Mike Shannon's
DALLAS-FORT
WORTH AREA
AM STATION
HISTORY
1920 - 2024+
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HELPFUL NOTES
The terms
"Station established <date>" and "Call letters established <date>"
are sometimes derived from multiple resources,
and may
not always reflect the exact date a station began broadcasting, or when
a reformatting or call letter change actually started
Some fringe
and rimshot stations are shown depending upon signal strength and location,
and/or if there is a direct, historical
connection
to a DFW station
Designations
for low-power (LPAM) and stations utilizing repeaters or translators to
simulcast over FM are not mentioned within
a station's
details, unless there is some historical relevance. Local streaming-only
channels and all HD subchannel references have been
deleted
or are not mentioned here, due to their typically constant and untrackable/undocumented
changes and insignificant listenership
..
.
ABBREVIATIONS GUIDE
SM:
Station Manager (the similar "Sales Manager" will always be spelled out
to eliminate confusion.) GM: General
Manager.
PD:
Program Director. MD: Music Director. CE: Chief
Engineer. PM: Program Manager. VP: Vice-President.
GM:
General Manager. AKA: "Also Known As." LMA: Local
Marketing Agreement, where a third party leases
most or
all of a station's airtime to broadcast its own format or simulcast. CHR:
"Contemporary Hits Radio,"
a 1980s-era
expansion/relabeling of the former "Top 40" format. LPAM: Low-powered AM
station, meant to serve
a limited
segment of a community. Roman numeralsin parentheses ["(I)" or "(II)"
etc] next to a name denote
another
person (not related or directly connected) using the same moniker (or coincidentally
sharing the same
name) within
the north Texas market
.
FIRST...A
BRIEF, GENERAL HISTORY OF
AM RADIO
IN DALLAS-FORT WORTH:
.
.
The success
of AM radio after the advent of television
can be attributed
to the late Gordon McLendon, who started
station
KLIF-1190 in 1947. KLIF became a trendsetter that
was reportedly
the most copied station in America.
McLendon
was one of the creators of Top 40 playlists,
a staple
of programming that continues today.
.
Whether
you knock AM radio today for its relentless static or its lack of music,
this is where it all began. The early 20th century brought the first
radio stations to the Dallas-Fort Worth area: KFJZ (with roots dating
back to 1917,) WRR (in 1920,) WPA, WBAP and WFAA (all in 1922,) and the
rest is history (well, almost!) AM started out as a freewheeling,
'throw up a transmitter and go with it' gamut of radio waves in its earliest
days, with a couple of assigned frequencies (833 kc [primarily news and
weather] and 618.6 kc [primarily music.]) and virtually no rules to allow
a fair distribution of the dial for broadcasters. (By mid-1922, all
five DFW stations agreed to a timesharing plan on each frequency.)
November 11, 1928 was declared "National Frequency Allocation Day," when
the Federal Radio Commission (FRC, predecessor to the FCC) brought organization
to the dial by assigning dedicated frequencies to the strongest stations,
and culling out many of the small-time opportunists who weren't serious
about broadcasting. Powerhouse WBAP was awarded a clear channel position
on the dial; it is one of only a small handful of stations in the nation
that's allowed to blast its signal to a reported 42 states! And to
honor the art of "DX-ing" (distance listening,) Wednesdays after 3PM were
declared "Silent Night" in the '20s...low-powered stations turned off their
transmitters so that high-powered stations across the US could be easily
received on anyone's dial.
AM radio
in Dallas-Fort Worth, as with the rest of the nation, was mostly entertainment
and news programming in its infancy; however, its value and importance
was secured during World War II as the center of information for a concerned
public. With the introduction of television to the masses in the
late 1940s, radio's demise was assumed to be imminent. Gordon McLendon
didn't let that happen: In 1947, he signed on KLIF, featuring a music
format. Other stations soon followed, and local radio found its second
life. The invention of the transistor, and subsequently the development
of lightweight, portable radios, along with the inclusion of radios in
cars, helped the reinvented band find a new audience with people on the
go. McLendon and Todd Storz's simultaneous discovery of the "Top
40" in the 1950s gave radio a special popularity among the younger generation,
and his KLIF, along with KBOX and KFJZ, developed formats to capitalize
on current music, especially rock and roll. Other local stations
modified their formats to concentrate on news, country, rhythm and blues,
or Spanish. While KLIF posted incredible ratings during the 1950s
and 1960s, others like KRLD and WBAP found successful programming niches
that catered to older audiences.
.
AM's popularity
and far-reaching capabilities were used by the government to launch a civil
defense system, CONELRAD ("CONtrol of ELectromagnetic RADiation,") the
forerunner of the Emergency Broadcast System (now Emergency Alert System,)
in 1951. (WRR engineer Rick Teddlie co-created the CONELRAD system.)
While the nuclear threat of the Cold War prompted the dedication of a national
broadcast frequency, it wasn't until 1958 that the system was first used
for weather alerts. Broadcasts were originally dedicated to 640 and
1240 kc in all cities, and all regular broadcast stations (AM, FM and TV)
were to go silent when threatening information was aired. EBS replaced
CONELRAD in 1963, and EAS replaced EBS in 1997.
.
By the early
1970s, however, listeners were slowly discovering the FM band and migrated
to it for its static-free, stereophonic broadcasts; by 1978, FM overtook
AM as the most popular band. Attempts to revitalize AM have netted
little; AM Stereo was proposed in 1958 and introduced in 1982 to big fanfare;
many car manufacturers began to integrate AM Stereo into their radio units,
and KRQX-570 became the first local AM Stereo station in 1983. However,
five different companies were pushing their systems to become the broadcasting
standard. This included Kahn Communications (who was at the forefront
of AM Stereo development in 1958,) Harris, Motorola, Magnavox and Belar
Electronics. Motorola's C-Quam system was finally chosen by the FCC
as the standard in 1993, but, by that time, the luster had worn off.
Broadcasters who were leery of buying AM Stereo equipment in the early
1980s (fearing that it would become obsolete at the whim of the FCC) slowly
abandoned interest in the concept by the late 1980s.
.
Also in
the late 1980s, The FCC decided to extend the AM band to 1710 kHz.
This would allow new investors to start new stations from scratch (as the
pool of available frequencies was quickly drying up) and would permit existing
restricted-signal stations to move into an uncrowded part of the band and
beef up their coverage area. Automakers and consumer electronics
manufacturers began adding the extended band to their units in the early
1990s, and existing stations were permitted to simulcast on their new frequencies
beginning in the mid-1990s. By December, 2007, all simulcasting stations
were required to give up their original frequency and begin broadcasting
solely on the new dial position.
.
But this
is not to say AM is totally dead, or ever will be in Dallas...both WBAP
and KRLD ranked in the Top 5 for many decades, according to Arbitron.
Kahn Communications is working on improvements to their original AM Stereo
concept. Ibiquity, another player who is developing solutions to
the substandard sound, marketed a digital broadcasting system for AM stations
(known as IBOC/HD) in recent years.
.
STATIONS:
540
.
.
KDFT,
Ferris. Call letters established 6/9/1986. Format: Southern
Gospel (1986-90,) Black Religious Gospel (1990-5/18/1998,) Spanish/Ethnic/Spanish
Religious (5/18/1998-2004; as "La Poderosa," starting 2004.) Calls
stand for Dallas-Fort
Worth Texas.
Owner: Multicultural Broadcasting ("MRBI," started 2004; Multicultural
bought out all Radio Unica stations after Unica went bankrupt in 2003.)
Former owners: Way Broadcasting (bought 4/19/2000,) Freedom Network, Radio
Unica. Nickname: "La Poderosa," "Gospel 540." Program:
"Mambo Express." Notables: Jim Henderson, Ted Sauceman (GM,)
Lazaro Saldaña, Wilbert Mejia, Yary Uhing, Luiz Munguia, Juan Benitez,
Sara Treviño. Once applied for change of license city to DeSoto.
Station located at 7469 S. Westmoreland, then Red Bird Mall (to 10/2005,)
then to 5801 Marvin D. Love Frwy (started 10/2005.)
.
KLCA, Ferris.
Temporary call letters parked for KDFT on 4/16/1986.
.
570
.
.
KLIF,
Dallas. Call letters re-established 11/29/1990. Format:
Talk/News. Owners: Susquehanna, Cumulus. Station named
for its original location in the Oak Cliff
section of Dallas. Station moved from its 43-year home at 1190 AM
on 11/29/1990, although it was simulcast on both frequencies until 12/6/1990.
Formerly broadcast in stereo. First radio station in the world to
simulcast on the internet. Network affiliation: NBC.
Programs: Talknet (syndicated talk show programming,) "Weekend Workout,"
"Love, Sex and Relationships," "The Skip Bayless Show," "The Gary Cogill
Show," "The Deborah Norville Show" (via satellite, 1991.) Notables:
Terese Arena (ND; hired away from a long stint at KRLD in 2003,) Martin
Birnbach, Ed Busch, Freddie Mertz (1992,) David Gold (to 1997; known as
"The Conservative Freight Train,") Bob Ray Sanders, Norm Hitzges, Dr. Lynn
Weiss, Skip Bayless (host of the "Skip Bayless Show,") Dr. Ann Wildemann
(host of "Love, Sex and Relationships,") Gary Cogill,
Chuck
Schechner, Mark Woolsey aka Mark Elliott (1985-1991; 1996-1999; later
a senior broadcast meteorologist for The Weather Channel in Atlanta,) Jim
Long, Dan Bennett, Jon Griffin, Lora Cain, Dave Cradick aka Kidd
Kraddick (brief fill-in only during 5/1992 after firing at KEGL-FM,)
Kevin
McCarthy (to 2001,)
Benjamin Dover,
Mike Fisher, Val DeOre, Baylor Witcher (2004-2005,) Tom Kamb (2000-2001,)
"Humble" Billy Hayes, Scott Anderson, Jeff Bolton, Joe Kelley (2000-01,)
Dr. Laura Schlessinger (via satellite, began 1/7/2002,) Neal Boortz, Leon
Simon, Chris Myers, Darrell Ankarlo, Ed Budanauro, Ron De Roxtra (known
as Ron Barr during his ten years at KRLD-AM,) John Shomby (1993,) Tim Vasquez
(traffic,) Bill Jackson (traffic, began 2005,) Jim Reeves, Steve Coryell,
Brian
Wilson.
.
Special
thanks to Susquehanna senior VP Dan Halyburton for providing me with a
copy of the book, "Susquehanna Radio: The First Fifty Years," which
provided otherwise unfindable answers to the history of post-McLendon KLIF
and Susquehanna's presence in the DFW market...thanks, Dan!
.
.
KKWM, Dallas.
Call letters established 1/9/1990. Format: Light Rock.
Owner: Anchor Media. Nickname: "Warm
97.9." Simulcast of sister station KKWM-FM. Broadcast Dallas
Sidekicks soccer games. See KKWM-FM for personalities.
.
.
KLDD, Dallas.
Call letters established 1/26/1987. Format: Oldies (1/26/1987-12/1989,)
Light Rock (12/1989-1/9/1990.) Nickname: "K-Oldie."
Owner: Anchor Media. Sister station to KZEW-FM. Broadcast
Plano high school football games. Notables: George "Paul" Medina,
Randy Coffey, Pete Hamill, Rick Stoughton, Jason Walker, Mike Wade.
KLDD was to have become DFW's first all-sports station in 1/1990 when sister
KZEW's format changed; but management decided otherwise. Station
retained the KLDD call letters with simulcast of the new "Warm" format
until 1/9/1990 (the temporary legal ID was a mouthful..."The new Warm,
97.9FM... KZEW, Dallas-Fort Worth, KLDD-AM Dallas-Fort Worth.)
.
.
KRQX, Dallas.
Call letters established 7/2/1983. Format: Oldies/Classic Rock.
First AM station in DFW to broadcast in AM Stereo (C-QUAM.) First
station in US to be programmed with classic rock. Nickname:
"K-Rocks." Owners: Belo, Anchor Media (1/1/1987 to format change;
Anchor was owned by Fort Worth's Bass Brothers, who formerly owned KDNT.)
Sister station to KZEW-FM. Programs: "Sunday Blues Program"
(1985-87; syndicated as "Blues Deluxe"
since 1988,) "Midnight Concert Series." Broadcast SMU football games.
Notables:
George Gimarc (music director
and a pioneer of the classic rock format,) Steve Anderson, Bob Corbell
aka Mike Channel, Jay Hoker, Dave Johnson (hosted "Sunday Blues Program,")
Stan Atkins, Randy Coffey, "Crazy" Dave Otto, Art Reilly, Glenn Mitchell
(as fill-in host for "Sunday Blues Program,") Libby Zabriskie, John Elliott.
In an interesting promotion, the station allowed itself to be "hijacked"
by the song, "Louie Louie," which it played in a continuous marathon for
a weekend.
.
.
.
.
.
.
WFAA, Dallas-Fort
Worth. Call letters established 6/26/1922 at 833 kc (other sources
say 750 kc,) moved to 630 kc on 5/15/1923, moved to 600 kc on 4/15/1927,
moved to 550 kc on 11/16/1927, moved to 800 kc on 5/25/1929 (shared with
WBAP, and existed only on 800 to 1939,) moved to 600 kc in the late 1930s,
moved and merged with KGKO at 570 kc on 5/1/1938 (WBAP's Amon Carter bought
KGKO in 1938 as a second frequency for WBAP and WFAA to share; Carter sold
half of it to WFAA on 7/26/1940 for $250,000,) moved with WBAP to 820 kc
on 3/29/1941 (the national moving day for clear channel stations as a result
of the Treaty of Havana.) Station shared frequencies with WBAP-820
from 1929 to 5/1/1970 to maximize use of 820's clear channel signal (they
traded dayparts, and each used the 600 or 570 frequency when the other
was using 820 (see KGKO, below.) Expanded to current 50kW on 5/10/1930
(using transmitter near Grapevine, built in 1929; new tower opened in 1938,
and was the tallest man-made structure in the Southwest at the time.)
Original FRC license date was 6/5/1922. Granted dual-city license
on 2/22/1973. Format: Variety, Middle of the Road (4/27/1970-?,)
Top 40 (?-11/2/1976,) News/Talk. Owner: A. H. Belo (Alfred
Horatio Belo) Broadcasting. Call letters stood for "Working
For
All
Alike,"
and also noted as "World's
Finest
Air
Attraction."
Nickname: "Newstalk 57" (11/2/1976 to 7/2/1983.) Sister station
to KERA-FM (1947 version)/WFAA-FM/ KZEW-FM and the "Dallas Morning News"
(formerly "Dallas News and Journal" in WFAA's earliest days.) First
network-affiliated station in Texas (initially with NBC beginning 4/2/1923;
later with Texas Quality Network, ABC [to 8/1/1975] and CBS [to 6/23/1980]
and NBC [started 6/23/1980,]) first US station to carry educational programs,
first to produce a serious radio drama series, first to air a state championship
football game, the first to air inaugural ceremonies. Original personalities
for the station were drawn from columnists and editors at sister "Dallas
Morning News." The phrase, "Shut 'er down, Eddie!", was the nightly
signoff indicator.
.
Programs:
"Early Birds" (3/31/1930-4/1957; hosted by John Allen with entertainment
by Lynn Hoyt, Katy Prince, Frances Beasley, Terry Lea, Louise Mackey and
Dale Evans [yes, THE Dale Evans! Pre-Roy Rogers, she was married
to piano player Frank Butts]), "Hymns We Love" (started in 1952 and moved
to KAAM-1310 years later,) "Dramatic Moments in Texas History," "Cadenza"
(1940s,) "Radio Frolics" (late 1940s; hosted by Norvell Slater and Dorothy
Bell,) "Midnight Nostalgia" (1/27/1974-4/7/1974,) "57
Nostalgia Place" (4/14/1974-10/31/1976,) "Reuben's Record Room," "Farm
Report," "Melodic Living," "At Issue" (audience-participation show, started
11/1975,) "Musical Party Line," "Hogan's Hall of Hits," "The Ted Cassidy
Show," "Behind the News" (1950-1960,) "Ed Busch Show," "Man Around the
House," "Saturday Night Shindig" (started 1944,) "Texans-Let's Talk Texas
Hour," "Quiz of Two Cities," "Herb Jepko Nitecap Show" (syndicated,) "Hotline,"
"Carnival of Music," "Football Scoreboard," "Sports Review" (started 7/5/1948,)
"Business News," "Hackberry Hotel" (featuring "Hack Berry," and "Little
Willie," played by Ben McClesky," "Saturday Night Shindig," "Mrs. Tucker's
Smile" (started 1934,) "Big D Jamboree" (started as "Lone Star Barndance"
and "Lone Star Jamboree;" later moved to KRLD,) "Guests and Telephone,"
"Murphy Martin Commentary," "Saturday Night Shindig," "570 Club," "Clare
Lou and M," "Slo-n-Ezy" (an "Amos-n-Andy ripoff,) "Murray Cox RFD."
Station bands: The Plainsmen Quartet, The Pepper Uppers Orchestra,
Step Ladder and the Saddle Tramps, Rangers Quartet, Cass County Boys/Cass
County Kids, Bel Canto Quartet, Sandman Soldiers, Bumblebees Trio, Jimmie
Jeffries, Elmer Bockman, Ben McClusty, Hack and Willie, Peg "Pegleg" Moreland
(male singer known as "King of the Little Ditty.")
.
Notables:
Mike Marshall (3/1967-9/1969,) Walter Dealey (spearheaded creation of WFAA,)
Bud Buschardt (host of "57 Nostalgia Place" and "Midnight Nostalgia;" also
worked at WFAA-TV,) Don Cristy, John Allen (employed with WFAA 1945-1981,)
Don Norman, Jim Thomas, Lynn Woolley,
Dick West (host of "Behind the News," 1950-1960, and an editorial commentary
short beginning in 1/1957; was concurrently at Dallas Morning News through
the 1950s writing editorials, and as Editorial Director, 1960-1977,) Ben
Laurie, Doug Fox (1965-66; later spent 29 years in the news department
at WFAA-TV,) "Gentleman" Jim Carter, David Garcia, Bob Morrison, Rob Edwards,
Kevin McCarthy (1978-1981,) Tom Perryman, Bob Gooding (1960-1961; then
anchored for WFAA-TV newscasts 1961-1979,) Terry Lee Jenkins, Ralph "Buddy"
Widman (late of KFJZ and KWBC; Sports Director, then Assistant Program
Director; hosted "Sports Review" and "Football Scoreboard; began 5/1948;
left for SM position at new KBCS-730AM in 7/1957; returned to WFAA-AM in
10/1958,) Bob Bruton, L. B. Henson, Harry Withers,
Jack
Schell, Bobby Brock (not to be confused with Dallas Times Herald radio/TV
columnist Bob Brock,) Charlie Vann, Ralph Robison, Phoebe "Peggy" Patton
(hosted a children's program in the 1940s,) Jimmy Jeffries, Ed Hogan (began
1950; hosted "Musical Party Line" and "Hogan's Hall of Hits;" into WFAA-AM
sales in 1953; to WFAA-TV as chief announcer in 10/1955,) Norvell Slater
(1941-1972; host of "Hymns We Love,") John Criswell (later news anchor
for WFAA-TV and KDFW-TV,) Charles McCord, Marty Haag, Craig Barton, Gene
Baudrick, Walter Vaughn, Frank Mills, Eddie Dunn, Dick Syatt, Jim Simon,
Charley Wright, Frank Munroe, Adams Calhoun, Bill Hazen, Darrell Monroe
(1967-1968,) Paul Hitt (assistant on "57 Nostalgia Place,") Bob Stanford,
Randy Coffey, Sharon West, Dave Naugle, Harvey Johnston, Laurel Ornish
(1973-1974, news,) Ray Dunaway, Tim Kase, Pierce Allman, Edwin Bryant (as
half of "Uncle Ed and Little Willie" duo,) Roy Newman (staff musician,)
Ann Berry, Jim Boyd, Ed Busch, Jim Simon (news and operations director,
11/1976-1977; brought in from KABC-Los Angeles to head "Newstalk 57" in
November, 1976,) Jess Smith (news and operations director, 1977-1980; replaced
Jim Simon,)
Joe Holstead (news
and operations director, began 1980; replaced Jess Smith; originally was
assistant to Smith,) Rob Milford aka Rob Williams (9/1976 to 11/2/1976;
last jock to broadcast before turning into "Newstalk 57,") Noah Nelson
(later a reporter for KXAS-TV, then NBC News; later an actor,) Jim Rose
(1967-68,) Connie Herrera (1978-81,) Dorothy Bell, Gary
DeLaune, John Johnson (as host of "The Farm Report,") Elston Brooks
(later an entertainment columnist for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram,) Tony
Lawrence, Dan Cutrer, Ted Cassidy (later played "Lurch" on "The Addams
Family;" was announcer who helped cover the JFK assassination by conducting
witness interviews, and hosted "The Ted Cassidy Show." Left WFAA
for Hollywood in 1964.)
.
Also Murray
Cox (farm reporter and host of "Murray Cox RFD,") Pauline "Polly" Cox (wife
of Murray; assisted with show,) Frank Filesi, Jimmy McClain (played the
role of "Dr. I. Q.;" became a NW Texas minister in the late 1940s after
leaving WFAA-AM; later voice of KIXL's "Think It Over" segments,) Marty
Miller (1975,) Rex Cromwell, Bill Crowdus (host of "Man Around the House,")
Bob Tripp, Dick Wheeler, Martin B. Campbell, Dave Cooke, Howard Bogarte,
Wilbur Ard aka "Deacon," Pat Couch (later a reporter with KXAS-TV,) Roy
Cowan, Lynn Bigler, Ken Rundel (as host of "Hotline" and "Guests and Telephone,")
Steve
Goddard, Ed Busch (as host of "The Ed Busch Show,") Julie Benell, Dave
Anthony, Don Thomson, Ken Sasso aka Ken Summers (morning show host in the
mid-1970s; famous for character "Guido,") Lee Douglas, Mitch Carr (1980-82,)
Terry Bell, Cris Cross, Travis Linn (began 1962; later anchor on WFAA-TV,)
Lotie Lofton, Jim Fry (later a reporter for sister WFAA-TV,) Ann McCarthy,
Ralph Nimmons (began 1934; assistant manager of station until promotion
to Station Manager of WFAA-TV in 12/1950,) K. B. McClure (likely the same
person as Ken [Knox] McClure,) Mary Sue (Suzy) McCord, Bob Dahlgren, Jeff
Dale aka Mike Millard, Troy Dungan (former WFAA-TV weatherman; weather-watcher
for "Early Birds" program as a teen in the 1940s,) Ira Lipson (PD, and
was concurrently PD of KZEW when KZEW launched,) Arch Campbell, Herb Jepko
(as host of "Herb Jepko's Nitecap Show,") Nick Ramsey (as host of "Carnival
of Music,") Bill Blanchard (as host of "Business News,") Chuck Murphy,
Donald Easterwood, Walter Evans (1959-1964; later anchor with KRLD/KDFW-TV,)
Jan Isbell Fortune, Jamie Friar, Paul Gleiser (1973; returned 7/1976-4/1982,)
Helen Harris, Dan Bell, Don Valentine (APD; began 1947,) Peter Molyneaux,
Karl Lambertz (1933-1946; returned 2/1952,) Andy Pollin, Greg Maiuro, Marcel
Jones, Alex Keese (began 1930; Music Director, Commercial Manager, then
General Manager by 1952,) Russell Koch, Tony Lawrence, Bob Etheridge, Ralph
Gould (engineer,) Talmadge Naylor, Ted DeHay (began 1932,) Robert S. Pool,
Shirley Proctor, Lewis Quince (storyteller,) Russ Rossman, Irene Runnels
(National Sales Manager, 1977-1978,) Ruth Salter (whistler,) Joe Salvadore
(also with WFAA-TV,) Bob Scott, Kelly Maddox (began 1941; famous stage
and radio actor, 1927-1937; worked for NBC Radio thereafter,) Patricia
Smith (also with WFAA-TV,) "Sugah," "Superfan," Nick Brounoff aka Nick
Alexander (1979-1983,) Bob Tripp, Mary and Tommy Tucker, Murphy Martin
(began 1961, host of "Murphy Martin Commentary,") Lydia Hiegert (began
1941,) George Kuesell, Arthur Kuehn, Charlie Van "The Moving Man," George
Utley, Denson Walker, Hilda LeBlanc Chase, Tom Brown. Station initially
located in a 9' x 9' tent on the roof of the "Dallas Morning News;" to
the Morning News library thereafter; to the Baker Hotel on 10/1/1925; atop
the Santa Fe Railroad Warehouse at 1122 Jackson St. from 6/20/1941 to 1961
(the building still has "WFAA" clearly painted on the top today!) and to
Communications Center in early 1961.
.
.
KGKO, Wichita
Falls (to 6/21/1935,) Fort Worth. Station established 9/2/1928 in
Wichita Falls; moved to Fort Worth on 5/1/1938. Format: News.
Owner: Carter Publications (5/1/1938-7/1940; although initial FCC
approval was granted on 9/24/1935, and the city of license was changed
at that time, Wichita Falls residents voiced concern over losing the station,
taking nearly three years to resolve before KGKO-Fort Worth went on the
air,) Carter Publication (50%) and Belo Broadcasting (50%) (7/26/1940-
4/27/1970.) Network affiliation: Blue Lone Star Network.
Sister to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram newspaper. KGKO broadcast
WBAP's programs on 570 during the dayparts that WFAA was using the 820
frequency, and vice-versa, beginning on 9/1/1940. It also rebroadcast
the WFAA News. On 4/1/1947, the KGKO calls were dissolved per order
of the FCC, and each station identified itself as either "WBAP 570" or
"WFAA 570." Station shared studios with WFAA at the Santa Fe Building
downtown (see WFAA entry) but also had studios in the Medical Arts Building
in Fort Worth. Programs: "America's Town Meeting," "Women's
World," "Darts for Dough," "Books-New and Old," "Sunshine Boys," "Sunday
Recital," "Cross Roads Party," "What am I," "Cowhand Jamboree" (hosted
by the "KGKO Hillbillies.") Network affiliation stayed with each
frequency; 570 had ABC (initially "NBC Blue.") Notables: Lee
Brumm aka Lee Arthur, Craig Barton, Gordon Fitzgerald, John Hicks, Orral
Anderson (as host of "Darts for Dough,") Ken Knox aka Ken McClure, Frances
Mossiker (as host of "Women's World,") Frank Mills (already at KGKO before
Carter Publications bought the station; stayed with Carter's broadcast
properties for 41 years!), Fay "Smitty" Smith, Edwin Bryant (as half of
"Uncle Ed and Little Willie" duo,) Ernest Tubb (country singer; host of
the "Ernest Tubb Show," sponsored by Gold Chain Flour.) Studios first
located at 600/604 Thomas Building, Dallas. Not related to KGKO-1480.
