Carter Blakemore Smith

"The Prince Trapped Inside
The Body Of A Disc Jockey"

Elected to the Bay Area Radio Hall of Fame, 2007

Carter B. Smith and Don Sherwood

ABOVE: Carter's got a hernia, and Don Sherwood doesn't like the looks of it. Note the
cigarette in the hand of the recuperating Mr. Smith, and the cardboard cutout of Giants'
play-by-play men Russ Hodges and Lon Simmons bearing get-well wishes from KSFO.

Bay Area Radio Hall of FameSan Francisco-born Carter Blakemore Smith, educated at San Francisco State College, got his start in local radio as an intern at KSAN (1450 AM) in the mid-1950s. He advanced to Berkeley's KRE (1400 AM and 102.9 FM) a few years later, then parlayed his experience into a role as sidekick, foil and substitute for Don Sherwood at KSFO. Always a listener favorite, he later moved on to KNBR, KFRC (in its Magic 61 incarnation) and KABL.

Also widely known for being the proprietor of one of the world's largest collections of T-shirts, Carter B. Smith was elected to the Bay Area Radio Hall of Fame in 2007.


FOR YOUR LISTENING PLEASURE...

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Carter B. Smith on KRE (Friday, April 26, 1963; 25 minutes) Presentation includes audioCBS

It's Classical Carter, on an audition reel perhaps intended for the folks at KSFO, as he spins some Sibelius, shows off his musical knowledge, reads a few public service announcements, does the news and waxes sentimental about his lately departed cat, from the studio of Berkeley's KRE AM and FM.


Carter B. Smith on KSFO (Wednesday, July 24, 1963; 31 minutes) Presentation includes audioCBS

The audition (see above) pays dividends, as Carter moves, cigarettes and all, from the news desk into the morning seat at almighty KSFO ... albeit as a sub for the oft-absent Don Sherwood — "It appears that Mr. Sherwood is ill today," the new fellow notes during the broadcast, which includes a Mike Powell newscast about twenty minutes into the recording.


Don Sherwood & Carter B. on KSFO (October 1964; 19 minutes) Presentation includes audioFK

Featuring Sherwood as "David Nice Guy, formerly known as the Lone Rabbit," as well as a "Man On The Street" interview conducted by Carter B.


Carter B. Smith & Don Sherwood on KSFO: "Super Frog" (Undated; 3 minutes) Presentation includes audioHH

Starring Carter B. Smith in the ribbeting role of amphibious crime-fighter.


"Super Frog: The Fairbanks Series" (Circa 1965; 35 minutes) Presentation includes audioCBS

A series of seven episodes starring "the champion of the oppressed, scourge of the scurrilous," directly from KSFO's studio tape recording. The label on the tape reel reads "Fairbanks Series" (the villain in these episodes is from the Alaskan city), and lists a series of dates: Oct. 14, 17, 19, 20, 21, 25 ("Frog Phone") and 26 ("Copter Sounds").


Don Sherwood on KSFO: "Just Plain Rosita," Undated Presentation includes audioBFT

Featuring Carter B. Smith in a supporting role.


Carter B. Smith on 560/KSFO (Thursday, Sept. 10, 1970; 28 minutes) Presentation includes audioCBS

A Viet Nam-era "V-Disc" of sorts, recorded in the KSFO studio for the local audience as well as for our fighting men and women in Southeast Asia. The music mix may be a bit more "Top 40" than usual for KSFO — note "Apache" by Electric Indian and "Yellow River" by Christie — to make it more appealing to the overseas audience. Also heard on the recording, which covers the half-hour from about 6 to 6:30 p.m., are psychiatrist Richard Sutherland, plus the tail-end of a Herb Kennedy newscast. (View the tape box containing this reel.)


Carter B. Smith on KNBR/68 (September 14, 1978; 1 hour) Presentation includes textPresentation includes audio


C.J. Bronson & Carter B. Smith on KNBR/68 (June 1983; 32 minutes) Presentation includes audioCBS

A studio-grade recording starring C.J. and Carter B. in the afternoon, playing a few records, giving away some prizes ... and sharing a few laughs over Carter's lunch entree — let's just say that it was more likely calamari tentacles. The broadcast, which probably dates from June 16, 1983, also includes a Bob Lazich newscast and, about 28 minutes in, a spot for the Oakland A's telecast voiced by Bill King.


Carter B. Smith on KSFO (January 28, 1985; 45 minutes) Presentation includes audioMS

Carter's second go-round at KSFO, which at this time was under the ownership of King Broadcasting. This recording, taken directly off the studio console, takes place on the somber morning of the explosion of the space shuttle Columbia, and features extensive coverage of the tragedy by KSFO newsman Dave Henderson.


Carter B. Smith on Magic 61 (September 10, 1990; 45 minutes) Presentation includes audio

Live in the Magic 61 mobile studio (formerly KFRC's "Virgin Sturgeon"), Carter broadcasts from Pier 35 on the San Francisco waterfront, awaiting the arrival of the Crystal Harmony and the opportunity to award two Silver Platter Club members a voyage on the popular cruise ship.


Carter B. Smith on 960/KABL (March 1997 Composite; 90 minutes) Presentation includes audio

Carter in the afternoon on "The Station Of The Stars," in — by his own admission — a very good mood. You may also listen to the second half of this gently scoped recording by clicking here.

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— Edited broadcast or excerpt only. Fair-to-poor audio quality — Fair-to-poor audio quality.
* — Included in the KSFO: The Golden West Years Collection.

BFT — Courtesy of Ben Fong-Torres.
CBS — Courtesy of Carter B. Smith.
FK — Courtesy of Fred Krock.
HH — Courtesy of Hap Harper.
JC — Courtesy of John Catchings.

JG — Courtesy of Joe Gentry.
KA — Courtesy of Ken Ackerman.
MK — Courtesy of Michael Krupicka.
MS — Courtesy of Mike Schweizer.
NH — Courtesy of Norm Howard.

RELATED EXHIBITS:

PHOTO SOURCE: The Sherwood-Smith hernia snapshot appears by courtesy of Carter Smith.

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