had no specific reason for going in to the studio this morning, but I just was impelled to pay a final visit this morning before the new era begins at KNX, the powerhouse CBS, 50,000 Watt clear channel station, that's been my home for the past year. This is the last day of broadcasting from the famed Gower Gulch studios, as they are affectionately referred to by many. It was such a nostalgic visit for me as I had first broadcast from there in 1963 and '64. Once upon a time just about every major Los Angeles broadcasting outlet had its studios within a square mile of Columbia Square. We are the last to depart for new, state-of-the-art quarters on the so-called Miracle Mile of Wilshire Blvd. Already, by the time I used my i.d. for the last time, the dozens and dozens of Golden Mike awards had been removed and many of the other honors that reflect on the talented radio stars who have worked here over the past seven decades. Our TV brethren will remain on their side of the building for another year or two while their new quarters are being constructed in the Valley. This was Bill Paley's pride and joy and the home of some of the greatest broadcast dramas, sporting events, live music and more. This was the home of so many names ranging from Steve Allen to Bob Crane, Bob Hope, Al Jolson; You get the idea, all the truly outstanding stars of yesteryear. What once was live and on transcription discs, then made it to tape and now are digitally preserved. No more typewriters, only computers. I don't think too much of a technical nature will move with the talent to the tall building just a half mile east of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.
So many memories. A colleague of mine, Michael Linder, has put together a final hour of broadcasting from this address, and I am most flattered to be included. He asked me this morning if I remembered what my first words were when we returned, live, after an idiot had hacked down the KNX transmitter tower out of some grievance. We were of the air while the engineers scampered to find other ways of getting us on the air. I had forgotten. He had the recording from the archives. My comment was, simply, "This is still KNX and as I was saying when I was so rudely interrupted." I hope there'll be no interruptions this evening as the switch is made at 11.00 pm, to our new quarters.
I met my wife to be while I first worked for KNX.
Years before, working in the self-same studio was a man named Alan Ladd. He was the Richfield reporter. It was while he was on the air at the station that his future wife, Sue Carol, (my wife's parents), met her future husband. This is the building of "Suspense", "Johnny Dollar", Lux Radio Theater and so many more significant broadcasts.
This morning an attractive woman walked up to me and said "don't you remember me?" We had met on my first day at CBS. She was Bob Crane's assistant. I was nervous and she took me for a cup of coffee and made me feel the way I have always felt at KNX - at home.