We used to go down to the radio station, WITH, Baltimore, and visit with our favorite disk jockeys. We have visited with Roz Ford, Buddy Deane (who was there when he was not on TV and was the real "Corney Collins" of Hairspray) and Maurice “Hotrod” Hulbert, the late night African American DJ for white people.
The only Baltimore DJ to be enshrined in the National Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Maurice 'Hot Rod' Hulbert was one of the most influential radio personalities ever. Born in the deep South, 'Hot Rod' began to make his mark while at the legendary WDIA in Memphis. Working alongside the likes of B.B. King and Rufus Thomas, Hulbert's training in vaudeville served him well as a radio entertainer. In 1951, he became the first full-time black DJ on an all-white station when hired at WITH in Baltimore.
In the early 50's, his 8 til Midnight slot captivated Baltimore teens and adults alike by featuring 'Commander Hot Rod in his Rocket Spaceship'. We're talking pure theater of the mind, and Rod was a master. He would say, "Good googa mooga, here we go takin' off in our rocket ship from the Big B! Vosa vosa",
We would go down to the radio station, park, and throw stones up to the window until someone would look out and let us know if we could go up or not that evening. Someone would come down, if it was alright, and we could be on the radio.
I remember we helped on the famous Thunderbird wine commercial with Hotrod. He asked, “What’s the word?” and we would shout, “Thunderbird!” Then he asked, “What’s the price?” and we would shout, “50 twice!” (A dollar a bottle). I drank way too much of that stuff in the 50's!
One night we were with them and Roz Ford had a guest, a stock car driver named Dagmar. She was a celebrity, I guess, as she was a woman stock car driver. She had long blonde hair and looked something like the 50’s late night television personality, Dagmar. She was traveling some circuit or other making local media appearances to promote her driving appearances.
She was new to Baltimore and we offered to drive her back to her hotel. She was delighted, and we asked her if she wanted to get something to eat. She was happy to do this so we took her out to our favorite late night deli hangout in hopes of running into friends. I can’t remember who we saw, but we had a good time and so did she. She even picked up the check.
We were harmless kids, and she was a very nice lady. We all harbored our own fantasies about how we wanted the evening to turn out, but kids in the 50’s were reasonably naive and we simply had a very nice time.
She was a lady and we became gentlemen for an evening.
The only Baltimore DJ to be enshrined in the National Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Maurice 'Hot Rod' Hulbert was one of the most influential radio personalities ever. Born in the deep South, 'Hot Rod' began to make his mark while at the legendary WDIA in Memphis. Working alongside the likes of B.B. King and Rufus Thomas, Hulbert's training in vaudeville served him well as a radio entertainer. In 1951, he became the first full-time black DJ on an all-white station when hired at WITH in Baltimore.
In the early 50's, his 8 til Midnight slot captivated Baltimore teens and adults alike by featuring 'Commander Hot Rod in his Rocket Spaceship'. We're talking pure theater of the mind, and Rod was a master. He would say, "Good googa mooga, here we go takin' off in our rocket ship from the Big B! Vosa vosa",
We would go down to the radio station, park, and throw stones up to the window until someone would look out and let us know if we could go up or not that evening. Someone would come down, if it was alright, and we could be on the radio.
I remember we helped on the famous Thunderbird wine commercial with Hotrod. He asked, “What’s the word?” and we would shout, “Thunderbird!” Then he asked, “What’s the price?” and we would shout, “50 twice!” (A dollar a bottle). I drank way too much of that stuff in the 50's!
One night we were with them and Roz Ford had a guest, a stock car driver named Dagmar. She was a celebrity, I guess, as she was a woman stock car driver. She had long blonde hair and looked something like the 50’s late night television personality, Dagmar. She was traveling some circuit or other making local media appearances to promote her driving appearances.
She was new to Baltimore and we offered to drive her back to her hotel. She was delighted, and we asked her if she wanted to get something to eat. She was happy to do this so we took her out to our favorite late night deli hangout in hopes of running into friends. I can’t remember who we saw, but we had a good time and so did she. She even picked up the check.
We were harmless kids, and she was a very nice lady. We all harbored our own fantasies about how we wanted the evening to turn out, but kids in the 50’s were reasonably naive and we simply had a very nice time.
She was a lady and we became gentlemen for an evening.
Nice. Reminds of a gentler time, a sweeter time, the time of "Diner" and "American Graffiti." Kennedy hadn't been assassinated yet.
ReplyDeleteHey Arthur, My dad was Roz Ford! If you have any stories to share I would be grateful
ReplyDeletethanks
Dave Ford
Just found this note from 6 months ago so I hope it gets to you. Your Dad once wrote my parents a note on the back of a promo card letting them know we were just at the radio station and were nice guys and not in trouble! This went far for me when I arrive home late. He was a great guy!
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