feedback.pdxradio.com » Portland Radio

This Day In Portland Radio History (July)

(79 posts)
  • Started 8 months ago by Craig_Adams
  • Latest reply from Craig_Adams

  1. Today marks the beginning of a new semi-daily feature on pdxradio. This being the 1st of the month, there are always lots of changes, so don't count on this many all the time. As you will see, the listings will fluctuate from day to day. Some days there won't be anything to report on. Then the following day there could be a bunch. Some days might not appeal to you but the next day might hold a real gem you'll like. It'll be a surprise for most everyday.

    JULY 1ST. TODAY IN PORTLAND RADIO HISTORY

    1928 KPK began operation. The telegraph station was based at the Administration Building Terminal.
    1964 Clackamas Broadcasters sold KGON 1520kc to Republic Broadcasters, Inc. for $980,000.
    1974 Action Broadcasting Co. sold KRDR to Community Communications Corp. for $575,000.
    1979 KMCM became KCYX standing for "K-Six".
    1981 AFTRA strikers picketed KAAR offices in downtown Portland.
    1982 KYXI began airing the audio feed from (CNN 2) CNN Headline News.
    1984 KGON(FM) dropped the "ABC Rock Radio Network".
    1985 Western-Sun, Inc. sold KSGO & KGON(FM) to Ackerley Communications, Inc. for $6,750,000.
    1990 KLVS signed back on the air after 18 months with a Talk format with studios at Harbor Square.
    1994 APR Radio Network, carried on KOPB-FM became PRI, Public Radio International.
    1995 KOPB-FM began 24 hour operation.
    2008 Dolphin Communications, Inc. sold KUIK to Westside Radio, Inc. for $1 Million.

    Posted on June 30, 2009 - 11:18 PM #
  2. skeptical

    vacuum tube
    Posts: 1,174

    Cool! I'll look forward to each one.

    Posted on June 30, 2009 - 11:55 PM #
  3. As always, awesome work Craig! Thanks!

    Posted on July 1, 2009 - 05:44 AM #
  4. Alfredo_T

    vacuum tube
    Posts: 1,087

    It is amazing to think that at one time, a "graveyard" AM station was worth over one-half of a million dollars--not adjusted for inflation.

    Posted on July 1, 2009 - 07:56 AM #
  5. Thanks Guys! There's more on the way in a few hours. I'm going to try and post between Midnight and 1:00am each night, if you're up and about at that time.

    Posted on July 1, 2009 - 06:35 PM #
  6. I love this...good way to keep up on history , the fun way...in a consistent manner, all thanks to Craig.

    I am a bit surprised that KGON-AM sold for almost a million in 1964 ! NO Fm either...Lot of dough for a high band AM station in those days...of course I forget the real estate out there on Johnson Road...newly installed and founded in 1962 , I believe. That is what probably sent that sale price into the stratosphere.

    Posted on July 1, 2009 - 08:32 PM #
  7. JULY 2ND. TODAY IN PORTLAND RADIO HISTORY

    1928 KXL began carrying programs & contributing shows to the new "Evergreen" Northwest network.
    1992 King Broadcasting Co. sold KGW & KINK-FM to Embarcadero Media, Inc. for $11.5 Million.
    2005 KBOO-HD1 on 90.7-1 began broadcasting in Digital IBOC.

    Posted on July 1, 2009 - 11:08 PM #
  8. Thanks Craig this is fun.

    Posted on July 2, 2009 - 12:21 PM #
  9. JULY 3RD. TODAY IN PORTLAND RADIO HISTORY

    1954 KHFS Vancouver began testing its transmitter on 1150kc, broadcasting some programming.
    1970 KSLM-FM Salem signed on the air on 105.1MHz with 96kw horizontal & 23kw vertical.

    Posted on July 2, 2009 - 11:16 PM #
  10. JULY 4TH. TODAY IN PORTLAND RADIO HISTORY

    1947 KGON 1230kc Oregon City signed on the air with 250 watts. Studios & transmitter in Gladstone.
    1954 KHFS 1150kc Vancouver officially signed on the air with 1kw. Studios & transmitter: Vancouver.
    1971 KOAP-FM began broadcasting on Sundays again but still off the air on Saturdays.
    1973 KQIV's "Great American Birthday Party-Picnic" concert at Delta Park. Notary Sojac, Pleasure.
    1981 AFTRA strickers picketed KAAR studios in North Portland.

