happy hare.
a @sdradio tweet informed me of the news:
“San Diego radio icon and legend Happy Hare Martin died Monday morning.”
in 2006, harry “happy hare” martin offered (for free) his “talent coaching” services to my former place of employment. at first, due to the generation gap, the idea of working with hare didn’t seem like the right fit.
silly me.
in a short time, not only did i gain insurmountable radio knowledge, but (more importantly) a true radio friend.
the last couple of years, we would talk radio and family over coffee/bagel at the pt. loma einstein bros. truth be told, in a weird way, hare reminded me of my (hero) grandpa joe.
with his amazing positivity, hare would often call my house to “check in” and share a story or two, or three, or four. my favorite, how he saved a beatles concert in cleveland.
unlike many in my professional past, hare understood me (and, i trusted him.) needless to say, he also understood radio.
hare will always have a place in my heart.
i am lucky to have known him.
much love&aloha to his friends/family.
now, more on happy hare’s amazing career from his bio (including giant pandas and world speed records):
HARE HAS BEEN THE PARADE MARSHALL OF ALL OF THE COUNTY PARADES, INCLUDING THE MOTHER GOOSE PARADE.
HAS RAISED MILLIONS OF DOLLARS FOR CHARITIES.
CONCEIVED THE CAMPAIGN CREATING SAN DIEGO CHARTER SCHOOLS.
IN 1972, HIS CAMPAIGN BROUGHT THE GIANT PANDAS INTO THIS COUNTRY.
HIS SAN DIEGO AUDIENCE TOTAL ESTIMATED AT ALMOST A MILLION LISTENERS THROUGHOUT HIS LOCAL CAREER. 40% OF THE LISTENING AUDIENCE FROM 1955 TILL 1960,THEN TO KYW, CLEVELAND WHERE, WITH SPECS HOWARD, HE SCORED A RECORD BREAKING 30% OF THE AUDIENCE, THEN DETROIT — TAKING WXYZ FROM 11th TO # 3.
AFTER SEVEN YEARS ABSENCE, HARE RETURNED TO SAN DIEGO IN 1969 TO RESTORE KCBQ FROM # 5 TO # 1 IN JUST ONE RATING PERIOD, SCORING 400,000 LISTENERS: ARB JAN-MAR 1969.
HARE IS CURRENTLY SPEARHEADING A CAMPAIGN DEDICATED TO REPEALING THE PASSENGER VESSEL SERVICES ACT OF 1886, ENABLING ALL PASSENGER SHIPS TO END THEIR CRUISES HERE INSTEAD OF ENSENADA, BRINGING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS INTO THE CITY AND CREATING HUNDREDS OF JOBS. THE PORT DISTRICT RECENTLY PROCLAIMED “HAPPY HARE HARBOR DAY” IN RECOGNITION OF HIS EFFORTS IN BEHALF OF THE CITY AND THE PORT.
ROGER HEDGECOCK HAS PUBLICLY NAMED HARE AS HIS MENTOR.
REGIS PHILBIN PROCLAIMED HARE AS HIS FAVORITE RADIO PERSONALITY.
BROKE THE ROUND WORLD SPEED RECORD FOR A JET PASSENGER,
43 HOURS AND 31 MINUTES IN 1969
RECOGNIZED IN 1970 AS ONE OF THE TOP 10 PERSONALITIES BY CBS.
RECEIVED THE LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD IN SEPTEMBER 2004
BY THE SAN DIEGO RADIO BROADCASTERS.
Billy Blast
Tuesday, 6th January 2009 at 3:02 am
Hare will truly be missed, a true San Diego radio icon in every sense of the word! My thoughts and prayers are with his family.
Dave Mason
Tuesday, 6th January 2009 at 6:02 am
Hare was a good guy, and one of the most enthusiastic people about our business you’ll ever find. I had the pleasure of working with him twice-both times in situations that weren’t great, but would have been a whole lot worse without him. He also gave us plenty of fodder for laughs. Just remember this, Hare-anytime anyone walks down the hallway and says “Wocka Wocka” - we’re paying tribute to you. San Diego loved you-and you gave it back. Many condolences to the family, and a big “THANKS” to the memory of a hell of a radio guy.
Chuck Buck
Tuesday, 6th January 2009 at 7:27 am
As a broadcasting student at SDSU, in the early 60’s, I saw a publicity photo of “Happy Hare” in a textbook. He was doing a movie theatre remote in Cleveland. A classmate pointed out the photo and said Hare used to be on air here (San Diego); there was still buzz about him even though he had left the market. The rumor mill really heated up when it was confirmed that Hare would be returning to San Diego to KCBQ. That’s when I first met him at a San Diego Bicentennial Celebration in 1969. Like a great actor, Hare entered the reception hall with astonishing flare, wearing yellow aviator sunglasses, a military flight suit and black boots. To cheers and applause, he took a victory lap around the banquet room. He had recently broken the world speed record as a jet airline passenger. At the time, our agency, Knoth & Meads, was handling the local McDonald’s account and that lead to our helping a new non-profit conduct its first major fund raising event. It would be a walk around Mission Bay called “Walk for Mankind,” sponsored by Project Concern, founded by Dr. Jim Turbin. I asked Hare if he would be the Grand Marshall. He did, broadcasting the walk’s progress from a helicopter. He was sensational and helped to raise a huge amount of money that first year. Most recently, I hired Hare to do a couple of voices for an Internet cartoon series. This was last July. I hadn’t seen Hare in over 10 years. Leading up to the session, there was a flurry of email exchanges and phone calls with that irrepressible personality bursting through phone and cable lines. When he came into the studio he carried with him the same bravado I had witnessed at the Bicentennial, calling out my name and saying, as he always did, that I was his “long-lost son from a previous indiscretion.” In the booth, with a full head of hair, beaming with enthusiasm and energy, he created magic. What a special moment that was. I will miss him greatly.
