KHJ Boss Mustang Contest

This is a print ad for Boss Radio’s first major promotion - a 1965 Ford Mustang to be given away to a lucky listener. The text reads:

WANT TO WIN A ’65 MUSTANG GT...?
(JUST BY SENDING IN A POSTCARD!)

It’s out of sight! Just send in a postcard with your name, address and phone number. If the 93/KHJ Boss Jocks draw your name - and they draw a new name every half hour - you’re on the way! You, or one of your immediate family (parents, spouse, children or siblings) call in to let us know you heard it ... you get a gold key that may win you a new Mustang GT! Simple enough!

And this Boss Mustang goes! A 225-HP Challenger Special V-8 engine ... styled “mag” wheels ... 4-speed synchronized floor shift ... five-dial instrument cluster. Accent Paint Stripe and Rocker Panel Molding Package ... plus all the other top features that make this America’s hottest car!

Are you going to let a postcard stand between you and the greatest goody of the year? Of course not! Tune in Boss Radio, right this instant, and find out where to mail it!

KHJ Magic Key

This is a key that made one eligible to win a 1965 Ford Mustang in Boss Radio’s first major promotion. The promotion was known as both the “Magic Key” and “Boss Mustang” contest. The car was given away on June 6, 1965 at the Fairfax Theater in Hollywood. Jim McGuinn of the Byrds drew the winning number and Ilene Jackman held the corresponding key to win the car.

KHJ Boss Radio Print Ad

This is a print ad for the May 9, 1965 edition of the Los Angeles Times and features the seven original Boss Jocks.

KHJ Boss Radio Antenna Flag

A promotional Boss Radio car antenna flag. Measures 6.75" wide by 5.5" at the tallest point.

Ken DeVaney and Clancy Imislund

Promotion Director Clancy Imislund (left) and KHJ General Manager Ken DeVaney with the 52,000 postcards received by KHJ in the “More Music Jackpot” promotion in June, 1965.

Working behind-the-scenes, both gentlemen were an integral part of the Boss Radio team. It was Ken DeVaney who first coined the phrase “Boss Radio” for use as the station’s slogan.

A number of sources credit Clancy Imislund as the originator of the “Boss Radio” slogan. While Ron Jacobs was writing his book KHJ: Inside Boss Radio, Ken DeVaney sent Jacobs an e-mail to clarify the situation around who originated the phrase. Jacobs included it in his book on page 40.

Below is the text from Ken DeVaney’s e-mail to Ron Jacobs:

For what it’s worth, it was I who initiated the name “Boss Radio,” the slogan that is now indelibly etched in the history of radio itself.

In May 1990 the 25th anniversary of Boss Radio generated a staff reunion. The event marked a sense of renewed nostalgia and history of the early, frantic days of the new KHJ format that debuted a quarter century before. At the time, Clancy Imislund was “officially” credited with coming up with the Boss Radio slogan. Well, for all of his considerable gifts, he did not coin that term — because he had no basis upon which to do it.

With my wife’s disability we had a great number of teenage mother’s helpers in and out of our home in the San Fernando Valley at the same time we were pulling together KHJ. I noticed that these girls, in the slang of the day, constantly used the term “boss” when referring to someone or something that was superior in all respects.

Before “Boss Radio” made its debut I was at one of our brainstorming sessions on Melrose awaiting the official signing of Drake-Chenault, and shortly thereafter, the hiring of Jacobs. I told the group of my experiences in a house full of teenagers day and night. The next thing I knew Clancy was developing ads based on a “boss” theme. Now, you may believe that or not, but that is the way of it.

9th Street West Admission Ticket

This is an admission ticket for Sam Riddle’s “9th Street West” television show on KHJ-TV. No boys in sweaters admitted.

Boss Jock Johnny Mitchell Postcard

This is a promotional postcard for Johnny Mitchell. The back of the postcard reads:

KHJ “Boss Jock” Johnny Mitchell
The out-of-sight sound of Johnny Mitchell is the newest, bossest groove on Los Angeles radio dials. Johnny’s a swinger all the way who digs every single sound he’s laying into Southern California. He’s been a topper everywhere he’s travelled . . . and now, baby, this is where he is!

Boss Jock The Real Don Steele Postcard

This is a promotional postcard for The Real Don Steele. The back of the postcard reads:

KHJ “Boss Jock” The Real Don Steele
Unreal as he sounds (and looks on many occasions!) Don Steele earnestly maintains he is genuine. If he isn’t ... he sure knows where it’s at! And with Steele at KHJ you know he’s the boss until the real thing comes along.

