  Tponetom Member Username: Tponetom Post Number: 89 Registered: 06-2007 |
On the topic of News! I remember a Detroit radio commentator/rabble rouser named Lou Gordon. Circa 1960. He was a Walter Winchell/Mike Wallace wannabe. He had a 15 minute “NEWS” spot in the 11:00 P.M. TIME SLOT, just before or after Soupy Sales. Gordon’s ‘ schtick’ was to have spot commercials during the day, encouraging his radio audience to tune in at night, when he would answer the question of the day: “Are carloads of ARMED Negroes roaming through Grosse Pointe sniping at white children WITH THEIR RIFLES?????? And then, during the evening broadcast he would emphatically state that there was no truth whatsoever to such a a disgusting rumor.” There were some occasions when his muck raking raked in a few ‘muckers.’ | ||
Kathinozarks Member Username: Kathinozarks Post Number: 775 Registered: 11-2006 |
I remember Lou Gordon. Anyone have a pic? | ||
Psip Member Username: Psip Post Number: 1988 Registered: 04-2005 |
 courtesy Scott Gordon and MiBuzzBoard | ||
Kathinozarks Member Username: Kathinozarks Post Number: 778 Registered: 11-2006 |
Yeah, that's him! Thanks Psip! | ||
Tponetom Member Username: Tponetom Post Number: 91 Registered: 06-2007 |
In my frail old age, I am astounded at some of these immediate responses! It takes me longer to walk to the bathroom. | ||
Paulmcall Member Username: Paulmcall Post Number: 317 Registered: 05-2004 |
He has the worst rug this side of Bill Bonds. | ||
Ed_golick Member Username: Ed_golick Post Number: 746 Registered: 10-2003 |
Lou Gordon was the man! | ||
Billk Member Username: Billk Post Number: 76 Registered: 09-2005 |
Wasn't it on the Lou Gordon show that George Romney made his famous remark about being 'brainwashed' by the military on Vietnam? | ||
Sstashmoo Member Username: Sstashmoo Post Number: 214 Registered: 02-2007 |
Lou Gordon's TV show was pretty interesting. He did a decent job as a talkshow host. Still a relatively new concept in the 70's. One of the reasons us kids watched him or had opportunity to watch him was because he came on right before "The ghoul" from Cleveland. I can still remember that cheesy "xylophony" type intro music that Lou's show had, very 70's. | ||
Xd_brklyn Member Username: Xd_brklyn Post Number: 272 Registered: 10-2003 |
Yeah, and the Ghoul panned him all the time. He would wave a photo of Lou Gordon in front of the camera with the song lyrics "You Talk Too Much" playing loud in the background. Maybe somebody could name that tune? The Ghoul was good with the obscure songs. | ||
Mikem Member Username: Mikem Post Number: 3416 Registered: 10-2003 |
Wasn't that tune MacArthur Park? | ||
Hornwrecker Member Username: Hornwrecker Post Number: 1865 Registered: 04-2005 |
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Xd_brklyn Member Username: Xd_brklyn Post Number: 273 Registered: 10-2003 |
The Ghoul's "You Talk Too Much" was by Joe Jones. Not as obscure as I thought. The Vintage TV Board has a thread started by Lou & Jackie's son. It mentions some of the most memorable moments of the show. Lou & Jackie Gordon - Vintage Detroit TV thread | ||
20043_stotter Member Username: 20043_stotter Post Number: 53 Registered: 03-2007 |
Lou Gordon was not a bigot at all and was a friend to the downtrodden, including the poor of any color. He went after Utility companies big time for gouging us. I seriously don't believe he had commercials as stated in an above post. He was for the people and had a large following and didn't have to resort to any BS ads like that. He had an hour show every Sat. nite and did like to have popular guests. He even had Pastor BoBo against the Pastor of the church of satan on together. Pastor Bobo reduced the devil worshipper to tears on that show. Gordon and his wife Jackie were ahead of they're time. | ||
The_rock Member Username: The_rock Post Number: 1881 Registered: 11-2003 |
Lou's daughter, Deborah Gordon, is one of the best employment discrimination attorneys in the state and is well respected by both plaintiff and defense lawyers. And she has taken on some very challenging cases. Her dad would be very proud of her. | ||
Gordov2 Member Username: Gordov2 Post Number: 1 Registered: 03-2008 |
Hi All- I am Lou and Jackie's Son. The original poster is not correct. My dad had a 90 minute television show on Channel 50 (WKBD) on Saturday and Sunday nights from 1965 through 1977 (until his death). It's true that he had a brief stint at WXYZ radio and television, but nothing like what the OP suggests. He also wrote two columns-per-week for the Detroit News, and was an award winning reporter and highly respected journalist. The TV show was also seen in the 13 largest cities in the country. Lou was the man known for "telling it like it really was" and was the voice of the little guy, speaking-up for those who had no voice, power, or political clout. Yes, my sister is one of the top-10 civil rights attorneys in the State of Michigan, and is also in the book of top 200 attorneys in the nation, with the highest rating possible. Also, there is a special airing on Channel 56 in Detroit about Lou, Jackie, and the show on April 7 at 9:30pm. -Scott Gordon (Message edited by gordov2 on March 12, 2008) (Message edited by gordov2 on March 12, 2008) | ||
