One of the regular features of this here blogola is the sharing of radio commercials I have had some part in bringing to life. I like writing commercials that are funny, quirky, attention-getting, and–most importantly–EFFECTIVE! When people tell our clients “I heard your commercial on the radio” that makes me the happiest of campers. We’ll … Continue reading A Word From Our Sponsors (God Bless Them!)
Today marks Mike Glesinger’s 35th anniversary with KCOW and Eagle Radio. This is a major milestone and an incredible accomplishment in a business where job security is so lousy it’s memorialized in a TV theme song (“Town to town, up and down the dial…”) Gles, you see, has no truck for self-aggrandizement. (I, on the … Continue reading 10 Facts About Gles (Half of Which Are False)
Harris Sales in Alliance distributes bread to supermarkets and other stores. Plus snack foods, tortillas, and more. With that information, I have written many, many commercials for them. I have written commercials about the old saying “greatest thing since sliced bread”. And how bread gets a bum rap sometimes because people say a lazy person … Continue reading Anatomy Of A Silly Commercial: Harris Sales “Bread Song”
It’s 1:00am. I am reminded of what Paul Harvey used to say after communicating a sad or upsetting news story: “Wash out your ears with this.” Right now I am washing out my ears by listening to my favorite old time radio theater stream after dis-joining a Facebook group called “I WAS A DISC JOCKEY … Continue reading Late Night Distemper: Old Time Radio Is Great. Old People Who Spent Time In Radio: It Varies.
Boy, what a swell weekend I had! On Saturday we did our live broadcast from the Thunder On The Prairie classic car show at Alliance Central Park–a triumphant return to the June tradition after last year’s COVID-forced cancellation. Mike Glesinger and I chatted it up with club members, described some vintage vehicles, and said hello … Continue reading “Frat House Exorcism”
I have a couple of radio commercials I would like to share with you…but first! As I’m writing this post I am listening to my “Tip Of The Freberg” box set, featuring the brilliant comedy records and radio commercials of Stan Freberg. Freberg was one of the innovators in the use of humor in advertising … Continue reading Mr. & Mrs. Mosquito and Other Stories
Your wentyworld.com blogmeister is officially….fully vaccinated! Woop woop! Holla! I would engage in more nonsense words but I have to put my laptop down and take a couple of Tylenol. Before I get into this, please get the vaccine if you’ve been thinking about it. If you’re an “absolutely no way, uh uh, no how” … Continue reading Commercials and Side Effects (Not Necessarily In That Order)
When Bob S. Bestos and I chat on the morning program, I am George Fenneman. Bob is Groucho. For every Groucho there must be a George Fenneman–or a Margaret Dumont. George Fenneman was born in China; his parents were importer-exporters–in fierce competition, one assumes, with Vandelay Industries. The Fenneman family moved to San Francisco 9 … Continue reading FORGOTTEN ICONS OF BROADCASTING: George Fenneman
Hey, did you know that “Scooby-Doo” was inspired by “Dobie Gillis”? Putting aside the semi-coherent dog for a moment, you’ve got Fred (Dobie), Velma (Zelda Gilroy), Daphne (Thalia Menninger) and Shaggy (Maynard G. Krebs of course). Now that inspiration was only a starting point–of the four main characters, only Shaggy bears any resemblance to his … Continue reading We’re Goin’ To A Jubilee
I first saw the 1941 film “Look Who’s Laughing” in the early 90’s on AMC, back when it was called American Movie Classics. It was part of a double feature with the Damon Runyon drama “The Big Street”. Both films starred Lucille Ball but neither featured her doing anything particularly funny. “Look Who’s Laughing” casts … Continue reading Look Who’s Laughing! Look Who’s Apparently Sentient!
