Talent: GARY GEARS
Station: WLS Chicago
Date: January 21, 1970
Time: 30:36 (unscoped)
14:03 (scoped)

"For Mid-America, the Chicago Giant"

He had a big voice, and a talent to match.

Gears spent most his career in Chicago, with stints at WCFL, WLS, WIND, WJEZ, WJJD, WKQX, WMAQ, WRQX and WDAI (where he was known as Gary Wallace.) He served in the U.S. Armed Forces and was heard on AFN Vietnam. After he left the service, Gears jocked in Minneapolis-St. Paul and then moved to KQV Pittsburgh before heading to Chicago. He also appeared on KISN Portland, Oregon, KOIL Omaha, Nebraska, and also served as the voice of WLS-TV news in Chicago.

Gears would occasionally would fly up to Toronto to do weekend shifts on 1050. He would also record liners during his Toronto visits (he was the imaging voice of CHUM for a couple of years.)

In addition to being a jock, Gears was a top commercial voice, appearing in spots for Sears Auto Centers, Tuna Helper, Dial Soap, Cheer and many others. He was also did the "Ho Ho Hos" on the Green Giant commercials.

Gears died of a heart attack February 17, 1991. He was 46.

Also heard on this aircheck is long-time WLS news voice Jeffrey Hendrix, who spent 31 years at the station ending with his retirement in 1999.

Enjoy Gary Gears on WLS (UNSCOPED) here. 

Enjoy Gary Gears on WLS (SCOPED) here. 
 

(The Don Shuttleworth Collection)


More 1970 airchecks here!