Throughout the ’90s (when we first posted this) it was not uncommon to hear a radio station promote itself with a vignette of song snippets that were decidedly NOT of their format, followed by a song in their style.
In the late ’70s thru the mid ’80s, conservatism in radio dictated that drawing attention to your competition this way was a bad thing and this type of promotion was practically non-existent.
This spot, produced by Tom, took the former approach to sell what was then the only all “new wave” club in town, and perhaps to also take pot-shots at the local CHR station. Airwaves was located in the basement of ABC Liquors and featured a 6″ high stage.
WIDB held the “Beat Night” promotion there on Thursdays beginning with the club’s opening in Fall 1982, and the club played host to the Circle Jerks, Violent Femmes and Ministry among others in 1983, as well as being the late-night hangout for many of our staff.
Does anyone know how long Airwaves stayed open?
Author Archives: Terry
Murph Show – January 1972
Mike Murphy was a WLTL (La Grange) product who had an engaging personality and loved baseball. Originally a sports and news guy, he became an on-air jock. Just as many of us did, Murph unleashed his personality on his show. He had just been promoted from midday to mornings and – as you can hear from this excerpt from January 72 – no one was safe from his barbs, even his boss Sam Glick, who was in studio to take the next shift.
New Releases Show – February 1991
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The new releases show continued into the 90’s with Jim Cooley, Music Director,
along with Chris Perry, Jeff Ruznic (?) and Lori Edwards.
Jim took his music seriously.
He was a member of the Blue Meanies, along with Bill Sollidor.
Chris Perry later took over for Jim as Music Director.
Here, on the New Releases show, February, 1991, Jim and the crew play an amusing spot for WIDB classified Valentines.
Anybody know how popular these were?
The Steam Tunnels Of SIU
By Bob Piet
Do they exist?
So back when I was a freshman, there were always rumors of these underground tunnels that connected the entire campus. Back in University housing, I recall a few Resident Assistants (RA’s) outright denying their existence. If this was an official University Housing policy to deny their existence, I can’t be sure.
The answer is, of course: they exist; the evidence is all over the place. Walking along the sidewalks, you see the 2×4 vents, and if you look at them at the right angle, you can see right into the tunnel network. You have the random small brick buildings that when you look at them they go straight down, such as the one in Thompson Point and by Old Main adjacent to the main walkway over to East Campus. Additionally they do rupture from time to time making steam shoot out of the sidewalks or lawns like some alien planet. My favorite though, is to wait for a day when there is just a light layer of snow on the ground. The ambient heat from the steam tunnels will melt the snow and give you and instant tunnel network map. Oh, and also they mention the tunnels on their website.
Why do they exist?
Gatsby’s: Random Thoughts
By Mark Slaga
I never understood the attraction of watching some guy spin records.
But it was kinda neat.
Kent Lewin, his face a mask of horror reminiscent of “The Scream,” crouched in the corner nursing a Coke and running he board, cringing as he opened my mic.
I think I broke him in for Steve Dahl.
Owner Jim Winfree, thought I was bopping his girlfriend. What a Clown! But he was right.
Telling a dope joke about getting busted, making fun of my probation officer.
Halfway through the bit I notice he is sitting at the bar shaking his head.
Audience members were always trying to give me dope. They were usually successful.
It’s 2:30 am Sat.
I’m in the parking lot behind the bookstore loading album crates in my car.
Fifteen minutes earlier, Jim Winfree stuck his gun in my face.
2 guys who were regular audience members are stumbling through the lot,
and they asked me if I wanted to get high…………Duh!
One guy pulls out about 3 grams of MDA (back when it was real). He dumps it out and hands me a straw. Being accustomed to a certain dosage, I naturally assumed the large pile was for me. Much to the astonishment of my newfound benefactors.
Let’s cut to Monday morning, 54 hours later. (God I miss MDA). For some ungodly reason,
I find myself in an auditorium sitting in on a Basic Ratio/Television lecture.
As I begin to sober up and re-enter reality, I realize that there is a full blown debate/discussion about censorship, FCC power, ethics, morality and profanity.
Ten minutes after sobering up I realize that they are talking about the Gatsby’s show
and asking the professor how could this be on the air.
Finally one little dweeb (who is probably a network executive today)
passionately asks in a plaintive cry:
“How can we, as responsible broadcasters, allow this to happen?
Can’t we control it?
What can we do?”
I had had just about enough and besides, the bars were opening.
I stood up and yelled:
“WE’RE ON CABLE, YOU DUMB ASS!!! WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO?”
I hit the bar, had some Bloody Marys,
went to the station and slept on the couch for 12 hours.
The Slaga Stare
