Dr. Marshall Saper – Radio Psychologist

In the 80’s and into the 90’s radio psychologists were the rage.  Dr. Marshall Saper started out on KMBZ AM radio, where something must have gone wrong as he soon left that station to go to KCMO AM, a better fit for his program. KCMO’s signal goes far to the North. People in Minnesota would listen to him. I was one of his Cronies.  I have one of his books, and he inscribed it; “To Vernon, my Crony.”  I was so well known by my voice that strangers recognized me.

In 1991, Saper committed suicide. He gave the outward appearance of being together, but I think he was a tad paranoid. He smoked a pipe, and it must have stunk up the studio where all the on air personalities worked. In one of my calls, I mentioned this to him, about smoking a pipe, and he became very defensive. He really lost it, as if I were a stalker. He wanted to know how I knew he smoked a pipe? Had I been following him around? I told him the woman who was on air before him had mentioned the pipe. I talked with one of his patients, and he confirmed that Saper was a bit nutty.

I met Saper on three occasions. He would  go out to speak at publicity events for the station, and of course, he always had his books for sale.  I bought two of the three he wrote, and he autographed the last book I bought from him. He had a Crony Certificate made up. I think a caller came up with it.  And it certified that if you listened to “the Old Country Doctor, you were his crony.”

Saper was accused of having a sexual relationship with a patient. Something he denied. I don’t believe he did, but that is probably why he killed himself. It was going to trial, and publicity of this nature was the last thing he wanted.