Re: Field trips

[Chuckigo@aol.com]

In a message dated 03/19/2000 12:50:26 AM Eastern Standard Time, Sptseditor 
writes:

<< Hey, I wasn't trying to date you guys! But IIRC that studio has been gone 
for close to 15 years now. Still, it was a great idea back when 850 was 
playing music. >>

yeah, it was 1985 (the first of a couple of years we did the Jordan Marsh 
remotes).  but you said you were, at most, 6... that makes those of us who 
did the shows in the window "old guys".  (ugh, he says with a wink and a 
nudge).
   and the WHDH mobile studio was very cool.  full console, mics, 
reel-to-reel machines, plus a half dozen cart machines.  the only downside 
was the non-functioning "little disk jockey's room".  we were at the 
porta-potty mercy like everyone else on the 4th of July on the Esplanade.
   i remember one summer Sunday afternoon at Quincy Market myself.  just 
finished a noon to 4pm WHDH shift and joined my friends in the warm and sunny 
outdoor patio of the Salty Dog, not fifty yards from the WBZ IBM (Incredible 
Broadcast Machine).  Happily quaffing cold adult beverages and clams on the 
halfshell when up strolls the WBZ announcer on duty, Len Thomas.  Holding the 
wireless mic, doing some on-air patter, he stops at our table, asking names.  
he sticks the mic in front of me, and asks me mine.  i politely said "Chuck". 
 he then asks what brings us out this fine afternoon.  i defer to one of my 
buddies, and my friend says we're just getting together.  pointing to me, he 
mentions that "...and our friend here is down from Maine.  He just finished 
work."  So the mic is back to me.  "Where do you work?"  I reply "You really 
don't want me to say."  Well, he continues to prod for about thirty seconds, 
and i continue to defer.  I could have scored a major cross-promo coup, but i 
resisted.  He finishes with us, goes to a spot break, and that's when I tell 
him that I just got off shift at WHDH.  sheepishly, he makes a formal 
introduction and thanks me.  we hung around long enough to buy him a beer 
after.
   WGAN in Portland, at the same time, had a fully equipped Winnebago.  six 
cart machines (two triple-stacks), mics, and console so that entire shows 
(spots, jingles, music,etc) could be done on the road.  My favorite memory of 
that 'Bago was the Deering Oaks Family Festival in 1984.  My wife had to 
work, and I was asked to do a Sunday afternoon.  Our babysitter was 
unavailable, so with a three month old in tow, we turned the mobile studio 
into a mobile nursery.  (crank-up swing and all).

- -Chuck Igo