So, in 2014 KCOW celebrated its 65th anniversary. We did a weeklong programming event, four hours live each afternoon for five days with Kalin Krohe, Sir Ian Nelson and me. We did two different contests that week: One was our “time machine” which was played during the morning show…I will probably do a blog about that some other time.
Our other contest was “retromercials”. We wrote and produced–hell, let’s be frank, I wrote and produced– ten radio commercials for Alliance businesses that, with a couple of exceptions, were no longer around. We scheduled them like regular commercials and challenged our listeners to be the first caller when they heard one. It was a really unique and well-executed contest. Both of our 65th week contests were pretty fantastic.
With ten of these “retromercials” to do–in addition to actual current, paying commercials, and the ten “time machine” skits which were….reaaaaaaaaally complicated productions–I tried to pick about half of them for a full creative treatment. The others were basically straight reads, assisted by period-appropriate music.
It’s hard to imagine after 2 months of being one of two people in the building, but we used to have a lot of people roaming around Radio City. I had no shame in asking people to record one or two lines for my radio shenanigans, regardless of why they were actually in the building. The downside to this is that I listen to some of these old spots and have completely forgotten who recorded the lines. So I have done the best I can in the below guide:
St. Joseph Hospital – Kevin Horn recites some summer safety tips. This could air in 2020, just change the hospital’s name.
Rex’s Hamburgers – A “Dragnet” parody with Herr Kroheim doing an awesome hillbilly voice.
Orange Tea Room At Thiele Drug – I believe that’s Seth Hulquist doing the voice.
Newberry’s Hardware – Straight read spot by Kalin.
Nebraska Typewriter – The amazing bankermayor himself, Jason Hager as a W-reliant boss, co-starring Main Street Players co-star Tara Stanec,
Montgomery Ward – That’s me sped up as the kid. No clue who the female voice is..suggestions welcomed!
Lowry Chevrolet–old Chevy radio ad with tag by me.
L.B. Murphy – Kalin on the main read with tag by……….HELEN IOSSI!!!!
Kandy Snap–Herr Songheim and I crooning, Gles does the tag.
Jack and Jill-straight read by me.
Famous Clothing-Angela O’Leary with the sultry read…and an out-of-market voice on the tag I believe.
Drake Hotel-Seth, Tara and I…
Cover-Jones Motor Company-An old Edsel commercial (sob) tagged by me.
A&W-Not sure who the female voice is. Kroheim and I are having the mug chat.