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Post by dbsteff on Aug 25, 2008 16:53:06 GMT -5
Thanks Travis, I'll check it out, although I can't at the moment....I'm at work and have no sound card available to me.
To the best of my recollection, The Louisville Radio School was NOT accredited to award engineering degrees....so I assume you refer to "Broadcast Engineer" otherwise,I'm a little confused that there would have been a commercial that concerned itself with pay scales for engineers......ANYWAY.....I'll still check it out.
The best one could hope for from the Radio School would be to achieve a FCC 1st Class License. I did so, including the Ship Radar endorsement. The problem I had was that I was NOT a student of the Radio School. I was attending a, long since defunct, technical school in Shively: The United Electronics Institute. Don Fugate and I both went there.
I didn't know it at the time, but the Radio School was using me as some sort of benchmark for their students to measure up to. Had I know it at the time, I'd have been very upset. When I came to understand that I was being held up as some sort of example, I also understood why I sensed some palpable disdain that some of the students seemed to have for me. I achieved my FCC 2nd Class, and later 1st Class License way ahead of any of the students of the Radio School.......I had no idea we were in some blind competition. Indeed, when I left the station for Texas, all the LRS students were still holding FCC 3rd Class licenses with broadcast endorsement. Oh Well.
I had done well in school, and when graduation approached, I was in the top 10 of my class. The Collins Radio Co. had sent a recruiter to UEI, and I was hired and Collins paid to move me to Dallas Texas, where their Broadcast Division was located.
I arrived in Dallas on 7-7-69. I thought I had moved to the depths of Hell. I didn'[t think it could that hot anywhere on the face of the planet. I started on night shift, and it would still be over 100F according to the bank thermometer, as I drove home after midnight each night.
I couple weeks later, Don & I watched the moon landing. Don had followed me to Texas, but a little farther west. Don went to work for General Dynamics in Ft. Worth. Anyway, back to the moon shot; Collins communications gear was in use on the flight, and other Collins avionics and other gear, as well. I felt extremely proud to be a Collins employee.
Later, when Collins was absorbed into Rockwell International, everything went to Hell in the proverbial handbasket. Rockwell had no idea how to manage Broadcast Equipment Manufacturing, and eventually sold the division to Contenental Electronics...now part of DRS.
As a side note; Don and I met at UEI and quickly learned that we were from the same hometown...Huntington WV. We became best buddies and even roomates in a delapidated old trailer on Seneca Drive, off Crittenden, near the airport. It took every dime Don and I made to pay our tuition and make ends meet. Fortunately, Don and I were on alternate pay cycles, so if I was broke, Don had money, and vice-versa....you know how it is to be a student. Anyway, Don and I have remained good friends over these many years. He, his wife and kids are all still in the area.
Still, I've been in the Dallas area since 1969. Many times, though, I've kicked myself for not sticking with Clarence Henson, when he offered me a full time position. Clarence had taken a personal interest in me and afforded me a number of special opportunities.
The grass looked much greener on the Dallas side of the fence at that time, so, well, here I am in Dallas. Don't get me wrong, Dallas has been very good to me and I've had a good career here. Still I really loved Louisville during the 2 years or so I lived there, and often wonder what would have happened had I stayed at WLRS.
Clarence's prime business was as a broadcast consultant. He spent much of his time on the road, putting stations on the air "turnkey" for investors. I helped with one of those...but that's it's own story.
Thanks again for the heads up on the air check info.
Dan
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Post by dbsteff on Aug 25, 2008 10:17:59 GMT -5
Don't know about ghost stories, but the old farm house that hosted the station would certainly be a likely site for some.
I'm going to send to John Q. a couple of pics I have from the station/studio circa 1968. Including one of Don Fugate and I in the studio earlier in the evening.....before the infamous off the air comments. Shown will be the old Western Electric console, the EV 666 microphone, the sparta-matic cart machines, etc. You'll note that had Don been watching the VU meter on the on-air monitor, directly in front of him, instead of reading his copy, he'd have seen he was still on the air.
I'm not exactly sure how John will post the pics I will send later today, but I'm sure they'll be available to you in short order.
Good to hear from you.
Dan
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Post by dbsteff on Aug 25, 2008 10:11:05 GMT -5
SIGN-ON ---1967 --- LOCKED OUT ---WLRS
John Q. said he wanted more stories regarding my time at WLRS…so:
You know from my earlier posts, that WLRS was initially the associated radio operation to The Louisville Radio School, and that is the origin of the call letters. Its initial location was at 1701 S. 3rd Street, in large, old ante-bellum style house. I assume, by now, that location has reverted back to a private residence….so please don’t disturb the current residents. The Google Satellite pic of the location (S.E. quadrant of that intersection) suggests that the original base of the tower might still exist there….its concrete pad, that is. But on with the story:
I had the sign on shift at this particular time at WLRS. At that time, WLRS was not a 24 hr. operation.
