Twin Cities Radio Airchecks.Com
Presents
The Jeff Lonto Collection
Jeff Lonto has provided some Twin Cities radio airchecks and visual materials posted on this page below (scroll down). Jeff wrote two books on Twin Cities radio and was a big fan of the oldies format at WWTC. His books provide a inside perspective of radio in this market during the 70's and 80's. Jeff has also provided articles that were published in the Pavek Museum of Broadcasting. Jeff has gratuitously provide material to this site and his collection of contributed recording and photos are contained n this page.
Jeff is currently working on a book titled "Chronciles From The Analog Age--Random Slices of Life, Culture and Media From the Old Millennium."
Some of Jeff Lonto's books include:
IT HAPPENED ON THE AIR--Amusing Stories of Twin Cities Radio-TV History. A collection of unique, interesting and often hilarious tails of Twin Cities radio and television from broadcast historian Jeff R. Lonto's "It Happened On The Air" feature for the Pavek Museum of Broadcasting, one of the premiere broadcast museums in the United States. 120, illustrated. ISBN: 978-0-9660213. YOu can get more info on this book at Jeff's web site:
studioz7.com/ihoth.shtml
FIASCO AT 1280-The Rise and Hard Fall of a Twin Cities Radio Station. A humorous and revealing expose of local radio, focusing on a forlorn operation known as WWTC. 234 pages, illustrated. ISBN: 0-9660213-4-7
Jeff Lonto's publish firm has its own web site with broadcast stories at: http://www.studioz7.com/
He states the following about Studioz7 on his site:
"Studio Z?7 Publishing came on the scene in 1997 to create stuff that we figure by gut instinct people will like, not by edicts from Corporate Headquarters or know-it-all consultants. Quite proudly, we are not a subsidiary of Time Warner, Clear Channel, Walt Disney or Simon & Schuster. Studio Z?7 is an independent publisher and as such, we call the shots as we see them."
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| Jeff Lonto, Author of Fiasco at 1280, a book on WWTC, and author of other books. This photo is from Jeff's web site: www.Studioz7.com |
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| Jeff Lonto as Dr. Timothy Treeman, a caller on the Ray Eric WWTC Magical Mystery Tour Show (Airchecks below). Click on images to enloarge. |
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WWTC - Deanna Love in June 1979
Jeff Lonto found some more tapes gathering dust and thought the best place to preserve them would be on his Lonto Contribution Page on Twin Cities Radio Airchecks.
On the June 1979 tape you will experience WWTC's Monday Night Extended Blend with Deanna playing the hits. Deanna also worked on the FM band at the Twin Cities first FM country station, KTCR-FM (now KTCZ-FM). The commercials are left in and you will hear a spot for the Black Angus, a place to go after work, and the late Howard Jarvis of California Prop 13 fame, endorsing a government watchdog magazine. About 5 minutes into this aircheck, there is a network news story about the death of the last surviving child of Casey Jones. Not the one on WTCN, the real one.
Contributed by Jeff Lonto and posted 8-23-09
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WWTC - Dena Love - June 1979 |
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From: Deanna Love
Sent: Thursday, September 03, 2009 11:30 AM
To: Rick1031@hotmail.com
Subject: A Blast From The Past. . .A former radio announcer from WWTC
Dear Mr. Burnett,
I just visited your website and was tickled to hear ME "on the air" again! Thank you for the bit of background about me and the example of my on air work for WWTC in 1979. I tried to call you but, alas, directory assistance did not have a listing for your number.
I no longer live in Minnesota since having moved to the deep South in 2005. My husband and I purchased an 1856 antebellum Greek Revival mansion in the historic town of Americus, Georgia. It was refurbished
by the architect who owned it for seven years and has all the bells and whistles of a 2009 construction while preserving the incredible beauty of the original construction. We love it here! If ever you find yourself near Atlanta and can drive a few hours to come visit, I would enjoy chatting about the "old radio days" specially since you are so versed in the subject. I can send you a photo of me during that time, too, if you like.
Thanks again!
Regards,
Deanna Love
______________________
Deanna,
Thanks for the update and the photos. Good to hear you are living the good life in Georgia. I will see you next time I travel to the area.
Rick Burnett
Posted 9-30-09
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KRSI & KJJO - Mike "Records" Ryan 1984 and 1985
Jeff Lonto provided these airchecks and I attempted to restore them with the help of Adobe. You can find more of Jeff's contributions on his Lonto Contribution Page on Twin Cities Radio Airchecks.
Mike broadcasts during the 6 AM hour on the KJJO aircheck. You will be "Rolling With Ryan" on the "New KJJO." You will hear Mike tell you the humorous news stories of the day as he play the greatest hits. KJJO is an ABC affiliate at this time. In 1985 Mike is on the KRSI side still playing the greatest hits.
