Tomorrow's The Day!!!

Tomorrow is the BIG DAY! The 25th Anniversary Salvation Army Bed & Bread Club Radiothon kicks off Friday morning at 6am - live from the Oakland Mall on 760 WJR.  And as always, it will run a full 16-hours until it wraps up at 10pm. 

I will be out at the mall, behind the mic, throughout the event along with “Purtan’s People” and the guys from WJR as we raise funds for this amazing program. 

Each day, the Salvation Army Bed & Bread Trucks travel to the most impoverished areas of Metro-Detroit, feeding 5000 people - that’s right - 5000 men, women and children EVERY SINGLE DAY. 365 DAYS A YEAR. Even on big snow days like the one we’re expecting tonight into tomorrow. For many, it’s the ONLY meal they’ll get all day. And tomorrow’s Radiothon is the fundraiser that makes it all possible. 

A donation of $120 (that’s $10 a month) feeds one person for an entire year; Double that to $240 ($20 a month) and you will feed two people for an entire year.  And not one penny goes to administrative costs - every single cent goes towards providing hearty soup, sandwiches, fruit, hot chocolate, coffee, lemonade - whatever the season calls for - to people who are desperately in need.  

If you were a listener of my radio show, you know that I have a real passion for this program. In fact, we held our very first Radiothon 25 years ago in an effort to give back to the community.  That first year we were thrilled to raise $15,000!  As the years went by, word got out about this amazing “Club” and I am proud to say that with the incredible generosity of people like you, we have raised a total of over $25 million. That $25 million has allowed the Salvation Army to serve over 75 Million Meals to people right here in Metro-Detroit. But at the end of every year, the money we raised the year before is gone. There is no “piggy bank” or “rainy day fund” to fall back on.  In short, every year, we start from scratch. 

And so now, once again, I’m asking for your help. I know that times are tough - but if you’re lucky enough to have a roof over your head and are able to provide food and shelter for you and your family - I’m hoping that you can find it in your heart to help those who are in less fortunate circumstances.  

Remember, a donation of $120 will feed one person for an entire year and make you an official member of “The Bed & Bread Club”.  A donation of $240 will feed two people for 365 days and will get you special commemorative throw blanket featuring the graphic you see in the picture to the left.  It will serve as a constant reminder of your generosity. But we’re not greedy - just needy! Any amount that you are able to donate will be gratefully accepted and deeply appreciated.  

I hope that you will have time to stop by and see us at the Oakland Mall tomorrow - if you can’t make it in person, you can listen live on 760 WJR - or listen to the live stream on WJR.com.  

You can even donate right now by calling 248-528-0760 or clicking on the following link. Donate Now.

I thank you so much for your support and look forward to a busy and successful 25th Anniversary Radiothon tomorrow! 

-Dick

P.S. And now for a little pre-Radiothon fun… I present another one of my personal favorite “Best Ofs” - and one of the most popular bits from my entire career. It’s the always amazing Joe Noune playing Howard Cosell at a very special sporting event… 

Howard Cosell At The Iditarod  (1:16) 

Excited For The Radiothon? "Join the Club!"

The 25th Anniversary Bed & Bread Club® Radiothon is FRIDAY from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. on News/Talk 760 WJR, live from the Oakland Mall in Troy. Listen by radio, live web-stream on WJR.com, or in person! In honor of the 25th Anniversary of the Radiothon, I’ll be back behind the mic with “Purtan’s People” and the guys from WJR!  Our first annual #bedandbread tweetathon is up and running. For every tweet with the hashtag #bedandbread, Ford Motor Company Fund will donate $3 to the 25th Annual Bed & Bread Club®. Click here for more information, and start tweeting! Hunger and homelessness in our community is a huge, but not impossible, problem to fix. A donation of $120 ($10 a month) makes you a member of “The Bed & Bread Club” and feeds one person for an entire year; and a donation of $240 ($20 a month) feeds two people for an entire year and gets you a very special “Bed & Bread Club” throw - that will keep you warm and serve as a reminder of your heartwarming generosity. Of course any amount you can give will be greatly appreciated as always!  Thanks in advance for your support and I look forward to a successful Radiothon this Friday!  Click here to join the Bed & Bread Club Online or call 248-528-0760. The line is open now thru the Radiothon! In the meantime, here are two of my absolute favorite “Best Ofs” from years past! “Hands Off!”  (1:25) “Love Letters From The Civil War”  (4:28)

Two "Best Ofs"... And My Radio Show From April Of 1964 - Just Months Before Bringing The Beatles To Cincinnati!