It was a brutally cold Louisville winter’s morning, on this particular occasion, Sunday Morning as I recall, when I showed up for sign on. The old RCA transmitter, in use at the time, was a cantankerous old thing and one had to allow extra warm up time for it before applying any modulation or the thing would shut itself down. So I had arrived with ample time for that little ritual. I was so happy when, later, we moved to the 800 Building. We had a brand new RCA BTF 10-D transmitter with no such quirks.
The sign off guy was supposed to leave the key for me in a designated hiding place, but it wasn’t there. I went into panic mode, immediately. I tried both the front door, which was the main entrance door to both the school and the station and the Lee St. side door, typically used to enter the station, to no avail. Both were locked.
I considered walking around the perimeter of the house looking for an unlocked window. I quickly decided that this would be most unwise. I didn’t want the neighbor to the immediate south to hear me out there crunching about in the iced-over grass trying to break into the studio and shoot me….or call Louisville’s finest to do it for him.
I decided that it would be best for me to be the one to call the police and ask for their assistance in my breaking and entering dilemma.
Remember, it was 1967…no cell phones.
I drove till I found a phone booth at a gas station, that was still closed for the night, and called the operator…remember 1967…no 911 service. She connected me with the Louisville P.D.. I explained my issue to the dispatcher, who sounded as if he thought my story unbelievable….after all who would simply leave the key to the station in a hiding place? Anyway, he promised to send a squad car, and told me to wait there at the gas station till they arrived.
After what seemed like an eternity, the squad car arrived. I was relieved, as I was afraid that the dispatcher thought my call a prank, and may not have dispatched anyone. I explained my problem to the two officers…they seemed equally incredulous, but finally followed me back to the House/ Station…I think they found it hard to believe that the location was a radio station, until they observed the tower in the back of the house. They double-checked and found the doors locked, as I had said.
We went around the house looking for an open window and found one at the actual studio. One of the officers shone his flashlight in to see the console and turntables, helped to open the window, and let me use his clasped hands as a footstool to get in. I nearly knocked over one of the two turntables as I essentially fell into the studio. The studio was dark, though my eyes had adjusted to the darkness outside; I still had to feel my way to find the light switch. Those old Fairchild Turntables could have knocked me out had one fallen over and landed on me. They had motors better suited for a washing machine, and were belt drive, the platter alone probably weighed 10 lbs…they were slow as heck to come to speed, so were a pain to cue, but at the time, they were state of the art, having very low wow and flutter figures.
Once I got the lights on, I ran to start the transmitter, flipping the filaments on to start the warm up cycle.
The police had moved to the Lee St. door and were waiting for me to let them in. I did so as quickly as possible after starting the transmitter.
They still seemed doubtful of this whole business, and milled around the studio and transmitter room until they saw me turn on the console….an RCA BC-7 and begin cueing up a couple of LPs and load the cart machine. Then, they seemed to believe that I actually knew what the heck I was doing and left.
Sign on occurred on time, and the rest of the day was uneventful.
The following Monday, I retrieved the key and made myself a copy. I wasn’t going to go through such an experience again.
Should you ever drive by the location, you can recall my story from all those years ago in your imagination.
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Post by dbsteff on Aug 23, 2008 11:13:22 GMT -5
I'd be glad to send some old WXVW pics....not sure how to post them here
Dan
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Post by dbsteff on Aug 22, 2008 20:17:05 GMT -5
Don Fugate and I both performed at both WLRS and WXVW. We had been having trouble with the Collins AM transmitter at WXVW, so I was "babysitting" during the graveyard shift while Don was on the air. WXVW, at that time (1968) was using an antiquated, even for the time, Western Electric console. It was a 30's vintage console, but still worked great.
Collins Transmitters are known for their reliability, In fact, it was The Collins Radio Company that I went to work for when I left WLRS/WXVW and moved to Dallas Tx...anyway it was unusual to have a recurring problem with one. We did, however.
There was a 6L6 vacuum tube in the low voltage power supply, and for some strange reason it would die frequently, producing a sort of cascade effect, such that it would take down the entire transmitter. Since the DJ on the air took his headset feed from the on-air monitor, he would know this had happened when his headphones would fill with static....thus a clear indication that the Transmitter was off the air.
This particular night, and, by the way, I have a picture from that night.....anyway, Don had the mic open and was reading the weather forecast. I was watching from behind him at the VU meter on the modulation monitor.