Robert W. Morgan 1965 KHJ Sales Sheet

This is a one-sheet for Boss Jock Robert W. Morgan from the 1965 KHJ Sales Folder. These were distributed to prospective advertisers. The text reads:

ROBERT W. MORGAN
They Wake Up With The Rooster From Wooster

It is safe to say that Wooster (Ohio) College has never been one of the really big names in Southern California radio ... ranking somewhere between cumquats and Lake Ontario. But the Wooster Meteor has taken over the 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. wake-up chores on Boss Radio, and things are looking up!

Robert W. has sandwiched a remarkable radio career between campus days and his entry to Hollywood. In four major stations, he has scored No. 1 in every segment in which he has appeared. Most recently the leading fog-clearer in San Francisco, he now grabs the dial at 93 first thing in the morning, and just doesn’t let go.

Primarily, though, Bob works at being a smooth vehicle for sales. If you’re not getting your share of worms, let this swinging early bird give you a boost.

Roger Christian 1965 KHJ Sales Sheet

This is a one-sheet for Boss Jock Roger Christian from the 1965 KHJ Sales Folder. The text reads:

ROGER CHRISTIAN
Composer, Writer, Actor [and Boss Jock!]

Roger, who labors in the Boss vineyard from 9 until noon each morning, is obviously a man of many talents. During the past few years, he has penned record hits for such contemporary leaders as Jan & Dean, and the Beachboys ... done songs for a number of films ... sold two screenplays ... acted in major features such as “The Carpetbaggers” ... all in addition to his role as a top radio personality with daily exposure to thousands of solvent followers.

Roger is a smooth and polished salesman, who communicates the bread-and-butter commercial message with grace and charm. A non-advocate of the “shout and scream” school of radio sales, he has the outstanding virtue of believability, and a track record to prove it. It’s not mere coincidence that he carries the late forenoon slot for Boss Radio ... the segment where the target is primarily the money-jingling hausfrau. Roger has got ‘em where you want ‘em!

Gary Mack 1965 KHJ Sales Sheet

This is a one-sheet for Boss Jock Gary Mack from the 1965 KHJ Sales Folder. The text reads:

GARY MACK ...
Out of the Box
Into the Sunshine

Out of K-BOX, that is, where he established just about the only No. 1 rating that the Dallas station ever achieved over its tough competition. A product of Chicago, Gary has learned his business in some of the nation’s most competitive markets, ranging from Miami to Hollywood.

Now pacesetter of the noon till 3 quadrille on Boss Radio, Gary brings into his daytime segment all the zing he has picked up during his years as DJ and Program Director. And, most importantly, he uses the bumps and bruises from his own school of hard knocks to expertly sell his commercial time.

If you want to get into those daytime households, Gary is your man ... ‘cause that’s where he’s being heard.

The Real Don Steele 1965 KHJ Sales Sheet

This is a one-sheet for The Real Don Steele from the 1965 KHJ Sales Folder. The text reads:

THE REAL DON STEELE
As If There Could Be Any Reasonable Facsimile

Dashing Don, friend of the working girl, is that rare specimen known as a Native Hollywoodian. Realizing that lack of experience meant a life spent in daytime FM, he packed his bindle for a whirlwind tour of the provinces ... and brought back enough laurels to place him in the coveted 3-6 p.m. trick on Boss Radio.

Among the decorations in his trophy case are the Pulse reports showing his slot in Washington moving from 5th to 1st in six months ... his Omaha show pulverizing all opposition ... the maintenance of the No. 1 rating in Portland ... and most recently pulling San Francisco’s No. 4 time slot to a commanding No. 1 in less than six months. Don combines the winning qualities of pulling an audience and then selling them.

Already becoming a late-afternoon draw from Ventura to San Diego, he is a natural choice for people who want to sell boxcar loads of their product. Get aboard!

Dave Diamond 1965 KHJ Sales Sheet

This is a one-sheet for Dave Diamond from the 1965 KHJ Sales Folder. The text reads:

DAVE DIAMOND...
An Old Smoothie
In The Rough

Fresh from a smashing success among the rocks and rills of Denver, Dave brings one of the most imposing Pulse case histories ever assembled. No. 1 in Denver ... No. 1 in St. Louis ... No. 1 in Knoxville; up to a 52% share in a 14-station market!

