The Norm Garr Collection
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The announcing bug hit Norm Garr very early in life, when among a collection of birthday gifts there was a "working" microphone and speaker. Hours of listening to KFWB and KHJ in the 60's kept the "announcing" bug alive, including many opportunities to sit in on the Johnny Williams show at the Boss Radio station.His first real DJ job was in the summer of 1970 as a weekender at KUDU, Ventura, CA., a "BOSS" country station that had every Drake-type jingle, a SOLID GOLD weekend, et. al.
For his senior project at San Diego State University, Norm interviewed a number of air personalities, including Robert W. Morgan and B. Mitchell Reed. (Some day, down the road, those interviews might show up in the Repository). Also, during his time at SDSU from 1970-1972, Norm netted some "golden" time with legendary programmer Ron Jacobs at KGB, where Norm was interning — and that was after a previous internship at KCBQ with Buzz Bennett & Rich Brother Robbin. Bobby Ocean, Shotgun Tom Kelly, Eric Chase, Barry Kaye, Christopher Cane, K.O. Bailey and Chuck Browning were among the personalities working in San Diego at the time. WOW! After returning to LA to spend three years working as a news assistant at KNXT-TV and a sports producer at KFI radio, Norm did weekends and fill-in again at KUDU, and then KACY in Ventura, CA., until he went to Longview, WA. for two years as a news director and operations manager. Norm returned to LA to pursue his dream of working in network television, which he did for three years at NBC. His "executive assistant" roles have taken him to the every major motion picture studio in Hollywood, including eight years at Disney and almost four years at MGM/UA. Norm is presently (and possibly, permanently) retired, but very busy doing all the things he never had the time to do while working 50-60 hours weeks in the "biz." |
The Repository thanks Norm Garr for sharing!
Robert W. Morgan hosts the first chapter of The Golden Years. Ike and “Tricky Dick” are back for round two; the UCLA Bruins aren’t smelling the roses; it’s a perfect game for the DONALD (no, not that one) in the World Series; who is the first to have a hit on the Pop, Country and Rhythm and Blues charts; Bill Russell is making basketball history and he is not even in the NBA yet.
Gene Vincent’s Mom insists, and she was right; Little Richard had his own way of telling his boss he was full of $()*(*%&#$; the Coaster’s Bobby Nunn is the star of this month’s chapter of “we didn’t want to do this record;” Fats Domino shares the inspiration for his latest hit; and Gogi Grant makes a connection with UCLA.
Billy Haley says bye-bye to the green monster; Dean Martin gives us a lesson in memory making; the Platters can spot a phony anywhere; Elvis asks us to be kind; and <Shirley & Lee had one of the shortest but memorable records in the GOLDEN YEAR 1956! (Personal note from Norm Garr: I met Shirley & Lee, Chuck Berry, among others, at an oldies concert at the Hollywood Palladium in 1972!)
Robert W. Morgan hosts the first chapter of The Golden Years. Ike and “Tricky Dick” are back for round two; the UCLA Bruins aren’t smelling the roses; it’s a perfect game for the DONALD (no, not that one) in the World Series; who is the first to have a hit on the Pop, Country and Rhythm and Blues charts; Bill Russell is making basketball history and he is not even in the NBA yet.
Gene Vincent’s Mom insists, and she was right; Little Richard had his own way of telling his boss he was full of $()*(*%&#$; the Coaster’s Bobby Nunn is the star of this month’s chapter of “we didn’t want to do this record;” Fats Domino shares the inspiration for his latest hit; and Gogi Grant makes a connection with UCLA.
Billy Haley says bye-bye to the green monster; Dean Martin gives us a lesson in memory making; the Platters can spot a phony anywhere; Elvis asks us to be kind; and <Shirley & Lee had one of the shortest but memorable records in the GOLDEN YEAR 1956! (Personal note from Norm Garr: I met Shirley & Lee, Chuck Berry, among others, at an oldies concert at the Hollywood Palladium in 1972!)
