Bob Crane Interviews Phyllis Diller Over KNX (circa 1960)

Today marks the passing of yet another Hollywood legend - a fabulous comedienne with "that crazy laugh" - Phyllis Diller, who died today at the age of 95. Born in Lima, Ohio, on July 17, 1917, as Phyllis Ada Driver, this eccentric and contagiously happy entertainer began her career in radio at KROW radio in Oakland, California, in 1952. The public took notice when she teamed with Bob Hope on television and on screen, and later when the pair toured with the USO during the Vietnam War. Her credits are extensive and noteworthy, and we won't pretend to do them justice here. Suffice it to say, her stand-up comedy routines and countless television and movie appearances have kept people laughing for decades.

Bob Crane interviewed thousands of celebrities at KNX-CBS Radio from 1956 to 1965, and Phyllis Diller was no exception. Between his wild on-air radio antics and her wild and crazy personality, this interview must have been off the charts! We present a portion of it here as a tribute to Ms. Diller, and it's certainly no surprise that she and Bob laugh their way through this clip from beginning to end.

Bob Crane interviews Phyllis Diller (circa 1960)

The Bob Crane Show / KNX-CBS Radio

Bob Crane and the WICC-TV Family - See Us on Channel 43 (Bridgeport, CT)

Although we have already posted about WICC-TV (Channel 43) in the past, when new, remarkable pieces of WICC history are discovered, we naturally love to talk about it. And so is the case with the The Sunday Herald, a weekly newspaper that featured local stories about Connecticut, including Bridgeport, Stamford, and the surrounding towns.

The WICC-TV Family. Bob Crane is in the center back row, standing.
Morgan Kaolian is standing, third from left. Wallie Dunlap is
seated, third from left. Next to him, seated in the center, is
WICC General Manager Philip Merryman.

In the March 1, 1953, edition (beginning on page 90), the new UHF station WICC-TV Channel 43 was featured in a lengthy, sixteen-page supplement. It is packed to the brim with WICC history - from the birth of the radio station on August 2, 1926; to its on-air personalities and behind-the-scenes staff; to its takeover in January 1952 by WLIZ (the dominant WICC call letters remained, but WLIZ staff took control); to March 15, 1953, when WICC launched Channel 43 as Connecticut's third television station and the first in Fairfield County.

Page 1 of the supplement to the March 1, 1953,
edition of The Sunday Herald.
Design by Morgan Kaolian.

WICC was way ahead of its time. In fact, ti was so far ahead of its time that it left John Q. Public in the dust. Despite its noble efforts of trying to get the fledging station off the ground, it failed miserably - not for lack of talent, but rather, because the average person in 1953 just did not have the means or the desire to purchase the extra equipment necessary to receive the UHF programming. As the story goes, Bob Crane once told viewers he would give away $100 to the first person who called - and because nobody was watching, nobody did. 

Yet, the radio-turned-television entertainers that included Bob Crane, Morgan Kaolian, and many others reveled in the new medium, enjoying the novelty of it as well as the ability to utilize it as a learning platform for grander venues down the road. 

Whether your interest is in Bob Crane, WICC, radio, or Connecticut - or all of the above! - we think you'll enjoy perusing the pages of this historic document, rich with information and overflowing with photographs from the Golden Age of Radio and Television. It is a treasure not to be missed.

(Connecticut residents - Do you have a copy of this supplement? Let us know! We'd love to add it to our WICC/Bob Crane archives!)

New Zealand's 'Radio Kidnappers' Pays Tribute to Bob Crane and KNX

Bob Crane and Pat Boone entertain Alan Hall
(standing), who was visiting from Napier, New Zealand.

Photo taken June 7, 1961 / KNX-CBS Radio.

Photo courtesy of Alan Hall. Used with permission.

In the spring/summer of 1961, a young man from New Zealand, Alan Hall, journeyed to America for a vacation abroad. All of 20 years old, he had never been out of New Zealand before. Having listened to KNX broadcasts out of Los Angeles regularly in his hometown of Napier, Alan wrote to the station, telling them about his ensuing trip and asking if KNX could recommend a family in the Southern California area that might be willing to host him during his stay. KNX did more than offer help Alan find local room and board. They took the adventurous fellow under their massive CBS wing and planned out a full Hollywood itinerary for him, which included his coming into the station and being interviewed by Bob Crane, Pat Buttram, and Ralph Story. KNX also arranged, through the president of Radio Recorders, for Alan to watch a recording session.

On June 6, 1961, Alan Hall was Bob's in-person guest on "The Bob Crane Show" over KNX, and Bob asked Alan why he chose to venture so far away from home and visit America. Alan answered, "To have a good look around and listen to as much American radio as I can." American radio, including KNX, had really influenced him, and he had wanted to experience it for himself. When Bob asked if he had gotten to listen to his show back home in New Zealand, Alan admitted, "No, unfortunately, but I listened to it yesterday morning and really enjoyed it." To that, Bob replied with his usual dry wit and a wry smile, "I've noticed your whole attitude has changed."

