LEAP OF FAITH RADIO PRODUCTION with Bobby Ocean
I was fortunate enough to be at KFRC in San Francisco when certain prominent players arrived – General manager Pat Norman, who began work at RKO in San Francisco by overseeing the then overlooked FM’s duties, but was quickly promoted to the KFRC side (then, later headed up KHJ in Los Angeles); the Duke, Dave Sholin, who has worked within both radio AND record industries with seamless success; the entire Texas contingent of Micheal Spears, Beau Weaver, news greats Jo Interante and Dave Cook and many more; glad I get more than one shot here in Dan’s Blog, I’ll need it.
And, of course, fate had me at KFRC when, just as we desperately needed help with our ailing mornings, in came the fun Doctor.
Dr. Don Rose
Disc jockies who worked at KFRC get asked quite a bit about Doctor Don Rose. People want to now “Did you know him?, Was he that funny all the time?, What was he REALLY like?”, and anything else that pops into their heads.
Yeah, I really knew him. My memories of DDR start when he walked through the door. He rolled in, he exploded in all directions at once like a hand grenade, he conquered. He knew what he was doing and he was seasoned well.
He played a Rip Taylor kind of looney who sprayed wild tracks all over the place like seltzer water. I started out in Monterey at KMBY using those little drops, wild tracks, or recorded cartoony voices and sfx so I loved the concept, just wondered if it would work in a “sophisticated city” like San Francisco. It killed.
He had one of the longest, funniest, most successful runs at that station. His clever wife, Kay, often made light of in morning show jokes was his best negotiator. It is my understandng DDR was being paid both for his DJ work AND a percentage of his morning program’s sponsorship profits.
He really was simultaneously fun and a man of strong character. He really loved life and, to the point of near-corny, adored his wife and family. He was an extremely compelling guy to listen to in the morning, changed everything, made it fun. Never been another like him; he was the last.
Went to his last rites, too, where he seemed to put the “fun” back in funeral. Best of all the DJ interments I have ever attended; not maudlin, distinctly celebrative. (Preacher: “I told the younger children, who were confused about what happens when people die, that the “shell” of their grandfather is still here, but the NUT is away at the moment.” – Huge laugh) He left us with his heart’s fondest fulfillment – an absolutely wonderful family.
BTW, that squeaky little cartoon voice you heard – for YEARS both on his TV cartoon show and on his KFRC morning wake-up show -that said, “ha-ha-ha, that’s right, Doctor Don!” …was me. An out-take that, early on, he and his flawless board operator, George Zema, immediately claimed as their own.
As we look around at the business today, and begin thinking of ways to rebuild, re-think, restructure our radio dream, remember DDR, and “have fun.” Doctor’s orders.
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Have fun, indeed. Wise advice…
Without a doubt the GREATEST MORNING SHOW HOST to ever sit behind a mic! Between him and Bobby Ocean KFRC was assured its place in history.
I was blessed enough to work with both Dr. Don and Bobby Ocean at KFRC. Two of the greatest talents and most genuine people you would ever hope to know!
For a company that employed a talent such as DDR, his wages weren’t an ‘expense’ but an investment. Did they ‘profit’ from his labor? You bet. Is there a ‘teaching moment’ here?
I grew up in the Bay Area listening to Don on KFRC. He always had a smile on his face…whether he was in the studio or doing his show from a hospital bed in obvious pain. He could make you laugh at the corniest of jokes, and then have you in tears talking about putting his dog to sleep. You lived life with Dr. Don.
I remember when DDR came to WFIL. The campaign prior to his debut was “Monday morning WFIL will send a Rose to every home in the Deleware Valley” As a teenager, hooked on radio, I’m wondering how they could do that. Well, I’m glad they did. The years he spent in Philly were some of the best radio this town has ever seen.
One of the reasons why I got into this crazy business was Dr. Don Rose
Working in SF and hearing him wake up the city while driving in to work at a competitor was humbling daily. It made us all better! He loved his job and we all loved him!
I grew up listening to the good doctor on Famous 56…
Todd Mitchell passes along this link to Dr. Don’s 1956 Iowa audition. Tremendously valuable audio that I haven’t heard before:
https://deanejohnson.net/audio/dr_don_rose.shtml
Dan, thanks for posting this. Dr. Don was the first person I truly noticed on the radio. We were living in northern California and he was on the air in San Francisco. What an uninhibited, crazy show he put on, and what fun to try to decipher the day’s forecast from his Weather Whistle. Dave, like you, Dr. Don is probably one of the reasons I got into this business.
Great story, i grew up on DDR and i wanted to be him. But there is only one Dr Don!! that’s r-r-r-r-r-ight!!!!
Thanks Dan. Dr. Don and Bobby…two of the most incredible talents and wonderful men to ever have the honor to work with in my days at KFRC.
Huge,wonderful talent. I still open up the ole Dr Don Ac’s and spend some time in a time long gone.
What brand of MIC is that I have noticed that type in several photos from the RKO days.
Sa-cra–to-MA-TO!!!!!!
Roscoe!!!??!!
Growing up with KFRC & Dr. Don was so much fun–that’s when top 40 was great!! Dr. Don was an original!!
Excellent!
Everyone knows that Don was a great radio entertainer. Maybe the best. Reason I remember him with great fondness and sadness that he left way too soon, is because he was above all a wonderful human being, a loyal loving husband to one wife and great father. Traits that many of us, especially I, failed to maintain in the rush to experience radio. Don did it all. And, he did it well. God Bless him. tm
Q: What brand of MIC is that I have noticed that type in several photos from the RKO days? –Barry Cole
Answer: Sennheiser MD-441. But wait, there’s more: WITH Urei model 1178 dual peak limiting and compression. Each jock has her/his own EQ setting.
He was a radio god before the term was even invented. The he was the BIG 610
He was the best!
Dr. Donald D. Rose was an inspiration to me and one of the last great “morning” jocks from the Drake era of DJ’s. I mean it was fun when he was on the air…ranks right up there with Wolfman Jack, Bobby Mitchell, Gary Owens, Tom Donahue and a few others! I remember when he broke his leg and did his morning show from his bed…what a talent!!!
without exception; at least once a week, i need to still dig out a dr don aircheck, listen, smile, and relax. isnt it a shame we are unable to communicate with him now. we all would say pretty much the same thing. damnit don, youre missed! then theres that drop-in cart, ‘son of a bitch’. you should still be here!!
fondly, bobby green
Ocean, you’re no Rose.