I am saddened by the recent death (as of the time of writing this post) of Egyptian immigrant to Great Britain, a student of British culture by the Bahamian Valet of Edward VIII and his rogue American wife Wallis Simpson, by the name of Sydney Johnson; and one-time owner of the Department Store Harrod’s, Mohamed Al-Fayed.
Mohamed Al-Fayed’s son Dodi was killed alongside Diana, Princess of Wales in a car accident whilst the two were being transported in a Mercedes-Benz W140 owned by the Al-Fayed’s Hotel in Paris, France; the Hôtel Ritz Paris in an effort to evade the paparazzi while the Driver and Chauffeur, Henri Paul crashed into a pillar within the Pont d’ Alma Tunnel in the Paris city proper.
Below is the link to an article with photographs of Class I-A Clear Channel AM Radio Station, and longtime CBS Radio affiliate KRLD-AM.
The Radio Laboratories of Dallas had put KRLD-AM on the air in October, 1926. The call letters KRLD stand For Radio Laboratories of Dallas. In 1939, KRLD-AM had upgraded its license to a Class I-A Clear Channel license, and its Effective Radiated Power (ERP) to 50 kilowatts.
KRLD-AM had spawned an FM stepchild, KRLD-FM (assigned by the FCC to transmit its signal at 92.5 Megacycles); and KRLD-TV (assigned by the FCC to transmit its signal at Channel 4).
KRLD-TV would change its call letters to KDFW-TV in 1970, and just like the ex-Storer Television Stations in Detroit, Cleveland, Atlanta, and Milwaukee; KBTC-TV in Austin, Texas; and WTVT-TV in Tampa, Florida; KRLD-TV/KDFW-TV would be one of many CBS Television affiliates falling victim to the changeover of becoming a FOX affiliate during the years 1994-1995.
As a longtime CBS Radio affiliate, KRLD had aired all of the CBS Radio Programs that the network had aired during the Golden Age of Radio, including Serials, Dramas, Game and Quiz Shows, Big Band performances, CBS Radio News Programs and Bulletins; and the like.
KRLD-AM would also originate a Country Music Radio Program called the Big D Jamboree, and would be networked nationally by CBS Radio for many years. The Big D Jamboree was not unlike The Grand Ole Opry of the WSM Radio and Television Stations, and the Louisiana Hayride that had originated from Radio Station KWKH-AM, KSLA-TV; and was also notably syndicated by Crosley/Avco Broadcasting, WLW-AM and WLWT-TV.
It shall be noted that with Elvis Presley having always wanted to be more of a Rhythm & Blues, and Rockabilly Music Artist, and never a genuine Country Music Artist; with Elvis Presley having given an inappropriate performance during his one and only appearance at the Grand Ole Opry, and being permanently expelled from the Grand Ole Opry upon his inappropriate performance, that Elvis was sent to the Louisiana Hayride as an outlet that would more likely tolerate him than the Grand Ole Opry ever would. Much in the same manner as say, when a pupil is permanently expelled from a Public School; that a Religious, Military, Reformatory, or any other type of Private School would likely be more than willing to admit, and deal with that pupil from that point forward.
It shall also be noted that for a time, Elvis Presley had also performed at the Big D Jamboree.
Moreover, the Big D Jamboree had taken place at the Dallas Sportatorium; which was demolished in 2003, and for much of its existence; was used mostly as a venue for Wrestling Events, and as a training ground for many well-known Professional Wrestlers; among them is Steven James Anderson (more commonly known as Steve Austin).
To a lesser extent, the Dallas Sportatorium was also used for Boxing Events, and when the emergence of Progressive Rock Music had taken place during the 1960’s, and gained popularity during this time; the Dallas Sportatorium had hosted Concerts of individual Rock musicians, and Rock bands of the era.
Also, speaking of the Dallas Sportatorium; KRLD-AM had also aired locally aired Wrestling events that had taken place at the Dallas Sportatorium, and KRLD Radio and Television News Reporter and Sportscaster Bill Mercer had served as the Color Commentator for the Wrestling events that KRLD-AM had aired locally.
In 1978, KRLD-AM switched from a Music-based Variety format to the All-News format that it retains well into the present day.
The recent diagnosis of ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease) (as of the time of writing this post) of WSAI-AM and WLW-AM Announcer Jim Scott is very sad.
WSAI-AM was put on the air in March, 1923 by the United States Playing Card Company.
Crosley had purchased WSAI-AM he United States Playing Card Company in May, 1928; mainly to move WLW-AM’s Transmitter Site to what was formerly WSAI-AM’s Transmitter Site in the Cincinnati suburb of Mason, Ohio. What was formerly WSAI-AM’s Transmitter Site remains WLW-AM’s Transmitter Site in Mason well into the present day.
Crosley would also allocate a portion of the property near the WLW-AM/WSAI-AM Transmitter Site in Mason as “Everybody’s Farm”, and as the name implies; would serve as a Public Farm for all residing in the area to utilize, and grow their own crops.
Moreover, Crosley would also erect the Transmitters of one of their Shortwave Radio Stations, WLWO-SW on the property across the street from the WLW-AM/WSAI-AM Transmitter Site in Mason.
In 1944, Crosley would sell WSAI-AM to Field Enterprises. Field Enterprises, in turn; would sell WSAI-AM to the Buckeye Broadcasting Company a year later in 1945. The Buckeye Broadcasting Company, in turn; would sell WSAI-AM to the Gordon Broadcasting Company in 1953. The Gordon Broadcasting Company, in turn; would sell WSAI-AM-FM to an entity called WSAI, Inc. in 1959.
In 1955, the Gordon Broadcasting Company was licensed by the FCC to put an FM sibling of WSAI-AM on the air; WSAI-FM in 1955. WSAI-FM would simulcast its AM parent until the early 1970’s, well after the FCC initiated the rule in the late 1960’s that FM Stations were to no longer simulcast the programming of their AM parents. WSAI-FM began to air programming separate from its AM parent in the form of a hybrid Top 40/Current Hit Radio and Oldies format.
By 1976, WSAI-FM would begin to air a Progressive Rock Format, while still retaining the WSAI-FM call letters. In 1981 the FM would change its call letters to WXKF-FM, and take a Country Music format. WXKF would then switch to CHR/Top 40 in the Summer of 1985, several weeks later in 1985; again change its call letters to WWNK-FM, and take an Adult Contemporary format.
The local WLW Radio Stations, and the WSAI Radio Stations would be reunited for the first time since 1944; when in 1987, Jacor Communications would purchase the local WLW Radio Stations, and the WSAI Radio Stations.
Jacor Communications would be absorbed into Clear Channel Communications. Clear Channel Communications, in turn; would be absorbed into the ever domineering IHeart Media.
It is not known if DOVO had the intention of copying Todd Greene and his company Head Blade, or if coincidentally; DOVO had concocted and developed a similar design for a Manual Razor specifically intended for Head Shaving at the same time Todd Greene developed the original Head Blade, founded his company, and put his Razor into mass production.
Unlike the Head Blade, DOVO’s Razor did not catch on with the Head Shaving public.
Todd Greene, up until his passing in 2020; would continue to improve, and redesign his Razor, long after DOVO had discontinued their Razor.
One can wonder if DOVO had continued to manufacture their Manual Razor intended for Head Shaving; if DOVO would improve, and/or redesign their Razor; and include Toy Car Wheels, or a Pivoting Ball on the design of their Razor.
Matthew Parij 