.
.
KTAT, Wichita
Falls. Call letters re-established 1/13/1935. Briefly traded
frequencies with KGKO, as KTAT-1240 was causing interference with WRR's
(former) frequency. KTAT traded back with KGKO on 1/31/1935, as Amon
Carter expressed interest in using the frequency as a backup for WBAP/WFAA-820
and moving it into DFW. See entry at 1270 kc.
.
.
KGKO, Wichita
Falls. Station established 9/2/1928. Started life at 1350 kc,
then 1370 kc, before moving to 570. See details above.
.
618.6/833
(360 METERS/485
METERS)
.
The following
are stations that started and ended before the Federal Radio Commission
assigned specific frequencies on November 11, 1928. The general guideline
from the FRC was to broadcast news and weather reports on 833 kc (485 meters)
and music on 618.6 kc (360 meters.) Local stations worked out an
agreement to share the frequencies on 7/1/1922, and developed an alternating
broadcast schedule for each.
.
.
KFFZ, Dallas.
Station established 4/23/1923; off air 6/1923; calls deleted by FCC on
7/1/1924. Owner: Al G. Barnes Amusement Company (circus owner.)
Designated as a portable station to advertise for circus.
.
KFRO, Fort
Worth. Station to have been established 1927, but owner ran out of
money to start it up. License received in 10/1924, with intention
to broadcast at 1220 kc. Call letters stood for "Keep
Forever
Rolling
On."
Owner: J. R. Curtis. Curtis salvaged his idea and brought KFRO
to Longview, TX in 1935.
.
.
WDAO, Dallas.
Station established 8/1921, but didn't sign on until 5/1922; off air 9/1923.
Owner: Dallas
Automotive
Electric Company. Located at 915 S. Ervay, Dallas. Station
was mainly developed to be a showcase for the company's line of Magnavox
radios. Second station in Dallas (after WRR.)
.
.
WPA, Fort
Worth. Station established 3/16/1922 (predating WBAP by over a month
as the first station in Fort Worth;) off air 5/24/1923. Format:
Variety. Nickname: "Voice of the Southwest." Owner:
Leonard Withington dba Fort Worth Record (newspaper.) Notables:
Anna Mae Hopkins, Madeira Manchester, Lorraine Withington (wife of owner,)
Mrs. William Bryant, H. H. "Pop" Boone, Bill "Sparks" Pitkin, Jack Webster
Harkrider, Jim Allison. Upgraded to 100 watt transmitter on 4/17/1922.
Located in a shack on the roof of the newspaper building (much like WFAA-AM.)
Station abandoned when Hearst Newspapers bought the Fort Worth Record (the
Record was later sold to Amon Carter and merged with his Fort Worth Star-Telegram.)
In 1924, local preacher J. Frank Norris bought the WPA transmitter and
used it to put on KFQB (see entry at 1270.)
.
Thanks to
The Fort Worth Public Library's newspaper clipping archive for most of
the above information, and to Richard Schroeder's book, "Texas Signs On"
for confirming most of it!
.
620
.
.
KTNO, Plano.
Call letters re-established 10/21/2019 (moved from 1440 AM.) Format:
Business Talk (continued from KEXB briefly,) Spanish Religious ("Radio
Luz" carried over from 1440 AM.) Owner: Immaculate Heart Media
(bought 10/2019.)
.
.
KEXB, Plano.
Call letters established 10/1/2015, derived from "Experts
in Business."
Format: Business Talk via Bloomberg Radio network. Owner:
Salem (bought 9/15/2015; station dark 9/15 to 9/18/2015.) Format
moved from KVCE-1160 AM; KEXB simulcast sister station KWRD-FM 9/18 to
9/25/2015, then KVCE 9/25 to 10/1/2015. Station relocated to 1440AM
in 2019.
.
.
KMKI, Plano.
Call letters established 12/21/1998 (broadcast under KAAM with this format
from 8/1/1998.) Formerly broadcast in stereo. Format:
Children's (ABC Radio's "Radio Disney" format,) Business Talk (started
9/25/2015.) Call letters derived from "Mickey
Mouse." Broadcast TCU football games. Owner: ABC/Disney
(bought 9/4/1998 for $12 million.) Notables: Kevan "Smokin'
B" Browning, Jay Jenson, Tera Beall, Don Crabtree, Susan Huber, Dean Wendt,
Kim Stewart, B. B. Good, Lee Cameron, Sherry Rodgers, Brian Huen, Rheagan
Wallace, Kevin Miller, Jay Sanchez. Radio Disney format launched
in 4 national markets on 11/18/1996; went nationwide in 6/1997. Format
was based in Dallas at ABC Radio Networks.
.
.
KAAM, Plano.
Call letters re-established 10/31/1995 from 1310 AM. Format:
Oldies/Big Band/Standards. Owner: Collin County Radio (consisting
of Jack Sellmeyer [radio engineer; later owned Sellmeyer Engineering in
McKinney,] Hue Beavers and Jaan McCoy, along with 27 other investors, who
paid $700,000 for the station.) Nickname: "K-Double-AM," "Unforgettable."
Programs: "Moments from Texas History," "Charlie the Collector,"
"Lake Country Jubilee," "Music for Lovers." Notables: Jim Lowe
(longtime voice of Big Tex at the annual Texas State Fair,) Larry Carolla,
Charles Kuenzi aka Johnny Michaels (former longtime personality at KNUS,
KVIL and KLUV; a holdover from KAAM-1310; not the same as KZPS/KZEW's John
Michaels,) Teresa Hanson [Burns] (as host of "Music for Lovers;" married
to KRLD's Brian Burns,) Irv Jackson aka Jack Bishop, Sandy Singer, Lee
Gray, Harold Marshall (host of "Lake Country Jubilee,") Martin Jurow, Christine
Stewart, Hue Beavers, Jaan McCoy, Charlie Haggard aka "Charlie the Collector,"
Dr. June Rayfield Welch (host of "Moments from Texas History.") License
city was moved from Wichita Falls to Plano in 10/1995, with towers relocated
to New Hope with a repeater in McKinney. KXEZ-FM was the successor to KAAM,
although the KAAM calls and format were again resurrected by another owner/enthusiast
in 1999 (see 770 AM.)
.
.
KWFT, Wichita
Falls. Station established 7/15/1939. Format: Country,
Soft Rock. Call letters stood for Wichita
Falls,
TX.
Dark 12/1994 - 10/31/1995 (although periodic signal testing for KAAM started
in 9/1995.) Owner: North Texas Radio, Joe Carrigan. Program:
"Big Six Jamboree." Notables: Bill Smith aka Bill Mack (II)
(1952-1959,) Joe Tom White, Lynn Bigler. KWFT calls were resurrected
at 990AM in 1995.
.
640
.
.
KSMU,
Dallas. Station established 1948. Other sources say KSMU started
fall, 1947 at 760 kc. "Carrier current"
station only. License was voluntarily canceled in 1/1958, but no
sources can be found that verify the station being on air past 1952.
KSMU's FM counterpart began operation in 12/1950. See entry at 89.3
FM for more information, list of notables, etc.
660
.
.
KSKY,
Balch Springs. Station established 9/28/1941. Format:
Entertainment (1941-1963,) Religious (1963-4/5/2004;) Conservative Talk
(started 4/5/2004; most of the employees and religious programming moved
to KKGM-1630 on 4/2/2004; Salem also flipped their WZZD-AM in Philadelphia
to Conservative Talk on the same day.) Nicknames: "K-Sky,"
"Voice of the Gospel." News nickname: "Five Star Final."
Owners: Salem Communications, Broadcasting Partners (to 4/1995,)
Chilton Radio Corp. (1941-?; renamed Sky Broadcasting) Andy Bell (to 5/1999,)
Evergreen/AMFM/Chancellor (4/1995-?.) Call letters derived from station's
location "from the skyroof
of the beautiful Hotel Stoneleigh." Programs: "In the Groove,"
"Women's Sports Hour," "Mick Williams Cyber-Line," "Gospel Lighthouse,"
"Musical SKY-Waves," "Texas Gospel Jubilee," "Revolving Bandstand," "Love
of God Hour." Notables as "Religious": Nancy "Nan" Burns,
Gordon "Double G" Griffin, Larry Shannon, Dexter Andrews, Hector Lariz,
Dave Garland, Andrew Cunningham, Jack Davis, James Evans aka "The Alluring
Aloysius" (1943-52,) Ray Flowers, Spade Cooley, Luke Rowe, Lon Sosh (sales
manager,) Cliff Walker, Bill Clauss, Pete Thomson, Mary Stoddard aka Mary
Sanders (1995-1996; hosted a weekly talk show,) Randy Coffey, Leslie Cerny,
Dale Berry, David Pitman, Julie Barrett, "Sage," Paula Scott, Cecil Taylor,
Jaan McCoy, Bill Simmons, Dan Bradford, Royel Clark, Lee Ellen, H. C. Noah,
Donald Skelton, Harry Thompson, Larry Groebe, Bill
Bragg (1967-1975,) Mick Williams
(host of "Cyber-Line," 1995-7/20/1997,) George Farrar (host of "Love of
God Hour.") Notable as "Conservative Talk": William
(Bill) Bennett (syndicated.) Texas governor Coke Stevenson inaugurated
the station at high noon on September 28, 1941; during the station's "entertainment"
format, celebrities such as Jackie Gleason, Skitch Henderson, Vincent Price,
Jane Russell, Jack Webb and Charlton Heston visited the station in person
and performed live! KSKY applied for an FM frequency at 106.9 in
1948, turned down a chance to buy the 98.7 frequency in 1957, and was awarded
91.3 in the 1960s (but no proof that they ever signed on has ever been
found.) Station licensed to Dallas to 2003. Originally daytime-only
station.
.
700
.
.
KHSE, Wylie.
Call letters established 7/22/2004; on air as of 2007. Format:
Foreign language. Nickname: "Radio Caravan." Owner:
Dave Schum dba The Watch, Inc. dba Dallas Radio License LLP (held by "debtor-in-possession"
after a 10/2005 auction,) Texas FM Radio LLC. Persistent rumors had
KMSR/KFCD's Talk format eventually moving to 700, while 990 would become
a Business/Sports Talk station. KHSE was long rumored to be in a
"testing" phase to align the signal on their new tower, but in reality,
a tower had never even been constructed. Station went bankrupt in
8/2005; sold along with 990 to Schum's largest creditor for $8 million
on 10/13/2005. To have been sister station to KFCD-AM.
.
KCAF, Wylie.
Second set of call letters parked for 700 AM on 3/3/2004.
.
KXXT, Wylie.
Temporary call letters parked on 3/4/2003; owner Dave Schum relocated his
KCAF calls here on 3/3/2004 when 990 became KMSR.
.
730
.
.
.
KKDA, Grand
Prairie. Call letters established 1/25/1969. Format:
Easy Listening (2/16/1969-4/27/1970,) Black Talk/Urban Music (4/27/1970-5/23/2012,)
R&B via national network (5/23/2012-1/1/2013,) Korean language (started
1/1/2013.) Nicknames: "Sunny" and "The Dawn of a New Day" (as
easy listening,) "Soul 73," "Soul Sockin' 73," "You've Got a Friend."
Owners: Republic Broadcast Corporation (8/1968-1971; Texas Lt Governor
Ben Barnes was part owner, along with Alan Feld and Richard Gump [Dallas
attorneys,] Dee Kelly [campaign manager for Ben Barnes' 1966 bid for Lt
Governor, and was on the board of former station owner KPCN] and Charlie
Payne [former McLendon PD;]) Hyman Childs dba Service Broadcasting (1971-2013,)
Richard Kim dba SKR Partners (started 2/22/2013, but Korean format began
1/1/2013 before sale was completed; bought for $1.9 million.) Network
affiliation: ABC's American Information Network (1969-1970.)
Program: "Just Jazz," "Speak Out," "Talking About Sports," "Reporter's
Roundtable," "Talk Back."
Notables as Urban: Linwood "Cuzzin'
Linnie" Henderson, Willis Johnson aka "Willis The Crooner 'Where IS the
Party' Johnson" (1976-12/31/2012; took over morning show in 1979; did advice
feature "Dear Crooner,") Iola Johnson (began 3/1990; later KTVT-TV and
WFAA-TV news anchor; in 1973 was first black TV anchor in DFW market,)
Lynne Haze (1980-1990,) Harvey Martin (former Dallas Cowboys player from
1973-1984,) Roger Boykin, Roger B. Brown aka "Roger B" (to 5/23/2012; Fort
Worth Star-Telegram sports reporter; host of "Talking about Sports,") Gyna
Bivens, Shaun Rabb (was concurrently a KDFW-TV news anchor,) Louis White
aka "Da Wolf," (began 1987; black DJ who fashioned his radio voice around
Wolfman Jack; was concurrently a teacher at Dallas' Lincoln High School,)
Millie Jackson (on-air personality and R&B singer who had 40 charting
hits between 1971-88,) David Bradshaw, Ernie Johnson (to 5/23/2012,) R.L.
Griffin (to 5/23/2012,) Al "TNT" Braggs, John Lott, Roland Martin, C. Boyd
Kelly, Ray Weathers, Jim Howell, Willie Culton, Tony Price, Ron Alexander,
Bill Thomas, Dewayne Dancer, Art Riley (1970-1973,) Bob Collins, Tony Lawrence,
Phil Van Stavern aka Phil Todd, Chuck Smith (PD for soul format,) Irene
Runnels (sales manager,) Bill Mack (I), Spike Jackson, Steve Ladd aka "The
Doctor," David Starr (MD,) Joycelyn Johnson, Maryellen Hicks (Fort Worth
judge, host of "Speak Out,") Ron Davis, Noah Nelson (later a reporter for
KXAS-TV, then NBC News; later an actor,) Jailynn Thornton, Johnnie Taylor
(Dallas-based R&B singer who had the first ever RIAA-certified platinum
single with "Disco Lady" in 1976,) Ernie Johnson, Paul Turner, Bobby Patterson
(to 5/23/2012,) Joe Bagby, Gary Faison aka "Babyfase," "Cindy B" (to 5/23/2012,)
Cheryl Smith (host of "Reporter's Roundtable,") John Wiley Price (Dallas
County Commissioner; host of "Talk Back.") Notables as "Sunny":
Tony Lawrence, Irene Runnels (director and GM,) Bob Young, Bruce Hughes,
Russell Richardson, Mike Maus, Eddie Craig (last jock on KPCN and first
on KKDA; defected to KBUY two days later.) Station was daytime only
until 1990.
.
.
KPCN, Grand
Prairie. Call letters established 5/19/1962. Format:
Country and Western. Call letters stood for "Park
Cities
News."
Owner: Radio KPCN, Inc (headed by Giles Miller Sr and Dee Kelly,
to 8/1968,) Republic Broadcast Corporation (8/1968 into KKDA; bought for
$422,455.) Notables: Joe Fuchs aka Jay
Weaver, Giles Miller Sr (SM,) Giles Miller Jr aka Ed Milton/Ed Miller
(ND,) David Day, Jack Darden, Bill Smith aka Bill Mack (II) (1966-10/1967;
late of KCUL-AM,) Eddie Craig (1968-1/25/1969; last jock to broadcast on
KPCN,) "Big" Al Turner (1963,) Thomas Shelby Brown aka Randy Ryder (defected
to KYAL-1600 after format change in 1969,) Joe Bagby, Bo Powell, Jim
Rose, Mac Curtis, Jim "Shootin'" Newton,
Bill
Bragg (1966-1967,) George Slocum, Russ Johnson, Tom Rippey, Kyle Gay,
Dick Morrison, Buddy Harris, Horace Logan, Arnold Poovey aka "Texas Joe"
Poovey aka "Groovey Joe Poovey" aka Johnny Dallas. KPCN owners made
a deal with Gordon McLendon to purchase KNUS-FM in 1967; the deal fell
through that June, and KNUS went to non-simulcast programming (of sister
KLIF) thereafter...and the rest is ratings history! The new station
was to become KPCN-FM and simulcast KPCN-AM. When KPCN switched to
KKDA and an easy listening format in 1969, country listeners were directed
via commercials to try KYAL-AM; dropping C&W music was attributed to
the runaway success of competitor KBOX and their country format.
Daytime-only station.
.
A HUGE thank-you
to fellow radio
historian
Chris Huff for locating this
otherwise
impossible-to-find logo!
KRZY, Grand
Prairie. Call letters established 10/20/1960. Nickname:
"Krazy
Radio" Format: Black/Rhythm and Blues. Owner: Rounsaville
of Dallas (bought for $300,000.) Rounsaville had to divest of legendary
Atlanta station WQXI to buy KRZY. Notables: George Truehart,
Cal Druxman, Robert Rounsaville. Daytime-only station.
.
.
KKSN, Grand
Prairie. Call letters established 9/1/1959. Nickname: "Kissin'."
Owner: John "Buck" Buchanan dba Kissin' Radio Inc. (9/1/1959-1960.)
Format: Top 40, with Rhythm and Blues (afternoons, 1959-60,) R&B
(1960; jock Don Logan says, "We made some respectable numbers the third
quarter of 1959, but the station changed formats to Black, because there
was no beating KLIF and KBOX.") Notables: Don Logan aka Jesse
James (as jock) and aka Jess Huntley (as newscaster,) Joe Bagby, Tony Davis
(late of KGKO-1480,) Father J. Von Braun (conducted religious programming
on weekends,) Rudy Runnels aka King Arthur (PD.) Located at the Cliff
Towers Hotel, 329 Colorado, in the Oak Cliff section of Dallas. Daytime-only
station.
.
.
KBCS, Grand
Prairie. Station established 8/3/1957 (applied for license 1/1955;
granted 2/27/1957.) Owner: Earl Bodine
and Anson Brundage dba Three Cities Radio (fought for three years with
two other applicants to get 730 frequency,) C. R. Sargent (mayor of Grand
Prairie.) Format: Top 40. Nickname: "Your Radio
Companion, Serving the Golden Triangle with The Best in Music and the Latest
News" (the "Golden Triangle" consisted of Grand Prairie, Arlington and
Irving.) Flagship station for the Arlington State College (now UTA)
Rebels; also provided 7-AAAA high school sports broadcasts. Programs:
"The Bob Bruce Show," "Sunrise Variety Show." Notables: Earl
Bodine (co-owner and engineer,) Anson Brundage (co-owner and ND,) Ralph
"Buddy" Widman (SM, who told reporters at the station's sign-on that, "This
will be no 'hick' station;" Widman was late of WFAA-AM/TV; returned to
WFAA-AM in 10/1958;) Wes Ellis, "Dandy" Don Logan (1959; continued into
KKSN,) Chuck Wallace, Bob Bruce (host of "The Bob Bruce Show,") Reb Foster
aka Dennis Bruton, David Hultsman, Joe Bagby (who says he started at the
station in 1955 at age 17, but records show KBCS not going on the air until
1957.) Located at the Hancock Building at 109 W. Main St in Grand
Prairie (initially was to be at the Lennox Hotel, but changed at the last
moment,) then to studios constructed at the transmitter site on Beatty
Road, south of Grand Prairie, in 2/1959. Broadcast with 500 watts.
Daytime-only station.
.
.
KYRO, Fort
Worth. Station established 6/1933; off air by 9/1933. Owner:
H. C. Allison (former owner of KFJZ-1370.) Format: Entertainment.
Also noted as broadcasting at 735kc.
.
740
...
KACE, Dallas.
Call letters parked and application approved on 2/3/1950, but never signed
on. License was deleted by the FCC on 11/6/1952. Owner:
Roy Hofheinz and W.N. Hooper dba Texas Star Broadcasting (also owned KTHT-Houston
[no connection to current KTHT-Cleveland/Houston TX.])
.
760
...
.
KUTA, Arlington.
Station established 1975; signed off in 1976. Campus station for
the University of Texas-Arlington. KUTA's history is very unclear
and barely documented. A commercial AM station in Utah was already
using the call letters long before, and long after, KUTA "borrowed" them
or worked out an agreement to share them. It's likely that the UTA
station was using limited power (or aired in conjunction with a "carrier
current" system) that could only be accessed on campus. In 2007,
the school signed on UTAradio.com,
an online-only station, that is still active as of 2024.
.
.
And separately,
serving the Dallas market:
.
.
KSMU, Dallas.
Station established fall, 1947. Other sources place it at 640 kc.
See entries at 640 AM and 89.3 FM.
.
770
.
.
KAAM,
Garland. Call letters re-established 11/1/1999. Nickname:
"Legends 77", "K-Double A-M," "Where the Legends Live." Owner:
Crawford Broadcasting (to 2007,) Don Crawford Jr dba DJRD Broadcasting
(started 2007.) Format: Religious (started 6/5/2017,) Oldies/Big
Band/Adult Standards (11/1/1999-6/5/2017.) Call letters stand for
"Keep
Absolutely
Awesome
Music"
(a backronym.) Formerly broadcast in stereo.
Programs: "Sunday Night Bandstand," "Big Band Bash," "The Breakfast
Club," "Saturday Sock Hop," "Sinatra and Friends." Notables: Ken
"Hubcap" Carter, Linda Martin, Jaan Kalmes aka Jaan McCoy (PD and host
of "The Breakfast Club,") "Deacon" Don Evans (holdover from KPBC-770,)
Hermann Bockelmann, Bill Bailey, Tammy Dombeck, Steve Simmons (with KPBC-770
1990-99; returned to 770 in 2002,) Bill MacCormick aka Bill Dennis (began
1976; PD; started with Crawford at KPBC-1040AM,) Eddie Hubbard, Joe Lacina,
Jack Carlisle, Jack Davis (was concurrently PD for KKGM-1630,) "Willie
B," Charles Kuenzi aka Johnny Michaels (to 10/2004; former longtime personality
at KNUS, KVIL and KLUV; a holdover from KAAM-1310 and KAAM-620; not the
same as KZPS/KZEW's John Michaels,) Chuck Brinkman (began 2006; hired after
an 18-year stay at KLUV,) Jerry Overton, Tori Logan, Tom Goodridge, "Cruisin'"
Al Taylor (as host of "Saturday Sock Hop,") Ray Van Steen, Don Keyes, Dick
Roth aka Dick Marshall, Dave Mitchell, Irv Jackson aka Jack Bishop (to
2006,) Bill Bailey, Cary Richards (as host of "Sinatra and Friends," "Big
Band Bash" and "Sunday Night Bandstand.") 3rd incarnation for KAAM
and this format (see entries at 1310 and 620.)
.
.
KPBC, Garland.
Station established and call letters re-established 7/1990 (from 1040 AM.)
Format: Religious, Religious Country (started 3/1992.) Nickname:
"The Witness". Call letters stood for Percy
B.
Crawford,
original owner of Crawford
Broadcasting. Owner: Don Crawford dba Crawford Broadcasting.
Program: "Talk from the Heart," "Power Jam." Notables:
Gordon Griffin, Steve Simmons (1990-99; continued with KAAM-770,) Jaan
McCoy, Bill MacCormick aka Bill Dennis (started 1976; PD; began with Crawford
at KPBC-1040AM,) Chris Goodwin (host of "Power Jam,") Jack Davis, Theda
Holmes (host of "Talk from the Heart,") "Deacon" Don Evans (1990-99; continued
into KAAM-770.) Licensed to Garland in 1979, the frequency laid dormant
until several companies expressed an interest in the mid-1980s; Century
Broadcasting was the top competitor for the FCC license for 770 in 1984,
but five years passed before Crawford Broadcasting won out and put a station
on the air.
.
820
.
.
.
WBAP,
Fort Worth. Station established 5/2/1922, although the station was
on the air, unlicensed, a few months prior to May, 1922. Format:
News/Talk (11/1993-date,) Country ("Country Gold," 8/15/1970-11/1993,)
Adult Standards ("Good Music," 1960s,) Variety/Music (1922-1960s.)
Nickname: "NewsTalk 820," "Radio 820," "A Favorite in Texas for a
Quarter of a Century" (1947.) Owners: Amon Carter dba Carter
Publications, Capital Cities/ABC (started 1974 [merged with ABC in 1986.])
Network affiliation: ABC ("NBC Blue,") NBC (to 6/23/1980,) ABC (6/23/1980-date.)
Sister station to WBAP-FM (simulcast AM programming to it in the 1950s,)
later renamed KSCS-FM. Formerly broadcast in stereo. Claims
to be first radio station in Fort Worth, but was actually beaten by the
Fort Worth Press's WPA-AM by a month (however, it does hold the record
for longest tenure of any station in Texas with the same call letters.)
Started life at 833 kc with 5 watts of power (some sources say 10 watts,)
increased to 1.5kW in 1923, moved briefly to 750/618.6 kc, then to 630
kc on 5/12/1923, to 600 kc on 4/15/1927, to 800 kc on 11/11/1928 (shared
with KTHS, Hot Springs, AR until 1929; KTHS later shared time with KRLD
at 1040 kc,) to 10kW in 1929, then to its current 50kW in 1932, and relocated
to 820 kc on 3/29/1941 (the national moving day for clear channel stations
as a result of the Treaty of Havana; WBAP had become a clear channel, "Big
8" station in 1932 [meaning no other station in the nation could use that
same frequency unless they were VERY low power; as a result, WBAP can be
heard across a reported 42 states, especially at night. Seven other
stations in the US still carry this same type of distinction on other AM
frequencies.] The former 800 kc position was reassigned as a Mexico
clear channel instead.) Station shared frequencies with WFAA-AM from
1938 to 4/27/1970 to maximize use of 820's signal (they traded dayparts;
the strike of a cowbell signaled the switch from one station to the other!
It was the longest-lasting timeshare agreement in history.) See entry
at WFAA-AM for more details.
.
