The aircheck is a (partially restored) 45-minute composite of the two and a half hours that Michael Nesmith, Mickey Dolenz and Davy Jones actually ran the control board, spun the records and played all the commercials themselves. (Peter Tork wasn’t feeling well and stayed at the hotel.) On a more personal note, not only was my dad featured in this episode, but my mom was too. Strangely, neither of them knew each other at the time, but whatever it was that finally brought them together, I’ll be forever grateful!
It was also during this show that the Monkees invited the entire city of Phoenix to join them at the prestigious Mountain Shadows Hotel for an open party later that night. Panic-stricken executives from both the radio station and hotel quickly pressured the group to recant their invitation. In an effort to avoid a disaster and bring some levity to the situation, Mike Nesmith is heard conducting an interview with the hotel manager, played by Bob Shannon.
This aircheck may represent the first appearance of The Monkees performing collectively as Top Forty jocks. The concert, emceed by Shannon and the KRUX Good Guys, was held the following night at the Phoenix Coliseum on January 21, 1967. It marked the Monkees’ first concert appearance, and the final episode of their 1966 TV Season.