Suddenly, Don stopped, mid-sentence, and turned to me saying:
"Well, this Son of a B--tch is off the air again!."
As soon as he began to say that, I began waving my arms frantically for him to shut up. It was to no avail. Don had not closed the mic before making this declaration, and I, watching the VU meter jump with Don's voice knew he had just blurted this comment out over the air.
As Murphy's law would have it, another tube, a 12AX7 had died in the air monitor, producing the same earful of static. Don was deceived, therefore into believeing he had just been knocked off the air again.
Since the mic was open, the studio speakers were muted, so I couldn't hear what had happened. As soon as Don realized what he had done, he punched up the cart machine for a commercial and closed the mic.
It was too late. The 5-line phone lit up sequentially, from left to right. The first caller was a fireman, up late at the firehouse. His comment when Don answered the phone was simply:
"OH NO IT'S NOT!!!"
If anyone is interested, I have many more stories about both WLRS and WXVW and my times there.
Regards
Dan Steffen
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Post by dbsteff on Aug 22, 2008 20:01:24 GMT -5
Hi....I worked at both WLRS-FM, as well as WXVW-AM back in 1967--1969. At that time, WLRS was the associated radio operation to a small broadcasting academy the "Louisville Radio School" from whence came the call letters W-L-R-S.
I recently submitted some old pics from those years to Joe Stamm at WLRS. He has posted them on the WLRS Web Page at the "Locals Only" -- "Old School" tabs.
A brief history of my time at the station is there as well.
At that time, WLRS, as well as WXVW in Jeffersonville, and WORX in Madison, were all owned and operated by a wonderful gentleman named Clarence Henson. He also owned and operated the Louisville Radio School.
Ancient History, I suppose. I also have pics taken at WXVW...but since the call sign is now defunct, I suppose no one would be interested in them .
Used to work with one guy named Tim Goodwin, who was a student at the school, have lost track of him over the years, in case you know him, I'd love to make contact with him again. He'd be in his late 50's by now. I also submitted some audio clips, but they haven't posted those on the web page, as yet
REGARDING WLRS pics.
In case you took the time to view the pics I submitted to WLRS, and which are now posted on their webpage, I thought you might like some detail regarding the equip in the pics:
The Reel-to-Reels were Magnecord 1022s.
The cart machine was a Sparta-Matic. The console was an RCA BC-9, as best I recall, the mics were Turner 510s......a very popular dynamic mic at the time due to it's presence peak. The turntables were Fairchild, the cartridges on the tone arns were Shure M-44-7.
The transmitter was an RCA BTF-10D....new at the time.(Not shown, obviously)
The studio shown in the pics, was located in suite 908 in the 800 Building.
I'm shown in one of the pics, standing below a WLRS poster and in front of a NAB plaque.
I'm also shown at the board, in the white polo shirt, cueing up an LP.
Tim Goodwin is shown in another pic, also at the board.We all change over the years, don't know if Tim is still as lithe as then.
The Girl shown, at the board, wasn't actually staff. She had come in from Scotland to visit one of the other Jocks, whom she was related to. We posed her to take the pic. She had the most delicious accent, wish we could have made her staff. She'd have been quite a hit.
WLRS, at that time was an affiliate of the Mutual Broadcasting System
On of my most vivid recollections was being on the air the night that Robert F. Kennedy was assassinated. Mutual had a reporter on scene.....it was quite horrific. I submitted a recording of a special done the next day by MBS to WLRS for their files. It includes the awful goings-on at the time of the assassination. I don't know if they'll post it to the webpage. It's rather long, about 30 minutes.
I also submitted a "Christmas Greeting" 1968, including the voices of Dick Brabant, myself Dan Steffen , Don Fugate, and Glen Behr.....the air staff at the time. It's only about 30 sec. I hope they'll post it.
Regards Dan
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Post by dbsteff on Aug 19, 2008 21:39:25 GMT -5
REGARDING WLRS pics.
In case you took the time to view the pics I submitted to WLRS, and which are now posted on their webpage, I thought you might like some detail regarding the equip in the pics:
The Reel-to-Reels were Magnecord 1022s.
The cart machine was a Sparta-Matic. The console was an RCA BC-9, as best I recall, the mics were Turner 510s......a very popular dynamic mic at the time due to it's presence peak. The turntables were Fairchild, the cartridges on the tone arns were Shure M-44-7.
The transmitter was an RCA BTF-10D....new at the time.(Not shown, obviously)
The studio shown in the pics, was located in suite 908 in the 800 Building.
I'm shown in one of the pics, standing below a WLRS poster and in front of a NAB plaque.
