Seattle Radio History - 570AM (KVI) from Twisted Scholar on Vimeo.
Unfortunately, this hasn't been brought up to date. KVI, of course, flipped from conservaive talk back to oldies in 2010. There are some never-seen-before pictures, (by us, at least) and interesting factoids...
Bla'm
This is a fantastic thread. You knocked it out of the park.
Posted by: Puget Sound Blathers | November 05, 2011 at 06:36 AM
Hardwick's daughter Linda was in a few of my classes at WSU. Real nice lady, real pretty. She died some times soon after, never got the story on that.
Posted by: Mike Barer | November 05, 2011 at 09:32 AM
I'll join the toast to Michael on this one. KVI was also the flagship station for the Seattle Pilots in that teams only season. Jimmy Dudley and Bill Shonley were the broadcasters.
Posted by: Mike Barer | November 05, 2011 at 09:40 AM
What was so remarkable about Hardwick and many other personalities from that era was that many of their most loyal listeners absolutely hated the music. Their wide appeal was simply magical.
Posted by: Cueburner | November 05, 2011 at 11:51 AM
Back in the day when you couldn't wait for the song to end so you could hear the patter. I think there would be a place for Hardwick in today's market. He could do all talk at KIRO or something until he quit.
Posted by: Mike Barer | November 05, 2011 at 12:37 PM
It's a travesty that O'Shea was allowed to be any sort of spokesman or authority about KVI's most successful years in the '70s. He was a consummate rat-ass, who brought nothing to the station, either in terms of leadership or conceptual programming ideas. The on-air talent worked around him, and was successful despite him. O'Shea will be remembered by those who had the misforutune to have to work with him as a no-nothing prick of unimaginable proportions.
Posted by: bmac | November 05, 2011 at 10:31 PM
More great radio blogging, Michael.
Posted by: JimF | November 05, 2011 at 11:17 PM
Well done documentary ! KEX - Portland seems like it mirrored KVI in a number of ways. It was a Golden West station back in those days. Although, they never played oldies like KVI does and did.
Posted by: KS | November 06, 2011 at 10:54 AM
Interesting look back at a legendary station...and the amazing impact that Robert Hardwick had on that formerly great station. Don't know if bmac is on his "period" or what...but I was an employee of KVI in the 70's and O'Shea was the only program director tht ever got the respect of Hardwick. They continued to be friends well after both left the station. Golden West Broadcasters did better "personality radio" than any company in the industry in the 60's and 70's...a tribute to The Singing Cowboy, owner Gene Autry.
Posted by: RobtK | November 06, 2011 at 11:48 AM
O'Shea didn't come on the scene until 1978 -- along with GM Jim Johnson -- and both presided over the gradual but ultimate demise of what had been a jewel in the crown of Seattle radio.
Posted by: bmac | November 08, 2011 at 09:17 AM