New York State In-depth

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We’ve had some outstanding Santas in our time. Ed Asner in Eleven was impressive. Edmund Gwenn in the original Miracle On 34th Street was a humdinger. However, almost every Christmas, Mike Gallagher seems to set a new standard as the red-suited giver.

Okay, Gallagher might not wear a red suit and a white beard, but he’s just as generous.

“I’m still bouncing off the walls because of our show in December, where I raised over $260,000 for the Prison Fellowship/Angel Tree Christmas campaign for prisoners’ children,” Gallagher said. Whether a mother or father in prison, children of incarcerated parents unpack joy each year with a gift that reminds them that they are valued and loved.

“Years ago, my late wife, Denise, thought that instead of rushing through life, we should do something good for people,” Gallagher explained. “She thought we should do something on a large scale for a larger audience. Do something productive for a change.”

Gallagher credits Salem Media with being able to step in and help others. Gallagher said Denise was his whole world and took her advice to heart. He created a 501c3 for police officers and families – Gallagher’s Army: Fallen Officer Fund. “At Christmas time I think it’s a cool tradition to collect donations for children.”

It exceeded Gallagher’s wildest expectations.

“We can send gifts and a Bible to thousands of children. This year we have reached approximately 10,000 children with gifts and gospel from their incarcerated parents. Our audience connects with it and we are so proud. Again, I am grateful to work for a company that wants us to do good for each other.”

You can donate all year round. Just go to the website and find the banner and click on it. Prisonfellowship.org.

“We have a summer camp and we work with a number of charities,” Gallagher explained. “I have another foundation for police officers and their families. Gallagher’s Heroes offers support to families of officers killed in the line of duty. News anchor Joey Hudson is the CEO.

“The officers and first responders are the heroes of our culture,” Gallagher said.

It’s not only helpful, but a nice break from politics and the daily head-shake, Gallagher said.

“It adds another dimension to our show.”

Gallagher said he was struck by America’s generosity last week as he showered love and support on Bills player Damar Hamlin. Shortly after his traumatic episode on the field, his children’s toy charity raised nearly $6 million. That was all on a GoFundMe page.

“I think this incident shows America’s giving spirit,” Gallagher said. “Too often we hear how our country is in decline, falling apart, how we don’t agree on anything. Situations like this show tremendous unity. All players knelt for a cause. Not because of politics, not because of race, but because of concern for the young man. It was really a beautiful thing to see. It’s amazing how he just tried to raise $2,500 for his cause and America responded.”

Gallagher said Americans are kind and loving people. That’s why he’s so excited about his Christmas campaign. He believes that Americans are good and decent.

“It’s a very sobering reminder of what we were meant to be,” Gallagher explained. “I’ve been in radio for more than 40 years and I’ve done my part by screaming into a microphone. Sometimes I get frustrated and mistake it for a caller. I firmly disagreed with them and occasionally hung up on them. But sometimes I forget how far an act of kindness goes. On talk radio, for the most part, we’re full of conflict. I know it pretty well. One of my goals for the new year is to be kinder.”

To access Gallagher’s show, you can visit his website at Mikeonline.com.

As a show host, Gallagher doesn’t go beyond recognizing that his ego sometimes gets in the way of doing good. He said many in his seat felt they had to win any argument.

“I don’t feel that way,” he said. “I like to study. I like the interactions. I could have six callers on hold and want to take the one who doesn’t agree with me.

That drives the discussion forward. I have to remember asking her to call. I don’t want to invite them into my living room and chew them up. I think that’s one of the biggest complaints about talk radio. I can get boisterous, temperamental, shake it up.”

Gallagher said most of his listeners trust him.

“I don’t always make callers uncomfortable. There has to be a good mix. But I have to show restraint.”

Gallagher isn’t the easiest guy to get in touch with. I had to ask Joey Hudson for help. Let me tell you, Joey Hudson is an amazing guy.

“If I hear one more time how great Joey Hudson is,” jokes Gallagher. In fact, they are the closest of friends.

“He lives in Upstate, South Carolina, where I got my first experience at radio in Greenville with WFBC and eventually became station manager. I met Joey 30 years ago. We have developed a deep friendship and I often visit him down there. When my wife was ill a week before she died, she called Joey into the room and told him to take care of me. He doesn’t know how to clear a check book.”

Gallagher said he works hard for Salem and his audience. “I have two goals; deliver a solid and compelling radio show about Salem and hit my budget and numbers.”

