That New Car Smell

08/20/2015 LovelineJack (Jack Allen)

KVI personalities 1977

This poster size picture from 1977 has been hanging on my office wall for years. I can’t tell you how many times over the years I’ve been asked about it by media people and I always tell the same true story. It has never failed to bring extended laughter.
A bit about the station before the story. KVI (Golden West Broadcasters – KVI Seattle, KEX Portland, KSFO San Fransisco, KMPC Los Angeles) at the time was a high profile, personality MOR giant in Seattle consistently in the top three in all dayparts with incredible shares. I was humbled to work with these guys for five years (’74-’79).
This picture was part of the package to kick off the huge “I Love You Seattle” promotion. The setting was in a “seedy” part of town where they white-washed the old brick wall of a building. The photographer is set up on a pile of mostly wine bottles and beer cans about 30 feet in front of us. Getting us all together for the photo was a challenge at best, but the photographer faced the biggest challenge of all … getting us to quit goofing around and pay attention for the picture.
Sidebar: Two days before I had just taken delivery of my brand new 1977 Mercury Cougar XR-7 that I custom ordered and had been waiting for 6 weeks to arrive. The guys had been razzing me about it accusing me of acting like a kid before Christmas. It was parked well within view about 60 feet away.
About the time the photographer is beginning to show signs of frustration … Hardwick (back row left) the morning icon poked me (front row left) in the ribs and said, “Hey Jack there’s a wino peeing on your new car”. What?
All eyes shifted to my car and sure enough there he was … swaying back and forth oblivious to the world peeing all over the trunk of my brand new car. As the laughter broke out the photographer yelped, “hey you guys…”. All eyes shift back to camera, one click and the photographer says, “Got it, we’re done, have a nice day”. This is the picture.