RIP: Frank Knight

Longtime KCBS/740 news anchor Frank Knight passed away on October 15, following a brave battle with cancer. He was 72 years old.

Born Frank Dale Leber in 1935, he served for 29 years as a newsman at KCBS Newsradio 740, and was an original member of the anchor team when the station switched to all-news in 1968. He had also worked at the pioneering Southern California all-news station, XETRA ("Extra News") in the early 1960s.

According to his son, Lance Leber, he took the air name "Frank Knight" because "it just sounded cool."

An avid collector of radio memorabilia, Frank was widely considered to be a leading expert on classic radio programs, as well as a devoted motion picture enthusiast.

A member of the Broadcast Legends' executive board, Frank spearheaded the Legends' production of "Sam Spade: The One-Hour Caper," which was the centerpiece of the group's Summer luncheon. Frank had previously presented retrospectives on "Gunsmoke," "The Lone Ranger," "Pat Novak For Hire," "I Love A Mystery" and "Calling All Cars" for Broadcast Legends gatherings.

Frank is survived by his wife, Rosemarie Leber, his son, Lance, and step son, Mike, as well as five grandchildren.

A public memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, November 3, at the First Congregational Church, 1912 Central Ave., in Alameda.

RIP: KABL's Adult Standards On The Internet

It's been gone for a month and a half, and I hadn't noticed it until today: Clear Channel has slinked away from the rotting corpse of the once proud KABL, disconnecting the life support from the Adult Standards audio stream.

Clear Channel has even cast aside the fabled KABL call letters, which they had exiled to Salinas; that station has since become KION. KABL joins KOME on the callsign scrap heap; I guess Clear Channel subscribes to the thinking that call letters really don't mean anything any more.

From KABLradio.com:

Goodbye...

Dear Friends of KABL,

Due to circumstances beyond our contol, it is our sad duty to announce that, as of January 1, 2007, Kablradio.com will be ceasing operation. On behalf of myself, our Webmaster Sean, and the KABL Gang...Jim Lange, Dino Donikian, Carter B. Smith, and Mario in Production, a heartfelt thanks for your loyal support. Perhaps at some point off into the future, a kabl 2.0 will appear. Meanwhile, please visit our friends at http://www.don. There you will find great music and wonderful people who love this music and this era as much as we all do.

You should know that everybody is doing fine. Jim and Nancy are travelling a lot and enjoying retirement. Carter B. is plotting to corner the ENTIRE stock market. Dino is still the unofficial Mayor of San Leandro. Sean, Mario, and yours truly are busy with several radion stations in our company.

Again, our sincere thanks and best wishes for a great 2007.

Clark Reid
Program Director
kablradio.com

DOTS & DASHES -- Brad Kava reported in his blog this evening that veteran Bay Area broadcaster Leo Laporte will begin doing a computers and technology show on KGO/810, replacing Michael Finney's consumer news and views show in the 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. slot on Sundays. Finney will continue to be KGO-TV's consumer reporter ... The Marin Independent-Journal notes that KCBS/740 reporter and weekend anchor Janice Wright (Mrs. Mike Sugerman) "has joined Zanides Public Relations in San Rafael to specialize in managing bad publicity." Wright has been on the KCBS airwaves this week, however, doing that reporting thing she does...

Kevin Barrett is the guy to blame if you don't like the programming that will be emitted by Pappas Radio's new KTRB/860 in San Francisco beginning March 1. He's been named as program director for the transplanted AM station, a job he's already been filling at sister station KMPH/840 in magnificent Modesto ... Ron Stevens (ex-KOCN, KYAA) is Michael Zwerling's choice as new president of ZBS Radio's KSCO/1080 and KOMY/1340, both housed on the briny banks of Corcoran Lagoon in Santa Cruz. 10,000-watt KSCO is a news/talker anchored by Rush Limbaugh, while 1000-watt KOMY recently flipped to Oldies; those roles could potentially be reversed this Summer if a few things fall into place...

Radio Legend Ron Lyons Ailing

Len Shapiro let me know this morning that Ron Lyons (KEWB, KNEW, KNBR, KCBS, etc.) is recovering from surgery after being diagnosed recently with cancer.

From the KCBS website:

Several weeks ago, long-time KCBS traffic anchor Ron Lyons was diagnosed with cancer. He underwent emergency surgery last week and is recovering well. The family says he is antsy to get out of his hospital room and return home.

Cards and letters to:

Ron Lyons
P.O. Box 296
Gold Beach, OR 97444

Ron's website is at RonLyonsRadio.com.

Photo: Ron Lyons at KNBR, 1965. (Courtesy of Ron Lyons.)