Gene Klavan, one-half of the 1960s morning radio show “Klavan and Finch,” died on April 8 from complications of multiple myeloma. He was 79.
The Baltimore native was studying at Johns Hopkins University when World War II started. Klavan quit school and enlisted in the Army Air Corps. He served in the Pacific campaign and later entertained the troops.
When the war ended, Klavan launched his radio career in Baltimore and Washington. He moved to New York in 1952 and joined straight man Dee Finch on the WNEW-AM morning show. For the next 14 years, the duo improvised the popular four-hour program, which featured wacky characters like Mrs. Wes Chester, Sy Kology, Trevor Traffic and Victor Verse.
Finch retired in 1968, but Klavan continued to entertain listeners on “Klavan in the Morning.” He moved to WOR-AM in 1977 and remained on the air for three more years as the voice of the afternoon drive time. Finch died in 1983.
After he retired from radio, Klavan hosted for American Movie Classics and worked as a columnist for Newsday. He also published two books: “We Die at Dawn” and “Turn That Damn Thing Off.” Klavan fathered four sons: Ross, Scott, Laurence and best-selling author Andrew Klavan.
April 12, 2004 by
Gene Klavan
Categories: Media, Military, Writers/Editors
About a year ago I sent a 1-hour aircheck of Gene Klavan to “airchexx.com”. I believe it is still there for all who wish to listen to it. It was recorded in August, 1975.
During my childhood, I used to wake up to Gene Klavan on WNEW-AM and and go to bed to Jean Shepherd on WOR.
They couldn’t be more different in topical manner and style yet both ad-libbed on a scale rarely heard or seen today.
Klavan brought an intelligent humor that is particularly rare today.
I don’t know how many people were inspired by Gene and Jean to enter broadcasting; I myself ended up in print journalism with occasional public announcing. Nor am I sure they realised how much humor and thought they brought into the lives of their respective listeners and readers.
Their mikes are not really silent -they have moved to a better studio.
I am saddened to hear of the passing of Gene Klaven.
I worked at WNEW AM Radio news from July 1967 until June of 1976. I remember them all: Ted Brown, William B. Williams, Jim Lowe, Jean Sheppard, Julie LaRosa,
I just found out by accident of Gene Klavan’s death. As a child through College and beyond my morning was greated by Klavan and Finch and than just Klavan. Gene was a part of my life and started me off with a positive attitude every morning. Little do we know how much a distant voice through the old AM radio can impact your mind set for a life time. As a side note to Ray Rice’s comment, I still have a reel to reel tape recorder and remember his readings. The circle of life is amazing. Mike Strange
I “discovered” Klaven and Finch one morning while driving to work in Union NJ in early 1958. They made the commute a lot easier to navigate! How I wish now that I had been in a position to record their shows. Any airchecks of both of them out there? In 1965 my wife and I moved to central Kentucky, and from 6:30 to about 7 am we were able to listen to them driving to school and work. After moving back to North Jersey Gene was our clock radio wake up. I remember one morning,
the two of us started giggling over a routine in which he mentioned “grits”, and the way he said it was too much! It reminded us of our southern experience. The mid-Fifties and early Sixties
were the best days of radio. A friend of mine who retired to Florida said to me, “We had it all back then.” Indeed we did. Thanks Gene for being serious about having fun and making the rest of us laugh on the way to work. Skip Borsos
As a young aspiring DJ in the late 50’s, my radio station was WNEW-AM. I marveled at th depth od quality personalities and newsmen. Willim B,my favorite-Ted Brown, Dick Partridge, Bob Landers,newsman Joe Given etc. It was ,not only a great station but my school for broadcast personality wannab’s.
I still marvel at thee wonderoud personalities,all blessed with unique, wonferderful voices, and fine minds.
They,of courseare long gone, as is that genre of broadcasting. All things change, they say, and I suppose that’s true,requently for the worst. Today,there are very few real personalities. oh, there are the fools like Howard Stern,whom I finde so terribly repititious and,actually, hardly funny. His rantings , these days aboutthe FCC are reminicent of the great Lenny Bruce’s rantings,on stage, about thesame topic -censorship. Bravo to WNEW-11-3-0 in New York. Real radio,
Gene Klavan was an exceptional talent.His spontaneity was unmatched. Gene was able to draw on all aspects of life with humor that did not disparage the characters he portrayed. As a former radio personality, I felt honored to be part of a profession of which Gene brought so much class.
many was the morning in HS and whenever i was home during college that gene klavan, along with mr natt, trevor traffic and so many others kept me laughing…clever yes…stupid never. Between klavan and jean shepherd at nite…us listeners had it made! requiescat in pace.
