People can be remembered for the oddest things. In 1982, Milwaukee was crazy with World Series fever. The Brewers faced off against the St. Louis Cardinals in the Brewers’ only franchise appearance in the Series, which they lost in seven games.
Catching up with the newly retired host of the morning program on WTMJ, I reminded Gene Mueller of a throwaway bit he and on-air partner Bob Reitman did during the Series. The Cardinals had a pitcher, Joaquin Andujar, whom Gene Mueller referred to as ‘Walking Underwear’. While it wasn’t the joke heard around the world, for whatever reason it has stayed with me for 40 years and I still chuckle. The point is, sometimes it only takes one thing a person says to remember them forever.
Mueller retired from a 40-year relationship with WKTI/WTMJ in February. How do people last that long in a market? Strangely, it’s not that uncommon in Milwaukee. There are two other morning shows where the hosts have enjoyed similar longevity. A good chunk of the reason he survived that long is that Mueller was the real deal.
“People in Milwaukee can sense when you’re authentic and really giving it your all,” Mueller said. The same holds true for Milwaukee’s professional athletes. If they see the effort, they will give you the devotion and support. Milwaukee is a city that likes habits. “They don’t want to hop on the next trend,” Mueller said.
The rigors of rising hours before the sun does the same is familiar to anyone in the business. This is not lost on Mueller. “That was always the first thing people asked me–how did you get up so early? Yes, I gave up a lot for this career. We all do. I don’t want to ever sound like I’m whining, but you know going in you’re going to be swimming upstream against 99.8% normal circadian rhythm.”
Mueller said that was the top reason he retired when he did–to get his life back. “Not to be morbid, but I lost some friends during the pandemic and I realized there are so many things I never got to enjoy. Like going to a hockey game on a weeknight, watching a movie later in the evening.”
In other words, things most of us take for granted.
Arrival at WKTI
Reitman and Mueller, as the WKTI morning show was named, matched two diverse Milwaukee personalities who had cut their chops at other rock-oriented stations in town. Mueller was at 93-WQFM before he moved to WKTI. At that time, Retiman was working solo and a partner was a new experience for him. “I’d only met Bob Reitman once,” Mueller explained. “I was just blown away and somewhat intimidated. I was going to be working with Bob ‘frickin’ Reitman.” That was the big-time for a kid who began up in quaint Stevens Point, Wisconsin.
“I never thought I’d have a chance to work with a guy like that,” Mueller said. He said at first it was a bit rocky as they had such different styles and Mueller feared he might be some kind of interloper on an established personality. “I’m sure Bob wondered, ‘Who is that dirty little kid?’ Instead he quickly made me part of the show.” It wasn’t long before the duo became household names in Milwaukee.
After he signed off for the last time at WTMJ on February 25th, he went to Florida for a vacation. He started thinking about bits and topics he’d like to talk about on the show when he returned. “It hit me that I’m not going back to a show. This was the first time I was able to watch the Oscars with my son.”
While he didn’t last long in college at Stevens Point, it didn’t matter. He knew what he wanted and was all-in with a career in radio. “I really didn’t have my eye on journalism,” Mueller said. “But being a smartass on the radio and getting paid for it appealed to me a great deal.”
The transition from WKTI to WTMJ.
While the studios are only a few feet away from each other, they were in different worlds. Bob Reitman retired in December of 2006. Along with longtime producer and personality Gino Salomone, Mueller kept on until May of the following year at WKTI.
Then the decision was made to move Mueller to the morning spot at WTMJ. “I was in awe of all the people that worked there through the years and wasn’t sure I was really up to the task,” Mueller said. “The general manager at the time, John Scheweitzer, always liked me and thought I’d do a great job. He gave me a ton of opportunities so I guess I felt I should give it a shot.”
The regiment of the morning show at WTMJ made the transition a little easier. The format and clock were preordained. “News at the top, weather on the tens,” Mueller said. “Part of the move across the hall required me to think I was no longer going to do bits that involved somewhat sophomoric humor.”
One of many blessings throughout his career was the advent of new technology, Mueller explained. “Everything was at my fingertips with the internet. It was a godsend,” Mueller said. “I could do instant research. The technology allowed me to craft together vignettes quickly before I went on the air. Everything became so easy, so quick. The audio editing included. Kids in the business today don’t know what a cart machine is and ask me if I really worked with a reel-to-reel tape recorder. Yes, I did.”
The way news is covered has changed as well. “Not everyone out there is dealing with both sides of the story any longer,” Mueller said. “We have so much news from so many different places, and there’s no pushback. Reporters and writers deal with minimal sources and few confirmations. They give their audience what they want to get, facts be damned.”
Milwaukee has always been home for Mueller. “It’s the most wonderful radio market in the world, I love it here,” he said. “I saw what happened to friends who went on to the large markets. It was cutthroat. You had to produce or you were gone. It’s a little more forgiving here, more gentle.”
Mueller said he’s going to take some time to decompress, but suggested there were already a few projects being tossed about. One gets the feeling he’s never going to fully relinquish the medium he loves.
“First, I want to go and live a bit.”
He’s earned it.
Jim Cryns writes features for Barrett News Media. He has spent time in radio as a reporter for WTMJ, and has served as an author and former writer for the Milwaukee Brewers. To touch base or pick up a copy of his new book: Talk To Me – Profiles on News Talkers and Media Leaders From Top 50 Markets, log on to Amazon or shoot Jim an email at jimcryns3_zhd@indeedemail.com.
