The tone, meanwhile, heard over Mr. Pittman's introductory spiel, sounded like it was ~732 Hz for :00.5 sec. (In the '60's the duration had been ~00.4 sec.) NBC seemed to be all over the place with their TOH tones over the years. I heard 772.5 Hz for :00.4 sec. on airchecks recorded from NBC Radio as heard before the hourly news updates in the days following the JFK assassination in 1963, for example. When Ben Grauer rang in New Year's Day on a WNBC-FM aircheck as 1970 gave way to 1971, it sounded like 712.5 Hz for :00.4 sec. On an NBC-TV recording of the Stanley Cup game where the Philadelphia Flyers won their first Cup, the tone appeared to be 802.5 Hz for :00.5 sec. (Is it my imagination, or were tone generators that activated either on the hour in NBC's case, or at the top and bottom of the hour as with, say, 1010 WINS, programmed to elicit tones in 15 Hz intervals, with a range mostly from General Electric's "Type 99" system as in use for pagers and 2-way radios? I know the "Mutualert" "bee-DOOP" cue tone system from the Mutual Broadcasting System used 11 tones [codes 40, 42, 43, 44, 47, 48, 49 and 57, 58, 59 and 60] from Reach Electronics which made belt pagers - and which worked in coordination with Mutual to develop that whole system back in 1974.)
It was a great time for radio. Lots of different personalities, and every city had it's own unique sound. Personalities were on all day long, not just in the morning. Today, most stations just sound like a bunch of boring jukeboxes.
@@sillygoose635 No. they were not jukeboxes back then. There were lots of different personalities, and every town had their own unique sounds. It was very different than today.
@@sillygoose635 They were not jukeboxes back then. Jukeboxes just play song after song with little personality. Stations in the 60s & 70s had lots of personality, and the jocks felt like companions. They were entertaining. That was why people connected so much with radio back then, unlike today.
I remember, on the Pittman-era WNBC, the school bus I rode in had that station on, and they usually played long LP versions of many hits that were cut up for 45. Didn't even know until years later there were 45 edits of such records as "Strawberry Letter 23" by The Brothers Johnson, "Come Sail Away" by Styx, "Just The Way You Are" by Billy Joel and "(Love Is) Thicker Than Water" by Andy Gibb.
September 1,1977 I was just beginning college. Great memories from this station. In matter of fact WNBC and WABC were the only AM stations that the old radio can pick up in the dorm. All I had was a portable AM radio back then. 🤣🤣 The AM/FM Stereo radio was in my old jalopy. 😉😉😉
Thanks for this Ellis! I assume the station was going for a more mature, AC-sounding station with the "new" WNBC? That seems to be a trend for classic Top 40 AM stations during the late 70s, such as with WIBG and WFIL during that same time.
It was a trend. WABC went in that direction a few years later. WYNY, Y-97, WNBC's sister station, came on the scene about 9 months earlier, making it hard for WNBC to survive in the same space. With a similar format on FM, it would be hard for the AM to compete, especially as listeners were bailing on AM radio.
Was WNBC a true top 40 station? I've wondered about that. I do know that at one time they were the NYC outlet for Casey Kasem's "American Top 40". I'd guess it was what would be described, in today's terms, Hot AC.
By 1977, the writing was on the wall, especially in the big cities. AM Top-40 was on it's last legs. Over the next five years, they dropped like flies. Those that hadn't yet moved to FM, would. Those that didn't have FM's either got one or died. In smaller markets, some held on for a few more years. It essentially ended in 1989, when WLS pulled the plug and on came Sally Jessy Rapahel.
Not quite... WNBC's best days were ahead of them as they would increase their cume. It was - up to this point - an underperformed. It began to beat WABC in 1979.
Ellie was working for a small market station in the south when WMAQ in Chicago, as part of their flip to country, announced a "Queen of Country Music" contest for the evening slot. Ellie won--and also fell in love with Bob Pittman, the PD (who's heard on this aircheck). When he moved to New York to take on WNBC, she came with him. Ellie seemed like a nice kid, but she was really not much more than a liner card reader (which is really all that Pittman asked of his jocks) and the southern accent, as anyone could tell Pittman, would be and was a huge problem in New York. She got replaced by Scotty Brink (who, in a desperate move, was paired with comedian Richard Belzer--yep, Det. Munch--in what was a fascinating disaster, but a disaster nonetheless). By that point, GM Charlie Warner, Pittman's mentor, was gone, with Pittman then leaving, Imus back in the morning and everything well at WNNNNBC--or so it seemed.
Possibly, but even if it had success in 1972, it would still only be a matter of time to failure, as a more music approach on AM was doomed as the migration to FM for music was on.
One of many format changes in the 1970's for 66 WNBC; so many great DJ's, (Walt 'Baby' Love, Steve Lundy, Bob Fitzsimmons, Cousin Brucie, etc.) but the PD's never knew how to execute correct dayparting. Fumbling combinations at odd time slots, must have frustrated the great talent in a revolving door atmosphere.
