JCW ARCHIVE: World War Sale

Summary

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The John Clay Wolfe Show – Archive Episode: "World War Sale"

Date: October 18, 2025
Host: John Clay Wolfe
Featured Crew: Tony, DJ Pre K, and others

Episode Overview

This archive episode takes listeners on a nostalgic ride through some of the John Clay Wolfe Show’s edgiest and most controversial moments in radio advertising. The crew reminisces about their bold marketing experiments, including an infamous Obama-era soundboard prank and a World War II-themed car sale, reflecting on the risks and repercussions that came with pushing boundaries on terrestrial radio.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Growing Pains and Risky Humor of Early Broadcasts

• Reminiscing About Early Days:
  The team discusses how the show's style and internal boundaries have evolved. John recalls, “There’s a time, you know, six or eight years ago when you would have just said what you were thinking” (01:15), highlighting their once reckless on-air spontaneity.

• Tony Confirms:
  Tony reflects on how he used to leave John to “explain for you” after something outrageous was said, emphasizing the unpredictability and shared responsibility during live shows.

2. The Obama Soundboard Incident

• Memorable On-air Gaffe:
  John describes a time involving an online Obama soundboard:
  • “One time, J.D. found this Obama... soundboard... and ran about three times the most obscene thing you’ve ever heard on public airwaves” (01:40).
  • Tony recalls how John would go red, stand up, and leave him to deal with the aftermath (01:49), with John quipping, “I blacked out for a minute” (01:54).

3. The "Obama Sale" Car Commercial

• Aggressive Advertising:
  Tony and DJ Pre K recall the bold Obama-themed car sale ad:
  • John: “Tony, you were talking about 'we’re going to get your trucks and give your best deal thousands of dollars off.' And every once in a while he would play a clip of me saying Obama.” (02:10)
  • The ad drew rapid attention but also attracted a warning from the station’s parent company, Cumulus: “But then Cumulus called me and said, don't do that.” (02:22)

4. The Infamous World War II Sale

• World War II Theme Gone Wrong:
  Tony explains a notorious marketing stunt involving Japanese import cars:
  • “I did a World War II sale, and I took red stickers, the circular stickers, and put them on the doors of all these Mitsubishis and Nissans...” (02:25)
  • “All the cars with Japanese zeros on the side windows were on sale for the World War II sale.” (02:34)
• Consequences of the Stunt:
  • John deadpans: “Didn't it look like Yokohama in 1943?” (02:48)
  • The stunt resulted in serious backlash:
    • Tony: “Man, they did not think that was funny.” (02:50)
    • Tony recounts a call from Lindy Park, a supportive colleague: “I always cover you, but I can’t do this one.” (02:56), showing even strong allies had limits.
    • John humorously details the fallout: “The Veterans Administration called us up. Nine of those old fellers had heart attacks. They heard the commercial.” (03:26)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Wild Early Days:
  • John Clay Wolfe: “There’s a time, you know, six or eight years ago when you would have just said what you were thinking.” (01:15)
• On the Obama Soundboard:
  • John: “Ran about three times the most obscene thing you’ve ever heard on public airwaves.” (01:46)
• On Getting Shut Down:
  • Tony: “But then Cumulus called me and said, don’t do that.” (02:22)
• On Crossing the Line:
  • Tony: “I always cover you, but I can't do this one, man.” (02:56)
• On the Fallout:
  • John: “The Veterans Administration called us up. Nine of those old fellers had heart attacks. They heard the commercial.” (03:26)

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Important Segment Timestamps

• [01:15] – Discussion of the show's earlier, unfiltered humor
• [01:40] – The Obama soundboard story
• [02:05] – Recollection of the “Obama Sale” ad
• [02:25] – The World War II sale concept and execution
• [02:56] – Backlash from colleagues and consequences
• [03:26] – John jokes about the reaction from Veterans Administration

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Tone and Style

The episode is candid, irreverent, and self-deprecating. The crew looks back with a mix of pride and sheepishness, poking fun at their missteps while recognizing how much radio sensibilities—and their own—have changed.

