Dr. Demento Ends His 40 Year Old Radio Show

Chicagoland Radio and Media ^ | 6/5/10 | Larz

[raccoonradio]

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, even through numerous management and 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.

UPDATE #1 06/06/10: As a point of clarification for Chicago readers, Dr. Demento's company did not ever make payment demands or time demands upon WLUP. For many years, the show was on the air there via a barter agreement. In recent years, the show simply aired for free. WLUP management did not choose to cancel airing the show for these reasons.

UPDATE #2 06/06/10: This evening, Dr. Demento's website did finally acknowledge the end of the terrestrial radio show and make this news official. The good Doc had this to say: "This weekend, the Dr. Demento Show will have its final broadcast...

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."

[raygun]

I’ve seen what you describe before.

MariCHWHWAna

MairCCCHHHKKKKWana

O.k.

Marichuana...

[Drago]

Ahhhh...Dr Demento, brings back Sunday night teenage memories!!

“Shaving Cream”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JSAEownqddg&feature=related

Later on in college it was “Over the Edge” on KPFA for late night insomnia!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5Yyg4TikbE
Probably very Leftie, but “cool” when in college in the late 70’s /early 80’s!

[rlmorel]

Remember when you ran away and I got on my knees and begged you not to leave because I’d go BERZERK?

Well.

You left me anyhow and then the days got worse and worse and now you see I’ve gone completely out of my mind.

And

They’re coming to take me away Ha Ha
They’re coming to take me away ho ho he he ha ha
to the funny farm where life is beautiful all the time, and I’ll be happy to see those nice young men in their clean white coats
and they’re coming to take me away ha ha

You thought it was joke and so you laughed, YOU LAUGHED when I had said that losing you would make me flip my lid, RIGHT? You know you laughed, I heard you laugh, you laughed, you laughed AND LAUGHED and then you LEFT, but now you know I’m utterly mad.

And they’re coming to take me away Ha Ha
They’re coming to take me away ho ho he he ha ha
To the happy home with trees and flowers and chirping birds and basket weavers who sit and smile and twiddle their thumbs and toes
They’re coming to take me away ha ha...

I cooked your food, I cleaned your house, and this is how you paid me back for all my kind unselfish loving deeds.

HUH?

Well you just wait they’ll find you yet, and when they do they’ll put you in the ASPCA you mangy MUTT.

AND

They’re coming to take me away Ha Ha
They’re coming to take me away ho ho he he ha ha
To the funny farm where life is beautiful all the time and I’ll be happy to see those nice men in their clean white coats
They’re coming to take me away Ha Ha
To the happy home with trees and flowers and chirping birds and basket weavers who sit and smile and twiddle thier thumbs and toes
They’re coming to take me away Ha Ha Ha

Your home the one the bank foreclosed, You cried to me Monogamy is the way we both must live or you’ll feel hurt. But, I see, I see there’s someone new, your anxious poly-pure-bred coat was even gone at our place while I paid the rent, thanks!

And They’re coming to take me away Ha Ha
They’re coming to take me away ho ho he he ha ha
To the loony bin with all you can eat perscription drugs like torizine, and lithium, and electric shock and insulin
They’re coming to take me away Ha Ha

[grey_whiskers]

Macademia...Gazebo!

[stylecouncilor]

ping

[PLMerite]

“They’re coming to take me away Ha Ha”

The first time I heard that song I almost drove off the road.

[slugbug]

Listened to Dr. D every Sunday night and that was my favorite of all the songs!

[fieldmarshaldj]

I thought this was a Ron Paul thread.

[LeftiesBinWhinin]

They called him “Irving” - the 142nd fastest gun...in the West!

[ThisLittleLightofMine]

eat them up YUM!

[theDentist]

SIDE B

aH aH yawa em ekat ot gnimoc re'yehT
nilusni dna kcohs cirtcele dna ,muihtil dna ,enizirot ekil sgurd noitpircserp tae nac uoy lla htiw nib ynool eht oT
ah ah eh eh oh oh yawa em ekat ot gnimoc er'yehT
aH aH yawa em ekat ot gnimoc re'yehty dnA

!sknaht ,tner eht diap I elihw ecalp ruo ta enog neve saw taoc dreb-erup-ylop suoi ruoy ,wen enoemos s'ereht ess I ,ees I,tuB
truh leef ll'uoy ro evil tsum htob ew yaw eht si ymagonoM em ot deirc uoy , desolcerof knab eht eno eth emoh ruoY

aH aH yawa em ekat ot gnimoc re'yehT
seot dna sbmuht reiht elddiwt dna elims dna tis ohw srevaew dna sdrib gniprihc dna srewolf dna seert htiw emoh yppah eht oT
aH aH yawa em ekat ot gnimoc re'yehT
staoc etihw naelc rieht nem ecin esoht ees ot yppah eb ll'I dna emit eht lla lufituaeb is efil erehw mraf ynnuf eht oT
ah ah eh eh oh oh yawa em ekat ot gnimoc re'yehT
aH aH yawa em ekat ot gnimoc re'yehT

