Amber Rose Reporting

Amber Rose reported via e-mail:

Amber Rose here! Well, if you were there today at Marri's, you know that we had a rockin' good time (without the rock!) together. We talked about old times, and what we're up to currently. I for one had that warm fuzzy feeling all over.

In attendance were: Paul Sakrison, Ellen Walker, Phil Hulett and Remy Hulett, Pat Barr, Jeff Sanders, Andre Champagne, Dennis Clare, Doug Busek, Mike Stark, and Opher Banarie.

After it was over I called my husband while I was driving home and told him 10 times what a wonderful time I'd had. For most of the afternoon I felt as if I was hovering above everyone watching a movie. I just couldn't believe we were all there together. I know--what a girlie thing to say, but hey, I am a girl. Thank you to all who were there and Clint, who I got to talk to on the cell. You all really made my day, month, maybe even my entire year.

We didn't get anything planned for the reunion exactly, but did lay some groundwork--like that we want a good audio system and will probably do this at someone's house. I know Pat will keep everyone updated. Let's all send some kudos to Pat for starting this whole thing.

Sending some Radioactive KSUL Love to all of you!

Ellen Walker now Hoffman AKA Amber Rose

KSUL Pre-Union

All interested parties (and partiers)... the plan is to meet next Saturday at Marri's Pizza on Palo Verde in Long Beach about 2PM (Rocktober 29).

Whether you will be joining us or not, any ideas for the 25-year are most welcome.

-- Pat
(when he's not goggling over Kate Bush. Hey Kate, from the looks of the new video, it might be time to film future videos using the "Ann (Wilson) cam".)

I'm in love all over again.

EMI have kindly made the new Kate Bush video available for viewing Right Here!

(It's really good.)

CSULB and Radio

As many of you know, I've been a continuing advocate for the return to a real radio program for students at CSULB.

The CSULB Associated Students have no interest other than their "jukebox" (KBEACH) for students to "play" radio, without the curriculum to support it. The old "Radio-TV-Film" department is now "The Department of Film and Electronic Arts" with radio not a factor. What was KLON (now KJZZ) flounders along, year after year, perpetually in debt to the University and with little or no student involvement.

I've approached the University, the Associated Students and the department chairs for FEA -- with lukewarm, non existent or even negative results to my suggestions of starting a new student radio program.

Craig Breit has taken the KSUL model and applied it to the Cerritos College radio program, but because it's a community college, apathy is even more rampant than at the University. It is a good program with a great facility, but the lack of support from the college and the low enrollment by students, "still searching" for their career, has failed to create anything close to what we did at KSUL.

The questions: How important is it that a student radio program return to CSULB? Do you feel your degree has lost it's value with the lack of a student radio program at the University? Has the way you look at CSULB as an Alumni been shaped by what happened to KSUL and the subsequent demise of student radio, in any scholarly form, at CSULB? And finally, would you donate more economically if the program was brought back?

Radio Radio part 1

With the state of broadcast radio today, it's hard to lament the loss of a learning environment at CSULB. Commercial radio wasn't great back then, but now... well, you know the story.

My biggest complaint is the heavy fragmentation of playlists. You won't hear anything before 1967 or after 1985 on a typical Classic Rock station. Oldies radio, K-Earth style reaches from about 1957 to 1966 and leaves out some lesser-known greats even from that tiny slice of musicana. KOLA in San Berdoo is quite a bit broader, though they are still "oldies" only. The "Jack" format (93 FM) is not bad to listen to, but the total lack of live personalities leaves it sounding a bit cold-- I'm almost longing to hear Jim Ladd (I said almost) again.

Where's the fun and adventure? Historically, I would list few stations that I really ever loved: the original progressive rock version of K-West (around 1975-76), KPOL in '77 and '78...

I will always have a fondness for Gene Autry's stations beginning with KMPC AM. Gary Owens (the Story Lady, Rumour of the Day, he even played Rick Wakeman and Nilsson), Dick Whittinghill (Helen Trump, the Story Record, a bit of Sinatra), and Johnny Magnus playing real jazz and fusion after 9pm on AM radio. I bet Mike Stark would be willing to admit that "Baseball Scores with a Hit" was inspired by "Weather with a Beat."

Then Gene came back in the '90's with KMPC-FM and the late, great KSCA 102.9-- which mixed a bit of blues and rock while reuniting So Cal with Dr. Dimento and Jeff Gonzer-- before retiring. Phil Hulett and I had a somewhat heated argument about the popularity of that station, but I have heard both in the L.A. Times and Larry Mantle's show on KPCC that KSCA did quite well in its brief heyday.

What are your faves of yesteryear?

The beginnings.....

For those that haven't been on board the "e-mail list" that was sent out by Pat Barr in organizing a 25th Anniversary reunion here is what you have missed (edited for the blog):

Pat Barr writes:
Are you anywhere near the San Gabriel Valley? Those of you with fuel in your vehicles and a little time on your hands are cordially invited to join me Saturday afternoon in Old Town Monrovia for the unofficial KSUL Pre-Union on October, er, Rocktober 29. We can brainstorm a bit and get some ideas for the 25th anniversary of the Final Night of broadcast which is coming up next year if my 4th grade math skills are holding up. Meet at Old Town Pizza across from Library Park here in Monrovia (Myrtle St. near Lime St.) around 2PM. RSVP if you care to dare. (yellowsubmarine64@verizon.net)

Amber Rose likes the Long Beach area better but that may be a bit far for some of you. I realize that we tried to avoid feedback while on the radio, but it could be a good thing in this case.

