Old Seattle Radio Saturday: dick curtis

This from the increasingly classic Bill Taylor:

I took this picture, way back when [August 1968]. Coming up with a creative photo every week for the Top 40 was challenging, and this was one of my ideas. … and yes, the fixture into which Dick is flicking his ash is the urinal in “Studio B,” a combination broom closet and men’s room.

Dick Curtis began in radio in 1957 at KREW in Sunnyside, WA, (but his career really started in 1960 when he was hired at Seattle Top 40 giant, KJR.

Over the next 45 years or so, he worked there (even promoting  concerts with Pat O’Day) at KOL, and KVI as music director, news director, program director, station manager, and talent.

KJR talent, 1965: Larry Lujack, Jerry Kay, Lan Roberts, Dick Curtis, Lee Perkins, Pat O'Day. (Thanks, Bill Taylor)

Here he is accepting a long overdue “Soundie” Award in 2008.

Curtis (b. 1933) lives in Issaquah, WA. [CORRECTION: Dick Curtis is NOT the voice of the Medved show. That would be Casey Keating].

(photo: At a KVI remote in 1988 with Lan Roberts)

Comments

[ksr]

That should be KREW, Sunnyside.

[Mike Barer]

I remember working with Dick at KYYX. No doubt an industry standard.

[Duffman]

Dick & I have a mutual friend; I've been at a couple of parties with Dick; he's an interesting fellow with a great radio voice.

[Peaklimiter]

Dick Curtis is NOT the voice of the Medved show. That would be Casey Keating.

[Puget Sound]

i recall Dick Curtis having to fill in last moment for John Carlson (i think his wife was having a baby or something medical) and I remember what a nice show it was.
but yeah, duff is correct about the voice of dick curtis: radio-esque.

[chucks]

Just thinking of all of the remotes we had done in the mid to late 80's with Wayne Cody and Bill Yend. That was some seriously effective advertising.
We did the same thing at a Buick dealership I worked for in the mid 70's, using Sam Yorty (former conservative Los Angeles mayor) and local radio people.
Worked so well, we were the top selling Buick dealer in the world.
I don't know why we can't generate that kind of advertising any more.
(yes I really know why. It took trusted live and local radio personalities to make it work.)

[KS]

Dick Curtis - did have a voice for radio (i.e. radio-esque) - could have made it as a nationally prominent answer, like Don Pardow on SNL.

[KS]

rather a nationally prominent announcer...

[Dick Curtis]

Great to read the nice things people have said in their comments. Truly I was blessed to have made radio my career. There was never a day I dreaded going to work. It all was FUN! To set the record straight though, I worked with Michael Medved for a time at KVI but no, I never voiced for him. As Duffman said, it is Casey Keating who has one of the better voices in the business.

[AprilMayJune]

Thanks, Dick!

[dale from albuquerque]

One of the great highlights of Dick's career was, of course, KJR's 'Homework Hall of Fame'...with the Professor and Jerry Kay. And its summer replacement,'Tell Dick and Jerry Where to Go'.By the way, whatever happened to Butch Paulson?

[Puget Sound]

You know, if one was to take the reminiscences, stories, tales (tall and small) from local legends like Dick Curtis, Lan Roberts, et al there is a damn fine Coffee Table size book for the local Northwest Market.
Maybe a nice Sunday Paper article as a starter to gauge interest.

All you would need is a writer with a love of radio to make it happen...hint, hint, hint, Blam...

[joanie]

You'd have to include a tiny chapter about KUUU - early home of Cliff Lenz and Bill Rice. The original 'oldies" station - or one of them at least.

[Sandy Merwin]

Thanks Dick. You have one of the voices that still rattles around my old brain. Part of that was the substances, but mostly it was you and your generation of jocks.

[Viktor]

Is that the same Larry Lujack that did years and years of top 40 rock n roll on WLS 890 am Chicago in the late 60s 70s?

[dale]

Lujack left Seattle in early 67 and after a very brief stint in Boston, he went to Chicagoland where he worked at both WLS and WCFL for 20 years. He made a lot of people forget Dick Biondi. Superjock is retired and now residing in Santa Fe.

[Jackie]

Is Bill Taylor the same guy as William J Taylor, KJR news back in the late 60's? If it is, I knew you back when you lived on Alki Beach.

[Steven G. Phillips]

I remember when Dick did a newscast on KVI where he referred to Mayor Paul, I am not a Wuss, Schell. It was hilarious. I was sorry that he retired. He had a great newscast voice.