DNA

TTUM ygnam uoy ACPSA eth ni uoy tup ll'yeht od yeht nehw dna .tey uouy dnif ll'yeht tiaw tsuj uoy lleW

?HUH

.sdeed gnivol hsiflesnu dnik lla rof kcab em diap uoy woh si siht dna ,esuoh rouy denaelc I ,doof rouy dekooc I

aH aH yawa em ekat ot gnimoc re'yeht dnA
ah ah eh eh oh oh yawa em ekat ot gnimoc re'yehT
seot dna sbmuht reiht elddiwt dna elims dna tis ohw srevaew dna sdrib gniprihc dna srewolf dna seert htiw emoh yppah eht oT
aH aH yawa em ekat ot gnimoc re'yehT

.dam ylrettu m'I wonk uoy won tub ,TFEL uoy neht dna ,DEHGUAL dna dehgual uoy ,dehgual uoy ,hgaul uoy draeh I ,deghaul uou wonk uoY
?THGIR ,dil ym pilf em ekam dluow uoy gnisol taht dias dah I nehw DEGHUAL UOY ,dehgual uoy os dna ekoj saw ti thguoht uoY

aH aH yawa em ekat ot gnimoc re'yeht dna
staoc etihw naelc rieht ni nem gnuoy ecin esoht ees ot yppah eb ll'I dna emit eht lla lufituaeb is efil erehw mraf ynnuf eht oT
ah ah eh eh oh oh yawa em ekat ot gnimoc re'yehT
aH aH yawa em ekat ot gnimoc re'yehT

dnA

.dnim ym fo tuo yletelpmoc enog ev'I ees uouy won dna esrow dna esrow tog syad eht neht dna wohyna me tfel uoY

,llew

?KREZREB og d'I esuaceb evael ot ton uoy deggeb dna seenk ym no tog I dna yawa nar uoy nehw rebmemeR

[Excellence]

I wrote a letter to him that he actually read on the air. He used to play snippets of “Eight Hitchhiker Inscriptions from a Highway Railing at Barstow,” mostly for the top ten countdown. The classical station KFAC played the whole thing over the air, including the “F” word. After verifying this with KFAC, Dr. D played the whole thing, after a warning, of course. It was a great moment for me.

[windcliff]

Lots of high school memories with Dr. Demento.

[raccoonradio]

He played so many funny songs and comedy bits (by groups like Canada’s The Frantics; Tom T Bone Stankus; Zappa (watch out where the huskies go); Bonzo Dog Band; Python; Bobby Boris Pickett (people remember Monster Mash but Pickett also teamed up with another guy to do “Star Drek”) etc.

Some political opinion songs wound up on there; one patriotic tune that got played a lot in 80s and 90s was called Kick Ass USA. (Milo Tremley)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4mUB7iDAaEk

[trisham]

I confess I detested his show. :)

[dfwgator]

I remember “The Cockroach that Ate Cincinnati.”

[Vroomfondel]

I first heard the good doctor on AFN Stuttgart, mid '70s; I was about 12 at the time. Memorable songs of that time were "Meanwhile, Back in the Jungle" and "Shaving Cream".

Once dad retired and moved stateside, I was rarely able to find a station carrying him. Listened for a while to a station out of Salt Lake.

[raccoonradio]

Shaving Cream was an old record he’d found; they tracked down the guy who sang it, Benny Bell, and they got him to record again, I think. Shaving Cream actually made it into the top 40!

Some “demented” blues songs: “Generic Blues”—Weird Al Yankovic; “Can Blue Men Sing the Whites?”—Bonzo Dog Band; “Alligator Eating Dog”—Clarence Gatemouth Brown; “Nobody Loves Me But My Mother (And She Could Be Jivin’ Too)”—BB King; “Empty Tidy Bag Blues”—Wombles; “Kick Ass USA”—Milo Tremley; “Ain’t Nobody Here But Us Chickens” or “Saturday Night Fish Fry”—Louis Jordan

[raccoonradio]

Shaving Cream was an old record he’d found; they tracked down the guy who sang it, Benny Bell, and they got him to record again, I think. Shaving Cream actually made it into the top 40!

Some “demented” blues songs: “Generic Blues”—Weird Al Yankovic; “Can Blue Men Sing the Whites?”—Bonzo Dog Band; “Alligator Eating Dog”—Clarence Gatemouth Brown; “Nobody Loves Me But My Mother (And She Could Be Jivin’ Too)”—BB King; “Empty Tidy Bag Blues”—Wombles; “Kick Ass USA”—Milo Tremley; “Ain’t Nobody Here But Us Chickens” or “Saturday Night Fish Fry”—Louis Jordan

[rlmorel]

Of course, we knew the words by heart, and had all the emphasis on the right places...:)

Too funny, just too funny! Brings a smile to my face, the sheer silliness of it all.

I gotta figure out how to be that silly again...