Issue #21 JULY, 2014 Luncheon

Every third Tuesday, 11:30 a.m. This month: July15, 2014 Gallery Restaurant - Club III Fargo Holiday Inn

John and Karine McLaughlin visit!

MikeNotes Reprise News & Memories for WDAY AM & WDAY-WDAZ-TV Alumni Web archive of all issues http://sites.google.com/site/wdayalumni Editor: Larry Gauper (701) 237-5079 ~ Email: [email protected]

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ttendees were excited to see John McLaughlin, former WDAY Farm Director back in the early and mid-60s, and his wife, Karine, at our June 17th, 2014, luncheon. I asked John to tell Mike Notes Reprise about where’s he been after leaving WDAY and what he’s up to now. He writes: “I graduated from Iowa State University with an BS in ag and a minor in telecommunicative art, which included radio, tv and film study. As students, we did closed circuit and live TV since ISU had the first educational TV station in the nation. I did live features on ag subjects. I was a summer intern my Senior year at WHO (Des Moines, Iowa) which had the premier farm department.That was great exposure and experience with farm broadcasting. “Dave Bateman was my boss in the North Dakota State University Agricultural Communications Dept. and we taped radio broadcasts sending them to many ND stations. We also had a farm feature on WDAYTV’s Noonday program. After 2 years, WDAY hired me as the farm director since it gave the station a stronger sell for ag advertisers. “I left WDAY around 1966 to become KFAB's farm director in Omaha. I was there about three years when the University of Nebraska hired me away to headup the ag and home economics radio and television program.We did a lot of live television on the Nebraska Educational Network. I was there about three years when my roots attracted me back to my home area and that started a whole new adventure.

Above photo courtesy the Glidden (Iowa) Graphic - used with permission

“I’m an active CEO with Scranton Manufacturing, Glidden, Iowa, which makes those new technology garbage trucks under the name New Way. Son Mike handles day-to-day operations. We also have a division called Bowie Manufacturing making fiberglass animal control units and portable veterinary clinics for pick-up trucks. Another of our divisions is called Hurricane Motorsports, a Roadster car. “Our son, John McLaughlin (“Johnny Mac”), is the chief meteorologist for Des Moines station KCCI-TV and most people didn’t know that I am a former broadcaster until a recent biographical article came out in the Glidden (Iowa) Graphic newspaper. Our meteorologist son is a friend of John Wheeler (WDAY Chief Meteorologist). My son’s first appearance on WDAY-TV was when he was about 3, on a Christmas special.We dressed him up in cowboy boots and hat. I also have a grandson Johnathon McLaughlin who works with me at Scranton and he goes by ‘John,’ so it can be fun and confusing at times! “Karine and I have been married ten years. We give thanks to the Lord for our meeting at a ballroom in Iowa and we continue to enjoy ballroom dancing. Between us we have 6 children, almost 9 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren. “Sure great to see some of the old gang again. Thanks for your kindness to Karine and I. — John” And it was GREAT seeing YOU, John, and meeting Karine. Come back soon! Thanks, too, for sharing the above with us. –L.G.

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Note from Marv Bossart’s daughter, Liz

“Hi Larry: My mom just forwarded me the last issue of your luncheon publication that mentioned the Marv Bossart Foundation we started and I wanted to thank you for including it in your materials to the group! My dad always looked forward to the luncheons and it broke my heart to watch him struggle to get there and ultimately not be able to go. I think what you’ve done is great for all those who have worked there and I love how it keeps the memories of WDAY yesteryear alive. Some of my most treasured childhood memories are from growing up going to work with my dad and all that I experienced being a part of those surroundings. “One of the neatest things happened at my dad’s prayer service: I was visiting with people and in line to talk to me was a man with a big white/grey beard who I did not recognize. When it came time for him to step up I looked long and hard hoping I would recognize him and it hit me that he worked in the control room for all of the years when I played around at the station. It was so neat to see him, even though I was probably in his hair in-and-out of the control room for years! I'm surprised he didn't want to avoid me! (Ha ha). Thanks for telling the alumni about his foundation!” – Liz (Bossart) Mathison

Jack Sand shares a photo of the WDAY-TV “vaudeville troupe”

BROADWAY, COUNTRY, GOSPEL AND MAGIC! Enjoy the magic of Jack Sand and the music of a fantastic group of singers, dancers and musicians at Jasper’s Theater, one mile east of Park Rapids, MN, on Highway 34. For information on performances and to make reservations, call 218-255-1333. The theater’s website is www.JaspersTheater.com

Thank you, Liz. Marv was WDAY-TV’s anchor for 42 years and, in retirement, an enthusiastic WDAY Alumni luncheon “regular” and contributor. He passed away in 2013. The foundation that bears his name was established in April 2013 by the Marv Bossart family to support local programs in the Fargo-Moorhead and surrounding areas for people living with Parkinson’s disease, their caregivers, and those who care for loved ones with any memory loss illness. The website address for the foundation is www.marvinbossartfund.org –L.G.

