Posted on 01/02/2014 5:56:34 PM PST by restornu
The Inventor of Controversial Talk Radio
Probably no one in the history of New York talk radio is more associated with controversy than Bob Grant.
No station is more associated with a wide variety of opinions than WABC. It's a perfect match.
Bob Grant brings a history of more than 25 years of exciting talk to WABC. Fasten your seatbelts, it's going to be a bumpy ride! Life's more interesting that way!
Controversial, opinionated and wildly popular, Bob Grant continues his long run as the "King of Talk Radio" in New York on WABC Radio. Bob has been in the radio business for more than 50 years, and has ruled the airwaves in New York for several decades.
Bob graduated from the University of Illinois and landed his first radio job at WAOK in Oak Park, Illinois. He Moved on to WBBM in 1949 in Chicago as a newsman, and as an actor in the early days of television. Ten years later Bob moved to Los Angeles to work at KNX as a radio personality and television talk show host. In 1962 Bob was hired by KABC as Sports Director where he met the legendary Joe Pine, who pioneered controversial talk on radio. After substituting for Pine on several occasions, Grant was chosen to take over The Joe Pine Show at KABC in 1964. For Bob Grant and his loyal listeners, the rest would be history.
Bob moved to New York in 1970 to host a talk show on WMCA-AM, where he spent seven years steadily building his audience. Leaving WMCA in 1977, Grant worked his first stint at WOR, and later moved to WWDB in Philadelphia before returning to New York as the cornerstone of WABC's new talk format in 1984. He remained at WABC until his much-publicized firing in 1996. Ten days later, Bob Grant was hired by WOR.
But he's back at powerhouse WABC airing each night from 8 to 10 PM.
Bob Grant is the author of the best-selling book, "Lets Be Heard". He was honored by the National Association of Radio Talk Show Hosts (NARTSH) in 1996 with The Freedom of Speech Award.
Let your voice be heard!
Well said. He was on WABC for an hour or so on Sunday, he sounded great, about a year ago and was entertaining as ever.
Miss you Bob, rest in Peace..
Bob Grant is the reason I listen to talk radio. I used to listen and call him when I was in high school and he was on WMCA.
He used to call teh former governor of New Jersey “Flim Flam Florio.”
I thought Sean had a new affiliate in Detroit.
The person who replaced him, Michael Savage, is excellent as well. If you liked Grant, you’ll like Savage.
You mean the Reo Diner on Amboy Avenue in Woodbridge. Red Bank and Woodbridge are not even close to each other.
My parents were at that roast, since my father’s company was an advertiser. My parents got a tape of the event, and my favorite joke was from Uncle Floyd. He joked that WLIB was holding a roast for their number host also that night. The difference was that at the end they were going eat him.
My parents were at that roast, since my father’s company was an advertiser. My parents got a tape of the event, and my favorite joke was from Uncle Floyd. He joked that WLIB was holding a roast for their number 1 host also that night. The difference was that at the end they were going eat him.
Edited
I thought Sean had a new affiliate in Detroit.
Where?
Savage it how he acquire those 52 stations he did not earn it the owner of Cumulus does not like Rush nor Sean so they now are on lesser wattage stations.
It was Rush who built this empire BTW after a while Savage is also like a broken record!
I also don’t like the fact that Savage was not gracious he is low class a Boor...
You never know Clear Channel and investors just might increase the air waves coverage.
Many don’t know about WLIB
WLIB was a black version of WABC ... —— If the anti-Pacifica movement does not succeed, then it is just as well that WBAI die a merciful death.
Mark Levine and Sean Hannity were Weaned on Bob Grant quite a few host were...
I haven’t been that way in forever... Woodbridge!
Before he went on vacation, Sean listed his new affiliates in the markets where he’s switching.
Michael simply said that Sean (whom he didn’t name) lost 52 affiliates and he got them. Sean chose not to renew with Cumulus — someone had to get those stations, and they had Dr. Savage in the fold anyway. Who would you have put in the slot?
Bob Grant was the one who made talk radio what it is today. Long before Limbaugh, Hannity, etc., there was the one and only Bob Grant.
Bob Grant will be forever remembered for his colorful quotes...
Some of his GRANTISMS:
“Get out of my phone you fake, phony fraud!”
“And Let’s be Heard...”
