Dick felt he'd
found a home in Hartford (not to mention the one he moved into with
Sally in Thompsonville). He decided to follow up on his desire to
start a broadcast school. Dick Buckley sold him 15 commercials a
week for $15 and hundreds of potential students auditioned for 44
spots. The Connecticut School of Broadcasting opened in September
1964 at the Hotel America in Hartford.
But just before
the grand opening, Dick lost his voice. Doctors told him the 1956
tracheotomy had seriously damaged his vocal cords and the only cure
was coming off the air. Station manager Bill Crawford gave him a
leave of absence. CSB opened under watchful eyes of fellow Big
D jocks Ron
Landry and Long
John Wade while Dick and Sally flew to Nassau for six weeks.
Upon returning to his nightly show, Dick never lost a beat. His
return was marked by the release of a 45 rpm single in November
called "Beatnik DJ." When copies of the novelty tune turn
up on ebay
they still attract bids of up to $25. The song frequently turned
up on Dick's traditional New Year's Eve countdowns of the year's
biggest hits.
In October 1965
Dickie released another single on Fun Records. It was called Fraze
Craze, after a popular phone-in festure on his show (a distant
container=a far jar, or a distinguished sleeper=a dapper napper).
All proceeds went to the Children's Museum of West Hartford.
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