A Tribute Site to the
Fabled Radio of
KABN 830 AM
The Voice of the People
Long Island, Big Lake, Ak
by W.J. Lynus O'Brien


SIDE TRIPS

BORN UNDER A BAD SIGN
THE MARLIN DISKS

JOIN THE COMMUNE

WHO'S ONLINE?

No members online
Guests: 3

Total Visitors: 805544

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~


Share on Facebook

KABN RADIO arrow TALES FROM THE TOWER
Wednesday, 22 February 2012
TALES FROM THE TOWER
Bear's Story
Written by Roger Leff   
Friday, 20 February 2009
Stories about KABN radio...where does one begin? I had the priceless opportunity to spend 5 years doing the morning show at KABN...the transmitter was fired up by 5 AM when “the Golden Age of Radio would be broadcast. It was a funky series of old-time radio with the likes of “Fibber McGee and Molly” and “Abbot and Costello” gracing the early morning airwaves. After that it was 4 hours of music with Local News, Trapline Messages, the Trading Post and Ride Board all thrown in for good measure. One of my fondest memories is watching the morning sun rise over the Chugach Range with the likes of Tony Rice, David Grisman or a mellow Dead tune on the air. It was quite simply...incredible.

So...we had a house dog at KABN named “Bear.” Bear was a large black lab mix and about the mellowest dog I have ever known. Lionel had brought Bear to KABN when he was just a pup and eventually just left him there. It was just where Bear belonged.

Bear would occasionally disappear for a few days at a time...exploring the woods, creeks and gulleys of the Matanuska/Susitna Valley. No one was really sure where he went but he always came back. Often times Bear would return bloated and exhausted; it was obvious that he had been feasting on some dead moose or other delicacy.

Now on these occasions, upon his return, Bear would literally sleep and fart for days. One of his favorite places to snooze was under the control board, right at the feet of whoever was on the air. Bear was not noisy with his flatulence, but he could rock the house just the same. I remember many times when I would turn the microphone on just as Bear cut loose. The air in the studio would just about turn green and the entire 3rd floor of the building would suddenly become uninhabitable. And his timing couldn't have been better. The odor would permeate this space immediately just as I began reading the Trading Post or some other piece of business that would run a few minutes at least. It was all I could do to not gag...and Bear just slept, oblivious to his odoriferous bodily functions.

I'm sure all of us who were a part of the KABN family have our own stories to tell about Bear. He was no one's dog...he was everyone's dog. He was the KABN house dog. He was just Bear.

After KABN changed ownership I continued on with the new management, but it was never the same. For starters...they kicked out Bear. They didn't want a house dog, so there was no longer a place of residence for the big knucklehead. So, Bear came home with Kim Adelia and I. He became our house dog and lived out his life as the fat and happy slug that he was. He was a good dog. He was the KABN house dog. Most listeners knew Bear, though they had never seen him. But he was on more than one commercial and he was a legend. He was the “Voice of the Valley's dog. He was “Bear.”
Add comment (7)
Hits: 2891
 
[ Back ]

MAPS & OTHER LINKS

WHERE THE LEGEND BEGAN
WHAT BECAME OF IT ALL?
THE FIRE THAT TOOK IT AWAY

The Famous A.T. & Chris

Pillow Case Gift