besser. So don't get ME started on Nanny state, you pinko commie Edwards lovin' VEEP likely dork. But I must admit, you had the best jingle of ALL of us, 'cept MAYbe Don Cobiella..or maybe World Famous Jerry Kristafer. Mine was the most easy to make fun of with that Jock reference and all.
That is all. Go get 'em Famous baby. NINE!

[HarrytheK1]

Jay...

It's great hearing from you (although I must say that line you wrote "You and I don't have to speak a word and we know how we feel about each other" got me a little nervous.  It sounds like a line from Brokeback Mountain).

I didn't realize you had been on the beach (Lavellette?  Seaside?) for 13 months.  Knowing your love for radio, that must seem like an eternity for you.  But you know what they say - You can't keep a good man down.  So after all the good men find something, maybe there will be something left for you. (Hyuk! Hyuk! Hyuk!)

But seriously, I wanna tell ya...How about that Joey Heatherton?  Gggrrrrrrrrrr!!!! OK, this time really seriously -It's hard to believe that a guy with your background, experience and credentials hasn't been grabbed by a station, much less a station at the Jersey Shore, or even AC.  I mean, for cryin' out loud, you are a legend (and not only in your own mind), especially at the Shore.  I don't get it.  I don't have any real involvement with radio any more, so I really don't know much about the industry these days, but, from everything I read, the industry is really in a pretty crappy state.  But, then again, radio wasn't in such a great state 30 years ago either.  The pay was absolutely horrible, the equipment was old and decrepit, there was no job security, and there were no benefits - and that was with personalities.  I have a lot of memories of 11-7.  There were some unbelievably great times for both the listener and those of us who worked there.  However, over the course of time, it becomes easy to forget that there were really some pretty crappy things that happened there too.  I think what it boils down to is that the only reasons any of us were on the radio were because we loved it and we hoped for better days ahead. 

You were very fortunate.  You were at the pinnacle.  But you know better than anybody that there's only a few Howards, Imusses (sp?), Joeys or even Gamblings.  Only a small fraction of 1% get to their level, and I think keeping that percentage small is one of the reasons personalities aren't hired.  Corporations - big or small - don't see the return on investment for putting out big bucks for anybody but the Limbaughs or Hannitys.  But, of course, you don't to have Stern's or Limbaugh's gazillion dollars to be successful.  You can be successful if you enjoy what you're doing and take satisfaction in bringing enjoyment to others.  That's why I'm amazed that nobody in the area has put you on the air.  I don't hear Jersey Shore radio but I have no doubt that, whatever the format, you can do a better job than anybody else on the air down there - and that's not a slam at anybody on the air.  You have the experience, the track record of success, and the enthusiasm.  Sheesh!  What else is there?  OK, maybe talent...but you can't have everything (another Hyuk! Hyuk!)

Anyway, it's good to hear that you're working on several things.  I'm sure something you'll enjoy will come through.  I'll get in touch with you privately too and we'll do some catching up.

One final Seymour Abramson story - Years after I had left 11-7 I was in the area and I picked up a copy of the daily paper.  I think it was called the Lakewood Times.  In it was a story about the town council meeting the night before at which Seymour was applying for some kind of zoning variance.  He was turned down for it.  So the story goes on to say that the President of the council made sure to point out that the council had valid reasons for rejecting the variance...and that it wasn't turned down just because nobody liked Seymour.  That was part of the official record.  Yes, the odds were definitely against a radio station when the official record stated that nobody liked its owner.  Seymour Abramson - RIP.
Del Sharbutt - RIP too (if he is dead)


 

[c.s.p.]

i've said it before , and i'll say it again ... this particular kind of string of postings makes this radio-info board soooooo worthwhile !!!! c.s.p.

[bigjay]

To C.P.S: It's worthwhile when it's REAL and not venom coming from anonymous nerds who live with in their mother's basements attacking people who have real lives and families to feed and years and years of hard work behind them.
I understand that's part of the 'entertainment' value of reading this thing. But I think it should be a fun dialog about what's happening in the business in the particular market that each board serves. Much like radio stations' themselves ought to be doing. Every single pro reading this stuff KNOWS I'm right, but can't say anything because they've either been told to stay off the weeny boards, or don't ever say anything that may be construed as an opinion of the radio station. I respect that. I held back when I was asked not to post. And I would again if I were in that position...out of respect.

Now on to Harry the K. Jeez man, you made me wince and guffaw too many times in your posting. Brokeback Mountain was the "ball-room" at Clayton Road from my recollection. The owner of WHLW, Seymour's Abrahamson's stories were all true. His younger brother is a nice guy however and owns the Roy Rogers (yes their still are some franchises out there) in Pine Beach along bumper-to-bumper Rt. NINE in Ocean County. He actually sent a message to Seymours widow who lives in Florida for me when I stopped in one day last year. She wrote back WHO? Kidding of course. That was about Joey Reynolds. Please get in touch. I am touched by your comments Harry. I can't work here at the shore it seems. Over qualified by some strange standard. ($$$) And yet I get guys in places like Richmond saying "why is a guy with your credentials trying to get a job here?" "Cause I like to EAT you oaf!!!"
They get dumber all the time. The thing that really disturbs me is that there will not BE a farm system to MAKE the big time soon, as the small stations have virtually no one there. And even then, there is no one to TEACH them the ropes even if they COULD move up the ladder. It's gonna bite the biz in the arse soon if it hasn't already. I ain't the only one talking about this stuff. I would just love to be a fly on the wall when these suits in the BIG companies get together to talk about what they have to do today to satisfy the "Street" or "The Family". Yeah..let's let two PD's go in ____ville, and let John Schmoe run our three rock leaning stations. We already have a guy doing our 2 country outlets, and he's voicetracking on the AC station. Let the morning guys (used to be 3 people on the show) voice track the afternoons, and VT middday, because after all, no one is listening then. Nights and overnights...well that's just message board goons who listen to see if they can hear "Billy Don't Be A Hero" when they call it in to the request line that nobody answers. I have answers to ALL of these comments if anyone wants to hear them. And I know several people who could for a marginal fee, work to FIX your damn stations from certain oblivion. I'll name names for a price.
Again..thanks to all who've commented about my health stuff. I didn't croak..and I am TOTALLY ok to work in any situation now. Except I can't lift the speakers for the remotes, nor can I lift the mascot. (Do they ever wash those things?)
BE BIG my friends.
The Original Big Jay The Jock
and don't forget to check in now and then on www.bigjayandanita.com