Dean Mardon, program producer and presenter for Radio Kidnappers, an Access Radio station broadcasting in the Hawke's Bay, New Zealand, listening area had received a recording of Bob Crane's KNX show when Alan had been the in-person guest. As a radio personality and musician who appreciated Bob's work in broadcasting, Dean decided to produce a tribute program about Bob Crane, featuring Alan Hall's 1961 KNX interview. After several months of hard work, the program was completed. It aired on Saturday, July 7, 2012, in Napier, New Zealand (Friday, July 6, 2012, in the U.S. and Canada). The program is simply terrific, and we can't thank Dean and Radio Kidnappers enough - not only for all their hard work in making this program available, but also for their strong and ongoing support of Bob Crane's induction into the National Radio Hall of Fame.

(Click on the image once and then again 
in the new window to magnify for easier reading.)

Congratulations to the National Radio Hall of Fame Class of 2012 / Vote For Bob Crane: A New Direction

We just want to take this moment to congratulate all those who were selected for induction into the National Radio Hall of Fame Class of 2012. It is a great honor and career milestone to be recognized, and we extend our warmest congratulations to all who will be honored this year. 

It has come to our attention that public voting will no longer be a component of the selection process for induction into the National Radio Hall of Fame. Therefore, an actual campaign is not longer necessary in that regard.

But we're not going anywhere! We're simply going to shift gears a bit. "Vote For Bob Crane" will become a general public awareness campaign - not only for the National Radio Hall of Fame, which we will continue to petition, but for many other similar causes (for example, a certain Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame is long overdue) and for continuing to highlight Bob Crane's life and work. We have a few other ideas as well, and a few media projects are in the works, too.

Thank you to each and every one of you for your strong and ongoing support. You help make all the difference! Stay tuned...we're nowhere near close to being done yet!

Bob Crane Overlooked for Induction into the National Radio Hall of Fame Class of 2012

Here we are again...

One year later, and those selected for induction into the 2012 Class of the National Radio Hall of Fame have been announced. Bob Crane is not among them. Instead, the nod goes to Howard Stern, who for several years has been by-passed by the National Radio Hall of Fame selection process, and as a result, has openly attacked their process.

Click here to read the official statement from the Museum of Broadcast Communications.

As was the case in 2011, public voting has been suspended in lieu of the Steering Committee hand-selecting key individuals they believe have been overlooked in the past. In June 2011, the Steering Committee had made it very clear that Bob Crane's nomination would be retained on file, and that he would be considered for future classes.

While we do not deny Mr. Stern and the other members of the Class of 2012 their rightful place for their work in the broadcasting industry, we do wish those in charge of the selection process would recognize Bob Crane's extensive and unprecedented work in radio/broadcasting. We also wish they would let his colleagues, friends, family, and fans be heard through a public voting process, which for two years now, has been denied them.

Today, June 29, 2012, marks the 34th anniversary of Bob Crane's death. On this day in 1978, in Scottsdale, Arizona, Bob was murdered at 49 years of age. Although many suspect Bob's murderer to be John Henry Carpenter, who stood trial in 1994 and was acquitted, the crime remains officially unsolved to this day. Since his death, however, Bob has become one of the most misunderstood and ridiculed public figures in the world. 

Some Key Facts about Bob Crane

• He was a pioneer in radio and broadcasting, inventing styles and techniques still used today by countless radio personalities, including Mr. Stern and many others who have been inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame.
• He has been called a "genius" in the radio industry by those who worked with him.
• He spent nearly 15 consecutive years in the radio industry, and he never fully abandoned it after he left KNX in 1965 to accept the role on Hogan's Heroes.
• He was driven toward success and had a rich career that included music, radio, television, theatre, and film; in addition to acting, he was also a writer, a director, and a producer.
• He donated much of his time to countless charities, including the U.S. Armed Forces Radio Network, Operation Entertainment, Cerebral Palsy Foundation, the Arthritis Foundation, and many more. He also was a frequent guest speaker at conferences and events, and in one year alone made more than 300 personal appearances for different charities, fundraisers, and community service events.
• Just before his death, Bob recognized that his addiction - which he himself called an addiction - had become a destructive force in his life. He sought professional help to overcome it, and he did so for his children, all of whom he loved dearly.
• People who knew Bob and loved him have called him a ray of light with a sunny personality. He could brighten any room just by walking into it. They are saddened and angered at how he has been remembered. Had he lived, he would have gone on to do many more great things in the entertainment industry.

Looking Toward the Future - 2013 and Beyond
We will not be deterred! We will now set our sights on 2013 and beyond. Whether there will be a public voting in 2013 or if the National Radio Hall of Fame Steering Committee will suspended public voting indefinitely remains to be seen. Regardless, your vote truly does count with us. And these things do take time. So please keep checking back for updates and continue to spread the word about Bob Crane. Write letters to the National Radio Hall of Fame Steering Committee on Bob's behalf. He deserves proper recognition, and we will see that he receives it!

