Tale #22

I recall an early experience in the master control that I thought was funny. A station in one of the major markets was one of the first to use "carts" for audio IDs, promos, etc. The board engineer would always play two carts back to back. The one was a rotating promo, while the other was a 5-second cart with the legal ID. The ID cart was never moved, and the start button was permanently labeled on the console. So, a twenty year routine for the station was to load a cart in CT-1, at the top of the hour, play the promo, then press ID button. (i.e. "The prize time movie, today at 4 on Channel 7", "Wxxx Channel 7 Anytown"). The "Wxxx Channel 7 Anytown" was the same button, same voice, for nearly 20 years.

When a friend retired from the station after 15 years of board operation, some of the engineers played a trick on him. On the very last ID he had to run, they bypassed the ID deck. What aired was "The prize time movie, today at 4 on Channel 7", "wrong button Charlie". Poor Charlie froze as the words hit him. After all, he had pressed the same button for 15 years and heard the golden voice give the ID. But, on his last minute of his last shift, Charlie's routine was a little exciting.

Frederick R. Vobbe
w8hdu@wlio.com

Check out Fred's Engineering Page at
http://www.wlio.com/history/history.htm?afo=tsbt