With the Salvation Army Radiothon coming up this Friday, February 24th, I’m concentrating all my efforts on getting ready for the big event - which I will be hosting along with “Purtan’s People” and the guys from WJR. As you probably know, this is THE FUNDRAISER that allows the Bed & Bread trucks to hit the streets of the most impovershed areas of Metro Detroit and feed 5000 men, women and children every day - 365 days a year!

NOTE: It will be broadcast live from the Oakland Mall from 6am to 10pm and be heard on 760 WJR. I hope you can tune it… and will contribute whatever you can. Remember, a contribution of just $10 a month feeds one person FOR AN ENTIRE YEAR! A contribution of $20 feeds two people for an entire year! Not a penny goes to administrative costs… it all goes directly to helping those in need. 

Now… for your listening pleasure today, I’m featuring two “Best Ofs” off my CD’s from years past. I’m also re-posting a piece from YouTube that I put up yesterday, but that you may have missed because of Presidents’ Day! It’s my show from 1964 in Cincinnati - exactly one year before I came to Detroit.  It was used in a video/picure compilation piece that was put together in 1966 for a newsman at the station. 

“You Can’t Beat The Buzzer”   (1:11)

“Gordon Kinkaid - 20/20 News”  (1:44)

Cincinnati Radio Video  (5:12) 

Blast From The Past

Here is a special video for this Presidents’ Day. You’ll hear 5 minutes of my show from WSAI in Cincinnati (where I was known as Paul Purtan), nearly one year to the day before I came to Detroit. It is actually a video done for the station’s news director, but the audio on it contains my show from May of 1964 where I was a real top-40 DJ. The video was done in 1966 thus the date on the video description. I think you will find it fun to listen to, because even I can’t believe it is me.

Don’t forget, this Friday the 24th, I am hosting the 25th Annual Salvation Army Bed and Bread Club Radiothon (on 760 WJR). Because of this, I am doing something special on the blog this week. Don’t forget to come back each day and see what we have going on.

- Dick

One Week And Counting! (On You!)

Today we bring you probably the most important Podcast we’ve done so far. Why? Because it’s about one of the most important events to happen in this city all year. I’m talking about the 25th Annual Salvation Army Bed and Bread Club Radiothon that takes place next Friday, February 24th. 

This year, I’ll be dusting off my headphones and sitting down behind the mic, live from the Oakland Mall, from 6am to 10pm - along with the guys from WJR and “Purtan’s People”. Please note that the broadcast will be heard on 760 WJR.  

Those of you who know me, know that I have a passion for the Radiothon because of what it does: Raise money for the Bed & Bread club that feeds 5000 men, women and children, in Metro-Detroit’s most depressed neighborhoods, 365 days a year. 

Since I began the Radiothon 25 years ago, we (and that means so very many of you - my generous listeners) have raised over $25 million dollars to support this incredible program. It has become the biggest one-day/single-station Radiothon in the country. Everyday, the Salvation Army Bed & Bread trucks head out to the streets of the most impovershed areas of our community - providing a nutritious meal for people who quite likely would otherwise go hungry. 

And the Radiothon - all 16 hours of it - is THE FUNDRAISER for the program. 

EVERY PENNY YOU DONATE GOES RIGHT TO THE STREET.  Not a single cent is spent on administrative costs. And talk about bang for your buck! A donation of $120 (which earns you membership in the “Bed & Bread Club” will feed one person FOR AN ENTIRE YEAR! $240 will feed two people, everyday for a full 365 days and get you a very special - and useful - commemorative gift! 

Yours Truly and WJR’s Paul W. Smith out on one of 4 Bed & Bread trucks! I can’t tell you how proud I am to once again be an on-air part of this event. But to remind you again, this year, the Radiothon will be broadcast on 760 WJR.  I’ll say it again… 760 WJR. I’d like to ask a favor and encourage you to spread the word on Facebook, Twitter or even through an old-fashioned conversation around the office water cooler.  (Do they have those anymore?) 

