MUSEUM OF TELEVISION & RADIO SEMINAR SERIES, THE: A CONVERSATION WITH WOLFMAN JACK {LONG VERSION}
Summary
One in this series of seminars conducted by the Museum of Television & Radio. Museum radio department manager Ken Mueller moderates this seminar, in which legendary rock 'n' roll broadcaster Wolfman Jack -- in one of his final public appearances -- discusses his career in radio, television, film, and his recently released autobiography, "Have Mercy."
Prior to questions from Mueller and the audience, there is a presentation of clips from the Wolfman's radio career. Clips include: XERB (Los Angeles), 1966; WERF (Del Rio, Texas), 1964; WERF (Del Rio, Texas), 1964; "Monitor," NBC Radio Network, 1973; KRLA (Los Angeles), 1986; "Live from Planet Hollywood," WXTR-FM, (Washington, D.C.), 1995; and XERB (Los Angeles), 1968. During the seminar, the Wolfman comments on the following topics, among others: the deejays who influenced his career; his memorable meeting early in his career with a deejay named Mr. Blues at a urinal in a bathroom in Newark; how Wolfman Jack developed his persona; his brief stint as "Goatman" Irving; the time he sold baby chickens via mail-order from a radio station in Del Rio, Texas; his wild days in "border" radio when he would broadcast from inside the Mexican border to avoid U.S. FCC regulations; the recording artists whose careers he helped launch; his ardent desire to get his current fledgling syndicated radio program on WCBS-FM in New York; his friendly "feud" with fellow deejay "Cousin" Bruce Morrow; the Guess Who song "Clap for the Wolfman," which helped increase the deejay's popularity; his belief that fellow deejay Howard Stern is a genius, and his subtler way of dealing with risquŽ material; how he met and became friends with Elvis Presley during the "King's" final years; his meeting with John Lennon and Yoko Ono; the chaotic backstage atmosphere of "The Midnight Special," which was fueled by rampant drug use; his work with George Lucas in "American Graffiti"; his desire to play old, obscure rhythm 'n' blues artists; his defense of fellow radio personality the Greaseman, who is lambasted by an audience member; his description of Dick Clark as a "mean businessman but a great and generous man"; his favorable opinion of radio personality Don Imus; the time during his youth when he loudly "cut the cheese" while meditating at a Quaker school; his choice of Robin Williams to portray him in the possible movie based on his book; how the wild atmosphere at the "The Midnight Special" was further exacerbated by co-host Helen Reddy's husband/agent Jeff Wald, whom the Wolfman descibes as an "a-hole and a big doer of cocaine"; the cartoon based on the Wolfman's radio personality; and his work appearing as himself on various television programs.
Details
- NETWORK: Paley
- DATE: June 21, 1995 Wednesday 6:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 1:27:23
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T:39073
- GENRE: Seminars
- SUBJECT HEADING: N/A
- SERIES RUN: N/A
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Ken Mueller … Moderator
- Wolfman Jack (Bob Smith) … Guest
- Mr. Blues
- Dick Clark
- Goatman Irving
- Greaseman, The (Doug Tracht)
- Imus, Don ("The I-Man")
- John Lennon
- George Lucas
- Morrow, Bruce ("Cousin Brucie")
- Yoko Ono
- Elvis Presley
- Helen Reddy
- Howard Stern
- Jeff Wald
- Robin Williams