Musings, observations, and written works from the publisher of Eckhartz Press, the media critic for the Illinois Entertainer, co-host of Minutia Men, Minutia Men Celebrity Interview and Free Kicks, and the author of "The Loop Files", "Back in the D.D.R", "EveryCubEver", "The Living Wills", "$everance," "Father Knows Nothing," "The Radio Producer's Handbook," "Records Truly Is My Middle Name", and "Gruen Weiss Vor".
=It was originally known as City of Manchester Stadium, now known the Etihad. Yes, it's another excuse to remind you that Free Kicks with Adam and Rick will be returning for our seventh season this month.
The latest news from Eckhartz Press, and a chance to peek into some of the great previous offerings from our humble little publishing company.
Happy Birthday!
=Eckhartz Press author Becky Sarwate is celebrating a birthday this week (August 8). In 2018 and 2019 she co-wrote two different editions of the book Cubsessions for us. Still one of our favorites. Have a great birthday, Becky!
=Coming soon, the launch party for Pat Motto's brand new memoir, To the Men I've Loved. We just found out there will also be an appearance by the Tree Top Tappers.
So this was a nice surprise.Kelly Duff is a blogger who just posted a list of her five favorite books she has read this year. #1 on the list is The Loop Files. Thanks Kelly!
=This week in 2018 (August 9), Chet Coppock officially released his Eckhartz Press book Your Dime My Dance Floor. (Q&A with Chet). We had a book launch party in Arlington Heights, and it was like a trip down memory lane for Chet as his former co-workers came out to cheer him on. That's Mike Davis, Jim Modelski, and Tom Serritella.
=A few people featured in Chet's book have birthdays this week. Lee Corso (August 7), Whitney Houston (August 9) and George McGinnis (August 10). The last two are also featured in pictures with Chet below...
=This week in 2016 (August 10), Eckhartz Press released the memoir In Small Boxes written by Ann R. Wilson. Ann had a great launch party in her hometown...
Bob Sirott
=The WGN Radio morning host has been a big supporter of Eckhartz Press over the years. He endorsed the book Life Behind the Camera by Chuck Quinzio with these words...
Anyone in broadcasting will be fascinated by Chuck Quinzio’s TV and radio adventures. I thought I heard Chuck’s best stories during my time working with him in the TV news business, but he saved the best for this book! His writing talent makes it a great read for everybody.
Bob Sirott, WGN Radio
=Bob also contributed several stories to John Landecker's book Records Truly is My Middle Name, and was interviewed by Randy Richardson & Becky Sarwate for Cubsessions. Bob is celebrating a birthday this week (August 9). Happy birthday Bob!
=When Janet Sutherland-Madden's mother passed away in 2019, one of her final wishes was to donate a hundred of Janet's books (Nose Over Toes) to the UIC Department of Neurosurgery. That wish was fulfilled this week in 2019 (August 5). The book is now being given out to patients who are afflicted with brain aneurysms. That's Janet with Dr. Konstantin Slavin.
=Thanks to everyone who came out to Woodstock Public Library last week to see Vicki Atkinson's presentation. It was a nice turnout at a beautiful library.
=One of the very first signature shoes was worn by tennis star Rod Laver (born August 9). A decade later, basketball star Patrick Ewing (born August 5) debuted his own signature shoe. Both are featured in Ryan Trembath's book.
=This week in 1997, this famous video of the great movie trailer voice over artists debuted at the Hollywood Reporter Key Art Awards
=One of those five men, John Leader, is also featured in John Landecker's book Records Truly Is My Middle Name. The two Johns went to college together and worked in radio together in Michigan during their formative radio years. This photo of the two Johns is in the book.
=This week in 2013 (August 6), the Heidelberg American Middle School closed it's doors for the final time. That school plays a critical role in Rick Kaempfer's novel Back in the DDR. One of the scenes at that school will be featured this Thursday on Rick's blog as a free excerpt.
=Legendary Chicago newscaster Fahey Flynn was born (August 6, 1916) and died (August 8, 1983) this week in history. His longtime co-anchor Joel Daly delivered Fahey's eulogy. That entire moving eulogy is in the pages of Joel's Eckhartz Press book, The Daly News.
=One of the most memorable passages of Mitch Michaels' book is about the crazy times he experience at ChicagoFest. That music festival debuted this week (August 8) in 1978. The cover photo for Mitch's book was taken there, on Navy Pier.
=This week in 1979 (August 5), just a few weeks after Disco Demolition, the Loop was back at Comiskey Park. This time it was a mega-concert called A Day at the Park. Among the acts on the bill that night, Journey. Sky Daniels and Mitch Michaels were on hand to introduce the bands. (Photos: Paul Natkin).
=This week in 2004 (August 8), the Dave Matthews band made headlines when their tour bus dumped a load of human waste into the Chicago River. Unfortunately, there was a boat tour going on at the time. Bobby Skafish got the first interview with Dave Matthews after that unfortunate incident. It rates a full chapter in Bobby's book We Have Company.
