[BC] unscheduled moments of scilence

[Xmitters at aol.com]

In a message dated 3/9/09 4:00:30 AM Central Standard Time, 
broadcast-request at radiolists.net writes:

> When there is dead air and the PD asks, I quip, "Was that not the library 
>  sponsored silence?"  Reply look...deer-headlights.  Lights on-no one home 
>  for a few short seconds.  Then I run like @#$.....
>  
>  I heard the basis of that line on WMAQ in the late 70's after 30 seconds 
of 
>  nothing.  The talent came on and said, "That moment of silence was brought 
>  to you by the Chicago Public Library." I looked at the guy I was with and 
>  said only in a major market would someone come up with that on the fly.
>  
>  MM

Mike:

Your story reminds me of WMAQ's transmitter switching policy during the 
midday. Programming insisted that we announce all transmitter changes, even tho
ugh 
the announcement took about five times longer than the transfer actually 
required.

We had a real character that was on-air during our transmitter change 
daypart. he always had  a wise comment to announce our transmitter switch. he w
ould 
never tell me what exactly he was going to say; just that it would be obvious. 
The guy's name escapes me, but I'm sure  Margaret would remember if she's 
lurking here. 

His cue to me was "and now WMAQ pauses while we drive the station under this 
really big bridge". yea, that was pretty obvious, and I damned near wet my 
pants, ROTFLMAO, until my stomach muscles began hurting :-)

Another one was, during one very bad winter day, "hang on here a moment as we 
land this very large snow flake." 

He had many more, and I always looked forward to transmitter work on days 
when this nut was working :-D

Jeff Glass, BSEE CSRE
Chief Engineer
WNIU WNIJ
Northern Illinois University