Alan Berg
A fearless and provocative radio voice, his murder by white supremacists turned him into a tragic symbol of the cost of free speech.
1934–1984 (age 50)·American talk radio show host·Birthday: January 1·The Silent Generation
Biography
Alan Berg was a shock to the system of Denver's airwaves. With a background in law and a personality built for confrontation, his talk show was a volatile arena where he dismantled callers' arguments with a sharp, often abrasive wit. He championed liberal causes and atheism in a measured media landscape, making him a lightning rod for controversy and a target for hate. His assassination in the driveway of his home in 1984 was not a random crime but a calculated political murder carried out by members of The Order, a violent white supremacist group. Berg's death exposed the deadly reach of domestic terrorism and became a national story, later immortalized in the book and film 'Talk Radio'. He is remembered less for a conventional broadcasting legacy and more as a martyr in the fight against extremism, a man whose on-air battles culminated in a very real and fatal one.
The Silent Generation
1928–1945
Born between the Depression and the end of WWII. Too young to fight, old enough to remember. They became the conformist middle managers of the 1950s — and the civil rights leaders who quietly dismantled Jim Crow.
Alan was born in 1934, placing them squarely in The Silent Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Alan Was Born
The biggest hits of 1934
#1 Movie
It Happened One Night
Best Picture
It Happened One Night
Alan's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1934Born
Gas: $0.19/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Stars Fell on Alabama" — Jack TeagardenBest Picture: It Happened One Night
1939Started school
World War II begins; The Wizard of Oz premieres
Gas: $0.19/galMin wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Over the Rainbow" — Judy GarlandBest Picture: Gone with the Wind
1947Became a teenager
India gains independence; the Dead Sea Scrolls found
Gas: $0.23/galHome: $6,600Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Near You" — Francis CraigBest Picture: Gentleman's Agreement
1950Could drive
Korean War begins
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,354Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Goodnight Irene" — Gordon Jenkins & The WeaversBest Picture: All About Eve
1952Could vote
Queen Elizabeth II ascends the throne
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $8,350Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Blue Tango" — Leroy AndersonBest Picture: The Greatest Show on Earth
1955Turned 21
Rosa Parks refuses to give up her bus seat
Gas: $0.29/galHome: $9,550Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Rock Around the Clock" — Bill Haley & His CometsBest Picture: Marty
1964Turned 30
Civil Rights Act signed; Beatles arrive in America
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $13,450Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"I Want to Hold Your Hand" — The BeatlesBest Picture: My Fair Lady
1974Turned 40
Nixon resigns the presidency
Gas: $0.53/galHome: $22,600Min wage: $2.00/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"The Way We Were" — Barbra StreisandBest Picture: The Godfather Part II
1984Turned 50
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
Key Achievements
- Hosted a highly popular and controversial talk radio show on KOA-AM in Denver that dominated local ratings.
- His assassination led to a major FBI investigation and the conviction of members of the white supremacist group The Order.
- His life and death were the primary inspiration for Eric Bogosian's play and subsequent film 'Talk Radio'.
- Successfully practiced as a defense attorney in Chicago before moving into radio broadcasting.
Did You Know?
He was known for his flamboyant style, often wearing a black cape and driving a purple Rolls-Royce.
Despite his atheist views on air, he was given a traditional Jewish funeral after his murder.
He was a close friend of controversial comedian and author Lenny Bruce.
The .38 caliber pistol used to kill him was the same weapon used in an armored car robbery committed by The Order.
“"I'm not here to make friends. I'm here to make people think."”
