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Dean Griffith(s)


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Dedicated in memory of Jim Collins



 

'Dean Griffith' was a house name of the station.  The first one was Dean Anthony.  He was the Program Director of WHLI, Long Island from 1981 until his passing in October of 2003.  The name of the second one from late in 1964 is unknown. The third was Larry James and the fourth was Hank Burdick. See the 'House DJ Names'  page for more information. If anyone knows of the whereabouts of Hank Burdick today, please e-mail the Webmaster.

 

 

Photos

Click on images below to see enlargements.

#1 (Dean Anthony)


Dean Anthony

 

Dean Griffith #1 ( Dean Anthony) was the station's first Rock & Roll Program Director arriving from WGH in Norfolk and was afternoon personality from 1960 until he left the station in 1964 for WMCA, New York. He took his air name from the Washington Senator's then home, Griffith Stadium at the insistence of station owner Max Richmond. He was the Program Director & midday personality at WHLI, Long Island from 1981 until his passing in October 2003 of cancer at age 68. He also operated 'Dean Anthony Tours'. Read more.

A very young Dean-o!

Flat top publicity shot from 1962

With Bob Raleigh (Rolle Ferrar) & The Ronettes

With Pat McCoy, Eliot Paul & Jerry Kearns

Winning an award

Interviewing Phyllis Diller

With Tonto, Jay Silverheel


Interviewing Miss DC

Interviewing MD Governor

With 'Mom of the Year' contest winner

Broadcasting underwater!

Remote at an appliance store

 


Dean Anthony at WHLI, Long Island.

Memories of Big 'Ol, Fat 'Ol Dean-o:

At 14 (in 1962), I hung out at a furniture store remote in Alexandria's Del Ray section -- directly across the street from my Grammar School. Dino was class act. He never ONCE acted like I was bothering him -- never said "go away, kid." Didn't seem to mind my presence at all. That day at the remote, Dino was a showman. I realized adults listened to the station, too, when people would drift in and out, meet Dino, eyeball him and remark: But YOU'RE not FAT!! (Re: The 'Big 'Ol Fat 'Ol Dean-o' schtick). He'd answer: "Well, don't you think I HOLD IT ALL IN well?!" (BTW, Jerry G. was back in the 'PGC studio manning the board, and there was some memorable interplay between the two budding radio greats).

Dean was the 'Beatles Authority' in DC. Dean Anthony, along with Dan Ingram and Joey Reynolds, was one of the reasons I got into radio! Occasionally, I'd reach him on the air, and he was always helpful and pleasant. I caught his last week at 'PGC, not knowing that he was New York bound. He was apparently being really hassled by Bob Howard, because his "pizzazz" was totally gone. He sounded REALLY down that week in November '64. Some of my "non radio-geek" classmates noticed something was amiss, too.

Re:"Dean Griffith -- the 'first' one." Most kids in school knew the "real" Dean-o was gone! Bobbo Howard and Max Richmond basically didn't fool anyone. But they DID 'own' the name (along with Bob Raleigh, Jim Madison, et al). As a DX-er, I got to catch him on 1-6am one Monday morning on 570 WMCA (a regular 'catch') not very long after he'd left 'PGC! Although he was using the now familiar Dean Anthony handle, I instantly recognized his voice. I knew he was a native New Yorker, so I was happy for him that he was in his hometown. Also, the 'big-time' was where Dean-o certainly belonged.

WHLI is listenable at the Virginia Beach oceanfront. I made it a point for YEARS to catch Dean-o on his 10-3 shift whenever I'm on Atlantic Avenue, a practice I'm sincerely going to miss. Reminds me "it's later than you think," because I'd intended to call him at WHLI and ask his advice about something I knew he'd certainly be able to help with. At least he's no longer suffering. I didn't even know he was ill. I saw his picture on the 'HLI website last week, and remembered thinking that, along with his now grey hair, that Dean-o wasn't looking too well.

In my humble opinion, Dean-o and WPGC will always be synonomous (with apologies to WPGC legendary greats Harv Moore and Scott Shannon). Whether you call him "Big 'Ol Fat 'Ol Dean-o," Dean Anthony, or Dean Griffith...Dean-o IS WPGC and always will be.

- Pat Banks, WAFX-WNOR-WJOI in Virginia Beach

 

 

BD Howard writes:

I particularly remember Big Ol' Fat Ol' Dean-o as a really good guy. I thought it strange that they took the name Dean Griffith from the stadium where the Washington Senators played, which itself was named for Calvin Griffith, the original owner of the team.

I guess I should not be surprised by the intelligence and honest candor of his comments about my father, Bob Howard. He was absolutely correct about his problems resulting from the fast weight loss, the result of amphetamines prescribed by some quack for that purpose, and his ensuing hospitalization. His bizarre behavior in that Mr. X episode was no doubt fueled by those terrible medications. His emotional demons would haunt him from then on, and no doubt he was as difficult to work for as he was to live with.

 



Harv Moore writes:


Dean Griffith was very highly regarded by record company representatives. He was first to play new releases, and he broke a lot of records out of D.C. He had an amazing ear. Consequently he received a lot of "special attention" from the record companies, and was able to procure a lot of "unavailable" material. I'm sure the Program Directors and Music Directors from the other D.C. stations were scratching their heads when they saw the Evening Star Top Ten, wondering "how in the heck did he get those (Beatles songs ahead of everyone else)?"

 

 

#2 - Unknown

Someone else used the Dean Griffith name briefly between the time that Dean Anthony left for WMCA in New York in late 1964 and Larry Jarvis arrived from KEWI in Topeka, Kansas in April of 1965.

