Style Has Retired

Well, the Style has gone from the airwaves of Tampa area.

Pat Chamburs, host of the Pat Chamburs show, retired last Wednesday at age 78 or so. His show was heard at the community radio station WMNF 88.5 (based in Southeast Seminole Heights) every Wednesday from 7-9 PM. His show is hard to categorize but is described on the radio station website as "jazz and jive." Pat Chambur's theme song was "Style Is Back In Style".

A 1998 article in the St. Pete Times "ballad of a Bohemian" provides all sorts of fascinating details about his life. He started in radio in 1947. He worked at WFLA and WDAE in the Tampa Bay area in the 1950's. In 1961 he owned a book store near University of Tampa called the Tenth Muse and Only One Grace and a coffee house next door called the House of Seven Sorrows where he had live jazz and beatnik poetry readings. One of his girlfriends for three to four years was Lauren Hutton. He traveled all around, including a stint in Japan, but kept coming back to Tampa area. He joined WMNF in 1983. His photo taken in the 50's or 60's (I guess) can be seen at Tedd Webb's website in Where Are They Now.

Another little bit trivia about Pat Chamburs can be found in Andrew Tobias' book "Fire and Ice" about Charles Revlon. Revlon had an Ad campaign in 1952 called Fire and Ice which consisted of a dazzling model, Dorian Leigh, in an icy silver-sequin dress with a fiery scarlet cape; and on the facing page, the headline, ARE YOU MADE FOR FIRE AND ICE? DJ were sent questionnaires to answer. "Pat Chamburs of radio station WFLA in Tampa answered this way:

Which qualities do you think make for Fire and Ice in women?
1. Ever so slightly pouted lips.
2. Smoldering, sad eyes with a "I wanta, but only with you" look.
3. Lovely, large, and prominently displayed bust.

Would you marry a Fire and Ice girl?
Yes, Yes, Yes, Yes, Yes, Yes, Yes, Yes, Yes, Yes, YES!!!
(Could we take my wife along?)

Name a few of the women who epitomize Fire and Ice to you?
Marilyn Monroe, Antonel la Lualdi, Rossana Podesta, Silvano Mangano, Linda Darnell, Marilyn Monroe. "

My wife and I always tuned our radio in to his show every Wednesday whether at home or driving around. Susan's favorite was his Christmas Show and mine was the Halloween Show. He knew so much about jazz, and came across as unflappable and matter of fact. He was the definition of cool! The most recent fund raiser show was hilarious because JoEllen Schilke kept trying to get Pat in trouble.

We will really miss Pat. Good Luck!