Like others that worked the over-night shifts, I also listened to Art all the time for many years. He was a real entertainer and provided many interesting interludes. In short, he helped me stay awake. Now I'm trying to recall the other paranormal radio personality, was it Laura or Linda...fun times.
Once upon a time I struggled through dark times. I often spent my long nights with Art as did many of you. He was a big help to me during those days. I am grateful to have received his influence over the air waves. RIP good friend.
Sorry to hear of Art's passing. I spent a lot of late nights listening to the banter, mostly on 3840, and occasionally, when band conditions permitted, I checked in briefly from my Ohio QTH. His always-strong signal was testament to the notion that if you hang enough wire high enough, you can get great results. He convinced me that, when deciding how much to invest in a station and where to invest it, the antenna system should get first priority. Radio was intrinsic to his DNA. I've a feeling he's already working on a way to get back on the air from wherever he now resides. RIP, Art.
Good Bye Art, You kept me on the edge of my seat and many times I would time my work load to be out of my truck only during a commercial break when time would permit. I hated to miss any live show of yours. Mad man Marcum was one of my favorites. They were all fantastic with you as the host. Glad I got to talk to you once or twice on 75 meters. I have it recorded here on my PC. Purchased a CD once from you and it was great. Talking to you in present tense because I feel you are probably out there listening / HI HI .... .. 73's de KA8VNG k
My point was that Art, as a professional radio guy, went as far into having the best audio in a ham radio station as well. I too enjoyed his night time show and Art loved those bazaar phone calls, faces on Mars etc. It could be entertaining and far different from most radio of the day.
Laura Hmmm.. was a New Age show. But not 'Dr. Laura' Nice lady. I was on that show as a debunker. After Art did his 'Geronimo in the smoke' stuff, I turned down any overtures to do Coast to Coast. I did Laura's(name?) show (she asked) after I was brought up on a 1998 Coast to Coast: so many comments were so factually wrong there, and my statements were re-stated, IMO, as the opposite of what I actually said. Hmmm..is Laura still around?
Art started Midnight In The Desert in 2015. This new show is still carried online by Dark Matter Digital Network. Heather Wade hosts, and had the privilege of working directly with Art even after he left the show in December of 2015. Heather provides a great alternative to the corporate broadcast machine. In fact, it's been very recent that she'd purchased the guest house from Art, and uses his last studio space there. All my best sympathy to Airyn, Asia, and Alexander Bell. Alexander is Art's son, not yet a year old.
Listened to Art Bell a few times over the years and thought this article summed it up rather well....... "Their fidelity did not mean a belief in the words said on the broadcast. They tuned in not for the truth but for a good story. Adults still want storytellers, preferably ones offering the most fantastical tales, to send them to sleep. Art Bell told them stories when parents and older siblings no longer would." https://spectator.org/art-bell-an-a-m-radio-original-rip/ "From the Heartland of America to the Gateway to the West, radio listeners mourn this weekend. The a.m. band lost one of its last great personalities."
I learned about the "chupakabra" from Art. Loved listening to him, laying in bed, when I got home from work. RIP, Art.
I've been binging on Art Bell reruns... mostly from the late 1990's... http://67.205.146.102:8000/stream And also here: https://paranormal.talkstreamlive.com/program/art_bell_all_day_radio Even as dated as these replays are, they still are great to hear again.
I used to hear him on 80 meters here in Colorado on the now raucous 3840 frequency. I never did make a contact but really didn't have a good antenna for 80. 73s Art!