Comments for Scanning The Dial

Comment on Dreaming Our Future by Marty Ronish

Marty Ronish — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 04:59:52 +0000

Keep dreaming, Jack. I’d love to see you pursue this intense community outreach over the long haul and find out if it’s the answer to the missing 92% of donors.

Thanks for a great, heartfelt post.

Comment on How Many Are Listening to Radio? Who’s Making Money? by Dan O'Day

Dan O'Day — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 00:23:19 +0000

You’re right, Marty.

Radio will be alive for as long as:

- There are radio stations that understand the importance of delivering relevant programming to its audience.

- There are radio stations that truly engage their listeners in some sort of relevant (there’s that word again) dialogue.

- There are radio stations that pay more attention to their listeners than they do to what “everyone else in the industry” does…

Comment on KUSC – You’re the Top, You’re a Hot Tamale by Richard Mitnick

Richard Mitnick — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 19:16:12 +0000

I looked at the attached article. I had seen a previous article in a USC publication. What I saw there, and not here, is that KUSC now measures membership in 38 states and 11 countries.

I consider Brenda Barnes a very good long distance friend. I was a member of KUSC from New Jersey for a fair amount of time. Brenda was always extremely cordial to me. She deserves all the success for herself and the station.

What this proves, or at least supports, is the value and importance of the internet as a means of distribution for Classical music.

This has been my thesis and my single message for quite some time.

Comment on WQUB in Quincy, IL Losing its Local Hosts by Richard Mitnick

Richard Mitnick — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 17:46:43 +0000

So, what will this be? Another outlet for “Classical 24″?

Comment on “Almost Insane Operagoer” George Jellinek Dies by Richard Jordan

Richard Jordan — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 22:53:03 +0000

He was a quiet giant, his melifluous voice introducing me to inumerable talents. There were 3 great broadcasters and another man who enabled me to learn more about music during my many years of standing on all types of lines for the cheapest tickets since the die-hards can only afford the least in price, we were always out: George Jellinek, Karl Haas, and Tony Coggi on WFUV for so many years. And let us also remember the great contribution by Amato Opera on NY’s Lower East side. Titans all. How great to have enjoyed their skills and expertise in revealing the inside of the music. All hail! Richard Jordan

Comment on The Great Conversation by Jack Allen

Jack Allen — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 00:34:07 +0000

Precisely! Thanks, Marty.

Comment on The Great Conversation by Marty Ronish

Marty Ronish — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 00:12:32 +0000

Good luck on your drive. One program director friend says donors are buying stock in the station when they give, and they want to monitor their investment. I guess we pay the dividends and interest in music instead of in money! It certainly makes the station responsive to the community when we realize people are entrusting their hard-earned money to us to use wisely.

Comment on Old broadcasters never die… by Dave Wagner

Dave Wagner — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 15:20:39 +0000

My friendship with Pat McElroy goes back to the mid 1960’s. First of all, he was a friend that I listened to on the radio. Later he became on of my colleagues when we worked together at the old WQRS, and we saw many changes and permutations in the radio business from the later 1960’s through the present time.

No matter what mood Pat was in, and no matter what was happening off the air, when the microphone was opened, there was Pat; entertaining, knowledgable, whimsical, warm and entertaining.

He was the consumate brodcast professional. Jack’s story about how Pat spent the evening sleeping at the radio station so he would not be encumbered by a minor inconvenience like a major snowstorm is vintage Pat McElroy. He was a broadcaster, and a person, that you could count on in many different ways.

One of my favorite recollections of Pat was a concert that I helped arrange with Pat reading the poems of Paul Claudel, while Marilyn Mason of the University of Michigan played “The Stations of the Cross’ by Marcel Dupre. The program was pure magic, thanks to Pat’s dramatic reading which fit with the music perfectly. I’ve never heard a better performance since.

Dave Wagner
WRCJ Detroit

Comment on Old broadcasters never die… by John Burk

John Burk — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 00:42:33 +0000

I started working with Pat here at All-Classical FM about eight years ago, taking the board from him every Saturday at noon. I soon started coming in half an hour early because I so much enjoyed chatting with him. Enjoyed listening to the music with him and hearing his take on the music. Before long I was coming in an hour or two early to share his company.

Pat was a passionate man and he was a gentle, good man.

Flights of angels, buddy!

Comment on Old broadcasters never die… by Jeff R.

Jeff R. — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 22:08:56 +0000

Thank you, Mr. Allen, for the fine tribute. I wouldn’t have known of this if I hadn’t had the volume up (Detroit’s WRCJ FM)today. “Aww,.. Pat. So you moved to Oregon, huh?” I lost touch with Pat over 25 years ago. It must have been in the early eighties that we were friends. I was a WSU student. I recall sitting with him in his studio atop the Fisher Bldg. He once made a cassette tape [surprise] for me called: ‘the subjective Jeff R. tape’ with selections which reflected how he perceived me. I still have it. I recall our Lebanese lunches in Dearborn, as well as hanging out in Detroit’s New Center and Greektown with him. On a whim one Saturday night he took me on a tour of Detroit’s River Rouge Complex [@ 4am].

Like a beloved teacher, he could get me to listen through his ears and see with his eyes. Yes, he was very special. I was blessed to have known him those few years that I did. “Thank you, Pat, for you contribution to my life.”

Jeff