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1. Craig_Adams
   

   Radio historian
   Posts: 7,277

   "Tiger" Tom Murphy surprised me in the mail with a 1963 Portland Radio/TV School pamphlet. You'll have fun reading the instructor bio's. I've tried to recreate it all here. Yes, it was a very different time. Youngsters, you will read why we call it the good old days, enjoy!
   ___________________________________________________________________________

   [Front Cover]

   PACIFIC
   NORTHWEST
   ELECTRONICS
   WORKSHOP

   SPRING, SUMMER '63
   TV-RADIO CLASS

   OREGON'S ONLY ACCELERATED
   13 WEEK SPECIAL CLASSROOM
   COURSE LEADING TO YOUR FIRST
   CLASS RADIO TELEPHONE LICENSE

   [background picture of the PNEW television studio]

   [Page 2]

   Pacific Northwest
   Electronics Workshop
   409 S.W. 13th Ave.
   Portland, Oregon

   This Is The Age of Electronics.
   If you want Success, Security, Financial Rewards and the satisfaction that comes from doing work that is vitally needed in our Country today, there is one thing we would like to make clear to all of You...

   Age Is No Barrier!
   Success begins when you begin to make it happen!

   Whether you have just finished High School or are in your forties, looking for security in an age that may see Your Future Threatened by the Technical Revolution-Automation.* The greatest field for future success available today is Electronics.

   It may seem incredible but if you have normal intelligence and aptitude WE CAN TRAIN YOU TO PASS YOUR F.C.C. LICENSE REQUIREMENTS FOR A FIRST PHONE LICENSE IN JUST 13 WEEKS OR LESS.**

   This license is your admittance to a Secure Future in Radio, T.V. Governmental Technical Work, work that will always be available and Now Desperately Needs Qualified People.

   We would be the last in the world to tell you that this course is as easy as basket-weaving. It is not. It will take work on your part, in both classroom attention and home study. But we can assure you that literally thousands of average , everyday people have gained their First Phone License in just 13 weeks of this Accelerated Instruction Method.

   You owe it to yourself to investigate this opportunity. Remember, We can open a Secure Future to You but only YOU can take the first step.

   PACIFIC NORTHWEST ELECTRONICS WORKSHOP

   *"Unemployment continues to rise. Government Officials Fear the trend will increase for Non-Technical Workers in this Electronic Age." Time Magazine.

   **Normal time is eighteen months to secure your First Class Radio Telephone License.

   [Page 3]

   If You want Success for Yourself, learn from Successful People. These Successful People will teach You Personally.

   [TELEVISION INSTRUCTORS PICTURED WITH BIOS]

   JOE ALLEN, TECHNICAL SCHOOL DIRECTOR
   Graduate of Multnomah College in electronics, Chief Engineer of radio station KOHI, KLIQ and currently in the engineering department of Portland television station KPTV.

   HARRY GODSIL, TELEVISION PRODUCTION AND DIRECTION
   Four years television and drama instructor at Lewis & Clark College, currently Operations Manager at KPTV.

   IVAN SMITH, TELEVISION NEWS
   Assistant News Director , KGW T.V. channel 8. Mr. Smith is highly regarded in the news field and we are proud to have him as a member of our staff.

   DOUG LAMEAR, TELEVISION SPORTS CASTING
   Doug is Portland's best known television Sportscaster. His background includes six years as KGW T.V. Sports Director.

   ROY COOPER, CAMERA THEORY AND OPERATION
   A graduate of Texas Christian in radio and television, top camera man at KPTV for two and a half years, currently crew chief at KATU T.V.

   ED SULLIVAN, TELEVISION SALES
   Mr. Sullivan's background includes 10 years of Radio and T.V. sales -- currently leading salesman at KATU, Channel 2 -- Portland.

   GENE BRENDLER, ON AND OFF CAMERA TELEVISION ANNOUNCING
   Gene is one of Portland's finest television announcers and personalities. His background includes five years of radio announcing and seven years of television announcing. He is currently Chief Announcer at KPTV.

