Why
Chicago?
Phillips and Bell
were recruited by Ward L. Quaal
who wore a number of hats including announcer and program anchor
at WGN from 1941-1949 (with 3 ½ years off for service in the
Navy). Quaal accepted the top position at WGN and returned to
Chicago during the summer of 1956 after spending four years
as Vice President of Crosley Broadcasting in Cincinnati. Shortly
after his return, Quaal felt it was his, "Good fortune and honor
to introduce both Phillips and Bell to Chicago." Their shows
to the WGN audience were part of a
rebuilding focus that was soon to be expressed as: "Quality,
Integrity and Responsibility."
Chicago...the first 2,000
days!
Whatever time of day
or night Wally's programs aired, they were information-packed
and included fast facts and interesting trivia. Want a few bullet
points about his early days at WGN?:
- In 1956, WGN radio and television
studios filled the 4 story building north of Tribune Tower
and the present Nathan Hale courtyard. Space currently occupied
by the Hammacher-Schlemmer store was once STUDIO ONE, a
theatre-type radio studio seating 600 persons.
- Phillips and Bell performed
together as a comedy team on WGN television doing slapstick
and an ingenious brand of satire.
- Phillips' early career with
WGN Continental Broadcasting included TV. "Midnight Ticker"
was a fast paced celebrity interview program with Tribune
columnist Herb Lyon. Music and dance on "Club 9" appealed
to teens.
- In 1959, The Hi-Fi Club, sponsored
by Coca-Cola and hosted by Phillips, enthralled radio listeners
like Bob Fredrickson who recently recalled how he entered
and won a contest to become a guest DJ. While he co-hosted
on March 23, 1961, he dedicated "Baby Sittin' Boogie" to
his 6 month old niece. His prize included a month's supply
of Coke!
Trivia
of Significance.
Trivia contests were
another Phillips trademark. So quickly, what's significant about
the days between January 1965 and July 1986? If you said that
was the 21 ½ year period when Wally did morning drive, you're
correct.
If you asked him to
account for such longevity while working the hours between 5:00
and 10:00am, he'd come back at you with a line that you weren't
expecting. Something about rehabilitation or a work release
program or a similar quip to make you laugh (at least smile)
and to direct emphasis to YOU. His focus, both on and off the
air, has always been people.
You could always count
on Phillips to keep you informed and educated and to supply
a dose of humor and entertainment whenever appropriate.
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The "Candid Camera" Telephone.
Phillips was first
to innovate the offbeat phone call for entertainment. Jerry,
a longtime listener, describes Wally's call to a pet cemetery
to arrange an interment for a pet mouse. The lady on the other
end of the call answered stiffly that they did not handle funerals
for mice. When she'd finished, Wally told her that money was
no object. There was a pregnant pause before she allowed that
certain exceptions might be made. Jerry's reaction? "I came
very near to wrecking my car that morning! I was laughing so
hard."
Before the Kentucky
Derby, Wally would ask for someone with a friend or relative
in Louisville. He would get the phone number and call with a
story about how he needed to be in Louisville on business and
couldn't find any accommodations. Could he stay with them? Usually
there was some degree of receptiveness at which point he would
talk about his wife and then all the kids and then of course
the dog (usually a great dane). He illustrated "Southern hospitality"
at its finest.
Phillips often explained
that air waves belong to the public, and that his intent was
never to hurt anyone. "We used to be able to make such telephone
calls, and if you didn't embarrass or hurt people and you weren't
vicious, it was OK. But a few started to abuse the phone and
call people and make them uncomfortable . That was the end of
the calls."
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WRAP.
Or words from: Walter Richard Aloysius Phillips!
On April 20, 1997,
during Wally's 6:30-9:00am Sunday show, Mark, a program caller,
began, "I wasn't listening to you when you were first on the
air; have you pretty much kept the same style throughout your
own history?
To this Wally answered,
"The only direction I've taken really is to try to be of better
service to people. I like things that are different too because
I hate stations that all sound alike; everybody doing the same
thing. But I learned a long time ago that it's to my benefit
to be here because I don't have to know anything. I ask about
the roads driving up to Michigan. Bang. You pick up the phone
and tell me. That's involving people and that's how I learn
things. The way we all learn things. It's a people operation
as I see it."
