During the Mentone/Redlands wars of the early 70’s, San Bernardino radio station K/men sided with Mentone. I [Mike Kunert] thought it may have had a connection with the Tyrants Car Club that cosponsored the Annual Hot Rod at the National Orange Show every year, but in this recent conversation with Ted Ziegenbusch, who grew up in San Bernardino and worked at K/men (before he moved on to the top LA Stations) I learned “The rest of the story”. This 3-minute clip is both fun and educational. If anybody should happen to have a recording of “The Mentonians” mentioned, we would sure like to get a copy of it.
“I Remember Radio
“The story behind ‘The Mentonians’. Ted [Ziegenbusch] began his career at K/men Radio in San Bernardino. During his years at K/men, he worked with K/men alumni William F. Williams and the now famous K/men Hot Air Balloon. At the time, songwriter Jim Webb was attending San Bernardino Valley College. Upon seeing the bright and colorful flying basket, Webb wrote the hit song Up, Up & Away for the 5th Dimension. Ted often found himself holding the ropes that kept that balloon from drifting too far away. That job looked a bit less glamorous in 1967. Visit us at http://www.irememberradio.rocks.”
You can also see “Mentone-K/men connection explained by Ted Ziegenbusch” on YouTube: a 3-minute interview. MM
[Courtesy of Mike Kunert, “You know your from MENTONE if. . . . on Facebook]