   [RADIO INSTRUCTORS PICTURED WITH BIOS]

   GEORGE McGOWAN, RADIO NEWS CASTING
   Mr. McGowan is considered one of the Pacific Northwest's leading newscasters and his background includes eighteen years in the news field with KXLY Spokane, KOIN Portland and currently KEX in Portland.

   SAMMY TAYLOR, RADIO ANNOUNCING
   Twenty two years as a leading Portland radio personality on KWJJ and KGW. Chosen as the Nation's number one disc-jockey in 1962, Mr. Taylor has a daily show on KWJJ.

   DEL OLNEY, RADIO PROGRAM DIRECTION
   Currently Program Director for KXL, Olney's background covers eighteen years in radio as announcer and Program Director at KWJJ in Portland, KJR Seattle, KHON Honolulu.

   NAT JACKSON, RADIO CONTINUITY
   A graduate of University of Portland and a veteran of 10 years in radio continuity. Formerly with KRXL in Lewiston and 2 1/2 years as Continuity Director at KISN.

   RAY HORN, RADIO ANNOUNCING
   A big voice in Portland radio, Mr. Horn's shows have consistently rated number one. He is now heard daily on KGW.

   ROGER FERRIER, TOP FIFTY DISC JOCKEY
   Six year veteran of Portland radio at KISN, KEX, KKEY & KGAY. Each student will actually do a 15 minute show under Ferrier's direction.

   JOHN HICKOX, RADIO SALES
   A graduate of University of Oregon, former Sales Manager of KOIL in Omaha and now top salesman for radio KISN in Portland.

   JIM STRICKLAND, ELECTRONICS IN INDUSTRY
   Twenty five years in radio and electronics, Mr. Strickland is currently an engineering writer for Tektronics, Inc. He shared the engineering responsibilities for multiplex broadcasting on KPFM and has been with Tektronics for 8 1/2 years.

   [Page 4]

   THERE IS A PLACE FOR YOU NOW IN TELEVISION, RADIO AND ELECTRONICS

   WE OFFER COMPLETE PLACEMENT. THERE ARE MORE JOBS IN BROADCASTING, TELECASTING, GOVERNMENT AND PRIVATE ELECTRONICS PROJECTS THAN CAN BE FILLED. A glance at the Help Wanted section in any newspaper is Ready Proof. A First Class Radio Telephone License is a PRIME REQUIREMENT in entering such fields as:

   Radio, television engineering and operation.
   Federal Aviation Agency Communications.
   Governmental electronics.
   Overseas Radio Services.
   Voice of America Radio.
   Bell Telephone Systems.
   All phases of communications engineering, maintenance and operation.
   Continental and overseas jobs with companies such as: RCA, Philco, General Electric and many more.
   Missile control and tracking networks.

   LICENSED AND BONDED BY THE STATE OF OREGON EDUCATIONAL DEPARTMENT.

   TWO SEPARATE CLASSES
   1. Monday, Wednesday and Friday evenings 7:00 to 10:00.
   2. Tuesday, Thursday from 7:00 to 10:00 & Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

   ____________________________________________________________________________

   PACIFIC NORTHWEST ELECTRONICS WORKSHOP
   409 S.W. 13th Avenue
   Portland 5, Oregon

   A CAREFUL PERSONAL INTERVIEW WILL BE NECESSARY BEFORE ADMITTANCE.

   Please have your representative call on me about your school for 1st class radio telephone
   license in 13 weeks. I understand that I am under no obligation.

   NAME ___________________________________________ PHONE ____________________

   ADDRESS ___________________________________________________________________

   CITY ___________________________________________ STATE ____________________

   CLASS PREFERENCE 1 [ ] 2 [ ]

   Complete Placement Service -- No Charge
   There are More Jobs Available than can be Filled.

   Posted on November 23, 2009 - 07:52 AM #
2. Pat
   

   vacuum tube
   Posts: 393

   Wow!!! all that talent in one place.

   Posted on November 23, 2009 - 09:40 AM #
3. RobinMitchell
   

   junior diode
   Posts: 19

   Hey...that's how I got my First Phone & got into radio!!!