To Gene Klavan.
Like the brilliant (and funny) Ray Rice, I had the thrill of working with Gene for a couple of years in the early 70’s. The difference between Ray and me was that I was a “copyboy.” A flunkie. Whom Gene treated just as warmly as he did his peers. Actually, one of my copyboy peers was Gene’s son, Ross, whom Gene complained was too handsome to be HIS kid.
Like Bob & Ray, Gene did what the shock jocks can’t do — be funny without hurting and offending people. Funnier, in fact, and extraordinarily well read, approachable, and silly. Friday morning’s were the best and wackiest.
I’m not ashamed to admit I shed some tears when I heard of his passing while visiting my daughter in NYC.
Gene Klavan was indeed the funniest man on radio. I have so many memories of his great characters like Mr. Nat The Co-ordinator, Johnny Charge with his out of tune guitar and Coach Guts Gerrity and of course Trevor Traffic. He was THE guy to wake you up in the morning with a smile and a fine sense of the bizarre. I remember how he’d parody parades with the most awful, sour marching band music playing in the backround, or Trevor Traffic having his dog in his helicopter or the time he literally knocked WNEW off the air by “accident” at the end of one of his final shows there. When he moved over to WOR he replaced the legendary Bob & Ray in the afternoons and made my afternoon drives home from college a dangerous delight, continuing the madness he began at WNEW. Radio will never see or hear the likes of this type of genius at work again, but the sounds of Klavan’s many voices will remain in my heart for ever.
I remember listening to Klavan & Finch on WNEW AM
when I lived in Mamaroneck (NY) oh, about 1967 and
into the early 1970’s. I remember making what I
thought was a terrific cartoon of their made-up
character “TREVOR TRAFFIC” flying in his aircraft,
a helicopter, I believe. I sent it in to them at
the radio station. I was so thrilled one morning
as I drove to work, when they announced my name,
referring to my ‘gift’ to them. I miss them and
everyone else at the once WNEW AM station.
Bill Siemon
I feel so much like Gene was a real part of my mornings,and the rest of the day!He made us aware of how funny he could make ordinary people,well funny.I still have an old cassette of his last program (he didn’t like to call it a show because it was radio)Wish he was still here.Made me smile.
I enjoyed many an early morning drive-time with Gene Klavan in the late sixties and early seventies on WNEW. Around about the time that he wrote “Turn That Damn Thing Off”, I sent him a fan letter. The “PHONE COMPANY” was one of his sponsors at the time — he did some hilarious (and I am sure unauthorized) interpretations of the ad copy — it so happened that I was an employee of the “PHONE COMPANY” and his satire, to my mind, was entirely appropriate. How could any of us know that a scant 30 years later, the “PHONE COMPANY” as we knew it then would be history?? Anyway, I wrote to express my appreciation, and you know what?? He sent a hand-written response!! A very warm, humorous, and genuine response. The Howard Sterns of this world could learn from a guy like Gene Klavan.
Gene Klavan was the lead off-hitter in a line-up of William B.Williams, Ted Brown, Jim Lowe and news greats Jim Van Sickle and Chip Cippola. Bob Fitzsimmons and Julie La Rosa came a bit later.
Then there was Jim Gordon and John Kennelly doing sports and the football Giants. Marty Glickman too. Bob Jones also as the Milkman.
What great guys they were. It was the best station in radio history. I miss it and all those great guys terribly.
I auditioned to replace Gene Rayburn when Ray left the team of Rayburn and Finch. It was 1951, yea, really. Gene Klavan came in from WTOP in Washington to auditiom with Dee; I came in second. It was not until 1958 when WNEW remembered me and hired me, I did my noon show for 7 years. During that time, I got to know Gene well. He was always a gentleman; his incredibly quick humor was completely without rancor. He had a ready smile for everyone. Gene Klavan was one of my favorite people. We shared a quiet understanding peculiar to some people in the business… mutual repect. I know that somewhere, Gene is sill smiling. I miss him.
