I thought he had a steady job working for KPFA on an assigned slot, which is where he honed his talent for talking for long stretches to fill the air on the radio—all while chain smoking at the console and answering calls from little old ladies in Berkeley, who would ask him obscure questions about whatever topic he was going on about. I think I remember reading that the archival audio tapes for those shows are still around somewhere, but I’ve never once heard them. I got interested in this like 15 years ago or so, and took a look-see in the Pacifica archives, and I think they are still there locked up in a vault somewhere, unless a fire or a flood took them out, which happens more than you might think.
Probably right -- mine was based upon impressions.
In terms of archives, and 20/80, whatever "Alan Watts from the archives" they now offer as a donation premium is probably enough for KPFA's purposes. I don't know when they moved to the new building, except it must have have been since 1990. So possibly "fire, flood" or move between facilities.
Just a possibility here. I have the impression he worked for KQED TV for a time in the 1950s. That might have put him in touch with competent sound techs.
I recall someone who was also at KQED at that time relating this: Alan Watts told her he would write a blurb for any book author who requested one. (Speaks to some flare for self promotion.)