RADIO BLAST FROM THE PAST: SCOOP NISKER’S “SEVEN DAYS IN MAY” DOCUMENTARY FROM 1970 ON KSAN

Originally published on Friday, October 10, 2014.

COVER OF SCOOP NISKER'S 1970 ALBUM

In May 1970, Wesley “Scoop” Nisker was the News Director at KSAN-FM, a remarkable “underground” station in San Francisco. Scoop was a nerdy kid from a small town in Nebraska who arrived in the Bay Area searching for spiritual bliss, world peace, sex, drugs and rock n roll.

He often produced “sound collages” with voices of newsmakers and current progressive rock music.  

In some ways, Scoop was like Hunter S. Thompson, Firesign Theater or Tony Schwartz –  a gonzo journalist with a real sense of purpose.

Scoop’s philosophy was:

“If you don’t like the news, go out and make some of your own.”

He produced perhaps his most memorable “sound collages” in late May, 1970 called Seven Days in May. It documented the public rage following US invasion of Cambodia and the subsequent killing of four student protesters at Kent State University.

SCOOP NISKER IN 2014

Scoop’s work was created using two reel-to-reel tape decks and a couple of newsroom cartridge machines.  His techniques influenced a generation of audio journalists, editors and storytellers including many public radio folks.

Scoop is still living in the Bay Area and now is a Buddhist meditation instructor, teacher and author.

NOTE: At one point in the video, the wrong date appears – the year was 1970, not 1971.  We apologize for this error.