I was transferred from the Philly area to Rockland county in the early seventies. I quickly heard about WNEW and started listening to the various personalities whenever I could during the day. When I came across Gene Klavan,I immediately became a huge fan and began listening to him every morning. He was the funniest radio personality I ever heard anywhere. The characters he created at times seemed so real and it was only after a long while before I finally realized that Trevor Traffic was not a real person! If I had to pick a favorite character,it had to be Dr. Isodore Isobar alias WC Fields. I even taped some of his programs and I know they are still somewhere in my house. It’s sad but true that radio will never be that good again. Our culture has changed so drastically and for the most part not for the good. They say that the wheel turns but truly we shall never see the likes of folks like the guys on WNEW ever again…..Rest in Peace to all of them
Had the pleasure of having represented both Gene and one of the posters here (Bob Landers). Gene was a beautiful man and always a gentleman. Quick wit with keen analytical mind.
I was watching “Imus In The Morning” this morning and immediately thought of Gene Klavan and “Klavan In The Morning” on WNEW. I grew up listening to Klavan and Finch and marveled at their ability to be genuinely funny and surprisingly original day after day. WNEW was a special place in those days with William B. Willaims, Jim Lowe, Dee and Gene, and “The Milkman’s Matinee” with Jack Lazar. It’s hard to think of Gene Klavan gone, and of the absence of that kind of original humor from the airwaves.If anyone knows how to obtain a tape or CD of one of Klavan and Finch’s morning shows, I would like to hear about it.
Ted Brown WAS personality radio. THE best at THE GREATEST RADIO STATION…WNEW, the big “W”. Ted was one of 2 pros who inspired me to work in personality radio. Ted had it all. He was classy, funny, entertaining, and easy to listen to. I smile when I recall him describing himself and I paraphrase here…This is Ted Brown, 6 foot 3, with piercing green eyes, jet black wavy hair and cat like movements”. See you on the other side of news on WNEW, Metromedia Radio, New York.
I never tired of hearing Ted. In fact, I craved more of him the more I listened. Each minute of every day was a treat. Ted was my radio hero.
The memories of have of Ted Brown could fill volumes. I am sad now, and with tears because he is gone now. I never had the privilege and pleasure to meet Ted but he was my friend.
Ted Brown and the GREATEST radio station ever, the BIG “W”, are gone but not from our hearts and memories.
May God Bless you and rest in peace my friend. And, thanks for GREAT RADIO.
Tom Wahl
Gene Klavan certainly sounded great on the aircheck posted at airchexx.com. I found it amazing that the kind of show he was doing (I believe this was 1975) was so much different than Harry Harrison over on WABC or the morning show on 99X, yet still very popular, so much so that people fondly remember him today. I still receive emails about that one aircheck. Wish I had more.
Incidently, one of these tributes mentions Dick Partridge. You will be interested to know that he is alive and well living just a few miles from me here in Massachusetts. I worked for Dick FOUR times in the 80s, once as his PD when he owned WCAT, a onetime 1000 watt daytimer on 1390.
Partridge was a one of a kind broadcaster, just like Gene Klavan. He’s 80 years old now, and long retired, but I’d work for him again in a heartbeat if I ever had the chance.
Steve West
Orange, Mass.
WNEW 1130 — the greatest radio station EVER!! I miss it so much. Gene Klavan, William B., Ted Brown — the triumvirate!! And who could forget Sunday mornings with Jonathan Schwartz? But I digress — this is, after all, a tribute to Gene Klavan. In the late sixties, Gene introduced a ‘hostility index’ on his morning show. He even had a lapel button, with a blank space for a number from 1 to 4, which fans could write in and request to have one sent. Well, I wrote in and got one. My message included some anecdotes about “the TELEPHONE COMPANY”, for whom I worked at the time and which was a sponsor of the show. Gene sent me a personal reply, complete with extemporaneous jokes, along with the lapel button. A truly personalized response — I was amazed, and will never forget. What a guy.
I remember when Gene first showed up on my personal radar screen– via the inventive TV ads for his radio show. Like his belly dance (with a Gunilla Knudsen soundalike saying “Put it ONNNN…”) and his rapid-fire commercial done entirely in Spanish.