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Conclusion

This “World War Sale” archive episode provides classic John Clay Wolfe Show humor: brash, boundary-testing, and willing to call out its own misadventures. Packed with behind-the-scenes stories of marketing schemes gone awry, it’s a testament to the show’s enduring ability to entertain—always skirting the edge of what the radio world will tolerate.

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Transcript

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[John Clay Wolf]

The John Clay Wolf show has appeared on terrestrial radio for a really, really, really long time. So we dug into our pockets and on the other side of our we found something funny. And yes, it's contagious. Gather round as the wolf pack goes on this throwback adventure.

[DJ Pre K]

What's the damn deal? It's your boy, DJ Pre K with the John Clay Wolf Show. You. You know where I met. I'm up in the archives, baby. Now, John is a genius at marketing. I seen it all right. But Bobbo's reminiscing on a time when the crew was still finding its footing. They recall an Obama era advertisement that got up in hot water and a World War II themed ad that got him in even more trouble. Hey, you gotta crack a few eggs to make an omelette, right? Check it out.

[John Clay Wolf]

Here's come so far. John Wolf. What was it? There's a time now. There's a time, you know, six or eight years ago when you would have just said what you were thinking.

[Tony]

Yeah.

[John Clay Wolf]

And then realized it and got up and left the booth and left me there to explain for you.

[Tony]

Oh, yeah.

[John Clay Wolf]

You don't remember back in the day? One time, J.D. he found this Obama. This is when Obama was running for office, I think. Or he had just become president of it. And John found an online Obama soundboard.

[Tony]

Oh, yes.

[John Clay Wolf]

Oh, oh, oh. He found some things and ran about three times. The most obscene thing you've ever heard on public airwaves.

[Tony]

Really?

[John Clay Wolf]

And got all red and stood up and walked away.

[Tony]

Walk away.

[John Clay Wolf]

I'm sitting there and I'm just sitting there. Think, trying to think of what? I don't know what I did. I blacked out for a minute.

[Tony]

Do you remember the Obama commercial we ran for Wolf? Fort Dodge Obama?

[DJ Pre K]

Yeah.

[Tony]

We had an Obama sale.

[DJ Pre K]

Really?

[Tony]

Obama. How did it go? I forgot.

[John Clay Wolf]

Tony, you were talking about we're going to get your trucks and give your best deal thousands of dollars off. And every once in a while he would play a clip of me saying Obama.

[Tony]

So did it work? Did it bring people in? Yeah, yeah. But then Cumulus called me and said, don't do that.

[DJ Pre K]

Stop that. Oh, really?

[Tony]

We did the World War II sale event, I had a lot of import cars, a bunch of Jap cars in stock, and I need to get rid of them. So I did a World War II sale, and I took red stickers, the circular stickers, and put them on the doors of all these Mitsubishis and Nissans and stuff. And all the cars with Japanese zeros on the side windows were on sale for the World War II sale.

[John Clay Wolf]

Didn't it look like Yokohama in 1943?

[Tony]

Man, they did not think that was funny.

[John Clay Wolf]

No, no. A lot of.

[Tony]

A lot of Lindy calls me Lindy park calls me Wolf. You know, I back you up a lot. This is the radio guy. I always cover you. I always cover you, but I can't do this one, man. I just can't do this one. Well, I had to take that World War II commercial off there.

[John Clay Wolf]

Yeah, yeah, I can see that. You know, I always got you back, buddy. Except right now. Hey, Wolf, we don't want to talk to you about your Japanese sale. You know I'm always on your side, right? I like you, boy. I can't do that. We had. The Veterans Administration called us up. Nine of those old fellers had heart attacks. They heard the commercial.

[DJ Pre K]

All right, y' all know what to do. Hit us up on John Claywolf.com youm can check out old episodes on there. You know, stay up to date with what we got going on. Get cool gear. We got hats, shirts, all that hit us up on Facebook, you know, search John Clay Wolf show. We're on Instagram, Johnson on Twitter. You can holler at all of us. Okay? You know how to spell it? Okay, we appreciate you all listening. Keep on rocking with us.