This jolly blond giant, who now fully fills the 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. shift on Boss Radio, brings something else that will make your heart sing ... a sheaf of testimonials from gratified advertisers in every market which has felt his impact. Dave’s infectious good humor seems to have the facility of making even the tritest e.t. a grabber.

Six to nine is a competitive time segment in Southern California radio ... and Dave is a competitor that has never lost yet. He’s here to sell!

Johnny Mitchell 1965 KHJ Sales Sheet

This is a one-sheet for Boss Jock Johnny Mitchell from the 1965 KHJ Sales Folder. These were distributed to prospective advertisers. This bio was added to the folder when Mitchell replaced Dave Diamond. The text reads:

JOHNNY MITCHELL
Boss Radio Goes For A Holiday!

Not to Yosemite or Pismo Beach ... but to the swinger who used the air name “Johnny Holiday” to turn San Diego on its ear. Transformed by Boss Radio back to Johnny Mitchell, this extremely cool young man is rapidly proving that a rose by any other name is still a grabber.

Listed by Billboard as the “No. 1 Deejay in San Diego,” Johnny also wore the hats of Music Director and Program Director during his four year stay on the border. But even all this wasn't enough; he also organized and appeared in a special May Company promotion that broke all records for listener attendance ... was a syndicated account announcer for the Tijuana bullfights ... organized and directed promotion for visits by groups such as the Dave Clark Five.

In short, he’s come a long way since the day his claim to fame was setting the current world record of 195 “stay-awake” hours at WYDE in Birmingham. But he’s still just about the most wide-awake salesman in Southern California ... and he’s selling for you from 6 to 9 p.m. on Boss Radio!

He’s going for Number One ... why don’t you join him!

Sam Riddle 1965 KHJ Sales Sheet

This is a one-sheet for Sam Riddle from the 1965 KHJ Sales Folder. The text reads:

SAM RIDDLE
Pied Piper of
The Lively Ones

Without a doubt the hottest personality in the Southern California discotheque set, Sam adds Boss Radio to his already overpowering performance record. Long the prime seller in Los Angeles TV, and holder of top ratings in the heyday of both KRLA and KFWB, this transplanted Texan is again cooly showing his well-shod heels to the pack.

Host of his own “9th Street West” and “Hollywood-A-Go-Go” on the tube, Sam is a salesman that delivers. There’s not a young adult in Southern California who isn’t hip to that mellifluous voice. It’s really not strange that Sam’s shows mean few “avails.” Riddle’s regiments respond beautifully to any medium, and they’re now accessible to your blandishments ... at considerably less than TV rates. Forward March!

Johnny Williams 1965 KHJ Sales Sheet

This is a one-sheet for Johnny Williams from the 1965 KHJ Sales Folder. The text reads:

JOHNNY WILLIAMS ...
Soother-and-Salesman to
Insomniacs Anonymous

‘Neath this puckish grin lurks the soul of a true “night person” ... who aptly enough directs Boss Radio from midnight till dawn. John left his home town of Fort Scott, Kansas at the age of five ... as soon as he realized that agrarian night life left something to be desired. Since that time, he has gazed into the neon signs of progressively more lively towns such as Tucson, Portland, Phoenix and Denver.

Now, a recent and extremely successful graduate of Denver’s No. 1 station, John combines your business with his pleasure to give Los Angeles night people the warm, smooth and happy sound of a salesman who has finally found his territory.

He has made his time slot sell in every market he’s entered ... use him to sell sleepless Southern California.

Scotty Brink KHJ Publicity Photo

Boss Jock Gary Mack Postcard

This is a promotional postcard for Gary Mack. The back of the postcard reads:

KHJ “Boss Jock” Gary Mack
Could be through the disguise of radio that a bad cat could come out sounding like the greatest. But when the real thing comes along there isn’t any mistaking a really warm person. And nice guys finish first ... Gary Mack proves that every minute he’s on the air!

KHJ Signal Coverage Map

KHJ Boss Cartoons - Vol. 1, No. 1

This is page one of the first issue of Boss Cartoons. There were five issues that I’m aware of. This issue centers around new Boss Jock Tommy Vance.

The Boss Cartoons were done by the creative team of Mike Dormer and Lee Teacher. They did several items for KHJ including the “KHJ RULES!” sticker sheets and Sitar Treasure Map. They’re probably best known as the creators of the “Shrimpenstein” kids show that ran on KHJ-TV and for the “Hot Curl” character seen in SurfTOONS comics.

Click on the image below to see the entire cartoon. The panels have been combined to provide a continuous cartoon rather than have four separate pages.