Breaker Breaker 1-9
Breaker Breaker 1-9
Mike Tussey
The Ashland Beacon
Once upon a time in America, we heard “Breaker! Breaker 1- 9! Got your ears on?”
From then till now, you rarely hear the mention or memories of the beloved Citizen Band radio we came to know simply as “CB”.
Sure, today we have our smart cell phones that virtually do everything for us which includes asking Seri anything at all. In seconds, you get your answer.
It’s the 21st century and we expect things and we expect them quickly.
Pull up a chair, let me entertain you with the history of a mode of communication that blitzed America into a lovable frenzy.
The decade of the 60’s roared in and something new came over the horizon that we came to know as the Citizen Band Radio. CB service was instantly a staple of services used by small businesses.
At first, it was all commercial and expensive. But technology improved and prices became lower and with that, the CB clubs began forming and the fun began all over America!
So, what exactly was Citizen Band Radio?
Simply put, it was created in1958 as Ultra High Frequency (UHF) band radio with 23 channels. At that time, it was so expensive that consumers looked the other way.
However, prices lowered and when they did, there was a CB radio craze which first began with a unit in your car which enabled users to communicate with friends or any other need. The fun was underway.
Consumers naturally decided that the purchase of a “CB home base unit” as well would enable the resident to contact a spouse or friends for any reason that may occur.
The purchase of the home unit necessitated that the home operator would have to have a large antenna attached to the roof or a chimney. Many CB home users decided to purchase a “+2 microphone” which produced much better clarity and fidelity.
From the early 60’s to near1970, the FCC (Federal Communication Commission) decided that with the CB craze owners would be required to purchase a call sign in addition to a license for $20. By 1975, the fee was reduced to just $4.
The most popular channels used on the CB band were Channel 19 and Channel 9. No real reason, it just happened that way. You could likely find your friends on either of those two channels.
CB users for whatever reason, abandoned their official FCC call sign and came up with what was simply called “handles”.
For me, my official call sign was –“19Q – 0244”. But like the rest of America, my given call sign became my handle – “Casper the Ghost”!
I remember well the long whip antenna attached to my rear bumper with my call numbers next to it.
By now, even my wife Jo was enamored by the CB fun, so her new handle became “Lady Bird”.
The 1960’s brought about the birth of two of our sons along with so much daily fun on the CB.
If you were using your CB daily, it was almost imperative that you learned your “CB Lingo” because if you didn’t, you wouldn't have a clue as to what your fellow CBers were saying; so here is what we used 66 years ago:
· GOOD BUDDY – A term used by everyone
· BEAR IN THE AIR – Police Helicopter
· BEAR TRAP – Police using radar at a specific mile marker
· CHECKPOINT CHARLIE – Police searing for DUI’s
· COUNTY MOUNTY – Sheriff
· BLUE LIGHT SPECIAL – Police unit with emergency lights on
· KOJAC WITH A KODAK – Police radar
· WALL TO WALL BEARS – Police everywhere
· BLINKIN WINKIN – School bus with lights on
· 10-100 – Taking a restroom break
· DOUBLE NICKEL – 55 mph speed limit ahead
As you would expect, the truckers of America used their CB’s to locate service stations and advise motorists on the highway of speed traps and accidents.
You could be assured you would hear - “Smokey the Bear is watching at a certain mile marker”.
The 60’s and 70’s brought about these CB hit songs you may remember – “Teddy Bear” – Red Sovine 1976, “Phantom 309” and “The White Knight” by Dave Dudley in 1975.
An influx of movies as well made the spotlight such as “Smokey and the Bandit – 1977, “Breaker Breaker!” – 1977, and “Convoy” – 1978 which was also a # 1 hit record from CW McCall.
Of course, Television jumped in too with new series such as – “The Dukes of Hazard” – 1979 and “Movin On” from 1974.
There was no doubt that the songs, movies and TV shows cemented the CB radio status into a nationwide craze.
When you look back at this incredible craze that dominated our culture; it’s amazing that today, there is no mention of how much fun it was and how it dominated our lifestyles.
You hear about the music, stars, legacies of sports icons and even the internet favorites almost every day, but the CB age was here just for a blink of our eye.
Indeed, from those days of our beloved CB radios to here in the 21stcentury, we have come a long way for sure!
So, hope you enjoyed our look back into the wacky world of CB radios; it was overdue.
CASPER THE GHOST has one final question - BREAKER - BREAKER 1-9, Y’ALL GOT YOUR EARS ON?”
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