Remembering Fresno’s Finest—‘Mr. Fresno’

Radio & TV Personality—

Al Radka

By Carl Glass 

Over a year ago, I began researching early local television hosts and children’s programming. My interest was sparked by a visit to a favorite web chat board that I have frequented for nearly a decade. A topic was posted concerning regional television markets across the country. As responders joined in, it stirred a recall of an appearance with some friends on The Uncle Bill Show with host Bill Curtis on KMJ-TV Channel 24, in Fresno, California, the summer of 1964. Uncle Bill played reruns of The Mickey Mouse Club, The Adventures of Superman with George Reeves, and rounded out the show with Hanna Barbera cartoons. Emailing the original poster, I inquired of where I could get more information on this subject. A book was recommended to me that covered this fascinating subject. My interest was local television for the Central San Joaquin Valley. Instead of purchasing the book, I would discover its content on a PDF book on the Internet. It didn’t take long for me to find the names of Bill Curtis, Flippo Jr., Jimmy Weldon & Webster Webfoot, and the Old Forty Niner. These were names and celebrities familiar with Fresno and Central Valley viewers from the mid 50s into the 60s. In the section, there were some misspells, mistakes, and a little chronology gone wrong. However, there was one huge omission that was bewildering. Not one mention, credit, jot, or reference to television pioneer, Al Radka. This was outrageous and a great disappointment. Al Radka’s life and legacy is a part of this genre and too important to overlook. 

Most Baby Boomers have memories of the days when they didn’t have ’52 inch flat plasma screens, HD, TiVo, cable or satellite dishes with remote controls scanning the 200 + stations available at their fingertips. My generation remembers a time as kids where of getting up early on a Saturday morning and actually turned the on switch, let the TV warm up, grab a bowl of cereal, return to adjust the ‘rabbit ears’ to get the best reception possible, (a most frustrating experience at times) and wait for the cartoons to begin. Admittedly, I enjoyed staring at the test pattern on the portable Philco TV my grandfather owned. When our family moved to Fresno in 1960 we made a real technological advance by purchasing a console TV where the antenna was hooked up on the roof that put an end to rabbit ear warfare. 

In its infancy, television in America was not a global event, but rather a family or individual experience. Television was primitive and somewhat of an anomaly in the late 40s, dominated by NBC, CBS and ABC which premièred in April of 1948, along with financially challenged and the now defunct, DuMont Network (1946-56). However, by 1953 the ‘one-eyed monster’ took hold as 50% of Americans had a television set and we entered into its ‘Golden Age’ with improved program production.

Cities across the nation depended on local stations affiliated with the three major networks for their programming. Local stations counted highly on advertising revenue with local TV hosts and personalities for their success. This host was associated with some kind of local product, service or good that many times ended up in your home, refrigerator, medicine cabinet, or on your car. You would find out where to go for the best deals in mechanical services, car sales or dry cleaning. You would be reminded where to go for the best in entertainment, finest dinning, or as Fresno Bee writer Bill McEwen once wrote back in March of 2005 honoring local TV celebrity Al Radka after his death states “He’d have you believing a Lesterburger was twice as good as a Big Mac.”  

In the mid 60s, Les Lindley, proprietor of Lesterburger would bring one of those fresh burgers to the studio for the Lettuce Eat It commercial that was so popular on Al Radka & The Three Stooges. As the camera zooms in on the still warm burger, Al would ask what the green leafy stuff was. However, Les would slowly anguish Al by having to finger through the burger as he is describing every aspect of the burger—like the golden sesame seed bun, the all meat paddy and the fresh sliced tomatoes. Al would interrupt again and say those are all great, but what about this (pointing at the shredded lettuce)? Les would continue on and ask, “Did you notice that we also include some nice freshly sliced onions, you do like onions don’t you Al? Al, going crazy with hunger, raises his voice, ‘WHAT DO YOU CALL THE GREEN STUFF?’ However, Les had to point out one more thing about Lesterburger’s secret sauce that he had just made before he came to the studio. By now, Al drooling over the burger, asks one more time “what is this lovely shredded green stuff?” After just a little more hesitation, Les says, “Well, it’s, it’s… (Al is wide-eyed and chomping at the bit) That’s the lettuce.” Al, looking into the camera with one of his famous grins replies, “Lettuce!” “Lettuce Eat It!”  And then of course Al took a great big bite. I’d save my pennies and dimes just to have one. 

