SUZANNE CHESSLER •
SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS

Purtan's People

include three

Jewish guys

with multiple

morning voices.

orning radio personality Dick Purtan has gation Beth Abraham choir and in theater People Playhouse in a live show. Our listen-
no problem explaining why he appreciates programs as a student at Mumford High ers come out and really try to pick out who
the three Jewish humorists on his drive- School, he enrolled in more practical studies does which voice, but they're never right."
Dr. Lawson likes to tell people Dick Pur-
at the University of Michigan, majoring in
time program.
tan discovered him at a soda fountain — Cun-
"We have some people on the show who business.
About five years after college, he pursued ningham's at Northland. Actually, his
can't read at all, so it's nice to have people
introduction to radio came from writing for
who can read from right to left as well as stage opportunities after working hours.
PHOTO BY GLENN TRIEST a friend, a college disc jockey Who
left to right," the popular broad-
went on to work at a Canadian sta-
caster jokes.
tion.
Mr. Purtan is talking about
"When Dick came to town in the
WKQI music director Fred Buchal-
'60s, I immediately became a big fan
ter, physician Larry Lawson and
of the show," said Dr. Lawson, 48,
advertising agency owner Alan
who graduated from Wayne State
Muskovitz. In their multiple ethnic
University. "It seemed to have the
and non-ethnic roles presented be-
kind of material I had been doing. I
tween 5 and 10 a.m., they are among
presented some lines and voices to
10 sometime actors known as Purtan's
Dick, and he started using them.
People.
"I thought I was most capable
Sometimes at the station and some-
with the writing, and the voices just
times over the phone, Purtan's People
followed. I write the characters, the
add witty and timely commentary be-
editorials and the lines, and the voic-
tween the adult contemporary record-
es become the vehicle for delivering
ings played on 95.5 FM. Their
them.
schedules can be as random as current
`The voice that's become most fun
events.
to do is the one associated with the
Mr. Buchalter, a 13-year, full-time
Krapco commercial because it's a
employee at the station, often becomes
loud, booming, newsman- sounding
Manny Schewitz, the staff caterer, a
voice."
role created after his success with Bud
Dr. Lawson credits a humorous
Weiser.
family for helping instill his talents -
Dr. Lawson speaks as the Story
as he was growing up. Married, with
Lady, Wendell Ledbetter and the an-
a son and daughter in college, he re-
nouncer of Krapco commercials, while
ports that his wife and youngsters
Mr. Muskovitz acts as Woody Allen,
help out by highlighting newspaper
Jimmy Carter, Ted Kennedy, Bill Clin-
articles that lend themselves to sil-
ton and a stream of celebrities includ-
ly takeoffs.
ing Mickey Mouse and Kermit the
Before Mr. Muskovitz joined Pur-
Frog:
tan's People, he and Dr. Lawson
"These characters open the door for
lived two blocks apart but did not
other people to offer comments," said
know each other. They have since
Mr. Purtan, who selects jokesters af-
become walking buddies.
ter listening to their tapes and meet-
"I was on a work-release program
ing with individuals who seem to have
and
joined the station," Mr.
fresh approaches.
Muskovitz, 40, joked about his initi-
"I look for people who are funny Dick Purtan with his "People": Fred Buchalter, Alan Muskovitz and Larry
ation into radio, which actually came
without being overbearing. They have Lawson.
about through a close family friend,
to be good off the cuff and know how
While a producer of industrial films, com- TV2 newscaster Sherry Margolis. She called
to deliver a line. Some of the voices are their
mercials and short subjects, he began win- someone she knew at the station and then
own ideas, and some are ours."
Fred Buchalter worked at the station for ning roles with local companies including the challenged Mr. Muskovitz to submit a tape.
"I'd always done voices and a lot of kib-
six months before Dick Purtan joined the Michigan Opera Theatre, Meadow Brook
itzing
for family and friends," said Mr.
Theatre
and
the
Henry
Ford
Museum
The-
staff.
Muskovitz, who studied communication arts
"My first association with Dick was do- atre.
His work at the station began as an in- at Michigan State University. "Ever since I
ing production and helping out on the show,"
said Mr. Buchalter, 45, whose roster of char- ternship that grew into administrative re- was a little kid, I was always imitating and
mimicking. It's almost my natural response
sponsibilities.
acters includes Hans of Hans and Franz.
"A great deal of what we do on the morn- to things.
"I filled in doing news and sports, with voic-
"I have two favorite characters. I like Mor-
es coming later. Because I had done a lot of ing show is very spontaneous," said Mr.
dialects in theater for many years — Yiddish, Buchalter, who is single. "Dick's show is very rie Lopez, the former mayor of Miami, be-
British, German — Dick would ask me to tell topical. He gets most of his ideas for mater- cause it's so easy to get ideas from my past
and observations on my trips to Boca Raton.
ial from the newspapers.
the Jewish jokes.
I
also like Professor Horkman, the Wayne
"When
I
get
here
in
the
morning,
I'll
wan-
"One day, I thought we should create a
character who could tell all these kinds of der into the studio. If something is happen- State scholar I've created as a takeoff on Jer-
jokes, and I came up with Manny Schewitz. ing in the news that relates to one of my ry Lewis' Nutty Professor."
When Mr. Muskovitz prepares a new voice
We tried it and have been doing it ever since." characters, I'll be asked to stay around. I
rarely
know
ahead
of
time.
Although Mr. Buchalter was interested in
"The fun thing for me is doing a Purtan's ZANNY WITS page R49
musical performance, as part of the Congre-