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'The 100 Greatest Events in the History of the Automotive Industry' on 570 KLIF

8 December 1999

'The 100 Greatest Events in the History of the Automotive Industry' on 570 KLIF

    DALLAS, Dec. 8 -- It's been called "The American Century."
The last 100 years have been a time of dynamic economic growth.  When the
century started, we were a nation made up primarily of farmers.  Just 45 years
later, fueled by the automobile and the men that created the industry, America
was transformed into the world's superpower.  By focusing on manufacturing
consumer goods powered by oil, instead of coal-fired products for industrial
use, the automobile industry created a legacy of supremacy for America that is
second to none.
    On New Year's Day, Dallas/Fort Worth radio station 570 KLIF will present a
10-hour celebration chronicling America's fascination and allegiance to the
automobile industry.  In production for more than a year, this unique show
will feature the "Top 100" stories from the automobile industry whose impact,
viewed from both sociological and industrial standpoints, changed the
historical course of our nation.
    The vignettes will be voiced by a variety of local and national
personalities.  Among those who will be appearing on the January 1 show:  Fox
Sports Announcer Pat Summerall, actor Lou Diamond Phillips, former Miss
America and TV anchor Gretchen Carlson, singer B.J. Thomas, country-singer
Charlie Pride, country-singer Janie Fricke, syndicated columnist Lt. Col.
David Hackworth, Executive Editor of Car and Driver magazine Steve Cole Smith,
and character actors Norm Alden and Burton Gilliam.  Additionally, news
anchors from the major TV stations and popular radio morning show hosts from
across North Texas will lend their voice talents.  In most cases, the
vignettes will be scored to the original popular music from the period in
which the story takes place.
    The program's writer, producer and host is Ed Wallace.  Host of 570 KLIF's
popular automotive talk show "Wheels," Wallace is also the automotive expert
for KDFW TV Dallas/Fort Worth and a contributing writer for Car and Driver
magazine.  In developing the "Top 100" list Wallace received information from
428 surveys sent to automotive writers, broadcast professionals, automotive
dealers in North Texas, and show listeners.
    Although most Americans have had an enduring love affair with the
automobile, few realize ...

    -- The five-day work week was the result of lagging sales for the Model T.
    -- The Ford Motor Company created radio navigation for the airline
       industry.
    -- America's first car salesmen were race car drivers.
    -- A woman was at the wheel of the first "long distance" automobile drive.
    -- The largest migration in American history (15 million strong) involved
       the automobile, not the covered wagon.
    -- The state of California stopped the Atomic Energy Commission from using
       nuclear weapons to clear space for the Interstate Highway system in the
       Bristol Mountain range.
    -- The "drive-in" movie was the result of a local gas station's attempt to
       sell more fuel at night.
    -- One luxury company was started because its founder was fired from
       General Motors for insisting that GM contribute to the war effort
       during WWI.
    -- The Volkswagen Beetle was the result of a stolen design.
    -- The "coffee-break" was originated by an American luxury car company
       that wanted to improve car quality on Monday's and Friday's.
    -- Louis Chevrolet quit his own car company because he refused to give up
       smoking.
    -- The Japanese automobile industry survived because of "too many
       communists and not enough gas."
    -- Once worth millions, the inventor of hydraulic brakes died on welfare
       while panning for gold in the 1950s in Northern California.
    -- Henry Ford's assembly line theory brought about "areas of specialty"
       for medical doctors.
    -- Ford blamed its Edsel failure on the launch of Sputnik.
    -- One new car was so popular, more than 25 million people went to see it
       the first week it was on the market.

    Listen for details on these and many other fascinating stories about the
automobile industry and its many contributions to American society.  This
celebration of the "American Century" may well be the longest pre-written,
pre-recorded single radio program since Marconi invented the wireless.
    "The 100 Greatest Events in the History of the Automotive Industry" will
air New Year's Day from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. (CST).  The program will also be
offered worldwide on the Internet as the featured show of the day at
Broadcast.com.