Here is a Seattle radio oldie but a goodie. I have been working with former KJR jock, Gary Shannon, on two articles that will be of interest to readers from the Pacific Northwest. One piece is on the topic of the jocks and voices of the Golden Years of KJR (mid-sixties). We are also collaborating for an in-depth story, with audio and video, on legendary KJR and Chicago jock, Larry Lujack.
While sorting through many historic airchecks, trying to locate the best material, I stumbled on a gem that is highlighted in today’s post. The voice featured is legendary Seattle jock, Dick Curtis. This recording is from KJR’s Golden Years in the mid-sixties). This 52 year-old recording is as crisp and clear as the day it was recorded.
The concert promoted was the Seattle “Trips Festival,” on May 30, 1967. I remember hearing about this event back when I was a kid. Since I was a mere Bellingham High School sophomore, my parents deemed me too young, too naive and too dumb to go. Now half a century later, I will be damned if I can even decipher the psychedelic show poster — although I can make out the word “Byrds.” In addition to The Byrds, there were other major acts at this festival, including Jefferson Airplane, The Electric Prunes and northwest favorite, Don & The Goodtimes. Take a look at the poster shown here, you might agree that it is hard to read — it’s like it was printed backwards or inside-out or similar. Maybe with all the readily abundant psychedelic drugs in the sixties it was easier to decipher back then.
Since the poster was artistically creative, but of questionable merit as an advertising vehicle, I figure the success of the Trips Festival was largely the result of Dick Curtis’ commercial on Channel 95 KJR — it let you know who was really performing while the poster fell short in that regard. Take a listen to Dick’s original radio spot, just click on the cart machine below. (How many years has it been since you put a cart in the slot and pressed “start?” My personal answer: it was 20 years ago).
Dick Curtis made his radio broadcasting debut in 1957 at KREW in Sunnyside, WA. His career took a giant leap toward the heavens three years later (1960) when KJR hired him to be a Top-40 deejay. Dick was one of the great jocks of KJR’s Golden Years, sharing the airwaves with the likes of Lan Roberts, Tom Larson, Pat O’Day, Larry Lujack, Tom Murphy, and Jerry Kay. Dick spent about 45 years in broadcasting. In Seattle he is, perhaps, best-known for his on-air time at KJR, KOL, and KVI. Over the years, Curtis was a DJ, a newsman, and he held programming and management duties. Two KJR alumni, Pat O’Day and Dick, operated Concerts West — a northwest-based concert promotion company.
William…thanks for sharing your memories. I have a photo of Pat’s Dunes in my collection.
hi. i was reminiscing about the 67 trips festival . you already have this information i suspect but, if not,
well here it is. the concert was in the seattle center arena. it went on from noon until sometime. I left
after the jefferson airplane did white rabbit or somebody to love – their
time slot was surprisingly in mid afternoon. the other part of the story is that either one or two nights later,
the byrds went down to westport to do a very small show at pat o’day’s recently opened Dunes. The venue
was essentially a big garage. there was the dance floor and the stage was just a raised platform. basically one
was about two feet from the band. there wasn’t much watching – as i remember it was nothing but dancing.
and it was loud – small venue – big speakers. bpolk