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WJR "Kaleidoscope" Host Mike Whorf Dies

Discussion pertaining to Detroit, Ann Arbor, Port Huron, and SW Ontario
IIN4MU
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WJR "Kaleidoscope" Host Mike Whorf Dies

Post by IIN4MU » Tue Nov 10, 2020 5:52 pm

Longtime (1964-2003) WJR/760 personality Mike Whorf has passed away. The announcement was made on the Facebook page of WRCJ/90.9, where his son, Peter, is an announcer. Here's more on Mike's background:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Whorf



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RayQix
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Re: WJR "Kaleidoscope" Host Mike Whorf Dies

Post by RayQix » Tue Nov 10, 2020 6:04 pm

Sad..... but not unusual or unexpected considering the age of many of our favorite on-air folks who were in our radios in the 60’s to 80’s.

1980 was 40 years ago..... - phew!

:-/

RIP Mike .....


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Bobbert
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Re: WJR "Kaleidoscope" Host Mike Whorf Dies

Post by Bobbert » Wed Nov 11, 2020 7:03 pm

Did he also do that "Sketches and Comments of the Great Lakes" feature?



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Colonel Flagg
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Re: WJR "Kaleidoscope" Host Mike Whorf Dies

Post by Colonel Flagg » Thu Nov 12, 2020 9:34 am

Bobbert wrote:
Wed Nov 11, 2020 7:03 pm
Did he also do that "Sketches and Comments of the Great Lakes" feature?
No, that was Oscar Frenette. Dick Purtan's show did hilarious parodies of Oscar.


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TomSanders
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Re: WJR "Kaleidoscope" Host Mike Whorf Dies

Post by TomSanders » Fri Nov 13, 2020 8:42 pm

"Kaleidoscope" was also on CKLW in 1989, at 6 PM on Sundays. I'm positive ... one of his topics was the Johnstown Flood on its centennial anniversary that aired on the Sunday closest to May 31. His program on WQRS, in 1985 was a tribute to Thomas Edison titled "Mr. Edison's Marvelous Memory Machine."



JGP1954
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Re: WJR "Kaleidoscope" Host Mike Whorf Dies

Post by JGP1954 » Sat Nov 14, 2020 6:31 pm

And, Gene Elsy hosted "Music for Moderns"! Who hosted the Sunday morning show, and what was his name? I forgot, but I remember he became the public address announcer at Joker Merchant Stadium in Lakeland, Florida after he retired from WJR.



tapeisrolling
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Re: WJR "Kaleidoscope" Host Mike Whorf Dies

Post by tapeisrolling » Sat Nov 14, 2020 8:03 pm

Didn't Ted Strasser do the Sun morning show? after The Renfro Valley Gathering....



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WOHO
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Re: WJR "Kaleidoscope" Host Mike Whorf Dies

Post by WOHO » Sat Dec 05, 2020 10:17 pm

Just now found out about Mike Whorf. and yes, Ted Strasser did a ton of Sunday shows back in the late 70's and early 80's, including "Sunday Evening" where he took requests for music that you mailed into him, he also was one of the many hosts of "Pattern in Music" on Sunday mornings, as he preceded Mike Deeja. Whorf also used to have a special pre-recorded show on Thanksgiving Day after the live stereo broadcast of the Detroit Christmas parade with JP McCarthy (and later Paul W).



JGP1954
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Re: WJR "Kaleidoscope" Host Mike Whorf Dies

Post by JGP1954 » Mon Dec 14, 2020 9:51 am

tapeisrolling wrote:
Sat Nov 14, 2020 8:03 pm
Didn't Ted Strasser do the Sun morning show? after The Renfro Valley Gathering....
Yes, that's right! His show was called "Patterns in Music", I just remembered!



tapeisrolling
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Re: WJR "Kaleidoscope" Host Mike Whorf Dies

Post by tapeisrolling » Mon Dec 14, 2020 8:54 pm

Every Sunday morning 9:15? was the Kipplinger sales pitchman. 15 minutes of trying to sell you a subscription and always closing with the "Opportunity will knock, but YOU must answer the door."
Anyone remember the show about 6pm Sun on JR called "Hawaii Calling" ?



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SolarMax
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Re: WJR "Kaleidoscope" Host Mike Whorf Dies

Post by SolarMax » Fri Dec 18, 2020 9:28 pm

From WRCJ 90.9:

KALEIDOSCOPE: A CHRISTMAS MASTERPIECE
Listen Sunday 12/20 at noon when WRCJ remembers the late Mike Whorf, longtime Detroit radio host of the award-winning series “Kaleidoscope”. This holiday edition from 1997 explores the life of George Frederick Handel and the writing of “Messiah”. (Repeats Thursday 12/24 at noon)



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