On the Radio Dial

Jan. 3, 1960: Don Page, The Times' longtime radio critic, compiled end of the year lists that ran at the start of the next year about the bests in L.A. radio. So I compared the columns from 1960 and 1970 to see how his view changed from 1959 to 1969. Let's look at three categories awarded by Page -- best disc jockey, best newscaster and best sportscaster. Newscaster: Hugh Brundage of KMPC in '59, Ben Chandler of KMPC in '69. Sportscaster: Vin Scully in '59, Dick Enberg in '69. Wonder how many years Scully won it in between. Disc jockey: Dick Whittinghill of KMPC in '59, Jimmy Rabbit of KRLA and Paul Compton of KGIL in '69. Page said the biggest development in 1959 was "the return of good music and the diminution of that terrible musical cancer known as rock 'n' roll." Ten years later, he wrote that radio was "still alive ... but the state of its health is questionable." Any Daily Mirror readers out there remember any of these folks not named Scully or Enberg? And any guesses what Rabbit's real name was? --Keith Thursby

Comments

[zabadu]

Eddy Payne?

[Duane]

I certainly do remember some of the names other than Dick Enberg and Vin Scully. Mentioned are Dick Whittinghill, 6-9AM on KMPC. Who can forget his story records, I won one once. Roger Carroll who was on twice a day on KMPC, I believe it was noon to 3, & 6 to nine, called himself the two-timer. AM radio was so very entertaining and peaceful then. It would be interesting to hear comments from KMPC listeners from the 50's & 60's.

[fibber mcgee]

Dick Whittinghill was BIG. KMPC was the "cool" station for the under-35 crowd. Whittinghill did little audio skits that were pretty naughty for their day. For instance about the starlet who worked and worked to get a fur coat and when she got it she found she couldn't button it.
He was a deejay who championed big band music and referred to rock and roll as "gut bucket jazz."
Those were the days, my friends....

[Barry O'Brien]

Paul Compton--one of the best! Very knowledgeable and Sinatra's favorite disc jockey. I also remember Rodger Layng of KBIG-FM, even though he seems to have been overlooked in this instance.

[hockeykevin]

Eddy Payne is correct. Loved KMPC growing up. Johnny Magnus was a favorite.