Twin Cities Radio Airchecks.Com Presents
The Al Arneson Collection
WCCO
Al Arneson, grew up in Edina Minnesota and got an early start in radio. In Jr. high school, Al got his first chance to be on the air at his friend's, Kim Cummings, basement Pirate FM station. When that station went of the air, he started his own station. Al operated his station out of his basement during the early 1970's while attending Edina High School. You can hear those early Pirate recording of him on this web site's Pirate Radio Page.
Al later took a job at an Appleton Wisconsin station and later took a job on KSTP-AM near the beginning of KSTP's Music Radio days. He also worked at U-100. He currently owns and operates his own business, Entertainment Plus. An aircheck from 1973 of Al Arneson on KSTP-AM is posted below (Scroll Down)
Thanks Al, for recording and contributing these airchecks. Keep cleaning out that storage locker!!
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| Late 1970's photo of a young Al Arneson |
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Captain Buzz Lives!!
WCCO-FM Composite. A Day in the Life...
They are all here, even the part-timers. Check out those late 70's jingles.
Paul Stagg 6-9 AM
Tim Russell 9-12 N
Carl Lensgraff 12 N - 4 PM
Curt Lengren 4-8 PM
Tom Ambrose 9 PM - Midnight
Terri Davis 12 M - 6 AM
Pat O'Neill Weekends
Mesa Kincaid Weekends
Johnny Canton Weekends
Recorded and contributed by Al Arneson, formerly at KSTP-AM and U-100. (Posted 11-18-07)
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WCCO-FM Composite - January/February 1979 |
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WCCO-AM January/February 1979
Charlie Boone/Roger Erickson - Mornings
Denny Long - Weekends
Steve Cannon - Afternoon Drive
Contributed by Al Arneson, Formeraly of KSTP-AM and U-100 as Big Al Davis
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WCCO-AM Composite January/February 1979 |
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WCCO-FM The Early Days
More recordings from contributor Al Arneson. To the right is a recording of Denny Long of early WCCO-FM. Additionally, there is a recorded interview of former Vice President, Hubert Humphrey. Unfortunately, there was a problem with the signal and it appears the FM Frequency lock on the radio used to record this was not on and it drifted off channel a bit, but you can still here it well. The interview was a part of the WCCO-FM Grand Opening Broadcast on August 27, 1973 to celebrate the switch to the Shoreview 1,200 foot antenna and increase in power to 100,000 watts. The station transmitted at lower power from an antenna on the Foshay Tower prior to this. I am not sure what the transmitting power was from Foshay Let me know if you do: Rick1031@Hotmail.com
Dave Teller - Recorded on the Grand Opening Day - August 27th 1973
This was a time when the DJ's had wide discretion on music selection and announcing style. This was a more talk, less music format. Dave plays Peter Nero then Carly Simon, then The Looking glass and other MOR Contemporary songs. Lost of weather info is also provided. Does anyone know what happen to Dave?
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WCCO-FM Denny Long on October 16th, 1972, when WCCO-FM broadcast from an antenna on the Fochay Tower with low power. |
WCCO-FM Paul Stagg Does Grand Opeing Interview of Former Vice President Hubert Humphrey in August 1973. |
WCCO-FM Dave Teller Late August 1973 |
WCCO-FM Paul Stagg August 27th, 1973 Grand Opening Day Broadcast | WCCO-FM Early 1970's - Two Recordings From Grand Opening Broadcast August 27, 1973
The two recording to the left are from the day WCCO-FM had a ribbon cutting ceremony atop the Pic Nicollet Hotel in downtown Minneapolis. Al Arneson provided the recordings. WCCO-FM was celebrating the switch in transmitter location to the new 1,200 foot tower in Shoreview and an increase in power to 100,000 watts. It is ironic that although CCO-FM increased it power, these recording suffer from some FM static. I believe this is due to the frequency lock on the radio not working or being turned on, allowing the frequency to drift. Remember when FM radios had a frequency lock button?
Paul Stagg During the Afternoon
Paul starts off by mentioning the station has received numerous phone calls on how the new 100,000 watt signal is getting out, including calls from Rochester. Later, Paul talks about how Dave Teller, who just got off the air, is now enjoying his cheeseburger that was delivered by Alice, a local waitress with a man sounding voice. Paul also informs us the grand opening ceremony will be replayed after 6 PM, primarily because the station owners wanted to hear themselves. At about 14 minutes into this tape, the frequency starts to drift and a little static can be heard.
Hugh Phillips at 6 PM
Hugh worked at Brown Institute and was the placement director when I (Rick Burnett) attended the school in 1972. He also worked one time at WWTC. I remember at Brown he told a class a WWTC story about announcing the title of a song by Connie Francis and then saying..... "Let's flip her over and try the other side" naturally meaning the 45 record and not Connie.
In this broadcast, he mentions the new higher power 'CCO-FM is now broadcasting at, but later keeps saying 1,000 watts, rather than 100,000 watts and does not realize the error. The 10 AM grand opening ceremony is replayed and later the Paul Stagg interview with Hubert Humphrey is also replayed. This tape only has a portion of the Humphrey interview. A missing portion is also on this page with another group of recordings. Again, it seems the FM radio's frequency lock is not working or turned on as the FM static is on parts of this recording. Even with the static, you can hear the broadcast ok.
I heard that the Pic Nicollet hotel was not occupied and some staff members spent hours going through the vacant hotel. There may be some hotel plate setting ot there somewhere. Should anyone have some "CCO stories to share, Let me know: Rick1031@hotmail.com
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WCCO-FM Hugh Phillips 6 PM August 27, 1973 - With Replay of Ribbon Cutting Ceremony Earlier in the Morning |
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