Robert W. Morgan continues his run as the sole voice behind another edition of the GOLDEN YEAR, syndicated by Drake-Chenault.
It’s in with the NEW in the USA and out with the OLD in the USSR; the Yankees lose?; things are shaking in San Francisco – again; and Henry Higgins loses his temper!
Johnny Mathis explains how he had the “hits,” but no gigs; the “Fat Man” is squeaky clean; Paul Anka had a crush on an older woman; Ricky Nelson talks about his 2nd hit which sold millions; Jerry Lee Lewis recalls getting it right the first time; and Jimmy Rogers is cutting hits at three in the morning!
The Coasters pledge they will find what they are looking for; Sonny James, who passed away this past February 22nd, yearns for a first love; Perry Como is going in circles; Pat Boone is looking for romantic correspondence on the beach; and Ernie Freeman’s hit might be rated “R.”
The syndicated version of THE GOLDEN YEAR: 1957
Robert W. Morgan continues his run as the sole voice behind another edition of the GOLDEN YEAR, syndicated by Drake-Chenault.
It’s in with the NEW in the USA and out with the OLD in the USSR; the Yankees lose?; things are shaking in San Francisco – again; and Henry Higgins loses his temper!
Johnny Mathis explains how he had the “hits,” but no gigs; the “Fat Man” is squeaky clean; Paul Anka had a crush on an older woman; Ricky Nelson talks about his 2nd hit which sold millions; Jerry Lee Lewis recalls getting it right the first time; and Jimmy Rogers is cutting hits at three in the morning!
The Coasters pledge they will find what they are looking for; Sonny James, who passed away this past February 22nd, yearns for a first love; Perry Como is going in circles; Pat Boone is looking for romantic correspondence on the beach; and Ernie Freeman’s hit might be rated “R.”
The syndicated version of THE GOLDEN YEAR: 1957
Robert W. Morgan is back once again as the sole “pronouncer.”
1958 has its sports milestones as Brooklyn moves West! The US space program goes exploring! The USA is one state bigger! Life for Sugar Ray is really sweet! The $64-thousand dollar program goes broke!
Bobby Darin got all wet and explains how! Sheb Wooley recalls how a joke turned into a Gold record! Dave Burgess of The Champs shares how success went from B to A! All it took was one year for The Kingston Trio, says lead singer Bob Shane. The secrets behind The Chipmunks are detailed by Dave Seville.
Would somebody PLEASE tell me exactly how many tears must fall in this “game,”; Phil and Don are in dream land; Vodka, Whiskey, Scotch, Rum or is it something else that will make you a “Champ;” Bugs Bunny would be right at home if he follows Danny & The Juniors advice; and try saying Domenico Modungo 10 times in a row!
The syndicated version of THE GOLDEN YEAR: 1958
Robert W. Morgan is back once again as the sole “pronouncer.”
1958 has its sports milestones as Brooklyn moves West! The US space program goes exploring! The USA is one state bigger! Life for Sugar Ray is really sweet! The $64-thousand dollar program goes broke!
Bobby Darin got all wet and explains how! Sheb Wooley recalls how a joke turned into a Gold record! Dave Burgess of The Champs shares how success went from B to A! All it took was one year for The Kingston Trio, says lead singer Bob Shane. The secrets behind The Chipmunks are detailed by Dave Seville.
Would somebody PLEASE tell me exactly how many tears must fall in this “game,”; Phil and Don are in dream land; Vodka, Whiskey, Scotch, Rum or is it something else that will make you a “Champ;” Bugs Bunny would be right at home if he follows Danny & The Juniors advice; and try saying Domenico Modungo 10 times in a row!
The syndicated version of THE GOLDEN YEAR: 1958
This syndicated version is all ROBERT W. MORGAN: image, news and host!
