At 86 years old, radio legend Alex Bennett is proving that some voices never fade. The beloved Live 105 and The Quake host returned to the San Francisco spotlight at SF Sketchfest, bringing a cavalcade of on-air friends and four decades of Bay Area broadcast memories to the comedy festival.
For generations of San Francisco residents, Bennett's voice was the soundtrack of their mornings. His irreverent, boundary-pushing style helped define alternative radio in the Bay Area, and his influence on local broadcasting remains profound.
"Alex Bennett didn't just do radio—he created community," says 48hills arts editor Tamara Palmer. "His shows were gathering places for misfits, artists, comedians, and anyone who didn't quite fit the mainstream."
Bennett's Sketchfest appearance brought together former colleagues and longtime listeners for an evening of nostalgia and celebration. The event featured stories from his years at Live 105 during the station's influential heyday, when it served as a launching pad for alternative music and comedy in the Bay Area.
Now a podcaster, Bennett has adapted to the digital age while maintaining the spontaneous, conversational style that made him a local legend. His continued engagement with San Francisco's culture scene demonstrates the enduring bonds between broadcaster and community.
The evening also served as a reminder of San Francisco's rich radio history—a time when local stations had distinct personalities and DJs were genuine celebrities in their communities. Bennett's career spans the transition from that era to today's fragmented media landscape.
For the fans who packed the venue, many of whom have followed Bennett since the 1980s, the event was more than entertainment—it was a reunion. Stories were shared, old recordings were played, and for a few hours, the magic of Bay Area radio's golden age came alive again.
"San Francisco gave me everything," Bennett told the crowd. "I'm just grateful I got to give a little something back."
The standing ovation that followed said everything about what Alex Bennett means to this city.