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Friends Detail

Friend : Art Bell (W6OBB)

Did not know Art, but he was a very interesting guy. His radio show "Coast to coast AM" was on many radio stations late at night. His story is all over the internet. RIP Art.

Contributed by : Ron Goldstein (K2NS)

Friend : Art Bell (W6OBB)

Back in the 90's when Art did Coast To Coast AM live five nights a week it wasn't unusual for him to plug amateur radio and the informal 75 meter fone net he frequented. Almost every night he'd finish the show then jump on 75 until the propagation called it quits near daybreak. Mostly a west coast net, I made a brief Q with Art once but have to admit the net itself was a series of long pauses as most nights it was 6 - 8 stations keeping each other awake for no better reason than they could.

Art did not rehash the radio show and the net wasn't about things that go bump in the night. I think Art realized a fair share of what his broadcast guests had to offer was of questionable value but it did pass the time, sold books and filled advertising slots on hundreds of AM stations at a time when FM was becoming the preferred radio outlet.

You'll hear it said the popularity of conservative AM talk radio was due in part to the abundance of AM stations with more air time than programming to fill that time. Playing records had moved to FM years before and wasn't coming back. The same can be said in part of Art Bell but instead of plowing the same rut as the hucksters of hate he chose the least desirable portion of a broadcast day and found a way to make it pay. Low cost satellite distribution combined with a big share of a limited audience tipped the scales in favor of sustainability for the show.

And, if Art had one talent, it was in knowing when to shut up and get out of the way of a guest with a good story to tell.... There were more than a few nights when you had to wonder if there was a grain of truth in that story.

Contributed by : Nelson Derks (AC5UP)

Friend : Art Bell (W6OBB)

I was a regular listener to Coast to Coast AM with Art Bell from the late 1980's until his retirement. I would chime in with the 3.840 bunch and talked to Art occasionally after his show was over. I have a qsl card of his in my collection and several of his books. He did have the gift of gab and while I didn't believe every topic of his, he was entertaining. R.I.P Art.

Contributed by : M. Todd Miskel (KT0DD)

Friend : Art Bell (W6OBB)

Used to love the Art Bell Show for years on AM radio. Now it's
Coast to Coast with George, but Art started it all, rest in peace
Art.

Contributed by : Kit Rosenlund (KG6PHS)

Friend : Art Bell (W6OBB)

Met him at a vegas hamfest years ago. Nice guy, class act. One of the best voices in radio.

RIP Art, get all the answers to all the questions.

Contributed by : Jacquet B. Lewis (K4PIH)

Friend : Art Bell (W6OBB)

RIP fellow ham operator, his radio show was
strange but interesting.

Contributed by : Bruno Gallizzi (W6USC)

Friend : Art Bell (W6OBB)

I enjoyed his show while he was doing it and listening to him on 3840.

Contributed by : Stephen Paul Mitchell (K7CB)

Friend : Art Bell (W6OBB)

Art was a great guy. I used to see him at DX club meetings. My sincerest condolences to his family.

Semper Fi,

Tommy - K6YE
DX IS and CW RULES

Contributed by : TOMMY L. HALIBURTON, SR. (K6YE)

Friend : Art Bell (W6OBB)

May the force be with you Art!! A one in a trillion guy, we are fortunate to have had him in the Amateur Radio Fraternity.

Contributed by : TOM UHLAND (K7THU)

Friend : Art Bell (W6OBB)

I was an over-the-road trucker for over 40 years. Tuned in Art Bell more times than I can count. He kept me awake many hours. RIP

Contributed by : Dalton G. Boehm (AD9GB)

Friend : Art Bell (W6OBB)

I will miss you Art, RIP. I enjoyed your show
and respected how you treated your guests and
callers. You gave me many hours of great
entertainment. I wish I could have talked to
you on the ham bands. May God comfort your
family and friends at this time.

Contributed by : Dean Calvin (N8YA)

Friend : Art Bell (W6OBB)

RIP Art. You were a class act and I loved you radio
show.

Contributed by : James Chaggaris (N9WW)

Friend : Art Bell (W6OBB)

Sorry, I missed this, I used to listen to Art
late at night on "Coast to coast AM," he
really made you think about the, "Stranger
than Science stuff," I, huh, we, will miss you
OM. Gary, W7DO

Contributed by : Gary A. Martek (W7DO)

Friend : Art Bell (W6OBB)

I was camping in Sequoia National Park and
got on 75m SSB one evening, and there he was
in a roundtable with several others.
So I made a fast contact with him to say
hello, and later on exchanged QSL's with him.
He had an impressive antenna system at his
home in Pahrump Nevada, I drove by to see it
once.

Contributed by : David Bartholomew (AD7DB)

Friend : Art Bell (W6OBB)

Listened to his show many evenings. He will
be missed.

Contributed by : Billy R Jones (N5EVD)

Friend : Art Bell (W6OBB)

New Art for many years. Many fond memories.

