>> [Blank on Blank intro]
>> Larry King: All these tales, any of the stories were not funny
when they were happening.
I was scared to death going to the principal’s office.
Having firemen come running in when you’re asleep on the air.
Scared to death.
The night I went to the lady’s house.
I mean,
I was petrified.
>> [Music: Sunsearcher “Latin Rhythm”]
>> Larry King: I’d been in radio two weeks.
I was 23 years old.
And I did everything because I did sports, I did news, I did disc jockey.
And one day—they knew I was a glutton, because “Larry will do it”—
and the station manager calls and says, “The all-night guy is sick.
Would you like to fill in tonight?”
“Sure!
No problem.”
>> [Music: “Latin Rhythm” continues]
>> Larry King: Now I’m in the station all alone.
It was a small station.
I’ll never forget this:
I’m playing these records, and the phone rings and I pick it up and say, “WAHR”
and this lady’s voice—I can still hear her voice—
she goes, “I want you.”
[Laughter]
I go, “What did you say?”
“I said I want you.”
And I said to myself: there’s a couple of extra pluses to being in this business.
So I said—the immediate thing, I swear to god—“I get off at six!”
She says, “Naw, that won’t do.
I’ve got to go to work.
You gotta come now.”
I said, “But I’m on the air.”
She says, “I’m only 12 blocks from the station.
Here’s my address.
If you can make it, please.
I really want you.”
Hangs up.
I got her address.
I’m the only one in station.
So here’s what the audience heard:
“Ah folks, I’m only sitting in tonight, so I’ve got a real treat for you.
You’re going to hear the entire Harry Belafonte at Carnegie Hall album uninterrupted.
I had 33 minutes, which is all the time I needed.
To this day that’s still true.
>> [Music: Harry Belafonte “Jamaica Farewell”]
>> Larry King: So I put the record on.
I get in the car, I swear to god.
I rushed to her house 11 blocks away.
I pull into her house.
The light is on.
The Volkswagen was in the driveway.
She said the door would be open.
The door was open.
She was sitting— She wore a white negligee.
I never saw her face clear.
The little lamp was on.
>> [Music: “Jamaica Farewell” continues]
>> Larry King: The radio was on.
Belafonte’s singing.
She opens up her arms.
I run into her arms.
I put my arms— My cheek goes against her cheek, and on the radio Belafonte is singing
"Jamaica Farewell."
“Down the way where the nights—”
>> [Music: “Jamaica Farewell” continues: “Down the way where the nights—where the
nights—where the nights—”]
>> Larry King: “Where the nights—where the nights—” The record gets stuck.
I push her back.
I jump in the car.
I drive to the station.
And this is Jewish masochism:
I keep the radio on.
“Where the nights—where the nights—where the nights— where the nights—” and I
was petrified.
I come back.
All the phones are ringing.
I’m apologizing to people.
And the last call I never forgot.
An old Jewish guy.
“WAHR” and I hear this guy go, “Where the nights—where the nights.
I’m going crazy.
I’m going crazy.”
I said, “Sir, I apologize.
Why didn’t you change the station?”
He says, “I’m an invalid.
They set the station for me on top of
the bureau and I can’t reach it.”
>> [Music: “Jamaica Farewell” continues to end]