Invites you to RSVP
for our Next No-Host Luncheon!
(Purchase lunch from menu if you choose – No Charge to attend)
Friday, March 29, 2024
11:30am-1:30pm
Smoky Mountain Pizzeria Grill
415 East Parkcenter Blvd.
Boise, Id 83706 (208) 429-0011
Our Program will Celebrate
KGEM Fun Central Promos
featuring
Bob Kellogg
and
John Runkle!
John Runkle’s “Fun Central” Remote Broadcast Booth at the Frostop at Broadway & Boise Ave.
In 1961 to 1962, KGEM Radio in Boise billed itself as “Fun Central” for the Treasure Valley. Foundation Member Bob Kellogg, who lives in Meridian, was KGEM’s Program Director then, In addition to hiring great air-talent, like John Runkle, Bob developed a series of “promos” using his versatile voice to sound like he was having a conversation with imaginary-friends, strange people, or even another KGEM announcer!
Among the voices appearing on the “Fun Central” Promos was that of John Runkle, who they referred to on the air as “Uncle Runkle!” John played different roles and used a specific voice for each, depending on which character John was playing.
John Runkle at the controls of the Gates dual-channel control board in the early 1960’s.
KGEM recorded a huge number of these promos! When the “Fun Central” concept ended in 1962, John made a reel-to-reel copy of the promos and took them with him before leaving KGEM in 1963 to work for KBOI-TV.
John was amazed when his wife Betty Jean found the original “Fun Central” tapes about 3 years ago, hidden away in an obscure file. John listened to all of them saying “they still sound like they always did, some laughs, some groaners, some blank looks” and that the KGEM “Fun Central” tapes were no longer lost, and were “just too good to let get away forever.”
John with his wife and business partner, Betty Jean, in 2006
We agree with John and will hear the “best” of these tracks at our March 29th Meeting with Bob Kellogg and the Runkle family in attendance! If you attended John’s Celebration of Life at Eagle Nazarene you heard a sample of what’s to come!
Bob Kellogg as he looks today. Taken at his home in Meridian
John with daughters, Julianne (L) and Christin (R) in Lincoln City, OR. They will be at the meeting on March 29th with their husbands & Mom!