Contributed by Jeff Lonto and posted 8-31-09
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KJJO - Mike Records Ryan - Eary 1984 |
KRSI - Mike Records Ryan - Spring 1985 |
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| As for Homer and Roy, Jeff states he "hasn't found any radio spots from them at all, but the Pavek has a 1968 KSTP-TV newscast with John MacDougall, with one or two Homer and Roy NSP commercials, plus a Homer and Roy NSP placard displayed right on the news desk. No news show would do that anymore. When NSP was in the news an number of years ago over their Prairie Island nuclear plant, you can just imagine how that would have been covered if they still had a placard right on the news set." NSP is now Xcel. |
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| NSP Ad. March 4, 1967. CLICK TO ENLARGE |
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NSP Ad - Homer Protesting - July 3rd, 1969 |
NSP Homer & Roy Conservation Ad - April 1, 1971 |
WWTC - Ray Erick (Currently at KQ) and The Magical Mystery Tour Show 1988
Back when Ray Erick was at WWTC 1280, (now at KQRS-FM), he did a Sunday evening show called the Magical Mystery Tour. Although Ray did not stay and the show did not last, Jeff Lonto kept some recordings of a few of the shows. They were recorded off the air and you will hear some minor AM interference on occasion, but still very "listenable."
Jeff Lonto joins Ray and Mike about 22 minutes into the August 21st, 1988 recording as Dr. Timothy Treeman. He got into the mood be taking some Excedrine PM, burning incense and turning the lights down low. On the Augest 28th, 1988 recording you will hear Ray ask Randy Steele also of WWTC (a/k/a Randy Randall, formerly of KTCR-FM) if he ever smoked a Houka. You will also hear the singer Donavan, do a promo for the Magical Mystery Tour show.
Take some Excedrine PM and turn the lights down, burn some incense and sit back and take the journey with Ray, Mike and Dr. Timothy Treeman.
Contributed by author Jeff Lonto, who wrote "Fiasco at 1280" and "It Happened on the Air" His Web site is www.studioz7.com
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WWTC - Ray Erick & Mike Velin - August 21st, 1988 |
WWTC Ray Erick Magical Mystery Tour Sunday Night September 28th, 1988 |
WWTC Ray Erick Magical Mystery Tour Show September 11, 1988 |
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Lonto Finds Old WWTC Studio Photo
From: JEFF LONTO
Sent: Saturday, June 21, 2008 10:16 PM
To: Rick1031@hotmail.com
Subject: Ray Erick photo
Rick:
I just dug up a photo of Ray Erick from the summer of 1988, right during the "Magical Mystery Tour" days that you might care to post with those airchecks.
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KQRS in the Late 1990's
KQRS Ray Erick September 8th, 1999
Ray, mentions his tour of the old Grainbelt brewery this day with his friend and author, Jeff Lonto (who contributed this recording). You will hear Ray tell us that we are listening to "The Station That Doesn't Talk Over The Music." You will also hear there was a winner on the KQ92 payroll contest.
KQRS Mei Young December 26th, 1997
Contributed by Jeff Lonto, author of Fiasco at 1280. (10-1-07)
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KQRS Ray Erick September 8th, 1999 |
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KQRS Mei Young December 26thth, 1997 |
KTCR-AM Mike Ryan Early 1979
Yes, this is the former country station before Al Tedesco sold it in the early 80's. They did an oldies format briefly. You are listening to "Number One KTCR." Although Mike does a good job, I do not believe KTCR ever got close to Number 1 in the ratings.
Contributed by Jeff Lonto, author of "Fiasco at 1280." (10-1-07)
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KTCR-AM Mike Ryan Early 1979 |
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| KTCR-FM's Deanna Love 1978
Jeff Lonto sent this phots of Deanna and writes:
"Before coming to KTCR-FM in 1978, Deanna Love got her start in radio playing country music at KLOH-FM in Pipestone, Minnesota as a pioneering female voice.
She left KTCR in early 1979 and went to WWTC during their transition between all-news and The Golden Rock. At that point the format was called the Splendid Blend, a "blend" of adult contemporary, oldies, news and the Larry King Show from Mutual network. When Scott Carpenter, one of the creators of the Golden Rock format was hired as program director, he eventually let go of Deanna when he hired Nancy Rosen, apparently because he didn't want two full time women on the airstaff, according to the late "Ugly Del" Roberts.
From there Deanna sought greener pastures in San Francisco, where she eventually got married and got out of radio for good. Which was really too bad because she had a great voice and great personality."
Photo contributed by Jeff Lonto, author of "Fiasco at 1280"
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KTCR-AM Mike Ryan Early 1979
Yes, this is the former country station before Al Tedesco sold it in the early 80's. They did an oldies format briefly. You are listening to "Number One KTCR." Although Mike does a good job, I do not believe KTCR ever got close to Number 1 in the ratings.
Contributed by Jeff Lonto, author of "Fiasco at 1280." (10-1-07)
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KTCR-AM Mike Ryan Early 1979 |
KTCR Music Surveys From 1974
At one time in the Summer of '74, KTCR-FM had its own survey. I was responsible for its weekly publication as the then music director. It only lasted a few weeks and was discontinued. I think the trade-out we had with teh printer ended. I wish I had a copy; it looked better than the survey's to the left.
Rick B.
Surveys contributed by Jeff Lonto, author of "Fiasco at 1280"
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| KTCR-AM & FM Twin Cities Country Music Twins survey from 1-12-74 |
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| KTCR-AM & FM Twin Cities Country Music Twins survey from 1-19-74 |
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