   I think I did the Tuesday-Thursday-Saturday classes while still in high school. Got my First Phone during summer break between my Jr. & Sr. year at Tigard High School.

   Fred DiPietro...the former matriDe at "the top of the cosmo" managed the school for Bob McAnulty. Joe Allen was the Technical Instructor. Hey that's where I met fellow-student Jim Liniger "Laid Back Lenny." I also recall Jack Sunday (Gary Taylor/Bruno) in one of the classes...and I believe Tiger Tom was a guest speaker...or made a "cameo." Nat Jackson...KISN's Continuity Director gave tips on writing commercials...that still work today: Get their attention...Tell 'em what
   you're gonna tell 'em....tell 'em....then tell 'em what you told 'em.

   My dad knew I liked radio, and he was "best friends" with Jim Conway
   ("The Outdoor Sportsman"), whose co-host Doug LaMear...was going to be working with the school....so we checked it out...and the rest is history!!

   Posted on December 25, 2009 - 12:15 PM #
4. Tom Parker
   

   tough transistor
   Posts: 57

   Security!! I knew there was something I liked about radio!

   I got my first ticket after two weeks of 14 hour days living with the Ron Bailie test files. Now it's a General Radiotelephone lifetime license. I still can't flick a light switch the right direction if it doesn't have ON and OFF embossed on it.

   Posted on December 25, 2009 - 12:42 PM #
5. Chris_taylor
   

   vacuum tube
   Posts: 2,998

   My radio schooling happened after I got off my request line operator duties at KGW and snuck into the production studios wondering what buttons did what. Took the station off the air a couple times during my non-instructed-curiosity seeking adventures.

   Eventually had several jocks pull me into the on-air booth (Tom Brooks, Bruce Murdock, Mike Rivers, Jim Donovan, Richard Miller, Mike Sakellarides and few others) and let me actually play radio for a song or two. Had gotten that non-operational permit just before I went to college. While getting ready to take my tests it all ended. I still carry my General Radiotelephone lifetime license in my wallet to prove I can drive the car.

   Posted on December 25, 2009 - 07:12 PM #
6. Bill Cooper
   

   vacuum tube
   Posts: 243

   Like Chris, the KGW studios were wonderful as a classroom. I would spend hours sitting watching Gordy Miller do production. He graciously answered my questions along the way. for about a year every night I pulled a request line shift that ended at midnight Joe Cooper let me be his board op while he was at the mic in the studio between the control room and the production room. It was a priceless experience. When Hal Widsten finally let me work the weekend all-nighter he said he would have someone show me how to run the board. I politely let them, never letting on that I had already had a year of practice! To keep this on-thread...never did get the first phone, only the third with a broadcast endorsement.

   Posted on December 25, 2009 - 08:18 PM #
7. semoochie
   

   vacuum tube
   Posts: 3,914

   I believe it's the verification card that was carried in the wallet. The license fit in an 8x10 frame for hanging on a wall, preferably where you worked.

   Posted on December 26, 2009 - 03:20 AM #
8. Craig_Adams
   

   Radio historian
   Posts: 7,277

   Radiotelephone Third Class Operator Permit with Special Endorsement (Blue):
   http://www.rds.com/blogs/doug/assets/2006/fccThirdClass.jpg

   Radiotelephone Third Class Operator Permit with Special Endorsement (Orange):
   http://members.mva.net/lomicka/credentials/big/fcc129.gif

   Restricted Radio Telephone Operator Permit - Limited Use (wallet card). Mine does not say limited use. Couldn't find the exact card I have, on-line:
   http://www.culturailes.net/culturnet/Consultables/consucv/RROP.jpg

   Radio Telephone Operator License - First Class (Blue):
   http://www.rds.com/blogs/doug/assets/2006/fccFirstClass.jpg

   Radio Telephone Operator License - First Class (Yellow):
   http://www.spectruminvestigative.com/first.jpg

   Posted on December 26, 2009 - 04:29 AM #
9. tombrooks
   

   vacuum tube
   Posts: 111

   Ron Bailie School of Broadcasting..memory lane (Tom Parker reminded me of this)

   Was working weekends at KISN in 1973. A senior in High School at Benson.
   Pat Pattee had left the all night shift at KISN, his replacement was leaving too.