When grocery shopper’s needed olives, they’d remember one of Al’s sponsors and acronym he used for, Oberti Olives: 

O-Only

B-Better

E-Eaters

R-Really

T-Taste

I-It 

Need dry cleaning? Fresno audiences will never forget one of Al’s most popular campaigns for Lamoure’s Cleaners and the dancing clothes:

Two for one, two for one

 Only Lamoure’s does it two for one

            Whatever you wear, that makes a pair

            Lamoure’s will clean it two for one 

If you needed milk, and you saw Hopalong Cassidy on the carton, you heard Al singing that jingle in your head, “P-R-O-D-U-C-E-R-S spells Producers, when you know quality, you’ll say yes to Producers!” Please indulge me as I add another memorable verse:

Producers cows get up at dawn,

 To see the milk gets loaded on,

            To the milkman just so he,

 Can bring it right to you and me. 

Craving a pizza? No better place to go than Me n Eds Pizza in Fresno, or on Racy Lacy Boulevard in Hanford. If we were really hungry and wanted all we could eat for a great price, Al pointed the way to Perry Boys Smorgy at Manchester Center on Blackstone. Places like Bargain Party Rent-All & Sales, Pardini’s Restaurant, The Outpost, Central Radio & TV, Dick’s Menswear & Shoes, Whitie’s Pet Shops and The Old Fresno Hofbrau were common household names in Fresno and the Central San Joaquin Valley all because of Al’s effective promotional and communication skill. 

While walking home from the movies on many Saturday afternoons in the mid 60s, I frequently passed a business that was one of Al’s sponsors, Halwood Truck Rental. Sure enough, that jingle would pop into my head, “Wherever you travel, near or far, always count on H-T-R, that’s Halwood Truck Rental.” I agree wholeheartedly with Fresno Bee writer Bill McEwen when he wrote about Radka’s effectiveness in advertising and to the community, “Radka’s greatest trait was loyalty. He believed in Fresno. He believed that tomorrow would be a better day. He stayed true to his audience, employers and advertisers—and they were true to him.” (March 15, 2005 )

Weekdays, I’d rush home from school with that little boy grin, to watch a full hour of Al Radka & The Three Stooges on KFRE Channel 30 (now KFSN). The local commercials (created by Al in his sleep as stated by him in 1980) were fun, entertaining and admittedly at times corny, but they were effective. It was Uncle Al and those corny commercial jingles stayed embedded in many minds and hearts to this day. Another brilliant campaign of Al, was when he announced in the early 60s, that he was bringing Moe, Larry and Curly Joe to the opening of a new housing subdivision in northeast Fresno—College Green Homes. I succeeded in beseeching my grandfather to take a group of my friends and siblings to that event with what seemed like thousands in attendance. We didn’t buy a home, but I had one of the best times of my life. Al could round up a crowd just about anywhere in town. As a kid growing up in Fresno, he was Uncle Al, which he became affectionately known to all of us. Fresno baby-boomers will concur, that Al was a big part of their lives. 

That was the impact Al Radka had on multiplied thousands of viewer’s in the central San Joaquin Valley, standing head and shoulders above the rest in the radio/television medium. 

However, Al was more than just a local media celebrity. He was Mr. Fresno! 

Beginnings 

Al (Albert Thoborn Radka) was born in Wisconsin back in 1916. The family moved to Alhambra, California when he was nine years old. He had a great love for sports and in high school played football as a center and later as a guard. After high school, Al attended Pasadena Community College continuing to play football under Coach Bob McNeish and studying journalism. Fresno State College (now California State University Fresno) Coach Jimmy Bradshaw had the opportunity to observe the tenacious play of Radka on the gridiron and was so impressed, that he was able to convince the young man to play for him in 1937. Along with football came a writing job with The Fresno Bee. Al had a love for journalism with hopes of being a newspaper man. So, the lure of such an opportunity benefited both coach and player. 

While at Fresno State, Al recalled writing for the Fresno State News sports section under Editor Ed Orman for 15 cents an inch. To keep eating he’d make those stories and articles as long as possible. On the gridiron his skills became widely known as an all-conference guard three years in a row and he played on the Far West Championship Team. Thomas Bond Jr. (son of actor Tommy Bond, who played Butch of The Little Rascals and Jimmy Olsen on the Kirk Alyn Superman 1948/50 serials and stage director at channel 30) reports that “He [Al] spent so much time in his opponents’ backfields that he was given the moniker Raider Al. Al would also become student body president in 1940-41. He demonstrated another talent—directing, writing and producing the annual campus musical along with appearing in, Spring Swing. He graduated with a degree in journalism in 1941 and would also marry Fresno native and the love of his life, Alma May Dutton. Other accomplishments in those college years include a member of Blue Key; National Men’s Honorary Fraternity; member of Alpha Phi Gamma; National Journalism Fraternity; Varsity Society and the Sigma Epsilon Fraternity, and Fresno State Alumnus of the Year in 1963, with a future induction into the Clovis Chamber Hall of Fame. Many more prestigious awards and titles awaited Al in the coming years serving as a past president of the Fresno Junior Chamber of Commerce, Chairman of the Raisin Bowl game. Winner of the Junior Chamber of Commerce Distinguished Service Key and the Kenneth L. Hampton Award.

