Almondo Antonio Vincenzo Fiori (Aka: Al Anthony)
Employment Dates(KFXM/KDUO): |
1963-1986 |
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Time Slots and other Employment while at KFXM/KDUO: |
I worked briefly doing a shift 9am to Noon but was primarliy Director of Operations managing (then) California’s largest independent chain of radio stations - Tullis & Hearne Radio Stations,Inc. 1962-1965, Executive Vice President and then General Manager (1982-1986). |
Stations prior to KFXM/KDUO: |
KAFY-Bakersfield, California (1957-1962) Made ratings history and created national hot breaking record market with national attention for many artists including Beach Boys, Platters, Kathy Young, Olympics, Contours, Ritchie Valens, Righteous Brothers, Motown records, Beatles, Rolling Stones, Paradons, and dozens more. |
Stations right after KFXM/KDUO: |
KDEO, KWIZ, KBLA, KCAL, KCKC, KQLH, KSPA, KRLA & KFWB (relief) |
Other Employment after KFXM: |
Owned “Double A Advertising” & TV Consulting firm. Clients included: California Highway Patrol, Ethan Allen, Lazy Boy, So. Cal. Ford & So. Cal. Nissan Dealers, Communication Workers of America, Catholic Archdiocese of So. Cal., Honda Dealers, Remington Arms (Safety), Minolta, Pete Ellis Auto Group and more.1990-1999. Established advertising department, Southern California region for Comcast Cable. As Senior Sales Supervisor, personally sold $3 million in advertising; local, national.
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Where Were You Born: |
From a humble beginning in the Endicott/Binghamton, New York area, first- born American to Italian immigrant parents. |
Military: |
Four year Korean War veteran, United States Air Force. Participated in the first “Non-Stop, Around the World Flight” in a B-50,”Lucky Lady !!” in 1949. My military service offset my early life plans and dreams by five years. |
Education: |
Bachelor of Arts –TV/Radio Broadcasting, Los Angeles State, LA City Colleges. My majors: TV/Radio Broadcasting, Advertising and Acting.President LACCTRA Association, Distinguished English Student, Honors. Ogden’s Radio-TV Operational Engineering School -FCC First Class License |
About Al Anthony:
My fifty seven years of Broadcasting and Multimedia experience has provided me with a rich, rewarding career including: Corporate Executive, managing sales, talent, production, programming, technical, creative, recruiting, training as well as ratings and financial turnarounds.
Media experience includes: Television, Radio, Cable, Print, Movies, Outdoor, Advertising Agencies; managerial, ownership as well as personal air talent.
Career Media Highlights:
Produced, Hosted syndicated TV show “Al Anthony Dance Party” 1961-1962
Created and produced syndicated country dance show, “Country Junction” 1992
Owned “Double A Advertising” & TV Consulting firm. Clients included: California Highway Patrol, Ethan Allen, Lazy Boy, So Cal Ford & So Cal Nissan Dealers Communication Workers of America, Catholic Archdiocese of So Cal, Honda Dealers, Remington Arms (Safety), Minolta, Pete Ellis Auto Group and more (1990-1999).
Achieved highest rated radio personality in America,
twice, KAFY (1958, 1959)
Billboard Magazine’s “Public Service Program Director of the Year “(1961)
Director of Operations managing (then) California’s
largest independent chain of radio stations - Tullis & Hearne Radio
Stations, Inc. (1962-1965)
KAFY-Bakersfield, California (1957-1962) Made ratings history and created national hot breaking record market with national attention for many artists including Beach Boys, Platters, Kathy Young, Olympics, Contours, Ritchie Valens, Righteous Brothers, Motown records, Beatles, Rolling Stones, Paradons, and dozens more.
Did radio promotion with Beatles’ first West Coast appearance, Hollywood Bowl in 1964.
Co-produced Rolling Stones first US appearance San Bernardino, California 1965
Other stations: KDEO, KWIZ, KBLA, KCAL, KCKC,
KQLH, KSPA, KRLA & KFWB
(relief).
Executive Vice President KFXM and KDUO (1963-1986)
Worked at Disney Studios (for Mr. Disney during creation of Disneyland) 1955
Actor- (Union Waiver) in 12 Motion Pictures, mostly MGM (incl.“Blackboard Jungle”)
Managed, recorded several hit musical artists on self owned & other record labels
Field Reporter, Reno National Championship Air Races (1983 – 1987)
Participated in the first “Non-Stop, Around the
world flight” in
B-50,”Lucky Lady !!” in 1949.
Established advertising department, Southern California
region for Comcast Cable
as Senior Sales Supervisor, personally sold $3 million in advertising;
local, national.
Associations: Member/Officer of Board of Directors:
More Biography:
Mid- fifties found me pursuing life long ‘Los Angeles bound
dream’ With the help of the G. I. Bill and a dozen odd jobs,
many concurrently, I graduated Los Angeles State College, with honors,
mostly straight A’s. (First in our family tree to attend and graduate
college)
My majors: TV/Radio Broadcasting, Advertising and Acting. Concurrently
I attended Ogden’s Radio Operational Engineering School,
and acquired Lifetime FCC First Class License.
While in college, I worked every paid and free gig available towards any experience I could garner. One of these included subbing for a hooded wrestler, ‘The Raven’, broadcasting all night from a restaurant on La Cienega in Hollywood, on KBLA. (When he got ‘lucky’… I got work!) in 1954. I did vacation relief for all jocks at KSPA, Santa Paula. 1955
Prior to leaving New York I worked at WENE, Endicott/Triple Cities announcing and radio drama acting in 1947.
My first full time radio opportunity came in 1956, opening a new station, KSLR in Oceanside, California, It was the first radio station ever on the air between LA and San Diego. It was a dream come true, not having to start in Idaho, North Dakota or some other godforsaken spot! It was a blast of an experience to broadcast on a local station in a region where there had never been one before. We were treated royally. Not many people ever have that chance anywhere, let alone Southern California, at the beach in San Diego County!! That dream lasted a year; KSLR, later KUDE was sold and…..(you fill in the blanks.) I chose to leave…..it became a forerunner of what radio is today.
WATCH THIS SPOT, NEXT: THE BAKERSFIELD YEARS!