   Roger W Morgan the PD at the time came to me and told me we will hire you as the All night guy 12-6am – but first you need you First Class FCC License. (I still remember my pay $160 a week – 5 nights all night and a Saturday shift) They paid part of my “Schooling” at the Ron Bailie School of broadcasting (Directly across the street from KISN (I think it was another radio station years earlier and later became a business called “Gingers Sexy Sauna”)

   My work was to memorize almost 700 questions and answers for the FCC Test (All 4 question multiple guess) The actual FCC test was a lot less, but you were not sure which one you got. In the summer of ’73 I failed the test twice in Portland. I was then told by the school administrators that I needed to go to Seattle to take the test (Apparently the Portland FCC had a new version the Ron Bailie was not prepared for..)

   So I went to Seattle, stayed overnight in a hotel, took the test and passed.

   Back to Portland, got the all night gig at KISN (Which a lot of you folks know was done at the transmitter of KISN 158th and Sandy)

   The funny thing is the First Class FCC License meant I could read a meter at the base of the KISN towers (There were four) and an extra meter reading at the transmitter itself..KISN was one of the few stations that stayed the same power (I believe 5000 Watts but had a pattern changes at night)

   I was no smarter about electronics then before I started at Ron Bailie.. but I had that ALL important First Class FCC license and a full time job…

   At 19 I had it made......

   Posted on December 26, 2009 - 09:08 AM #
10. semoochie
    

    vacuum tube
    Posts: 3,914

    I went through the same thing about a year later. The idea was to memorize all the correct answers to all the possible questions that might be on the test. I think there were 725 questions for the second phone and 525 for the first. We read over a portion of the questions and correct answer, back over the portion and then on to the next portion and so on. After getting through all the questions, you would take the test. There is no question in my mind that I got ALL the correct answers on both tests! I knew NOTHING about electronics!

    Posted on December 26, 2009 - 01:53 PM #
11. semoochie
    

    vacuum tube
    Posts: 3,914

    Now that I've thought about it, I believe those numbers were 571 and 351.

    Posted on December 26, 2009 - 07:21 PM #
12. jimbo
    

    vacuum tube
    Posts: 716

    "transmitter of KISN 158th and Sandy"
    Actually, 158th & Airport Way.

    You guys were all lucky. The test wasn't all multiple choice when I took it. There were about 5 not choice questions on the First Phone (Element 4). You had to calculate and draw and show your work. I remember one was on drawing a radiation pattern for a 2 tower setup, another was calculating the gain of an amplifier circuit. Transistors were a fairly new concept and many of the questions, and the amplifier circuit, were based on vacuum tubes. Heck, we were still being taught vacuum tube theory in electronics classes in college in the lower division engineering courses. We went to solid state in the upper division.

    I had trouble passing the second class license, not because of the technical but because of the "law" questions about how much frequency deviation at what power level on ship to shore communications. I had no clue, not having gone to the six week wonder course. I could care less about all that "legal" type questions. I was only interested in the broadcasting aspect. Didn't care about 2 way stuff. When I finally got the 2nd, I went down the next week and took the first and passed it on first try. Went for the radar endorsement a year later. That was pretty easy. I was working at Telco in their microwave dept at the time. I then went to KOAP-TV where I had to take their TV technicians test to get the job. When I started, the CE, Tony Schmidt, said I could start before I took the test but I had to pass to keep the job. I was told I replaced Russ Ripley. 10 years later, the license was no longer needed. Didn't really matter as I had my BSEE by that time and was moving on for the registered P.E. shingle.

    Posted on December 27, 2009 - 03:24 AM #
13. semoochie
    

    vacuum tube
    Posts: 3,914

    There was no Airport Way until somewhat recently. I usually referred to that area as 158th and Marine Drive.

