Friday, Oct. 21, 2005 | 7 a.m.
Organizers estimate 500 fans of the defunct adult-standards format at KJUL 104.3-FM will rally for a protest in Sunset Park at 11 a.m. Saturday.
"There will be several celebrities there and we will have petitions for everyone to sign," said Judi Booe.
Booe is one of many faithful listeners who were shocked and angered when, without warning on Oct. 3, Beasley Broadcast Group of Naples, Fla., changed the format of the station from adult standards to country.
She said anyone who can't attend and wants to sign a petition should contact her at jbooe1@ cox.net. Among the entertainers and musicians who are expected to attend are Rich Little, Bill Acosta, Vinnie Falcone and Frankie Randall.
Former KJUL announcer Duke Morgan, who is keeping himself busy these days making commercials, will be there.
Scott O'Neil, another popular announcer formerly with the station, says he wants to attend but has a part-time gig with KSTJ 102.7-FM (Star) from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Saturdays.
"As soon as the show is over I'm going to hotfoot it over there," O'Neil said.
Star, whose format is music from the '80s, is owned by Beasley. The company also owns KKLZ 96.3-FM, a classic-rock station.
O'Neil says he's working at Star "to keep my chops up. I'm keeping current with the music."
He says he believes another station eventually will pick up the KJUL format, which aired music by Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Robert Goulet and other great recording artists.
"There is some interest," O'Neil said.
Officials with Beasley said secrecy was important in making the format change because of the competitive nature of the industry.
In a prepared statement, vice president of operations Brian Beasley explained why the format was changed:
"Our research showed there was potential for the station, which had achieved some success in the old format, to reach a much wider and under-served audience in the country format.
"Las Vegas demographics have changed dramatically over the last few years, as have listener tastes and preferences. We try to air programming that keeps pace with the markets we serve and sometimes, for competitive reasons, we implement programming changes without advance notice."
More than 100 fans wrote or called the Las Vegas Sun after the abrupt switch, furious at Beasley's decision. Three of those who wrote or called said they approved of the new format.
About 20 protesters picketed the Beasley office in Las Vegas two weeks ago.
Since the loss of KJUL, a number of people have tried to find alternative ways to listen to their favorite music.
Some are going to satellite radio, a subscription service that charges a monthly fee.
"They're going to push us into satellite," said 80-year-old Bob Knotts, a Las Vegas resident for 41 years.
He has tried listening to KUNV 91.5-FM, but isn't satisfied with its jazz format.
"It's a different kind of music," he said.
If you have a computer you can listen to the KJUL format on the Internet at jackhammerradio.com at 8 p.m. Mondays. Jackhammerradio, owned by DJs Bob Morgan and Russ O'Hara, also has a 24-hour loop on the Internet at Live365.com
"We've had over 10,000 listeners from Vegas," O'Hara said.
O'Hara says he and Morgan are trying to find a Las Vegas radio station to carry their shows.
Frank Uno has tuned in to KQOL 93.1-FM (Kool 93.1).
"It plays some tunes that are somewhat attuned to the 'old' group of listeners," he said.
But many listeners were not in the 55-plus age range that listened to KJUL.
"I am 37 years of age," Wilson Broughman said. "I have listened to this station since 1990. I am not the exception for my age group."
Jeff Greenberg, musical director of "The Tribute to Frank, Sammy, Joey and Dean" at the Greek Isles, says that if the KJUL format is to survive, there will have to be a uniting of two demographics -- young and old.
"Like many others, I am sad to see the passing of KJUL," he said. "But I can understand it from the business point of view. The over 55 demographic is poison to advertisers. People are retired and many are on fixed incomes. Even those with means tend to be less impulsive in their spending habits than the lucrative 15 through 40 demographic."
Greenberg's career has been largely based on the Great American Song Book. He even has a production of his own, "EEE-O-11," which recreates a night in a lounge from the Sinatra era in Las Vegas.
"EEE-O Eleven" is a song written by Sammy Cahn and Jimmy Van Heusen that was sung by Sammy Davis Jr. in the 1960 Rat Pack film "Ocean's Eleven," starring Sinatra, Davis, Dean Martin, Peter Lawford and Joey Bishop.
According to Greenberg, "EEE-O Eleven" is an expression that originated at the craps tables -- shooters would shout "yo, eleven," which became "EEE-O Eleven."
"Odds are, given the current business climate in Las Vegas, it is unlikely that another radio station would cater specifically to the wants of the 55-plus demographic," Greenberg said.
However, he says he has seen an interest among younger adults in retro-swing bands such as Uncle Sugar, Sweet Daddies. Sin City Daddies, Sin City Suits, and Jump, Jive and Wail."
"Through the retro-swing movement, the young people have developed an interest in the performers of the Rat Pack era," Greenberg said. "I see this almost every night at the 'Tribute' show when people in their 20s show up dressed in vintage cocktail dresses, and men with skinny ties and 'Frank' hats."
Greenberg says combing the two age groups might convince a radio station that it is in their economic interest to play the kind of music that was featured on KJUL.
"There can be a 'coalition government,' " Greenberg said.
Jerry Fink can be reached at 259-4058 or [email protected].
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