Radio star lets questions linger about resignation

Tuesday, Oct. 20, 1998 | 11:16 a.m.

Nationally syndicated late-night radio talk show host Art Bell says he and his family are "in no immediate danger," but he still is not saying why he suddenly quit the airwaves last Tuesday.

In a brief statement taped at his in-home studio in Pahrump and distributed to about 400 stations that carry his shows nationwide to an estimated audience of 15 million, Bell said Monday he could return once his personal problems are resolved.

"Frankly, on the night I resigned, I thought it could not be resolved -- now I hope it can," said Bell, whose shows about the paranormal and otherwise weird are top rated in many late-night radio markets nationwide. "(That would allow) me to return to what I love doing so much."

Bell hosts the shows "Coast to Coast AM" and "Dreamland," which are aired locally on KVBC-FM 105.1 starting at 10 p.m.

Jacor Communications Inc.'s Premiere Radio Networks, the No. 1 U.S. syndicator of radio shows, said Monday it would continue airing Bell's shows in their regularly scheduled time slots with guest hosts until Bell returns. No date has been set for Bell's return. Hilly Rose was the guest host Monday.

Bell told listeners he made his decision to suddenly quit last week "without being advised or pressured by anyone."

Bell, 52, reiterated that he did it "because of a terrible life-threatening event, which occurred to my family about a year ago. ... Although there is -- and I want to be sure you understand this -- no immediate danger to my family, what did occur then absolutely requires my full-time attention now."