High above the muddy banks of the Ohio River, politicians were slinging nothing but niceties toward their rivals on the eve of Kentucky's gubernatorial transition. Here's a shiny new bridge, so let's all take credit. Outgoing Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear, a democrat whose signature accomplishment is the kynect health care exchange, was sharing a stage with his successor Matt Bevin, the republican whose top priority is to immediately dismantle kynect. Gov-elect Matt Bevin was presented with ribbon cutting scissors by Beshear to use next year in dedicating the east end bridge with Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, another political polar opposite to Beshear. Bevin deferred to Beshear at the podium and did not speak publicly, but was seen chatting and posing
Tag: louisville media
Ron Clay & Tom Clay welcome in 1982
Two American broadcast legends on one video, the father/son tandem of Tom and Ron Clay (Clague). While Tom was visiting for the holidays, Ron had his pop appear with him on our morning cable TV show. It was taped for use a day or two later as fill-in material during the holiday schedule. I was still on Christmas break from the show and Tom filled in as Ron's partner. The local WLRS cable show was usually live on weekday mornings. People watched us do our WLRS radio show and during times music or commercials were on the radio, we could turn to the TV cameras and improvise racier content that was suitable for cable. PHOTOS - Ron Clay and Terry
iHeartMedia doesn’t heart sarcasm
As my 30th anniversary with WHAS radio approached, I recently renewed my contract for another six years. On July 1, 2021, I will likely end my 45 year commercial broadcast career. My shows contain serious news interviews, community service, and a fair dose of jocularity involving celebrities, athletes, and newsmakers. Cracking wise is the overriding theme. Our iHeartMedia Louisville management team must send all press release materials through the corporate prism in New York for approval. I was asked to give a statement upon the contract renewal and submitted this: "I declined a generous offer from the international brotherhood of brain surgeons so that I can remain with my iHeartMedia family for six more years. I love my on-air radio team and
Go West, young man – It’s WHAS-TV reunion time
Amid the WHAS-TV reunion memories, former news anchor Jean West told a great story from our early days at the station. In 1986, I took an opportunity to shock a Klansman who was to be interviewed about his request to the city for a White Power rally. As Klansman Kenny King (KKK!) sat quietly awaiting reporter John McGrath and a camera operator, I strolled into the lobby holding Jean's hand and leaned down to plant a passionate kiss on her right in front of the stunned racist. McGrath, who enjoyed interviewing societal outcasts, later said Kenny the Klansman needed 10 minutes to compose himself before he could do the interview. The reunion of former WHAS-TV employees is to celebrate the station's
The Bingham family media sales of 1986
This 1986 video shows WHAS-11 News reporting on the sale of the final media properties held by the Bingham family of Louisville. The Binghams dominated Louisville's media landscape by controlling the major daily newspaper, plus the most popular radio and television stations. WHAS-AM and WAMZ-FM were sold for slightly more than $20 million to Clear Channel Communications of San Antonio, the fifth and sixth stations to join its burgeoning portfolio. Clear Channel went on to build a chain of 1,200 stations across America before selling to Bain Capital. At the time of this report, the Binghams had already sold The Courier-Journal newspaper to Gannett; WHAS-11 to the Providence Journal Corp., and Standard Gravure (rotogravure printing) to an Atlanta investor. In