Synopses & Reviews
Students and others interested in radio history will be intrigued by this fast-paced biography of Gordon McLendon's career in the radio industry, touching also on his work in motion pictures and involvement in Texas politics.
Following a glimpse into his childhood, education, and military career, Ronald Garay describes McLendon's station ownership and management in Palestine, Texas; the development of a major network, the Liberty Broadcasting System; his live and recreated baseball and football programs; and his skirmishes with the major league baseball establishment. Much attention is given to how McLendon re-invented radio and competed with television and print media through his Top 40 music hits, disc jockey programming, and the use of local news. Important concerns regarding station trafficking, editorializing, and public interests are considered as well in this extraordinary book.
Review
This is a well-researched and well-written assessment of a fascinating period in radio, as seen through the life of a key figure who helped bring on the changes radio then needed.Communication Booknotes
Review
. . . Ronald Garay has helped us better understand that American broadcasting means far more than NBC, CBS, and ABC.Business History Review
Synopsis
This fast-paced biography of McLendon covers his station ownership, development of a major network system, live and recreated baseball and football programming, "re-invention" of radio in the 1950s, Top 40 music and disc jockey programming, and his move to cover local news.
Synopsis
This fast-paced biography of McLendon covers his station ownership, development of a major network system, live and recreated baseball and football programming, "re-invention" of radio in the 1950s, Top 40 music and disc jockey programming, and his move to cover local news.
Synopsis
Those interested in radio history "will be entranced by the biography about undeniably the most important figure in radio programming and management at mid-century." (David MacFarland) This fast-paced biography describes problems in station ownership, management, the development of a major network system, live and recreated baseball and football programming, the "re-invention" of radio in the 1950s, to compete with TV and print media, Top 40 music hits, disc jockey programming, and the use of local news. Important concerns regarding the Federal Communications Commission, editorializing, and public interests are considered as well.
About the Author
RONALD GARAY is Associate Professor at the Manship School of Journalism, Louisiana State University.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Childhood, Education and Military Career
KNET and KLIF: First Ventures into Radio
The Liberty Broadcasting System: Halcyon Days
The Liberty Broadcasting System: Finis
KLIF and Top 40 Radio
McLendon Station Group: Acquisition and Management
McLendon Station Format Innovations
McLendon Station Editorials
Departure from Radio
Politics, Moviemaking and Other Interests
Reflections
Reference List
Bibliography
Index