RAB Draws A Blank…

Wednesday, December, 17, 2008 by Mel Phillips.

Stunting is always a good attention-getter, so RAB President/CEO Jeff Haley gets an “A” while everyone else gets an “A” followed by “Day Without RAB” by going to the Radio Advertising Bureau’s website.  It’s the old ‘What if a war is declared but no one shows up?’ or ‘If a tree falls in an empty forest, does it make any noise?’   Haley got the idea when he says, ”we were fondly remembering that old idea about ‘Imagine a day without radio.’”

The purpose of the sudden onset of ‘radio alzheimer’s’ is “to give the RAB an opportunity to thank people for ‘giving the RAB the chance to participate in the process this year.’”  Haley also adds “in the 50-year history of this organization, each and every time radio is amid tough times, we see our usage go way, way up.  Usage is at record levels for the website, downloads and other online resources.  We think it’s important to remind people of the impact we have on the business.” …

Haley claims that 35,000 subscribers visit the RAB website daily, which is slightly more than I get - kidding.  Of course, there is a danger in doing this stunt.  What if no one notices or what if they decide they can do without the RAB website?  Just asking…  

10 Timeline Memories:

1. 1903] The Wright Stuff: Orville and Wilbur Wright make the first successful flight in history at 10:35 a.m. at Kitty Hawk (NC). The biplane stays airborne for 12 seconds and covers 120 feet on its maiden flight…
2. 1959] Blasted beach: “On The Beach” which shows life after a nuclear holocaust, premieres in New York City and becomes the first movie to debut simultaneously in major cities worldwide, 18 cities in all, including Moscow…
3. 1964] How about that?: Just six weeks after CBS buys controlling interest in the New York Yankees, the ‘Voice of the Yankees’, Mel Allen is fired. Allen was play-by-play man since 1940.  Mel and Red Barber discuss the 1947 World Series in this clip…
4. 1969] UF what?: The U.S. Air Force closes its ‘Project: Blue Book’ by concluding there’s no evidence of UFOs, as a mysterious flying disc hovers overhead.  Jack Webb narrates this special…
5. 1969] TV History: Tiny Tim and Miss Vicki (Budinger) are married on “The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson”. An estimated 50 million viewers see the couple tip toe through the tulips.  Tiny sings to Miss Vicki in this clip…
6. 1975] Beware of people named ‘Squeaky’: Lynette ‘Squeaky’ Fromme is sentenced to life in prison for her attempt on the life of President Gerald R. Ford.  ‘Squeaky’ talks about Charles Manson in this clip…
7. 1976] Super!: WTCG-TV in Atlanta becomes WTBS, uplinking with a satellite to become the first TV Super Station, blanketing the United States…
8. 1989] “D’oh!” Debut: “The Simpsons” debuts in its own time slot on Sunday nights (Fox). The animated classic was first introduced on “The Tracey Ullman Show” on April 19, 1987…
9. 1994] Wedding Bells: Richie Sambora and Heather Locklear rock down the aisle (to Bon Jovi music, of course). Heather files for divorce in February of 2006…
10. 2006] ‘Happy Trails’: Former major league pitcher (Los Angeles Dodgers, Detroit Tigers) Larry Sherry, dies after a long battle with cancer, at 71…

Music Memories:

• 1955] Written on this date: Carl Perkins wakes up in the middle of the night, writes the lyrics to a song on a brown paper “tow sack” and less than 48 hours later, out comes “Blue Suede Shoes“…
• 1965] Performing live on this date: Judy Garland and The Supremes (not together) at the opening of the Houston Astrodome…

“Happy Birthday…happy birthday”: Michele Tafoya (44), Barry (”Ernie” of ‘My Three Sons’) Livingston (55), Eugene Levy (62), Ernie Hudson (63), Chris Matthews (63), Bob Guccione (78) and William Safire (79)…

Timeline Countdown: 4 days until winter, 5 days until Hanukah, 8 shopping days until Christmas, 14 nights until New Year’s Eve and 17 days until the NFL Wild Card Playoffs

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