Jim Lange

Afternoon Drive Disk Jockey/Personality - KSFO Radio San Francisco, California (1960s thru 1970s)

Jim Langes career as a disc jockey continued through the decades. He was a deejay before, during, and after his "The Dating Game" stint; and was one of the most popular DJs in the San Francisco Bay Area before retiring in 2005.

Wife, Nancy Fleming , was Miss America 1961.

(April 2005) Was the morning DJ at KABL FM 92.1 in the San Francisco Bay area.

Jim Lange died on February 25, 2014, at age 81, 4 months later, radio disc jockey Casey Kasem , passed away in the same year, but was the age ahead of Lange. Kasem appeared on an episode of Langes "The Dating Game" , as a bachelor.

Long lives ran in his family.

Graduated from St. Thomas Academy High School in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in 1950.

Hosted "The New Newlywed Game" once on Valentines Day, for ABC.

Before he was a successful game show host, he worked a midday fixture on Gene Autry s flagship KMPC, when he chose to return to Frisco radio in Los Angeles, California.

Before he was a successful game show host, he worked in the visitors clubhouse at old Lexington Park, home of an earlier incarnation of the St. Paul Saints.

Friends with: Bob Barker , Bob Goen , Bill Cullen , Wink Martindale , Geoff Edwards , Dick Clark , Bob Eubanks , Alex Trebek , Chuck Barris , Jack Barry , Jim Perry , Chuck Woolery , Marc Summers , Peter Tomarken , Pat Sajak , Richard Dawson , Tom Kennedy and Monty Hall.

Met fellow game show host, Wink Martindale , while working in the Chuck Barris Studios, in Los Angeles, California, prior to becoming a game show host in 1967. Among the staff were: Bob Eubanks and Bob Barker.

Before he was a successful game show host, he made his Bay Area radio debut as The All-Night Mayor, on KGO Radio, in San Francisco, California.

Hobbies were traveling, listening to music and golfing.

Was physically healthy and physically active until his death at age 81.

Jim Lange passed away on February 25, 2014, just one week before fellow game show host, Geoff Edwards passed away.

During his 2 season run on "$1,000,000 Chance of a Lifetime" , Lange had 9 married couples, who won the grand prize of $1 million dollars.

Hosted game shows that involved music: "$100,000 Name That Tune" and "Triple Threat" .

Met fellow game show host, Geoff Edwards , also at the Chuck Barris Studios in Los Angeles, California, in 1973. At that time, Edwardss second game show was "The New Treasure Hunt" .

Best remembered by the public as the original host of "The Dating Game" .

After "Triple Threat" , he retired from hosting game shows at age 56.

Was employed with Chuck Barris Productions from 1965 to 1980.

His mentor when he was young was Gene Autry.

Was planning on returning to host "The All-New Dating Game" , but was under contract with Lorimar-Telepictures (now Warner Bros. Television), before TPE Enterprises, hence, the job was immediately given to Elaine Joyce before Jeff MacGregor (son of McLean Stevenson of "M

A

S

H" fame).

Before he was a successful game show host, he was also the announcer and sidekick to Tennessee Ernie Ford , on Fords own show.

Had returned to Gene Autry /Golden West-owned KSFO by 1971, and remained there until the station was sold in 1983.

Was Chuck Barris s first choice to host "The Dating Game" .

Commuted from San Francisco to Los Angeles, to host "The Dating Game" .

Survived by his wife, his sister, five children, two stepchildren and four grandchildren.

Just months before his death, he celebrated his 35th wedding anniversary with wife Nancy.

His widow, Nancy Fleming , was 10 years his junior.

Father of Nick, Romney, and Gavin.

Worked with game show announcer Johnny Jacobs twice: "The Dating Game" and "Give-N-Take" .

Worked with game show announcer Johnny Gilbert twice: "Hollywood Connection" and "$1,000,000 Chance of a Lifetime" .

When Lange was age 15, he discovered a passion for radio after winning an audition at a local station.

Got the job as host of "Bullseye" , because of his friendship with Jack Barry.

Best friend Steve Cannon talked Lange into moving to San Francisco, California.

On one of the tapings of "The Dating Game" , an unfamiliar comic Andy Kaufman was the last minute replacement of the show, who was found by Lange and the producers on the street. He wanted to play the game, like John Schultz.

