Wednesday, December 15, 2021

Robert St. John: Radio Days

 My neighbors a few doors down started decorating their yard for Christmas a couple of decades ago. At first it just started with a small display in front of the house. Over the years they added new pieces, several new characters, scenes, settings, and festive holiday elements. This isn’t some cheap Clark Griswold-type Christmas yard display. It takes an entire crew a few days to set it up. Ultimately, I am grateful to know— and live near— people who put so much effort and so many resources into tastefully dressing up the neighborhood during the holidays. They have created an entire Christmas village on the street. It is very complex, intricate, and festive and attracts many passersby on a busy road. People even park their car, get out, and walk around posing for photos. 

 

This year in addition to adding several new scenes in the Christmas village they have launched a radio station. The signal only covers a few blocks but if you tune in to the frequency 107.1, a small transmitter will pipe Christmas music into your car as you drive by their Christmas display. I love that. It’s wonderful. I’m a huge fan. It’s a good thing for the community.

 

I love my neighborhood. It’s the neighborhood I grew up in. Though when we moved into our house in 1968 the area in which I currently live, and the land in which my neighbors live and have constructed their Christmas village was all piney woods and jeep trails. I spent my youth riding a bike all through those woods that probably covered close to 800 acres.

 

Just on the edge of those woods lived a guy who was my brothers age, who— at 13-years old— had a home radio station that he broadcast out of his bedroom. The signal, like the current Christmas neighbors down the block, only covered a small area. I could barely pick up the station on the clock radio that sat on my bedside table, but I listened often. It was the early 1970s and there weren’t many options for good radio in Hattiesburg Mississippi.

 

I don’t know if that had anything to do with my getting into radio, or if it was just that I loved music and started announcing events at my school, which made my mom think I might make a good radio announcer. It’s likely that she thought someone with interests like me, and no apparent talent, no money, and no source of income, might need to start thinking about a career. So, at 15 years old she pushed me into applying for a job at a radio station.

 

I fell in love with radio work immediately. In the beginning the program director would only give me the New Orleans Saints radio broadcast, which involved sitting in a chair for three hours listening to Archie Manning run for his life because we didn’t have much of an offensive line, and when the radio broadcaster calling the game threw it to a local station for the top-of-the-hour legal ID, I was able to flip the mic switch and say, “You are listening to the New Orleans Saints on WHSY AM, Hattiesburg.” Those 12 words were huge for me. Seriously, huge.

 

Eventually I was able to start spinning records for a full shift on weekends, and before long was given the seven to midnight shift six days a week. I loved it. At $2.30 an hour, I didn’t make much money. But the crazy secret is that had I had any cash reserves, I would’ve paid them to let me be on the air and play music. It seemed like a career that may be tailor made for me.

 

I worked whenever they asked. The typical radio shift is four hours long. Two years in a row I worked Christmas Eve from 6 PM until Christmas morning at 6 AM, and New Year’s Eve from 6 PM until New Year’s Day at 6 AM. I am sure all the other disc jockeys at the station— most of whom were in their mid to late 20s— looked at it as, “Let’s make that St. John kid work all of the holiday hours.” I looked at it as they’re giving me a 12-hour shift! This is awesome!

 

In those days we had to sign off over the air at midnight. The closing duties for DJs were to play the national anthem, sign out on the logs for the Federal Communications Commission, and then shut the transmitter off. Though on many Saturday nights I would tell my friends to leave their radio on after the midnight sign off. I would typically wait three or four minutes after shutting the transmitter down, turn it back on, go back into the DJ booth, and track Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Rolling Stone, and Beatles albums till three or four in the morning. All for my high school classmates who were riding around in cars and mostly up to no good. It was my version of a personal radio station like my brother’s friend (though likely illegal).

 

At the time the greatest station in the South was WZZQ in Jackson. They were a true album-oriented rock radio station where the disc jockeys programmed their own music. FM frequencies weren't in mass use back then. The FM frequency at our radio station was programming a format they call “beautiful music.” No one was listening. We begged, and eventually talked the station owner into letting us turn it into an album rock station like WZZQ. The following 18 months was one of the most exciting periods of my life. I was a part of a small group of three or four people who brought true rock and roll radio to Hattiesburg, MS for the first time. It was hugely popular.