    Posted on July 3, 2009 - 11:06 PM #
  11. JULY 5TH. TODAY IN PORTLAND RADIO HISTORY

    1965 KGMG became KXL-FM and began a simulcast of KXL's "Good Music" format. (all instrumental).

    Posted on July 4, 2009 - 11:12 PM #
  12. JULY 6TH. TODAY IN PORTLAND RADIO HISTORY

    1990 KLYC McMinnville signed on the air on 1260KHz. Formerly KCYX had been dark for 2 months.
    1992 KLVS became KPHP, standing for "Portland's Home of Praise", continuing a Christian format.
    1999 "The Ackerley Tower" (KGON Tower) was sold to Stonehenge Towers, LLC for $2.3 Million.
    2005 WQCI 718 Beaverton began testing on 1610KHz with 10 watts. Transmitter at City Hall.

    Posted on July 5, 2009 - 11:07 PM #
  13. How big of a haircut did Ackerley take on that tower?

    Posted on July 6, 2009 - 10:52 AM #
  14. Total cost (including land, building remodel and owner's transmission equipment) was $7 Million.

    http://www.well.com/user/dmsml/stonehenge/index.html

    Posted on July 6, 2009 - 11:09 AM #
  15. JULY 7TH. TODAY IN PORTLAND RADIO HISTORY

    1974 "The Dr. Demento Show" began national syndication. KRRC alumni Barry Hansen, PD & GM.
    1993 Rogue Broadcasting Corp. Debtor-In-Possession sold KMXI to Baycom for $2.625 Million.
    1993 KMXI became KKBK, standing for "K-Bach, Classical 106.7".

    Posted on July 6, 2009 - 11:05 PM #
  16. 1974 oh yes the Dr Demento show - they're coming to take me away... ha ha

    Posted on July 7, 2009 - 04:44 PM #
  17. Alfredo_T

    vacuum tube
    Posts: 1,087

    Happy anniversary, Dr. Demento! Thanks for 35 years of Mad Music & Craaaazy Comedy!

    Posted on July 7, 2009 - 10:42 PM #
  18. We're to the first of many holes in this daily history calendar.

    JULY 8TH. TODAY IN PORTLAND RADIO HISTORY

    JULY 9TH. TODAY IN PORTLAND RADIO HISTORY

    My thought is, these dates might have come up on weekends most years, making them less a target of something happening. The Calendar of events continues on July 10th........

    Posted on July 7, 2009 - 11:12 PM #
  19. JULY 10TH. TODAY IN PORTLAND RADIO HISTORY

    1964 KWRC Woodburn signed on the air on 940KHz with 250 watts daytime, on N. Pacific Hwy.
    1989 Mel Blanc died in Los Angeles at age 81. Portland's most well known voice. (KGW/KEX).

    Posted on July 9, 2009 - 11:04 PM #
  20. 940 had, and still has an amazing daytime signal for a mere 250 watts. It's semi-listenable in my area, well outside the estimated coverage area.

    Posted on July 10, 2009 - 12:25 AM #
  21. Yes! I've always thought about that too. They sure found a good place for the tower evidently.

    Posted on July 10, 2009 - 12:49 AM #
  22. Alfredo_T

    vacuum tube
    Posts: 1,087

    On my first visit to Hillsboro, I noticed that the maid at the hotel had left the clock radio tuned to 940. It was a bit noisy but listenable.

    Posted on July 10, 2009 - 12:17 PM #
  23. hwidsten

    vacuum tube
    Posts: 221

    When we celebrated the 50th anniversary at KGW Radio, Joan Teel was our Promotions person. Joan had looked through a lot of old printed stuff about the station that she found in house and also at the Portland public library. Among others, she invited Mel Blanc to come, since he was part of the very early staff. It took some finesse (Joan could do that) and finally Mel agreed to come.

    The afternoon of the celebration he flew up from LA and I went along with Joan in the limo to pick him up at the airport. He was still getting around very well then, looked good and was very cordial. We took him over to the hotel, got him checked in, and then asked him what he would like to do. He was quite taken with Joan, and suggested we have a late lunch in the hotel bar...I think it was the Benson.....old room....lots of wood on the walls, etc.

    We ate and talked for almost two hours covering all kinds of things, but mostly listening to his stories about early KGW and then his move to LA, and all the Warner Brothers stuff. It was an amazing afternoon.

