Infamous Radio Gaffes

Although the controversy surrounding Don Imus' "Nappy Headed Hos" comment continues to boil, this is not the first time a radio personality has found themselves under fire for off-color comments made on the air. The following are some of the more memorable screwups in radio history.

August 12, 1897 - Thaddeus "Wolfman" Cornwall, America's first telegraph shock jock, is sentenced to 20 lashes in the town square after crudely remarking upon First Lady Ida Saxton McKinley's petticoats.

January 4, 1933 - Popular newsreader John Templeton creates an uproar when he refers to the Irish as "decent folk."

April 3, 1946 - During the weekly teleplay "Nazi Hunters in the 24th Century!" announcer Don Donaldson ruins his career when he introduces leading man Chet Hawkins as "the son of a wh0re who stole my livelihood."

November 20, 1958 - Well respected socialite Janey Willows is blacklisted and permanently shunned from high society after she inadvertently outs herself as a Communist sympathizer during a broadcast of the popular quiz show "What's the Answer?"

February 1, 1972 - During a national radio address, President Richard Nixon comes under scrutiny for reading the name, home address, medical history, and s3xual orientation of every person on his enemies list.

June 4, 1996 - Shock Jock Howard Stern deeply offends many when he calls a travel agency to inquire about plane tickets to Prussia, despite the fact that the country had not been in existence for over 60 years. The FCC fines Stern $200,000.00 for the insensitive gag.

May 9, 2002 - Jokesters Opie and Anthony are nearly fired after their "S0domy and Slurpees" stunt, in which they encouraged gay couples to commit the carnal act inside public convenience stores.