Paul Harvey’s secret friendship with J. Edgar Hoover
Welcome to the first edition of Robservations — a midday bonus of items on the media beat:
- Paul Harvey, the Chicago-based radio giant who died last February, had a 20-year secret friendship with FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover, documents just released under the Freedom of Information Act show. The Washington Post reports that Harvey often submitted advance copies of his radio scripts to Hoover, who in turn “helped Harvey with research, suggested changes in scripts and showered the broadcaster with effusive praise.” Hoover died in 1972, but Harvey reportedly maintained his close ties to the FBI.
- Norman Goldman, a Los Angeles-based attorney who doubles as a syndicated talk show host, has been picked up by Newsweb Radio progressive talk WCPT-AM (820). His show will replace canceled Air America talker Ron Reagan from 5 to 8 p.m. WCPT is simulcast on WCPY-FM (92.5) and WCPT-FM (92.7) and WCPQ-FM (99.9).
- How much was the Jay Leno fiasco costing NBC affiliates? A report in the Wall Street Journal Monday said NBC stations in the top 20 markets stood to lose $772,000 a week if Leno stayed on at 9 p.m. because of lower ratings for local newscasts that followed his show. In Chicago, 10 p.m. news ratings for NBC-owned WMAQ-Channel 5 in November were down 32.4 percent compared with the previous November, resulting in an average weekly revenue decline of $97,124, according to estimates from Harmelin Media.
- Chicago Helps Haiti, last Thursday’s day-long fundraising drive by the Chicago broadcasting and print media community, raised $2,962,391 in aid for the American Red Cross relief effort. More than 18,000 calls were logged. The effort was spearheaded by Steve Robinson, executive vice president for radio and project development at Window to the World Communications, parent company of classical WFMT-FM (98.7). Emily Barr, president and general manager of ABC-owned WLS-Channel 7, said:
“As broadcasters, we are so gratified at the outpouring of support from people all over Chicagoland. Steve Robinson once again did a wonderful job organizing all of us so we could use our collective voice to raise these critically needed funds.”
- Bob Shomper, whose 13-month tenure as program director at Citadel Broadcasting news/talk WLS-AM (890) abruptly ended Friday, shared a gracious farewell. Saying he wished his former colleagues “nothing but the best,” Shomper added:
“I respect the fact that sometimes in business a new general manager will want to make a fresh start with his own hires. I’m very proud of the accomplishments that the team has made at WLS, and I’m looking forward to what the future brings. It’s been an honor to have had the opportunity to work at one of America’s great radio stations.”
- Metrolingua media blogger Margaret Larkin posted a profile Monday of the elusive Larz, proprietor of the ever-vigilant ChicagolandRadioandMedia.com. “It’s a labor of love, pure and simple,” Larz said of his recently expanded site. “It may open up some doors for me down the line, but regardless, I don’t do any of it because of money.”
- Shirley Bell Cole, the Chicago actress who starred as “Little Orphan Annie” on radio in the 1930s, died Jan. 12. She was 89. “Little Orphan Annie,” which originated from WGN, was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 1990. Cole herself inducted old-time radio guru and former “Those Were the Days” host Chuck Schaden into the Radio Hall of Fame in 1993.
26
01 2010
blogs.vocalo.org
why not call this “page 2″?
who is going to do the profile of margaret larkin?
does crusty walt know this blog has been posted?
was channel 5 down less than other nbc stations? if so, is this a testament to the goodwill generated by the tenure of allison rosati? am i saying this because i like allison rosati? in part, yes.
why haven’t i said “what about me?”
ok, back to being a divorce lawyer.
“Robservations”? Your first column name in junior high! This HAS come full circle, indeed. Now all we need is one of those mimeograph machines so we can smell the ink!
Channel 5 has always had higher ratings for the Tonight Show due to its airing at 10:30 so more people are awake.
And Bruce: Learn to capitalize!
As a shyster you wouldn’t dare file something in court without caps!
The judge would throw you into the slammer for contempt.
And in federal court, they even specify the font to be used & ban Arial!
That $772K figure is staggering in that, if you merely divide the numbers around the 20 affiliates, it represents the equivalent of a salary every 10-14 days. Now for the O&Os, NBC could choose to absorb that. But for other Top 20 affiliates, NBC’s decision to accept lower 9p ratings for higher network profits, without a plan to provide redress to its affiliates on news lead-in, is intolerable and incompetent. If Jay Leno used an agent, perhaps he would have had the foresight to ask that question and the debacle that ensued would never have taken place.
I love that portrait of Paul Harvey. Something about his grin just shouts out “pure crazy.” The odd relationship and mutual praise with Hoover only supports this.
Robservations…
Does this mean that those of us who follow your column regularly are Robsessed? I know I always feel Robliged to read it daily. One thing I admire is that you don’t Robfuscate the issues, and always stay Robjective.
Don’t let Allison Payne’s comments get you down…you have overcome many Robstacles throughout your career, and you’ll never be Robsolete.
(I hope I’m not being Robnoxious)
what about unindicted co-conspirator?
isn’t “tonight” on all nbc affiliates? certainly it is in all the major markets. thus, if channel 5’s ratings declined less than those in other markets, the cause couldn’t be because “tonight” is on channel 5. i simply cannot underscore the importance of allison rosati’s tenure enough. in fact, i am tempted to capitalize.
So there were plenty rumors that Fox 32 was about to announce a 5 pm newscast with Anna Davlantes. But with a potential Conan show on at 10, does Fox 32 keep its 5 – 7 block in place with syndicated fare? What about an 11 pm news after the Conan show? I remember when they first launched their news in 1987 they had a 7 & 11.
“Paul Harvey’s secret friendship with J. Edgar Hoover”
This headline is the perfect example of the subtle distinction between “a secret” and “a surprise.”
– MrJM
http://twitter.com/misterjayem
Did the documents inform us of Mr Harvey’s dress size as well? Also, this news kind of puts a damper on what a great journalistic communicator Paul Harvey was. Finding this out as a 26 yr old just makes me think he was a tool in a propaganda machine.
Has any thought been given to having a “Chicago Helps NBC” telethon? It would be nice to see all the broadcasters coming together to help out a friend. Maybe Conan could host it.
I wouldn’t say I’m a “media blogger” because Metrolingua’s main focus is language, though I definitely appreciate the plug!