“Straight Ahead.” ( When he’s about to go on a commercial break)
“This is Bob Grant reminding you... Your influence counts... USE IT !” ( his famous sign off ).
“This is Bob Grant reminding you... Somebody’s got to say these things.. it might as well be me.” ( Another famous sign off ).
“I don’t mind being friends with gays, as long as they don’t go sweet on me...”
“Piscataway...It’s...thataway!” ( to callers from that area )
“Jesse Jerkson” (obviously)
“I hope you get better, I really do...” ( To callers whose opinions he find strange).
“Cacazote” ( general term for liberals and idiots ).
He would also be vicious against people he dislike.
On then mayor John Lindsay : “the tower of jelly”
On then Mayor Ed Koch : “the arrogant emperor,”
On Ted Kennedy : The SWIMMER
On then Mayor David Dinkins — The men’s attendant (He said Mr. Dinkins was “a nice man, I just felt he wasn’t up to the job.”)
On Bill Clinton — The great stain maker
On Mario Cuomo - The Sfaccim
Then of course, there are his great, regular callers:
Jimmy from Brooklyn, who still calls radio shows today. I recently heard him on Michael Savage (He’s the guy who sees commie conspiracy in every event ).
Then there’s vintage Frank of Queens and his monologues which Bob rarely interrupts.
And there’s John from Staten Island who is famous for showing liberal hypocrisy.
And there’s the black conservative caller — David from Newark.
I also miss the hilarious effeminate guy — Kiki, who considers Bob a father figure :)
You can also be a member of the Bob Grant Horny Brigade. If you were stuck in traffic and got on the air with him, you blew your horn and got a bumper sticker.
What made Grant so famous his occasionally being admonished or suspended for short periods by station management, typically with a bluster of controversial, but possibly welcome, publicity.
The main thing is this — HE DID HIS JOB FOR OVER 50 YEARS UNTIL HE SLOWLY FADED AWAY ( He was still occasionally short radio stints on Sundays until 2011 ).
But, after all is said and done, we have to remember folks — the man is not “conservative” in the sense that most Freepers would want him to be.
In the first place — He is PRO-CHOICE.
Although Grant is generally known as being a conservative, he has been a critic of hard-lined conservative advocates in primary races, including the Tea Party movement’s candidates.
This has been a frequent debate topic between Grant and his callers over the past few years. During the fall election of 2010, Grant criticized candidates, such as Christine O’Donnell, Rand Paul, and Sharron Angle.
Grant endorsed Charlie Crist over Marco Rubio on a July 10, 2010 broadcast for the Florida senate primary. On a May 8, 2011 broadcast, Grant informed his audience that he supported the moderate Jon Huntsman, Jr. for the Republican nomination for president, although he would later go on to support Mitt Romney.
RIP Bob Grant.
He made the famous words before Mark Levin, “get off the phone” did.
Having Rush and Sean may improve WOR’s wattage by quite a bit.
Having Rush and Sean may improve WOR’s wattage by quite a bit.
***
You know one really never thinks about events in the scheme of things.
Players on the world stage Starting with Bob Grant moving onward with Rush, Sean...
Titans that is who they are, our minds have to make a universal shift these are the final days, for eons seeing the world with blinders on, because that is how it was framed and deliver to us, but NOW we need to see the whole world in the scheme of things and how we will fit in.
No way should we let the globalist define our roles.
We need to be ready, we need to prepared, marvelous things are going to happen, in spite of what the OWO have in mind.
Study your scriptures, for they will open up the Heavens to you now is the time...
I really feel good this year will have greater gifts from Heaven even if the main dish is misery all the better to edify our character.
I am sure this sounds strange but we ARE in a spiritual war!
What, to you, constitutes earning it? Savage has been in talk radio for 20 years, with success. At one point, he had the #3 talk show in radio. He has been on the cutting edge for a number of years.
It was Sean's choice to leave Cumulus, not the other way around.
Savage it how he acquire those 52 stations he did not earn it
What, to you, constitutes earning it? Savage has been in talk radio for 20 years, with success. At one point, he had the #3 talk show in radio. He has been on the cutting edge for a number of years.
It was Sean’s choice to leave Cumulus, not the other way around.
***
Than maybe someone should correct the memo that Savage and Commules owner cooked up...
Just heard the first few minutes of Savage show click!! he has already rip off Rush show...
LBJ and Christi on immigrations.
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