=One of the joys of the Gentile brothers (Jeff & Michael) book Mob Adjacent is the way it intersperses Hollywood and the Mob in Chicago. Eddie Fisher was born this week in 1928 (August 10). One of the funnier sections in the book involves mob wives arguing about the merits of allowing Eddie Fisher to perform in mob nightclubs after Eddie was so cruel to his first wife Debbie Reynolds. Mob Adjacent was a finalist for Chicago Writer's Association Book of the Year in 2020.
=Yes, Randy Merkin was a sports-radio producer, and yes most of the stories in his book Behind the Glass are about sports figures. However, he also has at least one story about booking a guest who would become the president of the United States. That former president, Barack Obama, is celebrating a birthday this week (August 4)
=We really could feature the book EveryCubEver every week because it's filled with so many stories from this week in history (every single week). But we try to dole out those mentions only when they tie in to something unique. This week's birthday boy, former Cubs pitcher Rich Nye (August 4), qualifies as unique, because he's one of only a handful of Cubs featured in EveryCubEver who have also had their photograph taken with the author of the book Rick Kaempfer.
“You’re
exactly right,” Sherman admits with a laugh. “Having those quirks makes you
much more human and relatable to everybody else too. What you hear on the air
is the real Sherman and Tingle. Just two guys talking and sharing things from
their lives.”
*Marconi Finalists
=The NAB announced the finalists for this year's Marconi Awards yesterday, and Chicago is well represented. WLS is a finalist for legendary station of the year. "Behind the Song" by Janda Lane on WDRV is a finalist for Best Radio Podcast of the Year. WTMX was named in the AC Station of the Year category. WGRB is a finalist for Religious Station of the Year, and the Score is a finalist in the Sports Radio Station of the Year category. Congrats to all of them. The full list is here.
*WBBM-AM
and WSCR-AM Moving to a New Tower
=Audacy’s two
Chicago AM stations are moving to a new tower. It doesn’t sound like this will
affect the range or quality of the sound too much (although WBBM will get a
stronger daytime signal), but it’s necessary because of the bankruptcy of the
broadcasting giant. They had to sell the land where they had their old towers.
Inside Radio has more.
*Lon Helton
to Host 2024 Radio Hall of Fame Banquet
=In the 1970s,
J.J. Jeffrey was a big star in Chicago on WLS AM 890. When he left Chicago, he
moved into station ownership in his home state of Maine. This week he and his
partner announced they were going to be leaving the business. Inside Radio has more on this story.
*Most
Common Radio Formats in America
=The top four
most common radio formats in America are…Country, Religious, News/Talk, and
Contemporary Christian. If you’ve taken a road trip this summer, I’m sure that
tracks with your experience. The full list is here.
*Steve
Albini May Get a Street Named After Him
=The late
musician/producer had a studio on West Belmont in Chicago, and the city is
considering naming a portion of that street after him. Block Club Chicago has more.
=Look who has
the number 1 podcast this week. It’s the Mooch and Katty Kay. Anthony
Scaramucci is quite entertaining. I had him on my podcast this week too.
*Rest in
Peace
=The Nelons
Plane crash. Gospel
Singers Kelly Nelon Clark, 64, husband Jason Clark, and
their daughter Amber Nelon Kistler, 35, were killed along with the
latter's husband Nathan Kistler, 34, the Georgia-based band's
assistant, Melodi Hodges, plus the pilot, Larry Haynie,
and his wife, Melissa Haynie. Tragic.
=Legendary
Chicago TV newsman. Walter and Bill Kurtis dominated the ratings during
their years at Channel 2 (CBS) in Chicago. At one point during his CBS era,
Walter won an Emmy for political commentary ten years in a row. He also won a
Peabody award. Walter later spent more than a decade at WFLD-TV (Channel 32),
and currently still offers political commentary on WGN Radio. He turned 87 last
weekend.
*July 28—Gehrig
Peterson birthday
=Gehrig got
his start in Chicago media as the manager for radio legends like Steve Dahl
and Kevin Matthews but is best known for his years in concert promotion.
*July 28--Rick
Kaempfer birthday
=That’s me. 61
this year. I don’t look a day over 60 ½.
*July 29, 1981
=750 million
people worldwide watched the wedding of Prince Charles and Princess
Diana. I don’t follow the royal family, but I’m sure that this fairy tale
had a wonderful and happy ending.
=30 years ago the
Blaze (103.5FM) became Rock 103.5. They soon debuted their new morning man Mancow
Muller.Before it became The Blaze,
the frequency was known as WFYR. 103.5 FM is now known as KISS-FM.
*July 30—Tom
Petersen birthday
=WGN newscaster
for decades, working alongside the likes of Spike O’Dell, Bob Collins,
and more.
