Margie Ison...RIP

 The weather forecast in Heaven is 101% sunshine!

The House of Sneed...101 contributor Alan Douglas Sneed~

Great rundown of WKGN in 1976. Can you believe it was almost 50 years ago?

Bro’ Mick Rizzo and I have been friends since 15Q, and he has come through Indianapolis a couple of times. Here we are in 2022!

Your post about Chip’s Heavy Chevy mishap reminded me of a similar experience I had in 1977 with the WKGN “De-can Van,” which we were giving away by doing registrations when listeners turned in cans for recycling. The garage at the back of the property we were renting in Fountain City was set on fire by arsonists, and it also burned my ski boat, which was parked between the garage and the van. I remember calling Rumore to tell him, and he was not happy. The van was okay, but did smell like smoke. Like the Heavy Chevy, we gave it away shortly after the incident. RIP, Vic. 

Alan

 George,

Your post about Allen Stout has led me down a research rabbit hole. I’m probably going to write up a detailed summary of his career, but I have determined that he should get more recognition as a “Voice of the Vols.” Here are some highlights of what I have found so far. 

He was a graduate of Central High School and began his radio career on WNOX while still a student. In 1936, he helped to originate high school football broadcasts in Knoxville on the radio. Stout was then on WROL and Horace (Mike) Hunnicutt called games that first year on WNOX. He first began calling UT football and basketball games in 1937 and also for a few years in the 1940s. Broadcast rights to UT football typically switched hands between local stations prior to the founding of the Vol Network. Stout had several years' experience as the “Voice of the Vols” before officially becoming the Vol Network announcer in 1951. He also did football games for the University of Virginia for two years and possibly Ohio State prior to 1951. The News-Sentinel reported that he twice turned down a MLB play by play job with the Philadelphia Phillies to stay in Knoxville He eventually left Knoxville in 1952 to go to WLW in Cincinnati. 

Stout gained national notoriety in 1946 for his live news coverage of the “Battle of Athens” where the corrupt Athens, TN political machine was violently overthrown by a group of WWII veterans. Stout stayed in the air for hours as a gun fight raged between the veterans and corrupt local law enforcement. This broadcast could be one of the most significant moments of early Knoxville radio history. Stout is also credited for naming Roy Acuff’s band “The Crazy Tennesseans” during a broadcast on WROL. 

Stout died in 1969 in Cincinnati at the age of 52. A deeper look at his career shows that he was a pioneer of sports broadcasting in Knoxville. He did broadcast UT football games for several seasons prior to 1951 and should be celebrated with the other Voices of the Vols. 

   

Russell Mayes

WKCS Radio

The good doctor cured "hear" aches.

The 101 Audio Vault features Dr Al Adams (Allen Johnson) on WKGN...

 

...and now you know the rest of the story, thanks Chip!

I was at 'KGN and helped sell the Heavy Chevy promotion. Vic Rumore made the mistake of giving the car to me for safe keeping during the promotion and driving to different locations to promote the event. A lot of fun UNTIL, driving to West Knoxville, the hood latch broke and the hood flew up, bent the hood backwards and broke the windshield. Caused quite a ruckus on Kingston Pike that afternoon.

Needless to say, Vic was not a very happy camper when I drove it back to the station. It was a mess, and we were less than 2 weeks from giving it away. We called in some favors and actually got it fixed in time for the giveaway. Great time in radio in those days. Too many fun things happened out on Alcoa Highway, but Mike Beach can probably tell you more, some I was involved in and others I am sworn to never tell. (Chip Emerson)

Page 3...

(Bob Thomas) The Heavy Chevy was in the newspaper for sale the week after the guy won it.

WKGN 1340 in the spring of 1975...do you remember Heavy Chevy Trivia?

6 Dr Al Adams

10 Frank Erwin

3 Mike Beach

7 Rick Davis

12 Bob Thomas

James Reid Kerr

 Today would be Jamey's 65th birthday!

We became fast friends in the 70s... Bearden High, WIVK, Kingston 4 Cinema, UT and Bluegrass on Parade.

Jamey passed away in 2014, he was a many years' resident of Greensboro NC, being the lead man for Dick Broadcasting there for decades. 

PS- Growl Kong!

Happy National DJ Day...here's WKGN 1340 in 1976~

WKGN started 1976 with the following DJ line up- Dr Al Adams 6-10, Frank Erwin 10-3, Mike Beach 3-7, Scott Sams 7-12 and David Todd 12-6. The news team included Joe Anderson, Lauren Murphy, and Karen Hitchcock. Weekend DJs were Chris Lee (Kerry Lambert) and Phil Michaels.

In mid-January Barry Tucker (Mike Beck) debuted as a weekender. 

PS- Alan Douglas (Sneed) was still mornings at W-149, soon to be 15Q. And Russ Brown was on WNOX 990. He had started at WKGN in 1975 as Tollie Michaels. Russ, Mike, and Kerry all graduated from West High School (with Chris Paris) in the class of 1975. 