Call letters
stand for "We
Bring
A
Program" (nickname was suggested by former
president Herbert Hoover, then with the Federal Radio Commission [pre-FCC;]
jokesters used to say, "We Bore All People," and, during Prohibition, "We
Bring A Pint.") First US station to establish a country music variety
show broadcasting a la "Grand Ole Opry." Flagship station for Texas
Rangers baseball (1973-1994,) Dallas Mavericks basketball, University of
Texas sports, Baylor University sports, and The Dallas Grand Prix (auto
race in 1984.) Nicknames: "Newstalk 820," "Country Gold" (1970-81,)
"Country Music and a Whole Bunch More" (1981.) Programs: "Today in
Texas," "Helen's Home," "Harris and Company," "Black Night" (started 11/5/1937;
a theater-of-the-mind horror program; see notes below,) "Sports at Six,"
"Variety in Rhythm," "Saturday Morning Roundup," "Metroplex Forum," "Good
Morning Texas," "Metroplex Perspective," "Cyber-Line," "Computers for the
Rest of Us," "Young Americans Club," "Chem Terry Show," "One Man's Opinion,"
"Sugar Cane and February," "Monitor;" early programming broadcast from
WBAP's initial affiliation with ABC aka NBC-Blue included "Hop Harrigan,"
"Tom Mix," "Ralston Roundup," "The Lone Ranger," "Inner Sanctum," "One
Man's Family." Early days also consisted of broadcasting church services,
news, weather, music request shows (WBAP was the pioneer of this,) church
choir concerts, bedtime stories, local music, and even fire department
calls! (Much like WRR-AM in Dallas.) First regularly-scheduled
newscast presented on 7/10/1935. Commercial-free for several years
in the 1920s. Station band: The Chuck Wagon Gang.
.
Notables:
Marv
Sparks (producer and announcer; worked concurrently at WBAP-TV; later
GM of the 14-station CDR Radio Network in the Ohio Valley,) Harold Hough
(known as "H. H.," as the custom in the early days was to identify by initials
only; he soon took the nickname "Hired Hand,") Joe
Holstead, Don
Harris (I) (1965-1981; host of "Harris and Company," returned to WBAP
from KLIF-1190 by 1983 and retired 1/2/1998,) Doug Helton, Porter Randall
(longtime voice of TSN News via KFJZ-AM,) Glenn "Uncle Hank" Craig, Gene
Reynolds, Jim Vinson, Ben Harrover, James Calloway, Givens Campbell "Cam"
Arnoux (manager, 1920s,) Ed Olds (engineer, 1920s,) Gordon Fitzgerald,
Chem Terry, Layne Beaty, Gene Baugh, Lee Woodward (brother of actor Morgan
Woodward,) Ted Graves, Tyler Cox, Rick Hadley (ND,) Frank "Dink" Dinkins,
Phil Wygant (husband of WBAP/KXAS entertainment reporter Roberta "Bobbie"
Wygant,) Hal Thompson, Frank Mills (worked concurrently with WBAP/KXAS-TV;
logged 41 years with the stations before retiring,) James "Jim" Byron (became
news director in 1944 and was later ND for WBAP-TV; began career with Carter
Publications as an unpaid reporter for the "FW Star-Telegram" in the 1930s,)
Sally Francis, Francis "February" Quinn, Frank "Great Lover" McMordie,
John "Uncle Oscar" Jordan, Conrad "Master of Ceremonies" Brady, Jack Amlung
(MD,) Captain M. J. Bonner (hosted a "Grand Ole Opry"-styled variety show
that started on 1/4/1923,) David DuPont, Neil Hackett, Dick Risenhoover
(longtime Texas Rangers announcer; see Dick's bio
here,)
Helen Risenhoover (wife of Dick; assisted with his morning radio reports,)
Ray Whitworth aka Ray Kennedy (traffic, and as producer of "The Midnight
Cowboy Trucking Network,") Ted Gouldy, Alex Burton, Tom Whelan, Grace New
(first radio/TV beat reporter, and a female to boot!), John Rook, Mike
Hoey, Doug Adams (later in management with KXAS-TV; was newsman for Bill
Mack's show,) Ron Gray, Don Norman, Tony Lawrence, Harold
Taft (was concurrently WBAP/KXAS-TV weatherman,) Milton Brown (as station's
orchestra leader for "Milton Brown and His Musical Brownies.")
.
Also Bill
Smith aka Bill Mack (II) ("The Midnight Cowboy;" began first tour at station
in 2/1969; left WBAP briefly over the years (once for KDNT, once for KLIF,
etc) but always returned to WBAP; left station for good on 3/31/2001; although
station format was "Good Music" in the 1960s, Mack played Country overnight,
and the station eventually changed formats to match; Mack voted Texas'
#1 Country DJ, 1971-2001; Mack wrote the hit country song, "Blue," for
LeeAnn Rimes in 1997; Mack moved his show to XM on 9/10/2001,) Don Day,
Scott Crowder (to 3/31/2008,) Denis Martyn (2003-2004; was longtime McLendon-esque
newscaster at KOY-AM, Phoenix,) Mike Hambrick (2005; former KTVT anchor-turned-Washington
activist; brother of KDFW's Judd Hambrick,) Sandy Beach, Norwood McLendon,
Mark Davis (began 3/28/1994,) Dan Potter (1986-8/2006,) Dick Siegel (1/1981-11/2002;
came from KPLX-FM with Hal Jay,) Rick Roberts, Harroll Harbuck aka Hal
Jay (began 1/26/1981; longtime morning show host; Jay hosted BOTH the morning
and afternoon drive programs from 1981-94; was also PD from 1/1981-8/1981;
"Jay" comes from early in his career, where he worked with his father,
Hal Harbuck Sr, at the same station..."J" was short for "junior,") Joe
Stroop, Hugh Savage aka "Heywood U-Sue-Me" (character on Hal Jay's morning
show, 1997-2002; moved to KFWR-FM,) Sean Chastain, Randy Galloway (1984-2003;
host of "Sports at Six;" show moved to sister KESN-FM in 2003; was concurrently
sportswriter for the "Fort Worth
Star-Telegram,") Steve Lamb (began 1/31/1986; married to former WBAP
reporter and current KXAS-TV reporter Deborah Ferguson,) Suzanne
Calvin (1995-1996,) Ellen Gallagher, Freddie Mercer, Earl McDonald,
Anthony Hennes, Kathryn Reynolds, Gary
Smith (1969-1973,) Marion Allen, Peter Molyneaux, Muriel Sprowles,
Bud Sherman, Bob Crowley (to 3/10/2009,) Bryan Lundberg, Eileen Flake,
Jim Hill, Herb Southern, Dave Dogular, Dave Burns, Merl Tucker, Rick Hill,
Ray Coday Jr aka Ray Lincoln, Frank Parrish, George Cranston, Allen Sciaia,
Randy Hames (later "Irving Harrigan" on KILT-Houston,) Kerry Alford aka
Jimmy Stewart, G. L. Ausmus, Dorothy Compere Woodfin, Mark Holtz (Texas
Rangers announcer, 1981-1994,) Al Wisk (later a Dallas attorney and formerly
the LA Rams announcer,) Mel Dacus, Amy Chodroff, Bob Mills, Layne Beaty,
Larry Fitzgerald, David Daniel, Jack Brown (worked concurrently with WBAP-TV,)
David
Perkins aka Charlie Brown (1970,) Susan Darwin (married to former KSCS
manager Dean James,) Mark Wainwright, Chuck Cooperstein, Bill Hix, Brad
Wright (was concurrently a KXAS-TV anchorman,) Jim Baker, Tonya Blankenship
(2003-2004; left for KRLD-AM and returned briefly to WBAP in 2005,) Cathy
Martindale, Deborah Ferguson (concurrently with KXAS-TV news; married to
WBAP sports anchor Steve Lamb,) Steve Cumming (1995-3/2004.)
.
Also Pat
Halverson (1940s; "Texaco Star" reporter,) Michael Moser aka Michael T.
Parker (began 2002,) Jimmy Kerr (1946-1971,) Grace Robinson, Bob
Shomper (left 2006,) Ben Laurie, Alyce Caron (former KXAS-TV news anchor,)
Dave Dumas, Bruce Neal, Jim Brady, David Allen, Joe Kelley (2001-2007;
co-host of "Midnight Trucking Show,") Elbert Haling, Hal Collins (host
of "One Man's Opinion,") Norvell Slater, Freda Ross-Findley (late of KETR-FM,)
James Alderman (began 1931,) Fil Alvarado (later with KDFW-TV,) Jeff Austin
aka Jeff Allen (traffic,) Don Thomson,
Mark
Lambert, Blaine Brooks (traffic, 2002-2005,) Alan Barnes (traffic,
2002-6/30/2009,) Becky Chavaria, Hal Chestnutt, Bill Coates, Hal King (was
concurrently an Irving police officer,) Steve Coryell, Carl Cramer, Jeremy
Procter-Smith aka Jeremy Charles (traffic, 2003-2005,) Jack Dillon, Steven
"Stubie" Doak (started 2003; late of KCAF,) Dee Elliott, Al Fasol (news,
1969-1975,) Bob Forester, John Hare (later president of ABC Radio,) Norm
Hitzges, Breck Harris (also with WBAP-TV,) James Hawthorne (1984-1985,)
Ellie Hogue, David Yates, Laura Houston
(began 1990) and Monty Cook (began 1997) (longtime [former] husband-wife
traffic reporting team on the station,) Nancy Johnson, Guy "Curly" Woodward,
Sheb Wooley (1946-49; country singer; hosted music show sponsored by Calumet
Baking Powder,) "Maurice" aka "Brother Pink Nose," Jim Baker, Mike Jacobs,
Dan Lewis (to 2009,) Dale "Pee Wee" Woodward, Cecil Knight (longtime traffic
reporter for KPRC-Houston,) Martha Martinez,
Kevin McCarthy, John McCarty aka John Reid, Gary McNamara, Bill Merrill,
Jim Miklaszewski (;ater with NBC News,) Maria Miller (traffic, to 2007,)
Russell Scott (traffic,) Dave Barnett, Dan Flanagan, Ben Ortega aka Ben
Martin (traffic; began 2005,) "Catfish" Jim Prewitt (traffic, 2002-1/19/2004,)
Mary Ann Razzuk (later with WFAA-TV,) Jim Reeves, Art Riley (last jock
to flip switch on timeshare arrangement with WFAA on 4/27/1970,) Dick Yaws
(began 1964 [other sources say May, 1970;] concurrently Fort Worth police
sergeant
to 1973; hosted "Good Morning Texas,") Jim Ryan, John Scott (to 6/30/2009,)
Mike
Shannon (II) (traffic, 5/22/2003-6/30/2009,) Allen Stone (longtime
Dallas Mavericks announcer and sports director at KDFW-TV,) John Waelti,
Jerry Walker, A. M. Whitford (PD, late 1950s,) Mick Williams (host of "Cyber-Line"
[7/27/1997-2001] and "Computers for the Rest of Us,") Del Sharbutt (best
known as voice of Campbell Soup's "Mmm Mmm Good"!), Scott Hodges (1970,)
Tony Williams (traffic, to 2003,) Debbie Alcocer aka Debbie Douglas, Danny
Moffat (traffic,) Nancy Jay, Randy Williams, Rusty "Rush" Limbaugh (via
satellite; trained for radio at Dallas' Elkins Institute in the late-1960s!)
Station located on the 22nd floor of the Blackstone Hotel (1930s,) at Broadcast
Hill (rear of 3900 Barnett St, 1948-1994,) 2221 East Lamar St in Arlington
(started 1994,) and Victory Plaza in downtown Dallas.
.
MISC WBAP
TIDBITS...
Richard
Schroeder's book, "Texas Signs On," is an invaluable resource on the history
of WBAP radio and TV; much of the early information here was derived from
it. A must-read!
.
Frank Mills,
who began at WBAP in the summer of 1936, relates a story of how he and
college friend Ronald Reagan were en route to Hollywood to "become stars,"
and made a stop-over in Fort Worth. Mills decided to check out the
local job market, and was offered a position with KGKO, then one with WBAP.
Reagan opted to finish the journey to California by himself, and the rest
is history! (Thanks to former WBAP anchor Ward Andrews for this trivia
tidbit.)
.
"Black Night,"
a 1937-38 theater-of-the-mind horror program, was a 30-minute, WBAP-produced
nighttime drama consisting of mostly Edgar Allan Poe horror story re-enactments,
complete with sound effects and eerie narrations. Each show was preceded
with the following warning: "Any person with a weak heart or weak
stomach is advised to switch the dial or take the consequences."
Notables working in or on the show (some were part of "The WBAP Players")
included June Harrison, Nelson Olmstead, Harry Hoxworth, Ken Douglas, A.
M. Woodford, Morris Steinberg, Virginia Wiltten (writer who adapted Poe's
and other stories for radio,) Johnny Sullivan, and music by Gene Baugh's
orchestra and Don Gillis. (Thanks to historian Karl Schadow for all
the research on this; if you have any more information or details about
the "Black Night" program, contact Karl at bluecar91@hotmail.com.)
.
Technically,
WBAP was the first station in the area to broadcast in stereo, albeit in
an unconventional way. One channel was broadcast over WBAP-AM, with
the other over WBAP-FM, creating a true stereo effect to those listeners
who had two radios to pick up both frequencies! Bill Barclay and
Lee "Woody" Woodward were the hosts of this broadcast in the 1950s; Woodward
says, "I don't recall that it generated a lot of talk, but it was the first."
.
Before venturing
into the radio business, owner Amon Carter told his circulation manager
at the Star-Telegram, Harold Hough, that, "if this radio thing is going
to be a menace to newspapers, maybe we had better own the menace!"
When asked about possible start-up costs, Hough told Carter, "We can get
the transmitter for $200, and it shouldn't cost more than $50 to set it
up." Carter replied, "All right. We'll put $300 into this radio
thing, and when that's gone, we're out of the radio business." That
was over 100 years ago now, and Carter's investment proved to be a wise
one!
.
850
.
.
KJON,
Carrollton. Call letters established 5/15/1997 in Anadarko, OK; station
itself established 2/17/1970. Went dark and moved into Dallas market
6/10/2003 and requested call letters KRPT. Station was rumored to
be Brokered Asian format, but signed on with Tropical/News/Talk format
on 5/3/2004, then to Spanish Catholic (started 10/2/2006; a mixture of
talk and music.) Nickname: "La Promesa," "La Brava," "Super
Tejano," "DFW's Best Tejano," "Metro-Wide with Tejano Pride." Owner:
BP DFW, Guadalupe Radio Network. Broadcasts with 5,000 watts.
Daytime-only station. Simulcast of KFJZ-870 (see below.) Sister station
of KATH-910AM.
.
870
.
.
.
KFJZ, Fort
Worth. Call letters re-established 1/20/1984 (calls and format moved
from 1270 AM.) Format: Big Band/Standards (officially "Al Ham's
Music of your Life" [formerly at KFJZ-1270]) (1/20/1984-2/28/1986; moved
to KAAM-1310,) Spanish (2/28/1986-10/1/2006,) Spanish Catholic (started
10/2/2006.) Simulcast with KJON-850 to 9/30/2006. Nickname:
"La Pantera" ('The Panther,') "Super Tejano," "DFW's Best Tejano," "Metro-Wide
with Tejano Pride." Owner: Garden City Broadcasting.
Programs: "Voice of Texas," "Little Panthers."
Notables as "Spanish":
Pancho Pistolas, David Cruz (host of "Voice of Texas;" show moved from
KESS-1270.) Notables as "Big Band/Standards": Howard
Greenblatt (ND, public service director and personality,) Rhett Caraway,
Scott Reese, Gary Reid, John McCarty, Ray Edwards, David Faulkner.
Station filed bankruptcy in 2/1994, but still remains on the air today.
Daytime only station.
.
.
.
KJIM, Fort
Worth. Call letters established 2/25/1957. Format: MOR,
Country, Big Band (1950s and 1970s.) Simulcast to KJIM-FM.
Owners (in order:) Blue Bonnet Broadcasting (2/25/1957-4/1/1958,)
Bill Schueler and actor Jimmy Stewart dba Trinity Broadcasting (Trinity
changed from the KCNC calls to something 'more catchy,') (4/1/1958-12/31/1962,)
W. E. "Bill" Windsor (12/31/1962-?; bought AM and FM outlets for $300,000,)
Kurt Meer dba Dalworth Broadcasting (bought in 1967 after selling off KCUL-AM/FM,)
Everett Salley, C. D. Salley, Broadcasting Consultants Corp. (1/1/1970-?.)
Sister station to KJIM-FM until 5/1/1966, when AM was sold. Network
affiliation: MBS. Nicknames: "The Sound of Good Music,"
"KJIM Kountry." Program: "Love of God Hour." Notables:
Glenn "Uncle Hank" Craig, Jim "Shootin'" Newton, Arnold Poovey aka "Texas"
Joe Poovey aka "Groovey" Joe Poovey, Bob Bruton, Russ
Bloxom (1959-1961,) Bill Hix, Ben Toney, Morgan Choat, Brad Wilson,
Ray Weathers, Cal Druxman (GM,) Bill Crable, Jim Rose aka Jim Nelson (1973-1974;
Rose worked concurrently for KFJZ-AM,) Dennis Turner, Jimmy Birdsong, Gene
Hatton, Ben Smith, "Babblin'" Bob Bick, Walt Jones, Darrell Monroe (ND,)
George Faulder, Andy Anderson, Terry Beene (creator of the Terry
Awards,) George Farrar (host of "Love of God Hour" [show later moved
to KSKY.]) KJIM's mobile studio was a two-man trailer called "Big
Jim," made in the shape of an 8' microphone! Station located at 2212
East 4th Street in Fort Worth. Daytime-only station. And KJIM
lives on...see 1500 AM below.
.
.
KCNC, Fort
Worth. Station established 2/15/1947. Format: Variety.
Owner: Ray Collins, Blue Bonnet Broadcasting (and one source cites
Pat Boone as having partial ownership in the late 1950s.) Programs:
"Milk Bucket Brigade," "What's New," "Mainly for Women," "Home Fashions
in Melody," "Melody Time," "Western Express," "KCNC Radio Playhouse," "Disc
n' Date," "Gordon Fitzgerald Show," "Blues at Sundown." Notables:
Bob Bruton, Joe Wills, Jerry Hahn, Don Boles, Robert "Little Richard" Smith
(first black jock in Fort Worth,) Walt Jones, Jack Raymond, Tom Ellis,
Ken McClure aka Ken Knox, William Keck, "Great Scott," Luther Adkins aka
Jim Bradley (PD, commercial manager and jock,) Willie Nelson (later a C&W
singer, of course! Willie's opening line on his first day was, "This
is your ol' cotton pickin', snuff dippin', tobacco chewin', coffee pot
dodgin', dumplin' eatin', frog giggin' hillbilly from Hill Country!"
He also hosted a children's show,) Lee
Woodward (brother of actor Morgan Woodward,) James Clemmons, Micky
Murphy, Andres Mantecon. First DFW station to implement ethnic programming.
Station relocated from 720 kc.
.
910
.
.
KATH,
Frisco. Call letters established 1/23/2007, although Catholic programming
started under KXEB calls on 10/2/2006. Owner: Chatham Hill
Foundation/Guadalupe Radio Network. Network affiliation: EWTN.
Programs: "Life on the Rock," "Next Way of Life" (both provided by
EWTN.) Sister station of KJON-850. Notables: Dave Palmer, Claire
Romano, Drew Johnson.
..
.
.
..
KXEB, Frisco.
Call letters established 3/16/1990. Format: Catholic (10/2/2006-1/23/2007;
simulcast to KFJZ-870 in Spanish,) Liberal Talk ("Air America") (3/21/2005-10/1/2006,)
Spanish ("Radio Fiesta Mexicana," "Solo Exitos,") (?-3/20/2005,) Brokered
Voice of Asia (11/1999-?,) Spanish (9/6/1999-11/1999,) Soft Oldies (via
ABC's "Unforgettable" format (8/11/1998-9/6/1999) and ABC's "Stardust"
format (1/1998- 8/11/1998,) Black Gospel ("Joy,") (2/23/1997-1/1998.) Owners:
Spanish Broadcasting System, Rodriguez, Pesa Broadcasting, El Dorado.
Nickname: "Radio Fiesta Mexicana," "Joy 910," "Fab 105." Was sister
station to KTCY-FM (simulcast their All-Beatles format in 1995.)
Started simulcasting to 1150 AM on 8/1/2001. Notables: Ken
Fine (11/1998-2003,) John LaBella (via ABC's "Stardust" format,) Kevan
"Smokin' B" Browning, Willie Mae McIver, Luis de la Garza.
As Air America:
Marc Maron, Mark Riley, Al Franken, Katherine Lanpher, Chuck D., Rachel
Maddow, Janeane Garofalo, Sam Seder, Mike Malloy, Laura Flanders, Kyle
Jason, Ed Schultz (all via satellite.) Station moved city of license
from Sherman to Frisco in 2003.
.
KBLN, Sherman.
Call letters established 11/10/1988. Format: Spanish, Standards.
Owner: Belen
Enterprises.
.
.
.
KIKM, Sherman.
Call letters established 7/1975. Format: Hot AC/Top 40 (to
1986,) Country (1986-?,) Standards (?-11/1988.) Nickname: "Kick-m
Country." Owners: Sher-Den Communications (1975-?,) Hawthorne
Broadcasting (6/1985-?,) Jerry Snyder and Associates. Network affiliation:
TSN. Notables: Steve Eberhart
(to 9/1978; left for KVIL,) Ken Barnett aka John Paul Stevens, Melissa
Murphy, Richard Kelley, Bob McKinzie, Gil Nelson, John Samford, Gary Mayer,
Terry King, Larry Richardson, Bill Samford, Barry Cope (1979-81; now "Elvis
Duran" on WHTZ-New York,) Don Sitton aka Don Miller, Larry
Carolla (1976,) Barry Diamond, Debbie Hillman. Sister station
to KIKM-FM; initially, nights were simulcast to FM, then FM became a full
simulcast of AM. Thereafter, each station operated independently,
with the FM on automation (beginning in 1977.) Former employee Steve
Eberhart explains: "The AM jock had to babysit the FM automation
system down the hall. It was our duty to change the tapes before
they ran out to ensure the thing stayed on the air. We, being the
live jocks on the Top 40 AM, couldn't have cared less, and many a time,
the tapes ran out...One time, the tapes all ran out, which ended up cueing
the last event of the day, a PSA cart which it played, cued up, and played
again...and again...and again. A lady called in and said, 'I think
you need to go check on your disc jockey; he keeps reading the same thing
over and over!'" Later, a security camera was set up so the AM jocks
could see the reels getting empty. Broadcast with 1,000 watts.
KIKM was regularly used as a "farm team" for KVIL-FM; over the years, KVIL
stole Barnett, King and Eberhart from the station. Station broadcast
6AM-12AM. The KIKM calls were still active until 5/26/1999 as KIKM-FM
(at 101.7.) See entries at 96.7 and 101.7 FM for more details.
.
.
KRRV, Sherman-Richardson.
Station established 10/15/1936 at 1310 kc (at 100 watts, then 250 watts,
daytime only,) moved to 880 kc on 6/18/1940 (at 1,000 watts, 24 hours a
day) and moved to 910 kc by 1949. Call letters stood for "Red
River
Valley."
Format: Country (days) and Top 40 (nights) (1950s,) Top 40 (1960s-10/1974,
Country (10/1974-7/1975.) Owners: Grayson Radio (5/1972-?,)
Hicks Family, W. Glenn Duncan and Terry McGovern dba McDunn, Inc (9/1965-?,)
George H. Wilcox and T. B. Lanford dba Red River Valley Broadcasting (1936-?.)
Network affiliation: MBS, TSN (and initially received news via wireless
radio in Morse code from Trans-Radio Press [1930s.]) One of the largest
1000W antenna patterns in the US. KRRV's tower was the first built
between Dallas and Oklahoma City. Held dual-city license and operated
studios in both cities beginning 12/1/1964. Programs: "Don
and Ted," "Mary at Madden's," "Sherman High School On the Air," "Farm Report,"
"Tropical Gardens Ballroom" (KRRV fed their remote broadcast of "Tropical"
to 300 MBS stations on Saturday nights; performers such as Tommy Dorsey
participated. The once-familiar introduction to the show was, "Good
evening, ladies and gentlemen all across America. We are greeting
you from the beautiful and far-famed Tropical Gardens in Denison, where
Texas dances under the stars.") Station bands: "Bud Traweek's
String Strikers," "Knight's Happy Cowboys," "Night Hawks," "D. G. Boys,"
"Happy Go-Lucky Cowboys," "Haskell Rannals and his Dixie Rhythm Boys,"
"Red River Ramblers." Notables: Jack Maquire, Bill Jaco and
Tom E. Spellman (both defected to KTAN-1500 in 1947, and they later co-owned
it,) Dorothy Cox (1937-59,) Lofton L. Hendrick (SM, 1936-56,) Ken Jones
(reporter and salesman, 1962; currently owns KHYI-FM,) Evelyn Powers (singer,)
William Campbell, Bonnie Beardsley, Rosemary Foundray (singer,) Maurice
Wray (and his wife,) V. A. Coker, Edd Routt, Harold Hastings, Glenn Duncan,
Brice Dickson, John L. Blaine, Roy Pickett, Grant Turner (1941; later voice
of the Grand Old Opry,) Barry Cope (now "Elvis Duran" on WHTZ-New York,)
M. H. and Eual Short (pre-teen singers, 1938,) Leo Reynolds, Buddy Harris,
Eloise Jouvenat, Tom John, W. W. Shelley, Boyd Kelly, Doyle Thompson,
Jim
Thomas, Earl Ellington, Ray Hohl, Terry James, Tommy Loy (jock; later
famous trumpet player,) W. Harrison (as host of "Farm Report.") Sister
station to KDSG-FM (later KIKM-FM.) Located at 1910 S. Crockett St
(1936-2/3/1941, when the building burned down,) then temporarily to the
Chamber of Commerce office at 421 N. Crockett St, then to Texoma Parkway
(old US 75, just north of US 82) on 5/2/1941 (this building was recently
razed; it was used through 2002 for later occupants of the 910 frequency.)
Richardson studios were located at 318 E. Main Street.
.
950
.
.
KTON, Kaufman.
CP issued 6/8/2007 (station originally licensed to Belton, TX, at 940AM;
was to have relocated first to Lancaster TX at 950AM.) Owner:
JLF Communications. KTON continued broadcasting from Belton at 940AM
until going dark on 12/30/2008, as the station's property owner disassembled
the transmitter after months of not being paid. No further action
was taken on the move, and the FCC deleted the call letters on 6/2/2010.