Ant McCall I do have it, but I haven’t posted it because the quality is not very good. When ever I post audio that is low quality, I just get complaints, aggravation & insults from people who can’t seem to handle imperfect audio in a digital age.
New format that flopped , they got rid of norm n nite and nite train show on Sunday night's, it great playing ny doo wops across 30 states, I was pissed,
I listened many Saturday nights while my folks would drive around the north shore of Long Island, Port Jefferson area...hearing the great doowop that they loved & that my dad sang, sometimes he'd have a live doowop group in the studio to sing a capella...then suddenly Poof - I was thrilled when, after having grown up & settled in a new area, to find that Norm N Nite was where I was, in Cleveland!, and set about a Sunday night oldies show on WMJI 105.7 while being involved in a lot of the hall of fame prep and recreations of the original Moondog Coronation Ball. He had a big run in Cle in the 90s, glad to say. But we loved him on WNBC in the 70s when I was 11-12-ish...
I really dug Big Jay Sorensen's "Time Machine" (in WNBC's waning years). I'm from West Virginia, and he'd razz me about being a hillbilly. He said that New Yorkers got a kick out of my southern accent. I'm now 55, so I'm guessing we're about the same age.
The tone, meanwhile, heard over Mr. Pittman's introductory spiel, sounded like it was ~732 Hz for :00.5 sec. (In the '60's the duration had been ~00.4 sec.) NBC seemed to be all over the place with their TOH tones over the years. I heard 772.5 Hz for :00.4 sec. on airchecks recorded from NBC Radio as heard before the hourly news updates in the days following the JFK assassination in 1963, for example. When Ben Grauer rang in New Year's Day on a WNBC-FM aircheck as 1970 gave way to 1971, it sounded like 712.5 Hz for :00.4 sec. On an NBC-TV recording of the Stanley Cup game where the Philadelphia Flyers won their first Cup, the tone appeared to be 802.5 Hz for :00.5 sec. (Is it my imagination, or were tone generators that activated either on the hour in NBC's case, or at the top and bottom of the hour as with, say, 1010 WINS, programmed to elicit tones in 15 Hz intervals, with a range mostly from General Electric's "Type 99" system as in use for pagers and 2-way radios? I know the "Mutualert" "bee-DOOP" cue tone system from the Mutual Broadcasting System used 11 tones [codes 40, 42, 43, 44, 47, 48, 49 and 57, 58, 59 and 60] from Reach Electronics which made belt pagers - and which worked in coordination with Mutual to develop that whole system back in 1974.)
I was born in 1998 and I wish I grew up in the 1970’s with this awesome music and classic radio.
It was a great time for radio. Lots of different personalities, and every city had it's own unique sound. Personalities were on all day long, not just in the morning. Today, most stations just sound like a bunch of boring jukeboxes.
@@EllisFeaster really? even back then stations were jukeboxes.
@@sillygoose635 No. they were not jukeboxes back then. There were lots of different personalities, and every town had their own unique sounds. It was very different than today.
@@EllisFeaster Exactly my point, jukeboxes that tried to stand out, too much variety and not enough substance.
@@sillygoose635 They were not jukeboxes back then. Jukeboxes just play song after song with little personality. Stations in the 60s & 70s had lots of personality, and the jocks felt like companions. They were entertaining. That was why people connected so much with radio back then, unlike today.
I remember, on the Pittman-era WNBC, the school bus I rode in had that station on, and they usually played long LP versions of many hits that were cut up for 45. Didn't even know until years later there were 45 edits of such records as "Strawberry Letter 23" by The Brothers Johnson, "Come Sail Away" by Styx, "Just The Way You Are" by Billy Joel and "(Love Is) Thicker Than Water" by Andy Gibb.
September 1,1977 I was just beginning college. Great memories from this station. In matter of fact WNBC and WABC were the only AM stations that the old radio can pick up in the dorm. All I had was a portable AM radio back then. 🤣🤣
The AM/FM Stereo radio was in my old jalopy. 😉😉😉
and Crandall moved to CBS the year after 77
Thanks for this Ellis! I assume the station was going for a more mature, AC-sounding station with the "new" WNBC? That seems to be a trend for classic Top 40 AM stations during the late 70s, such as with WIBG and WFIL during that same time.
It was a trend. WABC went in that direction a few years later. WYNY, Y-97, WNBC's sister station, came on the scene about 9 months earlier, making it hard for WNBC to survive in the same space. With a similar format on FM, it would be hard for the AM to compete, especially as listeners were bailing on AM radio.
Was WNBC a true top 40 station? I've wondered about that. I do know that at one time they were the NYC outlet for Casey Kasem's "American Top 40". I'd guess it was what would be described, in today's terms, Hot AC.
