Thank You, Walt Bodine

Walt's friends are a diverse group: from a lion to famous authors, Walt grilled them all and won their hearts in the process.

One of these folks is Senator Claire McCaskill, who recorded a special thank you message for Walt to congratulate him on his retirement and the years of service he provided to Kansas City:

Join us Tuesday morning for a special Walt Bodine Show from 2004, when Walt chats with fellow storyteller Ira Glass of This American Life about the ins and outs of radio journalism, and what happens when, inevitably, things go awry.

Enjoy this selected audio from the Walt Bodine Collection, courtesy of the Marr Sound Archives at the Miller Nichols Library of the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

Interview with Werner Von Braun

Broadcast discusses uses for rockets including military, space travel, visiting the moon, Von Braun youth, and his coming to America.

Walt Bodine has been a ubiquitous voice for Kansas City over the years, but he's also been a face as well. In these human-interest shorts that he did for KMBC starting in 1982, Walt reaches out to Kansas City by doing what he does best: telling stories and sharing information.

Enjoy this selected audio from the Walt Bodine Collection, courtesy of the Marr Sound Archives at the Miller Nichols Library of the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

Walt the Humorist

Walt discusses his stint writing gags for Harry O'Connor.

Enjoy this selected audio from the Walt Bodine Collection, courtesy of the Marr Sound Archives at the Miller Nichols Library of the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

Interview with Robert Kennedy

Robert Kennedy discusses his brother John F. Kennedy’s campaign for President and the various issues of the 1960 campaign. Richard W. Bolling, the Missouri Democratic Representative to U.S. Congress between 1949-1983, is also a guest.

Enjoy this selected audio from the Walt Bodine Collection, courtesy of the Marr Sound Archives at the Miller Nichols Library of the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

1981 Hyatt Regency Walkway Collapse

Presswatch Hyatt Regency walkway collapse edition (featuring our own Dan Verbeck)

Enjoy this selected audio from the Walt Bodine Collection, courtesy of the Marr Sound Archives at the Miller Nichols Library of the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

1968 Kansas City Riots April 9-11, 1968

The recording is from Thursday April 11, the third day of the 1968 Kansas City riots. Walt speaks with Jackson County Sheriff Arvid Owsley, Kansas City Mayor Ilus Davis and Jackson County Prosecutor Joe Teasdale. There is also a statement from Fred “The Hammer” Williamson.

Enjoy this selected audio from the Walt Bodine Collection, courtesy of the Marr Sound Archives at the Miller Nichols Library of the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

Edited by Lee Ingalls

Kansas City, MO – Recorded at the StoryCorps MobileBooth in Kansas City in 2006.

At StoryCorps recording booths across the country, friends and loved ones interview each other about their lives. In 2006, Tom Bodine brought his father and longtime KCUR radio host Walt Bodine in for an interview. Here, Walt tells Tom what he misses most about his loss of vision.

Kansas City – Tornadoes raked Kansas and Oklahoma a week ago, killing 5 people. But those storms were minor compared to the one that hit Kansas City on May 20th, 1957. The Ruskin Heights Tornado was among the most powerful ever recorded. It obliterated the new neighborhood that it's named for, and killed dozens of people. KCUR's Walt Bodine was there before the dust cleared.

Kansas City, Mo. – Westport High School is slated to close this spring after 103 years. KCUR's Walt Bodine attended classes there in the 1930s, when the school was relatively new, and affluent. A violent crime near a student hangout close to the school changed his life, and put him on the career path he's been on ever since. KCUR's Frank Morris spoke with him about his time at Westport High, starting with the impression that struck him, when he walked in the door for his first day of classes.

Kansas City, Mo. – KCUR's Walt Bodine spent the Great Depression working at his parents' drugstore in Kansas City. That family business placed Walt right in the thick of one of the wildest periods in the city's history. It also launched his broadcasting career... sort of. KCUR's Frank Morris spoke with Walt about that turbulent time, and the store, situated on a once dynamic, now blighted, corner in midtown.

Kansas City native and international funk singer Marva Whitney returns to the KCUR studios for a talk with Gina and Walt.

By The Walt Bodine Show, Dec 10, 2009

Ballet choreographer Todd Bolender spent his life in dance. In 1981, he was named Artistic Director of the Kansas City Ballet Company. He spent the remaining years of his life working to bring this form of dance to a wider midwestern audience.

Todd Bolender, a Retrospective
(The Walt Bodine Show, 10-12-09) The Kansas City Ballet is now dedicating the new Todd Bolender Center for Dance and Creativity in his honor. Tune in as we discuss Bolender's life and works, and the legacy he has left behind.