FAQ: DR. DEMENTO SHOW, DFSX, and OTHER MATTERS

Q: How did I get hooked on Demento?

A: It was in August 1978 and I usually listened to that rock station that I
don't want to name that I used to like that played good rock and roll of
60s and 70s, and one day, I was bored with the Jeffersons reruns on CBS, so
I flipped off the TV, which I rarely do early, and turned on the rock station
I listen to.

Lo and behold, there wasn't any Rolling Stones, Who, Eddie Money, Van Halen,
Led Zeppelin, etc, no, I heard Tom Lehrer, Wildman Fischer, Barnes and Barnes,
Fred Blassie, and Hank Stu Dave and Hank.

Yes, I discovered and got hooked on Dr. Demento's syndicated show. The rest
as they say is history.


Q: How did I get started with my Demento Reports?
(note: D.T. no longer does the Dr. Demento Reports as of November 1999)

A: It was back in August 1993 when that LA station that I don't have to
mention dumped the Doctor and up until July of the next year, Los Angeles,
Orange, Riverside, and San Bernadino counties didn't have any way to know
what new demented songs were coming out, or if the Doctor was still doing his
show (only a low-powered station in Carlsbad carried the show at that time).

So, knowing that Compuserve had the most subscribers, I thought that I would
post my Demento Reports beginning in November 1993 in the Showbiz Forum in the
radio section. I got several thank yous for doing so, several of whom renewed
their Demento Society subscriptions, and a few flames saying they sucked. But
I did keep LA informed and asked them to redistribute the reports freely at
their own expense. 

Finally, it was June 1994 and a radio station KLITE 101.9 was changing its
format and Gary Lycan, radio columnist of the Orange County Register newspaper
broke out the scoop that the Dr. was coming there to do his live show there
beginning July 3, 1994 with special catch-up editions for LA listeners only
with the funny five songs they missed in the 11 years there. 

I still posted the Demento Reports and as of the eighth month I was doing it,
I heard from dozens of listeners in other parts of America and beyond who
thought he quit the show years, even decades ago. So, the habit got stuck and
I posted them in Showbiz Forum until the end of the year. Read the next
paragraph why.



Q: How did I discover a certain dementia newsgroup?

A: I just subscribed to the Delphi Internet Services for internet access,
in 1994. I was playing around with the menus about the alt. and rec. newsgroups and
when I looked at the list of newsgroups, I saw it there.

So I subscribed to it and looked it up and there was indeed a newsgroup for
demented music fans. So, I decided to post my Demento Reports there as well
as Compuserve. The newsgroup developed a more popular following when the
Doctor began announcing the newsgroup every week on his radio show. 



Q: Are you Dr. Demento?

A: No.

Q: Will you please send me your tapes (and MP3s) of Dr. Demento Shows. 
I promise to pay $$$. 

A: Sorry, I can't do that. Talonian Productions owns the rights to the
broadcasts and I cannot sell any shows of Dr. Demento that I have.

1. First off, most of the material on Dr. Demento's Show are either
copyrighted or at least owned by the performers whose tapes and CDs are
played on the show. To do so may cheat them out of any royalties they are
entitled to.

2. Second, the show itself is distributed by Talonian Productions and
reserves all rights to distribute and sell the show. It is intended for the
private use of its audience and any resale of the show for profit making
purposes is prohibited. I don't have the official wording by Talonian 
Productions, but this rule applies to other radio shows as well as TV programs.

3. Third, most of the material is already available either by Dr. Demento's
collection by Rhino, the artists themselves by phone or mail, comedy
records by other labels, or Dr. Demento's Basement Tapes series available
ONLY IF you're a member of the Demento Society. 

4. and Fourth, I simply do not have the resources to dub tapes and give
them away for free. Even if Talonian lets me do it for non-profit purposes, it
isn't worth my time as spending an hour working at McDonald's for minimum
wage is more profitable to me than dubbing tapes for free. It costs me
money in investment of a hi-fi VCR, a few cassette decks with Dolby units,
good quality casse


Q: You've got a degree and you're great with the web sites---why not parlay
that into a consulting service to advertising agencies, newspapers,
television stations, Dr. Demento's syndication of stations, etc, etc,etc? 
If you do what you love, you'll be successful at it. Seems to me--this is
what you love, turn it into money!

A: Can anyone help?



Q: How was it working for Greg Morris?

A: Uh, you got me confused with Dan Tanna of "Vegas". 


Q: Why don't you put the labels on your album lists with tracks?

A: I simply don't have the time or the room to put everything on them.


Q: Can you send me Jeff Morriss's web site stuff by e-mail? I cannot access
his web site. 

A: Sorry, I cannot send you somebody else's stuff. You'll have to e-mail
him directly. 


Q: Do you live in Los Angeles, if not, do you have someone send you tapes
of his L.A. Demento shows?
(this was the answer as of 1995)

A: No. I have a car radio hooked up to a 12volt converter in my house.  It
seems that car radios pick up FM signals better than home receivers I tried
and returned. I use an Optima directional indoor antenna to pick up the
weak 2400 watt signal from Glendale. Not to mention, I can also get KJLH,
Power 106, KIIS-FM, KBIG, The Wave (what used to be KMET), and about a
couple dozen others from north up to Santa Barbara.

More about radios and antennas from this e-mail:

"You asked about good radios and antennas.  Here is a website that has
some stuff I can't vouch for:

   http://www.ccrane.com/radiomnu.htm

"I would buy the 17-foot-long outdoor antenna if my landlord would let me
install it.  I used a 1986ish Carver "The Receiver" when I was get KSEG
Sacramento from Cupertino, 90 to 100 miles away.  It does some signal
processing of the FM signal to try to get near-mono fidelity while
preserving some stereo separation."

Toodles