Authors: Ronald Garay
ISBN-13: 9780313266768, ISBN-10: 031326676X
Format: Hardcover
Publisher: ABC-Clio, LLC
Date Published: March 1992
Edition: (Non-applicable)
RONALD GARAY is Associate Professor at the Manship School of Journalism, Louisiana State University.
Students and others interested in radio history will be intrigued by this fast-paced biography of Gordon McLendon's career in the radio industry, touching also on his work in motion pictures and involvement in Texas politics. Following a glimpse into his childhood, education, and military career, Ronald Garay describes McLendon's station ownership and management in Palestine, Texas; the development of a major network, the Liberty Broadcasting System; his live and recreated baseball and football programs; and his skirmishes with the major league baseball establishment. Much attention is given to how McLendon "re-invented" radio and competed with television and print media through his Top 40 music hits, disc jockey programming, and the use of local news. Important concerns regarding station "trafficking," editorializing, and public interests are considered as well in this extraordinary book.
Preface | ||
Acknowledgments | ||
Introduction | ||
1 | Childhood, Education and Military Career | 1 |
2 | KNET and KLIF: First Ventures into Radio | 13 |
3 | The Liberty Broadcasting System: Halcyon Days | 25 |
4 | The Liberty Broadcasting System: Finis | 45 |
5 | KLIF and Top 40 Radio | 63 |
6 | McLendon Station Group: Acquisition and Management | 91 |
7 | McLendon Station Format Innovations | 117 |
8 | McLendon Station Editorials | 147 |
9 | Departure from Radio | 157 |
10 | Politics, Moviemaking and Other Interests | 177 |
11 | Reflections | 201 |
References | 219 | |
Index | 235 |