Bandy's Revenge

Disk Jockey Bob Bandy of station WAPL, in Appleton, Wis., has always believed in direct action. In 1955 he walked through the streets in red underwear because the Braves lost the pennant. In 1958 he sat for 43 days atop the Hotel Balliet to promote a community youth center. Gaudy accomplishments, indeed --but would Bandy be ready when the really big challenge came his way?

It came last week. Howard Dorsey, president of KFMA in Davenport, Iowa, had offered Bandy a new job at what the disk jockey understood to be $250 a week (his old salary: $100). Bandy arrived at his new headquarters, found a note waiting for him: "Welcome to KFMA. We hope you like your salary." Enclosed was a check for $80.

This, thought Bob, was not the sum that had been Bandied about. So that noon, on his introductory show, he waited until the other station people had left, then locked one door, jammed a desk and filing cabinet against the other. On his turntable he placed a song called Only the Shadow Knows, which he had been warned was loathed by President Dorsey. For eight hours well-barricaded Disk Jockey Bandy played Only the Shadow Knows, interrupting it occasionally to comment heatedly on how he had been had. Citizens of Davenport smuggled in hamburgers and soft drinks.

Dorsey pleaded that all he had told Bandy was that he might eventually make $250. But with most of KFMA's listeners cheering him on, Marathoner Bandy won a raise to $110. Sighed Dorsey, cringing at the specter of hearing another eight hours of Only the Shadow Knows: "What the hell! I've got an FCC license to worry about."

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