WHOT 1330
“Hello there! This is your bearded buddy Bootsy reminding you that Sunday, August 29, 1971 is WHOT Day at Idora Park starring none other than David Cassidy. Advanced admission is $5 per person, and this ticket’s good for all the rides from 1 to 11 pm.”
Boots Bell on WHOT, counting down the hits of 1971
If you heard this over the radio you knew it was one of the best days of the summer. Idora Park hosted some great bands and if you worked at Idora Park, you were lucky enough to see them. Plus, if you were a guy, you knew there was going to be women there with short shorts and halter tops.
I really love WHOT Days because you could talk someone into taking your place during one of the concerts. Everyone had their favorites, and everyone would choose who they wanted to go see.
On my first WHOT Day, the first thing I remember is all the band starting to set up first thing in the morning they got there, probably around 10 o'clock.
In fact, the workers had to be there early, too. The first thing that I saw was a box truck coming up past the ballroom and a girl sitting on top of the cab with nothing on but a halter top and short-shorts—a sight I will never forget in my lifetime. And yes I am saying that with a smile.
Left End at Idora Park on WHOT Day, August 24, 1973
The park was really busy this day. We weren’t that busy on the games, but the concession stands were busy, and some of the rides especially the rides like Kooky Castle and the Wacky Shack. Let's be honest—those were the kind of places that people could hide in and smoke whatever they wanted to. It seemed like security was always down there trying to check them out.
So with Idora Park being so large, there was more room than security could completely handle, but there wasn't any trouble that security had to worry about outside of people smoking dope.
In fact to be honest, I worked at a couple of WHOT Days and I don't remember any trouble. That was one day that you definitely got to see all kinds of people at Idora Park, from leftover hippies walking around with their beads and raggedy clothes to girls in their teens who couldn't wait to see David Cassidy.
Today, WHOT is Hot 101, but when I was growing up, Boots Bell was one of “the Good Guys” on “WHOT 1330, your fun in the summer sun!”
Yes, indeedie-doodie-daddy. See you on the midway!