KFI Los Angeles GaryOwens 1986 California Aircheck Video

[@RobConstantine]

The last days of music on the AM broadcast band..I have happy memories hearing Gary on KFI and KMPC, which had already switched to talk. Owens was one of the lucky ones..he got into the biz in 1952, when network radio was on its way out and programmers were trying to figure out what to program..Gary was able to hone his craft in small towns like Omaha and develop a style that made him #1 wherever he went. Sadly those small town slots are mostly gone due to syndicated programming replacing local talent..If I wasn't disabled I would have hit the road at 16 with a trailer and paid my dues..

[@IntergalacticInterviews]

Dammit Gary you were so good, I wish I could have met you on this planet 🌍

[@RobConstantine]

I met him..a really sweet guy :-)

[@paulwalker1443]

Just a wonderful talent, that Gary Owens guy. So smooth, so clever, and that voice was made for radio. Of course R&M on NBC didn't hurt his career either. RIP.

[@aumu24fan]

Gary Owens' voice made most of us in radio sound like a bunch of wannabes! He was incredible.

[@wongleebruce]

From beautiful downtown Burbank Rowan and Martin presents Gary Owens at the home of more stimulating radio 64 KFI sounds great

[@SteveCarras]

A look at Gary Owens only turned up the MDOERN Gary Owen..thank God for Gary Owens..

[@peterfabris8976]

Smooth Operator - Sade . Don't Cry Daddy - Elvis Presley

[@RichardFelstead1949]

Is this the same Gary Owens who was on "Laugh In" ? Greetings from Australia.

[@CaliforniaAircheck]

Yes, there was only one Gary Owens. Same one who was on Laugh In.

[@CaliforniaAircheck]

Yes, KFI was at the Ardmore location when this video was shot. I believe his young female producer's name was Laura Brown..my recollection was that she left the Rick Dees show at KIIS to come over to KFI for Gary Owens show.

[@lowbaritonewwj]

I believe that is Laura... I met her a time or two at a KLOS function a few years after this. I think she talked up that she was "Get Down, Laura Brown" from the Rick Dees show, maybe? A gal I used to know that went by "Lu Lunden" on some small SoCal radio stations said that she and Laura were both working at KFI at the time of Al Lohman's firing. Lu said she saw Al sitting in a chair, with his head down, and weeping. That had to be a horrible morning for Al. :(

[@bribrindo9332]

Old radio...the BEST!!! Gary sounds fabulous of course, and Dan no slouch in the pipes department either!!

[@shamrock1961]

I love how she counted to 23 "hi your caller 7, 9, HI what's yourname?"

[@CapnKetchup]

I wish I could have won the ham. Even if it would now be almost 30 years old.

[@ApartmentKing66]

I believe KFI was still on South Ardmore when this was shot. And we get to see Barbara Whitesides' left cheek.

[@GenLeeConcepts]

+wannawatchu66 Thanks for sharing that bit "wanna"...I was curious who that pretty gal was?...but also seeing Dan Avey, our smooth tongued Kings' color man, until he jumped ship for KFI (a Kings' radio broadcast haven for a couple of years), becoming their news director is a wonderful memory. Dan was as good as they got in radio/TV and will be long missed-he passed before Gary did. Both tremendously good guys. But Gary could light up a room with his presence!

[@ApartmentKing66]

@@GenLeeConcepts Sure, GenLee...though I'm not sure who the "pretty gal" you're talking about is. If it's the brunette answering the phones during Gary's contest, I don't know who she is, but George (California Aircheck) says that she's one Laura Brown who left Rick Dees at KIIS-FM to work for Gary at KFI. The lady I was referring to is Barbara Whitesides, whom we see at both 4:09 and at the end of the video. She went on to have her own nighttime talk show on KFI in, I think, 1990 or 91. I used to listen to her as KFI's nighttime signal, as everyone knows, can be picked up in various parts of the solar system, so in Nor Cal, where I was, it was no problem

[@jctorontojctoronto]

1.52-2.02 listen carefully --- cute Laura laughs off off-air suggestive comment 'on mondays, she usually works topless' ----needless to say, that office stuff then, and def. media workplaces, was everywhere..today, that gets you suspension..and just around the corner from fired. Gary Owens had such a big run

[@louisb5563]

I noticed that myself and thought the same!

[@denniscarroll7696]

It's Roger Ramjet!

[@charlesballaro9766]

Why can't radio be this way anymore? It's all syndoshit now.

[@TheSmart-CasualGamer]

What an insane way of pivoting to talking about the assassination of a world leader. Bloody talented though!

[@jamesklatt]

One year later KFI would transition to talk.

[@markhumes7154]

J

[@skiddymark]

she was not so smoooth