    With Mel Blanc sitting there, it was difficult not to ask him to talk about all the characters he did. As he talked quietly, he would switch from character to character, actually having a conversation with himself.
    Simply amazing.

    The interesting thing was that he could do the characters in a quiet voice. Have you noticed that most character actors do their "voices" in a louder volume than normal conversation. Mel was so good and so much in control of his vocal abilities that he could do them quietly and accurately.

    Anyway, he was a hit at the celebration dinner, but that afternoon was something I'll never forget.

    Posted on July 10, 2009 - 05:45 PM #
  24. Hal: I'm glad you brought this up! This event is listed on the daily calendar of Portland Radio and happened on March 15, 1972. My question, did you present Mel on KGW that day? Where was the 50th Celebration Dinner held?

    Posted on July 10, 2009 - 07:08 PM #
  25. JULY 11TH. TODAY IN PORTLAND RADIO HISTORY

    1973 KPOK-FM became KUPL, standing for Couple and switched format to Beautiful Music.

    Posted on July 10, 2009 - 11:14 PM #
  26. I was hired a few days before and by the time it was my turn, the call letters, format and new automation system were in place. There were 6 other stations on the format at the time and KUPL whipped right up to the top in no time! Those were the days when the big money was put into the AM. It didn't fare nearly as well.

    Posted on July 11, 2009 - 12:29 AM #
  27. Use to listen as a kid on a transistor radio in SE Portland to 940 KWRC it was weak but listenable. I remember well of KPOK-FM going to KUPL that was the time it was on 98.5 ah we do remember those good old days.

    Posted on July 11, 2009 - 12:48 AM #
  28. pdxgary98: I guess you weren't around in the good old days before 1964 when KPOJ-FM broadcast on 98.7mc.

    Posted on July 11, 2009 - 03:32 AM #
  29. hwidsten

    vacuum tube
    Posts: 221

    Craig, No, for some reason I don't remember anything about that event. I do have a flawed copy of the 30 minute film Joan did with help from the TV guys. It was broadcast on Channel 8. For some reason I don't remember the event.

    Posted on July 11, 2009 - 06:24 AM #
  30. He was around but probably wasn't paying much attention to FM. Most of us weren't. Also, with the old sliderule dials, it wasn't very obvious what frequency you were on. The only time I remember sampling FM was on about the 4th day of the JFK assassination coverage and I was looking for anything else. My search was unsuccessful.

    Posted on July 11, 2009 - 10:07 AM #
  31. Good stuff, Mr. Adams! Incidentally, a former owner of Woodburn's 940am--I think it was KWBY then--was the last local radio sports broadcaster to recreate a baseball game on the air. At KYXI, Cliff Zauner used a variety of sound effects while doing play-by-play from inning-by-inning reports on the AP wire. Earlier, of course, Rollie Truitt mastered that skill at KGW.

    Posted on July 11, 2009 - 10:30 AM #
  32. Thanks Craig for refreshing my memory. I do believe KPOJ-FM was on 98.7 but only saw it in the paper listed that way did pay much attention to the FM until around 1968. Like smoochie said that our attention was mainly on AM at the time.

    Posted on July 11, 2009 - 08:59 PM #
  33. JULY 12TH. TODAY IN PORTLAND RADIO HISTORY

    1965 The 50,000 square foot "KGW Broadcast Center" was officially dedicated.
    1976 KYXI switched to an All News format & affiliated with the NBC News & Information Service.
    2002 Dick Novak died at age 78 in Portland. One of the 1st Rock & Roll DJ's on KGON, KPOJ & KGW.

    Posted on July 11, 2009 - 11:10 PM #
  34. ...officially dedicated by Chet Huntley, I believe!

    Posted on July 11, 2009 - 11:21 PM #
  35. I remember KYXI right before they went news they were AC playing the song "Afternoon Delight" by The Starland Vocal Band I liked that station. I remember Dick Novak on KPOJ. Thanks Craig this is nice to reflect back into the past.

    Posted on July 12, 2009 - 11:27 AM #
  36. JULY 13TH. TODAY IN PORTLAND RADIO HISTORY

    1971 KOIN-FM began broadcasting from the new KOIN radio tower with added vertical polarization.
    1995 Common Ground Broadcasting sold KDBX to Salem Communications Corp. for over 1 Million.
    1996 KUFO's 1st "Rockfest" at Estacada Timber Park. Gravity Kills, Brother Cane, Howlin' Maggie.