Was to have been new local home for BizRadio Network, who decided to go
with KJSA-1110AM instead.
.
.
KKLF, Denison-Sherman.
Call letters re-established c. 2004, off air on 3/21/2005. Format:
Sports Talk (simulcast of KTCK-1310.) Frequency was dissolved and
call letters relocated to 1700 kc as part of the FCC's dial expansion program
of 1989.
.
.
KYNG, Denison-Sherman.
Call letters established 3/19/2002. Format: Ethnic (as "Radio
Desi" via LMA,) Sports (simulcast of KTCK-1310.) Owner: Susquehanna.
Call letters resurrected from KYNG-105.3.
.
.
KKLF, Denison-Sherman.
Call letters established 6/22/1998. Format: Talk (simulcast
of KLIF-570.) Owner: Susquehanna (bought 4/30/1998.)
.
KDSX, Denison-Sherman.
Station established 9/26/1948 at 1220 kc; moved to 950 in 1953. Owner:
B. V. Hammond (with co-owner Lofton Hendrick,) Sock Hop Radio, Susquehanna
(bought 3/13/1998 along with 1700 kc.) Nickname: "The Voice
of Texomaland," "Sock Hop Radio." Network affiliation: LBS.
Program: "Daddy-O Drag." Notables: John Scott, Sunny
Michaels (Starkes,) Bill Hooten, Charles Davis, Jim
Thomas, Rex Russell, John Hale, Don Day. Sister station to KDSX-101.7
FM (later known as KDSQ, KDVE and KIKM.) 950 was apparently sold
in favor of purchasing 910 (see above.)
.
970
.
.
KHVN, Fort
Worth. Call letters established 6/3/1985. Format: Black
Gospel. Nickname: "Heaven
97."
Owner: Mortenson Broadcasting (started 5/31/2002,) Infinity/CBS (3/1996-5/31/2002,)
Granum (3/1991-3/1996,) Gillmore (1988-1991.) Originally sister
station to KDLZ-FM (1985-12/23/1988) and later KJMZ-FM/KRBV-FM (12/23/1988-12/2001)
and KGGR (started 12/2001.) Program: "Community Forum."
Notables: Dave Martin (GM,) Alisa Robinson, Joe Bagby, Robert Ashley
(ND and host of "Community Forum,") Drew Dawson, Katrina Bryant, Cedric
Bailey, Warren Brooks, Keith Solis, Tanya English, Barbara Mallory-Calloway
(former Dallas City Councilwoman,) Dexter Andrews, Lawanna Johnson, Sister
Minnie Francis, Rev. David Green, James Mitchell, Michael Ray, Dion Mortenson
(GM.) Was scheduled to go dark on 12/31/2007 as part of the FCC's
dial expansion program of 1989, in exchange for a frequency with a full
day/night schedule on KKGM-1630.
.
.
KSAX, Fort
Worth. Call letters established 3/15/1982. Format: Jazz.
Call letters stood for saxophone.
Sister station to KNOK-FM. Owner: Earl G. Graves dba EGG-Dallas
aka Black Enterprises. Notables: Alisa Robinson, "Wee" Willie
Culton, Bob Stewart, Kevin Singer, Robert Ashley.
.
.
.
KNOK, Fort
Worth. Call letters established 1953. Format: Variety/Ethnic
(1953-1954,) R&B with Country and Spanish on weekends (1954-1957,)
R&B (exclusively; first in area to do so) (1957-1968 and simulcast
fulltime to KNOK-FM; simulcast 50% from 1968 to 2/5/1979,) Jazz (2/5/1979-3/15/1982;
separately programmed from AM.) Owner: Jack Flood dba Associated
Broadcasters (1953-1956,) John Kluge (1956-1960; Kluge later founded Metromedia,)
Townsend Investment Company aka Townsend Fund Stations (1960-1963,) Chatham
Corporation (1963-8/26/1977,) Earl G. Graves dba EGG-Dallas aka Black Enterprises
(8/26/1977-12/23/1988,) Sheridan Broadcasting. Sister station to KNOK-FM.
Primarily a black station in the 1950s and 1960s, FW's Delbert McClinton
was the very first white artist played on the station with his song, "Wake
Up Baby," in the early 1960s. Programs: "Turner's Turntable,"
"Blues at Sunrise," "Doodle for Dollars," "Homeshow," "Gospel Train," "Negro
Spiritual Hour," "Gospel Music Train," "Shootin' the Breeze," "Top O' the
Day," "Big D Express," "Jubilee Serenade," "Blues at Sunset," "DJ's Showcase."
Notables: Stu Hepburn (GM, 2/1957-1960; President/part-owner with singer
Pat Boone, 1960-1963; President/25% owner, 1963-1978,) Dean McClain (host
of "Blues at Sunrise,") Bill Hix, Dell Cook, Neil Baird, Jerry Park, "Mr.
Lucky," Lenita Johnson, Jimmy Clemons, Charles Brewer, Tony Price, Bob
Stewart (morning show host who also had a jazz trio, "Bob Stewart and Company,")
Roy Johnson, Julia Scott, Frank Clarke, Jerry Thomas (began 1954,) Curtis
Pierce, Jerry Spencer, Freddie Jenkins, Ruben T. "Mad Lad" Washington,
Larry
Carolla (1976,) "Big" Jim Randolph, Bob Stewart, "Wee" Willie Culton.
Daytime only station (but from 1957-1979, KNOK-FM simulcast KNOK-AM; when
the AM signed off at sunset, the FM simply continued on seamlessly thereafter.)
Station was located at 3601 Kimbo in Fort Worth, but maintained an office
and studio concurrently in Dallas.
.
.
KWBC, Fort
Worth. Station established 12/4/1946. Format: Variety/Ethnic
with black-oriented, amateur and public service programming. Owners:
Associated Broadcasters, Worth
Broadcasting
Company
(run by P. W. Seward, Joe Davies and Ben Smith; bought transmitter building
and tower site for $6,545 and studios for $35,000; total cost to go on-air
at $70,000.) Slogan: "Serving Over a Million Texans."
Network affiliation: AP. Broadcast with 1000 watts. Programs:
"Listen Ladies," "Blues at Sunrise," "McNeil at the Wheel." Notables:
Moses Cardona, Alton Cocke, Ed Hogan (1940s; announcer and later PD; later
was host of WFAA-TV's daily "Dialing for Dollars" movie,) Dean McClain
(began R&B music in 1950 on one-hour program, "McNeil at the Wheel"
and later "Blues at Sunrise,") Mary K. Middleton, Margaret Bruyere aka
Margaret Brown, Robert Chapman, Roy Loba, P. W. Seward, Joe S. Davies,
Ben G. Smith, William Love aka Lewis Love, Ralph "Buddy" Widman (PD, 1946-1948;)
Eva Robb Watkins (as host of "Listen Ladies,") Everet Baty, Melvin Parsons,
Jim Lowe, Mildred Cunningham, Jerry Janes, Marjorie McCarley, Clarence
Anglin, E. H. Walker, J. B. McCrory, J. F. Haacker, Whitson Jones, James
E. Rennie, Rev. J. Frank Norris (who simulcast his Sunday morning services
from KFJZ in the 1940s; it was the area's first attempt at simulcasting.)
First DFW station to broadcast a Spanish language program. By 1953,
most commercial billings were from ethnic shows, so owner Associated changed
the calls to KNOK and reimaged the station to serve a black audience.
Daytime only station. Studios located at Joseph Building, 9th and
Main in Fort Worth; transmitter on Old Denton Road, east of Sylvania Avenue.
.
990
.
.
.
KFCD, Farmersville.
Call letters established 12/14/2004. Format: Spanish Religious,
Urban (via ABC Radio Networks' "Rejoice Soul Food" syndicated format, 2008,)
Talk (live, then to Talk America on 11/1/2005,) Fox Sports (to 10/31/2005;
KHFX took Fox Sports away on 11/1/2005.) Owner: Dave Schum
dba The Watch, Inc. dba DFW Radio License LLP (to 10/13/2005,) D. B. Swirn
(10/13/2005-2007,) Principal Broadcasting (started 2007.) Was under
LMA to Bernard Radio-Dallas. Nicknames: "SportsFan 990" (started
1/2007, under lease arrangement to Thom Bailey,) "Texas Talk Radio."
Flagship station of the FC-Dallas
soccer club (formerly the Dallas Burn.) To have been sister station
to forthcoming KHSE-700 (formerly KCAF.) Basically a re-imaging of
KMSR. Notables:
Kevin McCarthy
(to 5/2/2005,) Mike Fisher (sports talk host; was last live show on station
after all other employees quit or got fired,) Jerry Overton, Kate Delaney,
Doc Bryce, Dave Marcum, Allan Stanglin, Teena Jones, Chevis King, Joe Howard,
Michael Reagan (via satellite,) Randy Fuller, Martha
Martinez, Bob "Mike" Elmore, Connie Enriquez Herrera. Station
went bankrupt in 8/2005 and was auctioned off 10/13/2005 to D. B. Swirn,
who was Schum's largest creditor, for $9 million (included KHSE;) KFCD/KMSR
was a second chance for owner Schum, who had previously taken 990 to bankruptcy
under KCAF calls on 4/12/2003.
.
.
.
KMSR, Farmersville.
Call letters established 3/3/2004. Format: Talk. Owner:
Dave Schum dba The Watch, Inc. Nickname: "Main
Street
Radio."
To have been sister station to forthcoming KHSE-700, Wylie (formerly KXXL
and KCAF; KCAF calls were "parked" at 700 when 990 relinquished them.)
Notables: Kevin McCarthy
(longtime DJ at KNUS and later talk show host at KLIF; concurrently hosted
an auto advice show on WBAP,) Don Imus (via satellite,) David Gold, Lynne
Haley (late of KVIL; hosted program "Complaints About Men," Michael Reagan
(via satellite,) Randy Fuller (traffic,) Jerry Overton (VP/GM,) Dave Marcum
(late of KFWR-FM,) Mike Fisher, Andrea Pilcher, M. I. Blackwell, Connie
Enriquez Herrera (lone holdover from Cafe 990,) Gennifer North (traffic,)
Dave Little, Chuck Cason, David Burrall. Studios located at 12900
Preston Road (in the former KTXQ [Radio One version] and KLTY studios.)
.
.
KCAF, Farmersville.
Call letters established 6/27/2002; satellite programming started 6/28/2002,
and live programming started 10/21/2002. Format: Women's Talk
("Cafe 990,"
10/21/2002-10/23/2002,) Conservative Talk via Radio America (6/28/2002-10/21/2002;
10/23/2002-3/3/2004.) Owner: Dave Schum dba Renaissance Radio
aka The Watch, Inc. Nickname: "Cafe
990." To have been sister station to forthcoming KXXL-700, Wylie.
Notables: Gail Lightfoot, Katie Pruitt (PD and talk show host,) Laurie
Seale ("The Six-Foot Blonde,") Lynne Haze (paid a reported $60K a year
to come over from KRNB-FM,) Lora Cain, Dr. Joy Browne (via satellite,)
Scott Savage,
Steven "Stubie" Doak, Ira
Lipson (created format,) Jim Verde, Barbara Marullo (former KZEW jock in
1975-1976,) Kelly Vrla, Connie Herrera, Mike
Shannon (II.) "Cafe 990" has the unenviable distinction of having
the shortest run of any regular format in DFW radio history, signing off
the format after just three days (see story below.) 60 billboards
touting the station's premiere were rented across town; all contained a
humorous poke at men...such as, "The Seat is Always Down," "Broad Topics,"
etc. Pre-"Cafe" stunting consisted of cafe "sounds"...indistinct
conversations, dishes clanging, etc. After Cafe 990 signed off, Radio
America programming resumed. KCAF was the third station to migrate
from Wichita Falls (KGKO-570 and KAAM-620 were the others.) Station
located at 9400 N. Central (in the former KVIL penthouse studios.)
As a Wichita Falls station, KCAF was previously known as KXXL (2/1/2000-6/27/2002,
although station was already dark when Schum purchased it; former KXXL
owner Dick Moran sued Schum to get the license back,) KTUB (9/4/1998-2/1/2000,)
KWFT (9/25/1995-9/4/1998; taking the former longtime, historic calls from
620AM, which went dark in 1994 and became KAAM in 10/1995,) KNIN (1961-11/9/1983;
10/7/1991-9/25/1995,) KKCR (10/19/1990-10/7/1991,) KGTM (11/9/1983-10/19/1990,)
KSYD (1955–1961,) KFDX (1947–1955) and KFDF (4/1947-10/1947.)
.
SIDEBAR:
WHY DID A RADIO STATION SIGN OFF AFTER JUST THREE DAYS ON THE AIR???
Many rumors
and much conjecture surrounded KCAF after its quick fall. Articles
in the Dallas Morning News and the Dallas
Observer painted owner Schum as the bad guy, going into the
transaction undercapitalized and with little business experience.
Dave Schum agreed to an interview for this website in 2004, and the following
timeline is based on documentation and his personal recollection of those
events. This is not meant to explain all sides of the story; others
who spoke to me on the subject had varying observations, and further input
or challenges to the following information by those involved would be welcome
and will be posted. I also encourage you to click the Observer
link above for another take on the story. I claim NO responsibility
for the accuracy contained in the following summary:
.
After receiving
a license for 990 in 1997, station owner and Dallas restauranteur Dave
Schum hired Scott Savage in 2002 to put together a format and hire talent
to be used on Schum's dormant frequency. The process became a rush
job right off the bat. The pricey, former KVIL penthouse studios
were rented, which were left stripped and bare (and early hires brought
furniture from home to work from.) Ira Lipson, longtime programming
consultant who had come up with the "Zoo" idea for KZEW years earlier,
was brought in to develop the format. Savage did all the hiring and
arranged for all the working capital, but finances ran short very quickly.
Savage used his personal credit card to pay for some needed studio equipment
(Schum estimates about $5,000 worth.) Some of the operations employees
became aware of the cash shortage, but pushed ahead to get the station
on the air anyway, reportedly at Savage's insistence. According to
Schum, most of the on-air talent was signed to long-term contracts (six
years, in some cases.) Already, there were reservations from the
staff about the station not being ready in time, and the power output being
poor (a much-needed power upgrade CP was left in limbo due to financial
shortages.) Putting off the start date was considered, but the billboard
company put heat on the station to run all 60 advertisements according
to the original date planned.
On the premiere
date, 10/21/2002, Schum realized that he wouldn't be able to make the first
payroll. First, Schum approached Savage about a loan to cover payroll;
Savage agreed, but then reneged. Schum then checked into bridge financing
(a short-term loan to cover immediate needs,) but was turned down for a
$1.5 million request. He then offered to sell the station to Savage.
Savage, who Schum says had already formed a consortium on the side and
was actively seeking a local station to buy anyway, contacted his own business
partner, Ed Ferreri (dba Pinnacle Broadcasting,) who offered Schum a pitiful
$1 up front, and a lump payment of $250,000 later for the entire operation.
(A reasonable price for a working, rimshot AM station at the time would
have been $6-$10 million.) Schum balked at the lowball offer.
On the second day of operations, October 22, some employees received paychecks
that did indeed cash, but HR was told to not pass out any more. An
employee meeting held that evening allowed Schum to explain what was going
on, and all of the employees decided to go forth and keep the station on
the air anyway...provided Schum accepted Savage's buyout offer. Savage
indicated that he had the cash to cover payroll, but wouldn't cover it
if Schum didn't sell him the station. At 3PM the following day, October
23, the employees were gathered again for Schum to announce that payroll
would still not be met, and at 7PM, Schum told the group that he had refused
Savage's offer. Everyone then packed their bags and walked out, after
a mere three days on the air.
.
Schum's
ongoing contention is that Savage always had his sights set on wrestling
the station away from him, and that Savage rushed the premiere process
along and made the station doomed to fail. Schum identified one employee,
who was a friend and former co-worker of Savage's, who engaged in theatrics
during the meetings to galvanize the rest of the employees against Schum.
He also blames CFO Carla Phillips for hastily cutting the check for the
billboards instead of making payroll. Regardless, Schum sought bankruptcy
to protect his assets, and was filed on by Savage, Ira Lipson and TM Century
(local jingle service,) along with many of the employees who were not paid
and/or had contracts. By early 2004, Schum said that he was through
most of the process of paying off those debts, and that 990 would again
take to the airwaves that April. While Schum's second attempt at
running a station lasted longer, it was met with much of the same financial
woes, and ended up being sold to a creditor at auction in October, 2005.
.
1000/1005/1025
et al.
.
KTCU, Fort
Worth. "Carrier current" and low-power
AM station established 9/1948 at 1005 kc, then to 750 kc in spring, 1949;
relocated to 640 kc on 1/2/1950. In 1951, it moved to 1000 kc, then
to 1025 kc in 1952. Campus station for Texas
Christian
University.
To comply with FCC rules, the station was only permitted to broadcast at
10 watts--and to not be heard beyond the TCU campus. On 10/5/1964,
KTCU permanently switched to the FM dial. See entries at 88.7 and
89.1 FM.
.
1040
.
.
KGGR,
Dallas. Call letters established 7/1990. Format: Black
Religious. Owner: Mortenson Broadcasting. Nickname:
"Great
Gospel
Radio."
Notables: Lador Frank, Ann Arnold, Alvin McCottry aka "Brother Al,"
Calvin Foster, Jerome Thomas, Tonya Hall. Daytime only station.
.
.
KPBC, Dallas.
Call letters established 10/26/1973 (but programming started 10/20/1973.)
Format: Religious. Owner: Don Crawford Sr dba Crawford
Broadcasting. Call letters stood for Percy
B.
Crawford,
original owner of Crawford Broadcasting. KPBC moved to 770 AM in
3/1990 to increase signal (see entry there.) Nickname: "The
Warm Sound," "Stereo Love 1040." Programs: "The Overcomers
Club," "Dr. Moon Show." Notables: Chuck
Mohnkern, Jeff Dale, Bill MacCormick aka Bill Dennis (began 1976; PD;
continued into KPBC-770AM and KAAM-770AM,) Tony Lawrence, Chris Goodwin,
Andy
Connell aka Crash Kelly, Doreen Day, Jeff Dale, Robert Moon (as host
of "The Dr. Moon Show,") "Deacon" Don Evans (hosted a call-in 'help' show
for listeners, entitled "The Overcomers Club," solving problems with a
song.) Logo above was an answer to KVIL-FM's annual bumper sticker
distribution ("I Love KVIL," "KVIL Loves Me," etc.) Daytime only
station.
.
.
KIXL, Dallas.
Station established 6/8/1947. Format: Easy Listening/M-O-R/"Beautiful
Music." Owners: Lee Segall (created the national radio program,
"Dr. I. Q.,") dba Variety Broadcasting, with celebrity minority owners
Tyrone Power, Dallasite Greer Garson and William Holden and local partner
Julius Schepps; Robert and Theodore Strauss dba Strauss Broadcasting (2/15/1964-?;
Theodore was a sales man at KIXL from 1947-1964.) Nickname:
"The New Radio Concept." Daytime simulcasting to sister station KIXL-FM
(nickname was "104 on Both Dials.") Network affiliation: American
Information Network. Feature: "Think It Over" (short famous
quotations and 'thoughts-for-the-day;' later assembled into two books and
sold to interested listeners.) Programs: "Radio Town Mirror"
('Radio Town' was the nickname of KIXL's building,) SMU Theatre of the
Air," "Radio Phone Club," "From Bed to Worse," "Prisoner of War," "Homemaker
Show," "Music Review," "March of Music," "What's New," "Viewpoint," "Midday
Masterpieces," "Deems Taylor Classics." Notables: Bob Johnston (1960-1961,)
Hugh Lampman (1952-1954,) Murray Followill (father of Dallas Mavericks
radio announcer Mark Followill,) Meg Healy (host of "Meg Healy's Homemaker
Show,") Ricky Cox, Ken Foote, Frank Filesi, Jerry Haynes (later "Mr. Peppermint"
on WFAA-TV,) Pierce Allman, Dick Hitt (later Dallas Times Herald columnist,)
Charlie Payne, Jack Darden, Rev. Jimmy McClain (voice of "Think It Over"
and played the role of "Dr. I. Q.;" became a NW Texas minister in the late
1940s after leaving WFAA-AM,) Harold "Hal" Smith, Dan Hayslett, Bob Tripp,
Marvin Hillis, Paul Gleiser (1971-1972,) Phil Davis, Bill Shaw (1952-53,)
Don Robinson, David Healy (son of Meg,) Bill Bailey, Jonathan Hayes aka
Jeff Edward (10/1970-6/1973; longtime personality and traffic reporter,)
Dave Beuret (to 1971,) Rob Edwards, John Wilson, Les Sims, David Bradshaw,
Melvin Alpern, Bill Morgan, Jim Mitchell, Olin Terry, Joe Hickman, Shirley
Stone, Clate Holm, Ben Laurie, Neal Browne, Joe Van Riper. Applied
for TV station on Channel 2 in 1948. Located at "Radio Town," 1401
S. Akard St, south of downtown Dallas; transmitter located at Military
Pkwy and Forney Road. Daytime only station.
.
1052
(285 METERS)
.
KGDO, Dallas.
Call letters parked and application approved on 4/24/1927, but never signed
on the air. Owner: Henry "Dad" Garrett (who had started up
WRR in 1922.) Calls deleted by the FCC on 5/14/1927.
.
1080
.
.
.
KRLD,
Dallas. Station established 10/31/1926 (other sources say 2/14/1926
and 10/30/1926.) Format: Variety, News/Sports/Talk (started
1/7/2002,) Easy Listening (KRLD claims to have switched to news and information
in April, 1978, but personal recollection has them programming music and
news way into 1979.) Owner: Infinity/CBS. Former owners:
Radio
Laboratories
of Dallas (originally
"Dallas Radio Laboratories," but the KDRL calls were already taken!), Edwin
J. Kiest (acquired shortly after sign-on; the "K"
in "KRLD" was said to stand for "Kiest,") Times Herald Printing, Metropolitan
Broadcasting, Times Mirror (to 1970; sold per FCC rules after acquiring
KRLD-TV,) Philip Jonsson dba Great Plains Exploration (1970-1978,) Metromedia
(1/1978-?; divested of KAFM due to FCC rules,) SFX, Westinghouse (which
was acquired by CBS in 1996.) Calls were also said to stand for "Keep
Radio Leading Dallas." Nicknames: "Your News and Information
Center," "Cross-Over Country Music," "All Pro Radio" (1977,) "All Star
Listening Around the Clock," "Newsradio 1080," "Galaxy 4, Transponder 3,
Channel 61.7" (KRLD's satellite information.) Former sister station
to KRLD-FM [92.5]/KAFM-FM, KRLD-Channel 4 and The Dallas Times Herald;
later to KRLD-Channel 33 (1984) and KRLD-FM at 105.3. Network:
CBS (1929-8/1/1975; 6/23/1980-date; KRLD was one of the original 16-member
station group to join CBS in 1929;) ABC (8/1/1975-6/23/1980, as WFAA-AM
took the CBS affiliation.) Formerly on 890 AM (twice,) 840 AM, 650
AM (1927-1934) and 1040 AM (1934-1941; shared time with KTHS-Hot Springs
AR; KTHS had shared time with WBAP in the 1920s.) Upgraded signal
to present 50kW in 1938. Formerly broadcast in stereo. First
station to present live broadcasts of high school and college football
games; first to broadcast live music and entertainment programs, and first
to offer continuous election results. 1920s KRLD salesman Clyde Rembert
conceived the idea of advertising spots, thus inventing the concept of
commercials (gee, thanks!) Flagship station for the Texas Rangers
baseball team (1972-1973; resumed in 1995,) Dallas Chaparrals basketball,
and the Dallas Cowboys (1960s-1977; 198?-1990,) and carried Houston Astros
baseball
in the 1960s. Only union radio station in DFW.
.
Programs:
"Sports Central," "Hometown Editor," "The Auto Show," "CBS Radio Mystery
Theater," "Ask the Lawyer," "Hillbilly Hit Parade," "Swap and Shop," "Garden
Gate" (hosted by Dewey Compton,) "Clockwatch Show," "Big D Jamboree" (started
10/16/1948 on KRLD; previously on WFAA,) "Longhorn Jamboree," "All Night
Trucking Show," "Radio Revival," "Music Revival," "Texas Roundup," "KRLD
Salutes...," "Johnny Hicks' Popular Discs," "Music Till Dawn," "Alex Burton
Commentary," "Music Thru the Night," "Cornbread Matinee," "Montage," "Eye
on the Internet," "Cerie Segal's Travel Tips," "Ask Tex Schramm," "KRLD
Radio Theater," "The Marty Griffin Show," "Mike Hargrove Show" (Texas Rangers
player,) "Danny O'Brien Show" (Rangers' GM,) "Information Highway," "Potpourri,"
"Vignettes of Texas History" (1983-91,) "The KRLD Restaurant Show with
Jim White," "Thought for the Day" (short, thought-provoking messages ala
KIXL's "Think It Over,") "High School Football Scoreboard." Station
band: The Stamps Quartet.
.
