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WBAI Remnants [message #5905] Tue, 07 June 2005 11:00 Go to next message
elektratig is currently offline  elektratig
Messages: 348
Registered: May 2009
Grand Master
Armed with a newly-listenable computer (Sonic Impact amp and old Optimus LX-5 speakers, I decided to troll the internet for audio vestiges of my youth -- specifically, traces of the old WBAI-FM, circa 1970-72. As some New Yorkers may know, WBAI (which still exists, although in unlistenable form IMHO) was a non-commercial station, part of the Pacifica network, that was politically radical (more "counterculture" than old-time Socialist) but leavened with a sprinkling of odd personalities and innovative shows. It was the latter that attracted me at the time (rather than the pure political stuff), and it was the latter I set out to find.

I didn't find a heck of a lot, but I ran across a few tidbits I thought I'd pass along.

1. Techie Time was a 15-minute show that aired on Friday evenings, consisting of a collage of intermixed music, old audio clips (e.g., stray dialog from old movies or commercials), and other stray sounds and snorks. Sort of Lumpy Gravy meets Firesign Theater. Although I was hoping to find dozens or scores of episodes (many people had to be recording it), I found only one, but one is better than none: http://thinhippo.com/techytime/ .

2. Steve Post was my idol. A neurotic depressive with a sardonic sense of humor, Steve had a show called The Outside that aired on Saturday and Sunday nights beginning at midnight and ending whenever he got bored. The funniest show on radio -- I'd fall asleep in school on Mondays because I'd been up until 4 or 5 listening to the show. I couldn't find one episode (or part thereof)! I did, however, discover, that episodes of Steve's more recent one-hour show on WNYC (he left 'BAI over three decades ago), called The No Show, are archived on WNYC's website, http://wnyc.org/shows/noshow (click on "Archives"). Steve may be an aquired taste, and no doubt I'm listening to the shows remembering his old program, so you may well find the No Show episodes utterly boring. If you choose to sample, I'd suggest one of the shows in which he recounts his youthful obsession with radio and his fortuitous entry into the role of radio announcer (e.g. Episode No. 17, Nov. 30, 2002, or Episode No. 32, March 15, 2003).

Re: WBAI Remnants [message #5906 is a reply to message #5905] Tue, 07 June 2005 12:08 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Wayne Parham is currently offline  Wayne Parham
Messages: 18786
Registered: January 2001
Illuminati (33rd Degree)

Wow, what an interesting find!


Re: WBAI Remnants [message #5908 is a reply to message #5905] Tue, 07 June 2005 19:42 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Manualblock is currently offline  Manualblock
Messages: 4973
Registered: May 2009
Illuminati (13th Degree)
Excellent sluething my good man; Steve Post was one of the greats. Do they say anywhere in your travels what became of him after WNYC?
Can you remmember the woman who did that radical socialist show on Saturday evenings?

Re: WBAI Remnants [message #5910 is a reply to message #5908] Wed, 08 June 2005 04:05 Go to previous messageGo to next message
elektratig is currently offline  elektratig
Messages: 348
Registered: May 2009
Grand Master
MB,

Do you mean after WBAI? Steve is still doing the No Show on WNYC. I believe it's on Saturdays at 4 p.m.

In the Fall of 1970, Steve left WBAI to become director of the radio station for C.W. Post College -- from which he was fired within two months, generating the headline "Post Loses Post Post." He returned to WBAI until he left again in mid-1972. Shortly thereafter, a number of other "old-timers" such as Larry Josephson and Bob Fass left or severely cut back their on-air time as the station became more and more radicalized.

I believe that within a year, Steve landed a job as the host of WNYC's Morning [Classical] Music show, a position he held until the late 1990's, when WNYC cut back its classical music programming.

Since the No Show is only an hour a week, I assume Steve has other off-air responsibilities at WNYC or elsewhere -- or he's just lazy.



Re: WBAI Remnants [message #5934 is a reply to message #5905] Sun, 19 June 2005 22:02 Go to previous messageGo to next message
lon is currently offline  lon
Messages: 760
Registered: May 2009
Illuminati (2nd Degree)
I didn't reasd this thread til just now.

Though I've never had access to Pacifica radio as a Midwesterner,
Gene Sculati sent me some of hius shows on tape from his
program called Unprovoked Attack. This to me was the epitome
of what cool radio could be. He did music (rhythm and blues,
punk, snippets of stuff) and he had a regular cast of players
as well. Classic bits include The Jim Morrison Seance and
interview with Richard Frank "The Man Of a Million Tunes"
which included playing "I Was So Wasted" by Black Flagg as an
accordian solo.


Where are they now?




Re: WBAI Remnants [message #97125 is a reply to message #5905] Mon, 30 October 2023 05:15 Go to previous messageGo to next message
MMMel is currently offline  MMMel
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Registered: October 2023
Esquire
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Re: WBAI Remnants [message #97126 is a reply to message #97125] Mon, 30 October 2023 05:17 Go to previous messageGo to next message
MMMel is currently offline  MMMel
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Re: WBAI Remnants [message #97127 is a reply to message #97126] Mon, 30 October 2023 05:20 Go to previous messageGo to next message
MMMel is currently offline  MMMel
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Re: WBAI Remnants [message #97128 is a reply to message #5905] Mon, 30 October 2023 05:21 Go to previous messageGo to next message
MMMel is currently offline  MMMel
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Registered: October 2023
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Re: WBAI Remnants [message #97129 is a reply to message #5905] Mon, 30 October 2023 05:24 Go to previous messageGo to previous message
MMMel is currently offline  MMMel
Messages: 5
Registered: October 2023
Esquire
Here are all the TTs I have managed to scare up. They were previously posted on an archive that has since disappeared, as things tend to do on the web. I offer them freely in hopes people will share this astounding time-capsule of creativity.

MM
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