In 1988, I was making $12,500 per annum working for WNTN Radio in suburban Boston. That was a poor salary, especially in a city known for its outrageous cost-of-living.
One day, my dad paid a visit to my Boston apartment. Viewing my kitchen chairs, which I had purchased at Medimart, he sat down on my couch, which I had rescued from the curb, and lit a cigarette.
“You can’t live like this forever,” he said.
Shortly thereafter, I sent out 75 letters and tapes to the top talk and news radio stations in the nation, even though my friends told me nobody gets hired in radio in the Summer.
Around August, I got two nibbles. One was from a radio station owned by Merv Griffin in Hartford. The other was from KMOX in St. Louis.
I only knew of KMOX because my college roommate from Baltimore listened to Cards games on KMOX...
Charlie,
THANKS for all you've done and continue to do for the City and whole Metro Region. Your efforts at trying to improve the arch grounds, fighting useless TIF developments, and exposing corrupt developers in the City are greatly appreciated here!
09/08/2008 9:27AM
Happy Listener
Love ys Charlie - you're one of a kind!!! (and that's a good thing!)
09/08/2008 10:03AM
Barb
Dear Charlie,
I really appreciate all you do for St. Louis. Please stay here! We need a Republican Mayor. When's the last time we had one?
09/08/2008 10:15AM
Dee Straatmann
Your show is always well researched and professional and yet enjoyable.
09/08/2008 10:20AM
Congrats
I always love to here you on the computer wile I'm Working. keep it comeing !
09/09/2008 9:36AM
Mary P.
Personally, I think they should let you be on 4 hours. I have to turn KMOX off at 11 until 2. Congratulations!!! Keep up the good work.
09/09/2008 10:18AM
Loyal Listener
Charlie, I very seldom miss your show. Always enjoy it. The book club is also high on my list each month. Please keep up the good work.
09/09/2008 3:18PM
Long Time KMOX Listener
Your show gets better all the time. Really enjoy going to the book club meetings. Your brilliance and personality really shows through. Also enjoy you on Donnybrook. Another St. Louis Treasure!
09/10/2008 9:41AM
Marie in North County
Thanks,Charlie, for all the years of service to the St. Louis area. Your comments are always interesting and show that you have done your homework. Wishing you many more years to come.
09/10/2008 9:58AM
Your the best!
Thanks for all you've done for the St. Louis area. Your are always well-informed...shows you've done your home work. Best of luck and here's wishing 20 more years!
09/11/2008 9:24AM
Congrats Charlie!
Love your show and love your efforts regarding the City. Keep up the great work!
09/11/2008 3:37PM
Norbert Krausz
Congratulations, Charlie for sharing yourself with St. Louis for the past 20 years! That's quite admirable, as you and your show are always a highlight for me each weekday! You are really a PRO! Doing the Patriotic Concerts with you at St. Paul Church Belleville will never be forgotten by all of us! Blessings for many more years!
09/11/2008 3:37PM
Cookie
You are the BEST
09/11/2008 4:07PM
Thanks for a great show!!!
I had the pleasure of attending your show and was very impressed with your preparation'dedication to the City, and the courtesy you extended to us and your listeners. Best wishes for many more years!!!
09/11/2008 4:33PM
Congrats and Thank You!
Thanks for a thought provoking show. Keep it going for another 20!
09/11/2008 4:49PM
Leon in Az
great job Charlie I'm in Az now & still liisten to you,keep it going
L.K. in Gold Canyon,AZ
09/12/2008 12:40AM
Harriet sends Congratulations on 20 years!
Thanks for everything you do to make our city a better place.
09/12/2008 6:52AM
Congratulations Charlie from Jerry Bielicke
You're Good! I Met you at Fr. Dominic's Book visit. Thanks for the Bartolino's Gift Certificate. I grew up watching Captain Kangaroo. You got to interview him. How cool is that. Keep on doing what you do so well.
09/12/2008 2:36PM
Good Job!!
Even though I'm across the river, I enjoy all your info--for MO and IL
09/13/2008 4:25PM
Charlie Your The Best
Love your show and your style keep up the good work may you have at least 20 more
09/15/2008 10:18AM
C.J. FROM KIRKWOOD
Charlie, your the best!!! Wish you were on all day.
