Live data from Hacker News

Radio host Art Bell has died

reviewjournal.com

21–30 of 57 posts

Re: Radio host Art Bell has died

#23
As a kid, I remember listening to him regularly after bedtime hours. I don't remember the content too well, but I really enjoyed listening to him talk and interact with guests.

I also remember thinking how cool it was that we'd pick up the signal at night, when (iirc) they boosted the power on the am frequency.

Re: Radio host Art Bell has died

#25

As a kid, I remember listening to him regularly after bedtime hours. I don't remember the content too well, but I really enjoyed listening to him talk and interact with guests. I also remember thinking how cool it was that we'd pick up the signal at night, when (iirc) they boosted the power on the am frequency.

It's the opposite. AM radio signals carry much better at night, and (most?) stations cut power.

Re: Radio host Art Bell has died

#26
I did a lot of night driving in the 90's. Late night with a whole lot of hours left to go. The CDs I brought with me weren't keeping me awake, and I hadn't really go into audiobooks because that's just a lot more CDs. Flipping across the AM radio looking for anything, and then come across Coast to Coast AM with Art Bell. It is insane and amazing and scary and should be the background sound on every scifi movie set in the present era. I never heard him say to any of his guest and insulting word, but you got to wonder, in the end, what he actually believed. I miss him like I miss the freedom of driving in the middle of the night and the cool things you find on the radio. Sometimes the chaos is fun.

Re: Radio host Art Bell has died

#27
I remember that some of the Coast to Coast episodes were quite technically interesting. There was at least one about home made radio telescopes (for SETI of course!).

Some were totally fun, as when the Russians penetrated Hell when they drilled a deep well (probably referring to the Kola Superdeep Borehole). "I will play the best tape someone sends me of the actual sounds of Hell that the Russians heard from their well."

Re: Radio host Art Bell has died

#28
post #8

Art Bell was a great interviewer. He entertained a number of guests on his show that he clearly did not believe fully. Instead of calling them crazy or brushing them aside, he drew out what he could. He entered their world and suspended his own and his listeners disbelief as a form of empathy and childlike wonder. If more people could hold a meaningful conversation with people they think are crazy, like he could, peo…

Counter-point:

He took clearly incredible people and introduced them to his audience, and in doing so, granted them a shred of legitimacy when they deserved none. His show caused vulnerable people to become entrenched in nonsensical conspiracy theories that even the hosts realized were crazy.

Re: Radio host Art Bell has died

#30
This is very sad news. I was entertained for many nights by his provocative guests and his superb interviews. Also, I hard pressed to think of a better voice for radio.

He will be missed by many.

Post reply on HN