I hope you’ll tune in… and more importantly donate any amount you can. I know times are tough… and any donation - big or small - will be appreciated more than you know.  

You can even donate now by going to WJR.com or by calling 248-528-0760

And now, to give you a real feel for the people behind this life-saving program and the thousands of men, women and children whose lives will be so dramatically changed by your donation, I welcome Dale Johnson of the Salvation Army to the Podcast. He’s been my right hand man for 20 of the 25 years I’ve done the Radiothon. Nobody expresses what the “Bed & Bread Club” is all about better than Dale.  

Podcast #30: Pre- 25th Annual Salvation Army Bed & Bread Club Radiothon! (21:09)

More Evidence That Kwame's Krooked???

The heat just got turned up again on his former dishonor Kwame Kilpatrick. He and his friend and associate Bobby Ferguson were each hit with a new federal extortion charge Wednesday that accuses them of shaking down a towing contractor for more than $90,000. The unnamed towing contractor was allegedly forced to pay big bucks to the Kwaminator to keep his contracts with the city’s police department. 

- Is it just me or is it starting to sound like maybe, just maybe, Kwame did some stuff that wasn’t legal? 

- If only he’d saved that 90 grand! It would have really come in handy for those monthly restitution payments! 

Bill: I Shut My Body Down Sexually... Hillary: I Wanted To Cut His Body Down Sexually...

Democratic pollster turned TV commentator Dick Morris reveals some shocking details about the Bill Clinton/Monica Lewinsky affair in a new PBS documentary.  Morris claims that even after denying the affair on national television, Clinton said to him, “Ever since I got to the White House I’ve had to shut my body down - sexually, I mean - but I screwed up with this girl.” Morris ran a poll and found that Americans would forgive the infidelity, but would have a harder time forgiving the fact that he lied.

- He had to shut his body down sexually once he got to the White House? Call me crazy… but didn’t I read that Hillary also lived there?  

- The documentary also reveals that the Clinton White House had 3 Wings: The West Wing, The East Wing, and the wing where Hillary winged Bill with the lamp she threw at him. 

- I don’t think Bill Clinton’s body is going to “shut down sexually” until the day he dies. And even then, they’re gonna have trouble closing the lid on the casket. 

MegaEndorsement From "Megadeath"...

Rick Santorum just picked up a major endorsement: Dave Mustaine, leader of the heavy metal group “Megadeath” is backing him. Mustaine says Obama hasn’t done a good job so he will vote Republican in 2012. He calls Newt Gingrich “an angry little man” and says Ron Paul “makes total sense for a while”, then negates it with something “way out”.  But he claims when Santorum stopped campaigning to be with his sick daughter, it showed “presidential qualities” and earned his vote. 

- In a related story, Mitt Romney was endorsed by a lesser known rock group, “MegaWealth”. 

- I’m not making my decision until Lady Gaga announces her endorsement. 

Kate Winslet: My Acting A Titanic Disaster!

Kate Winslet told the Ladies Home Journal that she had a hard time watching footage from the upcoming 3D release of “Titanic”. Winslet said watching her 21-year-old self was hard because she wasn’t a good actress and has learned so much since then. During the viewing she said, “I was literally like, ‘Oh my God, make it stop! Block my ears, somebody! Somebody club out my senses. Make it F-ing stop!” 

- She was so traumatized she can no longer eat Iceberg lettuce salads. 

- If anyone’s acting came off “stiff” in that movie I’d say it was Leo DiCaprio.  Of course he was supposed submerged in ice cold freezing water. 

 - I only remember one scene from that movie… and even that is a bit “sketchy”! 

Italian Men "Gallup"-ing to The Poles!

In Taranto, Italy, porn stars Amandha Fox and Luana Borgia, both running for Mayor, have invited voters to come watch them pole-dance followed by a discussion of local political issues. They’ve invited other candidates to pole-dance as well, but so far there have been no takers. 

- They expect to get a ton of campaign donations… all in one dollar bills. 

- This gives “Heading to the Polls” a whole new meaning.  

- We can only hope this doesn’t give Newt Gingrich any ideas.