09/16/2008 9:31AM
a sometimes fan
Charlie that young picture of you, did you play the part of the original young Dennis the Meneace? You mighty cute these days charlie. What are you doing?
09/17/2008 7:39PM
Tom Sullivan
Congratulations on your 20 years, Charlie! You do a great job and are a good friend of taxpayers.
09/18/2008 7:38AM
thanks for truth !
This,as in all other elections we are forced to vote for the best actor/liar. Thank you for putting the facts out!!
09/18/2008 11:11AM
Thanks Charlie
Congrads on 20 years--hope you here 20 more---
09/18/2008 5:09PM
20 Years with one Station!
This is a testament to your professionalism. Thanks for all you do to hold people in power accountable. I also love the book club.
09/19/2008 3:03PM
Janet Daniels
Congratulations and many more years at KMOX. You are the only one I listen to now. At 11:am my radio goes off.
09/19/2008 3:26PM
Diane
We arrived here in 1988 from CA and I've listened to you a lot ever since. I don't always agree with you, but I find you interesting. Congrats on the 20 years!
09/19/2008 3:57PM
The Original Toy Show
Congratulations Charlie for 20 very good years of broadcasting. I only wish that the toy business in St. Louis would have been as stable. Once Venture Stores and Grandpas closed and Western Auto decided to get out of the Toy Retailing business, that sealed my fate. But I wanted to thank you for I believe 4 years of allowing me to talk about toys on your program the Friday after thanksgiving. It clearly was my 15 minute of Fame.
Thank You,
Tony Forcelledo
09/19/2008 3:57PM
charlie,charlie charlie
love your program and hope you stay with kmox.love you on donnybrook too. CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!
09/19/2008 5:21PM
Love your program! You Make My Day!
Congrats on 20 great years with KMOX!!! Thanks for keeping us informed and entertained. I also appreciate your efforts to support the troops in Iraq and Afghanistan by sending care packages from the St. Louis area. Charlie, you make us all proud!
09/19/2008 6:00PM
Dr. Jim McKenna
Hi Charlie,
Congratulations on a great 20 years and make it another 20 at least.
09/19/2008 8:40PM
Lori G
Have enjoyed you for 20 years. Keep on doing what you're doing!
09/21/2008 9:06PM
missing towels
loved your story on friday about the uss george washington and president clinton. my son is a nuke tech on the george wahington, and I think his comment would be, "what towels?" I'm enjoying the history lesson. congratulations on twenty years.
09/21/2008 9:37PM
You Are Number ONE
Charlie,
You are the very best broadcaster in St. Louis. I enjoy your insight, analysis, humor and diversity. There is none like you!!
Best regards and congratulations on 20 years.
John Hancock
09/23/2008 5:41PM
A KMOX listener 60 years
Congratulations. I hope you are around for at least 20 more years. Your show is always entertaining, informative, provacative, and fun. No one else could do it like you!
10/01/2008 12:02PM
mark
I like lisening to you keep up the great work.
10/02/2008 12:24PM
Cal Owens
Charles: When we came to St. Louis, one of the first things we did was to join you for a walking tour of downtown featuring many of the important sites & buildings important to the history & richness of this city. It was a terrific tour and your obvious knowledge and enthusiasm for STL was very obvious. Thanks for your contributions to KMOX and this region. We have also enjoyed two of your book review sessions. Keep up the good works as they are greatly appreciated. Congrats upon your twenty (20) years of work & service which I hope will continue for a long tome.
10/03/2008 7:49AM
Sheri
Charlie, Long time listener. You are consistently thought-provoking, controversial, humorous, thoughtful, energetic, honest and dedicated. Best wishes on your anniversary and many more.
10/07/2008 9:57AM
Sorensen
I am listening right now to your interview with Mr. Ted Sorensen. Judging from his difficult attitude toward you, I'm thinking of various labels to apply to the man. However, I shall exercise restraint, and withhold the pejoratives. But, if you can imagine it, I'm thinking it!
10/09/2008 10:45AM
Cynthia K.
