Bob Grant (radio host) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bob Grant
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| Born |
Robert Ciro Gigante
March 14, 1929 |
| Died | December 31, 2013 (aged 84) |
| Occupation | Radio personality |
| Years active | 1940s–2013 |
Robert Ciro Gigante (born March 14, 1929 – died December 31, 2013), known as Bob Grant, was a famous American radio host. He worked in radio for many years, especially in New York City. Bob Grant is seen as a pioneer in a type of radio called "conservative talk radio." This is where hosts share their strong opinions on political and social topics. He also helped start the "combat talk" style, which means lively and sometimes intense discussions. His career lasted from the 1950s until he passed away at age 84.
Bob Grant was known for his conservative views. This means he often supported traditional ideas and less government involvement. He also had some libertarian ideas, which focus on personal freedom.
Contents
Bob Grant's Radio Journey
Starting Out in Radio
When Bob Grant was in high school in Chicago, he joined a radio workshop. He would act in plays on the radio station WBEZ. Later, he studied journalism at the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign. He also joined the school's radio station there.
Bob Grant left college early to start his professional radio career. He got his first job after someone heard his voice over the phone. On May 14, 1948, he made his first news announcement. He then worked in the news department at WBBM (AM) in Chicago. For his radio career, he changed his last name from "Gigante" to "Grant." During the Korean War, he served in the Naval Reserve.
Moving to Los Angeles
After Chicago, Bob Grant moved to Los Angeles. In 1959, he started working at radio station KNX (AM). He had a comedy show there called "Condylis & Grant Comedy Show." People thought their show was very funny and new. It was like a radio version of a comedy sketch show.
Later, Grant became the sports director at KABC (AM) in Los Angeles. Another radio host, Joe Pyne, asked Grant to fill in for him. After President John F. Kennedy was assassinated, Pyne couldn't host his show. So, Grant took over and eventually got his own show in 1964.
In 1967, Grant moved to KLAC radio. In 1969, KLAC changed from a talk station to a music station. Grant then co-hosted a TV show called "Tempo" with actress Jeanne Baird. He was later replaced by Regis Philbin in 1970.
New York City Calling
In 1970, Bob Grant was asked to move to New York City. The radio station WMCA wanted him to join their new talk radio lineup. Grant didn't want to move because he had a family and a home in Los Angeles. But an executive convinced him by saying he was the "number-one talk-show host in America" and should be in the "number-one market."
Grant started his first show on WMCA on September 21, 1970. He signed a two-year contract. Even though he wanted to go back to Los Angeles at first, he stayed. He left WMCA in 1977.
Time at WOR and WWDB
On May 30, 1977, Bob Grant started working at WOR (AM). He hosted his show late at night. His show became very popular, with many people listening.
In 1979, Grant faced a challenge and was let go from WOR. His colleague, Barry Farber, helped him. Farber even offered his own show time at WMCA so Grant could return. Grant later explained that he made some comments on air that caused trouble. He said something that was seen as unfair and led to his firing.
After leaving WOR, Grant worked for a year at WWDB-FM in Philadelphia. He said he felt like he was "run out of town."
In June 1979, Grant returned to WMCA (AM) for a Saturday show. He was still working in Philadelphia during the week. By April 1980, he was back at WMCA full-time.
Success at WABC
In November 1984, WABC (AM) in New York City hired Bob Grant. He first hosted a show in the evenings. Later, he moved to the busy afternoon time slot from 3–6 p.m. The Bob Grant Show was very successful and had high ratings. Many people listened to him every day. The station even called him "America's most listened to talk radio personality."
Grant always told his listeners that his show was "unscripted and unrehearsed." This meant he spoke freely without a plan. In 1991, a special event was held to honor Grant for his 21 years in New York radio. Many famous people attended, including Senator Al D'Amato and radio host Rush Limbaugh.
Bob Grant also played a role in politics. He introduced President George H. W. Bush at a campaign event in 1992. He also supported politicians like Rudy Giuliani and Christine Todd Whitman in their elections in 1993 and 1994.
Grant's long time at WABC ended in 1996. He made a comment about an airplane crash involving Commerce Secretary Ron Brown. When Brown was found to have passed away, Grant's comments were widely criticized. After a lot of media attention, his contract was ended. His last show on WABC was on April 16, 1996.
Back to WOR and Beyond
After leaving WABC, Bob Grant moved back to WOR (AM) on April 29, 1996. He hosted his show in the same afternoon time slot. Over time, his energy on air seemed to lessen. For a while, his show was broadcast across the country, but it became a local show again in 2001.
Grant's time at WOR ended on January 13, 2006. His ratings were still good, but the station wanted to focus on other types of shows. After leaving WOR, Grant appeared on Sean Hannity's show. Hannity, who had taken over Grant's old time slot at WABC, praised him. Grant also did short "Straight Ahead" commentaries on WOR for a few months. He also made other guest appearances on radio shows.
Thinking About Politics
In 2000, Bob Grant thought about running for the United States Senate in New Jersey. He even started a committee to explore the idea. But he decided not to run in the end. He also considered running for Mayor of New York City in the 1970s.
Later Years in Radio
Bob Grant started making more guest appearances on WABC in 2007. He filled in for other hosts like John R. Gambling and appeared on Mark Levin's show. On August 22, 2007, he announced he was returning to WABC as a regular host. His first full show back was on August 23.
This return lasted less than a year and a half. His show was pulled in late 2008 due to changes in the station's schedule. Grant still made guest appearances for other hosts like Michael Savage and Sean Hannity.
In July 2009, Grant started an Internet radio show called Straight Ahead! Viewers could watch him broadcast online. He believed that Internet broadcasting was the future. The show later moved to a professional studio. His last online show was on January 13, 2010.
On September 13, 2009, Grant returned to WABC for a third time. He hosted a weekly Sunday talk show. This allowed him to connect with more listeners. In October 2012, he announced his show would end, but then changed his mind. He took a short break for health reasons. When he returned, his show was shorter. Grant's show continued until July 28, 2013, when he retired for good due to his health.
He also wrote weekly articles for his website, BobGrantOnline.com, until February 2013.
Guest Hosts on His Show
Bob Grant liked to have other hosts fill in for him when he was away. This helped keep his show popular. Some of these fill-in hosts, like G. Gordon Liddy and Curtis Sliwa, later got their own shows. Other famous people who filled in included Bill O'Reilly, Roger Ailes, Ann Coulter, and comedians Jackie Mason and Pat Cooper.
Bob Grant's Impact
In 2002, a magazine called Talkers Magazine ranked Bob Grant as the 16th greatest radio talk show host of all time. This shows how important he was in the world of radio.
On March 28, 2007, Bob Grant was nominated for the National Radio Hall of Fame. He was finally inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2023, after his passing.
Passing Away
Bob Grant lived in several towns in New Jersey, including Woodbridge Township and Toms River. He passed away in Hillsborough Township, New Jersey on December 31, 2013. He had been ill for a short time before his death.
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Bob Grant, a pioneer in talk radio.
