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Date Posted: 05:19:39 07/01/08 Tue
Author: tce
Subject: Re: Can anyone rival Quinn's record?
In reply to: tce 's message, "Re: Can anyone rival Quinn's record?" on 03:51:28 06/27/08 Fri

When Quinn came back to Pittsburgh after his Unhappy Jack experience with Paul Drew at WIBG, I pulled a smart-aleck prank. Quinn did a Sunday afternoon show, during which he encouraged people at swimming pools to call in to say they were listening. I called, got his phone answerer, and checked in from the Paul Drew Memorial Pool. Apparently, he didn't screen the messages, because he said, "They're listening out at the Paul Drew Memorial...hey, wait a minute!" Not that big a joke, since I doubt that anyone listening had ever heard of Paul Drew - clearly, the phone guy hadn't.

>WIBG had dominated Top 40 in Philadelphia -
>traditional early 60s format - heavy on personalities
>- the amount of music was not too important. The
>Drake theory of lots of music and limited jock
>presence had proven sucessful, most notably at KHJ in
>LA in early 65.
>
>WFIL, in late 65, went one step further - very tight
>formatics, but with jock who could inject personality
>without rambling. They combined it with superb
>imaging and production - and strong promotion.
>
>They blew WIBG out. Paul Drew was brought in and
>instituted the standard Drake format - with some
>strong talent to Wibbage. Since it was actually a
>step back from WFIL, it failed, and became largely a
>revolving door of jocks.
>
>Quinn's success here was based on a strong presence
>with humor, drop-ins, and a personal style. Drake did
>permit personality - if it could be fit into fifteen
>seconds or less - or for an exceptional jock, like
>Robert W Morgan or Don Steele. Apparently, Paul Drew
>didn't give Quinn much freedom. When I first heard
>him as Happy Jack, I did not recongize him. He was
>reading the tightly scripted liners with a good, but
>unexceptional delivery.
>
>I never heard who initiated his departure from WIBG.
>I wasn't surprised that he left quickly, but was
>surprised to hear him back on KQV. They had actually
>made a big promotion of his leaving: "From
>Pittsburgh, the nation's seventh largest market, to
>Philadelphia, the fourth largest --- next stop, New
>York City." I think he did actually get to NYC, but
>not before another stint in Pittsburgh.
>
>>What was the story on Quinn's short stay in Philly?
>>Wasn't he there and back in about 6 months time?
>>
>>
>>
>>>I have to agree that Quinn has been remarkable by
>>>maintaining a significant presence through many
>>>formats and styles. Although he has never done a
>type
>>>of radio that appealed to me (save perhaps a
>competent
>>>job at WTAE), I felt truly sorry for him while he was
>>>in Philadelphia. He was part of Paul Drew's attempt
>>>to save WIBG with a strict Drake format. It was
>>>doomed, because several years earlier WFIL had taken
>>>Boss Radio to a new level. Quinn was restricted to
>>>delivering liners under the insipid (and ironic) name
>>>of Happy Jack.
>>>
>>>I would disagree on one point: if his early KQV work
>>>cloned anyone, it was Jack Armstrong - and he pulled
>>>it off pretty well.
>>>
>>>Side note: I believe (had it been possible) that
>WFIL
>>>of 1967 would have given the legendary Drake/Jacobs
>>>KHJ a run for their money. They didn't have a Morgan
>>>or Steele, but overall the formatics encouraged a
>>>personality component for all the jocks, not just the
>>>super stars. Far enough off topic?
>>>
>>>>the impressive thing about quinn is he has
>reinvented
>>>>himself several times...
>>>>
>>>>started out as a screamer on kqv, and even toned
>that
>>>>act down somewhat before he finished there. listen
>to
>>>>his early stuff and he's a combo clone of dan ingram
>>>>and b mitchell reed. later in his kqv time, he has
>>his
>>>>own style.
>>>>
>>>>came back to town as a morning man, midday guy on
>a/c
>>>>stations.
>>>>
>>>>then he was part of a team on b94, back to chr
>>pacing.
>>>>
>>>>then the total transformation to right wing talk
>>>>oracle.
>>>>
>>>>agree or disagree with him, but quinn has kept
>>himself
>>>>viable by being willing to change. he's done a lot
>of
>>>>different things and done them successfully.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>

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