Garry Meier
Encyclopedia
Garry Meier is a Chicago
-based radio personality
and is currently the afternoon host on WGN-AM 720 in Chicago, heard weekdays 3-7 PM CT.
in 1974. He left WYEN in 1977 and joined WLUP (FM) in 1977, broadcasting under the pseudonym
"Matthew Meier", as their overnight DJ. Here, he met morning DJ Steve Dahl and the two were teamed up in the morning slot in 1979.
and WLS-FM from 1981 through 1986 in the afternoon drive slot. In 1986, they went to WLUP (AM) 1000, and then back to WLUP-FM. They later shifted back to mornings on WLUP-FM until Garry left in 1993.
. Dahl, along with Meier, and both Mike Veeck (son of then Chicago White Sox
owner Bill Veeck
), and Jeff Schwartz of WLUP promotions, came up with a radio promotion and tie-in to the White Sox called Disco Demolition Night
which took place on Thursday, July 12, 1979. The concept was to create an event to "end disco once and for all" in the center field of Comiskey Park
that night by allowing people to get tickets at the box office if they brought 98 cents and at least one disco record. The records were collected, piled up on the field and blown up. Ultimately, this resulted in the second game of the doubleheader
being postponed due to hundreds of rowdy fans storming the field and refusing to leave. American League
President Lee MacPhail
later declared the second game of the doubleheader a forfeit
victory for the visiting Detroit Tigers
. Six people reported minor injuries, and thirty-nine were arrested for disorderly conduct
.
in Chicago as a feature reporter on their morning show. He left the show in 1995 to join WLS (AM)
with Roe Conn
. The Roe & Garry Show enjoyed high ratings during their successful 8-year run. In 2004 Meier did not renew his contract.
. Meier was eating lunch at the Oak Street Beachstro, the site of the remote broadcast, when Dahl learned of Meier's presence there. Dahl invited Meier to appear on the air with him, and Meier accepted. Meier wound up staying for the remainder of the show. The reunion was covered widely throughout the Chicago media that evening and throughout the next week, landing front page news on both the Chicago Sun-Times
and the Chicago Tribune
.
to host a late morning show from 8:00 AM to 11:00 AM. The announcement, on March 27, 2007, was made during The Steve Dahl Show. The show lasted nearly 7 months until his final broadcast on October 29, 2007, when WCKG eliminated its talk format.
On November 5, 2007, WCKG
revamped its all-talk format to an adult contemporary music
format.
during the vacant 1-4 PM slot. WGN announced that Meier would take over the 1-4 slot on a permanent basis beginning April 3, 2009.
On April 8, 2010 WGN Radio announced that Garry Meier would become WGN-AM's afternoon drive host effective April 9, 2010. Meier's new shift runs 3-7 PM CT on WGN.
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
-based radio personality
Radio personality
A radio personality is a person with an on-air position in radio broadcasting. A radio personality can be someone who introduces and discusses various genres of music, hosts a talk radio show that may take calls from listeners, or someone whose primary responsibility is to give news, weather,...
and is currently the afternoon host on WGN-AM 720 in Chicago, heard weekdays 3-7 PM CT.
Beginnings
Meier started out as a DJ at WFYR in 1973, then moved to WYENWPPN
WPPN is an FM radio station licensed to Des Plaines, Illinois that targets the Chicago metropolitan area. WPPN broadcasts on 106.7 MHz with a Spanish AC format....
in 1974. He left WYEN in 1977 and joined WLUP (FM) in 1977, broadcasting under the pseudonym
Pseudonym
A pseudonym is a name that a person assumes for a particular purpose and that differs from his or her original orthonym...
"Matthew Meier", as their overnight DJ. Here, he met morning DJ Steve Dahl and the two were teamed up in the morning slot in 1979.
Steve and Garry
The team was soon billed as "Steve & Garry." During their tenure at WLUP (1979–81), the team was number one in the ratings, and they continued that success at WLS (AM)WLS (AM)
WLS is a Chicago clear-channel AM station on 890 kHz. It uses C-QUAM AM stereo and transmits with 50,000 watts from transmitter and towers on the south edge of Tinley Park, Illinois....
and WLS-FM from 1981 through 1986 in the afternoon drive slot. In 1986, they went to WLUP (AM) 1000, and then back to WLUP-FM. They later shifted back to mornings on WLUP-FM until Garry left in 1993.
Disco Demolition Night
One of Steve & Garry's most famous events was Disco Demolition NightDisco Demolition Night
Disco Demolition Night was a promotional event that took place on Thursday, July 12, 1979, at Comiskey Park in Chicago, Illinois, during which a crate filled with disco records was blown up on the field. It was held during the twi-night doubleheader baseball game between the Chicago White Sox and...
. Dahl, along with Meier, and both Mike Veeck (son of then Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
owner Bill Veeck
Bill Veeck
William Louis Veeck, Jr. , also known as "Sport Shirt Bill", was a native of Chicago, Illinois, and a franchise owner and promoter in Major League Baseball. He was best known for his publicity stunts to raise attendance. Veeck was at various times the owner of the Cleveland Indians, St. Louis...
