Airwaves: September 19, 2008
Putnam Passes
Longtime radio and television personality George Putnam passed away
September 11th after months of problems related to a kidney ailment. He was
94.
Putnam is a Los Angeles legend whose career began at the age of 20 when he
answered phones and played records on WDGY/Minneapolis. He moved over to NBCs
radio network in the late 1930s, worked with Armed Forces Radio after being
drafted during World War II, made the switch to television when DuMont hired
him after the war, and shared the role of the voice for the Fox Movietone News
reels with Lowell Thomas.
But it was in Los Angeles where he really made his mark. In 1951 he went to
work at KTTV Channel 11 as the stations news anchor. Here he further
developed his style of reporting the news that often blurred the lines between
reporter and commentator. This continued as he moved to KTLA Channel 5,
back to KTTV and again to KTLA during the sixties and seventies. You could
also find him for short tiles at KCOP Channel 13 and KHJ-TV (now
KCAL) Channel 9; each time he was among the top-rated newscasters.
It is rumored that his style of broadcasting was the inspiration for the character
of Ted Baxter on CBS Televisions Mary Tyler Moore Show,
though no one will state that outright. Certainly the credentials are there:
my friend and former high school English teacher Dick Bergeron told me of watching
Putnam when he first arrived in Los Angeles from Minnesota in the late 1960s: I
thought it was a joke at first. He said that he would first tell you the news,
and then tell you what to think. I couldnt believe it.
In 1976 he started a show on KIEV (now KRLA 870 AM) called TalkBack,
and he remained on the station continually for almost 30 years. In 2004, the
show moved to CRN Digital Talk Radio, available on many cable and satellite
services, and was syndicated to a handful of stations on the East coast.
Considered a staunch conservative by many, Putnam said he was a lifelong Democrat.
His show will continue on under the leadership of his former producer, Chuck
Wilder.
Country KLSX
KLSX (97.1 FM) is now simulcasting the signal of co-owned Inland Empire
CBS sister station KFRG (95.1 FM) on its HD-2 digital stream. You need
a new HD radio to hear it.
Its a strange development for a variety of reasons. For example, because
HD signals are limited to one percent of a stations analog power, the
analog signal from KFRG can reach every place that KLSXs HD-2 signal
can reach ... and more. So having the simulcast does nothing to increase the
coverage area of KFRG at all.
Secondly, word on the street has CBS selling KFRG in the near future anyway,
along with a few other stations in the IE. So unless KLSX is planning to drop
talk for country -- a very doubtful idea -- I just cant figure out whats
up. Hopefully the lack of compelling new content on the secondary HD channels
is not the master plan of new Los Angeles CBS radio head Roy Laughlin.
No Jackson
The one local show on KGIL (1260 AM and 540 AM) has been pulled, as Michael
Jacksons contract was not renewed. KGIL is now filled with syndicated
programming. Thats just too bad.
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Copyright © 2008 Richard Wagoner and Los Angeles Newspaper Group.
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