I'm also shown at the board, in the white polo shirt, cueing up an LP.
Tim Goodwin is shown in another pic, also at the board.We all change over the years, don't know if Tim is still as lithe as then.
The Girl shown, at the board, wasn't actually staff. She had come in from Scotland to visit one of the other Jocks, whom she was related to. We posed her to take the pic. She had the most delicious accent, wish we could have made her staff. She'd have been quite a hit.
WLRS, at that time was an affiliate of the Mutual Broadcasting System
On of my most vivid recollections was being on the air the night that Robert F. Kennedy was assassinated. Mutual had a reporter on scene.....it was quite horrific. I submitted a recording of a special done the next day by MBS to WLRS for their files. It includes the awful goings-on at the time of the assassination. I don't know if they'll post it to the webpage. It's rather long, about 30 minutes.
I also submitted a "Christmas Greeting" 1968, including the voices of Dick Brabant, myself Dan Steffen , Don Fugate, and Glen Behr.....the air staff at the time. It's only about 30 sec. I hope they'll post it.
Don Fugate and I both performed at both WLRS and WXVW. We had been having trouble with the Collins AM transmitter at WXVW, so I was "babysitting" during the graveyard shift while Don was on the air. WXVW, at that time (1968) was using an antiquated, even for the time, Western Electric console. It was a 30's vintage console, but still worked great.
Collins Transmitters are known for their reliability, so it was unusual to have a recurring problem with one. We did, however.
There was a 6L6 vacuum tube in the low voltage power supply, and for some strange reason it would die frequently, producing a sort of cascade effect, such that it would take down the entire transmitter. Since the DJ on the air took his headset feed from the on-air monitor, he would know this had happened when his headphones would fill with static....thus a clear indication that the Transmitter was off the air.
This particular night, and, by the way, I have a picture from that night.....anyway, Don had the mic open and was reading the weather forecast. I was watching from behind him at the VU meter on the modulation monitor.
Suddenly, Don stopped, mid-sentence, and turned to me saying:
"Well, this Son of a B--tch is off the air again!."
As soon as he began to say that, I began waving my arms frantically for him to shut up. It was to no avail. Don had not closed the mic before making this declaration, and I, watching the VU meter jump with Don's voice knew he had just blurted this comment out over the air.
As Murphy's law would have it, another tube, a 12AX7 had died in the air monitor, producing the same earful of static. Don was deceived, therefore into believeing he had just been knocked off the air again.
Since the mic was open, the studio speakers were muted, so I couldn't hear what had happened. As soon as Don realized what he had done, he punched up the cart machine for a commercial and closed the mic.
It was too late. The 5-line phone lit up sequentially, from left to right. The first caller was a fireman, up late at the firehouse. His comment when Don answered the phone was simply:
"OH NO IT'S NOT!!!"
If anyone is interested, I have many more stories about both WLRS and WXVW and my times there.
Regards
Dan
ps
McMartin MPX generator, and a collins audio limiter are shown.
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Post by dbsteff on Aug 15, 2008 19:26:25 GMT -5
Hi....I worked at both WLRS-FM, as well as WXVW-AM back in 1967--1969. At that time, WLRS was the associated radio operation to a small broadcasting academy the "Louisville Radio School" from whence came the call letters W-L-R-S.
I recently submitted some old pics from those years to Joe Stamm at WLRS. He has posted them on the WLRS Web Page at the "Locals Only" -- "Old School" tabs.
A brief history of my time at the station is there as well.
At that time, WLRS, as well as WXVW in Jeffersonville, and WORX in Madison, were all owned and operated by a wonderful gentleman named Clarence Henson. He also owned and operated the Louisville Radio School.
Ancient History, I suppose. I also have pics taken at WXVW...but since the call sign is now defunct, I suppose no one would be interested in them .
Used to work with one guy named Tim Goodwin, who was a student at the school, have lost track of him over the years, in case you know him, I'd love to make contact with him again. He'd be in his late 50's by now. I also submitted some audio clips, but they haven't posted those on the web page, as yet
Regards Dan
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Post by dbsteff on Aug 15, 2008 19:14:34 GMT -5
Hi. I worked for WLRS back in 1967--1969.
I have recently posted some old pics from that time with WLRS. They have posted them on their web page at the "Locals Only"- "Old School" tabs.
WLRS, as you might know, got its start as the assocaited radio operation of the Louisville Radio School, from whence came the call letters.
The school and the station, as well as WXVW in Jeffersonville, and WORX in Madison were all owned and operated by a wonderful man named Clarence Henson.....ever heard of him?
I worked both at WLRS as well as WXVW, as a DJ and the FCC 1st Class license-holder.
Regards
Dan
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