@@TheBrooklynbodine WPLJ took over AT40. Now it’s WHTZ I believe hosted by Ryan Seacrest
@@joshdznyc OK, thanks. Ryan Seacrest does indeed host AT 40.
Is that last song on the Old WNBC- People by Barbara Streisand
Meanwhile in Cleveland, Imus took an afternoon slot at Radio 14 (1420) WHK while Pittman did this experiment which failed.
And only worked in New York on weekends, to tape episodes of a show that would air on WNEW-TV, "Imus, Plus . . . "
So, no Crazy Eddie or JGE ads?
I was there on that day. NYU intership program. :D
Disc Jockey Lee Masters, whose real name is Jarl Mohn, is now the CEO of NPR.
By 1977, the writing was on the wall, especially in the big cities. AM Top-40 was on it's last legs. Over the next five years, they dropped like flies. Those that hadn't yet moved to FM, would. Those that didn't have FM's either got one or died. In smaller markets, some held on for a few more years. It essentially ended in 1989, when WLS pulled the plug and on came Sally Jessy Rapahel.
Well, KWG in Stockton was one of the exceptions. It was going strong into the 90s, and it was only a kilowatt on 1230.
WHAS-AM Louisville might have been an exception, they ran full service until 1997 when hey dropped Joe Donovan overnight oldies.
Not quite... WNBC's best days were ahead of them as they would increase their cume. It was - up to this point - an underperformed. It began to beat WABC in 1979.
Was this when WNBC got rid of Imus before rehiring him a few years later?
Yes. He was fired August 1977, and rehired in 1979.
Ellis Feaster Who replaced him in the morning?
I think it was Ellie Dylan.
Ellis Feaster What do you know about Ellie? Do you have any clips or airchecks of her?
Ellie was working for a small market station in the south when WMAQ in Chicago, as part of their flip to country, announced a "Queen of Country Music" contest for the evening slot. Ellie won--and also fell in love with Bob Pittman, the PD (who's heard on this aircheck). When he moved to New York to take on WNBC, she came with him. Ellie seemed like a nice kid, but she was really not much more than a liner card reader (which is really all that Pittman asked of his jocks) and the southern accent, as anyone could tell Pittman, would be and was a huge problem in New York. She got replaced by Scotty Brink (who, in a desperate move, was paired with comedian Richard Belzer--yep, Det. Munch--in what was a fascinating disaster, but a disaster nonetheless). By that point, GM Charlie Warner, Pittman's mentor, was gone, with Pittman then leaving, Imus back in the morning and everything well at WNNNNBC--or so it seemed.
Bob Pitman was the same guy who started MTV
Yup .. and now is running Iheart media .. the radio devil formally known as Clear Channel ..
Could this format have been more successful if WNBC-AM had adopted it in 1972 instead of 1977?
Possibly, but even if it had success in 1972, it would still only be a matter of time to failure, as a more music approach on AM was doomed as the migration to FM for music was on.
Bob Pittman would go on to be the founder of MTV. I’d say he eventually made out alright.
And go on to destroy radio with Clear Channel
One of many format changes in the 1970's for 66 WNBC; so many great DJ's, (Walt 'Baby' Love, Steve Lundy, Bob Fitzsimmons, Cousin Brucie, etc.) but the PD's never knew how to execute correct dayparting. Fumbling combinations at odd time slots, must have frustrated the great talent in a revolving door atmosphere.
W-NNNNNNNNN-Bay-Cayeee. Funniest part of the Howard Stern movie
Does any1 have IMUS Return to WNBC Aircheck around?! If sum1 does, Please post it n Thank you..
Ant McCall I do have it, but I haven’t posted it because the quality is not very good. When ever I post audio that is low quality, I just get complaints, aggravation & insults from people who can’t seem to handle imperfect audio in a digital age.
"Lee Masters" real name is Jarl Mohn & he's the current head of NPR!!
Abe Rosenberg I never knew that!
New format that flopped , they got rid of norm n nite and nite train show on Sunday night's, it great playing ny doo wops across 30 states, I was pissed,
I listened many Saturday nights while my folks would drive around the north shore of Long Island, Port Jefferson area...hearing the great doowop that they loved & that my dad sang, sometimes he'd have a live doowop group in the studio to sing a capella...then suddenly Poof - I was thrilled when, after having grown up & settled in a new area, to find that Norm N Nite was where I was, in Cleveland!, and set about a Sunday night oldies show on WMJI 105.7 while being involved in a lot of the hall of fame prep and recreations of the original Moondog Coronation Ball. He had a big run in Cle in the 90s, glad to say. But we loved him on WNBC in the 70s when I was 11-12-ish...
I really dug Big Jay Sorensen's "Time Machine" (in WNBC's waning years). I'm from West Virginia, and he'd razz me about being a hillbilly. He said that New Yorkers got a kick out of my southern accent. I'm now 55, so I'm guessing we're about the same age.