War Years 

America was brought into World War II after the bombing of Pearl Harbor.  Like a myriad of young men and women of that era, Al enlists in the Army/Air Corps in 1942. He did not see any combat duty due to color-blindness; however, it did turn out to be beneficial as he was able to build on his skills and foundation as a public relations officer. This vocation is crucial when working as a liaison between departments and people. Al had the right kind of effervescent personality and people skills to meet any task required of him. This experience would serve him and our community well in the years after the war. In 1946, Captain Radka received his discharge; however, he stayed on in the reserves for many years as a Major. 

Civilian Life 

It didn’t take long for Al to embark on his calling and career as he returned to Fresno as a sales executive/disc jockey for KARM-AM radio, moving to KFRE-AM a year later. These early radio years permitted time for Al to build strong working relationships with sponsors and enthusiastically becoming a part of community life and events. My mother recalls Al being invited as guest speaker to their Senior Breakfast back in 1950 at Clovis High School. Al’s reputation, reliance and popularity began to flourish in those early radio days. It was important for Al not only to know and be involved with the community, but to know the products, goods, services and their owners on a personal basis. It laid a great groundwork for Al in the emerging new media that would hit Fresno in the early 50s…Television! 

The Television Years 

First, a little history: Television hit the airwaves on June 1, 1953 in Fresno when the NBC affiliate, KMJ-Channel 24 (now KSEE) started transmitting. It was Fresno’s first station to be followed by KJEO-Channel 47 (now KGPE) in that same year which was a CBS affiliate. A new VHF station had been offered to Fresno, channel 12. KARM-AM and KFRE-AM radio stations litigated for the prize. KFRE came out the winner and on May 10, 1956, KFRE-Channel 12 was on the air. KFRE also incorporated the CBS affiliation forcing KJEO to ABC. It is reported that KFRE wanted to keep the CBS partnership due to its long standing relationship to CBS radio. In 1959, Triangle Publications acquired the KFRE stations. On February 17, 1961 the TV station moved to UHF channel 30, to make Fresno an all UHF market by orders of the Federal Communications Commission. It is said that move came due to central coast-area politicians pressuring the FCC to level the playing field. Hence, Santa Maria, California was allocated KCOY-TV, channel 12. KFRE-TV went through another transition when Capital Cities Communications purchased the station from Triangle in 1971 changing the call letters to KFSN and would later become an ABC affiliate. This move turned CBS back over to KJEO-TV channel 47 later in 1985. KJEO would have its call letters changed to KGPE. 

The powers that be at KFRE had to be thrilled and energized with their latest triumph. They had all the ingredients for commercial success embodied in Al Radka. He had not only emerged as one of their best sales and advertising agents, but had become a popular voice and DJ in town. Al had been making great strides of achievement in those radio years and would be afforded the opportunity to take that success up another notch. They were ready to put a face with the popular voice for potential valley viewers and sponsors. It made great business sense. Fresno and the Central Valley listeners and viewers were in for a real treat. 

Gary Cocola, President and CEO of Cocola Broadcasting Company, remembers the television pioneer days with Al back the mid 50s.

I met Al on May 12, 1956 as I was chosen by my high school principal at San Joaquin Memorial to represent the school along with other high school reps, to rate popular records each Wednesday between 5:30 – 6:00 pm on the new show called, Al Radka’s Open House. This show evolved into a weekly program each Saturday called, TV Record Hop.

Al had Gary spinning records with ease. Gary gives acclaim to Al’s tutorial skills for him being in the broadcasting business today. Gary has esteemed Al, as Al took him under his wing developing a very close relationship with his mentor and wife, Alma May. 

Al continued on radio as a DJ, spinning popular, rare and obscure tunes for forty years. During this time, Al also produced programs, broadcasted, and advertized on the TV station. 

One of Al’s most noted programs was Joy Ride beginning at Lou Gentiles Flower Basket with a “Flower for your Filly”? Then on to other businesses like Busik’s Varsity Men’s Shop, Producers Dairy, the Leilani Restaurant, Coates Marine and the new Fresno Ag, with the elusive ‘Missus Winterbottom’ at his side, honking the horn as they drove through traffic and spun the latest tunes. (Frank Thomas, Fresno Bee, March 17, 2005)  As he continued in both mediums he would promote a variety of Valley businesses that brought his name into nearly every household.  