 

 

#3 - Larry James

Larry James today.

Larry James tomorrow.

 

Larry James joined the station in April 1965 from KEWI in Topeka, Kansas. He was heard on WPGC from 6-11PM on Wednesday, Thursday & Friday nights as well as 2-6PM on Saturdays & 10a-2p on Sundays.

Today, Larry is President of CelebrateLove.com. He has been a full-time professional speaker, author and relationship coach since 1987 and spent 8 years with the staff of Dr. John Gray, Ph.D. author of Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus.

 

From Dec. 1965

From 1966

 

Larry Writes:

The lost has been found! Although my legal name is Larry Jarvis, I have been going by the name of Larry James since Bob Russell - the Program Director of KEWI, Topeka, KS - decided that James had a little more pizzaz! That was in 1960. I still use the name Larry James.

A friend of mine (and deejay) sent me an e-mail and told me about this site and that you were looking for me. It's been a real kick to hear several of my air checks from the mid-60s. Damn! I was good! ;-)

 

 

#4  - Hank Burdick

From 1967

 

If anyone knows of his whereabouts today, please email the webmaster.

 

 

Print Materials

Articles

#1 - Dean Anthony

"Big 'Ol, Fat 'Ol Dean-o Is Thin-o"

©The Evening Star, Sunday Edition - Early '60's

 

'Program Director Honored'

Source Unknown - Early '60's

 

#3 Larry James

Echo Visits with WPGC

1/12/66

Special thanks to Skip Nelson for the above.

 

#4 - Hank Burdick

'They Look Like Movie Stars'

Teen Life Magazine - 1967

 

Sales Kit One Sheets

#1 - Dean Anthony

Composite
Airstaff 1960

Composite
Airstaff, 1962


Good Guy
DJ Bio, 1962

 

Miscellaneous

#1 - Dean Anthony

© Billboard - February 1964

© Billboard - February 1964

 

 

Sound Files

Airchecks

#1 - Dean Anthony

 
04/01/63 - (April Fools gag as Jerry G) - 2:39
06/30/64 - 7:54

 

#2  - Unknown

 
Late 1964 - :09

 

#3 Larry James

 

02/20/66 - 7:55

04/01/66 (April Fools gag as Jim Madison) - 2:46
04/17/66 - :29

 

News

#1 - Dean Anthony

 

06/30/64 - :24

 

Contests

#3 Larry James

 

06/11/66

Good Guy Swimming Derby 6 - 2:24

 

Jingles

#1 Dean Anthony

 
1961
Dean-o On Your Radio - Produced by Jerry G - :04
1962
Big 'Ol, Dean-o - Produced by Jerry G - :08
1964
Dean Griffith - Jock Jingle - :12
© PAMS 'The Jet Set'

(Special thanks to Jonathon Wolfert for the above).

 

Promos

#1  - Dean Anthony

 

1962

What Does 95.5 Mean To You? - :53

 

#3 Larry James

 

12/24/66

Top 100 of 1966 (w/Cousin Warren Duffy) - :30

 

Sweepers

#1  - Dean Anthony

 

1960

Jock Roll Call (w/ Pat McCoy & Jerry G) - :35
1960 Cloud High Weather Eye Stager - :40
1960 Off-Key Club Winner Stager - :05
1960 Sports Headlines Closer - :10
1960 To The Top Stager - :09
Approx.
1960 - 62
Don Pee Wee Reese Stager - :22
Approx.
1960 - 62
Legal ID 2 - :04
Approx.
1960 - 62
Legal ID 3 - :03
Approx.
1960 - 62
Public Service Salute - :09
Approx.
1960 - 62
That's Thee News! - :14
1964 Jock Roll Call (with Bob Raleigh (Rolle Ferrar), Jerry G, Harv Moore & Don Reese) - :32
06/30/64 4PM Legal ID - :17

 

Spots

#3 Larry James

 

02/20/66

TWA - :48

 

Miscellaneous Audio

#1  - Dean Anthony

 
1961 ConelRad Test! - :59

06/30/64

Off-Key Singing Club bit - :16
06/30/64 Losing A Pound A Day bit
06/30/64 Show Close Theme music

 

From an interview with Dean Griffith #1 (Dean Anthony - April 2002)

 
Arriving at WPGC in 1960 & the FM simulcast - 1:24

The FM simulcast & automation - :39

WEAM, WWDC & Jack Alix - 1:08

Losing a pound a day bit - 1:31

The Morning Mayors - Jerry G & Harv Moore - :37

Harv Moore - :32

Stan Major - :23

David B. Simmons - :52

MacNamara & 'Hair' - :53

Larry 'Barefoot' Justice - :24

Larry 'Barefoot' Justice locked in studio bit - :27

Don 'Pee Wee' Reese - :24

Eliot Paul - :25

Milt Grant - :48

The JFK funeral in November 1963 - 4:08

The Beatles DC Arena show in February 1964 - 3:32

The Beatles wearing WPGC sweatshirts - 1:29

101 questions about the Beatles - :40

Bob Howard & 'Mr. X' taking over WPGC - 3:13

Bob Howard & Phyllis Diller - :33

Jerry G & Bob Howard - 1:28

Bob Raleigh (#1 - Rolle Ferrar) & Ronettes - :17

WMEX & KPGC - :18

 

#3 Larry James

 

1966

Are You The New Dean Griffith ? - :36
07/10/66 Jim Madison #2 (Bob Benson) Tease - :11

 




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