[Alberta's Child]

The worst thing to happen to talk radio was the rationalization of all forms of media under just a few major corporate owners. For talk radio, this meant that a media format dominated by local hosts with really only one major national player (Rush Limbaugh) transformed into a format dominated by bland, amateurish syndicated hosts who are heard all over the country.

In my lifetime, the heyday of talk radio was that period from 1985 to around 1995. It's been all downhill since.

[Pelham]

“In my lifetime, the heyday of talk radio was that period from 1985 to around 1995. It’s been all downhill since.”

In SoCal we were able to enjoy the late, great George Putnam. There has been no local host who has come along since to replace him although there surely must be many who could.

Putnam’s old flagship, KIEV, was an independently owned station that could feature local talent (along with an assortment of carnival barker infomercials).

KIEV was eventually purchased by Salem Radio and George was shoved aside for the parade of RINO-loving GOP shills that Salem still features- Michael Medved and Hugh Hewitt being prominent examples.