Notables:
Frank Glieber (1959-1966; 1968-1985; Sports Director beginning in 1970;
host of "Ask Tex Schramm" [Schramm was GM for the Dallas Cowboys,]) Brad
Barton (4/3/1978-8/6/2009,) Eddie Barker, Ves Box (1940-1952,) Carl Braz,
John Butler, Ray LaPere, Joe
Holstead, Dick Wheeler (ND; retired 4/1989,) Alex Burton (1970-1990;
newscaster and host of "Alex Burton Commentary,") Sandy Banks, Laurel Ornish
(began 1985; became Business Editor when Ward Andrews retired; returned
late 1990s as substitute anchor,) Bob Hathaway, Jody Dean, Paul Chambers
(6/1985-2/1995; later with CNN's "Entertainment Extra,") Tony deHaro aka
Tony Welch (news director of Metromedia, and cousin to KDMX's Anna deHaro,)
Jack
Heinritz
aka Jack Hines, Joe Fuchs aka
Jay
Weaver (as host of "The Auto Show,") Charley Wright (who appeared as
a contestant on the nighttime "The Price is Right" in 1978 while employed
at KRLD; the station got a free plug out of the deal!,) Neil Sperry, Randy
Coffey (to 6/2002,) James Underwood, "Pappy" Hal Horton (host of "Hillbilly
Hit Parade,") "Uncle" Gus Foster (host of "Texas Roundup,") Rex Griffin
(later host of "Texas Roundup,") Ted Parrino, Katie Pruitt (anchor, traffic
reporter and host of "Eye on the Internet,") Jim Reeves, Art Riley, William
A. Roberts, Russ Rossman, Woodrow Shelley, Ed Wodka (VP/GM,) Charles Simmons
aka Paul Ross, Steve Simmons, Michael Spears (1994-6/17/2002,) Barbara
Schwarz, Tom Tully, Brad Wheelis (later anchor with ABC Radio News,) Mick
Williams (regular round-table contributor on "Charley Jones Overnight;"
evolved into "Mick Williams Cyber-Line,") Wes Wise (later Dallas mayor,)
Doug Helton, Roger Emrich aka "The Raj-mahal," Hugh Lampman (9/1/1954-1963;
as host of "Music Till Dawn;" occasionally was broadcast in one channel
on KRLD-AM, and the other channel on KRLD-FM...creating a 'stereo' effect!,)
Bob Cockrum (1982-9/3/1993,) Randy
Brown aka Christopher Haze, Mark Lambert,
Larry Huchingson (engineer; later with "Entertainment Tonight,") Dan McGraw
(who performed a special radio newscast for use in a February, 1962 episode
of CBS' "Route 66" filmed on location in Dallas; the KRLD calls were clearly
identified.)
.
Also Lori
Cain (1994-2000,) Charley Jones, Jack Davis, Peter Arnel, Glenn Mitchell
(1992-1994,) Dick Osborne, Tony Lawrence, Nancy Jay, Jo Interrante, David
Hultsman, Chris Marrou (longtime news anchor at KENS-TV in San Antonio,)
Murphy Martin, Kevin McCarthy, Ed McLemore, Bill Mercer (began 1953,) Dietra
Miles (later with ABC Radio News,) Craig Miller, Laura Miller (later newspaper
columnist and mayor of Dallas,) Sam Donaldson (later ABC newsman,) Al Wisk
(later a Dallas attorney, and formerly the LA Rams announcer; quit KRLD
to attend law school,) Lynn Woolley, Mark Watkins (2002-8/6/2009,) Jocelyn
White, Ruth Clem, Phil Adler (left 12/1993,) Ward Andrews (former WBAP/KXAS-TV
anchor; Business Editor to 1985,) Bill Bailey, Ralph Baker, John Mark Dempsey,
Rick Roberts, Craig Way (hosted "High School Football Scoreboard,") Jim
Underwood, Bob Huffaker, Cameron Fairchild (fired in 10/1994 after a fight
with Jody Dean!), Rick Ulrick aka Rick Erickson, Bob Morrison (ND,) Joyce
King, Ken Fairchild, Suzanne Calvin (1978-1981, 1991-1994,) Howard Chamberlain,
Steve Coryell, Ken Dowe (host of "Information Highway,") Rick Wais, Ray
Walker (1979,) Rob Milford (5/1999 to 4/2002,) Charlynne Burgess (singer
with the KRLD Radio Orchestra in the 1940s,) Jon Dillon (as host of acid
music "Montage" program,) Jeff Dale, Marty Miller (1979,) Clyde White aka
Jim
White (I) (began 1995; news anchor and host of "The KRLD Restaurant
Show with Jim White,") Jesse Milburn, James Crocker, Donna Drew, Melvin
Munn, Mike Rogers, Charlie Butts (1988-10/1993,) Johnny Hicks (as host
of "Johnny Hicks' Popular Discs,") Sonny Carpenter, Charlie Seraphin, Jack
Schell, Dave Cooke, Terry Bell, Eric Merenge, Clarissa Douglas (later
with ABC Radio News,) Mike "Bob" Elmore, Ken Fairchild, Dan Foster, Irene
Runnels, Alice Rios, Baylor Witcher (2000, late of KYNG-FM,) John Harper,
Jim Foster, Murray Jackson, Tony Garrett, Gary
DeLaune, Roy Nichols (Gary and Roy defected from KLIF's newsroom to
KRLD-AM/TV on the same day; Roy became a news anchor on KRLD-TV,) Walter
Evans (1955-1964; later news anchor for KRLD-TV,) Art Hains, Allan Jackson,
Dallas Townsend, Art Hammett (1960-77; longtime traffic reporter and Dallas
policeman who was murdered by a jealous husband!), Bob McCormick (began
9/9/1991,) Ron Rice (I), Chem Terry (as host of the "Clockwatch Show" and
morning show, mid-1950s to early-1970s,) Jim Farr, Dewey Compton, Jerry
Overton, Chuck Wheeler, Barbara Jean "B. J." Austin, Peter Gardner, Ron
De Roxtra aka Ron Bahr (1984-1994,) Ron Barr (syndicated sports show host;
no connection to Ron Bahr/De Roxtra.)
.
Also Jay
Walker (engineer,) Bob Dahlgren, Tony Purcell, Gary Brandt, Randy Galloway,
Dan Rather (current CBS news anchor,) Bill Cerverha, Russell Scott, Marvin
Kalb, Jerome Davis, Harvey Martin (former Dallas Cowboys player who hosted
"The Beautiful Harvey Martin Show" in the late 1970s,) Harold Goodman,
Heather Behrens, Jennifer Ellis, Brian Burns, Ray Whitworth aka Ray Kennedy,
Kym West, Chuck Schechner
(defected to KRLD from a long stint at KLIF-570 in 2002,) Ty Walker, Iris
Bekker, Brad Sham, Keith Carter, Tom Tradup (began 7/1989,) Tom Bigby,
Jeff Hayes, Wayne
Harrison, Robert Z. "Bob" Glass (owner of start-up station KFOP; hired
away in 1925 to build KRLD when his station went under; continued as one
of a two-person staff in the 1920s!), Lee Dunkelberg, John LaVine aka John
Wolf, Larry Scott (as host of the "All Night Trucking Show,") Dr. Laura
Schlessinger (via satellite, 1994-1/4/2002.) Station located at the
Kirby Building (1930s,) The Adolphus Hotel (2nd floor, 1940s,) with the
Dallas Times Herald at 1101 Patterson (1940s-1964,) with KRLD/KDFW-Channel
4 at 400 N. Griffin (1964-1971,) the former Maxwell Electronic Corporation
building at 7901 Carpenter Fwy from 1971-1995 (housed Maxwell's KMEC-TV
Channel 33 from 1968-1969, and Evans Broadcasting from 1969-70;)
the Ballpark in Arlington (1995-2005,) and at 4131 N. Central Expwy (2005-present.)
While located at the Adolphus Hotel downtown, KRLD exchanged rent for radio
plugs: "KRLD, voice of the Great Southwest in Dallas-Fort Worth,
located in the Adolphus Hotel" was their usual ID. Initial
broadcast schedule (1920s) was six hours a day (and off the air Wednesdays
for maintenance!) During Metromedia's ownership, the Maxwell building's
address was changed from 7901 Carpenter Freeway to 1080 Metromedia Place.
Although Metromedia is long gone from DFW, the street name still remains
today!
.
1110
.
.
KVTT, Mineral
Wells. Call letters re-established 10/14/2009 (used at 91.7 FM since
1950.) Calls initially stood for "Voice
of Truth"
(a backronym that originally stood for FM owner
Elkins Institute's "Voice
of Texas Trade"
moniker.) Format: Religious (brokered programming from Covenant
Educational Media, former owner of KVTT-FM; 10/14/2009-7/12/2010,) Country
(commercial-free for two weeks, 7/12/2010-7/27/2010,) Tejano (7/27/2010-6/14/2011,)
Classic Country (6/14/2011-2014,) Asian (2014-date, brokered programming
from "FunAsia;" began under Texoma Broadcasting ownership in 2014 and continued
into Decatur Media Land ownership.) Owners: M&M Broadcasters
(to 6/14/2011,) Texoma Broadcasting (6/14/2011-5/30/2018,) Decatur Media
Land (5/30/2018-date.) Programs: "Scott Wilder Show," "The
Journey with Tom Dooley," "Point of View with Kerby Anderson" (all from
Covenant Educational Media; Wilder had been with KWRD-FM prior, and the
late Dooley was once a jock at KVIL-AM/FM and KHJ-Los Angeles.) Station
increased power to 50kW in early 2011 in preparation for sale in June,
2011. Translator/simulcast: K238CC at 95.5 FM, licensed to
Dallas.
.
.
KJSA, Mineral
Wells. Station re-established 4/27/2008 (moved from 1120 AM.)
Format: Business Talk (from BizRadio Network; Houston-based BizRadio
was also on the 1110 AM frequency in Alvin/Houston,) Country (as
"Big Country," started 2/2009; a simulcast of KHFX.) Simulcast of
former BizRadio frequency KMNY-1360 AM, 4/27/2008-5/2/2008; completed transition
to 1110 AM on 5/3/2008. Owner: M&M Broadcasters (to 4/2008;
then restarted 2/2009.) BizRadio Partners (4/2008-2/2009; note was for
$7.5 million; BizRadio owner Dan Frishberg put more than half the money
down up front, but let the station go back to M&M after BizRadio suffered
major financial trouble later in 2008.) Call letters stood for "Jerry
Snyder
and Associates"
(former owner.) Daytime-only station.
.
1120
.
.
KCLE, Cleburne.
Station established 4/1947. Original dial position for KCLE-1140
(not part of this survey; swapped frequencies with KJSA and moved to 1140
kc in 7/2000; CP to move back to 1120 AM as of 2005; swapped calls with
KHFX-1460 on 9/1/2008.) Format: Country. Owner:
George Marti and Jim Gordon (to 1969,) George Marti (1969-2005; minority
partner in later years,) M&M Broadcasters (partnership of Gary Moss
and George Marti, to 2/2003; bought back station in 12/2005,) First Broadcasting
(2/2003-12/2005.) Former sister station to KCLE-94.3/94.9 (see entry
at 94.9 FM for personalities and more information.)
.
.
And separately,
serving the Mineral Wells/Fort Worth area (frequency dissolved in 2008):
.
.
KJSA, Mineral
Wells. Call letters established 10/31/1983, swapped frequencies with
KCLE-Cleburne in 7/2000 (but first proposed in 12/1995; frequency dark
after 5/2008 (moved to 1110AM.) Format: Country (12/2003-4/2008,)
Nostalgia ("Music of Your Life.") Nickname: "The Radio Ranch."
Owners: First Broadcasting, Big D Broadcasting (bought 4/30/2004,)
Jerry
Snyder
and Associates
(Jerry Snyder and Charles Pyle, with equal interest,) M&M Broadcasters
(bought 12/2005.) Notable: Don Swancy (9/1984-12/1984; Swancy
also had worked at former frequency holder KORC.) In the mid-2000s,
a CP was on file to move station to Maple Grove, MN (no, that's not a typo!)
Instead, station upgraded power to 20kw by moving to 1110AM (see entry
there.)
.
KYXS, Mineral
Wells. Call letters established 10/13/1981. Format: Country
(simulcast to FM side.) Owner: Lon H. Williams DBA Lawton Broadcasting
Corp. Notables: Richard Klement, Dale Kincaid, Shelley Stephens,
Bill Perkins, Robert Birt, Charlotte Kincaid, Ken Bullock, J. O. Miller.
Sister station at 95.9 FM retained the KYXS calls from 10/13/1981 to 10/4/2002.
.
KORC, Mineral
Wells. Station established at 1140 kc on 12/1/1946. Format
: Music, Sports. 250-watt, daytime-only station. Owner:
Achilles Corcanges. Notable: Don Swancy (later worked for KJSA.)
.
.
And separately,
serving the Dallas area:
.
.
KFOP, Dallas.
Station established 2/1924, dark by 6/1924. Format: Advertising
(station created solely to promote the new "San Jacinto Lawn" housing development
[located near Beckley Ave/Illinois Ave in south Dallas.]) Owner:
Willson Construction Company (homebuilders.) Notable: Robert
Glass (who signed on KRLD in 1926.) Located at Texas Building.
1140
(see 1120,
above)
.
1150
(frequency
dissolved in 2004; station relocated to 1160)
.
.
KBIS, Highland
Park. Call letters established 3/1/2001, dark in 2004 (moved to new
1160 AM.) Format: Voice of Asia simulcast from KXEB-910 (8/1/2001-?,)
Business
Talk Radio Network (3/1/2001-8/1/2001; company leased airtime from Rodriguez.)
Nickname: "Your Business Edge." Owner: Rodriguez, Metroplex
Broadcasting, Dallas AM Partners. Notable: Don Imus (via satellite,
through summer 2001.) Station relocated to 1160 AM.
..
KDMM, Highland
Park. Call letters established 11/21/1994. Format: Easy
Listening via Westwood One satellite (1994-10/1996,) South Asian (10/1996-2/1997,)
Business, Ethnic, Nostalgia (10/1997-?,) All Traffic (2/24/1997-10/1997.)
Call letters stood for "Dallas
Music
Memories."
Owner: Marcos A. Rodriguez. Notables: Len
Mohnkern, Bob Cooper, Ken Fine (11/1998-11/2000,) Danny Moffat.
Spanish simulcast of Dallas Cowboys football games in 1996.
.
.
KVIL,
Highland Park. Call letters re-established 8/11/1986. Format:
Soft Rock. Simulcast of KVIL-FM; station reverted to original calls
after the FCC laxed simulcasting rules. See KVIL-FM for list of personalities
and owners. Daytime only station.
.
KVIX, Highland
Park. Call letters established 10/1/1985. Format: Soft
Rock. Sister station to KVIL-FM; the FCC discouraged fulltime simulcasting
in the mid-1980s, and KVIL's owner requested a call letter change to underscore
the separation of the two stations. 75% of KVIX's programming was
independent of KVIL-FM. See KVIL-FM for list of personalities and
owners. Daytime only station.
.
.
KVIL,
Highland Park. Station established 3/1/1960. Format:
Soft Rock. Original owner: John Coyle dba University Advertising
Co. (Coyle rescued KVIL during the construction process when the original
builder ran out of money.) Simulcast of KVIL-FM during certain dayparts
(1970s) to full simulcast (late 1970s-1985.) Original 1960 staff
roster: John J. Coyle, owner; John A. Hicks, VP of operations; Jack
R. Howard, VP and GM (former commercial manager of KIXL-AM;) Dillard Carrera,
PD (former production manager of KIXL-AM;) Dave Beuret, Hap Arnold, Andy
Anderson and Ron Bailey, announcers; Robert Farris, Gordon Vaughn, Ernest
Jennings and Robert Warren, engineers; Jay Larsen, commercial manager;
Jimmy Wilson and Wyatt Higginbotham, sales; Pat Hatcher, traffic manager
(formerly with WFAA-AM;) and Sue Noland, secretary. Local, notable
country radio/TV personality Jim "Shootin'" Newton worked with University
Advertising during 1959 to put KVIL on the air. See KVIL-FM for list
of later personalities and owners. Daytime only station.
.
1160
..
.
KBDT, Highland
Park. Call letters established 9/29/2017. Format: Talk
(Big D's
Talk.)
.
.
KVCE, Highland
Park. Call letters established 8/23/2006, but format started 9/12/2006.
Format: R&B Oldies (8/23/2006-9/12/2006,) Conservative Talk (9/12/2006-3/1/2009,)
Conservative Talk/Business Talk (started 3/2/2009; select programming from
the BizRadio Network moved from 1110AM and leased weekday time on KVCE;
Business Talk (non-BizRadio [which had folded by 2015]) was relocated to
KMKI-620 AM on 9/25/2015. Owners: Dan Patrick and Edd Hendee.
Nickname: "The Voice." Mostly a simulcast of Patrick's Houston
station, KSEV-700AM. Notables: Sean Matthews, Matt McClearin,
Jerry Overton, Edd Hendee, Mark Russo, Dan Frishberg.
.
.
KMGS, Highland
Park. Call letters established 6/20/2005. Format: R&B
Oldies (started 4/2005 under KBIS calls.) Owner: First Broadcasting.
Nickname: "Magic 1160." Exclusively commercial-free Motown
R&B through summer, 2005, then to general R&B oldies thereafter.
.
.
KBIS, Highland
Park. Call letters established 3/1/2001 at 1150 kc. Format:
Motown Oldies. Dark during most of 2004 and early 2005 during frequency
switch from 1150.
.
1190
.
.
.
.
KFXR, Dallas.
Call letters established 11/12/2001. Format: Sports Talk (Fox
Sports Radio;
started 4/9/2001 under KTRA calls,) Oldies (4/1/2005-2/21/2006,) Country
(2/22/2006-3/30/2008,) CNN News (started 3/31/2008.) Nickname:
"Mighty 1190" (resurrected from the old KLIF-1190,) "Lone Star 1190" (name
started under country format on 4/24/2006, soon changed to "Cowboy 1190,")
"CNN 1190." Owner: Clear Channel, but broker First Broadcasting
managed station under LMA until 12/2007. Notables: James Carney
aka "Moby" (returned to DFW market after 20-year hiatus, albeit via satelllite,)
"Fast" Eddie Coyle (late of KEGL-"Sunny 97.1,") John Roberts, "Hollywood"
Henderson. Oldies format began 4/1/2005 with an all-Beatles format,
then to a "Jack FM" approach of no talk and random playing of hits across
the 50s-90s decades on 5/24/2005. Commercial free through 4/24/2006.
.
.
KTRA, Dallas.
Call letters established 4/9/2001. Format: Fox Sports.
Owner: Clear Channel. Nickname: "Extra
Sports." Station evolved into KFXR.
.
KJOI, Dallas.
Call letters established 9/20/2000. Format: 1950s/1960s Oldies
(remaining from KLUV; format was to change to Religious Talk but never
occurred,) Fox Sports (started under KJOI calls 2/8/2001.) Call letters
derived from "Joy."
Owner: Radio One (purchased from Infinity for $16 million.)
.
.
KLUV,
Dallas. Call letters established 8/17/1998. Format: Talk
(8/17/1998-8/28/1998,) simulcast of KLUV-FM (8/28/1998-9/11/1998,) 1950s/1960s
Oldies (9/11/1998-9/20/2000.) Owner: Infinity. Nickname:
"Mighty 1190" (resurrected from the original KLIF-1190.) Notables:
Don Imus (via satellite,) John Summers, Jay
Walker (engineer.) Sister station to KLUV-FM. Second time
to be a sister station of 98.7 FM.
.
.
KOOO, Dallas.
Call letters established 1/11/1997, but station was originally established
as KEWS-FM on 3/29/1996 (some sources give KOOO's start date as 7/1/1997,
but that is likely the date the station went with live programming to complement
its syndicated offerings.) Owner: Infinity. Format:
Talk/News, and partial simulcast of KRLD-AM (which was one of its sister
stations.) Nickname: "K-Triple-O." Notables: Jerry Bobo,
Jay Walker (engineer,) Michael Spears, Mark
Lambert, Don Imus (via satellite.)
.
KDFX, Dallas.
Call letters established 11/3/1995. Format: Talk/News, Religious.
Station swapped frequencies with 94.9 FM to become KWRD-FM on 1/11/1997.
Notables: Monte Johnson, Pete Stein, Ken Fine (11/1995-1998, moving
to KWRD-FM in 1/1997; Fine had previously worked for 1190 [as KLIF] 1974-1980,)
Don Imus (via satellite.)
.
.
KGBS, Dallas.
Call letters established 8/17/1992. Format: Talk/News.
Owner:
Greystone
Broadcasting,
Salem Communications. Basic re-imaging of KUII. See KUII below.
.
.
KUII, Dallas.
Call letters established 2/4/1991. Format: CNN News.
Owner: Susquehanna, Greystone Broadcasting. Program:
"Sports First." Notables: Rob Milford aka Rob Williams (1993,)
Gail Lee (Milford and Lee hosted the morning news program,) Mike Rogers,
Judi Hanna, Bobby Brock, John Basham (weather,) Jim Long (entertainment
reporter,) Dave Michaels (traffic,) Tim Freeman, Steve Dinkel, Steve West
(OD,) Jeff Catlin (sports,) Richard Walker (morning show host,) Don Walker
(SM,) Kim Satullo (sales,) Mary Gertz (sales,) Gail Lee aka Gail Force,
Tom Scott (PD,) Ron Engelman (former KLIF morning show personality who
hosted a talk show at KUII; got in trouble with federal authorities for
sympathizing with the Branch Davidian group near Waco during their 1993
standoff,) Rob Chickering, Neil Ogenstein, Gerry Oher (was concurrently
with WFAA-TV; hosted "Sports First,") Tony Hill (former Dallas Cowboys
player; hosted a sports program,) Mary Tyler, Scott Wilson (was concurrently
"Scorchin' Scotty" on KEGL-FM,) G. Gordon Liddy (via satellite, ) Morton
Downey Jr. (who relocated his syndicated talk program to Dallas, 1/1993-10/1993.)
Simulcast KDFW-Channel 4 News in 1991.
.
KYII, Dallas.
Temporary call letters parked for KUII on 12/7/1990 (other sources say
12/25/1990.)
.
.
KLAF, Dallas.
Call letters established 11/29/1990. Commercial-free simulcast of
KLIF after move to 570 AM; commercials were covered with detailed instructions
to tune to KLIF's new home at 570. Owner: Susquehanna.
.
.
KLIF,
Dallas. Station established 11/9/1947. Format: Entertainment/Sports
(11/9/1947-5/1953,) Top 40 (5/1953-11/23/1977; stunting for Top 40 format
consisted of a 24-hour playing of the "Dragnet" theme,) Adult Contemporary
(11/23/1977-1/1/1981,) Country (1/1/1981-1985,) Country/Talk (1985-1/22/1986,)
Talk (1/22/1986-11/29/1990.) Former sister station to KROW-FM/KLIF-FM/KNUS-FM,
and sister to KPLX-FM after Susquehanna purchase. Legendary McLendon
station, known for completely changing the face of modern radio.
Call letters derived from Oak Cliff,
KLIF's original home. Owners: Liberty/McLendon Broadcasting
(1947-1/31/1972, headed by Gordon McLendon (nicknamed "The Old Scotchman,")
who is credited alongside radio entrepreneur Todd Storz as the inventor
of the Top 40 format, and is also the creator of the first mobile news
units, first "Game of the Day" baseball broadcasts, first use of jingles,
first editorials, first all-news station and first easy listening station;)
Fairchild Industries (1/31/1972-1980; reportedly, McLendon sold KLIF and
his other Texas AM stations to keep them away from his wife during divorce
proceedings; also, McLendon offered KNUS to Fairchild for a fire sale price,
but Fairchild didn't want it; McLendon soon showed them the error of their
ways by programming against KLIF and beating them;) Susquehanna/Cumulus
Broadcasting (started 1/1/1980.) Station moved to 570 AM on 11/29/90.
Network affiliations: NBC (during talk format,) LBS (McLendon's Liberty
Broadcasting Service.) Nickname: "Mighty 1190" (1947-1979,)
"Come Home to KLIF" (1979-1/1/1981,) "Country...Texas Style" (1/1/1981-81,)
"Classic Country" (1981,) "Country Songs that Tell a Story" (1982-1/22/1986.)
News nicknames: "20/20 News," "20/20 Double Power News." Flagship
station for the Dallas Cowboys, 1961-1971.
.
Programs:
"Coffee Capers," "Sunny Side Up," "Luncheon Music," "Moondial," "KLIF House
Party," "Old Scotchman's Almanac," "Hillbilly Roundup" (also was on KXOL,)
"Bandstand," "Lullabye in Rhythm," "Go to Town," "At Your Service," "Mellow's
the Mood," "Candlelight and Gold," "Liberty Jamboree," "Joe Keith's Revolving
Bandstand," "Great Day in the Morning," "Platter Shop," "Requestfully Yours,"
"David Reads the Bible," "Tops in Pops," "Harlem Hit Parade," "Snakepit"
(With Chuck Boyles,) "Hotline" (with Rod Roddy; moved to KNUS and rerun
on KLIF; resurrected on KFJZ-FM and later WFAA-AM by Ken Rundel,) "Girl
Talk" (with Dave Ambrose,) NBC Talknet (syndicated talk show programming.)
Promotions: "KLIF Mystery House Number," "KLIF Mystery Telephone
Number," "Money Drop," "School Spirit Contest," "Mystery Caller," "Mystery
High School Hero," "Mystery Location," "Mystery Neighbor," Mystery Teen,"
Mystery Voices," "Mystery Walker," "Secret Word," "Girl Watching Festival,"
"Album Credit Card," "Cut-Up Contest" (c. 1974; pieces of several celebrity
voices were played; whoever identified each of them won a huge jackpot
[for reference, the final voice that stumped the whole town was Mike Love
of the Beach Boys!]), "$50,000 KLIF Treasure Hunt," "KLIF Star Search"
(1981,) "Urban Cowgirl" competition (1981,) throwing balloons with money
taped to them off the top of the Adolphus Hotel, and a buried treasure
contest (among MANY others!) Mascot: Klif the Parrot (1947.)
.
