John Otto (1929–1999) was a

radio talk show Talk radio is a radio format containing discussion about topical issues and consisting entirely or almost entirely of original spoken word content rather than outside music. They may feature monologues, dialogues between the hosts, interviews wi ...

host in

Buffalo, New York Buffalo is a Administrative divisions of New York (state), city in the U.S. state of New York (state), New York and county seat of Erie County, New York, Erie County. It lies in Western New York at the eastern end of Lake Erie, at the head of ...

. He began his

broadcasting Broadcasting is the data distribution, distribution of sound, audio audiovisual content to dispersed audiences via a electronic medium (communication), mass communications medium, typically one using the electromagnetic spectrum (radio waves), ...

career in the 1940s at the age of 19 at WBNY which has since changed its call sign. He spent most of his radio career doing an evening listener call in show branded ''Extension 55'' at WGR. When WKBW switched from music to talk, he moved to that station doing the same show rebranded as ''Night Call''. Within two years the station made another format change, which did not include his show. After several months off the air; he returned to WGR. He never retired. When his health deteriorated to the point he was unable to get to the WGR studio; he did his 10 pm to 1 am listener call in show from his home until days before his death. He broadcast his last show on December 3, 1999. He died December 6, 1999, at the age of 70 in

His death came three months before he would have been out of a job (or possibly forced to move to WBEN), as WGR would flip to

sports radio Sports radio (or sports talk radio) is a radio format devoted entirely to discussion and broadcasting of sport, sporting events. A widespread programming genre that has a narrow audience appeal, sports radio is characterized by an often-low comed ...

in February 2000. He was inducted into the Buffalo Broadcasting Hall of Fame in 1998.Buffalo Broadcasters Association
1998 Inductees

References

External links

by Buffalonian Steve Cichon * Bruce Jackso

Eulogy originally published in Artvoice 16 December 1999. Radio personalities from Buffalo, New York 1929 births 1999 deaths American radio personalities {{US-radio-bio-stub