BELL TOLLS: IT’S OVER! ART BELL QUITS FOR THE FINAL TIME – UPDATED 12/12/15

Art Bell fans are about to light up in rage, anger, sadness, grief, and whatever mixture of emotions they could conjure at the latest Facebook post from the talk show host: He quits.

From Bell,

I am sorry to have to announce this but I will not be on Tonight or any other night, yes I am going to hang it up. Whoever this crazy person is, they are not stopping and it has come to the point that we as a Family do not feel it is worth the risk. While I think the person or persons are after me, my Wife and now my Daughter are really scared, the other night after the latest incident my Daughter was off in the corner of her bed scared to death as the Police cars came screaming up. I will not put my Family through this. As you all know I dearly love what I do but not at the expense of never ending Terrorism. I want to thank those of you who have shown so much support and it has been my joy, short as it has been to have cracked that Mic open for a last time. This was a Family decision. The girls stuck with me and still would but if one of them were harmed because of what I love doing my life would be over.

Art

This message comes after a series of threatening encounters with an unknown man popping shots onto Bell’s property.

The HORROR REPORT has followed this story as it developed..
And now tonight, this Friday which would normally be reserved for open lines, is going to be without Art Bell. In his place: His producer Heather Wade..

There will be a live show Tonight and while I know people hate change, Heather my Producer has decided to give tonight’s show a try! I would ask that you give her a fair listen before you decide thumbs up or down. She is really really good at what she does.

Art

And with that.. a whimper and not a bang, the MIDNIGHT IN THE DESERT program is done. Short lived.. very popular–big stations picked him up and even Clyde Lewis got bumped down from 5 hours to 3.. Coast to Coast AM, though seemingly the weak contender, wins by default..
The Art Bell generation is aging and the new crowd that was introduced to his show over the past few months have suddenly lost a new favorite.

Speaking of Lewis, the Bell re-re-re-retirement has had an effect on Ground Zero. From Lewis,

Art Bell has resigned from Midnight in the Desert. The whole Ground Zero team wishes him the best in the future. In light of this news Ground Zero will go back to 5 hours a night on KXL. (We will post any other updates as needed)

 

MIDNIGHT riders unite.. this is one sad night.

As ‘Rick Deckard’ on BELLGAB writes tonight,

Damn. Looks like I’ll be going to sleep while listening to Art Bell reruns… forever.

So long, Art Bell. You’re much loved and will be much missed.

Stay safe. Stay happy. And enjoy your family.

Merry Christmas.

There are some Facebook fans calling Bell to task tonight over the allegations that shootings have occurred on his property. One poster wrote, ” On /r/artbell (reddit) they are saying there is no proof of any of these shooting incidents. No police reports, nothing.
I am a huge fan, have been since ’95. I am disappointed with this announcement.
Can you explain why you made no police reports about these incidents?”  Bell responded directly, saying, “I did, several times at the Nye County Sheriff Dept.” 

 

Another message from Bell posted after the original two talks about refunds for subscribers,

Midnight in the Desert

So, I made my decision after my Wife told me about my Daughter today. She was really scared.

Everybody who wants refunds will get them.

Heather will do a show Tonight with I think a Time Traveler.

Perhaps I will come and do a random show when Heather needs a break if you give her a chance. I just can not keep a routine that puts my Family in danger.

Art

Tonight, Dark Matter Radio Network braintrust Keith Rowland offered up instructions on how to cancel your Art Bell subscription..

 

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UPDATED 8:08 AM SATURDAY DECEMBER 12 2015:

Art Bell had one more post on the entire matter.
Heather Wade appeared hosting Midnight in the Desert last night.  She sounded like herself–those who may have heard her before on Midnight or even on Bellgab’s numerous past podcasts as ‘(Redacted)’ already knew what she sounded like. Her guest was troubling, however. He was not able to complete a thought almost a sentence. He was a supposed time traveler from the future but was guarding his secrets. He seemed to be filled with bunk. Suddenly, around an hour into the program fraught with technical issues, Bell called in to greet the new host. He appeared to be giving her an on-air reassuring–and listeners too.

Then Bell wrote this on Facebook this morning,

I think Heather did a amazing job given the short notice, connection problems and a Guest who was tough. She will return Monday with a great Guest and I think those of you who are considering cancelling should give her a couple of more days before deciding. In my view she has one of the more pleasant voices on Radio!

On another note it may be that after some time if you stick with it I may be able to show up now and then. While I understand I could have some Guard out there it is not a road I care to go down again, I did that Years ago and hated it for the same reason anybody who has ever been under Guard would easily understand, it’s really intrusive.

I was prepared to go on, threat or not but after a sit down with my Wife about what life has been like since all this started for her and most of all Asia, it just seemed selfish of me to keep doing it so I could have fun under current circumstances. I also want to say the Sheriff’s office has been doing a wonderful job, they have a big valley to protect.

Art

The comments section on this post showcase anger and sadness mixed together in the style reminiscent of the other times Bell quit. Despite his assurance that he’d come back to do an occasional show if ‘time travelers’ stick around, Keith Rowland has already posted instruction on how to quit and get money back. Major radio affiliates like KXL have already dropped MIDNIGHT.. Most likely other big players who recently picked up the show will do the same thing.

The only take I can personally have on this: It seems too late to make any comeback after this. At this point, the show is Midnight with Heather Wade. It may be wise to take out ‘the desert’ portion since she’s from the West’s undisclosed location.  It may also be inventive to try to get other Bellgab.com users involved with the program.  Calling MV? Jazz? others?

And when Wade needs a night off.. Bell may be the relief and give an open lines here and there. But with him gone as the headliner of the program, the audience that gets built will have to be more organic. Bell’s name brought back big players and opened the door for huge numbers in ratings. Heather Wade will not have that immediate advantage. And in some ironic twist, thought she and others on Bellgab have long been critical of George Noory and how he got his gig after Bell left Coast in the early 2000s, she may face the same hostile audience.

The ball is in her court now. The HORROR REPORT has personally wished her success in this venture and publicly does here, as well.

Given the circumstances of everything, going from producer to host may not be a simple task..