His book, “Turn That Damned Thing Off”, is a great overview of the television industry and I can’t recommend it highly enough. It’s still relevant (and funny) after all these years…
My Mom and I would listen to Klavan in the Morning. The characters that had us in stitches were Mr. Nat (the Coordinator of Activities) and the lawyer (Bernie?) whose phone number was a candystore (“but they’ll get me”). Now that she is gone too those memories are especially dear to me.
How wonderful to read all the tributes and memories here. I grew up a Bob and Ray, Klavan and Finch listener, maybe that is why I can cope with the world of today…my sense of humor was forged by these great radio performers.
I grew up in the 50’s and 60’s listening to WNEW, it helped form my taste in music and humor. As a young adult I was hooked on Mr. Klaven, I would listen to him on my way to work on the car radio and laugh out loud. It was like having a funny friend to comute with, only better. I miss those days, but very glad to have the memories. Thanks Gene, wherever you are I’m sure it is a funnier place with you around.
I saw Andrew Klavan’s name on an article today, and instantly thought of Gene; guess Andrew is a son, which will now induce me to read his article! The consistency of the tributes to Gene is not surprising. The Imus episode led me to rethink the difference between wit and schlock. Gene Klavan was the epitome of wit, and like so many others I value and appreciate the role he played in making life more enjoyable.
i was a big fan of mr klavan , as well as bob landers, who did great voice overs.
Just finished watching a movie that I taped from American Movie Classics on l-11-94 and the host was Gene Klavan. I really loved the guy and I came to my computer to see what I could find out about him. Sad to see that he has passed away. A remarkable talent and a wonderful man. Rest in peace Gene.
I just read Bob Landers’ tribute to Gene Klavan. It’s no surprise that Bob almost replaced gene Rayburn,he was totally unique, His in tempo greetings were remarkable,as were so many other facets of his abilities. I believe,while in Miami,Fl, he did the voice of a pickle! It was Klavan then” Good morning World” from the owner of the world’s sleepiest voice, William B. to Bob Landers’ “Good Just Barely Afternoon”,then “Hello You” spoken by the Rock Hudson of radio Dick Partridge. Later,my favorite mania man Ted Brown, rejoined the station. Ted,the man with the carbonated voice.Unfortunately,as was the case with so many fine stations whose demographics got older,a program director was brought in who believed you could”young up”the numbers by including some rock. The first was Dean Tyler,brought in from Metromedia’s WPEN in Philly,who first poured Chlorax over that great sound by firing Julie La Rosa. He also tried to convice William B that there was nothing wrong with playing Ella Fitgerald followed by Elvis Presley! WNEW was so great that it could have continued to play only the “Great American Standards.” The numbers would have gotten older,but so what? Believing that listeners over 50 don’t have “discretionary income” is as absurd as mixing genre. Sleep well you geniuses from the real WNEW.
Gene Packard ,September 5 2007
Gene
In Tribute to Gene Klavan – where do I begin? A true comic genius who made it all sound so easy. His parodies of Tom Carvel’s commercials as well as jokes about news and sponsors, often came as unexpected side comments. But there was no holding him back. Following a particular news item in which a local investigative reporter discovered that a certain brand of diet bread contained sawdust as one of the ingedients, Gene came back on the air without missing a beat and exclaimed that once the bread got stale “You could build shelves with it”. That was in 1972, and I’m still laughing. Rest in peace, Gene. You’ve earned it.
My foundess memories was waking up every morning from 1971 as a 10 year old(as early as I could remember) to December 9, 1977 listening to Gene Klavan on WNEW 1130.
What I liked most about Klavan was he was an entertaining personality.
Waking up to WNEW-AM will always have a place in my heart.
Thanks,
Kevin L. Sealy
I feel as though I spent my whole chldhood and early adulthood listening to WNEW.. I’m 56 and now live in Charleston, SC where spring is about to burst out in bloom. This morning, as I was driving somewhere looking at the azaleas the first thing that came into my mind was the jingle “It’s springtime in NY, the loveliest time of year, when everything around you is so fresh and new, the feel of springtime is in the air, and you’ll find WNEW everywhere.” ! I guess I better get a life, huh? Anyway I too loved and will always love Klavan and Finch, Gene Klavan, Ted Brown, William B. I even remember as a little girl hearing the jingle “From noon to 3, the place to be, Bob Landers, Bob Landers, on WNEW in New York.” This is sad!
