Living the Disc Jockey Dream on 

Anarchy from the Archives

This summer marks the tenth anniversary of the end of my brief one-year avocation as a disc jockey on Virginia Commonwealth University's Internet-only radio station, WVCW. While my show, entitled "Anarchy from the Archives", never seemed to have many listeners, it was great fun nonetheless. Not only did I get to inflict my unusual musical tastes on my mostly unseen audience, but the show afforded me a chance to get to know some really nice folks in VCU Student Media and to bring in several great local musicians to perform live in the WVCW studio.

Having been greatly influenced by the musical tastes of AM radio, and later, FM radio disc jockeys during my formative years in the late 1960s and early 1970s, it had long been a fantasy to try out that role of disc jockey myself. 

In the first decade of the 2000's I got the chance to serve as the VCU Faculty Senate's representative on the Student Media Committee, which oversaw VCU's student newspaper, various magazines, and its Internet radio station, WVCW. Through that, I got to meet Lauren Katchuk, who at the time worked as a staff member in student media and also hosted a weekly music radio show on WVCW. When Lauren learned that I was both a Christmas music and Halloween music collector, she invited me to bring my favorite songs to play on her Halloween and Christmas shows. 

That led to an invitation to host my own weekly show, which I named "Anarchy from the Archives", a reference to the fact that I worked at the VCU Libraries and that my show would play all types of music, not just rap or blues or any other single style. I was also inspired by Matt Ruland, a VCU police officer, who at the time, hosted his own show on the station under the name "DJ 5-0" and who gave campus safety tips during breaks between songs. I borrowed Matt's idea and used my between-song times to offer public service announcements about services and programs at the VCU Libraries.

 

                  Lauren Katchuk and Matt Ruland (DJ 5-0")

Now, as I am reaching ten years since the show ended, I have begun archiving the show (so to speak) here on the Internet Archive. I've started by posting the three shows from June and July, 2012 that featured live performances by my favorite local musicians: Scott Brookman, Jonathan and Antonia Vassar , and Susan Greenbaum. Eventually, other episodes of Anarchy, if not all of them, will be added to the Internet Archive over the months ahead. The posted episodes are available free for streaming or download at no cost, without any registration, as usual with Internet Archive recordings.

Scott Brookman on Anarchy from the Archives, June 20, 2012

 

 

 

Jonathan & Antonia Vassar on Anarchy from the Archives, July 18, 2012 

 

 

Susan Greenbaum on Anarchy from the Archives, July 23, 2012

 

Anarchy from the Archives ran for only one year, from the summer of 2011 through July, 2012, when I left VCU to take a job elsewhere. Despite its brief life, the show provides many fond memories. There was one time that I was called into the office by one of the station's student managers and warned not to play any more songs with bad language in them. The offending song, by the band Eels, for those curious about it, can be found here. Pretty mild, I thought, for a station that played what I thought of as way too much rap music, with even more "objectionable" lyrics. In any case, I swore not to repeat my offense and managed to keep my show on the air.

The beautiful Anarchy from the Archives poster artwork at the top of this posting was contributed by one of my most faithful listeners, Gary Garbett, and was posted in rotation on electronic signs all over campus during the short reign of the show. Along with Lauren Katchuk (mentioned above) , Student Station Manager Claire Morra (who was not the supervisor who warned me to stop playing filthy music) , and Greg Weatherford, who headed Student Media Services at the time, were also greatly supportive.

 

Thanks to all of the folks above for this great experience!

 

 

 

A Long Overdue Update on The Igloo Ice Cream Parlor in Calabash, NC

Today in August, 2021, many people are remembering the upcoming 20th anniversary of the 9-11 attack on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. But I have another, much happier 20th anniversary occurring this month , as it was 20 years ago, in August, 2001, that our family and friends on a beach vacation trip to Ocean Isle Beach , discovered (and fell in love with) the Igloo ice cream parlor in Calabash, NC. It was run by an older couple, John (Walt) and Gloria Hoover, who worked 14 hour days, 7 days a week, and seemed to be having the greatest joy in serving ice cream to hundreds of happy customers. I think our group went back three times that week for the great ice cream, but also to share in the joy the Hoovers had in serving and talking with everyone of all ages.