Jack writes: “I just ran across this WDAY “archive photo” and takes us back to a prime era in WDAY-TV’s live and local entertainment history. I was happy for the opportunity to get in on the last two or three “vaudeville” shows with this group. Ken Kennedy (not pictured) was the emcee. Ken, as you no doubt know, was a WDAY Radio pioneer and, at the time this shot was taken, served as WDAY-TV program director and hosted the very popular Noonday Show. “Pictured L-R: Buddy Nulph, WDAY-TV photographer, on the banjo; Party Line musician and ad salesman Don Ford was a piano man; TV sales manager Lee Stewart performed as a vocalist and tap dancer; station promotion director Roy Pedersen did comedy sight gags; Next, that’s me. I worked as TV copywriter, weekend weatherman and, later, in TV sales. I was, of course, the group’s magician; Party Line musician and TV traffic man, Pat Kelly (not pictured) was also a pianist for the group. I’m guessing this photo was taken in the late 1960s or early 70s. It was indeed an honor to be a member of this troupe.”– J. S.

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Fired and Fired Again. But I was in good company! by Bob Aronson

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saw a sign on the Internet the other day that was posted in a field. It said, “Private Property no Tresspassing. Violaters will be shot. Survivors will be shot again.”

That’s pretty much how my life felt in 1962, like I had been shot and then shot again. Here’s my story. In July of 1962 I landed a job in Grand Island, Nebraska as News Director/Production Manager and was there just a short time when the Cuban Missile crisis became front page news. I was assigned to cover it and being as the headquarters of the U.S. Strategic Air Command (SAC) was only a few miles away at Offutt Air Base near Omaha, Nebraska that’s where I was sent. Unfortunately I spent most of my time in a motel room because security was so tight I couldn’t get within a mile of the base. Most of my reports were taken from other broadcasts and the newspaper. I distinctly remember being very scared. The reports had us on a collision course with Russian ships and the world waited to see who would blink, Kennedy or Khrushchev. We all know now that it was Khrushchev and we stepped away from the brink of nuclear war. I returned to Grand Island to find the station had been sold and they were bringing in an entirely new staff. Everyone from management on down got fired. I was fired from KRGI before I even lived there. Now what?

Bob, 2014 Facebook photo

On August 21, 2007, Bob Aronson received a new heart at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida. Bob says: All these years later I am very active, happy and loving life. God bless my donor and his family. His generosity toward a complete stranger will never be forgotten. Read more about what Bob is doing to encourage organ donation on the web at this address: bobsnewheart.wordpress.com Bob was the original host of WDAY Radio’s first call-in talk show, Viewpoint, It aired Monday through Friday, beginning at 9:00 A.M. His email address is [email protected]. Incidentally, Bob is an uncle to current WDAY-TV co-anchor Kerstin Kealy. During the same late 1960searly 70s period, John Erling was first to host an afternoon talk show on WDAY Radio, What’s Your Opinion?

I checked Broadcasting magazine for job openings and to my surprise found one in Redwing, Minnesota, at KCUE AM radio. They needed a morning drive time guy and they must have been desperate because when I called and talked to the owner, George Brooks, he auditioned me on the phone and I was hired immediately. I saw the move to Redwing as significant because it is just a few miles south of the Twin Cities, a major metropolitan area where radio people made a lot of money. The King of the airwaves then was WCCO AM radio in Minneapolis, a 50,000 watt clear channel station that could be heard almost everywhere. On arriving in Redwing I quickly found a small furnished apartment within walking distance of the station. This was important because I had a 1959 Oldsmobile Super 98 convertible that was a gas hog, undependable, burned oil, and the speedometer was permanently stuck at 12 miles an hour. The Olds was reserved for longer trips. My new job at KCUE was a far cry from ‘CCO but it was closer than I had ever been to a major market. Brooks was known as “difficult” to work for but I was desperate and things seemed to be going quite well there. I thought Brooks liked me. He certainly gave no indication that he didn’t so I felt quite comfortable with the job and I loved Redwing. It is a beautiful old city through which the Mississippi river runs. Huge bluffs rise high above the water making for breathtaking scenery. Despite the harsh winter weather I thought I might like living and working there. . I did a lot of preparation prior to my air shifts so that while I appeared to be casual and homey with funny ad libs it was all well-planned and timed. I took my job very seriously hoping I would attract listeners and therefore advertisers. I was giving the job all the attention and professionalism I could muster but always with the hope that someone in management at WCCO would hear me and I could join the group of radio personalities that had become household names throughout the Midwest and much of the country. One snowy and cold Friday morning just before Christmas I got up as usual to go to work, got dressed in my white shirt, tie and sport coat, put on my heavy winter coat, scarf, gloves and boots and opened the inside door to my apartment (there was an outside door as well, known as a storm door in Minnesota). When I pulled the door open a whole lot of stuff fell into the apartment on the floor. Papers, envelopes, tapes, records….”What the hell…” I remember thinking…”This is stuff from my desk.” As I picked things up my peripheral vision caught sight of something taped to the inside of the storm door. It was an envelope. I got up, took the envelope from the door, opened it and there was my paycheck. “But wait, it’s not payday….Oh oh, I think I’ve been fired.” Page 3, Bob’s article continues on page four

