Martin "Marty" H. Holtman, Jr.

Martin H. Holtman Jr. passed away of natural causes on March 16, 2024 at his home in Boise. He was simply known as “Marty” to the thousands of radio listeners and television viewers who came to know and love him since his first appearance on KBOI AM-FM-TV in November of 1961. 

Marty was born on January 26, 1930 in Baltimore MD, and graduated from Patterson High School in 1949, where he was later inducted into the school’s “Hall of Fame” for Journalism. Marty then served 4 years in the U.S. Air Force from 1951-1955, and for a time was stationed at Mountain Home Air Force Base, which was how he met his beloved wife, Pauline Matush of Nampa, who he married on September 11, 1954. They spent the last years of Marty’s military career at Tyndal AFB in Panama City, FL., and then moved to Chicago where Marty earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Columbia College, majoring in TV and Radio Broadcasting.

Marty started his broadcasting career in 1957 in Richmond VA. at WTVR-TV and its sister stations WMBG-AM, and WCOD-FM. On the radio, Marty served as a disc jockey and news reporter, while on television he hosted a kids quiz show called “Trader Bill’s. Marty was also a reporter, news anchor, and for a time, the station’s News Director. While in Richmond, the couple’s first child, Martin III was born, and on a trip to Boise in 1961 to see Pauline’s parents, Marty stopped at KBOI-TV and met Earl Glade Jr., who was KBOI’s station manager at the time. Glade offered Marty a job and promised him at KBOI he could “do it all” which included being a producer and a director, as well as a live host for both television and radio. Marty took the job and moved to Boise in late 1961. He and Pauline were among the very first residents to live in a new subdivision called Warm Springs Mesa, where they built the home the family still lives today. Marty and Pauline’s youngest son, Jimmy, was born in that house, and it was also where Marty spent his final days, receiving hospice care, with his family by his side.

Marty’s Idaho broadcasting career was remarkable in that he was so familiar to television viewers and radio listeners, they thought of him as “friend” rather than a paid announcer. Plus, Marty always made it fun to watch or listen, and it always looked like he was having fun too!  Upon arriving at KBOI, Marty began hosting kids shows such as Funland Express, which showed the cartoons of the day, as well as short features such as The Little Rascals. There was no video tape at first, so Marty did live commercials and live-entertainment skits in between. He also had his own show on KBOI Radio called “Music at Marty’s Place” and began doing the weather on Channel 2, at 5:30 and 10:30 pm. Behind the scenes, Marty was a producer and director for some of station’s live programming, which included the afternoon women’s and kids shows and the early and late news. 

In 1963, through early 1964, Marty played his most memorable role as Claude Gloom – the harmless but horrific host of the late-night “Spook Show” called “The Unknown” which aired from 11:00 pm to 1:00 am in the morning on Thursday – which was a “school night.” KBOI purchased a “package” of Grade-A horror movies that featured some of the top stars of the day. Capitol Volkswagen sponsored the weekly late-night show and held a write-in contest to pick the name of the host - which was how Marty became “Claude Gloom.” Marty played the role to the limit, dressing up in a black cape, wearing a frightful looking grey-haired wig, heavy make-up, a weird-looking dangling eyeball, and much more! He opened and closed the show each week by emerging from an old wooden coffin complete with scary music and a creaking wooden lid that he opened and closed each week! In between movie scenes, Capitol Volkswagen ran commercials and Marty wrote and performed “skits” that were both scary and funny – all at the same time! The kids loved it – and a lot of adults did too. But who didn’t like it were the parents and teachers who complained to KBOI that the show was making it difficult for some kids to stay awake in class on Friday morning. However, despite the pressure, the show remained on the air because Claude Gloom was selling a lot of cars for Capitol Volkswagen! So many in fact, that when it came time to renew the contract for a second year, Capitol Volkswagen declined to renew it at the higher rate KBOI-TV said they had to get due to a price increase from the motion picture company. Plus, sponsoring the spook show had put the struggling car dealership “on the map” so they didn’t really need the advertising. In addition, it was becoming a lot of work for Marty to write and perform the show each week, so everyone – except the viewers – were glad to see the show end. But for Marty, playing the role of Claude Gloom was one of the most memorable parts of his career, and anyone who ever saw him in that “role” will never forget it! 

After doing both the early and late weather on Channel 2, Marty had the opportunity to move into radio full-time and become the morning-host on KBOI-AM, which had moved to 670 khz with 50,000 watts in June of 1968. Marty replaced Gene Perkins on KBOI’s morning show in late 1969, and also became the Program Director and Music Director for KBOI Radio, which was then simulcasted on KBOI-FM at 97.9 MHZ, with a powerful signal of 17,000 watts from KBOI-TV’s tower on Deer Point. Starting in 1970, Marty’s morning show, which he called “The Yawn Patrol,” was rated #1 with adults. Marty also stayed very visible in the community volunteering his time to be Master of Ceremonies for Boise Music Week, the Miss Boise Pageant. He also hosted many local and national “telethons” where hundreds of thousands of dollars was raised for worthwhile charities, during which, Marty got to meet both Jerry Lewis and Pat Boone!

In January of 1975, KBOI AM-FM Radio was sold to Charles Wilson. KBOI-TV changed call letters to KBCI, and Marty stayed-on with radio, continuing to host the morning host for several years. When KBCI-TV was a sold in 1976, Larry Chase suggested to then-manager Jimmy Johntz, that Marty would make an excellent choice for Channel 2’s weatherman. Jimmy agreed, and Marty was hired back to do weather on Channel 2.