The Igloo in 2001 (Calabash, NC)

 

                                                

 

 

 

 

John (Walt) and Gloria Hoover serving ice cream at the Igloo in August, 2001

 

            

 

 

 

  

 In 2007, I posted a reminiscence here on this same blog, Missing the Igloo in Calabash! that, fortunately,  was discovered by the grandchildren of John (Walt) and Gloria Hoover, who had operated the Igloo. (Please read that earlier post for some additional background on the Igloo). The granddaughters contacted me to let me know what their grandparents were doing and shortly thereafter, I got a nice handwritten letter from John (Walt) and Gloria Hoover on January 12, 2008 thanking me for my remembering the Igloo. It read as follows...

Dear Fellow Igloo Fan and Dan Ream’s Blog-

It was really a surprise when I had a call from one of my granddaughters, Stephie Hoover. She had located your inquiry about the Igloo in Calabash and John and Gloria Hoover. I was elated to think that someone was interested enough to try and find some background as to what became of the Igloo and its owners. I remember your family and the good times you all had when you vacationed in the area.

As I remember I have told many of our customers when they came by and asked why we put in those long hours (14 hours daily, 7 days a week). We enjoyed the people we met and enjoyed each and every one of them. I just happened! It was my salvation along with the fact that we enjoyed the people we came in contact with. The Igloo is the only walkup window with jazz music that had customers dancing on the patio and others talking with strangers from other parts of the USA and world. Some told us their troubles and listened to our unqualified advice

Have memories such as  -the man from Dakota who ran over an alligator one night and with the help of animal control, EMS, a towing wrecker with air pump it was brought back to life – the bear that knocked down our fence chasing its cubs- the fox that appeared every night at 8:30 for showtime then disappeared after two weeks- the Rhode Island chicken looked for a handout then roosted in a tree overnight. This one I offered a free sundae to whoever caught him and took him home. We should write a book about the Igloo and the customers we had!

But what is amazing this whole thing is that Sarah Weber has made contact with you. What a nice granddaughter and what a small world. Sarah worked at the Igloo at times over the summer.

Both Gloria and myself smile in appreciation to think that you made a search thru the Internet for info concerning the Igloo and our whereabouts I this small world! (There is a low country saying in the South the Gullah people have- “All shuteye ain’t sleep, all good byes ain’t gone”) Between the past and the future!

Thank you for your concern!

John and Gloria Hoover

The Two Eskimos from Calabash, NC

P.S. My coffee is cold-  so you know I enjoyed writing this note!

 

Read more »

The Day We Met President Obama on Marilea Rd

(To view with captions, see Youtube video.)

On September 29, 2010 my neighbors and I enjoyed the rare thrill and honor of meeting President Barrack Obama only a few yards from our homes. The President was making a series of neighborhood visits to hear what everyday citizens' concerns were. In each of the visited cities, a host family was selected and in Richmond, that was the Perry family (Matt, Stephanie, Matthew and Lucy) across the street from us on Marilea Rd in the Stratford Hills neighborhood of Richmond. Thanks to the Perrys, many of the neighbors were invited to meet the President. Due to rain that day, it was moved indoors to the clubhouse at Southampton Recreation Association, a few doors down the street.

Our son, Paul, who had campaigned door-to-door for Obama (as had Lucretia and I) was spending that semester abroad in Madrid and was shocked to learn that the President was coming to HIS STREET! As a consolation, we offered Paul that, if we had the chance, we would ask HIS question of President Obama, which we did.

At the 17:19 mark in the video above, President Obama pointed to me and said "yes, sir?" At that moment, he had no idea what I might say or ask about, as there was NO SCREENING OF QUESTIONS and no selection of attendees by political affiliations. It was a genuine opportunity for spontaneous dialogue.

Meanwhile, sitting around a laptop computer in a Madrid kitchen with his host family, Paul got to hear President Obama answer his question.

For another perspective, our dialogue over Paul's question begins at the 6:50 mark on this C-SPAN video.


Both before and after the Q&A, President Obama met each person in the room, addressing each of us by name. His aura and charisma were amazing.



Last and definitely least, here is the "horror movie" (listen to that music!) produced by area Republicans about the President's invasion of our neighborhood. Included for some of the rain and unforgettable security images from that day (police, buses parked to provide sightline shields, etc) that even we at the meeting couldn't see.