Gordov2 Member Username: Gordov2 Post Number: 2 Registered: 03-2008 |
I also wanted to let you know that there is a special on Lou Gordon called "Man of Conscience, Man of Truth" that was done upon his death in 1977. It is approximately 90 minutes long, and is considered the "best of" The Lou Gordon Program. I have permission from the person that runs this board to let you know the "Best Of" show is available for sale on eBay. If you're interested, here's the link: http://cgi.ebay.com/The-Lou-Go rdon-Program-The-Lou-Gordon-Sh ow_W0QQitemZ150224381447QQihZ0 05QQcategoryZ617QQssPageNameZW DVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem | ||
Gordov2 Member Username: Gordov2 Post Number: 3 Registered: 03-2008 |
Oh, one more thing... the theme song for the Lou Gordon Show was MacArthur Park by Richard Harris. If you hear it (or already know it), I don't think you'll find it "cheesy" at all. For that time period (1960's-1970's) it was pretty hip. The theme song is on the "Best Of" show. Also, yes dad wore a toupee. This was not a secret. He wore it only when wearing a suit and tie. It was something the television station wanted him to do contractually... he couldn't have cared less who knew about it. | ||
Gannon Member Username: Gannon Post Number: 11801 Registered: 12-2003 |
I think MacArthur Park is on Dave Barry's All Time Worst Songs of All Time, Really Worst list, top ten annually. Actually, according to Wikipedia, it's on top of the list! When I lived in LA, I occasionally drove by...and couldn't suppress the giggles. 'Took so long to bake it that I didn't have time to make it, oh NO!' All due respect to your father, and darn glad to welcome you to the board, but I had to bring some Dave Barry into this once you brought that song back up! | ||
Gordov2 Member Username: Gordov2 Post Number: 4 Registered: 03-2008 |
I guess I should have made clear that only a small part of "MacArthur Park" was used as the theme song to the show... it was the instrumental break in the middle of the song (which is less than a minute long). That small section seems like an entirely different song - and a much better one at that. Yes, I agree the entirety of the song (although better when Donna Summer remade it), is not so hot... but that instrumental break in the middle, really seems to make it a completely different song altogether. And if you hear just that instrumental break in the context of the opening and/or closing of the Gordon show, it gives the song a completely different feel and sound. In fact, I had never heard the song in total until many years later, and couldn't believe it was the same song! | ||
Gannon Member Username: Gannon Post Number: 11803 Registered: 12-2003 |
Heh, yeah at least Wiki got that right: quote: They even have a link supposedly to the show that goes to the WKBD page with a mere mention of when they broadcasted it. | ||
Jrvass Member Username: Jrvass Post Number: 510 Registered: 01-2007 |
Lou Gordon was one of my parent's favorite shows. If they were home, they were watching.  | ||
Ray1936 Member Username: Ray1936 Post Number: 2855 Registered: 01-2005 |
Lou probably had a 90 rating during the '67 riots. Everyone wanted to hear what he had to say, although in my age haze I can't recall what he did say. MacArthur Park is a beautiful piece of music; a most harmonious bit of music accentuated by the worst lyrics ever written. Oh, well. | ||
Gistok Member Username: Gistok Post Number: 6460 Registered: 08-2004 |
Ray1936 I agree 100% great music, dumb lyrics. It reminded me of another old piece of music (but without lyrics) very much in the classical genre, called "Classical Gas" by Mason Williams in 1968. | ||
Gistok Member Username: Gistok Post Number: 6461 Registered: 08-2004 |
By the way... (where are everyone's manners)... welcome to DetroitYES Gordov2! I used to work for Michigan Bell, which was one of your fathers least favorite utilities. If he were alive today, he would probably be appalled at the breakup and gradual reassembly of AT&T (4 of the 7 Baby Bells are back together with AT&T). | ||
Gordov2 Member Username: Gordov2 Post Number: 5 Registered: 03-2008 |
Thanks for the welcome!! Yeah, my dad would be sick over the utility companies as they exist today! At the Michigan Public Service Commission hearing, circa 1976, my dad was able to keep information calls free. Based on that, Michigan was one of the last states to allow the phone company to start charging for information calls. |