Listeners soon recognized
they cannot beat Wally with words, so for the best answers to
his own history, let's share a few of your questions and his
answers.
Q: What does
it mean to broadcast for WGN?
Wally: It's
50,000 watts to touch lives and make them better. With any project
I ever tried, there was instant respect for the call letters.
As a Tribune Broadcasting Station, there's an extra ingredient
that underlies WGN Radio's continuing success and service story.
Q: Most meaningful
accomplishment?
Wally: We've
served as a clearing house for the neediest kids since 1969.
Today we all recognize WGN Radio's Neediest Kids Fund, a fund
of the McCormick Tribune Foundation, with collections that totaled
about $25,000,000 over the years.
Q: Prized awards?
Wally: I always feel
they are part of our public commitment. Awards really belong
to listeners; I see myself as fortunate to serve as the clearing
house. The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB), the
Museum of Broadcast Communications, and the Radio Broadcasters
of Chicagoland are representative of those whose special honors
deserve our extra thanks.
Q: Best advice you've
ever shared with listeners?
Wally: Near the conclusion
of the 4 hour special from the Museum of Broadcast Communications
on January 25, 1998, I talked about my 3 kids and what I always
tell them. Spend time giving back; reaching for somebody.
No one's going to ask, "Is she the prettiest or tallest?"
"Or is he the strongest, fastest, richest?" My mother and
father taught me that in the end all they'll ask what kind
of a person she or he was.
Q: What kind
of person? Seems that's a question for those "Wally engineers"
with whom you've had so many exchanges over the years. The guys
behind those extra voices listeners always ask about.
Wally: Go ahead and share the clip we used at the
Roast to benefit WGN Radio's Neediest Kids Fund, a fund of the
McCormick Tribune Foundation. It was August 27, 1998, and we
are in the Grand Ballroom at Navy Pier. For years, the engineers
and record turners had this thing going where they'd try to
break me up on the air with sound clips of recorded voices that
listeners really enjoyed. John, Skip, Jim, Bob, Rick, Archie,
Ron, Bob, Jim, Fred, Marty, Michael, Milt, Ben, Jim, Sam were
among those who always wanted the last laugh.
Some of that group
got together and did a memorable piece....at least to me. They
earned that opportunity to use it one more time, at least in
transcript, since it represented collective thinking over the
years. They deserve the final word. Insert the transcript after
I ask, "What kind of person do you think I am?"
Engineers transcript: "That dirty_____. Aw bad news naw. That
sleaze. dirtiest, lousiest you wouldn't wanna work with Wally.
Aw, you wouldn't want to naw. Ah no, you wouldn't want to work
with him!"
 |
--Compiled
by Marilyn Miller, who was named producer, March
17, 1971, and is believed to be the first female morning
drive time producer in radio. Another historical first for
the Wally Phillips Show and WGN Radio. |
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Audio
Archive:
-
-
A
Conversation with Wally Phillips
- Wally is interviewed by Bruce DuMont about his life and
career at the Museum of Broadcast Communications on October
18, 1996. Thanks to the MBC for permission to use this audio.
(1:27:30)
-
Wally answers
the question "What
Makes Chicago Special" during an interview with
Bruce DuMont at Chicago's Museum of Broadcast Communications
in 1996. (0:45)
-
-
-
-
-
-
September
20, 1965 A segment including a call to former WCFL host
Dan Sorkin, commercials for American Airlines, Robert Hall
and Sicilian Gold, trafficopter reports from Irv Hayden
and Ed Peterson, and the top-of-the-hour station identification
and tone. (Note: The tone heard approximately every 15 seconds
during the phone call in this segment was required by law
at the time as a way to notify someone that a call was being
recorded or broadcast.) (:10:47)
-
March
22, 1984 Wally celebrates "Goof-off Day" with
a series of the "Candid Camera"-style phone calls
he made famous. This edited segment includes a montage of
calls originally taking place over several hours, including
several to people in Atlanta and Lexington, where NCAA Tournament
was being held, in which Wally attempts to see if the unsuspecting
victims will offer weekend accommodations to him and his
large family. (:24:36)
-
The
following segments were produced for WGN Radio's 75th Anniversary
in 1999:
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SOME
SPECIAL HONORS
