NBC Memories 1942 - 1964
by Bill Roddy

Future stars who began at Radio City San Francisco.

Art LInkletter, Jack Kirkwood, Dave Brubeck, and Cal Tjader

Art Linkletter
Art had a daily show on KNBC called a "Date at Eight." (8 a. m.) I was often his announcer. Art was a perfectionist and I thought at the time he was kind of tough, but at 26 I wasn't the most mature person, and I wasn't that great an announcer.

He was, and is, a great talent, and you all know his work after leaving San Francisco.

Jack Kirkwood
Jack was the comedian for whom the word zany was made. He had a show in Radio City that I remember little about. I think his trade mark lines were "hang by your toes." and "write if you get work."

He didn't stay long in San Francisco but went off to Hollywood, where he had a radio show and appeared in movies.

Dave Brubeck and Cal Tjader
One of the truly great things that NBC, San Francisco, did was to give a musician just starting out, Dave Brubeck his own show in the afternoon. Cal was part of the group and Paul Desmond may also have been, I don't remember.

I often announced the show and what I do remember was music I had never heard before. All of them were wonderful people and you know, all musicians are.

Announcers who went to Hollywood
When NBC started the television network in Los Angeles they transferred a number of SF announcers; Eddy King, Archie Presby, and Frank Barton. Occasionally you can hear Eddy and Frank on Old Time Radio when the show originated at NBC Hollywood.

NBC at Sunset and Vine signaled the death of San Francisco NBC radio. No more live shows, no more studio orchestras, no more dance bands,  They didn't need us anymore, even taking our venerable call sign, KNBC and giving it to their TV station in LA. I wonder if the folks at KNBC, channel 4 in Burbank know the history of NBC radio in San Francisco... or care.

I owe Eddy, Archie and Frank a lot. When they moved to Hollywood they gave a gangling page boy a chance to be an NBC announcer.

My closest friend was Eddy. Once when I was visiting NBC in Hwd we went to a party with a lot of talent people. For some reason I took off my shoes. When it came time to go I couldn't find them. Everyone chided, "Come on, Roddy, you're holding us up."

I finally found them... Eddy had put them in the refrigerator.

ps: Fast forward... when Susan and I were married in North Hollywood in 1955 with no family, no guests, we bought a bottle of champagne and drove out to Eddy's house. The three of us constituted our wedding reception. 

Eddy is in his 80s and lives in Los Angeles, Archie in the San Diego area. I talked to them on the phone. Phil Ryder, my engineering friend lives in Santa Barbara and I recently visited him.