Thanks to all who added to my life!
Nina
I GO BACK TO 1958 WHEN WNEW PD MARK OLDS HIRED ME TO BE A “STANDBY ANNOUNCER” DOING OVERNIGHT NEWSFROM 10:30-6AM, WRITTEN BY EITHER IKE PAPPAS OR CHIP CIPPOLA. AT 6AM I DID THE ID AND TOSSED ITTO JOE GIVEN WHO DID THAT NEWSCAST…THEN IT WAS KLAVAN AND FINCH TIME. WE ALL STAYED IN THEK&FSTUDIO, WITH OUR BACKS TO THEIR RECORD LIBRARY AND WERE ENTERTAINED ROYALLY. GUYS LIKE ENGINEER CARL INFANTINO AND CHIEF ANNCR JOHN DALE AND MILKMAN’S MATINEE DJ JACK LAZAR HUNG AROUND AT TIMES FOR THE SHOW AND EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE BOB LANDERS WOULD SHOW UP EARLY TO KIBBITZ. ONE NIGHT WILLIE B. HAD A YOUNG B’WAY ACTRESS ON THE NIGHTTIME MBB. I CAME IN EARLY FROM MY WCAO, BALTIMORE REGULAR GIG BECAUSE OF A SNOW STORM AND SAW THIS YOUNG LADY, AND WOW SHE WAS PRETTY BUT SHE LEFT THE STATION BEFORE I COULD TALK TO HER. I MENTIONED IT TO WILLIAMS AND THEN TO JACK LAZARE THAT I WAS SMITTEN BUT WILLIE WAS MOOT ON HER IDENTITY AND SHOW, SO WHEN K&F BEGAN THEIR SHOW THE FOLLOWING MORNING, GENE TALKED ABOUT MY INTEREST ON THE AIR AND ASKED THE AUDIENCE IF THEY KNEW WHO SHE WAS AND WOULD SHE PLEASE CONTACT ME AT WNEW. THEY DID THIS SEVERAL TIMES, MUCH TO MY AMAZEMENT AND EMBARASSMENT WHILE THE OTHER GUYS GAVE ME YOU KNOW WHAT…NEVER DID FIND THAT ACTRESS, BUT I HOPE SHE WENT ON TO STARDOM, WHILE I WENT BACK TO WCAO FOR MY NOON TO 3PM RECORD SHOW. I WILL NEVER FORGET GENE AND DEE’S KINDNESS TO A YOUNG DJ, NOR WILL I EVER FORGET THE KINDNESS AND RESPECT OF MY WNEW MENTOR JOHN DALE…WNEW IN THE LATE 50’S AND EARLY 60’S WAS AN IDEALLIC STATION TO WORK AT AND FOR, FOR WHICH I AM ETERNALLY THANKFUL. MY LESSONS THERE KEPT ME IN BOTH RADIO AND TV TIL ’97 WHEN I RETIRED.
WNEW was a unique radio station with a sound that will forever stay firmly implanted in our memories. My friend, the late Brian Fergenson, was an engineer there in the 70s-early 80s and occasionally he would have me up to visit.
I remember seeing Gene Klavan’s sound effects box with which he made those slamming door sounds and other effects. Mr. Klaven personified a brand of radio that is, unfortunately, extinct as crudity has replaced wit, intelligence, and pure fun. Yes, Mr. Nat, the coordinator of inter-relations, Trevor Traffic, Dr. Isidor Isobar, and of course, Gene are all gone from the airwaves, but they live forever in our hearts.
(Does anyone have a clean copy of the old news “bleeper”? I would love to have it!)
I’m from across the pond and worked in NY during 1973-4, when Gene Klavan was on WNEW. For a second or two I thought Trevor Traffic was maybe just inept, trying to broadcast and fly a chopper at the same time, and then the sun came up for me, too. Mr Klavan’s way with a radio advert – irreverent to say the least – was wonderful. Great entertainment. Great radio. The best of the US.
