Sam Lawson’s Audio Vault: And Now, It’s…Contest Time!! – PNW Broadcasting History & Current Affairs

A KJR Cash Call “Major Announcement” during the Kevin O’Brien program.
Pat O’Day steps in, following the Frank Thompson newscast, to announce….
“It’s CONTEST TIME!!!!”

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[Sam Lawson audio]

Sam Lawson

Student engineer at pioneer Nathan Hale radio station KNH 1210 in 1970 (prior to KNHC). Also attended North Seattle Community College and L.H. Bates in Tacoma (KTOY-FM). Sam’s career began as a KJR request line operator in 1970, with his first on-air job at KRKO in 1972. In 1976 he segued to overnights at KTAC as Cory Landon, then weekends at KING. In 1978 he moved to Lewiston, Idaho for afternoons on KOZE and KRLC. Throughout the ‘80s he was an announcer and/or engineer at "the best mix and biggest variety" of Spokane radio stations; including 97KREM, KZUN, KGA, KKER (The Sam & Pam Show), KZZU, PD of KJRB, 98 KISS-FM, and the voice of KAYU-TV. In 1989 he moved to Los Angeles as Assistant Chief Engineer and weekends at KZLA/KLAC. Also engineered for KBIG, KFI, Premiere Radio Networks, CBS Radio, and others. "After avoiding any actual work for nearly 45 years, now happily retired and very appreciatively back in the great Pacific Northwest!" ---Click here for other Sam Lawson articles ---and here for Sam Lawson airchecks

8 thoughts on “Sam Lawson’s Audio Vault: And Now, It’s…Contest Time!!”

Steven Smith • May 13, 2024

Since I was bored today, I looked it up. Kevin came to KJR in June 1972, hired a few weeks before but he had to finish high school in Oklahoma before moving to Seattle. He was 18. In May 1975, PD Steve West cut him loose…saying they were looking for more maturity on-air at KJR. Replaced by Ric Hansen and they brought in Tracy Mitchell to fill Ric’s evening slot.

Jason Remington • May 13, 2024

Kevin was too much of a cut-up. No sense of control. So how did he become such a controlling twit at WNBC? Narcissist maybe.

Reply
1. Steven Smith • May 13, 2024
  
  His dad was a radio honcho friend of O’Day …or so I understand it. When he was hired at age 18 lots of jocks in the state were surprised because he seemed too green and immature for Channel 95. I always figured it was connections, although Pat would boast about his hiring choice based on Kevin’s popularity with high school age teens.
  
  Reply
  1. Jason Remington Untitled
    
    Yes. O’Day may have owed the guy a favor. Wally Cleaver would have referred to Kevin as a goof.
    
    Reply

Steven Smith • May 12, 2024

The ’70s bit where Greg Aust on KVI spoofed the KJR cash call was classic.

Jason Remington • May 12, 2024

$1529 was a huge chunk of change in 1968 (? guessing the date of this aircheck)
Anyone knowing the Kevin O’ career timeline, please lay it on us.

Steven Smith • May 12, 2024

Kevin was there in the vicinity of 1972 until 1975.

Reply
1. Jason Remington • May 13, 2024
  
  Sounds about right.
  
  Reply

Sam Lawson

8 thoughts on “Sam Lawson’s Audio Vault: And Now, It’s…Contest Time!!”

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