John R. Gambling

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John R. Gambling (born 1950) is the son of John A. Gambling and the grandson of John B. Gambling, and as such was, and once again is, the third-generation host of The Gambling family's very-long-running New York morning radio show. Through most of its run the show has been titled Rambling with Gambling, though in its new incarnation beginning in May 2008 it is known simply as "The John Gambling Show."

[edit] Career

When WOR ended Rambling with Gambling in 2000 after 75 years on the air, John R. Gambling moved up the dial to WABC, taking over the post-morning-drive 10 a.m. - noon slot. Gambling was fired by WABC on February 29th 2008 in a cost-cutting move.^[1] On April 30, 2008, WOR announced the return of John R. Gambling to its air waves in his old morning-drive timeslot starting May 5, 2008. New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg will also move to WOR, joining Gambling on a one hour segment on Fridays from 8-9am.^[2] To make room for Gambling, former Mayor Rudolph Giuliani's ex-wife Donna Hanover will leave the station. [ny1]

Politically, Gambling describes himself as a "moderate conservative"; as such, he differs from the orthodox movement conservatism of most of his former colleagues on WABC.

Michael Bloomberg, the mayor of New York City regularly appeared on Gambling's program each Friday discussing current issues in the city. After Gambling was terminated, Bloomberg called him "a class act".^[3] Bloomberg declined to continue to appear on WABC with Curtis Sliwa who took over the time slot, and opted instead to rejoin Gambling on WOR. (As it happens, Bloomberg is owner of a different New York station, WBBR Business Radio 1130, but has stayed off his own station's airwaves all during his administration in order to avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest.)