*July 31—Irv
Kupcinet birthday
=Probably the
most famous newspaper columnist (with apologies to Mike Royko) in Chicago
history. His column for the Sun Times began in 1943 and lasted 60 years. Kup
hobnobbed with the big Hollywood stars, did color commentary on Bears
broadcasts, and hosted his own television show. He now has a statue across the
river from the old Sun-Times building. Kupcinet died in 2003.
*July 31—Bill
Frink birthday
=Part of the
legendary Eyewitness News Team in the 1970s. Frink was the sports anchor
alongside Fahey Flynn, Joel Daly, and John Coleman.
*August 1,
1981
=MTV launches.
“Video Killed the Radio Star” by the Buggles was the first video. Watch the launch.
*August 2—Kenneth Smith birthday
=Known to Mancow
fans as Al Roker Jr.
*August 2—Ryan
Baker birthday
=For the last
five years he’s been hosting the morning show on Channel 2. Now he’s back on
the 10:00 News, anchoring the sports desk.
*August 3—Scott
Placko birthday
=Channel 2
cameraman/photographer Scott is the younger brother of Fox-32 reporter Dane.
=He was
interviewed Wednesday by a panel of print and television reporters at the
National Association of Black Journalists Convention. Among the panelists: Rachel
Scott (ABC News), Harris Faulkner (Fox News), and Kadia Goba
(Semafor). Needless to say, it was a controversial appearance. Trump really bristled at a question from Scott. And according to this report from WTTW, Trump’s
team demanded that it end after 35 minutes even though it was scheduled for an
hour.
*30 Years
of Larry Potash
=Yesterday
marked the 30th anniversary of Larry Potash on WGN-TV. Since his
arrival in 1994 he has arguably become the biggest star on the local television
scene.
=Look who
bumped into each other at a local suburban festival. That’s retired TV
photographer/author Chuck Quinzio, Fox 32’s Dane Placko, and
retired ABC-7 reporter Paul Meincke.
*20 Years
of Dave Savini
=The
award-winning investigative reporter just celebrated his 20th
anniversary at CBS-2 Chicago. This week they brought him in to co-host the
morning show with Dana Kozlov. Savini shared some photos on his LinkedIn page.
*Is Hard
Knocks a Curse?
=Jim
O’Donnell examined that possibility in his sports media column in the Daily Herald. Normally I wouldn’t care about Hard Knocks, but the Bears
are the subject of this year’s show.
DESPITE THE STRONG SUGGESTION of George McCaskey, the sports gods have yet to officially proclaim that "Hard Knocks" is a curse. https://t.co/bYEyG1D4kJ
=Great piece
in the Tribune this week. The reporter went to Little Italy to talk to
some of the beef shops that inspired The Bear. They don’t watch it. They
never heard of it.
*Norah
O’Donnell Stepping Down after Election in November
=The much anticipated sports streaming service (combining Disney/Fox/Warner Brothers sports assets) announced they are starting up in the fall. The cost will be $42.99 a month. Awful Announcing has the details.
*Colin Jost
to Host New Pop Culture Jeopardy
=30 years ago
I would have killed in this game. Now, not so much. For more info about the
show, click here.
*Olympic
Commentator fired for Sexist Remarks
=He worked for
the BBC, and let’s be honest. This is pretty cringe. Ballard said the women
swimmers were "finishing up" and "you know what women are
like... hanging around, doing their make-up."
*Warner
Brothers Discovery Sues NBA
=This lawsuit
was expected. They are upset about losing the NBA rights to Amazon. ESPN has the details.
From 1971-1979
Jim was the voice of the Chicago Blackhawks and the Cubs for WGN-TV. He was 95.
STAGE/SCREEN
*Deadpool
& Wolverine Sets Box Office Records
=It has
already grossed over $500 million dollars globally and it just came out last
weekend. Crazy numbers
*Obama the Musical?
=You read that
right. Check it out.
DIGITAL/PRINT
*Biden Secures Release of Gershkovich and others
=Emotional scenes at the airport last night. Jake Sullivan explained the news earlier in the day...
National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan gets choked up during the White House briefing talking about the negotiations that led to the historic prisoner swap with Russia.
=It’s an AP
photo. The photographer is Jerome Brouilait. The surfer in the picture
is Olympian Gabriel Medina. You can see it here. It really is stunning.
=According to a report this week, the Justice Department claims that TikTok collected US user
views on specific issues like abortion and guns, and that they have
communicated directly with the Chinese government.
*How do you
solve a problem like Elon?
=The New
York Times has a piece about Elon’s right-hand-woman Linda Yaccarino,
and the challenges she faces because of her boss’s whims.
As always, if you have any media story you’d like to share or think that I might be interested in sharing, drop me a line at rick@eckhartzpress.com or amishrick@yahoo.com. If you're in Chicago media and wondering why I didn't mention your birthday, it's probably because I don't know it. Drop me a line and let me know and I'll put you on my calendar.
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