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Daily Breeze

By RICHARD WAGONER

Growing up, my sister Susan used to listen to records by Barbra Streisand and the Beatles. A lot. So much so that I developed a deep hatred for anything from "Funny Girl," "Funny Lady" and the drug era of the Fab Four.

As for the pre-drug-era Beatles, listening to repetitive KRTH (101.1 FM) over the years contributed to that.

I am probably the only one in the world who feels this way, but I will admit it: I hate the Beatles. I thought I was over it when I bought the "One" CD a few years ago, but trying to listen was painful. I keep it in a closet now, away from a CD player.

That being said, I was taken by surprise when the news came out recently that the last segment of the long-running "Breakfast With the Beatles," Sundays from 10 a.m. to noon on KLSX (97.1 FM), would air Sept. 3.

Seems the tanking ratings brought on in part by Howard Stern's move to satellite radio has affected the bottom line of former affiliates such as KLSX, so general managers are scrambling to make money through paid programming. Infomercials.

That's right: "Breakfast With the Beatles" is being bumped off the schedule for programs that will hock products.

"Breakfast" began as a program hosted by the late Deirdre O'Donoghue in 1983 on KMET (now KTWV, 94.7 FM). When KMET changed formats to The Wave in 1986, KNX-FM (now KCBS-FM, 93.1) picked up the program for a couple of years.

In 1988, the show went to KLSX where it has stayed, surviving as the only music program on the station since it became all talk.

The program features popular and lesser-known songs from the Beatles as a group, as well as by the band members solo, along with interviews and features that have made it the longest-running and one of the most popular "Beatles" programs in the country.

Current host Chris Carter took over after O'Donoghue's death five years ago. Carter says he hopes fans will help save the program by writing to KLSX, encouraging management to find a spot.

Perhaps a better bet would be to convince KLOS (95.5 FM) programmer Rita Wilde that it would be a perfect addition to her classic rock station.

If the best a major market high-power FM station can do is run infomercials to help the bottom line, it is obvious that creativity is lacking.

Play's the Thing

L.A. Theater Works' The Play's the Thing will present "The Fiery Furnace" at 10 p.m. Saturday on KPCC (89.3 FM).

Written by Timothy Mason and starring Julie Harris, Shannon Cochran and William Fichtner, the mystery tells the story of a family led by an upstanding farmer. Or is he? Why does his favorite daughter want so badly to leave for Chicago with her mother?

Richard Wagoner is a freelance writer based in San Pedro. Send questions to him in care of the Daily Breeze, 5215 Torrance Blvd., Torrance, CA 90503-4077, or send e-mail to rwagoner@cox.net.

(c) 2006 Daily Breeze. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.