In April, Mick Rizzo joined WKGN from 15Q taking over the 7-12 slot, with Scott Sams moving to overnights. Terri Jones became afternoon news reader. Shortly thereafter, Scott exited 1340 for 15Q as Jamie Rivers so Barry Tucker took over the graveyard shift. 

At the tail end of May Dr Al and Frank Erwin flipped time slots, making Frank the DJ there that had worked mornings, middays, afternoons, evenings, and overnight. 

The 4th of July arrived with Pat O'Brien joining as the 7-12 DJ. Beach shuffled out and Pat took over afternoons with Barry Tucker moving into the 7-12 evening show with Chris Lee overnight.

In August Frank Erwin was gone after many years behind the 1340 mic, so enter stage left...Steve West to mornings from 15Q. 

...that didn't last long, exit Steve stage left, and Mike Beach was back and on in the morning. Allen Free as another Charlie Chase (think Wayne Bernard in Nashville) was on the air. 6 Beach, 10 Lee, 3 O'Brien, 7 Tucker, 12 Chase.

In September Mike and Kerry both adopted their new stage names as Robin Beck and Keith Lambert. New format and new names with Alan Douglas 6-noon, Pat O'Brien noon-6, Beck 6-12, and Lambert 12-6....and the station became 1340 WKGN Album Rock. (but O'Brien soon exited after the format change).

Oh, Mike Beach returned again, noon to 6p!

In October of 1976...Dave Elrod joined! the DJ line up stabilized for the remainder of the year...

6a Alan Douglas

noon Dave Elrod

6p Robin Beck

12a Keith Lambert

...and I believe they were automated at some point?

Page 3...

101 heard from Alan Sneed- George! Kerry and Mike...Great ones! I worked with Mike again after he came over to WKDA/KDF in Nashville and also did some project work for Kerry in Birmingham. I'm still friends with both on Facebook after all these years. 

101 heard from Mike Beck-George, thanks for the shout out in the blog! The “Mother” Tucker nickname came from “Brother” Mick Rizzo. He was doing 7-12m on KGN and I was doing 12-6. I used to hang out with him for his show before doing mine. He called me that one night during the crossover. I wasn’t at KGN for long, but it was an incredibly important time for me with so many wonderful friends and influences. Dr. Al, Alan Sneed, Kerry Lambert, Russ Brown, Mike Beach, just to name a few. I was so lucky. I’ve been in Hampton Roads since 1995. Thanks for all your work on the blog. The rich history of Knoxville radio is in great hands!

If I have the story correct... Dr Al Adams gave Kerry Lambert and Mike Beck their radio starts at WKGN 1340 in the mid 70s.

On the air, Kerry was Chris Lee or Kris Lee as he was dubbed Kris with a K at one point, and Mike was Barry "Mutha" Tucker, or "Mother" if you will.

The many years Top 40 format was dumped for AOR and Alan Sneed took the reigns as PD and morning DJ. Mike became Robin Beck and Kerry was redubbed as Keith Lambert.

Mike later headed to Nashville radio and Kerry was at the helm at the brand new WIMZ Rock 104.

Mike has been in Virginia for many years as Operations Manager at WNOR and WAFX. Radio took Kerry to The Magic City (Birmingham) where he still resides.

The 101 Audio Vault features Barry Tucker on WKGN...

 

In August 1976 Steve West had moved from mornings at 15Q to the same slot at WKGN 1340. The DJ line up was West 6-10, PD Dr Al Adams 10-3, Pat O'Brien, formerly of WMAK Nashville 3-7p, Barry Tucker (Mike Beck) 7-12, and Kris Lee (Kerry Lambert) overnights. Vic Rumore was GM. Joe Anderson and Kathy Clark were the news anchors with Phil Michaels and David Todd on the weekend.

...from the 101 Audio Vault, Pat O'Brien~

Page 3...

The 101 InBox:

(about the '86 radio reunion) A fun weekend! I can’t believe it was almost 40 years ago. Gary and I reunited as the original Brothers from 15Q after 10 years. Cheers and Happy New Year! (Alan Sneed)

(about the Phil Williams b'day photo) That’s the Phil I know from WNOX! He did middays and I did afternoons! What a blast. (Randy Miller)

 

Mike Keith has been named the new Voice of the Vols. In the top photo you will notice that the year 1951 is missing...say hello to Allen Stout!

Happy Birthday to Phil Williams...

 

WHEL 1240

It's March 1980 and Stoner Broadcasting; the new owner of WBIR AM/FM changes the call letters to WIMZ 103.5 and WHEL 1240.

Here's the on air line up at WHEL-

6  Ken McGavin

9  Bob Ogles

12 Win Maxwell

2  Bill Page

6  Mike Johnson

12 Larry King