Update - June 30, 2012: It has come to our attention that public voting for the National Radio Hall of Fame has been suspended indefinitely, and individuals for future Classes will be chosen by the National Radio Hall of Fame Steering Committee. We will, however, continue to petition the Steering Committee for Bob Crane's inclusion in the National Radio Hall of Fame. Our campaign will now also become a general awareness campaign, not only for the National Radio Hall of Fame, but for other similar causes. Stay tuned! We're not done yet!

Countdown to 2012 National Radio Hall of Fame Public Voting

We know....waiting's tough! But we're getting very, very close.

The National Radio Hall of Fame Steering Committee will announce the 2012 ballot for public voting very shortly. They usually announce it just before the end of June. The moment we know that Bob Crane's name is on it, we'll "open the window and shout the news" so we can start voting. Otherwise, we will begin campaigning heavily for 2013. 

Watch for information here on this blog, as well as:

Vote For Bob Crane Official Web Site

Vote For Bob Crane Facebook

Vote For Bob Crane Twitter

Thanks again one and all for your ongoing support! 
Cross your fingers and your toes, and stay tuned! 

Happy Anniversary 'Vote For Bob Crane!' - The Year in Review

By Carol Ford

Bob Crane, circa 1966.

One year ago today, we launched the campaign for Bob Crane's induction into the National Radio Hall of Fame. It was not a decision I had arrived at lightly. In fact, I had not even considered a campaign at all when, on February 1, 2011, I submitted my formal nomination of Bob Crane to the National Radio Hall of Fame Steering Committee at the Museum of Broadcast Communications in Chicago on behalf of Bob's radio colleagues and close friends. However, with public voting being a part of the selection process for the National Radio Hall of Fame, public awareness became a necessity. For Bob Crane to have a fair public vote in the selection process, people needed to know that he was more than just Colonel Hogan of Hogan's Heroes or a murder victim. They needed to know that there was much more to him than what they saw in the media following his death. Indeed, Bob was a very deep and complicated human being, who - while not perfect - genuinely cared for others, was "sensitive and somewhat shy," had what many called a "sunny personality" and could brighten any room just by walking into it, is still adored by his family and friends, and possessed rare talents in music, radio, and acting - talents that must no longer be ignored.

I say without hesitation and with deepest appreciation that this campaign exists because of the efforts of some truly dynamic people - my own friends and coworkers - who practically gave birth to this campaign overnight.

The very first thing we did was launch a blog. Joe Tonzelli created the blog and the brand Vote For Bob Crane. On the evening of June 1, 2011, I received an email from Joe saying, "You are live." In the email was a link to the Vote For Bob Crane blog and the post below. Suffice it to say, we've come a long way! With the help of our Facebook and Twitter accounts, which had been set up by Katie Brownlow, we have had nearly 10,000 visits to the Vote For Bob Crane blog from all over the world.

On June 30, 2011, the National Radio Hall of Fame Steering Committee announced that they had decided to forego public voting for 2011. Instead, they hand-selected a few key individuals from the Golden Age of Radio who they believed had been overlooked by the public but who they felt should be included in the Hall of Fame. This list included Former President Ronald Reagan, who was honored with induction into the 2011 Class. However, the Steering Committee assured me that Bob Crane's official nomination would be retained on file for consideration in future classes. Therefore, we made the decision to forge ahead, our sights now set on 2012.

In January 2012, Bob Crane and his nomination for the National Radio Hall of Fame made headlines twice: once via a press release distributed via PR Newswire (with the help of Janet D'Alesandro), and again in a feature article written by journalist John Burgeson and published in The Connecticut Post. Earlier this year, we also launched our official Web site, www.vote4bobcrane.org, designed and created by Katie Gallagher. We also developed a YouTube Channel.

The support we have received has been tremendous. WICC 600-AM Radio in Bridgeport, Connecticut, was the first to endorse Bob's nomination, followed by the Connecticut Broadcasting History organization. Many prominent individuals in radio and broadcasting also added their support, including a great many members of the Columbia Square Broadcasting Alumni Group. Bob's dearest friends as well as his fans have shown strong support. Most important has been the ongoing support of Bob's family, specifically his now-grown children, who love and miss their father terribly and all of whom Bob loved and adored. It is for them most of all that makes everything we have done and continue to do worthwhile.

Bob Crane with first wife Anne and
children Robert David, Debbie, and Karen.

Bob Crane with second wife Patricia (Patty)
and son, Robert Scott.

  

Within the next couple of weeks, the official ballot of potential 2012 candidates will be announced by the National Radio Hall of Fame Steering Committee. It is our sincerest hope that the name Bob Crane will be included, and that this year, he will be recognized for his extensive and groundbreaking work in radio and the entertainment industry. 

Bob Crane in his KNX booth - circa 1964.

Bob Crane has been called a genius in the broadcasting field by those who worked directly with him. He is an unsung broadcasting pioneer who helped shape the world of radio, and he is most deserving of the honor of being inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame.

If you have not done so already, take some time and listen to Bob's radio show, and many segments are available right here on this blog. Visit our official Web site and discover for yourself what many have overlooked or forgotten about Bob Crane. Join us on Facebook and Twitter and become a real part of this campaign - your vote truly does count!

Thank you one and all for your support!