Gary Allyn
Tuesday, 6th January 2009 at 8:42 am
We lost a truly unique talent, and a
proto-type Morning Air Talent. I was
privileged to be Hare’s P.D. at KCBQ
in 1968,’69 & 1970. Auudiences loved
him for his zany enthiusiasm. He
loved what he did and it showed every
day on the air…and off! Radio and
all who knew or were touched by Harry
will miss this outstanding talent. To
paraphrase his oft uttered line: He’ll
be “up with angels milking that heavenly public”. God Bless you Hap.
Gary Allyn
Dennis Morgigno
Tuesday, 6th January 2009 at 11:06 am
I am saddened at the thought of no more zany phone calls or emails from a guy who never stopped wanting to make one more splash - and he had an ocean full of them. A dear man - a unique talent - Hare defied gravity and logic: he never went out of style.
Chris Saunders
Tuesday, 6th January 2009 at 11:47 am
It’s great to read all these wonderful tributes to him.
I really wish I’d known him — he was definitely a San Diego radio legend — and apparently a really good man too.
Everyone’s loss.
Dave Schwensen
Tuesday, 6th January 2009 at 5:04 pm
I’m truly sorry - and a bit shocked - to learn that Harry Martin passed away Monday. I was fortunate to have been a phone-in guest on his San Diego radio show not too long ago - and even more fortunate to have had the opportunity to interview him about “saving the 1964 Beatles concert” in Cleveland.
Along with his partner Specs Howard, Harry made “The Martin & Howard Show” the number one morning show in northeastern Ohio on station KYW and WKYC during the mid 1960’s. I still remember hearing “Ticket To Ride” by The Beatles for the very first time on their show.
It had been almost 40 years since I’d heard Harry’s voice when I interviewed him for my book. Just the sound of him speaking took me all the way back to my teenager years and Beatlemania. It gives me chills just to write that today… I was also included on his regular “Happy Hare” columns / memories that were always very entertaining.
I’ll miss Harry Martin.
Dave Schwensen
Author: “The Beatles In Cleveland”
Jim Goldurs
Tuesday, 6th January 2009 at 6:30 pm
Great comment Dave, Martin & Howard (and the rest of the legendary KYW line-up) are who lit my radio fire (I even interviewed you several years ago!) I loved hearing Hare (not to mention Charlie and Harrigan) on Sign-On radio, and had the great fortune of “reuniting” Specs and Hare on the air here in Cleveland a few years ago. He was a great influence as a broadcaster and a human being.
Brooke Binkowski
Wednesday, 7th January 2009 at 9:20 am
I just heard. I am heartbroken and kicking myself for not being in better touch. I ran his board for years at the old KPOP and he was one of my favorite people - he kept things fun. Do you know of a service or anything like that? I am so sad.
Tim Lones
Wednesday, 7th January 2009 at 11:53 am
Hello:
I was doing a special feature on the KYW/WKYC Radio/TV Swap in 1965 on my vintage broadcasting blog (link above)..Martin and Howard were the morning team on KYW at the time..I received an email from Harry Martin with some kind words about the blog. etc..I began to link my blog to his (happyareonline.com) at that time..Seemed like a classy, fun guy who loved radio..Never heard him on air actually..I wish I had..
I will keep the Happy Hare websitein my links as long as it is active..
Tim Lones
Wednesday, 7th January 2009 at 11:54 am
I guess you click my name..that is the link..sorry about that..
Frank Anthony
Friday, 9th January 2009 at 12:02 am
I listened to Happy Hare faithfully every morning on KCBQ. His incredible wit, timing and brand of humor were infectious. I was a student at Helix when Harry paid a visit to our campus during a Pep Rally. I couldn’t get enough of him. I decided at that moment that radio was for me. Five years later I was working at the “Q” where he had made the transition to sales. I will always be thankful for his guidance. He was sincere, gifted, colorful, genuine, delightful, honest, charming and a pleasure to know. Those traits are all too rare in our chosen profession let alone in one individual. He remains a true inspiration to us all.
Frank Anthony
Luis "Big Lou" Montano
Tuesday, 13th January 2009 at 12:58 am
What an awesome experience to walk into a job where you get to work with all your favorite San Diego Radio Icons. That is exactly what I had the distinct and sincere pleasure of doing and none of them made me as nervous as Happy Hare Martin.
I knew who he was, I had listened to him, he was a legend and even though he was way past his prime he commanded respect and awe and he got both from me.
I never got tired of listening him recant stories of Sinatra, The Beatles of Course, Cleveland, and cleaning up Horse excrement.
He was always prepared and ready to listen and or give advice. I too got to share a few cups of coffee and a meal or two with him and was like a little kid in his company.
I am very sad to hear of his passing and wish blessings and peace on his soul for him and his family.
RIP Mr. Martin