Contributed by : Victor Hart (K5VAH)

Friend : Art Bell (W6OBB)

I was operating 75M phone one night while
in the high desert outside of Tehachapi,
CA. After finishing my QSO a huge booming
voice came on and called me, it was Art
Bell.
He said "Do you Know who I am?"
I only knew a little of his theories and
such that he broadcast and was famous for
(or infamous depending on who you talk
to!).
I replied yes, I knew a little of his
broadcast career, actually I knew a ham
that was obsessed with listening to him
but I didn't let him know that.
We had a short chat about our signals (+40
over S9 due to the short distance and
obviously he was running real power) and I
commented that his audio sounded like a
broadcast station (probably more than 20
dB compression and a bass boost of +6 dB)
and he complemented me on my signal and
the QSO was over.
I wish I had given more time to the QSO
that night, you know hams like to get a
sig report and move on, sometimes its a
real pity that we don't try to get to know
more about the person on the other end!
73 Art! de W6MTF

Contributed by : Reid Brandon (W6MTF)

Friend : Art Bell (W6OBB)

Contributed by : JOHN DOE (RADI0HEAD)

Friend : Art Bell (W6OBB)

He had a very deep nice vocal sound, I talked
to Bill 1 or 2 times.
RIP Bill

Contributed by : GIDEON (KC6WGN)

Friend : Art Bell (W6OBB)

After hosting his all-night talk radio show, Art would then
move over to his ham station and work his friends on 75
meter phone. He had a monster loop antenna at his
Pahrump, NV station, and his signal could be heard all over
the U.S. I was always tempted to try to work him, but never
did...sadly...

Contributed by : Ray Stilwell (WA4MLD)

Friend : Art Bell (W6OBB)

Art would spend all night hosting his guests and fielding
talk-show callers, then move to his ham station and work his
friends on 75 meters till dawn. He had a monster loop
antenna at his Nevada location that seemed to cover the
entire US. Always wanted to join the group, but never felt
quite ready to run with the big ones...oh well...

Contributed by : Ray Stilwell (WA4MLD)

Friend : Art Bell (W6OBB)

I used to talk to Art after his show was over on 3.840 before it became a real "trash" frequency. He was always polite and willing to talk if he wasn't busy. I have several of his autographed books and a QSL card from him. I missed him when he left the airwaves, both broadcast and Ham. R.I.P. Art.

Contributed by : M. Todd Miskel (KT0DD)

Friend : Art Bell (W6OBB)

I was a police officer in Northern Illinois
and spent many nights listening to Art on
Coast to Coast AM. He is genuinely missed.

RIP ART

Contributed by : Honest John (KM4DPW)

Friend : Art Bell (W6OBB)

Both Jim Quinn W3VEX and Art [who were in broadcast radio as well as amateurs] are among my earliest contacts. I never cared for Art's Coast-to-Coast subject matter, but on the amateur bands he was one of the nicest guys to ever key a mic, and there were few people who were more fun to talk to. The only time he was anything less than a model operator is when he had to deal with that problematic west coast operator better left unnamed. He was a true gentleman and he will be missed.

Contributed by : (PITSWL)

Friend : Art Bell (W6OBB)

I did not know Art personally but I talked to him once on 75m and listened to his radio show for years. There will never be another radio guy like Art Bell. Rest in peace my friend.

Contributed by : David Whaley (NT9E)

Friend : Art Bell (W6OBB)

I started listening to Art Bell noctural shows circa 1992. Most of his topics were thought-provoking and piqued my curiosity when those issues were pertaining to sciences, social issues, politics, history, philosophy etc. However, whenever he chose to discuss vacuous and unsubstantiated matters such as supernatural agencies, UFO or conspiracy theories, I simply switched to another radio station.
He exuded an aura of sub-rosa during his shows. He was somehow enigmatic, compartmented and convoluted like someone with an incubus.

Contributed by : Pierre F. Lherisson (KC2JWF)

Friend : Art Bell (W6OBB)

I spent many a night listening to Art's
stories. Sometimes improbable, but ALWAYS
entertaining!!!

Contributed by : David Lewton (KJ0L)

Friend : Art Bell (W6OBB)

When talk radio was the "thing" in the 90's, Art was already and estabished icon among the genre. He had a very distintive voice for radio and a manner of dealing with people even the far out types he interviewed with a sense of fairness. Many tried to mimic his style but none really could. He was also a good judge of character and that is so lacking in the radio and TV world now. Its all about ratings

Contributed by : Greg Danes (KJ4DGE)

Friend : Art Bell (W6OBB)

I used to listen to his program back in 1998 to Coast to Coast
when I used to drive at night in IL. and IN. When I moved
back to Phoenix I would listen to him on 3840 KHz with Jim
in Burbank. Never really introduced myself because I might
have been Star Struck of Art. His personallity and voice really
struck me. I do miss him and May His Soul Rest in Peace...

Contributed by : Ronny Bolsega (KG7A)

Friend : Art Bell (W6OBB)

Worked in commercial radio in Nevada during the 1980's and used to listen to the original Coast-to-Coast AM with Art Bell while I was on the overnight shift in Reno at KOH Radio. I realized Art's following was due to his ability to moderate the program without taking sides which seemed to lend a certain degree of credibility to the program. Loved the enigmatic Art Bell for decades afterward!

Contributed by : Brent Davenport (N7NBC)

Friend : Art Bell (W6OBB)

Speaking as a broadcaster who admired Art's ability to deliver superb content on the air, he was unique! I loved to listen to him on 75 meters after his show.

Art paved the way for late night talk radio. He was a gentleman and a true pro!

Contributed by : Lauren D. Libby (W0LD)

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Friend's CallsignW6OBB
Friend's NameArt Bell
Date Deceased2018-04-13
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