Al was also very passionate about sports in the community. He is a member of the Fresno Athletic Hall of Fame (inducted in 1976) and general manager of the old Fresno Hot Stove Baseball dinner, being the biggest dinner in America and noted as a ‘first class’ annual event. He was able to convince big name major league baseball stars to come to Fresno for these events on their own dime so that Valley kids could meet them up front, shake hands and get autographs. Fresno Bee writer Tom Sommers reports…“In the early ‘50s, Mr. Radka was the public address announcer at [John] Euless Ballpark…People came to the games to hear Mr. Radka make fun of an umpire or a fan who came late to the game.” Al made it fun for everyone. He was a great supporter of youth sports and the Bulldog Foundation, never forgetting his alma mater. 

As a kid, I remember UCP (United Cerebral Palsy) and MD (Muscular Dystrophy) telethons were big televised events in Fresno. Al was always available to lend a hand. I can remember a telecast where Al and noted Mexican radio and television celebrity, Luis Gomez teamed up to reach many in the Latino viewing audience. The number to call for donations was 268-7171. Al had Mr. Gomez recite that number in Spanish continually. Then, Al and Luis would recite the number together in English, 2-6-8-7-1-7-1… over and over again. It was very effective and lit up the board. Al, with microphone in hand looked directly into the camera with passion and motivation speaking to the kids of Fresno and the Valley to go to their local fire stations and pick up cartons and collect donations for the worthy cause. Within the hour, we had a kid knocking at the door with carton in hand. Al trusted the kids and they trusted him. 

After a Saturday matinee in downtown Fresno, I would sometimes walk home so I could take a peep through the front doors of Channel 30 at 733 L Street. Who knows? I might get to see Al Radka or Flippo Jr. the clown, later known as Marvo (Marv Harrison). I guess it was just my way with big hopes of meeting Al face to face. I believe we kids all wanted to be near him. Here is a short recollection I’d like to share of a kid who lived just down the street from Al that I found on the Lost Fresno web site for February 23, 2010:

Around '64, when I was 11, Al lived down the street from me at the corner of Fedora and Mariposa. Kids would gather outside his house on summer afternoons in anticipation of his coming out on his way to work. All groomed and in an expensive suit he would burst out his front door and shout: "OK, one verse of the song before we go; Uh P R O, Uh D U C, Uh E R S spells Producers ... One more time! ... Uh P R O ..." and so on. Then he'd jump in his car and speed off. The man's energy was almost overwhelming!  

And whether taking in some innings at John Euless Ballpark, or watching a race at the old Kearney Bowl, Al was the most identifiable person in the crowd. When you saw Al Radka, you were looking at Fresno.

Al would go on to host and produce other shows such as Reach for the Top, a college bowl quiz show on Sunday afternoons. Al did have a serious side with a consumer advocacy/community service program, Actions and Answers, midday during the week. Angelo Stalis, Fresno’s favorite weatherman from Channel 30 recalls that Al would tape five 20-minute shows in a row on Wednesday without a break. “If Al could not get the guest to elaborate on a subject, instead of stopping the program, he had a way of putting the guest at ease by filling in the time with other known events or one of his passions like the Fresno Hot Stove Dinner.” Angelo also conveys a memory by John Wallace, former news anchor of the station:

When you became an employee of Channel 30 you were welcomed with open arms and [Al] made you feel at home. Al was very patient as well. Stalis goes on to say in those days when he was a fledgling director—If I screwed up a show and have to rewind a segment, Al would laugh and smile. He wouldn’t get angry but just say, “Ah! Stalis, we’ll get it right the next time! 

A new generation of kids emerged when Al hosted Fresno’s most popular morning kid show, Fun Time, in the 70s. The show would open with a studio full of Central Valley school children singing at the top of their lungs:

It's Funtime!
It's Funtime!
It's Channel 30 Funtime!

We're happy to see you!
We hope you're feeling fine!

We brushed our teeth
and washed our face
and now we're smiling in our place!

It's Funtime!
Channel 30 Funtime!
We're smiiiiiling,
whyyyy doooon't yooouuuuu...

Yeayyyyyyyyyyy!!!!!!

Other shows hosted by Al included, The Early Show, Saturday Children’s Showcase (TV Record Hop 80s Style) Late Night Movie and Al Radka’s Fright Night. 

