Collection:LPB

Genre: Documentary

Place Covered: Louisiana

Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority

Date Issued: 2005-08-8

Duration: 00:54:53

Subjects: NEWS | Long, Huey Pierce, 1893-1935 | Louisiana hayride (Radio program) | Presley, Elvis, 1935-1977 | Radio | History | Music

Contributors:

• Larroquette, John Narrator
• Laudun, Tika Producer
• Gautreaux, Kevin Producer
• LaBauve, Randy Producer
• Kent, Joey Interviewee
• Fontenot, Kevin Interviewee
• Fitzmorris, Jimmy Interviewee
• Matassa, Cosimo Interviewee
• Sims, Ralph Interviewee
• Jones, George Interviewee
• Walker, Bob Interviewee
• O'Dair, Margie Interviewee
• Page, Frank Interviewee
• Neville, Art Interviewee
• Stephens, Tex Interviewee
• Logan, Don Interviewee
• McGill, Maury Interviewee
• Spitzer, Nick Interviewee
• Davis, Claude "B.B." Interviewee
• McKinley, Larry Interviewee
• Bernard, Rod Interviewee
• DeRouen, Karl Interviewee
• Ancelet, Barry Jean Interviewee
• French, Bob Interviewee
• Marx, Paul Interviewee
• Thibodeaux, Goldman Interviewee
• McKinnis, Robert Interviewee
• Dyson, Ado Interviewee

This documentary from August 8, 2005, focuses on the history of radio in Louisiana. It covers: radio pioneer W. K. Henderson, the owner of KWKH in Shreveport; Henderson granting Huey P. Long unlimited air time; WWL in New Orleans broadcasting the first public radio program in the Gulf South, a piano recital; “The Dawn Busters,” a variety show on WWL; the impact of World War II on radio; the “Louisiana Hayride” on KWKH; Vernon Winslow, aka “Dr. Daddy-O,” the first black radio DJ in New Orleans; Elvis Presley’s performances on the “Louisiana Hayride”; WWL’s broadcast of Leon Kellner and his Orchestra’s Big Band performances from the Blue Room of the Roosevelt Hotel in New Orleans; Larry McKinley of WMRY reporting on the Civil Rights Movement; the broadcast of local music styles, including Cajun music, Zydeco, and Swamp Pop; KEUN’s weekly broadcast of Cajun music performances from Fred’s Lounge in Mamou; black gospel radio; WTIX in New Orleans playing local hits; KRVS in Lafayette’s live weekly broadcast of the “Rendez-Vous Des Cajuns” show at the Liberty Theater in Eunice; the Payola scandal; WWOM, the underground radio station in New Orleans in the 1960s; the homogenization of radio; the radio stations that continue to play local music, including WWOZ in New Orleans and KBON in Eunice; the Zion Travelers Spiritual Singers’ weekly radio show on WIBR in Baton Rouge; and Nick Spitzer’s show “American Routes” on WWNO in New Orleans. This documentary includes interviews with: Joey Kent, KWKH historian; Kevin Fontenot, history instructor at Tulane University; former Lieutenant Governor Jimmy Fitzmorris; Cosimo Matassa, recording engineer; Ralph Sims, former WJBO reporter; George Jones, Louisiana resident; Bob Walker, New Orleans radio historian; Margie O’Dair of “The Dawn Busters”; Frank Page, former “Louisiana Hayride” announcer; Art Neville, recording artist; Tex Stephens, former WJBW – WMRY DJ; Don Logan, former KEEL DJ; Maury McGill, former Blue Room announcer; Nick Spitzer, host of WWNO’s “American Routes”; Claude “B.B.” Davis, former KOKA DJ; Larry McKinley, former WMRY – WYLD DJ; Rod Bernard, recording artist; Karl DeRouen, KEUN station manager; Barry Jean Ancelet, professor at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette; Bob French, WWOZ Jazz DJ; Paul Marx, KBON station manager; Goldman Thibodeaux, recording artist; and Robert McKinnis and Ado Dyson of the Zion Travelers Spiritual Singers. Narrator: John Larroquette