Dr. Demento Show (on terrestrial radio stations), 40-ish
Hoodoo
Written by Larz
Saturday, 05 June 2010 13:39
http://chicagoradioandmedia.com/news/640-dr-demento-ends-his-40-year-old-radio-show
The novelty tunes, wacky sounds, comedy bits and parody songs, all
hosted by one crazy "doctor," has come to an end. This weekend is the
final airing for the syndicated "Dr. Demento Show." The show's
syndicator, Talonian Productions -- which is owned by Dr. Demento -- has
told the affiliates that this is the end.
In a simple email to its few remaining stations, the email stated "Dr.
Demento and his management have decided to no longer offer The Dr.
Demento Show on terrestrial radio stations and to concentrate on
offering the show via internet streaming only."
The Dr. Demento Show was one of the most unique syndicated radio shows
in history, specializing in finding, playing and promoting novelty
songs, comedic songs, and the strangest songs ever recorded, from new
recordings to classic recordings from decades ago. Dr. Demento, who real
name is Barret ("Barry") Eugene Hansen, got his start playing oldies on
a radio station in Pasadena, California. As he and his listeners had fun
focusing on the old novelty songs like "Alley Oop" and "Purple People
Eater," the show then focused only on that. By 1970, the "Dr. Demento"
personality was born. The weekly, goofy, all-novelty song Pasadena show
from 1970 grew in popularity and became syndicated nationally by 1974.
The popular weekly show is credited with bringing "Weird Al" Yankovic to
world wide fame. The show is also credited (or blamed, depending upon
your perspective) for bringing the song "Grandma Got Run Over by a
Reindeer" by Elmo and Patsy to national attention in the late 70's and
early 80's. Because of Dr. Demento, that song is now heard seemingly
non-stop through the month of December.
Dr. Demento was inducted into the Comedy Music Hall of Fame in June
2005. This past November, Dr. Demento was honored with an induction into
the Radio Hall of Fame -- introduced at the induction ceremony by
Chicago's Jonathon Brandmeier.
In the last few years, his syndicated radio show had fallen on tough
times. Some of the reasons had to do with comedy songs not being very
popular any more and very few new novelty songs are being released. That
seemed to peak in the mid-80's. Some of the reasons had to do with the
fact finding advertisers for this show became close to impossible in the
last few years. While some of the reasons had to do with Dr. Demento
himself. He and his management team had become very demanding of their
affiliates. Asking for high fees for the show, demanding certain time
slots, and most recently, demanding that all affiliate radio stations
shut down their Internet streaming while his show was on the air.
Listeners were only allowed to listen via airwaves or via a subscription
to his own website. These demands, coming from a low-rated weekend show,
did not sit well with many station managers. In the last three years,
the show went from many, many dozens of stations down to under a dozen.
As of this weekend -- Dr. Demento's final weekend on the air -- the show
is down to only six radio affiliates.
The very last station to drop the Dr. Demento Show? Chicago's own
WLUP-FM, who had been one of the show's longest supporters, through
numerous ownership changes. For around 25 years, Dr. Demento was heard
in Chicago on 97.9. WLUP dropped the show three weeks ago. A few days
later, Dr. Demento took that lost Chicago affiliate as a sign to end the
show. It was only a matter of weeks before the true 40th Anniversary of
the show was to happen.
The show will continue on, but now it will only be streaming and in
podcast form on his own website. Even then, only for those who choose to
join the "Demento Online Club."
It's the end of era for novelty songs. It's the end of an era for radio.
And now, a little audio salute to the good Dr., with a few of the songs
he helped make famous... [audio files on webpage]
Dr. Demento presents: "Fish Heads" by Barnes & Barnes
"Shaving Cream" by Paul Wynn
"Dirty Deeds Done With Sheep" by Bob Rivers
"Another One Rides the Bus" by Weird Al Yankovic
--
Trout Mask Replica
KFJC.org, WFMU.org, WMSE.org, or WUSB.org;
because the pigoenholed programming of music channels
on Sirius Satellite, and its internet radio player, suck
Matthew Kruk
news:4C0C08CB...@objectmail.com...
> Dr. Demento Ends His 40 Year Old Radio Show
A great tradition.
La N
> Dr. Demento Ends His 40 Year Old Radio Show
>
Okay, now I can't get the song "Poisoning Pigeons in the Park" out of my
head.
- nilita
peterpuck86
> Dr. Demento Ends His 40 Year Old Radio Show
>
> Written by Larz
>
> And now, a little audio salute to the good Dr., with a few of the songs
> he helped make famous... [audio files on webpage]
>
> Dr. Demento presents: "Fish Heads" by Barnes & Barnes
>
> "Shaving Cream" by Paul Wynn
>
> "Dirty Deeds Done With Sheep" by Bob Rivers
>
> "Another One Rides the Bus" by Weird Al Yankovic
>
> --
> Trout Mask Replica
>
> KFJC.org, WFMU.org, WMSE.org, or WUSB.org;
> because the pigoenholed programming of music channels
> on Sirius Satellite, and its internet radio player, suck
That's unfortunate that there is no room in broadcast radio for funny
music.
