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!
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
Our host is Robert W. Morgan, with Charlie Van Dyke as the image voice for this edition of the Golden Year 1962. Newsman Mike Cleaver reports on everything from civil unrest to the “twist” craze.
Do you remember The Sensations? How about the Winnipeg Blue Bombers? Only one of them is a pop group, and we hear their big hit. Gene Chandler tells how his biggest hit came from his backup singers warming up before a show.
And there’s more  Bobby Vinton sings his way out of certain doom as a big-band leader, Neil Sedaka tells how three out of four disc jockeys can be wrong and Shelly Fabares becomes a reluctant music star.
The syndicated version of THE GOLDEN YEAR: 1962
Our host is Robert W. Morgan, with Charlie Van Dyke as the image voice for this edition of the Golden Year 1962. Newsman Mike Cleaver reports on everything from civil unrest to the “twist” craze.
Do you remember The Sensations? How about the Winnipeg Blue Bombers? Only one of them is a pop group, and we hear their big hit. Gene Chandler tells how his biggest hit came from his backup singers warming up before a show.
And there’s more  Bobby Vinton sings his way out of certain doom as a big-band leader, Neil Sedaka tells how three out of four disc jockeys can be wrong and Shelly Fabares becomes a reluctant music star.
The syndicated version of THE GOLDEN YEAR: 1962
Our host is Robert W. Morgan, with Bill Drake and Charlie Van Dyke doing the image voice duties in this edition of the Golden Year 1963, with newsman Mike Cleaver given the sad duty of reporting one of America’s darkest days…November 22.
But the year begins with a blast of sun and surf…from The Beach Boys. Bobby Vinton discusses his “blue” period and Peter Yarrow of Peter, Paul and Mary tells us “Puff” was really about a dragon.
Plus…Robert W. takes us out of the sugar shack and up on the roof, Phil Spector tells the story of how he first heard The Ronnettes (and met his first wife, Ronnie Spector, in the process), a song about a satellite hits the top of the charts, and we hear a big hit from a 12 year old genius.
Drake-Chenault’s syndicated version of THE GOLDEN YEAR: 1963
Our host is Robert W. Morgan, with Bill Drake and Charlie Van Dyke doing the image voice duties in this edition of the Golden Year 1963, with newsman Mike Cleaver given the sad duty of reporting one of America’s darkest days…November 22.
But the year begins with a blast of sun and surf…from The Beach Boys. Bobby Vinton discusses his “blue” period and Peter Yarrow of Peter, Paul and Mary tells us “Puff” was really about a dragon.
Plus…Robert W. takes us out of the sugar shack and up on the roof, Phil Spector tells the story of how he first heard The Ronnettes (and met his first wife, Ronnie Spector, in the process), a song about a satellite hits the top of the charts, and we hear a big hit from a 12 year old genius.
Drake-Chenault’s syndicated version of THE GOLDEN YEAR: 1963
Humble Harve is our host with Bill Drake as image voice in this KHJ edition of the Golden Year 1964!
LBJ and The Beatles are HUGE! Say hi to DOLLY! (Louis did!) Are cigarettes on their way out? Rex Harrison and Julie Andrews are the BEST!
The Dixie Cups invite us into their “LOVE” sanctuary; Bobby Vinton is repeating himself; Mary Wells will confirm whose “guy” it is; Dean Martin assures us there is SOMEBODY for everyone, and The Beatles’ Hits are plentiful.
It’s a short hour, but there’s more! Bobby Vinton explains how he found his “gimmick;” Lorne Greene has trembling arm hair; Louis Armstrong had never heard of Dolly!; $37.50 was all The Kingsmen needed; and Eric Burdon says The Animals wanted to be “different.”
The KHJ version of THE GOLDEN YEAR: 1964
Humble Harve is our host with Bill Drake as image voice in this KHJ edition of the Golden Year 1964!
LBJ and The Beatles are HUGE! Say hi to DOLLY! (Louis did!) Are cigarettes on their way out? Rex Harrison and Julie Andrews are the BEST!
The Dixie Cups invite us into their “LOVE” sanctuary; Bobby Vinton is repeating himself; Mary Wells will confirm whose “guy” it is; Dean Martin assures us there is SOMEBODY for everyone, and The Beatles’ Hits are plentiful.
It’s a short hour, but there’s more! Bobby Vinton explains how he found his “gimmick;” Lorne Greene has trembling arm hair; Louis Armstrong had never heard of Dolly!; $37.50 was all The Kingsmen needed; and Eric Burdon says The Animals wanted to be “different.”
The KHJ version of THE GOLDEN YEAR: 1964
Mark Elliott returns as host, with Bill Drake as image voice in this KHJ edition of the Golden Year 1965!
The Vietnam War rears its ugly head; the Pope lands in the Big Apple; which picture was the country’s “favorite thing” at the Oscars; the “Blue Crew” win it all; and it is the start of something BOSS!
Roger McGuinn shares the origins of the folk-rock giant; how did Roger Miller become the “King,”; Jackie DeShannon knew right away “love” was what she needed; and Temptation Otis Williams can’t stop singing about his girl.
The KHJ version of THE GOLDEN YEAR: 1965
Mark Elliott returns as host, with Bill Drake as image voice in this KHJ edition of the Golden Year 1965!
The Vietnam War rears its ugly head; the Pope lands in the Big Apple; which picture was the country’s “favorite thing” at the Oscars; the “Blue Crew” win it all; and it is the start of something BOSS!
Roger McGuinn shares the origins of the folk-rock giant; how did Roger Miller become the “King,”; Jackie DeShannon knew right away “love” was what she needed; and Temptation Otis Williams can’t stop singing about his girl.
The KHJ version of THE GOLDEN YEAR: 1965