Though Denise Hudson said her husband couldn’t clear a checkbook, Gallagher has proven that’s not true. In fact, he’s fixated on the business side of radio. He said ratings will come and go, but you have to deliver for your business and make sure you hit revenue budgets.

“Every morning starts with a spreadsheet,” says Gallagher. “I see what my show costs and I’m proud of that. I review my monthly goals, see where we need to improve. Ultimately, it’s up to me to stay within or exceed my budget.”

Gallagher spent two years at WGY in Albany, New York. He was then hired for a morning drive at WABC in New York City.

“While I was at ABC, my previous owner in Albany approached me about syndication,” Gallagher said.

In 1998, The Mike Gallagher Show was launched nationally with 12 radio stations. By 2011, Gallagher was the sixth most-watched talk radio host in America, with over four million weekly listeners.

“It was a dream scenario,” he said. “John Dame asked me what it would take to move away from WABC and go national. To carve my own goal.

I was a sweat stock owner. I scouted the offices in the Empire State Building because I felt that was where our studio should be.”

Gallagher said he loves being able to tell his bosses in Salem that he’s hit his budget for the month.

“I’ll honk and ask where we’re missing. I think a lot of the speakers in our business don’t really care about that. They see themselves as artists and let the sellers sell. I never believed in that. I call people personally and I am deeply involved in the business.”

He calls his dedication to the nuances of business the proverbial fuel that drives engines.

“Without advertisers, we’re dead,” Gallagher said. “We are always looking for new sales dreams. The Salem News Channel, Social Media. The pressure is enormous, but I thrive under that pressure. It’s satisfying. We are a for-profit organization and Salem expects me to deliver and do my part.”

Some radio announcers are actors. Gallagher really is an actor.

Last Christmas he played Daddy Warbucks in a South Carolina production of Annie. He shaved his head and everything. No latex skullcap was good enough for Gallagher. His head went to the Full Monty.

It was a four week run for Annie and he was constantly flying back and forth to New York. Three weeks into the run, the superhuman Gallagher proved human when he contracted Covid.

“The Greenville shows were sold out and there was no immediate understudy,” Gallagher explained.

The show finally found someone who had played the role before, and he moved on.

“This is my home in Tampa. It’s all decorated for Christmas and I have Covid,” Gallagher recalled. “All I needed to keep me company was pity and TV. I pounced on Yellowstone when it appeared.”

Gallagher also played Mr. Bumble in Oliver, the Enforcer of the Workhouse.

“I like acting, but I love what I do for my job,” he said. “I also did A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, the role that Nathan Lane played.”

Gallagher received a Tony Award for being an investor in Pippin.

“For a theater freak like me, that’s a special recognition.”

Gallagher said not a minute goes by that he doesn’t realize he’s been incredibly blessed.

“I am always in a deep state of gratitude. Sure, there were some rough bumps along the road. loss, tragedy. But I am blessed with children, a granddaughter and a career that I love. My health is quite good and I have a comfortable lifestyle.”

Then he had some really unsolicited and kind things to say about Barrett News Media.

“It’s so cool to see Barrett News Media growing,” Gallagher said. “No one does it like you do. The profiles are fun to read and I think they are really needed. I know they are greatly appreciated. You guys are carving out a page for other publications and sites to look at. So many people are always trying to tear us down. Be overly critical. Barrett is fair but never backs down. I know many of my colleagues are impressed with what you do.”

We didn’t pay Gallagher to say that. Maybe we should have.

He can do his show from virtually anywhere and spends a lot of time commuting between New York and Tampa. “New York practically drove me out with taxes,” Gallagher said. “There is no state income tax in Florida. It was wild to see how different both places were during the pandemic. It was scary in New York. Lots of shutdowns. It was more relaxed in Tampa.”

As cliche as it sounds, Gallagher said he always prepares for his show.

“I prepare 24/7. I bring a laptop to bed, send stuff to my team. I get up at 6:40 am, go through all the websites, social media. Behind this is a double-edged sword. Sometimes I’m reluctant to embrace everything we see on social media.”

His shows offer many opportunities for people to connect.

“I get about 1,000 emails a day,” Gallagher said. “It’s a new world. It keeps you on your toes, keeps you fresh. Our business is developing fast. Now there are cameras. Long gone are the days when I could sit at home in boxers and put on a show.”

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