Funny Biz | Jack Raymond Radio

Beginning around 1950 when local DJ’s began to rule local radio airwaves, humor services began to flourish. Many DJ’s including Gary Owens used dozens of writers including me for material. The name of my mail order service was…

For 4 decades following the 1950’s, humor on the radio was encouraged by programmers especially on morning shows. Radio talent made personal appearances, produced commercials and performed other duties. Most performers didn’t have the time or ability to come up with 300 to 400 one-liners per month so pre-written humor services were essential.

The Funny Business also sold completely produced comedy bits featuring voices and sound effects. As if that wasn’t enough, I wrote 2 – 100 page books of complete comedy skits for DJ’s to voice exclusively in their market. The funny biz had hundreds of subscribers from the BBC’s late Kenny Everett in London, to Jay Thomas in New York to Rick Dees in Hollywood. Below is a portion of the Funny Business Humor Service mailer and the names some of the personalities who bought humor.

Jack Raymond by the Numbers



Visitors

Jack’s Top Picks

What our visitors say...

"I don’t think Jack’s show or the station was ever given enough credit from the 60’s through the 90’s. Jack Raymond – the very talented Program Director who won awards as the “Personality of the Year” in both Billboard and the Gavin Report several years. He also spent some time at WORC, WMEX, WICE and talk radio in Hartford. Also wrote comedy bits for other djs and Jay Leno and Johnny Carson."

- YB, Lunenburg

"Oh my God…it’s one amazing site. I almost hit the floor (on the 90’s Page) reading “DeSuze woke up one morning to find dust in his mouth”

- Dick S., Philly, PA

"Wow, this radio website is great. Goes on forever and the memories are infinite. Found this site on a Google search and really got lucky. Nice to remember how good things were in Brockton,. I remembered that “Beep” Juice commercial, when I was a kid. Loved it.”

- BBB, Ward 2, MA

"I loved Jack’s comedy material and always subscribed for radio and nightclub work. We even promise to use Jack in all my movies.”

- Soupy S., W. 57th St., NYC

"Good memories. Nothing like that on the radio exists today. A real talent. MS Taunton, MA."

"Jack’s one of the local radio personalities who never moved around like so many others and appeared to be going nowhere. But when the game was over, he was a winner because he had other income.”

- Casey K. Holmby Hills, CA

"Jack could have gone to any major market. He was a disciple of the great Ed Hider (WCOP, WMEX, WINS, KYA) as well as a great news anchor and writer. ”

- RC, Maryland

" I worked at a station with Jack. A Great Guy! ”

- RW, Cape Cod

"Always loved Jack’s monthly comedy material and promised to use him in all my movies. ”

- Soupy S., NYC

"I remember listening to him on several stations. I “Love” his website as well! So much info.”

- S.S., Burlington, VT

"I first met Jack when working at a Lexington, MA radio station in 1962. He followed my career to Brookline Ave. in Boston, then to WINS NYC, San Francisco, and Los Angele radio stations. I’ve got one suggestion Jack, “Stop following me”! Only kidding! Jack visited my home in Laurel Canyon and even accompanied me to a Donnie & Marie writer’s meeting where he got the star’s autographs for 2 of his local radio listeners. JR had a much longer radio career than me and his material was as good as anything I ever produced. But I’m not sure he believes it. ”

- E. Hider, Sunset Blvd.

"I heard he was a very nice person. I remember listening to him when I was working up in Salem. New Hampshire and I thought he was very funny. I love that style of radio. ”

- M.D. Springfield, MA

"Jack Raymond will undoubtedly be sent to the state home for the chronically silly”! There are bad jokes and funny bad jokes, Jack had the funny ones.”

- Gary O., Encino, CA

"Jack did 10 – Noon, weekdays on a Knight Group Station in the early 80s. One of the zaniest two hours on the radio with drop-ins and fun bits. He hired me to host Sunday Nights for a few years back then."

- J.H., Cape Cod

"2018 What I remember most about the station he was on was the excellent audio sound that jumped out at you and was bigger than life. "

- JC, Albany

"Just listened to 6 Great DJs on this website “Heroes” link. The fact that anyone else feasibly did the work before Jack did doesn’t take away from the fact that he did it and is still a talent in his own right. Jack has a gift that I never had even in my dreams. "

- K.D., Toledo, OH

"JR always had the right act for the voice. Other major market legends may have a bigger instrument but he would have killed them because the presentation matched his material and didn’t need more punch or fewer bits."

- P.G. Manchester, NH

"Jack's website is fabulous; easy to navigate, full of a variety of pages dealing with different aspects of his career and life, good-looking and extensive. The material, all Jack's-well, that's another story. I've had the "pleasure" of knowing Jack since 1974 and spent some time in the studio while he was on the air; all very entertaining, but I always wondered why there wasn't corn growing in the cart closet!!! Seriously. it's fun and the design looks great. Congrats to you and him. "

- MS Carlisle

"Just checked out this website. It’s a combination of a career look-back, interesting celeb photos, and applicable radio history of Jack, pertinent colleagues, and of course his material."

- TS, RI