Bill Keene facts for kids
Bill Keene (born 1927, died 2000) was a popular TV and radio personality. He was famous in Los Angeles, California for his traffic and weather reports. People loved his funny reports, especially his many puns. He became a well-known voice in Los Angeles broadcasting.
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Bill Keene's Journey
Bill Keene started his radio career early. He was still in high school in Scottsbluff, Nebraska when he first went on air. After serving in the Army Air Corps during World War II, he worked at KBOL radio in Boulder, Colorado. There, he was the news and sports director. He also studied journalism at the University of Colorado.
Starting in Los Angeles
Keene's career in Los Angeles began in 1957. He joined KNXT-TV (now KCBS-TV) as a weather reporter. He helped create the station's hour-long news show, called The Big News. On this show, Keene worked with famous news anchor Jerry Dunphy and sports reporter Gil Stratton. At the same time, he also gave weather reports on the radio station KNX (AM). Later, he hosted a TV show called Keene at Noon. This show was later renamed The Bill Keene Show.
Becoming a Traffic Star
In 1976, Bill Keene started working full-time at KNX radio. He became one of the first regular traffic reporters in Los Angeles. His traffic reports were very special. He often used puns to make people laugh. For example, if a ladder was on the freeway, he might say, "Watch out for rung way drivers!" He would also add, "Don’t worry, the highway patrol will be taking steps to remove that ladder." These jokes made his reports very popular.
Retirement and Legacy
Bill Keene retired in 1993. He passed away in 2000 in Tucson, Arizona.
Special Honors
In 1992, Bill Keene received a star on the famous Hollywood Walk of Fame. This honor celebrates people who have made a big impact in entertainment. In 2006, the California Department of Transportation honored him again. They officially named the Four Level Interchange in Downtown Los Angeles the Bill Keene Memorial Interchange. This busy freeway interchange was named in his honor.