Congratulations Charlie for a great 20 years! I hope you have another 20 plus years. I enjoy listening to your program on KMOX, and watching you on Donnybrook. I salute you for trying to get to the truth on the real reasons behind this Wall Street financial crisis. Many people are putting out false and conflicting information and I'm glad someone is trying to shed light on the facts. Thank you for all you do for St. Louis. I love your show on KMOX, even if I do not always agree with you. Great job! (At least someone is doing a great job, it certainly isn't the people on Wall Street, or the people in Washington D. C.)
10/09/2008 11:06AM
Long-Time Listener, First Time Caller
Chuckie B!! Congratulations and continued success at the "Mighty MOX!" Tom Langmyer
10/09/2008 7:47PM
Thanks!
I always enjoy your insightful questions and sense of humor.
10/10/2008 11:06AM
Oregon Charlie
Charlie , your show is the only one on KMOX I'll listen to. You are the only talent left! I grew up in St. Lou but now listen to you on the web from my home in the mountains of central Oregon. I spend 6 months here and 6 months there. I was offered a job on local station here. You have my Dream-Job, I have your desired lifestyle. Congrats on a very fine career.
10/15/2008 6:06PM
Congratulations Charlie! You are awesome!
Congratulations Charlie! You are awesome!
You make a difference in many peoples lives, and that my man, is truly a wonderful gift.
I just read a great new book titled "You Are Not Forgotten"- foreword by Henry Kissinger, (authors Grubb and Jose). A fascinating and inspiring true story about a military family, the Vietnam War and our POW/MIA's. It revealed many interesting historical facts, many of which parallel today. I had never heard of the National League of Families before, nor did I know the origin and story behind the design of the POW/MIA flag. The wives and mothers of our POW/MIA's during that time, what they endured and what they accomplished...wow, they are true American Heroes.
How come we never hear about Joe McCain, brother of POW, and presidential candidate, John McCain? He should be celebrated! Got great insight regarding his part in history along with several other key folks, Henry Kissinger, H. Ross Perot, and George H.W. Bush.
Anyway, I learned a lot reading this book, and I recommend it for the book club. It made me realize the sacrifice military families have made, and continue to make for us all.
After reading the book I made a promise to myself ... to help in any way possible, to make sure our Veterans and their families would not be forgotten next month.
So in addition to wanting to congratulate you for all that you do, I also want to ask you for your help in accomplishing my goal.
If you could, please remind your loyal listeners over the next several weeks to not forget that Veterans Day is Nov. 11. Ask them to simply reach out and say thank you...to a Veteran, to a soldier, or to a military family. Together Charlie, we'll make sure everyone remembers them.
Thanks!
All my best,
Mike
10/23/2008 6:39AM
Enough Praise
Your blog looks like a list of testimonials for a "As seen on T.V. blog". You seem to be the most fair and balanced on this station. I was blown away when several gentlemen accused you of viewing issues through liberal eyes. If they think you are liberal they must be so far right they are about to fall off the planet. I get very irritated with all the attacks on the Democratic party that are unanswered. So often based on missinformation. Almost every show on your station is at least right leaning, if not full blown nutty (Rush Limbaugh, Mark Reardon). Your shows do not often provoke intelligent discussion. Just because you are discussing polotics doesn't mean it's being done intelligently. Most of the A.M. radio shows I hear a full of tabloid sensationalism. There are all kinds of inaccuracies that are allowed to pass for truth on your shows and are not often challenged.
11/17/2008 10:21AM
Oakville Joan
I love your show Im so glad that you are one of the St Louis treasures My radio goes on at 9:00 an off at 11:00 Keep up the great work Also love the book clubs I do get to make some of them and find them so much fun Go Charlie!!!!
11/19/2008 5:25PM
You're right about hot dogs
We sell hot dogs and business is fine. When people aren't working they do still have to eat, and they are apparently choosing hotdogs over steak! I enjoyed your comments yesterday morning on the topic.
11/20/2008 4:13PM
Congrats! from Florida
Charlie, Even at a young age, I enjoyed listening to you annouce the play by play of every basketball game, that you played with the neighborhood gang. I knew you would be great at this!Here's to another 20 years! Cheers, Mary Beth
11/24/2008 10:20AM
New Listener
Love your show Charlie. You remind me of Tim Russert, because you can conduct an interview with an unbiased and critical point of view. Thank you for that!
09/07/2008 1:02PM
Congrats!
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