Harry's extensive recuperation coincided with the majority of World War II. In 1945, he moved to Ventura, California and began selling radio advertising for station KVEN, a station he would eventually become sales manager, and later owner of. It would be the first of many stations that he would eventually oversee.
Harry quickly proved himself an effective salesman, often relying on his Army veteran status to help drive sales. He also developed a healthy relationship with the California Highway Patrol, who became accustomed to seeing his car zipping up and down Highway 101 on sales calls. No doubt he relied on his salesman's tactics to sweettalk himself out of the occasional speeding ticket as well.
It was at KVEN that he befriended several men who would later become instrumental in his career. The station's general manager Mort Werner would later go on to join NBC as the producer of the "Today" show, and the first successful run of "The Tonight Show" with original host Jack Parr. He became senior VP for programming and talent in 1962. Under his watch over the next 10 years, NBC would produce several runaway hits including "Bonanza" and "Laugh-In" and "I Spy", the first series to feature a black actor in a prominent role.
Werner is also fondly remembered by fans of "Star Trek" as the man who single-handedly saved that show at its inception. When producer Gene Roddenberry showed NBC execs his pilot episode (starring Jeffrey Hunter), they turned it down as "too cerebral" for the television audience. However, Werner argued the merits of the fledgling series, and Roddenberry was given an unheard-of second chance ... and funds to produce a second pilot episode. The show was retooled and recast (with William Shatner replacing Hunter). That pilot sold ... and the rest is history.
Decades later, in the late 1970's, it was Werner that would lure old friend and former employee Harry Engel to Maui to run radio stations there.
From KVEN, Harry Engel's business holdings would expand across the country. One of his more unique ventures was as owner of legendary Los Angeles hot dog stand Tail of the Pup. A Hollywood landmark in the unique shape of a giant hot dog, the restaurant would later make appearances in many movies and TV series, including Brian De Palma's Body Double, Steve Martin's L.A. Story, George Benson's video Give Me the Night, and the 1986 Danny DeVito/Bette Midler comedy Ruthless People.
Judge Reinhold from Ruthless People.
The Tail of the Pup, formerly owned by Harry Engel,
can be seen behind him.
In the early 1950's, Harry formed Intercontinental Services, Ltd. on East 46th street in his home city of New York, with sales offices in Los Angeles and San Francisco. The company concentrated primarily on the purchase and operation of smaller radio and television stations worldwide. It was through this venture that would eventually lead Harry to founding Guam's first commercial radio and TV station.
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