Notables
as "Top 40:" Charlie Van Dyke (12/1965-12/1968; returned 5/30/1977,)
Wes Wise (former Dallas mayor and KDFW-TV anchor; assisted Gordon McLendon
with sporting event re-creations,) Harry "Paxton" Mills, Ben Laurie, Ken
"Hubcap" Carter, Dale Payne aka Jimmy Rabbitt, Don Keyes (PD, 1957-66,)
Russel Lee Moore aka Russ "Weird Beard" Knight, Ken Dowe ("Ken Dowe and
Granny Emma,") Michael Spears aka Hal Martin, Dave Ambrose (1966-1975,)
Gordon "The Old Scotchman" McLendon (station owner, also did news commentary
and early sports/entertainment programming,) Mike Williams aka Michael
O'Shea (1967-1973,) Lan Roberts, Michael Selden (to 1973; moved to KVIL-FM,)
James Martin "Jim" Taber, Rod Roddy (later announcer for "Soap" and "The
Price is Right,") Linwood "Cuzzin' Linnie" Henderson, Dickie Heatherton
(brother of 1970s TV star Joey Heatherton; later worked in Rochester, NY
radio,) Gary Owens (later "Laugh-In" announcer,) Ralph Chapman aka Ron
Chapman/Irving Harrigan (1959-1965,) Chris Kerson, Tom Murphy (teamed with
Irving Harrigan as "Murphy and Harrigan;" Tom and Ron came to Dallas together
from a CT station,) Randy Robins, Alec Gifford, Chuck Dunaway, Allen Elwin
aka Allen Farmer, Betsy Thaggard
aka Kelly Clarke, Chantal Westerman, Ken Fine (1974-1980,) John Borders
aka Johnny Dark, Doug Helton, "Big" Al Turner (host of "Hillbilly Roundup,")
George Gimpel AKA George Michael (of TV's syndicated "Sports Machine,")
Kevin McCarthy, "Gentleman" Jim Carter (personality and driver of the KLIF
Headliner Cruiser!), Rex Miller, Sam Pate, Reb Foster aka Dennis James,
Charley Wright, Dick Kemp aka "The Wilde Childe," Jack Woods aka Charlie
Brown (teamed with Irving Harrigan,)
Frank
Jolle, Wendell Jones aka Rex Jones, Ken McClure aka Ken Knox, Bruce
Hayes, Dave Tucker, Todd Wallace, Dick Shannon aka Van Winkle, Mitch Carr
(1975,) Bob Shuman, Rick Shaw, Bill Jenkins, Larry Dunkle aka Gary Mack
(II), Scott Hodges, Larry Carolla, Bobby "Magic" Christian, Harry Birrell
(retired; spent 1968-1993 at KNX-Los Angeles,) Myles Cameron, "Captain"
Mike Ambrose (worked in LA radio, then spent over 25 years as a San Diego
TV weatherman,) Don Berns, George Singer, Allen Nelson aka Art Nelson,
Lee Brumm aka Lee Arthur, Elliott Field, Larry Wilson, Lou Staples (talk
show host,) "Catfish" Jim Prewitt aka Larry Chase, Hugh Lampman, Tony Booth,
Jim
Davis, Nick Brounoff aka Nick Alexander (1976-78,) Victor Pryles aka
Harry Nelson, Larry Shannon, Steve Scott, Mark Wesley, Stan Richards, Tony
Gerald, John London and Ron Engelman (morning show co-hosts in the late
1970s; both had worked at KLIF in the early 1970s, and Engelman returned
to 1190 [under the KUII calls] in 1992 to host a talk show,) Scott Hodges
(1971-1972.)
.
Also Glen
Martin, Buddy Holiday, Brant Miller (later did weather on WMAQ-Chicago,)
Joe
Long, Bill Meeks (longtime jingle producer; did first jingles for KLIF
live!), Andy Waldrop, Ray Whitworth aka Ray Kennedy, Fred Edwards, Danny
Patrick McCurdy aka Dan Patrick (a later "Charlie Brown,") Barry Kaye,
Tom Newton aka Tom Kent, Frank Haley, Bob McCord, Mike Scott, Jim Oldman
aka "Jumpin' " Jim O'Brien (died doing an aerial radio stunt in Philadelphia
where his parachute did not open; Peri Gilpin [Roz on "Frasier"] is his
daughter,) Chuck Boyles,
Gary DeLaune,
Roy Nichols (Gary and Roy defected from KLIF's newsroom to KRLD-AM/TV on
the same day,) Art Roberts, Stan White, Al Lurie (GM, 1957-1972,) Bill
Stewart, Edd Routt, John Carter (Foshee), Dick Mock, Mike Hiott, Robert
A. "Bob" Knowlton, Jim Rose (1972,) Bruce Hughes, Brad Messer, Alan Cole,
Russ Barnett, Bill Enis, Bill Grady, Bill Robbins, Bob "The Milkman" Dayton,
Gary Hamilton, Gary Cannon (engineer,) Gene Edwards, Mary Stoddard aka
Mary Sanders (1963-64,) Bob Morrison (drove KLIF van in 1960s,) Glen Duncan,
Jim Hilliard aka Jimmy Darren, Jim Randolph,
Joe
Holstead, Joel Sebastian, John Ravenscroft aka John Peel, Ken Reed
(1958-59,) Kenny Sargent, Larry Monroe, Shalimar Allee, Marc Avery, Bob
Presley, Bob Richmond, Dick Richmond, Paul Chappel, Jay Daniels, Paul Menard
(a later "Harrigan,") Pete Gent (former Dallas Cowboys star and author
of "North Dallas Forty,") Phil Allen, Ralph Baker, Ricci Ware (began 7/1961,)
Ron Jenkins aka Ron McAlister, Rudy Rocha, Bob Shannon, Dave Mullstein,
Sam Lee, Steve Mace, John Butler, Red Calhoun and Buster Smith (first black
DJ team in Dallas,) Katharine Cobelle (called the "Society Editor of the
Air,") James Collier, Sandee Stevens, Ted Agnew, Bob Stevens, Mike Scott
(not the same person as KSCS's Michael Scott,) Brice Armstrong and Jack
Auldridge (a later "Charlie and Harrigan" team,) Jack Woods ("Charlie Brown"
of "Charlie and Harrigan,")
Mark Lambert,
James Bond, Jay Lawrence aka "Jaybird," Tom Whelan, Jim Reeves, Stacy Richardson
(1970,) Art Riley, Dick Roth aka Dick Marshall, Joe Salvadore, Blackie
Sherrod (longtime newspaper sports reporter,) John Tyler, Craig Slayton,
Tracy Mitchell, Warren Anderson, Harold Hodo aka J. Walter Beethoven, Charlie
Payne (GM,) Jerry Miller, Bruce Wayne, Cloyd Moll aka Cat Simon, Bob Hood
(1968,) Lee Poole aka "Coyotee," Ordean Moen aka Deano Day, Larry Monroe,
Chuck
Murphy (1971-1975,) Glenn Callison (engineering director for McLendon
stations, 1947-75,) Johnny Murray, Don McGregor, Lee Douglas, Les Vaughn,
Buddy Harris, Malcolm Landess (also a news anchor for WFAA-TV,) Gene Edwards,
Jimmie Jeffries (late of WFAA-AM,) Aubrey Escoe, Paul Gleiser (from 2/1972,)
Lowell Gram, Frank Haley, Fred Hardy, Buddy Harris, Margaret (Meg) Healey,
Kalten Heatter, Jim Howell, David Hultsman, Jimmie Jeffries, Bob Johnston,
Joe Keith, Mark Foster, Mark West, Mike Wade, Don Wade, Jim Davis, Todd
Wallace, Dick Siegel (began 1968; returned under Country format in 1980,)
Bud Watson, Chuck Blore, Howard Bogarte, Mike Snyder (current KXAS anchor,)
Dean Tyler (operations manager after Susquehanna purchase.)
Notables
as "Country": Don
Harris (hired away from a 16-year stint at WBAP-AM,) Bob Corbell, Dave
Barkin, Jon Rivers, Gary Walker, John Nelson, Dick Siegel (traffic during
1980-1981; defected to WBAP with KPLX's Hal Jay,) David Coursey, Bill Smith
aka Bill Mack (II) (fired at WBAP after a long stint in 1982; rejoined
WBAP after KLIF changed from country,) Larry
Carolla (1982,) Doyle King, Dan Bennett (PD,) Dan Halyburton (GM,)
Carolyn "Crunch" Poland, Steve Brody, Scott Wallace, Jonathan Hayes, Myles
Cameron. When Country format was implemented, Harry Nelson (Victor
Pryles,) Cuzzin' Linnie (Linwood Henderson,) Dean Tyler, John Carter (Foshee)
and Jack Monroe were fired on 12/31/1980; Michael Selden was offered KPLX
with a pay cut for staying, although he still occasionally filled in at
KLIF. (Note: KLIF was already running NBC Talknet during the
graveyard shift before switching formats to "Talk" on 1/22/1986.)
Notables
as "Talk": David Gold (host of "The David Gold Show;" known as
"The Conservative Freight Train,") Bob Ray Sanders, Dewayne Dancer, Norm
Hitzges (host of "The Norm Hitzges Show;" began 1986,) Ed Busch, Greg Maiuro,
Dr. Lynn Weiss (host of "The Dr. Lynn Weiss Show,") John Pendolino (host
of "The Business Hours,") Dan Bennett, Dale Groom, Ed Calbridge, Karen
Bloom and Art Snow (co-hosts of "At Your Service,") Mark Woolsey aka Mark
Elliott (1985-1991; returned 1996-1999 at KLIF-570; was a senior broadcast
meteorologist for The Weather Channel in Atlanta,) Mike Early,
Chuck
Schechner, Mark Elliott, Jim Long, Sally Jessy Raphael, Bruce Williams
(Williams as host of "Bruce Williams' Money and Financial Talk;" Raphael
and Williams both via NBC Talknet satellite.) Weekends on the "Talk"
format included gardening, pets, fishing, home repairs and car care shows,
along with Dallas Mavericks basketball, NFL Monday Night Football and Southwest
Conference football. Daytime only to 2/12/1950; 24 hours a day thereafter.
To 50,000 watts on 2/9/1959. Station was located at the Cliff Towers
Hotel, then 2100 Jackson St. (with the LBS network, which Sellers Recording
took after LBS's failure,) 2108 Jackson St., then the best-remembered triangular,
2-story building at 2120 Commerce Street downtown (1964-1980; huge lit
marquees touting KLIF [and later KNUS] events were mounted to it, along
with neon call letters and large windows that allowed passing motorists
to see the jocks at work,) moved to 411 Ryan Plaza in Arlington in 1980,
and 3500 Maple in Dallas in late 1987.
.
See an extensive
history of KLIF on Steve Eberhart's
website.
.
MISC KLIF
TIDBITS...
In a strange
early 1970s promotion, KLIF ran promos for a "KLIF Becomes a Thing of the
Past" stunt; the station inexplicably took an entire day off, while making
listeners believe the station was going dark for good! Although the
signoff was probably for repairs, leave it to Gordon McLendon to exploit
it for all it was worth!
.
The fate
of Top 40 AM was sealed at KLIF on 11/23/1977, in an event employees termed
the "Thanksgiving Massacre." With FM stealing most of AM's ratings
by then, KLIF resorted to drastic measures to save the station. A
flip to Adult Contemporary was immediately implemented. Fired were
Randy Robins, Jim Davis, Ray Whitworth, Charlie Deaton, Bob Shuman, Mike
Wade and GM Edd Routt. Charlie Van Dyke was promoted to PD and moved
himself from mornings to afternoons, John Tyler was brought in as GM, London
and Engelman were hired by Van Dyke for mornings, Andy Waldrop was moved
up from promotions to weekend jock, and Dick Siegel and Nick Alexander
were hired to fill out the jock schedule. Siegel, later the wise-cracking
airborne traffic reporter on WBAP, was the unlikely host of "Studio 1190"
on Saturday nights, an all-disco music show in 1978.
.
During the
early 1980s, billboards across town promoted KLIF's "Country Songs that
Tell a Story" format by posting humorous and thought-provoking lines from
country songs, like "She's so ugly/She makes my cat bark," "For a good
girl/She ain't half bad," "Take the 'L' out of 'lover' and it's 'over,'"
"She got the goldmine/I got the shaft," etc.
.
Special
thanks to Susquehanna senior VP Dan Halyburton for providing me with a
copy of the book, "Susquehanna Radio: The First Fifty Years," which
provided otherwise unfindable answers to the history of post-McLendon KLIF
and Susquehanna's presence in the DFW market...thanks, Dan!
.
1220
.
.
.
KZEE, Weatherford.
Station established 8/12/1956. Format: Radio Desi (brokered,)
Oldies, Country. Owners: J. Fred Case dba Bartlesville Broadcasting
Company, Horace Bowen, Tarrant Radio Broadcasting (bought 9/5/2001.)
Notables: Don Swancy (9/1968-5/1969,) Jerry Condra aka Jerry Parks,
Nell Owen, Howard Greenblatt (ND and personality,) Bud McKool (both late
of KBUY,) John McCarty.
.
1240
(242 meters)
.
.
KFPM, Greenville.
Station established 4/17/1924 at 1310 kc (moved to 1240 after 1929;) dark
in 3/1935. Format: Sports, Country and Western, Variety (local
talent, records, civic events and local news.) Owner: Dave
Ablowich Sr dba New Furniture Store. Flagship station for Greenville
High School football. Broadcast services from the Kavanaugh Church
on Sundays. Station broadcast at 10 watts, then later 15 watts.
Notables: Dave Ablowich Jr (engineer; son of owner,) Ernest Hackworth
Jr aka "Uncle Dudley" (began 1931.) Studios located at 2316 Johnson
Street at Jordan, on the 2nd floor overlooking the New Furniture Store
(three rugs hung from the ceiling blocked off the studio area.) Homemade
transmitter located on the entire 2100 block of Park St on the south side
of the street. Listenership reported from 40 states, Canada and even
New Zealand! Ablowich started out as a ham operator in 1920, and
applied for KFPM in 1924.
.
1250
..
Unknown,
Denison. Licensed 11/5/1941, but unknown if station ever signed on.
Owner: Denison Texoma Broadcast Company.
.
1270
.
.
KFLC, Fort
Worth. Call letters established 2/23/2004. Format: Spanish
Talk. Nickname: "La Voz del Pueblo" ("The Voice of the Town.")
Owner: Univision (bought 9/22/2003; apparently is the second time
Univision has owned this frequency.) Notables: Jose Guzman (former
Texas Rangers baseball player,) Eleno Ornelas. Spanish flagship for
Texas Rangers, Dallas Cowboys and Dallas Mavericks. Call letter change
was to prevent radio diary confusion between KESS-FM (music) and KESS-AM
(talk.) CP on file to bump up from 5,000 watts to 50,000 watts as
of 2005. KFLC calls were once used in Dallas at 1330 kc in 1924 for
a temporary station set up at the State Fair of Texas.
.
.
KESS, Fort
Worth. Call letters re-established 4/29/1991. Format:
Spanish, Spanish Talk. Owners: Univision (formerly Hispanic
Broadcasting [to 6/2002] and formerly Heftel [to 5/1999]) (started 1994.)
Nickname: "La Fabulosa." Program: "Voice of Texas."
Notables: Rossy Garza, David Cruz (host of "Voice of Texas,") Jim
Lowe.
.
KSBN, Fort
Worth. Call letters established 9/19/1990. Format: Spanish.
.
KESS, Fort
Worth. Call letters established 11/17/1986. Format: Spanish.
Traded frequencies with KSSA-94.1 FM after the 11/17/1986 frequency switch
that permanently sent 93.9's occupant to 94.1.
.
KSSA, Fort
Worth. Call letters established 1/20/1984. Format: Spanish.
Call letters derived from "casa."
Owner: Founders Broadcasting (to 3/1986,) Marcos Rodriguez (3/1986-?.)
Calls were resurrected at 1600 AM on 8/5/1987, although they were still
in use by KSSA-FM after trading frequencies with KESS on 11/17/1986.
.
.
.
KFJZ, Fort
Worth. Call letters re-established 8/15/1939 at 1240 kc (moved from
1370 kc; see entry there) and to 1270 kc on 3/29/1941. Format: Top
40 (1970s,) Jazz and Standards (officially "Al Ham's Music of your Life")
(1980-1984,) Swing (1985,) Entertainment. Nickname: "Music
of Your Life," "King-Z," "From Beethoven to Boogie" (1940s.) Call
letters stood for "Fort
Worth
Jazz"
(1980-84; a backronym.) Sister station to
KFJZ-FM/KEGL-FM and KFJZ/KTVT-Channel 11. Network affiliation:
ABC, Mutual, TSN. Call letters and format moved to 870 AM in 1/1984.
Former owners: Elliot and Ruth Roosevelt dba Fort Worth Broadcasters
(8/15/1939-1945; paid $101,570 for it; Elliot was FDR's son,) Sid Richardson
dba Tarrant Broadcasting (1945-1960; had owned predecessor KTAT in the
1930s; purchased KFJZ directly from Ruth Roosevelt, who was awarded the
station in divorce proceedings,) Arnold/Audrey Malkan dba Pyrometer Company
of America in partnership with former KFJZ manager Stan Wilson (10/22/1964-2/1972;
bought TSN and AM/FM/TV stations for $1 million;) Communications Properties
(2/1972-10/2/1976; bought AM/FM/TSN for $4 million,) Swanson Foods (10/2/1976-11/1983,)
Founders Broadcasting (11/1983-3/1986, through call letter change to KSSA.)
Programs: "The Shadow," "Sidetrack," "Neighbors," "Swap Shop," "Erskine
Johnson in Hollywood," "Freedom of Opportunity," "Cedric Foster," "Quick
as a Flash," "Nick Carter," "The Fresh-Up Show," "Gabriel Heatter," Queen
for a Day," "Take it Easy Time," "Morton Downey [Sr.]," "Guy Lombardo,"
"The Insomnia Club," "Terrible Terry's Stomping Grounds," "Texas Pharmaceutical
Hour," "Bing Crosby Sings," "Real Life Story," "Spotlight Bands," "Rouges
Gallery," "The Coffee Club," "What's the Name of that Song?" Notables:
Porter Randall, Bill Enis (as host of "The Coffee Club" and "Swap Shop,")
Mark Stevens aka Mark E. Baby (later teamed with Jim Pruett to form "Stevens
and Pruett" on KEGL and later on KLOL-Houston,) Jim
Thomas, Mark Oristano, Martha Martinez,
Dave Tucker (1/1967-1974; late of KBOX-AM,) Don Tennison, Patrick Dearen
aka Marlin Spike McGuire, Charlie Ross, Richie Allen, Larry Shannon aka
Biff Burns (began 1968; teamed with Mark Stevens [aka Mark E. Baby] for
mornings in the 1970s; Shannon also hosted "Sidetrack,") Randy
Brown aka Christopher Haze, Alton Stricklin, David Cockrell aka David
London/David Laurence, Jim Lowe (1943-1947,) John Borders aka Johnny Dark.
.
Also "Big"
George Erwin (host of "Coffee Cup Caper" morning show; began at station
in 1939,) Harrel Banks, Randy "Big R" Robins, Ken "Hubcap" Carter, Randy
Vick Sr., Rick Wais (1982,) Blanchard McKee (as host of "Neighbors,") Dave
Naugle (as host of "The Insomnia Club,") "Uncle" Walter Moore, Joan Morgan,
Rob Milford aka Rob Williams (11/1975 to 8/1976,) "Truckin'" Tom Kent,
Larry Thompson aka Larry James, Peter McClain, Jerry Park, Earle Fletcher
(1941,) David Day, Lee Randall, Ralph "Buddy" Widman (1940s,) Curtis Pierce,
Sid Burns, Zack Hurt, Karl King, Howard Greenblatt (personality and public
affairs director,) Charlie Butts, George Nolen, Jack Hudson, Hazel Riley
(secretary, 1945-57,) Marvin Hillis, Mackie Baird (Beard?), Art Snow, Jim
Rose (MD/jock, 1973-76, under both Top 40 and Country formats; worked concurrently
at KJIM-AM as "Jim Nelson" [PD Ray Potter would not let Rose use the same
name on both stations!]), Kathy Alcala-Downs, Jack Murray, Ray Menefee,
Mike Marshall (fall, 1960-1/1962; returned 1/1964-3/1967,) Lee Randall,
Danny Owen, Jim Van Sickle (1968-80,) Johnny Smith, Stan Wilson (I) (1940-60;
launched KFJZ-TV in 1955, and later the Dallas Cowboys Radio Network; partnered
with Arnold and Audrey Malkin to buy the station in 1964,) Robert Mitchell,
"Deacon" Don Evans, Ray Potter (PD,) Bruce Buchanan aka Jim Edwards, Mike
Downs, Don Thomson, Ron Wortham, David Day, Chem Terry (hosted "Terrible
Terry's Stomping Grounds,") Dan Allison, Joe
Holstead, Bob Barry (not the same as KDNT's Bob Berry,) Beau
Weaver, Russ Lamb (morning show host,) Allen Klaus and Keating Chase
(as jokesters "Snuffy and Puffy" on Russ Lamb's morning show,) Lee Galceran,
John Hurfbutt (began 10/1980; VP/GM,) Booker Turner, Forrest Clough, Phyllis
Stroupe, Skeeter Gordon, Tommy Medeno, Charles Meade, Roy Duffy, Johnny
Lee Smith, Ken McClure aka Ken Knox, Lee Ann Kneisle, Ray Coday Jr aka
Ray Lincoln, Jack Gallo, Jack "Mother" Murray, Bill Rogers, Dick Kemp (later
known as "The Wilde Childe" on KLIF-1190,) Bob Lancer, John Lee, James
Black Grey, Tee Casper, Gene Cagle (announcer in 1933; later owned the
station,) Wally Blanton, Jon Powers, Cal Druxman (sales,) Scott Allen,
Ron Thompson, Richie Allen, Jon Rivers, John Lee Smith, Charles Hobby,
Harley Bellew, Gene Ashcraft aka Gene Craft, John Foshee aka John Carter,
Mike Millard, Jim Simon, Hap Arnold, Stan White, Jim Pratt, Red Barber,
Don Dunphy, John Moncrief, Jefferson "John" Hopkins, Danny Moffat.
Power increase to 1,000 watts in 8/1939 and to 5,000 watts in 1941.
Throughout the 1940s and 1950s, WRR and KFJZ were marketed together to
advertisers as one-stop shopping to cover both Dallas and Fort Worth.
Station located at 1201 Lancaster Blvd. (1939-1955,) 4801 West Freeway
(IH-30) (1955-1975 with KFJZ/KTVT-TV; leased same studios after Gaylord
bought sister station KTVT-TV in 1962,) 5915 Pioneer Parkway (1975-1984.)
.
.
KTAT, Fort
Worth. Call letters re-established 1/31/1935 (traded back with KGKO-570.)
See notes under KTAT (1929) below. Owners: Sid Richardson dba
Tarrant Broadcasting, Elliot and Ruth Roosevelt dba Fort Worth Broadcasters
(owned briefly under KTAT calls before changing to KFJZ.) Notable:
Don Naylor. For 11 hours, KTAT was the flagship of the new Texas
State Network; once technical issues were resolved later that day, Tarrant
moved its existing KFJZ from 1370 to 1240, and cancelled KTAT's license.
(See entry at 1370 for more information.)
.
.
KGKO, Fort
Worth. Moved from 570 kc on 1/13/1935 (traded with KTAT) and moved
back to 570 on 1/31/1935. See entry at 570 for more information.
Not associated with KGKO-1480 AM.
.
..
KTAT, Fort
Worth. Call letters re-established 4/23/1930 at 1240 kc. See
KTAT (1929) entry below. Owners: A. P. Barrett dba Texas
Air
Transport
(re-acquired from parent company Southern Air Transport,) Sid Richardson
dba Tarrant Broadcasting (bought in early 1930s.) Notable: Don Naylor.
.
.
KSAT, Fort
Worth. Call letters established (and station re-established) 11/9/1929.
Owner: Southern
Air
Transport
(parent of Texas Air Transport.)
.
.
KTAT, Fort
Worth. Call letters established 1/6/1929 at 1280 kc; dark after 1/12/1929.
Format: Entertainment. Owners: A. P. Barrett dba Texas
Air
Transport,
Sid Richardson dba Tarrant Broadcasting, Raymond E. Buck. Network affiliation:
CBS. Programs: "Old Man Rhythm," "Barrel of Melody," "Musical
Memories," "Happiness Hour," "Home Builders," "Coffee Club," "Sports Flashes,"
"Honeyboy and Sassafras." Notables: Frank Bird, A. B. Tinsley,
Sam Bennett (GM,) Harry Waters (chief announcer and station director,)
Bill Warren, Frank Dinkins. In October, 1928, KFQB was sold by W.
B. Fishburn to A. P. Barrett dba Texas Air Transport. Barrett changed
the calls to KTAT, and control of the station was returned to J. Frank
Norris (Norris, by the way, had kept a percentage of ownership during all
transactions, and owned the Sunday 11AM-12PM timeslot for his church services.)
Studios were then built next to the church. On National Frequency
Allocation Day, 11/11/1928, KTAT was awarded 1280 kc (other sources say
1240 kc.) Tragedy struck on 1/12/1929, as the church and tower were
completely lost to a fire, after only six days on the air. The station
was dark until 11/9/1929, when Texas Air Transport's parent company, Southern
Air Transport, acquired the frequency. Shared time with WACO-Waco.
Broadcast with 1,000 watts.
.
KTAT TIDBITS:
The station's
premiere was a remote from the Crystal Ballroom of the Texas Hotel in downtown
Fort Worth. Guests from radio stations across the state did much
of the broadcasting; local representatives included WFAA's Adams Calhoun
and Robert Pool, WRR's John Thorwald, KRLD's Arthur Stowe, WBAP's Harold
"Hired Hand" Hough, and KGKO's Zack Hurt and Glenn Hewitt.
..
.
KFQB, Fort
Worth. Station established on 5/12/1924 at 618.6 kc (later to 590
kc in 1926, then 1180 kc, then 1140 kc, then 1150 kc, then 900 kc [other
sources say to 920 kc in 9/1927,] then 1240 kc.) Format: Religious,
Entertainment. Call letters stood for "Keep
Folks
Quoting
the Bible."
Owners: J. Frank Norris, J. M. Gilliam, W. B. Fishburn. Programs:
"Fishburn's Two Little Maids," "Radio Bible Class," "Vespers." Notables:
Glenn Hewitt and Zack Hurt, ("Glenn and Zack,") Louis E. Diehl, "Bill and
Ernest" (blind saxophone and piano players,) "Jack and Bill" (the KFQB
"Lullabye Boys,") H. B. "Colonel" Greene (engineer.) When WPA-AM
was abandoned in 1923 (see entry at 618.6,) Rev. J. Frank Norris (dba Search-Light
Publishing) bought the transmitter from the Fort Worth Record and used
it to start up 5,000-watt station KFQB in 1924. Norris was the pastor
of the First Baptist Church of Fort Worth, and based the studios there.
The tower was located on top of the church (other sources say it was mounted
to the Farmers and Mechanics National Bank building downtown.) Norris
was a Fundamentalist Baptist who, in 1912, was accused of burning down
his own church, and was given 30 days to leave town by area deacons (he
defied them and stayed.) He was also said to have murdered a business
associate in 1926, but used his connections to get out of it! Later,
he was expelled from the Southern Baptist Convention for his anti-evolution
beliefs and preachings, as the theory of evolution was endorsed and taught
at SBC's Baylor University. During his ownership of KFQB, Norris held an
18-day crusade against evolution in Nashville, and he later testified alongside
William Jennings Bryan at the famous Scopes-Monkey Trial. On 10/25/1926,
he sold the station to J. M. Gilliam (business manager of Search-Light,)
who changed the format from religious to entertainment, and hired Glenn
Hewitt and Zack Hurt ("Glenn and Zack,") to host a comedy program.