), and Jeff Schwartz of WLUP promotions, came up with a radio promotion and tie-in to the White Sox called Disco Demolition Night
Disco Demolition Night
Disco Demolition Night was a promotional event that took place on Thursday, July 12, 1979, at Comiskey Park in Chicago, Illinois, during which a crate filled with disco records was blown up on the field. It was held during the twi-night doubleheader baseball game between the Chicago White Sox and...
which took place on Thursday, July 12, 1979. The concept was to create an event to "end disco once and for all" in the center field of Comiskey Park
Comiskey Park
Comiskey Park was the ballpark in which the Chicago White Sox played from 1910 to 1990. It was built by Charles Comiskey after a design by Zachary Taylor Davis, and was the site of four World Series and more than 6,000 major league games...
that night by allowing people to get tickets at the box office if they brought 98 cents and at least one disco record. The records were collected, piled up on the field and blown up. Ultimately, this resulted in the second game of the doubleheader
Doubleheader (baseball)
A doubleheader is a set of two baseball games played between the same two teams on the same day in front of the same crowd. In addition, the term is often used unofficially to refer to a pair of games played by a team in a single day, but in front of different crowds and not in immediate...
being postponed due to hundreds of rowdy fans storming the field and refusing to leave. American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
President Lee MacPhail
Lee MacPhail
Leland Stanford MacPhail, Jr. is an American retired front-office executive in Major League Baseball...
later declared the second game of the doubleheader a forfeit
Forfeit (baseball)
In rare cases, baseball games are forfeited, usually in the event when a team is no longer able to play. In the event of forfeiture, the score is recorded as "9 to 0", as per rule 2.00 of the Major League Baseball Rules Book...
victory for the visiting Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
. Six people reported minor injuries, and thirty-nine were arrested for disorderly conduct
Disorderly conduct
Disorderly conduct is a criminal charge in most jurisdictions in the United States. Typically, disorderly conduct makes it a crime to be drunk in public, to "disturb the peace", or to loiter in certain areas. Many types of unruly conduct may fit the definition of disorderly conduct, as such...
.
After Steve and Garry
After leaving the Steve & Garry show, Meier hosted his own show on WLUP for one year. In 1994, Meier left WLUP to join WGN-TVWGN-TV
WGN-TV, virtual channel 9 , is the CW-affiliated television station in Chicago, Illinois built, signed on, and owned by the Tribune Company. WGN-TV's studios and offices are located at 2501 W...
in Chicago as a feature reporter on their morning show. He left the show in 1995 to join WLS (AM)
WLS (AM)
WLS is a Chicago clear-channel AM station on 890 kHz. It uses C-QUAM AM stereo and transmits with 50,000 watts from transmitter and towers on the south edge of Tinley Park, Illinois....
with Roe Conn
Roe Conn
Roe B. Conn is an American talk radio host of The Roe Conn Show with Richard Roeper, which airs on WLS-AM 890 in Chicago live from 2 to 6 p.m. , Monday through Friday. Three hours of the radio show are also simulcast on NBC Chicago Digital 5.2 television between 3 and 6 p.m. weekdays...
. The Roe & Garry Show enjoyed high ratings during their successful 8-year run. In 2004 Meier did not renew his contract.
Reunion
On Friday, August 18, 2006, during a remote broadcast by Dahl, Meier stopped by for an on-air visit on WCKGWCKG
WCFS-FM , known on-air as "WBBM Newsradio 780 & 105.9", is a radio station licensed to Elmwood Park, Illinois and serving the Chicago, Illinois market...
. Meier was eating lunch at the Oak Street Beachstro, the site of the remote broadcast, when Dahl learned of Meier's presence there. Dahl invited Meier to appear on the air with him, and Meier accepted. Meier wound up staying for the remainder of the show. The reunion was covered widely throughout the Chicago media that evening and throughout the next week, landing front page news on both the Chicago Sun-Times
Chicago Sun-Times
The Chicago Sun-Times is an American daily newspaper published in Chicago, Illinois. It is the flagship paper of the Sun-Times Media Group.-History:The Chicago Sun-Times is the oldest continuously published daily newspaper in the city...
and the Chicago Tribune
Chicago Tribune
The Chicago Tribune is a major daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, and the flagship publication of the Tribune Company. Formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper" , it remains the most read daily newspaper of the Chicago metropolitan area and the Great Lakes region and is...
.
WCKG
On April 2, 2007, Meier joined WCKGWCKG
WCFS-FM , known on-air as "WBBM Newsradio 780 & 105.9", is a radio station licensed to Elmwood Park, Illinois and serving the Chicago, Illinois market...
to host a late morning show from 8:00 AM to 11:00 AM. The announcement, on March 27, 2007, was made during The Steve Dahl Show. The show lasted nearly 7 months until his final broadcast on October 29, 2007, when WCKG eliminated its talk format.
On November 5, 2007, WCKG
WCKG
WCFS-FM , known on-air as "WBBM Newsradio 780 & 105.9", is a radio station licensed to Elmwood Park, Illinois and serving the Chicago, Illinois market...
revamped its all-talk format to an adult contemporary music
Adult contemporary music
Adult contemporary music is a broad style of popular music that ranges from lush 1950s and 1960s vocal music to predominantly ballad-heavy music with varying degrees of rock influence, as well as a radio format that plays such music....
format.
WGN
On March 2, 2009, Meier began a week-long stint on WGN (AM)WGN (AM)
WGN is a radio station in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It is the only radio station owned by the Tribune Company, which also owns the flagship television station WGN-TV, the Chicago Tribune newspaper and Chicago magazine locally. WGN's transmitter is located in Elk Grove Village, Illinois...
during the vacant 1-4 PM slot. WGN announced that Meier would take over the 1-4 slot on a permanent basis beginning April 3, 2009.
On April 8, 2010 WGN Radio announced that Garry Meier would become WGN-AM's afternoon drive host effective April 9, 2010. Meier's new shift runs 3-7 PM CT on WGN.