Month: November 2025

I look to self-publish my media memoir “Raised on the Radio” in 2026. Here’s a tease of something that’ll be in it.

This excerpt rolls back to my days of teenage lust in high school.

The fall of 1975 thru the spring of 1979 might’ve been a sweet spot in the sexual revolution, but me and most of my friends had our sex gears stuck in neutral.   At teen parties, the farthest we might go with a girl was a few stolen kisses in someone’s paneled basement or rec room after a few cans of Old Style beer. 

My senior high school picture. Just an average teenager. Got my teeth fixed a couple years later.

We weren’t afraid of the fairer sex, just a little hesitant to get out of the gate. Things at times were more formal and less rushed. Years later, it was no wonder that movies like “American Pie” and “Superbad” resonated so well with me.   

I had a few dates in high school but my love train was slow in departing the station depot.  Meatloaf once sang a song that summed up my relationship with girls back then, “All Revved Up with No Place to Go.” 

Stolen kisses like this one shown in the movie “Superbad” were an occasional happening.

The truth is we guys were curious, lustful and unsure of our skills in the romance department.  Bob Seger best described what us wannabe studs and the fairer sex were up to back then, “Working on mysteries without any clues.”

 Years ago, I took all this angst and frustration in good humor, joking, “I got my share of girls, but my share was so little.”  The good news is things got better as time went on.  If I were to compare my life with the opposite sex to a movie character, it would be Jon Fareau’s portrayal of a love seeking comedian in “Swingers.”  Except I’ve never scored Heather Graham’s phone number. (So far)

Jon Favreau & Heather Graham in “Swingers.”

NEXT BLOG- What started my interest in radio.

During my radio career I met and talked with countless celebrities in various situations. Musicians, TV and movie stars, athletes, politicians and other famous folks were a constant during my 20 years in Chicago media.

Most meet-ups were in radio station studios, lobbies and also on the phone for various interviews.  Other encounters were backstage at concerts, movie screenings and other events.  Almost all of my brushes with greatness/celebrity were good ones or at least passable.  The fame game is a tough one.  As David Allen Coe wrote in his classic “The Ride”, “If you’re big star bound let me warn you it’s a long hard ride.”

Maybe it’s not fair but I judged all of my meetings (personal and professional) with famous people by a meet up I had with two stars back when I was 11 years old.  At that age my life centered around sports, playing and watching baseball and hockey.  Hockey was my constant passion, anything that had to do with the Chicago Blackhawks was top priority in my world.

One Sunday night in the early spring of 1972 I was at home with my father and sister Maryanne while my mother was working as a server at Steven’s Steak house in Elmhurst.  Stevens was the best and fanciest restaurant in town and my mom worked a few shifts there each week.

On this particular evening my dad got a call from mom.  She had just taken food orders from Blackhawk star goalie Tony Esposito and defenseman Pat Stapleton!  The Hawks had a rare afternoon home game that day so a meal out on a Sunday night was in order for these players.  Mom told my dad to get me over to her workplace ASAP to meet these guys.   My dad gave me the news and I quickly threw on dress pants and shirt, sport coat and tie as he did the same.   Stevens was a ‘dress well’ type of eatery and we needed to fit in.

Before closing and being demolished in favor of a Thornton gas station, Stevens Steak House was THE place for the best dining in Elmhurst.

Twenty minutes later my dad and I were in the presence of these two Blackhawk stars as they dined with their wives.  Tony spotted me shyly approaching his table and got up to introduce himself and ask for my name.  Pat Stapleton did the same and we shook hands and talked hockey for a few minutes.  My mom brought over a couple of Stevens menus and Esposito and Stapleton neatly signed autographs and thanked me for being a fan of them and the Hawks.   This whole meeting took about five minutes but it was a monster thrill for me.  

Tony Esposito and Pat Stapleton were open to having their meals interrupted and were gracious to a young star struck fan.  It made for a great story I got to share with my teacher and classmates the next day at school.  Tony and Pat showed me even though they were well known athletes, they were as normal and personable as anyone else.  From then on, I measured all of my meetings with famous people by the same standard that these two men showed me.

Tony Esposito watches defenseman Pat Stapleton take control of the puck back in the day.

Years after this Sunday night encounter I would often see Tony Esposito around town.  He and other Blackhawk players chose Elmhurst as their place to live and raise their families.  I never did approach Tony again, one pleasant meet-up years earlier was more than enough for me.  

Both Esposito and Stapleton are now deceased but my memory of meeting them lives on. They set my standard for meeting famous people.   Thanks again guys!

 Next blog- Working on Our Night Moves.

It seems like this past Halloween deserves a blog post.  For me, it was a fun one.  Normally I would just wear an orange golf shirt and black slacks to school on 10/31 but this year our school staff was encouraged to dress in costumes.  I was fine with that but didn’t go overboard with personal creativity.  Wearing a Hawaiian shirt, Bermuda shorts and sunglasses, I dressed as a ‘Beach Bum.’ 

That’s me at my classroom desk, dressed as a ‘Beach Bum.’

However, many of my co-workers really got into the dress up bit.  Several staff members dressed as various members of Snow White’s dwarves.  Others had witch’s get-ups and other fun outfits.  Most of the younger kids dressed up and there was a parade through the school and lots of treats given out.  The youngest of the kids were so sweet and polite. 

 My students were good with all the Halloween fun and I shared with them some creepy scary mini-movies from You Tube along with the full length feature of Michael Jackson’s “Thriller.”  Some of my class had never seen Michael’s classic opus and they really liked it.

Driving home to dish out candy to trick or treaters, I saw a creepy yet cool sight. A couple blocks east of my house someone tied a red balloon to a sewer grate. It floated about with no other sign or decoration.  Those who’ve seen “It” knows what that red balloon by the sewer is all about!

Two blocks from my house I saw a similar type of scene as this photo. Fans of “It” know to not get too close .

The kids coming to my door were a riot.  Lots of princesses, fire fighters, vampires, skeletons and of course little tots dressed in furry animal costumes.  Most trick or treaters were accompanied by their parents toting traveler mugs filled with coffee or perhaps something a little stronger as they sweetly reminded their off spring to tell their candy givers, “Thank you” and “Happy Halloween.” 

My neighbors next door just had their first baby 6 weeks ago and they dressed as Portillo’s workers with their baby boy wrapped up in a tiny hot dog costume.  I thought that was clever and hilarious.

In the late afternoon, barricades were put up for a block party and a really cool Haunted House bounce house/giant inflatable slide was set up in the street.  The neighborhood kids and other trick or treaters went nuts for this bit of fun.

The housewife who coordinated much of the party invited me to join the other adults for cocktails, snacks and a band that was set to play after dinner.  However, after a long week with my behavior issue students, I was too tired to head out.  The band could be heard playing for a couple hours and they rocked out songs by John Mellencamp, Van Morrison and other classic artists.  

The next morning, I dropped off a ‘sorry to be a no show’ note to the party planners and witnessed the fall-out from the bash.  Several tables were still laid out with chairs, leftover snacks, sweets, empty wine and booze bottles and two coolers with a few cans of beer left in them.  Bottom line, my younger neighbors know how to party! 

NOT an actual photo from the Swain avenue Halloween Block Party but trust me, my neighbors know how to party!

The good news is next Halloween is on a Saturday so I’ll be ready with a more creative costume and hopefully another fun block party on my street!

Next blog- Tony and Pat set the standard.