R H Draney
Hope this helps:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hnzHtm1jhL4
....r
--
"Oy! A cat made of lead cannot fly."
- Mark Brader declaims a basic scientific principle
La N
> La N filted:
>>
>> Hoodoo wrote:
>>> Dr. Demento Ends His 40 Year Old Radio Show
>>>
>>
>> Okay, now I can't get the song "Poisoning Pigeons in the Park" out
>> of my head.
>
> Hope this helps:
>
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hnzHtm1jhL4
>
> ....r
I was afraid this was coming ....
Hoodoo
GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time), spoke thusly:
> That's unfortunate that there is no room in broadcast radio for
> funny music.
Despite the crap programming on the majority of Sirius satellite radio
channels, thanks to Howard Stern there are the occasional programs
hosted by Red Peters for scatological and pornographic "funny music"
offerings:
http://www.redpeters.com/playlists/
R H Draney
Someone else already mentioned "Fish Heads"...that and Napoleon XIV ping-ponged
back and forth for years as the most requested song on Dr D's show....r
homes...@netburner.net
>
> Written by Larz
>
> And now, a little audio salute to the good Dr., with a few of the songs
> he helped make famous... [audio files on webpage]
>
> Dr. Demento presents: "Fish Heads" by Barnes & Barnes
>
> "Shaving Cream" by Paul Wynn
>
> "Dirty Deeds Done With Sheep" by Bob Rivers
>
> "Another One Rides the Bus" by Weird Al Yankovic
>
> --
> Trout Mask Replica
>
> KFJC.org, WFMU.org, WMSE.org, or WUSB.org;
> because the pigoenholed programming of music channels
> on Sirius Satellite, and its internet radio player, suck
I have been a fan of this show since 1975 and I have taped every show
I have heard. This show kept coming and going on different radio
stations so I have not listened consistantly over that time. The last
I listened the show was in 2006 when it left my semi-local station.
It was a wonderful Sunday night radio experience. It wasn't only the
comedy that I am grateful for, but the varied musical genres I heard
for the first time on this show as a teenager. The Frank Zappa estate
can thank Dr. Demento for all the money I have sent their way since
1975.
Another reason for the show's demise IMHO is that now-a-days anyone
can record studio quality music on their PC. In the old days a lot of
risk was taken when an artiste made a novelty record, as recording it
was expensive and record production was in the hands of a very few.
Home-made novelty songs don't have the impact of novelty songs made in
recording studios by the likes of Spike Jones, Stan Freburg, and Allan
Sherman with studio musicians and superior recording engineering.
A negative aspect of middle age is watching things you feel are
institutions go by the wayside and I bid Dr. Demento on the airwaves a
fond farewell.
Tommie Hicks
Hoodoo
GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time), spoke thusly:
> ...as of the last time I
> checked, there was a hefty charge for a single episode, with no way
> to play it except in real-time on the computer and, arguably worse,
> at a very low bitrate. I have very fond memories of the show, but
> not so fond that I want to pay $2 for 24kbps.
When I couldn't find a terrestrial broadcast of the show in my area I
also checked into listening to it via the internet. I wasn't happy with
the cost you mention, plus, with only dial-up available to me in my
rural area, it was a dicey proposition to tune in.
Here's an update:
http://www.drdemento.com/index.html
June 6, 2010
A SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT...
This weekend, the Dr. Demento Show will have its final broadcast on
KIYU, KLOO, WLVQ (QFM96), WRKH (The Rocket) and KOZT (The Coast).
This was a very painful decision for the Doctor...he really hates to let
it go after almost 40 years...but he has come to agree with his manager
and his family that it's necessary. The broadcast has been losing money
for some time.
THE GOOD NEWS -- Dr. Demento intends to continue producing new shows
every week for www.drdemento.com for the foreseeable future. A new one
will be available Saturday morning, June 12, and more new shows will be
posted every Saturday thereafter.
Also...if you live in or around Amarillo, TX, you're in luck...by
special agreement and due to contractual considerations, a version of
the internet show will be heard weekly on KACV-FM there, at least
through the summer.
The Doctor wishes to express his grateful appreciation to everyone who's
been listening in Alaska, Oregon, Ohio, Alabama and California, and
hopes all of you will give the www.drdemento.com broadcast a try.
Stay deeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeemented!
- - -
Here's the link to listen via the aforementioned $2 per show:
Listen to streaming shows -
http://www.drdemento.com/online.html