Gilliam relocated the studios to the basement of the Westbrook Hotel, 4th
and Houston in downtown (although the tower still remained at Norris' church.)
He sold KFQB a year later to W. B. Fishburn (of Fishburn's Dry Cleaners,
still operating today) on 12/12/1927 for $8,500. Station shared
time with WJAD-Waco.
.
Thanks to
Bill Fairlie (FW Star-Telegram,) Richard Schroeder, UT-Arlington Special
Collections and the Fort Worth Public Library's clipping file for much
of the above information.
.
1310
.
.
KTCK,
Dallas. Call letters established 2/8/1994, but format started on
1/23/1994 under KAAM calls. Format: Sports Talk. Owner:
Spence Kendrick and Geoffrey Dunbar dba Cardinal Communications (1993-1995,)
SFX (1995-1996; SFX bought by CBS in 12/1996;) Susquehanna/Cumulus Broadcasting
(started 12/1996; purchased for $14 million.) Nickname: "The
Ticket"
(thought of by Renee Rhyner, Mike's wife; Mike and Greg Williams sold investors
on "Ticket" concept.) Simulcast on KTBK-AM (formerly in stereo) and
KTDK-FM; then later on KTCK-96.7 FM. Notables: Rocco Pendola,
Slip Bayless (longtime newspaper sports columnist; very first person to
broadcast on station,) Gordon Keith, Bruce Gilbert, Bob Sturm, Gregg Williams,
Max Miller (to 7/1998,) George Dunham, Norm Hitzges, Mark Followill, Mike
Rhyner, Chris Arnold, Chuck Cooperstein,
Hank McMonigle, Barbara "Barb" Smith, Jim Lowe. Simulcast to KTBK-1700
and KTDK-104.1. When Cardinal purchased KAAM from Bonneville, they
kept the studio briefly at its original home, 15851 Dallas Parkway, in
order to renovate the former KVIL studios at 5307 Mockingbird (in the Capital
Bank building, which Cardinal owned)...KTCK moved into the refurbished
studios in 1/1994.
.
.
.
KAAM, Dallas.
Call letters established 1/1978. Format: All News (carried
over from WRR) to 6/12/1978; AC Gold (to 4/1981,) SMN Adult Contemporary
format via satellite (4/1981-8/1982,) Pop Oldies (8/1982-3/8/1986,) Big
Band/Standards (officially "Al Ham's Music of your Life" [formerly at KFJZ])
(3/8/1986-1993; dark briefly until 1/23/1994, when Ticket format signed
on briefly under KAAM calls.) Owner: Bonneville Broadcasting
(1/1978-11/1993.) Nicknames: "Big Bands, Great Singers," "Discover
the Gold," "K-Double-A-M." Sister station to KAFM-FM/KZPS-FM (1/1978
to 11/1993.) KAAM name and format was resurrected at 620 AM in 10/1995
and at 770 AM in 11/1998. Promotion: "$500,000 Trivia Challenge"
(1984.) Programs:
"Jerry Jones Show," "Travel Talk," "Sleepers," "The Larry King Show" (syndicated,)
"Sock Hop Shop," "Hymns We Love" (started at WFAA-AM in 1952; ran until
12/12/1993 on KAAM,) "Historic Moments." Notables: Dave Johnson
and Glenn Mitchell (co-hosts of "Sleepers,") did afternoon news for Robin
Jones and Russell Martin,) Dick Roth aka Dick Marshall, Tony Garrett/Dick
Hitt/Judi Hanna (morning team; fired 4/1981 at format change, all late
of KVIL,) Steve Simmons,
Steven "Stubie"
Doak (10/1982-1983; moved to sister station KZPS,) William Steding,
"Rockin'" Robin Jones, Vicki Robbins, Charles Kuenzi AKA Johnny Michaels
(former longtime personality on KNUS, KVIL and KLUV; worked for all three
incarnations of KAAM [1310, 620 and 770AM] from ca. 1990-10/2004; not the
same as John Michaels of KZPS/KZEW, although John was working at sister
station KZPS while Johnny was working for KAAM,) Cerie Segal (as host of
"Travel Talk,") Nancy Jay, Gerry Oher,
Mark
Lambert, Larry Carolla, Lee Gray, Jim Lowe, Sandy Singer, Ben McGregor,
Ron Knowles (began 1/7/1988,) Howard Greenblatt (1/1978-1/4/1988; first
jock heard on KAAM,) Bret Lewis, Jack Grady, Chris Allen, Jim Thomas and
Leon McWhortor aka Jay Roberts (I) (co-hosting "Solid Gold Saturday Night,")
Dave Mitchell, Phil Markert, Beverly Margolis, Stu Bowers, Tom Hopkins,
Terry Bell, Bob Paterson, Brian Moran, Ed Spencer, Tom Glade, Norvell Slater
(host of "Hymns We Love,") Chris Allen, Jeff Mitchell, A. C. Greene (as
host of "Historic Moments,") Russell Martin. Located at Fair Park
(briefly until sale from WRR was completed,) 12750 Park Central #512 (6/12/1978-?)
and 15851 Dallas Parkway (?-1994.)
.
.
.
WRR, Dallas.
Station legally established 8/4/1921 as the second licensed station in
the US, but started broadcasting without a license in Fall, 1920.
Format: Public Service (1920-1927,) Talk (1927-early 1970s,) Contemporary
Oldies (early 1970s-1974,) All News/Talk (1974-6/12/1978.) Call letters
stand for "Where
Radio
Radiates"
(also said to be "White Rock Radio," for its proximity to that Dallas lake;
the tower was once located on nearby Flagpole Hill; jokesters used to say,
"We Reach Rockwall"!) Nickname: "Fun Radio." Owner:
City of Dallas/City of Dallas Police Fire and Signal Department (fire department
gave up control to the city in 1931.) Originally broadcast at 20w
(1920,) 100w (1921,) 500w (1925,) 5kW (1940) and at 833 kc, 1220 kc, 1150
kc, 850 kc, 650 kc, 1190 kc (1928-?, on a timeshare plan with WOAI-San
Antonio) and 1280 kc (through at least 1935.) Network affiliation:
Mutual/MBS, NBC News and Information Service (1974-?,) TSN. First
licensed radio station in Texas (and second in the US,) first news/talk
station in Dallas, first station to regularly feature traffic reports ("Fina
Traffic Report," started 1962.) Original Dallas Cowboys flagship
station (although research has also turned up KRLD as the original flagship
station from 1960-71, and KBOX from 1960-1962.) Flagship station
for Dallas Rebels and SMU basketball teams, and the Dallas Texans football
team (1960-1963, until their move to Kansas City to become the Chiefs.)
WRR was originally used as a communications system for the Dallas Fire
Department (1920-1922; although discussions of developing a two-way radio
system date back to 1916,) and firemen did the air personality work!
Programs: "Kats Karavan Show," "Blues Karavan" ("Kats" and "Blues"
ran back to back; Jim Lowe hosted both, and "Kats" was taped concurrently
as Lowe did his morning program,) "Jukebox Serenade," "Jett's Talk of the
Town," "Al Jones Show," "The Laurel Ornish Show," "Who's Who in Radio,"
"Charlie the Collector Show," "Nancy Goodman Show," "Kiddie's Club," "Pet
Time," "Coffee Time."
.
Notables:
John Stone (the Southwest's first disc jockey, in 1920!), Frank Glieber
(1956-1959; disc jockey and host of the "F. G. Show,") Brad Sham, Doug
Helton, Bruce Hayes, "Gentleman" Jim Carter, Lee Brumm aka Lee Arthur,
Buddy Harris, Dan Squibb, Dave Naugle, Pete Mood, Jim Lowe (1950-1974;
host of the rhythm-and-blues "Kats Karavan Show" from 1953-1967, as well
as "Blues Karavan," and Lowe was the longtime voice of "Big Tex" at the
Texas State Fair; Lowe was nicknamed 'Tiger, the Old Cool Fool' on the
air!), Roy Newman (staff musician,) John Ravenscroft aka John Peel, Bob
Warren, Ron Wortham, Bob Jett (host of "Jett's Talk of the Town,") John
Roosevelt, Al Jones (1943-1956; as host of "Al Jones Show,") Marvin Williams,
Edwin Bryant (as half of "The Pair of Peppers" duo.)
.
Also Joe
Hickman, Dave Cook (not the same as Dave Cooke of KRLD,) John Henry Faulk,
Hal King (was concurrently an Irving police officer,) Brice Armstrong,
Ben Smith, Fulton Lewis Sr., Fulton Lewis III, Rob Milford aka Rob Williams
(10/1977,) Eddie Hill, John Miller (not the WBAP/KXAS/WFAA news director,)
Bob Kelly, Kenny Sargent (personality and singer who recorded, "Under a
Blanket of Blue,") Clyde White aka Jim
White (I) (1967-1969,) James Alderman, Charlie Haggard (host of "Charlie
the Collector Show,") Rick Teddlie (engineer; co-creator of CONELRAD emergency
system,) Dale Berry, William Boyd, Ocie Brisby, "Handyman" Al Carrell,
Victor Cortinas, Pat Couch (later reporter for KXAS-TV,) Jerry Doggett
(1941-1956; announcer for Dallas Rebels and SMU basketball teams,) Chuck
Duncan, Cedric Foster, G. Guy Gibson, Lois Goldthwaite, Roy Parks, Nancy
Leitstein (Brinker) aka Nancy Goodman (host of "Nancy Goodman Show;" once
married to restaurant mogul Norman Brinker,) L. B. Henson, Norm Hitzges,
Taylor Branch, David Hultsman, John Thorwald, Harry James, George
Gimarc, Ron Knowles, Tim Jernigan, Ray LaPere, Jim Lawrence, Joe McChesney
(formerly "J. Morgan Van Buren" on KBOX,) Sterling "Mac" McClain (host
of "Who's Who in Radio,") Brian Melton, Bob Norman, Laurel Ornish (1972-1973,
1974; hosted "The Laurel Ornish Show;" first woman newscaster in local
radio; returned in 1974 when station went All-News/Talk,) Ted Parrino (1930s,)
Paul Pryor (son of "Cactus" Pryor, early Austin, TX radio-TV vet,) Vickie
Robbins, Edd Routt, Brad Sham (in his first broadcasting job, 1972,) Neil
Sperry, Jess Smith, Patricia Smith, Durward
Tucker (began 1933,) Tom Tully, Ken Walters, Mark
Lambert, Mark Willis, Sybil Robson (niece of WalMart's Sam Walton;
worked as a traffic reporter in mid-1977.)
.
Station
band: The Dallas Athletic Club Symphony Orchestra. WRR's tower
at Fair Park fell on 6/23/1977. WRR was first located at 2012 Main
Street, downtown, on the 2nd floor of the fire station. In 1923,
WRR moved to the Jefferson Hotel. Then in 1925, it moved to the Adolphus
Hotel downtown, then to the Southland Life Building's 10th floor in the
1930s, and to Fair Park from 1936-1973: first, it was next to the
Hall of State Building on the Fair Park grounds, then moved next to the
coliseum thereafter, where it still resides today. During WWII in
1945, a German POW camp was located next door to the station at Fair Park.
Throughout the 1940s and 1950s, WRR and KFJZ were marketed together to
advertisers as one-stop shopping to cover both Dallas and Fort Worth.
WRR applied for a television station on Channel 10 in 1950, but the channel
was reassigned to Waco when the FCC lifted their freeze on new TV applications
in 1952. Visit WRR's former sister station, WRR-FM, on the web...they
have an excellent photo gallery of the history of WRR-AM on their site...click
here.
.
1330
..
.
KFLC, Dallas.
Station established 10/13/1923; dark on 10/27/1923. Format:
Variety. Owner: R. A. Hall. Station set up exclusively
for two-week broadcast of the State Fair of Texas. Calls later resurrected
at 1270 kc.
.
1340
.
.
.
KAND,
Corsicana. Station established 5/17/1937 at 1310 kc; moved to 1340
in 1947. Format: Variety (1937-1980s,) Country (1980s-5/31/2008,)
Talk (started 6/1/2008.) Owners: J. C. West (5/19/1937-3/15/1955,)
Lee Glasgow (3/15/1955-1964,) Richard Parker dba KAN-D Land Inc/Corsicana
Cable TV (1964-1995,) Corsicana Media Inc/Northland Cable TV (1995-3/15/2008;
bought for $500,000,) Yates Communications (bought 3/15/2008.) Nicknames:
"Country Music for Today's Texans," "Green Radio" ("Green Radio" format
started online in late 2007; began on KAND 6/1/2008.) Flagship station
for Corsicana High School Tigers and Navarro College Bulldogs football
games. Former sister station to KAND-FM (aka KXCL-FM and KCIR-FM.)
Programs: "Talk Time," "Texas Stomp." Notables as "Variety"
and "Country": Alan Barnes, Bob Gooding (longtime WFAA-TV news anchor,)
Steve Elkins, Perry Taylor (1949-1985,) Paul Trevor, Kevin McAdams, Dee
Andra Huckaby, Dixie Lawrence, Michael Spears, Dewey Beale, Ron Harper,
Nick Brounoff aka Nick Alexander, Debbie Beal, David Anthony, "Uncle" Gus
and "Aunt" Louise Foster (hosted "Texas Stomp,") Jerry Litteral aka Jerry
Houston, Don Hupp, Ron Ricks, Paul Berry,
Mary Sikes, Margie Holton, Bill Van Ness, "Ramblin'" Roy Miller, Jerry
Hancock (took over mornings after Roy Miller's death in 2007,) Steve Kelly,
Aubrey Escoe, H. L. Cofer, Margie Holton, Annette Gonzales (later in Houston
television,) Miles Taylor, Barry Bragg, Byron Haney, Lex Myers, Dick Aldama,
Bob Belcher, Joe Salvadore, Ray Murphy, Bob Knoll, Elmer Smith. Notables
as "Green Radio": Kevin McCarthy, David
Yates (owner, and former jock at KAND in the 1980s,) Alex Burton. Original
owner J. C. West, who also owned the Wolf Brand (canned)
Chili plant in Corsicana, used chili as part of employee compensation!
He applied for the calls "WOLF," but the FCC wouldn't permit it, as "W"
calls are confined exclusively to stations east of the Mississippi River.
.
1360
.
.
.
KMNY, Hurst.
Call letters established 3/4/2005. Format: Spanish (under KMNY
calls to 3/31/2005,) Business Talk and Variety (4/1/2005-5/23/2008;
daytime:
via LMA from BizRadio Network [BizRadio bought KJSA-1110 AM in 4/2008;
simulcast programming on 1360 and 1110 4/27/2008-5/23/2008; completed transition
to 1110 AM on 5/23/2008;]) Modern Classic Rock/80s Pop/Variety (as "Retro
Radio," 5/24/2008-6/30/2008;) nights: brokered Spanish, Chinese
or other ethnic programming to 10/1/2006; unsold nights were automated
M-O-R; then Spanish (via HCCA Network) 10/1/2006-12/2007, then Progressive
Talk ("Rational Radio," started 1/28/2008; switched to 24/7 schedule 7/1/2008.)
Owner: Multicultural Radio Broadcasting/MRBI (started 2/4/2004.)
Call letters stand for "money."
Sister station to KDFT-540. Affiliations: As Progressive
Talk - NovaM (progressive talk network that dissolved in 2/2009,) Air
America. Program: "The
Hi-Fi Club" (6/18/2006- 9/24/2006; 12/30/2007-2010; continues in syndication
as of 2024; a resurrection of the 1959-1962 "Coca Cola Hi-Fi Club" from
KXOL-1360.) Notables as "BizRadio": Ray Whitworth (producer,
2005-2007,) Daniel Frishberg (as host of "The MoneyMan Report;" heads BusinessRadio
Partners,) Vince Rowe (to 9/28/2006; returned 1/2007,) Lou Dobbs (via satellite
from CNN,) Brent Clanton (to 5/2008,) Mike Norman, Mike Shannon (II) (producer,
7/2005-5/2007,) Jim Cramer, Ed Moyer, Scott Murray (2/2006-4/2006; former
KXAS-TV sports director.)
Notables as "Rational Radio": Dave
Clifton, Irv Jackson aka Jack Bishop (2006-2010; late of KAAM; handled
public affairs programming for KMNY, then appointed local manager of Rational
Radio in 2008;) then Bill Press, Stephanie Miller, Thom Hartman, Randi
Rhodes (to 2/2009,) Ed Schultz and Mike Malloy (all via satellite;) Mike
Shannon (II), John Lewis and Ray Whitworth (all as host of "The Hi-Fi
Club.") Notables as "Retro Radio": Mike
Shannon (II) (PD, and host of "The Hi-Fi Club,") Bud Buschardt, Jim
Thomas (as host of "70s Saturday Afternoon," an update of his long-running
"70s Saturday Night" program on KDMX-FM and KBFB-FM;) Joe Fuchs aka Jay
Weaver, Randy Carlisle (host of "The Real Oldies Show;") John Lewis (host
of "The 1360 Jazz Cafe;" Larry Stanley (host of "The Larry Stanley Show;")
Jeff Allen, Steph Quinn, Ray Whitworth, Doyle King. Notables in management,
and during other broadcast hours: Ted Sauceman (Dallas Market
Manager,)
Mike Shannon (II),
Ray Whitworth and John Lewis (all hosts of "The
Hi-Fi Club.") BizRadio's sister station in Houston (initially
KXYZ-1320 AM, leased also through MRBI; later at owned KTEK-1110 AM) was
formatted and financed by Frishberg and a coalition of listeners in 2/2005
who were left without a business talk station when Infinity's KIKK-650
AM switched to Hot Talk in 9/2004; Frishberg, a former host on KIKK, brought
format to DFW two months later. KMNY paid homage to its roots on
11/22/2006 by playing long-lost clips of KXOL-1360 news coverage of the
JFK assassination. The KMNY calls were salvaged from another MRBI
property in Pomona, CA; calls were originally obtained for and by the defunct
"Money Network" in the 1980s (the former KAHZ calls were exchanged with
Pomona's KMNY.) Station located at Red Bird Mall (later Southwest
Center Mall, to 10/2005,) then to 5801 Marvin D. Love Frwy (started 10/2005.)
.
.
.
KAHZ, Fort
Worth (later Hurst.) Call letters established 9/24/1993. Format:
Spanish Talk (?-3/31/2005,) Religious/Roman Catholic Talk (11/1/1998-?,)
Radio Aahs
via satellite (9/24/1993-1/30/1998; sale of the Radio Aahs parent company
Children's Broadcasting Corporation fell through on that date, and Children's
permanently pulled the plug on the format; owners also blamed the success
of competitor Radio Disney, and subsequently sued Disney for copyright
infringement.) Owners: Children's Broadcasting, Global Broadcasting
(announced 6/1997, but apparently fell through on 1/30/1998,) Radio Unica,
Multicultural Radio Broadcasting (rescued KAHZ from bankrupt Radio Unica
on 2/4/2004.) Notables: Bob Bruton (SM,) Ted Sauceman, Eric
Roberts, Crystal Preston, Gretchen Vawter, Stephanie Steele, Nicole Caylor,
Brad Lane (OM,) Waymon Preston, Keith Whipple. Station located in
Hurst, then to Red Bird Mall.
.
KNRB, Fort
Worth. Call letters established 6/1/1988. Format: Country,
Religious, Religious/Talk (6/1992-?.) Nickname: "Praise 1360."
Flagship station for the Fort Worth Fire hockey team (1992-93.) Notables:
Bob Bruton, Dave Barnett.
..
.
KWJS, Fort
Worth. Call letters established 11/23/1985. Call letters stood
for "Word of
Jimmy
Swaggart"
(calls resurrected from 94.9 FM, who abandoned them in 1984. Station
was not owned by Jimmy Swaggart as 94.9 FM was, but carried programming
from Swaggart's network.) Owner: Universal Broadcasting.
Format: Country Gospel. Program: "Good Morning Metroplex."
Notables: Jack Davis, Paul Thomas Hughes.
.
.
KXOL, Fort
Worth. Station established 4/2/1947. Format: Variety
(1947-1950s,) Country (1950s-1956,) Top 40 (1956-5/1976,) Country (5/1976
to 11/23/1985.) First fulltime 24-hour radio operation in Fort Worth.
First non-network affiliated station in Fort Worth, first area station
to use block programming. Owners: Fort Worth Broadcasting Company
(4/2/1947-?; headed by Frank M. Skinner and later Earle Fletcher,) C. C.
Woodson (?-7/21/1955,) Wendell Mayes Sr. aka KXOL Inc. (7/21/1955-11/1/1973;
Mayes also owned local Muzak franchise beginning in 4/1965 as "Music Broadcast
Company," which fed generic music to area subscribers via FM sideband and
telephone lines,) Tom E. Turner dba TETCO/Signal Oil/Sigmor (11/1/1973-11/23/85;
officed in basement of station.) Nickname: "Pure Country."
Flagship station for Fort Worth Cats baseball. Promotion: "Adam,"
a personified, automated phone dialer that called listeners at random to
guess a jackpot amount (1968.) Programs: "Hillbilly Supper
Club," "The Coca Cola Hi-Fi Club," "Ballads by Brooks," "Voters Digest."
Notables: Lan "Lanny" Roberts,
Michael
James Lucas aka Michael James, Russ Bloxom
(1961-1967, later longtime anchor for WBAP-TV/KXAS-TV,) Bob Meadows, Dickie
Rose, Bob Norman, Brenda Bell, Larry Shannon, Michael Selden, Dave Garland,
Eddie Gale (1959,) Ron Selden (Michael Selden's cousin,) Jim Lowe (1947-1950;
helped put KXOL on the air,) Elston Brooks (host of "Ballads by Brooks;"
later an entertainment columnist for the "Fort Worth Star-Telegram,") Jerry
Hahn, Bill Hightower (1955-1958; ND who hired Bob Schieffer, Bruce Neal
and Roy Eaton,) Norman Alden (later an actor; on-air role as "Epod", which
is "dope" spelled backwards! Alden was the first voice ever heard
on KXOL,) Joe Wills, Brad Wilson, Suzanne Calvin (1976-1977,) Kent Burkhart
(began 1/1955; noted radio programmer who later developed satellite technology
in Florida,) Ken Krazon, Parker Willson, Robert Mitchell, Dick Yaws, Jim
"Tuck" Tucker (who headed the listener's club, "Tucker's Commandoes;" also
known as "Emperor Jim Tucker,")
Chuck
Murphy (to 1968,) Chuck Browning, Larry Vance, Misty Fincher aka "Frontier
Lady," Davey O'Donnell (original host of "The Coca Cola Hi-Fi Club,") Bill
Enis, John Puff aka John Lewis (who did final signoff of station in 1985;
returned as host of a new "Hi-Fi Club" at KMNY-1360 in 2006,) Kenny Sargent
(former singer with the Glen Gray Casa Loma Orchestra,) Bob Bruton (first
overnight disc jockey in Fort Worth,) Bob Allen, Ben Laurie, Doug Helton,
George Carlin (7/1959-2/1960; later a stand-up comedian; hosted "The Coca
Cola Hi-Fi Club" and its successor, "The Teen Club,") Roy Eaton (ND, left
KXOL for WBAP-TV, then returned to KXOL on 9/1/1968 as "Director of Informational
Services,") Jim Ridgeway, Jim Robe, Dick Smith, Jim Travis, Jody Dean (9/1980-6/1981,)
Joe
Holstead, Joe Martin, "Texas" Joe Poovey aka "Groovey" Joe Poovey,
John Paul Beard, Karen "Duckie" Fielding, Kay Patrick Powell, Ken "Hubcap"
Carter, Larry Fitzgerald, Neil Baird (1953-1955; ND,) Bruce Neal, Bob Schieffer
(later WBAP-TV anchor and host of CBS' "Face the Nation,") Reb Foster aka
Dennis Bruton, Chuck Dunaway,
Jim
MacKrell aka Jimmy Kaye (later game show host, actor and infomercial
spokesman,) Bob Botick, Mac Hudson, Bill Hix (first airborne traffic reporter
in DFW; flew in a Piper Cub!,) Frank Jolle,
Anne Crawford, Mac Curtis (later headed a rockabilly musical act; spent
time at KFI-Los Angeles in the 1970s,) Bill Brooks, Bill "Sweet William"
Herring, Larry Glenn, Larry Morrell, Lou Staples, Marcos Rodriguez, "Captain"
Mike Ambrose (to KXOL, then KLIF-1190, then to LA radio thereafter; then
spent over 25 years as San Diego weatherman,) Mike Kelly, Mike Parenti
aka Mike Monday, Morgan Choat, Bill Howell.
.
