"Grumpier old men," Len Allen and Arnie Wheeler call themselves. And, teamed as they are on Ogden's KLO (AM-1430), with the experience of 91 years in radio between them, maybe these veteran broadcasters have earned the right to describe themselves any way they want to.
A visit to the cozy KLO studio one morning, however, indicates Allen and Wheeler are anything but grumpy old men.They're charming, polite and - get this - wear suits every day to work and answer their own telephones.
Allen, 70, started at KLO in 1947. Wheeler, 59, has 42 years of radio broadcast experience at a variety of Utah stations.
The two have been paired at KLO since September 1993, though they had worked together briefly before this latest partnership. And even though this stint in their long careers is less than three years old, they now rank as the third-longest-surviving morning radio team along the Wasatch Front (which says something about the transience of radio careers and the rarity of longevity).
Neither apparently has any plans to retire.
When Wheeler mentioned the word retirement, Allen quickly quipped, "Then what will you do?"
Their years also complement the format at KLO, one of two area stations that play nostalgic music for an age 45-plus audience. This "Unforgettable" music, as it's pegged, is something both can spin with authority.
Allen arrived at KLO on Oct. 5, 1947, at age 21. He'd previously worked in New Orleans radio and came to Ogden by train to Union Station, where he got a cab to the radio station for a quarter.
"I checked into the Ben Lomond Hotel," Allen said. "The rate then was $3 a night, a lot for those days."
The hotel also happened to be where KLO then was located. The station, Utah's third-oldest (behind KSL and KDYL), has called a few other places home since then and now broadcasts from the second floor of the Executive Building at 4155 S. Harrison Blvd.
Allen actually left KLO for a few months and worked at KTKK in the 1980s, before returning a few months later. He said he once had an offer to work at KALL, but he's simply content where he is.
The automation of radio, FM's growth and changes in the way music is played represent the biggest changes he's seen in nearly a half-century in radio, Allen said.
When he started his radio career, DJs used 78 rpm records, then 45s, 33s and carts of cassettes. Today, CDs are the staple.
Even with the changes, "This is fun," Allen said. To him age is relative, despite work hours many would not envy. He said he's used to retiring by 9 p.m. each evening and getting up by 4 a.m. to come to work.
Allen, Wheeler said, is "Mr. Ogden." Indeed, the broadcaster's been around through dozens of Ogden mayors and in some ways is the city's unofficial ambassador.
Allen still runs his radio show as in the old days, too. He and Wheeler offer a full-service morning radio show that few Utah stations can equal: ABC radio news, local news, weather, traffic and business reports, gardening shows and easy listener call-ins are all elements of their show.
Wheeler doesn't use a chair much. He's kept busy running around gathering the news.
"This is a busy, busy show," he said.
Wheeler also serves as the production and program director and is KLO's operations manager. He started at Ogden's KOPP in 1954, and has worked at KDYL and many other stations.
Allen's on the air from 5-10 a.m. each weekday and even comes in some Saturday mornings to do weather reports. Promptly at 5 a.m., he plays reveille to start the show and help get people up. Wheeler joins Allen from 6-9 a.m. to handle the local news and add some conversation. They chat a lot during the show, which means they may only be able to play four to five songs an hour.
After his morning duties, Allen enjoys working several other jobs. One is selling cars at Cutrubus Motors (a 16-year stint there) and another is serving as the in-store voice for Harmon's grocery stores.
Like DJs of days past, Allen and Wheeler maintain strong community ties. The DJs present a "KLO Pat on the Back" award to a deserving citizen each morning, refer to many listeners by their first names and use courtesy titles like "Mr." and "Mrs." with guests.
Unlike some modern DJs, Allen and Wheeler would never dream of using profanity or off-color words on the air.
The Ogden mayor even calls them up to talk at random.
"If the mayor wants to call, he does," Allen said. "We know all our listeners."
Although based in Ogden, the KLO has listeners in Salt Lake City and benefits from a fairly clear signal serving most areas, although not the Avenues.
The two work well together and even combine for commercials. While these ads are scheduled, much of their dialogue is extemporaneous. Again, impromptu commercials were a feature of old-time radio.
Their style is a strong echo of how radio used to be, and still is at KLO thanks to Allen and Wheeler.