I woke up at the Howard Johnson’s Long Wharf, and showered.
It was March 4th, 1985, 30 years ago last spring.
I had clawed my up to the the position of morning show co host at 97 Rock, but had been fired in a format change at the beginning of the year. A guy named Neal Mirsky had heard me in Buffalo and wanted me for his new morning show on WPLR in New Haven, Connecticut.
I flew into Hartford to meet with Neal and the General Manager at the time, Manuel Rodriguez on a Monday. I really liked both of them. Two Heinekens later, I was seriously considering the job.
By Wednesday I had taken the job, on by Sunday had back to Connecticut to start a new chapter in my life.
That night, we went to dinner at the Rusty Scupper in New Haven, where I met my tall (and Fu Manchued) on air partner: one Brian Smith, with whom I would work for the next 18 years.
Brian and I would go on to quite a run, and though it ended abruptly – and not without acrimony – I have some of the fondest memories of my life from those mornings spent reading the papers, saying whatever crazy stuff popped into our heads, and having some of the most hilarious, non-repeatable conversations while the records were playing and the mics were off.
Which brings me to the inevitable question I get in bars and supermarkets: “What are you doing these days?’ And the answer is always the same – I’m loving life.
My kids have all grown up. “The Girls” that have been part of my life since I met their mom, “The Good Doctor”, almost 25 years ago, have grown into incredible young women. “The Boys”, both born during my PLR tenure, are now 18 and 21.
I’m an independent producer for WNPR. I host the 7 to midnight time slot Mondays through Thursdays, along with 8 to midnight Saturdays, and 6 am to 6 pm on Sundays.
Which brings me to The Real Life Survival Guide!
I started this “pet project” more than 15 years ago, while listening to a “Martha Stewart Minute” on a New York station. I started thinking about how I could use my love of the audio medium to share suggestions for living, a la Martha, with my contemporaries. The result over the years has been a series of website iterations and radio programs exploring the question of how to live a better life.
Going forward, I see the Guide evolving into a website and podcast featuring entertainment and lifestyle suggestions. In the mean time, if you were ever part of the Smith and Barber madness, thanks for the memories. As I said before, it was a great run…
Mary says
Always glad to hear you on WNPR. Still miss the Sunday afternoon “Real Life Survival Guide.” Felt that I was part of a group of friends enjoying themselves.
Diane Unger says
Great to relive those memories with you. You 2 were a big part of growing up in Hamden, CT. Take care, be well. And the next time I see you at S&S in Hamden, I will say Hi.
rose says
Those were fine, fine radio days. Mornings when I looked forward to waking to the radio alarm, to the radio commute … and days when I felt cheated by my job because I couldn’t always hear the whole show. Thanks for that!
MomOliver says
You’re the BEST, Bruce! Always was. Always will be.
MomOliver
Tom Brown says
WPLR was the BEST radio station. Between Smith & Barber & Stoneman, the best DJs around. What is Brian up to these days?
Shawn says
Morning show with Smith and Barber was fun to listen to from Long Island every morning. Many laughs
Barbara-Ann Lambo says
Not only do I remember u guys in Connecticut while I was on a lay over as a flight attendant in Tampa FL I freaked out when I heard the both of you on the radio…..?..Just saw Brian at Captains Cove…⛵
Brinks says
I worked at the sound company from 92 to 98 …
Good times ???
Lisa Nagy says
I was in a contest that WPLR had back in the mid 90’s. It was a race to get pregnant. The contest was 4 months long. We had to wright in on all the ways we tried to conceive. Needless to say, nobody actually became pregnant during the contest, but we won fantastic prizes. Dinners, a waterbed, a hotel stay, gift certificates and much more. It was an awesome period in my life and my husband and I never had so much fun. I can remember having to go to the station every month for a pregnancy test. I brought my urine in a baby bottle. lol
I was wondering if anyone had photos or video of any part of that contest. I can remember that we launched the contest at a hotel. There was a bed in the lobby and we were being fed oysters and ginseng beer while lying on the bed in our bathrobes. Memorable memories!
Thank you,
Lisa Nagy
Jeff D says
It was a sad and perplexing day in 2003 when I turned on WPLR in my car and heard not Smith & Barber but someone else. Thanks for the memories Bruce. You and Brian were great together and despite how much I still miss your old show, I’m delighted to hear that you’re loving life and doing well. As an aside, on an old cassette tape somewhere in my basement, I have the first time that Tubman (remember that guy?) called in to your show. Hilarious
Fletcher says
Many memories listening to you guys from long island really made the mornings enjoyable in my younger years.
Dave Valletta says
This sure brings back memories for me. We always had PLR on at the shop I worked. I heard every event, from the challenger crash, to L’ambiance Plaza, to 9/11 on your show. All the banter and music too. I used to call in from time to time. I was the Atlanta Braves fan that would harass Brian. Good times
Joe Fa says
Across the pond on L.I. Many a LI station was forsaken for the Smith &Barber morning show. Lotsa laughs! Thanks!!
Jeff says
I STILL use the term ” Plywood Gutter Weasel”….and I still hear ” Oh, Man …” every once in a while…. Great memories
Bob says
I loved listening to your show in late high school, college and all thru my 20s and early 30s. A lot of fond memories. I’ll never forget your “audio” of the drunk pilot who “crashed” with his wife in the plane 🙂
TK says
Cannot count just how many very late nights at work were made much more palatable by listening to Smith & Barber! It was 35 years ago, but still seems like last year that we delighted in the rantings of these two. And, who the hell could ever forget NUDE NITE- the very best show feature in the history of radio?!?! (Sure, some nights it “bombed”, but, that is what was best thing about this bit- the most fun came from the effort, not necessarily the results!) Best of all, one of my co-workers, Tom, was a P/T board op at the station- the stories made us feel like part of the WPLR family.
Michael Brockman says
I really miss you guys, no hosts in radio can compare to you IMO. Your sense of humor came very naturally and easy and didn’t seem forced or contrived like so many other personalities.
I first heard you when my Florida company, which was experiencing a slump, sent me up to Waterbury to help with the workload there for a few months. Loved you guys. Strange that when I was sent back to Florida, you were still on the air! Then, when the Florida facility finally did close, they moved me back to Ct., and there you were! Even though I felt you were good enough to be syndicated nationally, I knew you weren’t. It was just a happy coincidence. Now I hear your distinctive “golden honey toned” voice on NPR.
Herbert says
I just found several old VHS tapes of the original Star Trek taped from fox61. The whole thing was hosted by, wait for iiiiit, Smith and Barber!! Fun to go through these decades later. yes, I still have a VCR.
I miss the old Smith and Barber show. Best radio show ever, as far as I’m concerned.