 

After I graduated high school and went to college, I had no clue as to what I wanted to do with my life, so I majored in communications. Unfortunately, I mostly majored in partying. After a couple years I flunked out. Though it ended up being one of the best things that ever happened to me because I ended up working in restaurants and fell in love with the restaurant business. As much as I love music— and I really love music, all music, always have, and always will— the restaurant bug bit me harder and I have never looked back since.

 

My son wants to go into the restaurant business. Lately he’s started DJing. Neither are careers I pushed on him. Maybe it’s in the blood. 

 

Every time I pass my neighbors’ Christmas village, I turn it to the small radio frequency playing Christmas music which reaches all the way to my house. Maybe it’s the Christmas spirit, or maybe it’s sentimentality, but lately I’ve been thinking about starting a local radio station. One like my brother’s friend did, out of a bedroom. It would only cover a couple of blocks, but it would also take me back to one of the greatest times of my life.

 

Onward.


Sugar Cookies

1 cup               Butter

1 /2cup            Sugar

1 large             Egg

1 Tbl.              Vanilla

3 cups              Flour

1 /2 tsp.           Baking powder

 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 

 

Cream butter and sugar; beat in egg and vanilla. Sift flour and baking powder together, stir into mixture. Refrigerate about 1 hour, or until dough is firm enough to roll. On a floured surface, roll to 1 /8-inch thickness and cut with cookie cutters. Sprinkle the tops with granulated sugar. Bake 10-12 minutes. 


Yield: 8 dozen small cookies.



8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Been in the radio business in Mississippi for 30+ years. I've heard stories about working for the late Charlie Holt. I think you made the right choice going into the restaurant business :)

Anonymous said...

What a vulgar display of wealth when so many Americans are only able to get by with predatory high interest loans most likely offered by old money (ie former slave masters) of course they are just trying to one-up their fellow old money elites.

Anonymous said...

11:40 : Poor man here, my advice is to suck it up and stay away from loans. Make the wife hunker down as well. Tell the kids they can't have another phone upgrade .....get rid of at least two dogs and find a hustle.

Anonymous said...

@2:08
11:40 here
I am debt free.
How exactly does one “make the wife” do anything in 2021?
My kids are on their own, no pets either.
And how does one “find a hustle” in 2021?
I was always told that “hustling” someone was deceitful.

Anonymous said...

I do love them sugar cookies, and Eggnog, but I go a bit heavier on the butter. Enough Eggnog I forget about the cookies. Anyway, Merry Christmas to all. Includes all of those Bah Humbug types out there.

Anonymous said...

11:40: Let them eat sugar cookies.

Anonymous said...

I would call Robert and ask him to play a song on the radio. I would be ready to record it on my cassette recorder. Then, I would play it back and figure out the guitar chords 😂

Anonymous said...

3:27 : I may have said things that are impossible to do in 2021 and I apologize. To think we can control our wifes was a really dumb thing to say. Lol.


Recent Comments

Search Jackson Jambalaya

Subscribe to JJ's Youtube channel

Archives

Trollfest '09

Trollfest '07 was such a success that Jackson Jambalaya will once again host Trollfest '09. Catch this great event which will leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Othor Cain and his band, The Black Power Structure headline the night while Sonjay Poontang returns for an encore performance. Former Frank Melton bodyguard Marcus Wright makes his premier appearance at Trollfest singing "I'm a Sweet Transvestite" from "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." Kamikaze will sing his new hit, “How I sold out to da Man.” Robbie Bell again performs: “Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be Bells” and “Any friend of Ed Peters is a friend of mine”. After the show, Ms. Bell will autograph copies of her mug shot photos. In a salute to “Dancing with the Stars”, Ms. Bell and Hinds County District Attorney Robert Smith will dance the Wango Tango.

Wrestling returns, except this time it will be a Battle Royal with Othor Cain, Ben Allen, Kim Wade, Haley Fisackerly, Alan Lange, and “Big Cat” Donna Ladd all in the ring at the same time. The Battle Royal will be in a steel cage, no time limit, no referee, and the losers must leave town. Marshand Crisler will be the honorary referee (as it gives him a title without actually having to do anything).


