Radio Legend Art Bell to Announce Retirement

[ghostie79]

Radio Legend Art Bell to Announce Retirement
Wed Oct 23, 8:40 PM ET
By Sue Zeidler

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Radio host Art Bell, famed for his lengthy discussions on creepy conspiracy theories, will announce his retirement on air in the wee hours of Thursday, his syndicator Premiere Radio Networks Inc. said on Wednesday.



Plagued with ongoing back problems, Bell, 57, will name guest host George Noory, 52, as his successor during his overnight radio show, "Coast to Coast AM."


The popular show, which has developed a cult following and is touted as the most listened to overnight radio program in the country, features Bell offering insights on anything from UFO sightings to FBI (news - web sites) conspiracy theories and crop circles.


The program was created by Bell in 1993 and currently airs on 525 stations nationwide live from 1-6 a.m. ET, according to Premiere, a subsidiary of Clear Channel Communications Inc. , the nation's largest radio broadcaster.


This is not the first time Bell -- who plans to serve as an occasional guest host -- has left the air.


He returned to the air in February 2001 following a lengthy absence after being falsely accused of child molestation.


Bell announced he would depart to tend to his son, who had been molested, according to reports, but the host found himself in the middle of a firestorm when another radio announcer incorrectly suggested on air that Bell himself had been charged with the crime.


Bell's teen-age son had been abducted and molested by one of his high school teachers and Bell had refused to discuss the sensitive issue on the air, according to reports.


The teacher was later convicted and sentenced to prison, according to reports.


"Coast to Coast AM" will continue its current broadcast schedule, which features Bell for three nights, Noory for three nights and host Barbara Simpson for one night until Dec. 31, 2002.


As of January 1, Noory will host the show five nights a week, with Simpson hosting on weekends.

Since 1997, Noory has been the host of a late-night program in St. Louis, which is similar to "Coast to Coast AM."

Known as "the Nighthawk," listeners have regularly tuned in to hear Noory discuss unexplained phenomena, Premiere said.

[bassmount]

OMG, I am now in mourning! I wish he would have named Barbara Simpson the new host instead of George Noory. I like her subjects SOOOOO much better than George.

It just won't be the same without Art!

[MariB]

I hope Art changes his mind, durn it. One of my town's radio stations used to carry his show, but switched to tapes of a daytime show done by a brainless but nevertheless opinionated local woman with the most annoying voice ever to shatter the airwaves. I finally found a distant station that carries his show..not the best reception, but good enough to listen.

George is ok but I agree with you, bassmount. Barbara is more to my liking. I also enjoyed Ian Punnett when he hosted the show.


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[57AChevy]

been a big fan for of the show for years!!! Big fan of Art Bell and George Noory, I was really said when Art went. Show is still a hit though, gets better every night!