[BC] In the AM radio wars of the '60s, they talked big and talked back

[RichardBJohnson at comcast.net]

Rich, you are dating yourself! The days of "real" commercials, designed for real audiences, to sell real products for real businesses are long gone. As an extra "voice" sometimes used on cart tapes for local advertisements, I remember recording the following drive-time commercial; 

"If you are just heading home from work, I've got something you will like to hear. Hodes Supermarket is having a sale on something everyone needs --toilet paper! Yes, it's true! Hodes just got in a shipment of name-brand toilet paper and has stacked it up by the checkout counters. You can grab four rolls for a dollar on your way home! Hodes has three stores,..." 

I have not heard anything like that on the radio since Paul Harvey! Few stations bother to make special commercials for special occasions. That's why you year the Christmas commercials well into January.

Cheers,
Richard B. Johnson
Book: http://www.AbominableFirebug.com/



----- Original Message -----
From: "Rich Wood" <richwood at pobox.com>
To: "Broadcasters' Mailing List" <broadcast at radiolists.net>
Sent: Wednesday, October 7, 2009 9:14:45 AM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern
Subject: Re: [BC] In the AM radio wars of the '60s, they talked big and talked  back


There are several things that turn listeners away. It's always galled 
me to hear "we'll be back after these commercial messages." When I 
was on the air I didn't leave. 

[Snipped]

It's clear to most everyone that a well produced spot isn't a 
tuneout. If they were, people wouldn't start jabbering about what 
spots will be in the Superbowl this year.

[Snipped]

I guess I'm venting. It's just a shame no one is paying attention to 
the little details that make a station a pleasure to listen to.

Rich