******The Electrical Radio Program's Halloween show is coming along nicely and features some classic scarey moments from L.A. radio and TV-- KMPC, KIIS, KTLA, etc. I also hope to have the new single from you-know-who! No, not Lord Valdemort, but rather...

Amber Rose writes:
Hey everyone...

Is anyone else nervous about not recognizing or even remembering each other? We haven't seen each other in a lifetime, unless you all have gotten together without me. I know, I'm acting like a silly woman, but humor me.

Pat, when you have this thing all together, maybe you could send out a list of everyone's actual names. As I look at the email addresses I cqn only identify a few recognizable names.

Who is married? Kids? Careers? Can we catch up?

I have a 19 year old son in his soph year at UCI. I'm married for the 2nd time, happily this time, live in West Garden Grove, and still only about 15 min. from CSULB. I am in my 18th year of teaching Kindergarten for Garden Grove Unified School District.

When I hear the expression, "Those were the good old days" I immediately think of my KSUL experience, and you, my friends and cohorts. It still means the world to me. If I had two days that I could turn back the clock, I'd spend a day with all of you in the KSUL building, saying, "LEARN HOW TO USE THE EQUIPMENT!" I always think of those times when there are technical difficulties! The second day for which I'd turn back the clock would be to leave my first husband waiting at the altar instead of marrying him.

Is anyone in touch with John Palminteri? Bill McMullen? Marcy Morrison? Bill Cavanaugh? Cameron Cosgrove? Craig Breit? Ray Siri? Steve Buck? I believe I have Steve Buck's email: sbuck@att.com
I don't know, however, if it is current. Have you emailed Paul Sakrison? paul@sakrison.com, or phsakrison@kfwb.cbs.com

Hey, remember Nash Contreras???!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks for "listening." I'd love to hear from some of you and maybe I'll see you whenever and wherever the meeting is.

John Hays writes:
John Hays here (now you know the name that goes with this e-dress). Even though I've been married (and divorced) twice, that's still my name ;)My girlfriend of over 3 years is getting her PhD in History at UCI. What's your son's major, if any? (I took General Ed. at LBCC, then picked Film/TV/Radio when I continued at CSULB).I occasionally keep in touch with Rick DuVall and Steve Binder, both of whom were KSUL D.J.s, and Rick Leddy, who was a Broadcast Journalism major there, and did some news pieces for our station.I lived with both Ricks (and a guy named Richard, believe it or not, who was replaced by a guy named Mark) for 4 years in Huntington Beach after graduating from CSULB. Now I'm in the Hollywood area, and work in the movie/TV industry, which I've been doing for around 20 years.

Rick DuVall lives in Anaheim, and teaches in one of the O.C. school districts (I'm not sure which one).

Kevin O'Brien writes:
Getting together is a great idea!...but I can’t make it. Through some incredibly poor scheduling I’m on the road doing consulting projects for stations almost non-stop through the end of the year.

As long as everyone’s adding a bit of family history—I’ve been married 26 years (met my wife at CSULB, so I got my degree and the second degree from the same place), three kids, 24, 22 and 21; and just celebrated my 30th year in Radio, dating back to my first KSUL shift in Sept 1975 in the “old” studios. First song: Dan Fogelberg’s “Part of the Plan”. Some things you never forget—now if I could remember my kids’ names…
Thanks for keeping the KSUL flame lit!

Jeff Sanders writes:
I keep my hand in a bit of audio production now and then, and once in a while you can see me playing guitar here and there. But my real gig is being a full time software weenie twiddling bits and bytes. Been doing that for over 25 years. Also have a second degree in Computer Science.

I was living in the Santa Barbara area until about 3 years ago when I relocated to Moorpark, in Ventura County. Yep, I had enough of the good life (and the snobs), wanted to try something different.

I have been married to Brenda for 25+ years.
I have 2 children:
Nathan, who is 21 and 6 foot 4 inches. Has long hair. When he grows a beard he looks like Jesus Christ, only taller.
Emily, who is 18 and away at college back in Santa Barbara
My very outdated website is http://www.jeffbsanders.com/.

Monrovia works ok, Long Beach would be better.

See you all the 29th

Opher Banarie writes:
Well, since this is turning into a de-facto "bio update" mailing, here's mine:After CSULB and one semester at KSUL, I struck out for the big world of software development. That took me to Northrup Electronics, where HR offered me $50 a month more to work in the typing pool rather than as a programmer! (Sheesh, labor was once expensive!)

After five years at Northrup and eleven at ARCO, with a few shorter gigs in between, I took up software consulting (it was that or move to Bangalor) and travelled the countryside. Seven years of that got me a million American Airline miles and a quick trip to divorce court.

Now I'm settling into a real office job in Rancho Bernardo (San Diego), but continue to live near my two daughters in Aliso Viejo (Orange County).

I'll join the group in either Monrovia or Long Beach...but can someone tell me why the San Gabriel Valley has Claremont and Montclair as adjacent communities? Was there a shortage of city names at some point in the past?
---------------

SO...what's up with you?

KSUL Returns!!!!!!

Let the discussion begin!!!!