By david, glasgow, scotland (62.252.128.4 - 62.252.128.4) on Tuesday, November 27, 2001 - 08:17 pm:

on the left of this picture you can just see tera shirma.

ralph, do you recall if frantic ernie durham owned this place when you were on livernois?

the sign says ernie d's campus ballroom.

By Ralph Terrana (209.240.222.130 - 209.240.222.130) on Wednesday, November 28, 2001 - 12:31 am:

I haven't a clue on this one David. Place looks pretty run down. I can't remember what was there in the 60's, or what it looked like.

By acooolcat (211.72.121.66 - 211.72.121.66) on Wednesday, November 28, 2001 - 03:50 am:

I went here a few years ago, a guy who rented the building was selling second hand washing machines a stoves - he told me that Ernie had a ballroom upstairs at one time.
Graham

By MONTCLAIR (199.182.121.77 - 199.182.121.77) on Sunday, January 27, 2002 - 03:24 am:

I REMEMBER ERNIE USED TO ALWAYS SAY ON HIS RADIO SHOW ON WJLB "I'M YOUR HOST WITH THE MOST-YOUR ACE FROM INNER SPACE". GREAT GUY-HE LIVED ON MY FLOOR AT 1300 LAFAYETTE EAST APTS FOR A TIME DURING THE 60'S.

By david, glasgow, scotland (62.252.128.5 - 62.252.128.5) on Sunday, January 27, 2002 - 01:17 pm:

welcome to the forum montclair.

dennis edwards lived in that building too.

if you're on the south side you have fantastic views of the detroit river.

By the count (166.90.230.84 - 166.90.230.84) on Monday, April 08, 2002 - 01:44 pm:

Frantic Ernie would say.one lean green to make the scene,ol buddy bean teen and queen,age limit 17,dont goof bring your proof,you heard my story morning glory.And know we have LITTLE WILLIE JOHN on his knees with his piano keys if you please.And a song from COOK,to keep you shook..Larry Dixon would say,"its not the size of the ship,its the motion of the ocean.PS,I have much much more if anyone digs it like I do.

By acooolcat (211.78.28.79 - 211.78.28.79) on Monday, April 08, 2002 - 01:56 pm:

Count - you have a great memory and if you can remember any more I'd love to see them here.
People have told me that Frantic Ernie would usually play a record on his show if he thought it was good enough. Payola wasn't the be-all and end-all with him and I wish I'd had the chance to meet him.
Graham

By Ralph (209.240.222.130 - 209.240.222.130) on Monday, April 08, 2002 - 02:04 pm:

Count and Graham,
One of my favorites is when he was playing Bill Doggett's Honky Tonk, he said..." Bill Doggett if you please, with his organ keys on his chubby little knees ' Frantic Ernie was the only DJ that could talk halfway through a record and you didn't mind.
There was a big Frantic Ernie tribute banquet sometime in the late 60's I think. Everyone in the Detroit music scene was there. It was the last time I saw him.

By david, glasgow, scotland (62.6.99.214 - 62.6.99.214) on Monday, April 08, 2002 - 02:25 pm:

anyone got any pics of him?

By Marilyn (67.217.183.251 - 67.217.183.251) on Monday, April 08, 2002 - 02:55 pm:

Hi guys-
Of course I have lots of photos of Ernie. He was one of my "dads" in the record business. I took him to his first rtecord collector's show less than a month before he died,& he said these were the REAL fans. When I was 18,I was a dj on WJLB right after him. I've got things to do today,but I'll post a couple of Ernie photos later or tomorrow.
Marilyn

By david, glasgow, scotland (213.122.165.175 - 213.122.165.175) on Monday, April 08, 2002 - 03:12 pm:

marilyn i'll look forward to those.

where was wjlb based at that time?

By Bob Olhsson (68.53.120.100 - 68.53.120.100) on Monday, April 08, 2002 - 06:03 pm:

Ernie-D was the ultimate rhyming D.J., the very best.

There's a treat for those of you who never heard American radio during the '60s.

http://www.reelradio.com

If anybody has any recordings of Frantic Ernie or of Martha Jean the Queen, I'm sure that there's a place of honor reserved for them at this wonderful web site.

By david, glasgow, scotland (62.252.128.5 - 62.252.128.5) on Monday, April 08, 2002 - 07:18 pm:

bob enjoyed the scott regan piece. first time i've heard this legend.

he plays soul bros six and the parliaments.

it would be a privilege to have an audio sample on here of frantic and martha.

are there any black deejays on reelradio or samples from wchb?

By Marilyn (67.217.199.38 - 67.217.199.38) on Tuesday, April 09, 2002 - 12:01 am:

WJLB was on the 31st floor of the David Broderick Towers,overlooking Grand Circus Park,& around the corner from the Broadway-Capital Theatre.
By the way,I've also got a great photo of Joltin' Joe Howard & Long,Tall Lean,Leapin' Larry Dean. AND I talk to Larry Dixon (whom I had a TV show with about 1972 "Club Mello") a couple of times a week.
Marilyn

By Georte Katsakis (64.12.105.156 - 64.12.105.156) on Tuesday, April 09, 2002 - 12:47 am:

Frantic Ernie, was a regular player of Royaltone recordings and we did many record hops for him as well as numerous performances in the beginning days of the 20 Grand. He was a great guy and helped out quite a few performers from Detroit and always offered encouragement.

