Bob Ancheta — KGON Legend and Paramount Manager
A Portland Paramount Experience
by Ken Thompson
Bob Ancheta, the “Big B.A.” was one of the Portland area’s most popular and influential radio disc-jockey’s, spinning sonic treasures beginning in 1970 at the maverick KVAN. In 1977, he moved on to mighty KGON, where he and his cohorts ruled the rock airwaves for years. He officially retired from broadcasting in 2011 after a long stint hosting the famous “Sunday Night Blues Room” show on KINK.
Bob also served as Stage Manager at the Paramount Northwest Theater during its glory days in the 1970s, where he witnessed some of rock’s best artists and the hi-jinx that went along with it during those unbridled times.
In 1998, Bob summoned his entrepreneurial spirit and combined it with his radio experience to become the founder of Internetjock.com, a unique web-based business back then, providing voice-over and commercial production services, utilizing local talent, to clients far and wide. Its success grew, and he retired in 2019, handing the business off to his capable and talented daughter Liz.
The Oregon Music Hall of Fame honored Bob in 2011 by inducting him, and celebrating his substantial contributions to the Oregon Music Industry.
Back at KVAN, Bob would close his show playing the last bit of the Beatles’ hit “The End.”
“And in the end
The love you take
Is equal to the love you make.”
Upon retirement, his parting words were, “I love what my life has been.” Indeed, he made a brilliant career spreading love and happiness through music to millions.
1.Name three of the best concerts you saw at the Paramount.
Bonnie Raitt with Muddy Waters opening. Robin Trower. Mountain with Montrose opening.
2. About those shows, what was most meaningful to you?
Bonnie was on a roll, always a sweet person to everybody, seeing Muddy for the last time. Mountain just rocked the house and Montrose with Sammy Hagar; Montrose was my favorite band at the time.
3.Quick, the first thing that enters your mind, what was your favorite experience at the Paramount?
Working with some great managers and crew, we were all young and could not believe we got paid to help run the shows.
4. What was the craziest experience?
The Paramount was built in 1928, and it was an old building. One night water was running down the theatre walls after some rain, we went to the top of the balcony and climbed a ladder and found that the roof was a swimming pool, we had to wade into the water and clear those drains. A dangerous situation had that roof collapsed.
5.What was the best ridiculous request ever from a Paramount performer?
Foghat requested RC Cola in their dressing room, but they got Coke. They told me they would not play (a sold-out show) unless their request were honored. I talked to the theatre manager, and he told me to tell them not to play then. They gave in.
6.Give us your best Rush story.
Rush at the time traveled in a mobile home from Canada. They had to pay very steep fees to bring the mobile home into the US, so they asked me to license it to my home in Oregon. So I did, and eventually, parking tickets from all over the US showed up at my home. So Rush’s next time in Portland was in the Coliseum. After the show, I met Geddy, and he reached into his pocket and paid me cash for all the tickets. They were very grateful.
7.Who owned the Paramount? Were there any interesting behind-the-scenes players?
The owners were Norm Valatan and Ulysses Lewis, and they also owned the Paramount in Seattle. Michael McManus and Ed Twaits were the Theatre Managers.
8.Back in the KVAN/KGON days, how was it determined which songs were played by the DJ’s?
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At KVAN, it was free form radio, and we played whatever was right; it was so much fun when you could be creative and follow your gut. KGON at the time had a card box of songs you could play; it was loose but was also formatted.
9. What’s your advice for up-and-coming rockstars?
Stay true to your sound, don’t copy other bands’ music, be original.
10.How’s Internetjock going?
I started Internetjock.com in 1998, and it was the best decision I ever made. It was a tough first five years (I called it the Top Ramen Years). Today we have over 200 voice over artists around the world and five people who run the company. I retired in 2019, and my daughter Elizabeth runs the company
11.What do you think of the current Portland music scene?
Portland has always had a great music scene. The late ’70s and ’80s were the best times, most bands had no problem getting a gig, and most of all, the people came out even on weekdays. I’m so sad that is not the case today because of Covid.
12.Name three favorite figures in the Portland music business.
David Leiken at Double Tee Concerts and the Roseland Theatre. Tom Lasley with Meier & Frank tickets and GI Joe’s tickets. Iris Harrison at KGON and Dave Rogoway at KISN.
13. What are three of the best bands ever from Portland?
Johnny & The Distractions, Dan Reed Network and Sequel.
14. If you could have personally witnessed anything in Portland Music history, what would it be?
Not sure, I thought I saw it all.
15.What are three favorite Portland concerts, NOT at the Paramount?
Beatles, Pink Floyd,and Queen.
16.Since you are from Portland, on a scale from 1–10, how weird are you, and why?
I would say 8. You had to be different to survive the music biz. I believed after learning from other radio people that you had to be original to get noticed. My neighborhood kids nicked named me the Big BA, and it stuck.
17.Who are your hero’s in real life?
The KISN Good Guys, as a child, I would take the bus downtown and walk to the KISN corner and grab the latest super hit survey every Wednesday and stared into the window from the lobby and watched and learned from the DJ on the air.
18.What do you like most about yourself?
That I helped launch other people’s radio careers, I was never selfish and felt I needed to pass along my experience to others.
19.What do you do on a Saturday afternoon?
I spend time at my beach house in Rockaway Beach or my place at Lake Merwin Campers Hideaway.
20.What’s your idea of a perfect Portland day?
Seventy-five degrees Sunny and no Covid.
21.Name a couple of songs you’d include on the soundtrack to your life.
The Beatle’s “The End” and UFO’s “Love to Love.”
22.What is the best compliment that you have received?
In the early days before the internet, someone said, “You don’t look like you sound.”
23.What would you like the world to know about you?
I love people, and today I miss many friends I have lost in radio and through friendships.