Meet KIM Waaaaaade at the Entergy Tent. For five pesos, Kim will sell you a chance to win a deed to a crack house on Ridgeway Street stuffed in the Howard Industries pinata. Don't worry if the pinata is beaten to shreds, as Mr. Wade has Jose, Emmanuel, and Carlos, all illegal immigrants, available as replacements for the it. Upon leaving the Entergy tent, fig leaves will be available in case Entergy literally takes everything you have as part of its Trollfest ticket price adjustment charge.

Donna Ladd of The Jackson Free Press will give several classes on learning how to write. Smearing, writing without factchecking, and reporting only one side of a story will be covered. A donation to pay their taxes will be accepted and she will be signing copies of their former federal tax liens. Ms. Ladd will give a dramatic reading of her two award-winning essays (They received The Jackson Free Press "Best Of" awards.) "Why everything is always about me" and "Why I cover murders better than anyone else in Jackson".

In the spirit of helping those who are less fortunate, Trollfest '09 adopts a cause for which a portion of the proceeds and donations will be donated: Keeping Frank Melton in his home. The “Keep Frank Melton From Being Homeless” booth will sell chances for five dollars to pin the tail on the jackass. John Reeves has graciously volunteered to be the jackass for this honorable excursion into saving Frank's ass. What's an ass between two friends after all? If Mr. Reeves is unable to um, perform, Speaker Billy McCoy has also volunteered as when the word “jackass” was mentioned he immediately ran as fast as he could to sign up.


In order to help clean up the legal profession, Adam Kilgore of the Mississippi Bar will be giving away free, round-trip plane tickets to the North Pole where they keep their bar complaint forms (which are NOT available online). If you don't want to go to the North Pole, you can enjoy Brant Brantley's (of the Mississippi Commission on Judicial Performance) free guided tours of the quicksand field over by High Street where all complaints against judges disappear. If for some reason you are unable to control yourself, never fear; Judge Houston Patton will operate his jail where no lawyers are needed or allowed as you just sit there for minutes... hours.... months...years until he decides he is tired of you sitting in his jail. Do not think Judge Patton is a bad judge however as he plans to serve free Mad Dog 20/20 to all inmates.

Trollfest '09 is a pet-friendly event as well. Feel free to bring your dog with you and do not worry if your pet gets hungry, as employees of the Jackson Zoo will be on hand to provide some of their animals as food when it gets to be feeding time for your little loved one.

Relax at the Fox News Tent. Since there are only three blonde reporters in Jackson (being blonde is a requirement for working at Fox News), Megan and Kathryn from WAPT and Wendy from WLBT will be on loan to Fox. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both and a torn-up Obama yard sign will entitle you to free drinks served by Megan, Wendy, and Kathryn. Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required. Just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '09 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.


Note: Security provided by INS.

Trollfest '07

Jackson Jambalaya is the home of Trollfest '07. Catch this great event which promises to leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Sonjay Poontang and his band headline the night with a special steel cage, no time limit "loser must leave town" bout between Alan Lange and "Big Cat"Donna Ladd following afterwards. Kamikaze will perform his new song F*** Bush, he's still a _____. Did I mention there was no referee? Dr. Heddy Matthias and Lori Gregory will face off in the undercard dueling with dangling participles and other um, devices. Robbie Bell will perform Her two latest songs: My Best Friends are in the Media and Mama's, Don't Let Your Babies Grow up to be George Bell. Sid Salter of The Clarion-Ledger will host "Pin the Tail on the Trial Lawyer", sponsored by State Farm.

There will be a hugging booth where in exchange for your young son, Frank Melton will give you a loooong hug. Trollfest will have a dunking booth where Muhammed the terrorist will curse you to Allah as you try to hit a target that will drop him into a vat of pig grease. However, in the true spirit of Separate But Equal, Don Imus and someone from NE Jackson will also sit in the dunking booth for an equal amount of time. Tom Head will give a reading for two hours on why he can't figure out who the hell he is. Cliff Cargill will give lessons with his .80 caliber desert eagle, using Frank Melton photos as targets. Tackleberry will be on hand for an autograph session. KIM Waaaaaade will be passing out free titles and deeds to crackhouses formerly owned by The Wood Street Players.

If you get tired come relax at the Fox News Tent. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both will entitle you to free drinks.Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required, just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '07 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.

Note: Security provided by INS
.