Bob’s article, continued from page three

I sat on the floor with the door open, surrounded by all the belongings I had left at the station and realized that I was unemployed even though there was no note, no phone call, never an indication that I should not report for work other than “my stuff” and a paycheck. I figured that was a pretty clear message I was not wanted at KCUE. I closed the door, took off my coat, made some coffee and tried to gather my thoughts. “I’ll turn on the radio at sign on time, 5 AM. If the station doesn’t come on I will go in and do my shift,” I thought. 5AM came and there was a new guy there doing my show. “Well, what the (expletives deleted),” I thought. “That’s a lousy way to treat a guy.” Obviously Brooks had known for some time he was going to replace me because the new guy was not a current employee. He had been recruited and brought in. That doesn’t usually happen overnight. Not once did Brooks ever even hint that he was dissatisfied with me. After a good deal of commiseration and indecision I deduced that there was no point in staying in Redwing. I slowly gathered what few belongings I had and threw them in the trunk and backseat of the Olds. Still procrastinating I drank coffee till lunchtime made a sandwich and thought more about the future. It was bleak. Around 2 PM I went next door to tell my landlord I had been fired and that I was leaving and headed north. I thought they would ask for the rest of the rent but instead they were quite sympathetic and angry at the way Brooks had fired me. I decided I had no choice but to go back to Chisholm to my mom and dad’s home in hopes I could stay there until I found work, doing something. At this point I wasn’t sure there was any future for me in broadcasting. In two years I had worked at four stations and was at three of them in the last six months. There were some very lean months after that firing but obviously I stayed in broadcasting for many more years, ten of which were at WDAY in Fargo. The Final Chapter of the George Brooks Episode Long after I had left the business, sometime around 2005, Robin and I decided to visit the Pavek Museum of Broadcasting In Minneapolis (www.pavekmuseum.org). As we walked through the facility my attention was grabbed by a wall that had several pictures on it including a huge portrait of George Brooks. He had been inducted into the Minnesota Broadcasters Hall of Fame. If shoes coming to a stop made the same sound as tires do when you dynamite the brakes there would have been a shriek heard through the entire twin cities metro area due to my abrupt stop. I think I did a triple-take and then stood there with my mouth open in absolute shock.“How in the hell does this guy deserve any honors?” I thought. “He didn’t have the decency to tell me he was unhappy with me nor the guts to fire me in person. That was the most cowardly firing I ever heard of.” In my mind’s eye I relived opening the apartment door to again see and hear the landslide of books, tapes, papers and other items. And — as plain as if it was happening at that moment I could see the envelope with my check in it taped to the glass of that frosty door. Robin already knew the story, she had heard it many times but the shock of seeing Brook’s picture caused me to tell it again and like the elegant lady she is, she listened again. As I was finishing my story one of the museum employees stopped to ask if I had questions. I told him I had no questions and added, “I worked for that guy back in 1962.” Without missing a beat the museum employee said, “Did he fire you, too? He was notorious for that. You should be honored, he fired some of the best people in the business.” Somehow, that statement relieved years of resentment. In over two decades in broadcasting I had been fired twice. Once from KRGI in Grand Island, Nebraska, which was understandable because a new owner came in and fired everyone. The firing at KCUE, though, always bothered me because I gave the station everything I had. I knew I was a good employee and a good broadcaster and I always felt badly about being released. When I heard those few brief words from the man at the Pavek museum it was as though a great weight had been lifted from my shoulders. From that day on I wore my “firing” as a badge of honor. – B. A. Luncheon schedule for remainder of 2014 Please note September change July 15 August 19 September 23 October 21 November 18 December 16

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his newsletter is very pleased to report that we have received a wealth of material on the life and work of “The Texas Ranger,” a popular WDAY Radio performer back in the 1940s and early 50s. Lars Birklid was the Ranger’s real name and this trove of historical information, photos, and sound recordings comes to us from his family. I’ll put that together and will be part of the Mike Notes Reprise #22.

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