    Posted on July 12, 2009 - 11:04 PM #
  37. JULY 14TH. TODAY IN PORTLAND RADIO HISTORY

    Nothing to write about on this day. There will history info on the 15th.

    Posted on July 13, 2009 - 11:08 PM #
  38. Update: While adding births of people no longer with us, I found one today!

    JULY 14TH. TODAY IN PORTLAND RADIO HISTORY

    1927 Don Stellges was born in Morrill, Neb. Later KUIK part owner. KEX Program Director & at KYXI.

    Posted on July 14, 2009 - 05:38 AM #
  39. I liked KYXI's format too just before it was all news. it was similiar to KOIN 970 when Tom Morgan, and Archer were there.

    Posted on July 14, 2009 - 09:07 PM #
  40. JULY 15TH. TODAY IN PORTLAND RADIO HISTORY

    1959 FCC orders KPAM/KPFM returned to previous owner, pending hearing on protest from KPDQ.
    1970 KBPS raised daytime power from 250 watts to 1kw. Nights continued at 250 watts.
    1988 1010 Broadcasting, Inc. sold KZRC to Daytona Group for $150,000. Owners of KXYQ(FM).

    Posted on July 14, 2009 - 11:08 PM #
  41. JULY 16TH. TODAY IN PORTLAND RADIO HISTORY

    1997 Fox - News Corp. sold KKSN AM/FM & KKRH to Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc.

    Posted on July 15, 2009 - 11:13 PM #
  42. Alfredo_T

    vacuum tube
    Posts: 1,087

    1970 KBPS raised daytime power from 250 watts to 1kw. Nights continued at 250 watts.

    Was that when the Mighty Bauer 707 went into service?

    Posted on July 15, 2009 - 11:18 PM #
  43. Most likely.

    Posted on July 16, 2009 - 12:11 AM #
  44. That would be correct... (I'm a Benson '70 grad.) After school closed for summer, they knocked out a wall in an adjacent classroom to allow expansion from the cramped half-sized room an air studio and the transmitter were located in... The Bauer was maybe one-quarter the size of the old home-brew composite 250 watt transmitter!

    Posted on July 16, 2009 - 08:28 PM #
  45. Actually Mark, according to Paul Gregg, who built the Bauer 707, he was on-hand to help install the transmitter in 1966. They may have remodeled the classroom that became the transmitter room, but Gregg is pretty sure the 1KW rig was put in service in '66.

    Posted on July 16, 2009 - 09:57 PM #
  46. JULY 17TH. TODAY IN PORTLAND RADIO HISTORY

    1995 KXYQ became KKRH, standing for "Earth 105". Your Planet for Rock & Roll Classics.

    Posted on July 16, 2009 - 11:06 PM #
  47. Mark & Bill...'66 sounds awfully early for the Bauer. As a KBPS student (72-75) I remember an 8X10 glossy posted in the "upstairs" studio with Bruce Murdock standing in front of the Bauer with his hand on the switch. The caption read something like "KBPS chief of staff Bruce Murdock turns on the new 1kw transmitter." I think there was also a shot of Benson principal Harold Anderson in the same pose. I'm guessing Bruce was chief in his senior year. That would've been around the '70-'71 school year or close to it. Is that right Bruce?

    Posted on July 17, 2009 - 09:37 AM #
  48. Doggone it...Too many years are getting in the way!

    I DO remember taking a class in that very classroom as a sophomore in '67-'68, though...

    I remember seeing those photos too, Scott...

    Posted on July 17, 2009 - 07:30 PM #
  49. JULY 18TH. TODAY IN PORTLAND RADIO HISTORY

    1948 KGW AM/FM moved studios from the "KWJJ Building" to 5 studios in the new Oregonian Bldg.

    Posted on July 17, 2009 - 11:09 PM #
  50. JULY 19TH. TODAY IN PORTLAND RADIO HISTORY

    1919 Dallas McKennon was born in La Grande. Later host of the KGW children's program "Mr. Buttons".
    1974 KBOO raised power from 3.5kw to 12.5kw horizontal & 1.3kw vertical. Antenna raised to 800 feet.

    Posted on July 18, 2009 - 11:47 PM #

RSS feed for this topic

Topic Closed

This topic has been closed to new replies.