SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO.com) -- As we look back on the 80 years that KELO-AM has been broadcasting, one of its most recognizable names is former DJ Harley Worthit.
One of the medium's first "shock" jocks, Worthit--whose real name is Philip Heuer--was known for on-air unpredictability in the 1960s and 70s.
It might mean a tiger coming at you during a show.
Long-time KELO-AM DJ Jon Michaels said it all arose over a joke Harley told to a man caring for a baby tiger for the yet to be built Great Plains Zoo.
The tiger guy got mad and threw the tiger at Worthit while they were on the air.
"So, if you can imagine this cub tiger coming at you with its claws out!" Michaels laughed.
Worthit called himself an "equal opportunity offender."
"People would tune in the next day and say, 'Now what's he going to say?!' Michaels recalled.
Worthit went on to radio careers in Minneapolis and Phoenix.
Also, as mighty as KELO-AM 1320 is now--which is also available on 107.9 and 105.1 FM--back in the 1950s through 70s, it was even more widespread.
Michaels has hosted his Forum public affairs program on KELO-AM for most of his 40 years at the station. It had more reach "back in the day" than it does now over the air.
"It had a statewide aspect, my Forum program use to be statewide on KELO, KDLO and KPLO," Michaels said. "Because of Reliance and Aberdeen, we were statewide. We covered a wide area of the Midwest."
Now, of course, Forumand most of KELO-AM's programming is available worldwide on the internet, potentially reaching a far larger audience than when three AM stations carried the signal.
It's just one of many changes during KELO-AM's 80 year history.
