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John Gambling (r.) congratulates the young man who started him on his successful career in 1925 — himself! John celebrates the 24th anniversary of his Musical Clock on March 8th.
AJ. HERALD
John conducts a two-hour show interrupted only by a newscast.
^^ 6
THE NAME John Gambling probably evokes more nostalgic memories of the early days of radio than that of any other personality still on the air. To three generations of WOR listeners his voice has been as familiar as a member of the family.
Way back in 1925, when you and radio were both in knee pants, John's cheerful voice thrilled you by mentioning your birthday. Down through the years he has told you exactly what time it was each morning so you could steal that last few minutes of relaxation between the covers before surrendering to a demanding day.
Now, after twenty-four years, John is going stronger than ever. Six mornings a week he conducts a full two-hour program on WOR with only a news broadcast interrupting to give him a minute to catch his breath.
John starts his radio day at 6 A.M. on Rambling with Gambling, presenting an hour of news, weather reports, recorded music and cheerful chatter. After a fifteen minute intermission, he returns with what is probably the oldest continuous show in radio. Gambling's Musical Clock, an unpretentious informal ses
sion that has been a favorite for a quarter of a, century.
In the Twenties, John gave listeners involved setting up drills in which he described every motion of each exercise and gave a detailed rhythm count. One day he decided to take an informal poll and discovered that he was the only one doing the exercises.
Since then, John's show has been devoted to cheerful early morning chatter, news, time signals and brief musical numbers featuring Vincent Sorey and his orchestra. "It's probably the only 'live' orchestra on the air at that time," says John, "and they're only half alive."
Gambling, who works without a formal script, simply jots down the jokes he intends to use on the broadcast while traveling to WOR each morning. And he never worries about the vintage of his jokes. "I just want them funny," says John. "If they are old, many people haven't heard them. And the rest have forgotten them."
Jokes, music, cheerful conversation and a friendly manner — it's a successful formula. And one that for twenty-four years has sent millions off to work or school with smiles on their faces.