Chuck Dunaway

Chuck and Kendall visit with the Bush family in Houston (click photos for larger views)

 The Way I Remember It (Episode 15)

1958 was a very good year. My second precious daughter, Robin, was born, and I received the offer that would set up the most eventful period of my radio career. I was offered the opportunity to work with Danny Williams at WKY in Oklahoma City. Danny was the biggest TV personality in Oklahoma City, at WKY-TV. Ken Bagwell, an ex-FBI agent, was manager of both stations. His office was on the opposite end of the building from the radio area and I would visit his office only once during my time in Oklahoma City.

WKY radio and television was owned by the Gaylord family, who also owned the most powerful newspaper in Oklahoma, The Daily Oklahoman. The Gaylords eventually sold WKY-TV, buying WSM radio, the Grand Old Opry, Opryland and The Nashville Network. The Bagwell name would appear on many TV programs aired on The Nashville Network, and I always assumed the name belonged to Ken Bagwell's son or grandson. Longtime Oklahoma City jock Ronnie Kaye always took great pride in the fact that the Gaylords kept WKY radio in the family long after it had stopped making large profits.

Chuck Dunaway Poses in the obnoxious shiny Aluminum suit jacket which he  wore to meet WKY PD Danny Williams and Manager Lee Allen Smith for the first time

When WKY radio decided on the “Top 40” format in 1958, they chose Danny as program director. Danny was originally from San Antonio, Texas, and had been a carnival barker, among other professions, before becoming an entertainer. At the time of the WKY format change, Danny had three TV programs: “Dannysday,” a noon interview show; “The Adventures of Three-D Danny” children’s program in the afternoon; and “Oklahoma Championship Wrestling.”  All were top-rated. Danny gave up all those shows except the syndicated wrestling program to become program director of WKY radio. It appeared to be a large gamble, and was a huge commitment on everybody's behalf.

Danny loved to hustle on the golf course, and though we are very different in hobbies and temperament, he is one of my dearest friends to this day. Our relationship was not always smooth, though. I arrived in Oklahoma City all duded out in a shiny silk suit I'd bought for the occasion. Danny told me later that I looked like a very successful DJ when I stepped off the airplane in OKC. I was met by Danny and the manager, Lee Allen. We went to dinner at Jamal's Steakhouse and talked about what they wanted to do and how I could fit in.

We later went to a private club where everyone began drinking. I was 21 and had never been intoxicated in my life. I didn't want to appear unsophisticated so I began to drink what everyone else was having. Before long, I was too drunk to stand up straight, and I proceeded to insult the owner of the club. Lee and Danny pulled me aside, told me the owner was a local underworld character, and that I'd better be quiet. I didn't shut up, so they took me outside, shoved me in Lee's car, drove me to my motel, and dropped me off at the door to my room. I kept saying "Let's party!" and they kept saying "Good night!"

WKY DJ’s Chuck Dunaway and Howard Clark vie in a pancake eating  contest at a children’s hospital. The nurses didn’t seem too impressed

The next morning I awoke with a horrible hangover, and knew I'd blown any chance of ever working in Oklahoma City. Danny sent someone to pick me up and I arrived at the WKY radio/television studios feeling very humbled, to say the least. The cockiness I had felt the previous night faded with the dawning of a new day. Danny met with me and told me how impressed everyone had been with my KNUZ tape. But he also said they were concerned about my drinking. I explained that I'd never been drunk before and did not enjoy the feeling at all. "I'll probably never drink again," I told them. I meant it and they believed it and it was true.

With the lesson learned, we began to negotiate the move to Oklahoma City. To sweeten the offer, Danny and Lee offered me extra money to produce the University of Oklahoma football games for WKY radio and Bud Wilkinson Enterprises. I would also be allowed to advertise all my hops and appearances on-air at no charge. And I would probably have the chance to do some television work. The potential was beyond my wildest dreams, and the starting salary wasn't bad either. I was given the afternoon drive program, and the WKY experience was about to begin.

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I flew back to Houston and explained the deal to my family. I paid $800 for an Italian car which was soon to be banned on the streets because it was too small: a brand new Fiat Bianchina. That’s the car I drove to Oklahoma City. My wife remained in Houston with our other car, and the job of selling the house. I left Houston in my little lawn-mower-engined mini-car, and drove non-stop to Oklahoma City. The sprawling WKY radio/TV complex was located on Britton Road, so I checked into a motel in the Oklahoma City suburb of Britton.

PD Danny Williams with DJ’s Chuck Dunaway and Howard Clark thumb through a million dollars in cash to promote the WKY Millionaire for a day contest. The prize was a limo ride, shopping spree and dinner plus the interest on a million dollars for one day which was about the same as today $140.00

The next day something bad had happened. Thanks to the small-car ride, I had developed a bad case of hemorrhoids. I called Danny to let him know I'd be delayed for a day or so. For a couple of days I lay on my stomach and nursed myself back to a semblance of normalcy.

Just as with my first meeting with Danny and Lee Allen, I was not getting off to a good beginning in Oklahoma City, but I would finish with a splash, including a top-rated TV show and radio program. In Oklahoma City, I had the highest Pulse Ratings recorded in the United States. How I got to that point in my life is the next story, which involves a phone call from Mike Joseph and the Big Apple. 

Thanks for reading.

Edited by Stacy Richardson

© 2003 Chuck Dunaway
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