OWENS’ ‘SILLIES’ MOVING TO KFI IN SEPTEMBER

Deejay Gary Owens promises more of his trademark “sillies” when he moves his morning show from the FM to the AM dial in September.

The veteran L.A. broadcaster joins KFI-AM (640) Sept. 8, permanently replacing the team of Al Lohman and Roger Barkley, who abandoned their 6 to 10 a.m. slot at KFI three months ago. Owens’ last KKGO-FM (105.1) broadcast was July 18.

“I’m not sure what the format (at KFI) will be,” Owens told The Times. “It’s mostly having fun--being humorous and informative at the same time,” including “a combination of adult contemporary music, news and sillies. It’s kind of the best of all worlds,” said Owens, who became a nationally known face and voice following his zany self-caricature on “Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-in” television show in the late ‘60s.

Anticipating a more mainstream approach at KFI, Owens acknowledged that he had to “tone it down a little “ for his jazz audience at KKGO.

“Gary’s going to have a great crew to work with here and his expertise lies in this area,” KFI program director Steve LaBeau said. The major difference between Owens’ show at KFI and KKGO will be a musical diet of AM Top 40 music, news and traffic reports instead of jazz.

Owens, a vice president of Gannett Broadcasting, discounted the possibility of a conflict in his working for Cox-owned KFI. “At this point, I don’t think (there is one),” Owens said. “I still have to check with Gannett on that.”

His departure from KKGO after 10 months--with two months still to go on his contract--left no hard feelings, Owens said. “KKGO was very nice to me. I feel I ‘m moving from one great station to another.” KKGO also said the parting was amicable.

The wry deejay acknowledged that he’ll be getting “more than the $75 a week I got for my first radio show” in 1956 at 250-watt radio station KORN in Mitchell, S.D. KFI perks include “lots of wax lips, joy buzzers and whoopee-cushions” as well as the gift of an original print of his film “Rosemary’s Baby Eats a Pamper,” Owens mused.

Owens started broadcasting at KFWB 25 years ago and eventually moved to KMPC, where he stayed two decades. He will be honored in September as the National Assn. of Broadcasters personality of the year.

KKGO hired him a year ago “for the purpose of making KKGO and jazz better known throughout the Los Angeles market” and to widen its audience, according to a station press release.

Nick Tyler, Owens’ co-host for the last four months, will replace Owens at KKGO.