Bio of Ed “Batman” Thomas

Ed Thomas then, and Ed enjoying a glass of white wine remembering his KFXM years.

Ed Thomas came to KFXM in early 1959 and commanded the overnight listener for 1-1/2 years.  Raised in Southern California, Ed went to the Don Martin school and came directly to the Inland Empire and KFXM.

Ed writes, “The first story that comes to mind is Lyle Kilgore creating the ‘Batman’ label. It was my first night on the air, and the first words out of his mouth were something about ‘there goes the Batman to hang upside down until tonight at Midnight.’ Also, during the last hour before his arrival I had to give up the ‘drinking’ one-liners about him. His friends were starting to believe it.

After KFXM, Ed went to work at KENO in Las Vegas and later to another Tullis & Hearne station, KDEO in Escondido/San Diego.

When it comes to other interests, Ed lists, “Internet, reading, movies, good food and wine, not necessarily in that order.”

In April of 1960, KFXM’s long-time program director, Roy Cordell, persuaded Henry Mancini came to visit the Inland Empire to promote his music.  The usual site: Lyle's Record City on Highland Avenue.  Pictured (left to right) Roy’s wife Barbara Cordell, Henry Mancini, Roy Cordell, Gary Price, Lyle's Daughter, Ed Thomas and Helen Wiegand, the promotions director for RCA Records, Mancini’s label.