After leaving KBOI Radio, Marty then got hired as the interim manager of KSPD Radio in Boise. Marty managed the station, hosted the morning show, and was able to help get the station back on to a more stable financial footing. He then became the morning host for KAIN-AM in Nampa working for owner Jack Bolton, who Marty both loved and respected very much. In many ways, Marty says Jack was the best boss he ever had, and he enjoyed his time at KAIN very much. This was especially true since KAIN had just acquired the CBS Radio Network and changed their format from Beautiful Music to middle-of-the-road music, two radio programming elements Marty was “at home” with. Marty stayed with KAIN and commuted to Nampa to do his mid-day radio show for a couple years, until television came calling.

In the early 1980’s, KBCI-TV decided to add a feature reporter, and Marty was a natural for the job! It was here Marty did some of his best work, including Marty’s Santa Express, where Marty, producer Mark Montgomery, and photographer Clyn Richards received a regional Emmy in 1989. In 2000 Marty received the Silver Circle Award for Lifetime Achievement from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. 

In the mid-1980’s, KIDO-AM moved to a News-Talk format and hired Marty to do live early-morning weather reports via a phone patch from his home studio in Warm Springs Mesa. Marty called his studio “The Crow’s Nest” and would occasionally refer to his little dog “Mitzy” - who would bark while Marty was on the air! The listeners loved hearing Mitzy and Marty do the weather on KIDO, and it helped him promote his TV weathercasts on KBCI. However, KIDO also hired Tom Alibrandi from Syracuse, New York who did a short-lived conservative talk show on KIDO from 9:00 am to Noon. In August of 1988, Alibrandi’s ratings came out and were down in almost all categories. Then, after he and others attempted to unionize the station, KIDO’s ownership and management fired Alibrandi, and discharged much of the morning news staff. Marty was among the employees that were “let go” and listeners protested the firings by picketing the station with signs asking them to “Bring Back Alibrandi!” Marty says one little girl had a sign that read “And They Fired Marty Too!” That was Marty’s last regular appearance on the radio, and while he enjoyed being on the radio, television was a bit more stable.

Marty did his last official weather forecast on June 28, 1991 and was replaced on Channel 2 by Scott Dorval. However, he continued to “fill-in” for Scott and others on the staff to cover vacations and other occasions when the normal weather staff could not be there. Marty also continued to do commercials for local advertisers, which were produced both at the station and for local advertising agencies. One big “perk” in retirement was the hosting of Channel 2 Cruises, where he and Pauline got to travel to exotic destinations and get to know viewers and advertisers.

In addition to winning the prestigious Emmy and Silver Circle Awards, Marty was honored by the Idaho State Broadcasters Association for “Best Weathercast” and “Best Personality” and well as winning numerous awards from the Idaho State Press Club, the Associated Press, and United Press International. He was also featured as “The Distinguished Citizen” of the week by the Idaho Statesman in February of 1987, and narrated numerous films and videos including presentations for both the Idaho State Police, and the Boise Fire Department. 

In 2024, he also received the first Marty Holtman Lifetime Achievement Award from the History of Idaho Broadcasting Foundation, Inc., which the Foundation created and named after him. It was presented to Marty in-person on January 26, 2024 at the Foundation’s January Meeting, which also happened to be Marty’s 94th birthday. Cake was served to everyone!

When not at work, Marty kept busy and was a devoted husband to Pauline and a wonderful father to his two boys, Martin III and Jimmy. Marty was a faithful member of St. John’s Catholic Church in Boise, where he was a “lector” for over 50 years, retiring just 2 years ago at the age of 92! Marty was also part of the “Neighborhood Watch” program for Warm Springs Mesa, the subdivision where he lived since 1962, and he also helped out as a volunteer at the Boise Senior Center. 

Marty was at the initial “formation” meeting of the History of Idaho Broadcasting Foundation in May of 2006, and soon joined the organization, where he has been a loyal member for the past 18 years. In fact, it was Marty who suggested the current monthly luncheon format where they meet the last Friday of each month at the same time and same location. The Foundation adopted Marty’s suggestion, and since doing so, Marty rarely missed a meeting. The Foundation has featured many programs about the history of Channel 2 Television, KBOI radio, Claude Gloom, and of course Marty himself, and his extraordinary broadcasting career. His “story” has also been featured in the Foundation’s quarterly magazine “As the Turntable Turns” as well as on-line at the Foundation’s website www.historyofidahobroadcasting.org where you can read a tribute to Marty and see the final picture that was taken of him with Art Gregory, who has been Marty’s longtime friend for 54 years. 

Marty is survived by his two sons, Martin H. Holtman III (Dondie) of Salt Lake City, Utah, and his youngest son James (“Jimmy”) who was there with his father when Marty passed away. Marty will be missed but will never be forgotten, and his life and career are being preserved and celebrated, and honored by The History of Idaho Broadcasting Foundation, a 501 (c) 3 charity, who the family suggests memorials be sent to in Marty’s memory. The address is: History of Idaho Broadcasting Foundation Inc., 6127 N. Hastings Ave Boise ID 83714. You can also donate in Marty’s name “on line” at the above website. 

A Celebration of Life for Marty will be held Saturday April 27, 2024 at Smoky Mountain Pizzeria Grill 415 East Parkcenter Blvd. Boise, Idaho 83706. The Holtman Family invites you to stop in anytime between 1:00 - 5:00 pm. Marty did not want a formal funeral or program, instead he just wanted his family and friends to get together and have one last beer “with Marty” and not be sad, but be happy for the great life and the many friends he had. There will be a photo and video slide show running, and many of Marty’s awards, artifacts, photos and memorabilia will be on display. In addition, there will be some “live” DJ music played at the event, with several surprise “guest-DJ’s” spinning actual vinyl records played on turntables, along with original jingles and commercials. No RSVP is needed. Just stop by Smoky Mountain at Parkcenter anytime between 1:00 and 5:00 pm.