How they did it

I always enjoy seeing how a task is really done. Usually the real thing is a whole lot harder than it looks from the outside. Sometimes it’s easier.

This new upload at American Radio Library is a revealing look behind the scenes of talk radio. It’s a user manual for a Telos Talk Radio Call Manager system, software and hardware. The hardware side switched calls into the headset of the Talent under the control of the Screener. It automatically called back if the setup was arranged to save long distance fees for the caller.

Rush knew all about a caller before taking the call because his Screener had interviewed the caller and typed the info into the Call Manager. The notes appeared on the Talent’s screen where he could read them in advance.

Seen by the Talent.

The Screener could set a time limit for calls. When the caller ran close to the limit, a signal flashed on the Talent’s screen so he could get out of the call in time.

Seen by the Screener. Note that the manual used a non-controversial subject, with perhaps a subliminal hint to the more controversial Talents?

The software side was behind current fashion. By 1994 most computers were running some version of Windows. The manual is dated 1994, but the system is strictly DOS, with semi-graphic screens using DOS text and lines. I used to design such screens for my early audio processing and training software, so the pattern is familiar. The installation procedure is a detailed list of DOS commands like MKDIR C:\CMS and COPY A:*.* C:\CMS.

Practically, I doubt that Rush used an off-the-shelf system like this. He could afford custom-made, and he always stressed that he used Macintosh instead of PC because Mac was more expensive. His whole shtick was a version of Prosperity Doctrine. I’m super-wealthy so I can afford the best. You too can become super-wealthy if you listen and obey. Many of his imitators were likely using this system.

Looks like Telos is still the dominant provider of talk radio systems.