Al made the decision to retire from Channel 30 and KFRE radio in the early 80s, but had plenty of energy to burn and started an advertising agency with his wife Alma May. It was successfully known as Al Radka Productions, with clients and friends up and down the state. 

The Last Days 

Time is not always on our side, and sadly, Al contracted Alzheimer’s disease in his final years. He died of complications of the disease on March 11, 2005. Having been away from Fresno for many years, I didn’t learn of his death until 2009. It was like losing a beloved relative you hadn’t seen for a while, but who had formed wonderful memories in your heart. As stated in The Fresno Bee on March 13, 2005 by reporter Louis Galvan:

Those who knew him best were not surprised that Mr. Radka would request private funeral services.” Alma May Radka would go on to include, “That’s just the way he wanted it.” “He didn’t want any publicity. He didn’t want to make a big thing out of it.” Nick Bronzan, who played football with Mr. Radka at Fresno State and a lifelong friend conveys, “In his lifetime, he was always the center of attraction; I can see why he would say, “Let me go in peace!  

Remembering Fresno’s Finest 

There was no better way to pay tribute to Fresno’s finest son than by dedicating a sports park (Al Radka Park) at 5897 E. Belmont in Southeast Fresno on November 1, 2006. At the request of Fresno City Council Member Mike Dages and the cooperation of PRCS Director Randall Cooper, it was requested to the current Mayor at that time, Alan Autry (actor In The Heat of The Night as Captain Bubba Skinner and Grace Under Fire as Rick Bradshaw), to name the new park in Al’s honor. Without hesitation, the mayor granted the request. The park is spacious and facilitates two baseball fields, backstops, scoreboards, soccer fields, walkways, water fountains, field lighting, restroom/concession buildings and ample parking. 

Scores of friends and colleagues gathered on the morning of November 1, 2006 to honor Al at the new park. After tributes and memories were shared by Randall Cooper, Mayor Autry, Councilman Mike Dages, Angelo Stalis and Gary Cocola, a special unveiling of a bust for Al pleased those in attendance. The bust was gifted by CEO and President of Cocola Broadcasting Company, Gary Cocola. Juliana Cocola (Gary’s wife), along with Al’s niece and nephew Janey and John Goss did the honors and was the ideal finale to the event.  

Councilman Mike Dages sums up the impact and influence Al Radka had on our lives in the Fresno community with the words of former Fresno Mayor, Dan Whitehurst:

Al Radka loved Fresno and made it fun to be here. He was a sports guy and FSU guy. He was everybody’s favorite uncle, who wore goofy hats and hammed it up with the kids. He was part of our lives like Captain Kangaroo and Davy Crockett. He was a constant, like the summer heat and winter fog. We all knew his jokes, and his sponsors became a household name as well. Lester burger, Oberti Olives, Producers Dairy, Lamoure’s Cleaners. If they were friends of Al’s, they were friends of ours.

You were right, Al. A Lesterburger was twice as good as a Big Mac!

 a b a b a b

Special thanks to, Gary Cocola and Ronnie Paul for dialogue, source material, photos and friendship.

Radka Photos: Courtesy of Gary Cocola, CEO & President of Cocola Broadcasting Co.

Park & Bust Photos: Carl & Leslie Glass, Bakersfield, CA. Property of Glass House Presents

Sources Materials:

City of Fresno News Release, October 30, 2006; Andrew T. Souza, City Manager

KFSN-TV Wikipedia History

Lost Fresno Web Site: Lettuce Eat It Al Radka Commercial Wed Dec 30, 2009

Quotes: Fresno Bee, March 17, 2005; Philip Tavlian/Frank Thomas

Famous Faces: Mr. Fresno

CSUF 2007: Al Radka—Broadcasting Journalist & Advertising Executive

Fresno Bee; Bill McEwen: Tue March 15, 2005 Mr. Fresno Much More Than Jingles:

Fresno Bee: Rick Bentley: October 29, 2006 Fresno park to be named after Al Radka

Fresno Bee: Louis Galvan: Sunday, March 13, 2005 A Voice In The Valley

Fresno Bee: Unknown Author: March 15, 2005 Al Radka, Fresno and the Valley say goodbye to a warm and personable icon

Fresno Bee: Tom Sommers: Monday, March 21, 2005 He Made Us Proud

Thomas Bond: American Mutoscope & Biograph Co. TV Celebrity Al Radka Leaves a Great Legacy.

You Tube: Al Radka Park Dedication, Parts 1-3. Comments: Randall Cooper, Mayor Alan Autry, Mike Dages, Angelo Stalis and Gary Cocola.

April 2010