MPR staff Loren Omoto, Dale Connelly, and Mindy Ratner talk with MPR’s Kate Moos about how they are celebrating the gubernatorial declaration highlighting how radio workers’ services improve life in the state of Minnesota.
MPR staff Loren Omoto, Dale Connelly, and Mindy Ratner talk with MPR’s Kate Moos about how they are celebrating the gubernatorial declaration highlighting how radio workers’ services improve life in the state of Minnesota.
[PHONE RINGS] KATE MOOS: The switchboard was jammed. The lobby was packed with congratulatory wreaths and flowers. And the staff was-- well, the staff was gratified, as you might imagine, after years of toiling away, going without the fame attached to their colleagues in that other electronic media.
Hundreds, possibly thousands, of radio announcers around the state smiled sheepishly, glanced at the piles of mail from fans and well-wishers. And then what did they do? They did what Minnesota Public Radio's Morning Edition host Loren Omoto did, they hunkered down and got to work.
ANNOUNCER 1: The response has been phenomenal, really, from listeners. First of all, of course, when I got up this morning, I was a little late dashing out to the garage there. And jeez, there was the limo.
And I certainly didn't expect that. You don't usually expect that when a guy goes out to come to work to have this big stretch Lincoln there, but there it was. And the drink on the way in was nice too back in the back seat.
KATE MOOS: The gubernatorial declaration makes note of the sacrifices radio announcers have made to enhance the quality of life in this state, their commitment, and integrity, and the entertainment and companionship they provide. And it concludes in proclaiming this day a day in their honor.
One fact little known outside the trade, however, did not escape the co-host of MPR's morning program, Dale Connelly. Connelly says it's fitting and proper that the day also happens to be the birthday of Guglielmo Marconi, commonly thought of as the father of radio.
DALE CONNELLY: Technically, Marconi's birthday is a holiday for all radio station employees. And last year, you'll recall, we had the Marconi's Day parade out around the transmitter, where all radio station employees were bussed up to the transmitter. And for three hours in the morning, we did a circular path around the transmitter with bands and floats. The area was fenced off so non-radio personnel couldn't come in, of course, because this isn't a public celebration. It's very private and we cherish it.
KATE MOOS: But while radio announcers basked in the glow of their hard-earned and long-awaited day of recognition, it's not likely that a single person got the day off. And others like MPR music announcer Mindy Ratner, managed to remain entirely oblivious to the hoo ha.
MINDY RATNER: You have got to be kidding.
KATE MOOS: No.
MINDY RATNER: [LAUGHS]
KATE MOOS: I'm sure you're having special observances up here in the FM announcers booth.
MINDY RATNER: Well, actually, I'm doing what I do every Friday morning.
KATE MOOS: What's that?
MINDY RATNER: Well, announcing the morning concert.
[LAUGHS]
KATE MOOS: Cards and telegrams coming in?
MINDY RATNER: Afraid not.
KATE MOOS: No?
MINDY RATNER: No, not a one.
KATE MOOS: You didn't try to get the day off?
MINDY RATNER: No, I didn't. What kind of observance would that be for a radio announcer on Radio Announcers' Day?
ANNOUNCER 2: And for this evening, that's All Things Considered.
ANNOUNCER 3: A program produced by Art Silverman, edited by Dan Morris, directed by Jude Franco.
ANNOUNCER 4: And that's MPR Journal for this Thursday afternoon. Our engineer was Scott Yankus.
ANNOUNCER 5: BBC World Service presents Radio Newsreel.
[MARCHING BAND MUSIC]
KATE MOOS: On behalf of radio announcers around the state, this is Kate Moos reporting.
MAN 4: First the news headlines.
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