America's history through the lens of 20th century broadcast media
Broadcast History
(Keep Growing Wiser Order of) Hoot Owls
KGW, Portland OR
1923 - 1933
NBC-Red
1928 - 1932 occasional
KAST, Astoria, OR
1930 - 1932
Occasionally carried on
KLX, San Francisco
1923 - 1933
NBC-Red
1928 - 1932 occasional
KAST, Astoria, OR
1930 - 1932
Occasionally carried on
KLX, San Francisco
The Hoot Owls were simply unlike anything else on the radio. According to Platt’s account the program lays claim to being the first variety show on radio, the first radio variety broadcast from a script, the first radio quiz show and the first live audience program broadcast from a remote location.
Within two days of the first broadcast “the mail for [the Hoot Owl] department broke all records”, the Oregonian reported. On the third program membership applications were announced from King Tutankhamen (who noted that he enjoyed the program while excavators were fussing around outside his bedroom) and the entire Elks Club of Redding, California (who were listening on a Magnavox amplifier and horn speaker), among others. The original Hoot Owl programs were so boisterous that listeners began to inquire whether any intoxicants were being used to stimulate the entertainment. Perhaps that had been the case because Ronald Callvert was then formally given the assignment of assuring that suitable alcoholic restraint was observed -- which explains the derivation of his Degree Team title, Grand Skidoo. Actress and amateur historian Helen Pratt, who served as KGW’s public affairs director in the 1950s, wrote in an unpublished history of KGW: The Hoot Owl hilarity was the natural result of a congenial group of exceptionally clever and talented men, born entertainers, who loved to clown, putting on a show for the fun of it and having a wonderful time. That was the secret of the program’s amazing popularity. It wasn’t the show itself, good as it was, it was the gusto of the performers, the exuberant, carefree spontaneity that the audience loved.
To say the program was spontaneous would be an understatement. In May, 1931 Oregon Governor Julius Meyer appointed Harry Grannatt and Ted Baum to the State Fair Committee with the assignment of assisting in the Fair’s publicity planning. During their May 8 broadcast, Portland chief of police Jenkins interrupted the Hoot Owls’ live broadcast to arrest Grannatt and Baum on air “for stealing police badges in the state capitol”. The pair had apparently purloined them as a prank, while attending a meeting of the State Fair Committee, in a pre-arranged stunt to promote the Fair. Dean Collins was additionally arrested on air “for making a nuisance of himself” when he interfered with Jenkins’ efforts to arrest the other two.
Following the arrests, the remaining cast members were left to finish the program on their own. The badges “weren’t worth 39 cents” according to Governor Meier, who nevertheless stated that he believed the badges were an emblem deserving respect. Meier appointed a special prosecutor, Multnomah County Judge William A. Ekwall (himself an occasional performer on programs like the Hoot Owls) while the arrested trio retained defense counsel. On the premise that they were arrested in the hearing of thousands of radio listeners, it was decided that the preliminary hearing should also be broadcast live during the following week’s Hoot Owls program. In succeeding weeks, various on-air “trials” carried on the prank although history doesn’t record the outcome of this good-natured stunt.
A National Phenomenon
While only occasionally being carried on the NBC network, the Hoot Owls were a national sensation and newspapers across the country, (including these) regularly carried listings in their “best bet” program
listings.
Within two days of the first broadcast “the mail for [the Hoot Owl] department broke all records”, the Oregonian reported. On the third program membership applications were announced from King Tutankhamen (who noted that he enjoyed the program while excavators were fussing around outside his bedroom) and the entire Elks Club of Redding, California (who were listening on a Magnavox amplifier and horn speaker), among others. The original Hoot Owl programs were so boisterous that listeners began to inquire whether any intoxicants were being used to stimulate the entertainment. Perhaps that had been the case because Ronald Callvert was then formally given the assignment of assuring that suitable alcoholic restraint was observed -- which explains the derivation of his Degree Team title, Grand Skidoo. Actress and amateur historian Helen Pratt, who served as KGW’s public affairs director in the 1950s, wrote in an unpublished history of KGW: The Hoot Owl hilarity was the natural result of a congenial group of exceptionally clever and talented men, born entertainers, who loved to clown, putting on a show for the fun of it and having a wonderful time. That was the secret of the program’s amazing popularity. It wasn’t the show itself, good as it was, it was the gusto of the performers, the exuberant, carefree spontaneity that the audience loved.
To say the program was spontaneous would be an understatement. In May, 1931 Oregon Governor Julius Meyer appointed Harry Grannatt and Ted Baum to the State Fair Committee with the assignment of assisting in the Fair’s publicity planning. During their May 8 broadcast, Portland chief of police Jenkins interrupted the Hoot Owls’ live broadcast to arrest Grannatt and Baum on air “for stealing police badges in the state capitol”. The pair had apparently purloined them as a prank, while attending a meeting of the State Fair Committee, in a pre-arranged stunt to promote the Fair. Dean Collins was additionally arrested on air “for making a nuisance of himself” when he interfered with Jenkins’ efforts to arrest the other two.
Following the arrests, the remaining cast members were left to finish the program on their own. The badges “weren’t worth 39 cents” according to Governor Meier, who nevertheless stated that he believed the badges were an emblem deserving respect. Meier appointed a special prosecutor, Multnomah County Judge William A. Ekwall (himself an occasional performer on programs like the Hoot Owls) while the arrested trio retained defense counsel. On the premise that they were arrested in the hearing of thousands of radio listeners, it was decided that the preliminary hearing should also be broadcast live during the following week’s Hoot Owls program. In succeeding weeks, various on-air “trials” carried on the prank although history doesn’t record the outcome of this good-natured stunt.
A National Phenomenon
While only occasionally being carried on the NBC network, the Hoot Owls were a national sensation and newspapers across the country, (including these) regularly carried listings in their “best bet” program
listings.
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