Attended the University of Minnesota, on the Chick Evans Scholarship through the Western Golf Association.

Before he was a successful game show host, he portrayed the title character for "Captain 11," a childrens program in the mid-1950s that joined in the outer space craze of that era and aired on WMIN, Channel 11, in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

When he was growing up, he used to listen to Steve Cannon, when he was thinking about becoming a disc jockey.

Hosted 9 game shows in his five-decade career.

Was in the US Marine Corps.

Resided in the San Francisco Bay Area of Lucas Valley, California, from 1958 to 1971.

Was named after his father.

Drafted Lange into the Marine Corps, between 1956 to 1959, landed him in Honolulu, Hawaii, where he was the entertainment director on the base.

Before he was a successful game show host, he used to work at a golf caddy, at a local golf course.

After KABL went off the air, he retired from hosting radio at the age of 73.

Between 1966 to 1981, Lange had the rare, but golden opportunity to play in the annual Bing Crosby Pro-Am National Golf tournament in Pebble Beach, California.

Was elected to the Bay Area Radio Hall of Fame in 2006.

After he retired from hosting game shows, he and his wife Nancy Fleming moved back to San Francisco Bay Area of Mill Valley, California, where he eventually accepted an offer to broadcast weekday mornings on Magic 61, at KFRC radio, by then owned by real estate magnate Peter Bedford (Bedford Broadcasting). After the sale of KFRC-AM and FM (99.7) FM (the new owners decided to simulcast the FM oldies format on 610 AM), Jim and the show decamped for a run on KKSJ, San Jose.

Resided in Los Angeles, California, from 1984 to 1990.

The eldest of 3 children.

At the University of Minnesota, he majored in communication and in radio broadcasting.

Upon his death, he was cremated, his ashes were given by family.

Grandfather of Brendan and Travis.

Of Polish descent.

Was influenced by: Bob Goen , Pat Finn , Graham Elwood , Chuck Woolery and Marc Summers.

His idols when he was younger were Dave Garroway and Arthur Godfrey.

It was Langes idea to play host to unfamiliar/familiar celebrities, appearing as either bachelors or bachelorettes, who went on to become actors on "The Dating Game" .

Had missed one episode of hosting "Triple Threat" , hence, Alan Hunter subbed for him.

Guest-starred on one sitcom, whose episode had him hosting "The Dating Game" : "Laverne & Shirley" .

Hosted the pilot of a Barry-Enright game show that didnt sell in 1982.

In the same situation as fellow game show host, Geoff Edwards , Lange was also ranked fifth behind Bill Cullen , Tom Kennedy , Wink Martindale and Alex Trebek , in the number of game shows hosted at 8, with Bob Eubanks and of course, Edwards, sharing that record.

It was Chuck Barris s idea for him to blow a kiss at the end of every "The Dating Game" episode, something Barris had thought of doing for Lange.

The theme from Langes show "Hollywood Connection" , was earlier used for another Barry & Enright game show, "Hollywoods Talking" .

Had hosted the pilot of two Marty Pasetta-produced game shows that didnt sell in 1987 and in 1989.

At age 25, Lange moved to San Francisco, California, in 1958, to pursue a career as a radio disc jockey and an announcer.

He was known to be a very private man.

Like fellow game show Geoff Edwards , Lange was also an avid radio listener.

Before Nancy DeCarl married actor Larry Manetti (of "Magnum, P.I." ), she appeared as one of his bachelorettes on an episode of "The Dating Game" .

Lange was actually the last of the game show hosts to move from San Francisco, California, to, Los Angeles, California, thanks to his mentor, Gene Autry.

Before he was a successful radio disc jockey and game show host, he packed pickles in a pickle factory.

Before Richard Dawson had Lange as a guest on "Family Feud" , Lange appeared on an episode of "The Dating Game" as one of the bachelors, but didnt win a date.

Was influenced by: Tennessee Ernie Ford.

Met future wife, Nancy Fleming , who was working with Lange, for KSFO in San Francisco, California, she came through as Miss America in 1961, Lange interviewed her and she disappeared from his life, he never saw her again until 1974 or 1975 when he met again on "AM San Francisco.".