Joe Pyne

Speaking of broadcast hosts, the minor legend Joe Pyne (1924-1970) was cut from an entirely different cloth. Robert Kennedy shared his memories of Pyne with me:

I certainly remember Joe Pyne on the radio as a kid, who was a John Bircher and a right wing lunatic, but very erudite, so he didn't sound like a lunatic until he lost his temper and started calling everybody jerks. But he ventured in the likes of Morton Downey Jr. These guys just loved to argue and yell a lot, rudely calling people names, regularly inviting Nazi's or the Ku Klux Klan on his show during the height of the 60's Civil Rights movement, supposedly to offer equal time, all of which grows tiresome after awhile...

I caught up with Pyne much later, long after his death. I've watched a lot of clips of his television show on YouTube, and find him kind of mesmerizing, and certainly historically important, because he is so clearly one of the sources for every shock jock who followed him. Smoking killed him at 45, but I think maintaining that kind of projected anger day in and day out probably marked him as an early casualty as well. He often looked as if he was about to explode; no one can be that way for long without a cost to themselves.

This is part of a teaser reel about Pyne's "fascinating forum":



Here is Pyne debating a hippie and LSD fan. Frankly, this "totally aware" walking cliche makes for an easy target:



Pyne, in a more suave and relaxed mood, banters with the dithering Helen Gurley Brown:



Unlike a total blowhard such as Rush Limbaugh, Pyne has what seems to me a weirdly appealing side -- if you could imagine an intelligent, well-dressed, and carefully coiffed Archie Bunker, this might be him. Of course, the passage of time takes away the immediacy of a provocateur's affronts, and leaves a nostalgic residue instead. Limbaugh and Glenn Beck will be interesting historical artifacts, too.

POSTSCRIPT: I wondered about the hippie, and figured that with a distinctive name like Lars Kampmann, he might be researchable. It turns out that he is a minor historical figure (which is more of a historical figure than I will ever be). Here is an obituary:

Lars Kampmann, 45, of Redwing, died of AIDS Thursday, Mar. 16, 1989. Mr. Kampmann was a founder of the Anonymous Artists of America and maintained a residence at the AAA Ranch in Redwing. At the time of his death he was staying at the home of friends in San Diego, CA. Born in Denmark, Mr. Kampmann was a multi-talented actor, director and musician, as well as the author of the book "I have AIDS", which was recently published in Denmark. Many Huerfanos will remember his direction of the play "Huerfano", an oral history. Along with Adrienne Berkun he operated "Northern Lights Cafe" in La Veta. Before his illness he was an active volunteer for The Gay Men's Health Crisis in New York City. A friend wrote, "To those of us who were close to him, Lars was the Most steadfast and loyal friend. His dignity and courage was unswerving and inspiring. He was never boring, and to the end he was uncomplaining and more concerned for his loved ones than for himself. Integrity, compassion, gentleness, enthusiasm, humor, courage, selflessness and impeccable style were his in abundance. Lars lived fully and without hesitation, he had a tremendous love of life and made no compromises. We relied upon him for all of these things and much more. He will be greatly missed."