    Posted on December 27, 2009 - 03:43 AM #
14. jimbo
    

    vacuum tube
    Posts: 716

    When did Airport Road go in? I know the road was in sometime in the 80's but not heavily used. It went to 181st and Sandy.
    The transmitter was closer to Marine Drive than to Sandy, however. Perhaps 158th was just a connector between Sandy and Marine Drive.

    Posted on December 27, 2009 - 11:00 AM #
15. tombrooks
    

    vacuum tube
    Posts: 111

    semoochie: I forgot about that - Yes 2nd Class test you did first, then came back to do the First Class - That's where I got stuck and ended up going to Seattle (FCC Had a different test apparently Ron Bailie had moles that would keep track of the tests and somehow got the answers)..

    Jimbo: I always would enter on the Sandy and 158th (I lived in an apartment on 162nd and Glisan) There was no Airport way - Nothing between Marine Drive and Sandy - Just 158th - It was mostly farm/industrial land then (Working Midnight - 6am by yourself was sometimes a little unnerving - Peoples would sometimes drive down that long road to the small transmitter building - even though there was a big WARNING DANGER sign to keep out.

    (There was also a fall-out shelter next to the news room - I guess the management for KISN thought saving the News people was more important then the jocks on air)

    Posted on December 27, 2009 - 03:27 PM #
16. Craig_Adams
    

    Radio historian
    Posts: 7,277

    Everyone in a broadcasting class, taking the test was assigned an FCC test question number to memorized and bring back to the class teacher.

    Posted on December 27, 2009 - 06:45 PM #
17. Master of Disaster
    

    vacuum tube
    Posts: 1,124

    When did Airport Road go in? I know the road was in sometime in the 80's but not heavily used. It went to 181st and Sandy.
    I want to say it was more like somewhere between '92-'94. there used to be practically nothing along Airport Way past the airport except for the parking lots and the Economy Parking Lot near I-205 on the westside. If I remember correctly, eastside of the freeway was just land until the late 80s, but I do know that the main part of Airport Way ended at 122nd Blvd. (Yes, 122nd is officially Boulevard North of Sandy), and Airport Wy. was a small two-lane road until ending at 138th.

    Posted on December 28, 2009 - 12:25 AM #
18. Tom Parker
    

    tough transistor
    Posts: 57

    Getting a "First Ticket" for a jock was playing a game the Government had designed.

    Heck, guys with full on EE degrees had a tough time passing the tests. But in many small to medium markets you had to have a first or you couldn't get the job. There were just too many meter readings that had to be signed by a first holder for an owner to have both an engineer and a jock on duty.

    Posted on December 29, 2009 - 08:58 AM #
19. Bob Parker Calkins
    

    new electron
    Posts: 1

    I was so proud of that First Phone. It got me a job at 50Kw KYXI, but only after a creepy side trip. The all-nite guy had put on "Softly As I Leave You" and left- and I don't mean via the door. He threw a rope over some conduit in the transmitter room and hanged himself. The morning drive guy had to look at the body swinging through a glass door until the coroner got there.
    So remember how licenses had to be posted? I proudly handed mine, in a shiny new frame, to the Chief Engineer. Sadly, there was no place to post it. The board was full. Then he realized.....hmmm....so-and-so won't be needing his anymore.
    So my license ended up prominently displayed in the place of a guy who'd offed himself about 10 feet away. For the coupla years I worked there, I figured it would be a bad omen, but nothing ever happened.

    Posted on June 25, 2010 - 07:21 PM #
20. Craig_Adams
    

    Radio historian
    Posts: 7,277

    So you were the overnight jock that replaced Michael Roberts? Did you stay in that shift? That would have been in November 1972. Did you go by Bob Parker on KYXI?

    Posted on June 25, 2010 - 07:56 PM #
21. semoochie
    

    vacuum tube
    Posts: 3,914

    Any relation to Mike Calkins? He lived in Lake Oswego and worked for KKEY in the 1980s.

    Posted on June 25, 2010 - 08:10 PM #
22. kennewickman
    

    vacuum tube
    Posts: 3,380

    There are a whole group of us first phone operators who have walked underneath that 10KW feed line Mike Roberts swung from...and alone at that station in the middle of the night too !!! I count myself amongst this group of late night or early morning "signers on" the KYXI transmitter log out at the old Johnson Road location .