With all the recent news about Cuban relations with the United States, guess who makes his debut in 1959? It’s the year Charlton Heston climbed aboard his chariot and mowed down Oscar competition! Current long-suffering Dodger fans can only wish it were 1959 again! Eddie Fisher divorced Debbie and married who? The United States acquires Paradise! Three “Rock Pioneers” die in an infamous plane crash. The man who shared the #1 spot for 1959 would be gone just one year after its debut!
Paul Anka explains his “turning point” from adolescence to adulthood; What Ray Charles does to fill out eight minutes of a “gig;” EVERY Golden Year some artist explains WHY they didn’t want the record released, and this time is it is Bobby Darin!; Jim Ed Brown recalls one of most beloved country-crossovers; and Freddy Cannon has a very talented Mom.
The Golden Year 1959 offers you the opportunity to mosey along, find a dry cleaner to remove that cosmetic material from your collar, travel to one well-known city in Missouri, question if it is your favorite shade of Blue, and finally wreck havoc in New Orleans, Louisiana.
The syndicated version of THE GOLDEN YEAR: 1959
This syndicated version is all ROBERT W. MORGAN: image, news and host!
With all the recent news about Cuban relations with the United States, guess who makes his debut in 1959? It’s the year Charlton Heston climbed aboard his chariot and mowed down Oscar competition! Current long-suffering Dodger fans can only wish it were 1959 again! Eddie Fisher divorced Debbie and married who? The United States acquires Paradise! Three “Rock Pioneers” die in an infamous plane crash. The man who shared the #1 spot for 1959 would be gone just one year after its debut!
Paul Anka explains his “turning point” from adolescence to adulthood; What Ray Charles does to fill out eight minutes of a “gig;” EVERY Golden Year some artist explains WHY they didn’t want the record released, and this time is it is Bobby Darin!; Jim Ed Brown recalls one of most beloved country-crossovers; and Freddy Cannon has a very talented Mom.
The Golden Year 1959 offers you the opportunity to mosey along, find a dry cleaner to remove that cosmetic material from your collar, travel to one well-known city in Missouri, question if it is your favorite shade of Blue, and finally wreck havoc in New Orleans, Louisiana.
The syndicated version of THE GOLDEN YEAR: 1959
Can you spell  let alone pronounce  the name of the 1st man to orbit the earth? “Oscar” is the only thing that unites the Jets and the Sharks; and whose that FCC guy calling TV nothing but gar-bage?
Bill Drake is our image voice and the one and only Robert W. Morgan narrates The Golden Year: 1961. (It has the KHJ G.Y. jingle (instrumentally) but the calls letters never show up.)
Ricky Nelson “exposes” the secret to having a hit record “travel” up the charts; Bobby Vee explains how one of rock’s greatest tragedies affected his career; from carpet sales to music sales, chord changes and a combination of classical and country giants propel Del Shannon to success; Bobby Lewis is a living example of “ask and you shall receive”; and Gary U.S. Bonds has his manager to thank for his biggest hit!
The KHJ version of THE GOLDEN YEAR: 1961
Bill Drake and Charlie Van Dyke are the image voices for the show, Mike Cleaver reads the news headlines and Robert W. Morgan hosts this syndicated version of GOLDEN YEAR: 1960.
He’s the 1st Catholic president of the United States; Pvt. Elvis Presley  the silver screen version; a most-wanted Nazi war criminal is arrested; The Yankees LOSE a series?; this war is getting really COLD; and the world says goodbye to one of Hollywood’s biggest stars!
Don Everly explains how long before Gary Lewis & the Playboys, everyone could love this “clown”; Marty Robbins and disk jockeys everywhere had a love affair with one Texas lady; nobody could apologize like Brenda Lee; songwriter Joe Melson recalls his career with the late, great, Roy Orbison; and Percy had Faith in his seasonal hit!
If you “hang around” for this edition of the Golden Year, you’ll meet a man who can do everything, go dancing with someone “wild,” snap your fingers, meet a male “Chatty Cathy,” and confront your fears of loneliness!
The syndicated version of THE GOLDEN YEAR: 1960