During a show business career that lasted over 60 years, Jack Benny was one of the premier entertainers in the world. Now, almost 50 years after his death, there is little doubt in my mind that his comedy is still as good as ever. But I wanted to see if that thought holds up to scrutiny while also exploring how a guy who almost never told any jokes could become such a comedy star in the first place.

Featuring interviews with author Kathy Fuller-Seeley, TV writer Ken Levine and Laura Leibowitz, the president of the International Jack Benny Fan Club, I'm Thinking it Over!: Jack Benny and Reflections on What Makes a Straight Man So Funny is a journey through the golden age of radio and the early days of TV. It's also a celebration of a great comedian from yesteryear.

I'm Thinking it Over!: Jack Benny and Reflections on What Makes a Straight Man So Funny

NEW: American Top 40 (AT40) (1970) - Moog Jingles & Show Theme - PAMS Productions

PAMS - 'WAYS' (61 CHARLOTTE)

PEPPER TANNER 'NOW SOUND'

From a very long time ago! Perhaps one of the most recognisable Jingles of all time came from ‘PAMS’ is the ‘Contempo Sig Cut’ from Series 18. It was mainly used at the TOH. (Boom, plink as somebody recently described it).

Series 18 was originally released in 1961 when I was 7!

Here is a montage (150) of the station ‘Contempo’ sig cuts produced mainly produced by ‘PAMS’  between 1961-1978. There will still be many packages of this that I don’t have, KBGO for example. There some later re-sings included from CPMG/BEN FREEDMAN/KENR and maybe a couple from JAM! Some of the later ones I am not entirely sure of their origin. Like XM.

One of my favourites is from ‘WGAR’, I love the American twang in it. I am very partial to ‘WQXI’ as well. I have also included five of ‘KQV’s six cuts. The three from ‘WAYS’. The two from ‘WMEX’ and ‘WQAM’

Hope you can stand it.

'PAMS' SERIES 18 CONTEMPO SIG 'MEGAMIX'

WABC 50 years in 50 minutes
Norman Barrington's big chronological montage

I have made a new sampler, for the holiday season. I admit it is quite ambitious, consisting entirely of WABC material, and covering 1950-2004. 

I have tried to use less familiar cuts, and for added interest, a sprinkling of cuts that never made it on air (often for obvious reasons). I have avoided basic demo cuts, so as not to be predictable, but where they do appear I have rendered them in stereo, whereas normally they would be only heard in mono.

Although my chronology might not be perfect, it's fairly consistent, thus illustrating the changing styles as the decades rolled by.
I hope you agree it captures the different facets of arguably America's biggest station, as well as the well respected presenters.

Siday, Ross, CRC,  Pams, Homegrown, Pepper(!), Thunder and Jam are all represented.

It struck me that Jon Wolfert at JAM has managed to keep the WABC account for longer that all the other jingle companies put together by a long shot, a fitting tribute to WABC's number #1 fan and expert, thus I dedicate this sampler to him.
All copyright owners duly acknowledged.  

Norman, November 2023

NORMAN'S WABC 50 YEARS IN 50 MINUTES

NORMAN’S: ‘HAVE I GOT NEWS FOR YOU’!  50 YEARS OF NEWS IDENTS IN 50 MINUTES:

Just dropped today from ‘Norman Barrington’. 

‘Roughly Chronological, 1950-2000, but sometimes by the date of use rather than when was made. Includes TV Radio and a cinema one from both sides of the Atlantic and beyond. 

I also gave Radio One a separate section in it's own right, since it's such a particular story. I have tastefully foreshortened many of the longer more repetitive news beds to create a better listening experience. 

US listeners may not know the early News themes from the UK, but if it sounds like a military band, it's British and contrasts with the more modern contemporaneous sound in the US back in the 1950s. We should never have exported Eric Siday to the States!’

Norman-Barrington 13-01-2024

NORMAN’S: ‘HAVE I GOT NEWS FOR YOU’!  50 YEARS OF NEWS IDENTS IN 50 MINUTES:

‘PAMS GUILTY PLEASURES’ – PART ONE

This is what keeps me happy for days. I have been working on this project for the past 3 years, inspired by ’PAMS’ 70th anniversary! Here is a montage of some of my favourite ‘PAMS’ Jingles, the whole thing goes on for a ridiculous 3 hours (I love listening to them loud on a long car journey). Don’t worry I have cut it down into 3 parts. Part 2 and 3 still need a lot more work.  Thankfully you no longer have to do this on a reel-to-reel machine.

Many have gone before me doing ‘PAMS’ montages. I was inspired to do this hearing from others including Ken R Deutsch, Jon Wolfert, Tracy Carmen on (REEL RADIO), the late Michael Neff whose collection I would love to have had a copy of, Norman Barrington who has an amazing collection, and has been very helpful. Norman has kindly done a 10 minute ‘curated edit’ for those who cannot stand the 50 mins worth.   

Please anybody know who ‘Storm King’ is or was? Sam Ward? Thanks to everyone else not mentioned who has helped me with this project.

A very special thanks has to go to KEN R who saved so many of theses PAMS tapes from being dumped. 

What I love so much about PAMS, pre series 40 was that you can sing along to them, they are so catchy! 

Hope you enjoy it as much as I have had putting it together.


Henry

'PAMS' GUILTY PLEASURES - PART-1 (FULL LENGTH VERSION)

This is morning radio we could use now. From 56 years ago, here’s Jess Cain’s talents on full display at WHDH/Boston on Friday 3/15/68 (8-9AM – edited). He’s celebrating St. Patrick’s day…. WHDH’s owners WERE named Clancy, after all. Notable historical news (gold standard, RFK) is left in, as are commercials of note. WHDH TV’s “Atlantic Service Station Weatherman” Ray Walker fills in for Leo Egan on news. Kevin O’Keefe in the traffic copter.

WHDH/Boston (850) - Jess Cain - 8-9am - 3/15/68

JAM ‘WPRO’ ‘PRO-RADIO’

This is my first JAM montage, and it only goes on for less that 4 mins. Love this package. I have chopped up the air versions with the demo.

This is very new for me 1981!

Only have two ‘PRO-RADIO’ packages. WPRO and WAEB. Who else bought this package?

JAM 'WPRO' 'PRO RADIO'

Exclusive Pams Montage series #14-#44 from Norman Barrington

PAMS #14 to #44

Broadcaster of almost 50 years. Currently in AM Drive in an 80s/90s format. Also, Business/Traffic Manager for the Providence, RI NPR affiliate. Past Major Market personality and programmer. Broadcast and Commercial and Pop Culture archivist.

WHDH/Boston (850) - Jess Cain - 8-9am - 3/15/68

TSJ56

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