Bobby Simon came to work at KJR, 950 –, the first time, in 1964. His full name Robert Theodore Simon was sometimes used, even with a “Chipmunks” background. This first KJR stint was only three months long. (His previous air experience at KAYE, Puyallup, KORD, Pasco, and KXLY, Spokane, was not enough to keep up with high powered KJR jocks including the already legendary Larry Lujack.)
Bobby got shifts at KEED, Eugene, then KISN, Portland, and WIFE, Indianapolis. He came back to Seattle for KOL and then bounced back to KJR where “B.S. for the Great Northwest” thrived — until he was pushed out “because Lan Roberts came back.” Into the ’70s “Ma and Pa Simon’s little boy” worked at KTAC, 850, then back to KOL, until he was replaced by an automation machine. Then to KTAC again. He finally achieved morning drive at KZOK-FM, and then KYYX, Seattle, in 1978. He did fill-in work at KNBQ, Tacoma, and KISW, Seattle. He also worked briefly for the Braiker Satellite service. In 1980 he was back at KTAC. Bobby Simon died in a car crash November, 2002. Bobby Simon was 65.
[Thanks to Steve Lesley for the corrections on this story!]
I’m not knocking Bobby Simon. I remember him as one of the era’s better deejays. But regardless of what’s in the news, how could there be something amusing about that anyway?
I honestly do not know.
I agree nothing that I know could be funny about that. That said there isn’t much in today’s world that doesn’t offend someone.
On a side note my wife’s initials, like Bobby Simon, were also BS. She was a Quality Inspector at a large aircraft manufacturer and was required to initial most everything she inspected. (Hopefully that didn’t offend someone.)
What was the harmless joke? Can it be told today?
It really was not a harmless joke. But it was a very unfortunate mistake and Simon says he learn a very hard lesson from his mistake and the next time he writes out an air bit, check the news first. He told a joke about a dead girl scout not realizing that there was a news story about a dead girl scout. A lot of comedians have that problem, Lets say someone decides to write jokes about airlines and just when they are going on stage to use the jokes, a plane crash occurs. There goes your material.
Simon did very well at KJR. He told what was intended to be a harmless joke. It turned out to be a serious news story and listeners complained. Simon told that story on the air on a KJR reunion in 1988. He also wrote about it at a KJR museum site. In fact, it is also in Lujack,s book. Pat had to let him go and he was banished to KEED, Eugene, Oregon A year later he climbed back up the ladder to success. Reading his resume makes you think he really believes in recycling.