Posted on 07/19/2018 8:55:16 AM PDT by 11th_VA
Adrian Cronauer, a disc jockey, actor and Pentagon adviser whose story as a radio host during the Vietnam War inspired the 1987 film “Good Morning, Vietnam,” helping make its star Robin Williams a household name, died Wednesday in Troutville. He was 79.
His death was confirmed by Jeff Hunt, a longtime Roanoke radio announcer who hired Cronauer at Roanoke FM station WPVR. He said Cronauer had been in a nursing home.
“Goooooooood morning Vietnam,” was the signature sign-on Cronauer used hosting “Dawn Buster” from 1965-6 in Saigon. Williams’ portrayal of the fictional Cronauer cemented the line in American culture, associating it with the host’s radio high jinks and irreverent view toward military hierarchy and censorship, and earning Williams an Academy Award nomination in 1987.
The line’s origins, as Cronauer recalled it, were more humble.
“That was something he did to buy him some time when he was running late in the morning,” said Pat Garrett, who worked with Cronauer at WVWR (now WVTF) in Roanoke. As the last record was playing, Cronauer would take up time setting up the next one by lengthening the “Good” until it became almost manic.
(Excerpt) Read more at roanoke.com ...
Link to old AFRTS live recordings (you need to click a few links)
“Good Morning, Vietnam” was a Robin Williams’ vehicle and not a biography of Cronauer.
“I think I can speak for others that it was a surprise when he became so conservative and outspoken.”
Too bad Williams didn’t make the same choices. He might’ve cleaned up his act and living a happy life today
I was in the Far East 76-80; Never heard the guy. But I loved AFRTS - Paul Harvey at noon, etc. long before the internet.
When I had my shortwave, I’d put on AFRTS all the time, you could get a lot of games on the radio you couldn’t hear anywhere else.
I can never forget this funny line from the movie, delivered in rapid verbal stacacto:
“Excuse me, sir. Seeing as how the VP is such a VIP, shouldn’t we keep the PC on the QT? ‘Cause if it leaks to the VC he could end up MIA, and then we’d all be put on KP.”
I know Williams wasn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but I enjoyed his work a lot. I know he must have been in horrible shape when he decided to take his life, so it’s a rare case where I give him a pass. But yes, his earlier lifestyle probably did catch up to him.
Only journalists don’t know that! LOL.
“What does ‘three up and three down’ mean to you, Airman?”
“End of an inning?”
Robin Williams did the show (broadcast) without a script, he ad-libbed it.
The Mississippi River broke through a protective dike today. What is— What is a protective dike? Is that a large woman standing by the river going, “Don’t go near there”?
So yeah, if they tried to make the movie today, half of that stuff wouldn’t be in it.
So yeah, if they tried to make the movie today,
It would be played by a lesbian/transgender person
of color with manic depressive/bi polar disorder.../s
LOL
Same with doing All In The Family.
Williams was a tortured guy, but he did a lot for the troops. I was just going through some history at my unit and found pics of a USO show when our guys flew him into the desert. M
His interactions with everyone showed a very down-to-earth person who displayed none of the “I’m a star” crap that is typical of most actors. I hated his politics, but he was a remarkable comedian. Even when he was obviously exhausted, he treated the lowest enlisted with respect. I thought this film was his best.
I never heard Cronauer, but I enjoyed many an AFRN broadcast back when we had nothing else. RIP, Adrian.
Parkinson’s wouldn’t have happened?
Helped to found the University of Pittsburgh campus radio station (which now sadly is broadcasting Trump Derangement Marxist Drivel 24 hours a day).
RIP.
When Williams was diagnosed with the same disease himself he knew what sort of death that would entail, and the deceased Winters had been his only intimate friend, leaving him no one to come along side him.
It doesn't make suicide a good choice, but it was understandable even if Williams didn't also struggle with depression.
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