Radio Bits & Bytes- California Airchecks: Las Vegas 1983

I received some inspiration for an update to this site while rummaging through old airchecks of mine, finding a real goldmine: California Airchecks: Las Vegas 1983. It’s a time capsule of Las Vegas radio on a Friday night and Saturday morning the late fall of ‘83.

KLAV jingle 1983

On that tape, “Superhit KLAV, A Frontier Media Station, Morgan Skinner, President!” The jock on the tape is none other than Floyd Thackery aka Jack Daniels who we just lost February 1st–he went by Jay Floyd Daniels on “Superhit KLAV.”  Radio-Info boards poster “Jay F” wrote, “I heard that when Morgan Skinner arrived at KLAV he made the jocks change their air name if it had any connection to drugs or alcohol. “Jack Daniels” was no longer acceptable. Chris Colson (Jeff’s brother) went by the name Christopher Haze and changed it to Chris Carson (which he then used for several years doing overnights on KLUC). Jeff Colson went by the name “Jay Stone” on KLAV, he wasn’t there much longer after Skinner arrived.”

KLUC jingle 1983

Also on this gem of early 1980s Vegas radio is Brian Christian sitting in for Mike O’Brian evenings on KLUC. OB would later move to mornings and Brian became the regular 6-10pm host. Brian hosts the top 10 countdown with Bonnie Tyler’s “Total Eclipse of the Heart” at #1. Newcomer KMZQ 100.5 had just signed on and you hear Jeff Burke on “The New Q-100 KMZQ,” promoting Rebel Footbal which was coming up - a major factor in getting 100.5 on the air was getting the lucrative broadcast rights for UNLV’s Rebel Footbal team. A bonus on the “Q-100″ segment is hearing Jeff Colson’s promo. Beau Weaver is on 1460 KENO-AM, Jeff Allen was sitting in for regular evening talent Charlie Morris on KOMP (Charlie was hosting the “Stray Cat Strut” contest at the Brewery.) It’s an interesting set of songs on the 1983 KOMP which featured, among others, “Church of the Poisin Mind” by Culture Club, “Too Late for Love” by Def Leppard, “You’re the One” by 38 Special, “Don’t Cry” from Asia, “Nowhere Man” by the Beatles, and “Hold Me” by Fleetwood Mac. And heard on KUDO, KENO, KOMP, KLAV, and KLUC, “This mention brought to you by Fairway Chevrolet.”

KUDO 1983 Aircheck

The very first segment features yours truly George Thomas on KUDO “93-Kudo K-U-D-O From the fabulous Marina Hotel.” It was a great trip down memory lane.