1987 Christmas Show

Christmas was a special time in Bob's life. Every year he threw aside the vitriol and the challenges to his listeners and just settled in for a friendly, sentimental monologue reminiscing about his childhood, family, and all the Christmases of his past. This is the first of these shows that we have in our archive, always a favorite of his fans.

Happy Holidays from Bob Lassiter Airchecks! We'll be back after the New Year to start posting our clips from 1988 and onward.

DOWNLOAD: 1987 Christmas Show
WFLA, December 24, 1987
1:34:17

Brandon Brain Lady

Lois, AKA The Brandon Brain Lady, is a racist and anti-Semitic old lady who was a favorite caller to Bob's WPLP show (we are desperate for clips!). She made a call to Dick Norman's show, and when Bob pokes fun at her for it she calls in to what's ostensibly an open phones show, to tell him how disgusting he is. It's a lot of fun!


DOWNLOAD: Brandon Brain Lady
WFLA, December 11, 1987
28:54

Gorgeous George

Bob intends this to be a big confrontation with the former wrestler "Gorgeous" George Grant, who is now an evangelical minister preaching the evils of homosexuality. Instead it turns into one of the silliest, most pathetic spectacles in Bob's career. Also included is a humorous segment regarding the early computer game Leather Goddesses of Phobos.


DOWNLOAD: Gorgeous George
WFLA, December 10, 1987
58:10

Jacob and Irma See A Demon

Well that pretty much says it all. On the same day that Tedd Webb's listeners vote Bob "Man of the Year" for 1987, Jacob calls in to report Irma's seeing a demon coming out of the television set the night before; Bob and the callers spend much of this Saturday show speculating about what she really saw, if you follow my meaning. This show begins with what is probably my favorite call: Bernadine, who gives new meaning to the term "befuddled old lady."


DOWNLOAD: Jacob and Irma See A Demon
WFLA, December 5, 1987
1:14:20

The Bible or the Constitution?

Actually, this clip starts with Bob in a juicy conversation with a woman who wrote an unfavorable letter about him to the St. Petersburg Times. The real meat of the show, though, centers on Reagan's endorsement of allowing prayer and the Bible in school, which he says is of greater priority than learning about the Constitution. Bob's question is, which is more important to teach in school: The Bible or the Constitution?


DOWNLOAD: The Bible or the Constitution?
WFLA, December 2, 1987
37:43

Bob vs. Richard Shanks

While Bob is in Iowa for Thanksgiving, his crosstown competition Richard Shanks (center in the above photo) and WFLA colleague Jack Ellery take cheap shots at him. Bob comes back angry and ready for a fight. In one of our best clips, we also hear Richard Shanks' WPLP broadcast, and the ugly vibes being traded back and forth. A classic.


DOWNLOAD: Bob vs. Richard Shanks
WFLA, November 30, 1987
1:41:43

Lionel vs. Jacob

"We are setting up a classic here," says Bob, and truer words were never spoken. It's one of his dreaded Saturday shows, and Lionel calls in to challenge Jacob's primacy as the favorite Lassiter caller. Jacob strikes back, and it just gets better from there. We're also introduced for the first time to Jacob's girlfriend, Irma.


DOWNLOAD: Lionel vs. Jacob
WFLA, November 21, 1987
49:13

Friday with Jacob

There's actually quite a bit more on this Friday show, including discussion of Bob's insistence on buying American cars and his fundraising drive to buy a new studio chair. But it's when Jacob calls in for the last 20 minutes of the show that things really pick up.


DOWNLOAD: Friday with Jacob
WFLA, November 20, 1987
44:26

Jacob Quickie

A very brief clip of a conversation with Jacob.


DOWNLOAD: Jacob Quickie
WFLA, November 19, 1987
0:25

Happy Talk

A serious, angry Bob starts off the show talking about a civil-rights group that wants to censor him, and asks for people to sound off. They don't. Bob just gets madder and insists on clean, happy talk that doesn't offend anyone. Almost in spite of itself, this is a good one.

DOWNLOAD - Happy Talk
WFLA, November 18, 1987
49:20

Pick Your Poison

Callers tackle a list of questions from Bob about possible government expenditures: If you have to choose between this public priority or that, which do you choose? He takes the devil's advocate position with every caller, every question. Also some open phones in the final hour, followed by a few minutes of Bob sitting on Tedd Webb's show.


DOWNLOAD: Pick Your Poison
WFLA, November 17, 1987
26:49

Pat Robertson Supporters & Racists

Apparently that's who Bob asked for at the beginning of this show, because that's the calls he gets. What else is there to say?

DOWNLOAD: Pat Robertson Supporters & Racists
WFLA, November 16, 1987
17:48

Becky's Extramarital Affair

About a third of the way through this open phones show, Bob takes a call from Becky, and before you know it, seemingly the entire population of Tampa Bay has cast itself in a hilarious radio soap opera.


DOWNLOAD: Becky's Extramarital Affair
WFLA, November 5, 1987
1:05:58

William Baker, Historical Revisionist

A strange, combative interview with a fellow who is "an expert in Christian apologetics" and the author of the book pictured above. He has some strange ideas about Jews, Zionism, and the Israeli question in the Middle East. It's our faithful friend Carolyn who pegs Mr. Baker, the guest, as a historical revisionist. Another faithful friend, Tom from Lutz, calls in to exploit a passing mention of Martin Luther King.


DOWNLOAD: William Baker, Historical Revisionist
WFLA, November 4, 1987
22:11

Open Moaning and Groaning

If Bob hadn't named this "Open Moaning and Groaning," we would have had to call it "Social Security." In suggesting possible topics for this open phones show, Bob asks why we shouldn't cut off from Social Security benefits those old people who are perfectly well off without them. If you don't know what happens next, this must be your first Lassiter clip.


DOWNLOAD: Open Moaning and Groaning
WFLA, November 3, 1987
17:31

Record Burning

Bob hosts Kevin, a kid who participated in a local record burning rally sponsored by a local fundamentalist church (the leaders of which refused to discuss the matter on the air). He doesn't last long in this bout (the rest is taken up by callers), but it's long enough to make you really feel sorry for poor railroaded Kevin.


DOWNLOAD: Record Burning
WFLA, November 2, 1987
1:13:37

The Great Rock & Roll Debate

Once again, Rocky manages to inspire masses of violent disagreement from other callers. This time it's got nothing to do with any racial or ethnic controversies: It's the explosive question of who was the greater rock & roll band, The Rolling Stones or Led Zeppelin?


DOWNLOAD: The Great Rock & Roll Debate
WFLA, October 31, 1987
1:13:53

Marian

There are a couple of other calls on this brief clip, but Marian's rant about these no-good women of today is the most memorable.


DOWNLOAD: Marian
WFLA, October 30, 1987
4:55

We Don't Care

A quick clip of Bob explaining to the audience (and a caller) why his WFLA shows so far have been less monologue- and issue-focused.


DOWNLOAD: We Don't Care
WFLA, October 27, 1987
2:35

Decency Lady

A contrite Bob comes on the air with a new, decent outlook on life and radio, in cooperation with the National Federation for Decency. Decency Lady is there to make sure of it.


DOWNLOAD: Decency Lady
WFLA, October 23, 1987
1:26:36