Posted on 05/14/2010 2:33:52 PM PDT by Politics4US
My 62 Years in Broadcasting May 14, 2010
Today, May 14 is my 62nd anniversary in commercial radio broadcasting. It was on May 14, 1948, in Oak Park, Illinois that I began my radio career.
Before that date I was broadcasting on educational radio. First I broadcast for the Chicago Board of Education over public radio station WBEZ, followed by the University of Illinois, and later over WILL in Champaign-Urbana, Illinois.
But, it was on this date that I was working on radio and getting paid a weekly salary!
I remember like it was the day before yesterday. My assignment was to do all the newscasts from 12 noon until eight p.m.
My first newscast, thanks to the Associated Press, was not without material. The big story that day was that the state of Israel had been proclaimed in what was called Palestine.
Everyone at the station was excited and even euphoric. Ernie Jacobs, the owner of the station, congratulated me on my handling of all the Hebrew names. I remember saying the name of Chaim Weitzmann many times.
Weitzmann became the first president of Israel. Of course, there was Israel’s Prime Minister, David Ben-Gurion; Moshe Shertok, an Israeli statesman; and even Golda Meir from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, who later became Israel’s first woman prime minister.
I could go on and on about that day. Jack Schefrin, our program director, said, “Are you sure you’re not Jewish, Bob?” I remember answering, “Jack, in a way I think we all are.”
He liked that and since he was a very sensitive man he cried unashamedly because he was touched that those of us who didn’t come from a Jewish background would be so elated.
I had a boyhood friend who had joined the Hagganah. He taught me a lot about the Jewish experience and did radio programs on behalf of Hagganah, raising funds for their support.
But, as they say, I digress. I was writing about myself and the fact that on this date in l948 I began an incredible career . . . a career punctuated with many joyous moments and many tragic moments.
But little did I know that I would also embark on a career that saw me professionally slandered and my reputation so besmirched that I never have fully recovered.
As for me personally and physically, I have survived, but my career has never gone as far as it should have.
While others have said publicly they owed me for their success, while others have thanked me for being the trailblazer, there was only one who risked his own career for my sake. His name is Barry Farber and he meant it when he said it.
But Barry is my fellow octogenarian. Maybe that’s why 20 years or so ago, he stood up for me.
Too often people forget a kindness or a helping hand, but I don’t. So on this day which may mean something only to me, I say to those fans out there, “Thank you for your loyalty all these years. It is because of you I continue even though it is only two hours every Sunday.”
The management probably knows their business and therefore they no doubt think sitting behind a microphone is as demanding as running in a triathlon.
Hope you’re listening to the Bob Grant Show every Sunday at 12 noon Eastern time and thanks for reading BobGrantOnline.com.
And, a very special thanks to Chris Ruddy of Newsmax for being such a true friend!
Bob Grant
Straight Ahead!
Bob Grant, you are a giant! You were and are a voice of sanity in this world, and you paved the way for all who followed in your profession. You are a beacon of common sense and good values for all of us.
Anyone who has lisened to you knows that your intellect outshines all who are your critics. And, those who are your critics are also enemies of this country. Thank you for being the voice for all of us who value freedom!
62 years doing anything including just breathing is a pretty good feat alone.
Now get out of the studio and go fishing or sumthin’ Bob. Please! 8-]
Good luck, Mr. Grant.
lisened = listened
Myself a 36 year radio vet, I listened to Biob whenever I was in the New York are. A true GIANT, Bob Grant rocks!
I seem to recall Grant guest hosting for Rush Limbaugh when I first discovered Rush about 20 years ago.
Bob is an important resource - a walking talking link to a past that seems long gone. There aren’t too many of these guys left.
Bob Grant is the best conservative talk show host ever!!!!
Bob Grant is the greatest of all time along with Rush of Course. Since I moved to NY from CA, I have listened to Mr. Grant and all the rest. A lot of people don’t realise that Mr. Grant is a brilliant guy.
“Let’s be heard”, “Piscataway is thataway”, “you fake, phony, fraud, get of my phone” and of course the Salute to Mario cuomo, “A sende me, tuse proveeno, suachim (spelling?”
God Bless, Bob Grant.
I remember the day WABC cowardly fired Bob Grant. They allowed Curtis Sliwa to come on the air and take calls.
We all thought a member of our family had died. It was shocking and so painful. This man didn’t have a politically correct bone in his body....alas.
He continues to get death threats and recently had to refrain from a rally with Steve Malzberg due to those threats.
Sure hope this man knows what he means to so many of us. Jews and Gentiles.
Let’s get started with favorite “Grantism’s”
GET OFF MY PHONE!
He folded up like a cheap Japanese Camera!(You have to be a certain age to remember those)
On why Jesse Jackson never gets prosecuted for shaking down corporations “We all know he has that protective pigmentation”
And of course he never referred to Clinton as President it was “The current occupant of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue”
And we remember his battles with Mario Cuomo-I won’t try to spell that Italian word he called him.
And don’t forget - ‘It’s sick out there and getting sicker!” More true now than ever.
What a giant...I remember him from WMCA!
“Hey, Bob! How are ya doin’?”
What does Cumo’s salute mean?
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