Shortly after Ira left W-4 in Detroit and joined John Dew in Dallas, he called W-4 DJ's Mark Addy and Gary Shaw, trying to convince them to move to Dallas to be on the proposed "Zoo." I was PD at W-4 after Ira left. Mark and Gary told Ira they wouldn't come unless I did, too. So he asked me and I accepted.

As soon as I got to Dallas, Ira and I toured Texas, listening to other DJ's, trying to find some local talent. We found Mike Taylor in Austin. Mark Christopher (Underkofler) applied for a job. Ira also like some local Dallas DJ whose name I can't remember. But on our "practice" day he excused himself. Nice move, fella. Instead, we found JD, Jon Dillon. And that was our original air staff. Oh -- and Jamie Friar and Suzette Smith doing news and part time DJ's Joan Green and Rob Dayton.

About two weeks before we went on the air we started messing with the automated system that ran the programming for the "beautiful music" format that was then on 97.9. We would keep the same weather forecast in there for many days in a row. We let "dead air" happen periodically for 5, 10 minutes or more. And we took 2 of the 3 tape decks out of service and kept the same tape on the one working deck so the station kept repeating the same 50 songs in the same order. We did all that to try to steer the Belo Board of Director's wives away from the station before the format was switched. As far as we could tell, they and doctor's offices were the only ones listening.

I signed on the station on September 18, 1973 and the first song played was Simon and Garfunkel's "At the Zoo."

Seems like it was just yesterday. Plus a couple of lifetimes. Hope y'all are happy, healthy and not too horny. (2 out of 3 ain't bad). Remember: Old Zoo Freaks Never Die. They just stare off into the distance wondering what it was they were trying to say.

Got a moment for some shameless self-promotion? I'm doing an internet-only morning show now on Radio Free Phoenix. 'From the RFP satellite studio in Eureka Springs, Arkansas.' Almost like the old Zoo but with music going up to today. Please check it out. Listening is free at www.radiofreephoenix.com . I'm on 6-8 a.m. MST (they don't do Daylight Savings Time). So right now that's 8-10 a.m. Central.

Love to all,
Ken Rundel

Ken Rundel did three tours with KZEW, 1973-1976 19??-19?? and 198?-198? -zookeeper