famous Jim Sands

[Bill O'Neill]

Eli Polonsky wrote:
> Jim Sands last on-air work that I know of was WODS about
> six or seven years ago, doing weekend evenings and other 
> occasional fill-ins. He did (a portion of) their former 
> "Saturday Night Request Party" show for a time, and also
> a Sunday night '50s/early '60s pre-Beatles era specialty
> show called the "Doo-Wop Diner". He had been on WODS doing
> various weekend and fill-in shifts since the early '90s.

One of the greatest memories in the biz that I have is observing The 
Famous One do his Saturday night request show at WHDH.  He would have 
all of the vintage QRK 16" platters spinning and all reels spinning (to 
grab phone requests and re-rack).  It was a frenetic pace and the volume 
was cranked.  I still recall the combination of the smell of popcorn 
popping and cigarette smoke in the air.  Jim used the talk master 
control studio (same room Pudge used to tech Jess) as I doubt all of 
Jim's gear could have fit into the combo studio.  They kept the QRKs 
hidden under a counter top the rest of the week just for Jim's use! Jim 
was also the HDH production guy.  He's a master at the craft.

Bill O'Neill