Congrats UT grads...
It's Friday...so it's Foulk time! Once again we hear from Ktown morning news giant Dave Foulk...
I am sure some of the contributors have some interesting tales of the more memorable firings and dismissals in Knoxville radio. The only time I was actually told I would have to leave the building in Knoxville, I managed to re-invent myself in another position and stay. I left my Knoxville home in 1977, and worked fifteen years at WSB Radio in Atlanta. That's where I saw some doozies. One overnight fellow had a great voice and was on many commercials and sweepers. He decided to quit, but before he did he bulk erased every cart with his voice. Another overnight worker- probably the engineer- noticed and called managers who in turn had an all-night recording session. At one time the station had bright red blazers with WSB patches on the pocket (a women's version was also available). At the time, the company regulation for men was -always- shirt and tie. One reporter who was dismissed returned his coat to me with the arms tied in such knots that it could never be worn again. This same guy also nailed a note to the managers (oak) door. Then there's what I call the alien abduction dismissals. Once I was told to do the nine-o-clock news for the person who co anchored the morning drive news with me. It was not unusual to substitute for someone who might have another assignment or a p-r appearance. I went into the booth for the nine, and in the commercial break the news director, Lee Hall, popped his head in the door and said "all hell is breaking loose out here" and then he had to duck out and let me finish the news. When I came out of the booth, I was told that the morning co-hosts and my co-anchor for the news had been let go and were already out of the building. The practice at WSB at the time was to have the accounting department on hand for you to sign papers, and the guard escort you to your car. Any personal stuff you left would be packed and sent to your home. The station had huge photos of the air talent along the wall....attached with Velcro.
I am sure some of the contributors have some interesting tales of the more memorable firings and dismissals in Knoxville radio. The only time I was actually told I would have to leave the building in Knoxville, I managed to re-invent myself in another position and stay. I left my Knoxville home in 1977, and worked fifteen years at WSB Radio in Atlanta. That's where I saw some doozies. One overnight fellow had a great voice and was on many commercials and sweepers. He decided to quit, but before he did he bulk erased every cart with his voice. Another overnight worker- probably the engineer- noticed and called managers who in turn had an all-night recording session. At one time the station had bright red blazers with WSB patches on the pocket (a women's version was also available). At the time, the company regulation for men was -always- shirt and tie. One reporter who was dismissed returned his coat to me with the arms tied in such knots that it could never be worn again. This same guy also nailed a note to the managers (oak) door. Then there's what I call the alien abduction dismissals. Once I was told to do the nine-o-clock news for the person who co anchored the morning drive news with me. It was not unusual to substitute for someone who might have another assignment or a p-r appearance. I went into the booth for the nine, and in the commercial break the news director, Lee Hall, popped his head in the door and said "all hell is breaking loose out here" and then he had to duck out and let me finish the news. When I came out of the booth, I was told that the morning co-hosts and my co-anchor for the news had been let go and were already out of the building. The practice at WSB at the time was to have the accounting department on hand for you to sign papers, and the guard escort you to your car. Any personal stuff you left would be packed and sent to your home. The station had huge photos of the air talent along the wall....attached with Velcro.