KLAC did a remote broadcast at Disneyland on a Saturday back in the late 1970’s. It was “KLAC Country Music Day” at Disneyland and there was Barbara Mandrell, Freddy Fender, Lynn Anderson, etc., bunch of great country acts. We broadcast from the Main Street train station all day starting at 7:00 am.
I was there (as the engineer in charge) at 4:30 am, in Disneyland, with no one else there except the guard. It was wonderful and spooky. The morning jock showed up at 5 and we set up the microphone, turntables, etc. and started broadcasting before the place opened at 9. Got free food, anything we wanted.
At that time I had a giant crush on singer Barbara Mandrell (and who didn’t?) She had a song on the charts I really loved called “Standing Room Only.” (Sample lyric: “You must think my bed’s a bus stop, the way you come and go…”)
Anyway, her tour bus pulled up in the morning along with all the rest and she came over to say hi (on the air). I was ga-ga at that point and I asked her during the commercial: “Will you sing Standing Room Only tonight?”
She said she would sing it just for me. Left me melting and the DJ with his mouth open. “What’s your secret?”
He needed to know but I had no idea. Maybe she liked my long hair. At any rate, in the afternoon we took the remote microphone pack and broadcast live FROM THE RIDES! That was about the best hour of my life. They cleared the lines for us, held the rides for us, and it was crowded..
That night, I was in the underground area (under Tomorrowland) where some of the stars were getting ready. I saw Freddy Fender (as related in an earlier post) and watched him go up the stage elevator to the “Tomorrowland Terrace” to perform. (You start playing at the bottom and the stage rises up, as those of you who know Dizzyland are aware).
I went up to to wait for Barbara’s band which was on the same elevator stage. Barbara came on with her band, did a few songs, sang a hit or two and then started “Standing Room Only.”
She caught sight of me at the side of the stage looking at her probably with my mouth hanging open and sang the entire song right to me. Looking at me the entire time. Man, could have died right there.
After it was over the caveman part of my brain thought that maybe, just maybe, you know, I had a chance. She saw me, gave me a kiss on the lips, looked at my expression and said (and I quote):
“You’re too young, honey.”