By Dennis Coffey (205.188.200.38 - 205.188.200.38) on Tuesday, April 09, 2002 - 01:46 am:

Hi folks. I did a lot of record hops for Ernie. The campus ballroom was a place where singles met back in the 40s and early 50s. I don't know what it was like when Ernie had it. I saw the Frantic one at Sully's when I was doing a showcase reunion for organist Lyman Woodard. I sat at the bar with Ernie after I played. We talked about old times for 30 minutes. It was great! Sadly, Ernie passed away a few months later.

Dennis Coffey

By Marilyn (67.217.183.14 - 67.217.183.14) on Wednesday, April 10, 2002 - 05:35 pm:

Here's ERNIE!!!

By Marilyn (67.217.183.14 - 67.217.183.14) on Wednesday, April 10, 2002 - 05:37 pm:

By david, glasgow, scotland (62.252.128.5 - 62.252.128.5) on Wednesday, April 10, 2002 - 05:40 pm:

unbelievable!!!!!

By acooolcat (61.222.95.58 - 61.222.95.58) on Thursday, April 11, 2002 - 03:51 am:

Marilyn, they're great. Thanks for posting them here.
BTW - who did own the Teen Life magazine? Do you still have any copies dating from the late 1950s?
Graham

By Marilyn (67.217.183.119 - 67.217.183.119) on Thursday, April 11, 2002 - 02:54 pm:

Lowell Worley & Al Plant,I think. I'm not sure which was the real owner. I think Lowell really started it,to promote his records to the kids. Yes,I DO have copies of quite a few of rthem. Actually,I sell copies at record shows.
Marilyn

By Millie (64.152.154.62 - 64.152.154.62) on Sunday, May 26, 2002 - 04:51 pm:

Ernie Durham was one of the kindest, warmest, nicest people I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. He was truly devoted to his wife Jackie, and their kids. In person he was soft spoken, smiled a lot and always used to say to me "...How're you doing beautiful". Of course, he said that to all the ladies! His funeral was an amazing experience to me...everyone was happy, saying he was going to a "better place", and the tributes he recieved were incredible. Everyone one from Esther (Gordy) Edwards, Detroit dignitaries and polititians, Aretha Franklin...I could go on and on. I left the funeral home in awe of this special man...he touched all of us who knew him. Still miss him.

By Ed Wolfrum (165.121.214.28 - 165.121.214.28) on Wednesday, May 29, 2002 - 01:44 am:

Millie,

Ernie used to come into United alot and was a good friend of Joe Siracuse, that is how I got to know him. He was a wonderful warm and above all HAPPY person. He got back on the air in the late 90's doing a show on WDET. I remember calling him there and was excited to hear him again. He was also a good friend of Artie Field.

By Millie (64.152.158.28 - 64.152.158.28) on Wednesday, May 29, 2002 - 01:58 am:

Hi Ed! I used to listen to Ernie on WDET. Gene Elzy, who was Ernie's best friend, also had a show on WDET but it was all jazz. I can't say enough about Ernie, Ed. He just had so many fabulous stories to tell, and tell them he did! I worked on the Motor City Reunion which was for anyone who ever worked in Detroit whether it be in the record business, or the radio business. We've had two reunions so far (l988 and l998), and Casey Kasem came to both! Dick Purtan who emceed the events said "where else but here, would you find a black man who looks white, and a white man who looks black". He was referring to Ernie and Casey! "Frantic" Ernie Durham...a class act.

By Ed Wolfrum (165.121.215.136 - 165.121.215.136) on Wednesday, May 29, 2002 - 05:26 pm:

Hello Millie,

I was at the 1998 re-union, but did not know about it till I heard Purtan on WOMC talking about it. I went over to WOMC and there was Jo-Jo, who I knew because of my friendship with Byron and work with Armin. In any case she invited Sue and I to come. Sue said she did not know any of the people and so I called Artie Field and we went, he isn't as good looking as my wife but was a good buddy to come and it was a wonderful time for us both. I see Artie every Friday night as we get together for dinner and this has been going on for over 15 years!!! I figured with all of the Fish he has eaten with Sue and I on Friday Night that he would be Catholic by now!!! Ernie has been the topic of many of those Friday night dinners. At times Jack Brokenshaw and Jerry Fredric, Armin and many of the other "GANG" have called and come by on Friday's here. I never realized how close we all were until the industry changed. Give me a call sometime and we can talk about "old times". You can reach me at the number or e-mail at www.audiographicservices.com.

By Millie (207.148.197.36 - 207.148.197.36) on Wednesday, May 29, 2002 - 09:40 pm:

Hi Ed!
Wow...I'm sure we've met somewhere along the line...we know all the same people! JoJo and I are friends, as was Byron when he was alive. So glad you were able to attend the reunion...Jamie Coe stopped by as did Georgie Young. Wasn't it fun? We're going to do another one, but don't feel waiting ten years is a good idea, so, we're looking at next year as that will be 5 years since the last one! I tried calling you but it didn't work. Please contact me at millivanilli@earthlink.net and let's get together!!!! I work for CKLW Radio, and you can always call me there (248) 646-8484 ext. 208. Looking forward to hearing from you!
Millie