Yesterday morning, April 8, 2009, I got up and for some reason thought of Gene Klavan. I hadn’t thought of him for some time, and I’d meant to look him up on Wikipedia.org to see what he was doing. Imagine my surprise when I learned that yesterday was the fifth anniversary of his death. What a coincidence, and a sad discovery. I first heard of Gene Klavan as a kid when I saw a TV commercial for his program … it ended with him saying on-camera, “I know you don’t want to get up in the morning. I don’t care.” The ad then ended with a visual of a clock radio and Mr. Nat’s voice fading out. This was probably ’70 or ’71, so I would have been 10 or 11. I was a kid, but I thought Klavan was absolutely hilarious. I remember him saying that the studio was “upstairs, over the umbrella and whip shop” and I also remember Trevor Traffic’s desperate wintertime pleas for a heater in the traffic copter. I used to wonder how Klavan got away with poking fun at the commercials … no one else dared do such a thing! It wasn’t until later I realized how much savvy advertisers probably LOVED what he did. He never mocked the message, he only did silly things that caused you to actually hear an ad that you’d normally ignore. I loved the silly things he did with the guitar and the recorder (oh, that recorder! … I’m glad the Airchexx.com 1975 recording included him using it to satirize the Time magazine ad!) Things like this, and the impromptu away-from-the-mike arguments (in fake Italian) with “the landlord,” and his range of crazy characters, are all things that today’s radio “personalities” could never, ever dream of doing. It’s not so much that there isn’t anyone out there who couldn’t carry the torch, it’s that today’s radio, in which the only thing that matters is profit, wouldn’t take a chance on anyone with a creative talent such Klavan’s. This is probably why I simply don’t listen to commercial radio anymore. Thank heavens I still have memories (and if I’m lucky, recordings) of Gene Klavan. I only wish that I’d sent him a fan letter, but I guess this is as close as I’ll come. I’m no longer a young teenager living in Bergen County, but a man in his late 40s living in northern California. But Gene Klavan’s wit will always be with me. Thanks to everyone for the great memories!
I spent many a morning listening to Gene Klavan. Enjoying the characters portrayed so lovingly by their creator. Gene Klavan was, truly, a creative genus.
I started listening to Gene because WNEW-am was the station my parents tuned in back in the early 60’s.But, It wasn’t until the late 60’s that I really found out how good and funny he truly was until I approached my twenties in the late 60’s. His characters- Trevor Traffic and Mr. Nat were marvelous creations who got me hysterical with laughter. At one time the 2 of them got into an argument with Gene officiating and trying to calm the other 2 down- it was an absolute masterpiece and deserved some type of award. I was hooked on him for years after that. Gene was absolutely one of a kind who won’t be replaced and I’ll never forget him.
Klavan would poke fun at his own lack of grace regarding record intros and outros. One morning he mauled the talkup to ‘I Feel The Earth Move’ and then hollered ‘Carole! Just don’t come barging in here like that!’ …. noisily ripped the needle off, and put it back to the beginning, for another try.
Outros were always an adventure. But what a combination of ‘inside’ radio and sheer silliness, the one time the song ended and the dead air started. Along with ‘k-thk … k-thk … k-thk’ : The TT needle was practically starting to play the label. Full blast. The next sound (as though a bored board enginner just got tired of waiting and turned on the studio mike anyway) was that of distant, frantic running footsteps ….. the famous studio ‘door’ being flung open …. Klavan completely out of breath …. him taking a swig of something (noisily) …. and then starting to cough and choke. Into a spot.
If Klavan had been on a more contemporary-music station …. ahh, who knows? It’s still great to see so many listeners who liked all that harmless anarchy and buffoonery when they were young.
‘Morning there, you!’
Can’t somebody bring back WNEW?
When I was stationed on North Mountain, remote from Thule Air Force Base, Greenland back in ’61-’62 Listening to Klaven & Finch on AFRTS (Armed Forces Radio Television)was one of the things that helped us get thru the days. They did a stick one day on “Hogey Carbuncle” that was really funny… their routines were always a pick me up.. I reeally wish I could find some of their stuff to listen to again.
I remember listening to the Klavin & Finch show when I was a very young girl, from about 1955 to about 1965. My mother and father turned to that station every day and, in that way, Klavin and Finch were part of our family. I still remember the show’s jingle that someone mentioned here. One day, my sister brought home two birds and we named them Klavin and Finch.