    I got creeped more than once in awhile along about 3 or 4 Am on an early Sunday morning cleaning the transmitter cabinet or reading a local break in the midst of NBC's News and Information Service network.

    I remember one time we had a visiting Transmitter/Tower Array consulting engineer out for a week or so. He was a South American gentlemen and though an Engineer , when I told him the Mike Roberts story one late night/early morning we were doing some antenna work , he got creeped out and kept asking me where this guy hung from and some other details that I didnt really know but filled in some hyperbole anyway because this guy was REALLY spooked over the whole affair, evidently...LOL>..

    But alas , I also only have that lifetime ratty piece of paper in my Wallet that says " General Radio Operator"....

    Posted on June 26, 2010 - 09:24 PM #
23. Andy_brown
    

    vacuum tube
    Posts: 4,657

    I remember the second class test being 100 questions and harder than the first class test of 50 questions.
    Second class had a lot more troubleshooting type questions and the first was more theory related.
    Both had "legal" questions.

    Even though I was three fourths through my BSEE work, there was limited carryover from school to these tests
    so I borrowed some info from another student who had spent some money on a mail order course.
    I went in and passed the second and the inspector chided me into taking the first immediately thereafter.
    He gave me a deal on the fee, told me I'd save a trip into the city (NYC), etc. So I took it without studying
    for that element and missed it by one question!!! Argh.

    Back in the 70's having a first was a valuable asset. All those nighttime directional AM's needed 1st class operators on duty and most of them couldn't afford but one person to run the entire enchilada. Great experience programming the music, writing news, gathering weather and headlines, and trudging out to the array to
    take base currents during a long cut. I will say this, I never would have had the interest in radio back then if it weren't for the progressive rock format. No way I'd do that job and sit in a room listening to the same 40 songs every night and following a rigid format. I frankly to this day don't understand the attraction most of you have to that kind of gig. How limited. How un-creative. How boring. Screaming over the first 16 bars of a tune and taking some kind of inexplicable pride in being able to watch a clock count down backwards to the post. Sheez, didn't any of you play in a band? You can sense the post if you can count fer Jiminy's sake. I remember my first real PD telling me to play MORE different artists and don't ever talk over the music unless it's fading and your going into the net news or a commercial. I'll bet few of you can relate to that.

    Both Joe Allen and Roy Cooper used to talk about the school to me over the course of time. Joe I met back in the 70's and Roy when I went to work for KATU in the 80's.

    Posted on June 27, 2010 - 11:30 AM #
24. kennewickman
    

    vacuum tube
    Posts: 3,380

    Some of us were just into being a boss jock of some kind , at a given talent level or another, in a given minor market or another ...Takes one to know one, and here I sit typing now, in 2010 and out of radio entirely for the last 4 years ...LOL

    I did get my chance to do that boss jock but not too screamy ( I dont do screamer very well ) thing in 1979 and again from 1986 to about 2004 or so..well it is how you think about the music. And how you as an individual buy off on the notion of presentation , repetition, the art of tight and bright and personality...in those respects and your role and talent in doing that kind of radio. I got a major kick out of it...after I first weezled my way in with technical/engineering talent to a degree..that is how i did it...partime and over about 30 years of total dedication to such play acting...FUN FUN FUN

    I had a gas getting to do it. Talking posts and cracking one or two liners in varying formats and some different flavors of delivery over time .

    Posted on June 27, 2010 - 08:59 PM #
25. Alfredo_T
    

    vacuum tube
    Posts: 4,187

    Sadly, any style of radio DJ of yesteryear had more artistry and talent than what one finds in today's world of "Jack"/¢harlie FM non-personality stations, and the endless hours of automated programming that now dominate the broadcast days of both commercial and school music-formatted radio stations. When one controls studio equipment manually and talks live on the mic, there is no "UNDO" function!!

    Posted on June 28, 2010 - 01:25 PM #

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