Also Bill
Smith aka Bill Mack (II), Norman Hall, Harry "Paxton" Mills, Phil Robbins,
Jim Rose (MD,) Ray Robbin, Ruben T. "Mad Lad" Washington, Rocky Davis,
Bill Noble, Bob Richmond, Carl Story, Harold Hodo aka Casey Jones, Cris
Taylor (as host of "Voters Digest,") Cecil Knight (spent 20 years as airborne
traffic reporter for KPRC-TV Houston; later with WBAP in 2003-04,) Charlie
Pro, Chem Terry, "Cowboy" Weaver, Dave Ambrose, Gene Kelly, Ron Peterson,
Ron Stevens, Ron McCoy, Dave Dumas, David Coursey, Johnny May, Don Day,
Jerry Condra aka Jerry Parks (not the same as WFAA-TV's Jerry Park,) Jerry
Park aka Sid Park (who IS the WFAA-TV anchor; Condra liked the name "Park"
better; Park deferred and took the name "Sid Park." Don Hodges, Warren
Webber aka Bill Warren, Zack Hurt, Ronnie Voss, Roy Stamps, Rusty Reynolds,
Skeeter Gordon, Tom Meade aka Rod Tanner, Jerry Lee (1960,) Steve Rich,
Ken Ratliff, Jim Lawrence, Jim Ratliff (1975-77,) Stew Robb, Tom Green,
Lowell "Jay" Duncan, Rod Roddy (began 1957; later announcer for CBS' "The
Price is Right,") Gary Wayne, Dick Osburn (VP/GM, late 1960s,) Misty Fincher
aka "The Frontier Gal," Breck Harris (later WBAP-TV reporter,) Randy "Red
Rocket" Hames, Ron Spain, Doug Adams (later GM for KXAS-TV,)
David
Jarrott (as host of the "Jack and Jarrott Morning Show," 1969-71,)
Bruce Buchanan aka Jim Edwards, Gary Dark, Leo Burch, Gary Stone, Gene
Ashcraft aka Gene Craft (developed the Dallas Cowboys Radio Network in
1965,) George Wiley, Ron McCoy, Hal King, Scott Reese (began 5/1976; worked
concurrently at KDNT during mid-1976,) Rocky Davis, George Erwin, Jack
Burns (1959-60; comedian partnered with George Carlin; later of duo "Burns
and Schreiber;" Avery Schreiber is the late moustached Doritos spokesman
in the 1970s,) Jack Monroe, Jack Murray, Jason Walker, Tom Wayne, Jay Langhammer,
Mark Johns aka Mark "Brother" Shane (1969-1970,) Charles Wallace, Jerry
May, Mike O'Hare, Tommy Vance, Ken Enos aka Ken Knight, Tony Berta, Jeff
Yates, Jim "Shootin'" Newton, Bill Beasley, James Black Grey, Bob Beattie,
"Big" Tom Bigby, Don Sitton aka Don Miller, Dick Bove, Johnny Bridges,
John Burns, Robert Crouse, Hal Eisner, Jeff Cunningham (1977,) Earle Fletcher
(began 1/1952,) Charles and Joyce Hobby, D. C. Hornburg, Herb Humphries,
Rick Johnson aka Bwana Johnny, Russ Lamb, Steve Lewis, Charles Mahan, Charlie
Martin, John McCarty (1979-1982,) Nick Brounoff aka Nick Alexander (1974,)
Danny Moffat, Charles Murphy (best known as WBAP-TV anchor during the JFK
Assassination coverage,) Barney Pip, William Rice, Art Riley, John Rook,
Frank M. Skinner, Charles Watson, Joe Willis. Also, Larry and Jody
Huchingson volunteered time at the station in the 1950s. When KXOL
was sold in 1985, many employees defected to KPAR-Granbury.
The oldies music collection was auctioned off to KLUV, who used it to bolster
their oldies format. Station first located at 1216 Pennsylvania at
Henderson in downtown Fort Worth, to 3004 W. Lancaster in 9/1965, and to
West 7th Street thereafter.
.
1370
.
.
.
KFJZ, Fort
Worth. Station established 1924 (other sources say 9/1923) at 1180
kc, but roots of station date back to 1917. Format: Variety/
Entertaiment. Owners: US Government (1917-1918,) W. E. "Bill"
Branch (1918-1924?; 1924-1928,) H. C. Allison (1928-1930,) H. C. Meacham
(1930-1931,) Ralph Bishop (1931-1938,) Elliot and Ruth Roosevelt dba Fort
Worth Broadcasters (1938-1945.) The original KFJZ started as a 5-watt
military communications station for Fort Worth's Camp Bowie during World
War I in 1917. After Armistice Day on 11/11/1918, W. E. "Bill" Branch,
an electronics tinkerer near Fort Worth, was offered any radio equipment
he wanted from the disbanded military camp. By 1920, the original
equipment had been reconstructed in Branch's living room, and the station
was back on the air. Around 1923-24, Branch sold the equipment to
the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary for $500 so they could start
their own station. However, SBTS couldn't afford to keep it on or
to do the maintenance, so Branch was given back the equipment for free,
provided he'd haul it all away. Branch had relocated closer to town
to the Polytechnic area in 1924, and again set up the station studios and
transmitter in his house and backyard (other sources say he set up studios
at the Northern Texas Traction Company at 3rd and Main, downtown.)
This time, he operated KFJZ as a commercial station (other sources say
it became commercial in 1926,) increased the power to 50 watts, and broadcast
for two to three hours a day. Moved to 1140 kc in 1925, and to 1200
kc in 1927.
.
On 1/12/1928,
Branch sold the station to H. C. Allison for $9,000, and increased the
power to 100 watts at the time of sale. Allison relocated the studios
to the Moore Building at 10th and Main in downtown Fort Worth, aired programming
from 8PM-10PM nightly, and hired Truett Kimzey as chief engineer.
Kimzey rebuilt the transmitter and increased the power to 250 watts.
Allison soon moved the station south of town to the Sunnyhill Dairy Farm
area. By mid-1928, Allison relinquished programming control by setting
up an LMA for "The Texas Hour," headed by George Gleeson. On 11/11/1928,
all stations in the US were assigned frequencies by the Federal Radio Commission,
and KFJZ was awarded 1370 kc (other sources say it was at 1360 until 1930.)
In 1929, Allison terminated the LMA and reassumed control of the station.
In 1930, he sold it to Fort Worth pioneer H. C. Meacham for $19,000, and
Meacham moved the studios to the mezzanine level of his Meacham's Department
Store at 12th and Main, downtown. Store patrons were treated to live
musical acts as they performed for the station; the Light Crust Doughboys
(featuring Bob Wills) got their start this way. In 1931, the station
was sold again, this time to Ralph S. Bishop for $39,000 (some sources
say $32,000) and the studios were relocated to the Texas Hotel (into the
same studios where KTAT had recently moved from) and later to the Trinity
Life Building. During this time, KFJZ expanded to an 18-hour broadcast
day. Bishop held the station for six years, selling it on 4/14/1938
(other sources say June, 1937) to Fort Worth Broadcasters, headed by Ruth
and Elliott Roosevelt (son of FDR) for $57,000. By September, 1938,
the Roosevelts constructed new studios for KFJZ at 1201 W. Lancaster St.
and created the Texas State Network. TSN was chartered on 8/2/1938,
and its premiere broadcast was from a Casa Manana event on 9/15/1938.
(KFJZ had been a Mutual affiliate previously, and became the flagship for
TSN.) On 8/16/1939, the Roosevelts purchased KTAT-1240 for $101,570
and moved KFJZ there, and surrendered their license for the 1370 frequency.
See entry at 1270.
.
Thanks to
Bill Fairlie (FW Star-Telegram,) Richard Schroeder and the Fort Worth Public
Library's clipping file for much of the above information.
.
1390
.
.
KBEC,
Waxahachie. Station established 6/26/1955. Format: Country
(started 12/1988,) Standards (?-12/1988,) Spanish (1978,) Big Band (1978.)
Call letters stand for "Keep
Building
Ellis
County."
Owner: Richard Tuck (longest continuous owner of a Texas radio station;
owned station KBBA-AM in Bentonville, AR when he applied for KBEC.)
Sister station to KBEC-FM. Programs: "Italy [High School] Hour,"
"1390 Club" (both hosted by Bill Ward, who began with the station on its
premiere date,) "Sunday Morning Polka Show" (started 1964,) "Quest," "Coffee
Cup Hour" (1955-2002; longest running morning program in DFW area.)
Notables: Bill Ward (began 6/26/1955,) John Borders aka Johnny Dark
(1956,) Morgan Choat, Catherine Crandall, Roger Creech, Mike Crow, Victor
Donovan, Richard Tuck (station owner and host of "Coffee Cup Hour,") Bob
Easley, Lee Harris, Vicki Harris, Doug Harrison, Chris
Huff, Gene Kelly, Pat McDonald, Jonathan Hayes, Gary Barton, Barry
Wolverton, Nolan Moran the "3-D Man", Jerry Lee (1955,) Mike O'Daniel,
Faye Tuck aka "Miss Faye" (wife of Richard Tuck,) Sam Meyers, "Shootin'"
Jim Newton, T. K. Wheeler, Mark Pannill, Harold Patton, Cecil Burton (sports
director, 1955-57,) "Ranger Rita," Rex Reese, W. C. Estes Jr. (as host
of "Quest,") Jeremy Robinson, "Ramblin'" Roy Miller, Mike Turner, Jerry
West, Wes Wilson, Ken Roberts, Dub Estes, Carroll Todd, Johnny Krajda (host
of "Sunday Morning Polka Show.")
.
KWHA, Waxahachie.
Call letters established 4/1/1952; deleted in 1953. Apparently never
signed on air. Owner: Cen-Tex Broadcasting. Calls to
have stood for Waxahachie.
Notable: Pierce Brooks.
.
KELL, Waxahachie.
Call letters established 1949, deleted 3/14/1950. Did not sign on
air. Owner: Ellis County Broadcasting. Calls to have
stood for Ellis
County.
.
1400
.
.
.
.
.
KGVL, Greenville.
Station established 3/27/1946, but construction started in 1941 (delayed
by World War II-related shortage of copper and equipment.) Format:
ESPN Sports (started 1/3/2024,) Classic Hits ("EZ Rock") (2-2018-1/3/2024,)
Classic Country (11/2013-2/2018;) Oldies ("Big 14 GVL") (2010-11/2013;)
Classic Country ("The Boot,") (8/15/2009-2010;) News/Talk/Sports (to 8/15/2009;)
Oldies (as "14k Gold") (started 5/1999;) Country (1/1994-5/1999;) News/Talk
(?-1/1994,) Adult Contemporary (2/1987-?;) Standards (?-2/1987.)
From 2005-2007, the station carried Spanish language "Radio Exitos" on
weekends. Owner: Truett Kimzey (who also contracted out his
engineering services concurrently to KFJZ-AM, and operated a TV repair
service in Fort Worth,) Leo Hackney dba First Greenville Corporation, Susquehanna/Cumulus
(who bought KGVL along with KIKT-FM in 1996, strictly to downgrade the
FM's power to move Susquehanna's KKZN-93.3 into DFW,) Alpha and Mike Horne
(started 6/19/2009 bought both KGVL and sister KIKT-FM for $600,000,) E
Radio Networks. Formerly broadcast in stereo. Sister station
to KIKT-FM. KGVL also repeats its signal at 105.9 FM in Greenville
(under LPFM calls K290AP) since 11/2013, and at 107.7 FM in nearby Caddo
Mills (under LPFM calls K299BZ) since 7/2021. Nickname: "Home
Town Radio." Call letters stand for Greenville.
Network affiliations: MBS, KBS, TSN, AP. First broadcast with
500 watts, then to 1,000 watts in 2/1965. Programs: "Luncheon
Lyrics," "Sports Hi Lites," "The Lion's Roar," "Lake Country Jubilee,"
"Rhythm Roundup," "Sunrise Jamboree," Rhythm Rodeo," "Musical Clock," "Western
Hits." Notables: Frank Janda (longtime SM; operated station
under an LMA as "Dynamic Broadcasting LLC" from 1999 to 7/15/2006 along
with Sandra Salley; owner Cumulus had Janda arrested in 2006 over false
pretenses regarding Janda's non-sharing of advertising revenue; Cumulus
settled the countersuit in 9/2008,) John Mark Dempsey, Luckard Koval, Theresa
Dempsey (former wife of John Mark Dempsey [1977-88,]) Kris Miller, Dave
Garland, Dave Mitchell, "Gentleman" Jim Carter, Pete Stein, Rich Reneau,
J. Mary Jones, Ralph Marcom, Harold Marshall (host of "Lake Country Jubilee,")
Earle Fletcher (original GM, late of KFJZ-AM,) Charlie Payne, J. P. Kinzey
(son of original owner Truett Kimzey,) Jim Brashears, Leo Hackney (succeeded
Fletcher as GM in 5/1947,) Porter Randall (via TSN,) Chuck Shamka, Cedric
Foster (via MBS,) Charles Joslin (GM,) John Butler. Once had CP to
move to 1200 kc as a daytime-only station. Station first located
in Greenville, then to 1517 Wolfe City Drive in 7/1973.
.
1420
.
.
.
KPIR,
Granbury. Call letters established 6/6/2002. Format:
Country. Nickname: "The Pirate,"
"Your Hometown Station," "News and Sports of Hood County." Owner:
BBC Broadcasting, Pirate Broadcasters. Notables: Dick Siegel,
Shayne Hollinger, Lee Riza (PD,) Skip Young, "Granny Granbury," John Beard,
Bill Coward, Buddy Hodges, Byron Anderson, Sylvia Dalton, Robert Elliott,
Scott Randolph. Daytime only station.
.
KPAR, Granbury.
Station established 2/27/1980. Format: Country. Nicknames:
"Lake Country Radio," "Pure Country" (re-used from KXOL.) Owner:
James and Fran Parr,
Gary Luker dba Granbury Broadcasting, BBC Broadcasting. Network:
TSN. Notables: John Puff aka John Lewis, Charlie Martin, Tom
Wayne, Joe Martin, Bill Smith aka Bill Mack (II), Ronny Voss, Steve Rich
(all of whom defected from KXOL-1360 when the station was sold in 1985,)
Jody
Dean, Pamela Steele, Don Swancy (10/1987-7/1988.) Station was
under constant financial difficulties, later resulting in their news and
weather teletypes being repossessed! Also lost was the affiliation
with TSN, but station rigged a receiver to intercept the TSN newscasts
anyway. Initially a 24-hour operation; reduced to daytime-only in
1986.
.
.
And separately,
serving the Bonham market:
.
.
KFYN, Bonham.
Station established 5/25/1948. Unknown format. Owner: Vision
Media Group, Frank Svoboda (1948-?,) Charles Cain.
.
1440
..
.
KEXB, University
Park. Call letters re-established 10/21/2019 (from 620 AM, while
KTNO calls were exchanged with 620's at the time of sale from Salem to
Relevant Radio.) Format: Religious. Owner: Relevant
Radio (started 11/14/2019.)
..
.
.
.
.
KTNO,
Denton/University Park. Call letters established 7/11/1997. Format:
Spanish Religious. Call letters derived from "Latino."
Owner: Mortenson Broadcasting. Nickname: "Radio Vida."
Notables: Jose Castillo, Josue A. Rodriguez, Rafael Hernadez, Eusebio
Balderas, German Guevara, Reynaldo Perez, Kenia Beltran, Erika Garcia,
Angel Pincay, Jesus Saldaña. Was simulcast to KNAX-1630, 3/20/2001-7/2002.
Station licensed to Denton until 2002. New towers installed on Bruton
Road at Second Avenue in 2005.
.
KINF, Denton.
Call letters established 3/15/1996. Format: Spanish talk (informacion.)
.
KICI, Denton.
Call letters established 3/15/1994. Format: Spanish Country
(started under KDNT calls on 12/1/1993.) Sister station to KLTY-FM.
Former sister station to KICI-FM. Owner: Rodriguez Broadcasting.
Notable: Betty Whatley (5/24/1994-1/1999; wife of KDNT's Hal Whatley.)
Simulcast KAND-FM, started in 12/1993. Station located at 1440 Wheeler
Dr in Denton.
.
.
KDNT,
Denton. Station established 6/1/1938. Format: Spanish
Country (12/1/1993-3/15/1994,) News/Talk (10/1989-12/1/1993; plus a lone
broadcast on 12/9/1993,) SMN "Country Gold" format via satellite (1987-10/1989,)
Easy Listening (to 1987.) Sister station to KDNT-FM/KZRK-FM (106.1, 1949-1970s;
then 94.5, 1983-89) and was to be sister to proposed TV station KDNT-Channel
2. Station started life at 1420 AM, moved to 1450 AM in 1940, and
to 1440 AM in 1942. Call letters stood for Denton.
Owners: Harwell V. Shepard (1947-1972,) Bass Brothers (1972-10/1976;
Bass Brothers later formed Anchor Media, who owned KZEW/KKWM/WFAA in the
late 1980s,) Mel Wheeler (10/1976-11/17/1984,) Galen O. Gilbert and Associates
dba KDNT Radio Inc. aka Community Service Radio Group (11/17/1984-1993,
although FM side was sold in 1989,) Rodriguez Broadcasting (12/1/1993 through
format/call letter change in 3/1994; paid $650,000 for it.) Promotion:
"Shout That Slogan." Programs: "The Dawn Patrol," "Good Morning North
Texas," "Noon News Watch," "Swap Shop," "The Alan Crone Talk Show," "Of,
For & About Women," "The Clyde Sebastian Show," "1440 Club," "Night
Notes," "Legal Talk," "The Richard Pitzinger Show" (featuring the Western
Melody Makers band, headed by Sid King,) "Saturday Night Hoedown," "Saturday
Night Stage Show," "First United Methodist Church" (KDNT broadcast their
services for over 50 years!), "Deborah Norville Show" (via satellite, 1991.)
Notables: Sam Sauls, Roger Emrich,
Mike
Ehrle aka Mike Ward (1964-1973,) Ken Rench (1959-1968,) Sandy Shepard
aka Clyde Sebastian aka James Lewis (Sandy was the son of owner Harwell
Shepard,) Bill Orton, Hal Whatley (1960-1993; Chief Engineer; also hosted
radio program briefly as "Country Cuz,") Jess Gilbert (CE, 1993,) Andy
Shane, Buford Harrell (1951-1985,)
Josh
Holstead (1985,) Brian Gann, Mike
Shannon (II) (1988,) Carl Martin, Chris Anderson aka Dave Christian,
Richard Pitzinger, Charlie Beard, Lee
"Woody" Woodward (1954-1955; brother of actor Morgan Woodward,) Willie
Nelson (yes, the singer! Disc jockey during 1954), Ross Ramsey, Russ
Campbell, Doyle King (4/1978-12/30/1980,) George Krieger (1983-1984,)
Tom Light (1941-1944; later owned Tom Light Chevrolet in Bryan, TX,) Bill
Smith aka Bill Mack, Mike Magruder, Michael Main, Prince Mayne, Matt McClennahan
aka Matt Reese, Jerry McNatt, George Nolen, Vivian Badillo Cullipher, Tim
Sullivan, Dave Hunt, Sheryl Powers, Ellise Pierce, Jim McShan, Bill Mercer
(1959-1976; 1984-1993,) Marshall Bill Moyers (mid-1950s,) Jim "Shootin'"
Newton, Chris Ontego aka Chris Wayne, Jim Palmer, Polly Plummer, Bob Powell,
Pat Reeder, Walter Richardson, Ellen Sanko, Anne Schulze, Lorie Sheffield
(ND, 1977-1978,) "Red" Shepard (first wife of owner Harwell Shepard,) Bill
Roy Switzer, Bill Van Ness, Philip Walker (1940s,) Jack Wallace (1930s,)
Casey Walston (1980s,) Jay Ward (ND, 1970s,) Vinny Ryan Wheeler (wife of
owner Mel Wheeler,) Davie Lee White aka Davie Lee, Sam Whitmire (later
with KFWR-FM in Fort Worth; married to radio personality Debi Diaz,) Ray
Whitworth, Farris Wilson (1938,) Patrick Woods, Dave Wright.
.
Also Bruce
Michaels (OM in 1991,) Colonel
Mason, Mark Followill, Alan Crone (to 1993; host of the "Alan Crone
Talk Show;" later with KOTV-Tulsa as staff meteorologist,) Bill Van Ness,
Joe Fuchs aka Con West/Jay Weaver
(1965,) Ray Weathers, Dean Minnick (GM,) Micky Murphy (c. 1930s,) Frank
Haley (1961,) Joe Dodd (1991-1993,) Mel Cummings (1961,) Dave Mitchell
(1968-1972,) Doug Anderson, Mike Robinson (1981-1982,) "Boppin'" Bob Berry,
Steve "Dusty" Rhodes, Kim Landrum, Dennis Grandcolas (1986-1993,) Harley
Balew, Sid Erwin aka Sid King, Mary Grace Smith, Scott Sommer (PD, 1980s,)
Michael Rey (II), Kenny Sargent, Andy Waldrop, George Gimarc, Earl Rast,
Bob Bostian (began 1972,) Hal Thompson, Virgie Burrows, Aubrey Jackson,
Jim Boso, Harry Dierks, Ken McClure aka Ken Knox, Clark Wheeler (GM,) Steve
Wheeler (both sons of owner Mel Wheeler,) Dusty Hendrix, Bernie Tamayo
(later a WBAP-TV news anchor,) Scott Causey aka Dave Scott, Terry Starnes
aka
Terry Wayne, Dale Olson (1984-1993,) Hal Murray, Kathy Machi, Jeff Lyons,
Joe Short (GM, 1984-1986,) Larry Crippen aka Johnny Flash/Larry Lee, Herman
Cecil, Bob Syler, Scott Reese (as Charlie Tuna; Reese was concurrently
on KXOL in mid-1976,) Doug Adams (later ND at KXAS-TV,) Stephen Albrecht
(1969-1972,) Bobby Allen (to 1993,) D. J. Anderson (to 1993,) Brent Baker,
LaCola Hanks Barlow, Frank Barrow (1938-1939; later mayor of Denton,) Jeffery
Bennett (PD; started 1985,) Dave Buell, Cody Burk, Rick Burt aka Rick Burton,
Dan Clark (pre-1960,) Warren Clary, Dave Cooley, Tom Crouch (early 1980s,)
Roger Daniel (ND; 12/1973-1975,) Bruce Davis (1955,) Ted Davis (later play-by-play
announcer with Milwaukee Bucks basketball,) B. H. Dennison (CE, 1939-1940,)
Sally Diamond, George Dunham (1984-1988; later with KTCK-1310,) Brule Eagan
(1988-1990,) Eddie Evans (1952-1953,) Matt Freeman (1991,) Bob Dunn, Larry
Weinstein, Dave Garland (sales; began 1975,) Bill George (pre-1960,) Fred
Graham, Vernon Hartman, G. C. Hollowwa (CE; 1940-1941,) Brooks Holt (1953-1962,)
Bill Honeycutt (CE, 1938; later longtime CE for KRLD-TV,) Irv Jackson aka
Jack Bishop, Kit King, Stan King, Grant Koeller (1983.) KDNT-AM is
perhaps the only case ever where a station briefly reverted to its old
format and personalities after a sale has been completed and a new format
implemented... former owner Galen Gilbert worked out a post-sale plan to
bring back "The Alan Crone Talk Show" for one final airing, despite the
new ownership and Spanish Country format that had already been in place
for a week! Gilbert felt that it was important to the community to
have a forum to discuss pending Denton school district legislation.
Power increase from 100 watts to 250 watts in 1945, with subsequent upgrades
over the years to 1,000, and 5,000. Station located at 235 West Hickory
in Denton (1947-79) and 1440 Wheeler St, south of Denton (1979-93; building
and towers razed in 10/2005.)
.
Mike Ehrle
and company chronicle the history of KDNT...click here!
.
1450
.
Unnamed,
Commerce. CP issued on 9/2/1953, but station never signed on.
Owner: W. W. Mangum dba Memorial Broadcasting. KDNT owner Harwell
Shepard immediately filed a protest with the FCC, arguing that this proposed
station would interfere with his at nearby 1440. The FCC agreed,
and canceled Memorial's application on 8/31/1955.
.
1460
.
.
.
KCLE, Burleson.
Call letters re-established 9/1/2008 (from 1140; KHFX calls were exchanged
there.) Station went dark in 7/2016; returned in 6/2017.
Owner: M&M Broadcasters (to 2/25/2015,) Intelli LLC (started
2/25/2015.) Format: FOX Sports (continued from KHFX calls,)
Country (as "Big Country;" started 12/2008?,) ESPN (started 7/2013; deferred
to existing, local ESPN affiliate KESN-FM by running network programming
from which KESN had opted out,) Vietnamese music/talk. Translator:
K226BM at 93.1FM in Cleburne.
.
.
KHFX, Burleson.
Call letters established 11/1/2005. Format: FOX Sports
(moved from KFCD-990.) Flagship of Fort Worth Brahmas hockey.
Owner: M&M Broadcasters. Notable: Jim Rome.
.
.
KTFW, Glen
Rose. Station established 2/19/2002. Format: Classic
Country. Owner: M&M Broadcasters (80%,) George Marti (20%.)
Simulcast from sister station KTFW-92.1 FM. Notables: Morgan Choat,
Joy Delaney, Ron Peterson, Jimmy Aiken, Dave Stone, Mike Crow, Gary Moss,
Scott Miller, Ron Moore, Marlee Padgett, Richard Adams, Jamie McGriff,
Jimmy Stewart, Bill Jackson, Jim Russell.
KKTK, Glen
Rose. Call letters established 6/24/1996.
.
.
.
.
WACO, Waco.
Call letters established 2/1930. Owner: Lee Glasgow.
Former sister station to WACO/KHOO-FM. Moved COL to Glen Rose in
1996. Notable: Eddie Craig.
.
WJAD, Waco.
Station established 7/21/1922.
.
1480
.
.
KNGO, Dallas.
Call letters established 2019. Format: Foreign language.
Simulcasts KGOW-Houston.
.
.
.
KBXD, Dallas.
Call letters established 2012. Format: Brokered. Stunting
for new format included allusions to earlier frequency holder KBOX, and
the call letters look to have been chosen to honor the old station (KBOX
Dallas.) But, alas, none of the station's
programming or imaging ever resembled KBOX's.
.
.
KNIT, Dallas.
Call letters established 3/30/2005. Format: Southern Gospel,
ESPN Deportes (started 6/25/2007.) Nicknames: "Your Home for
Southern Gospel Music," "KNIT, Southern Gospel 1480." Owner:
James Crystal Florida Inc. (started 11/1/2005,) Salem (3/2005-11/1/2005;
traded their WORL-Orlando for KNIT; Salem's board at the time included
VP Ken Scott Gaines, who was once the PD for 1480's KBOX in the 1960s.)
Network affiliation: SRN (Salem,) ESPN Deportes (Spanish sports.)
.
.
KHCK, Dallas.
Call letters established 6/18/2002. Format: Spanish (Tejano.)
Owner: Univision. Call letters stood for "Kick."
Simulcast of sister station KHCK-FM (8/2002-4/20/2004; continued alone
with Tejano format and FM's personalities after FM switched to Cumbia format.)
Notables: Pancho Pistolas (jock and PD,) Jonny Ramirez, "Big Poppa,"
Stephanie Marie.
.
.
KDXX, Dallas.
Call letters established 2/20/1998. Format: Spanish.
Nickname: "Amor." Sister station to KDOS-FM.
.
KMRT, Dallas.
Call letters established 4/1/1993. Format: Spanish (Banda.)
Call letters stood for "K-Mart;"
although not affiliated with the retail chain, it was to imply to advertisers
that the station was a 'great value.' Owner: Marcos Rodriguez.
.
KCMZ, Dallas.
Call letters established 9/4/1991. Format: Easy Listening via
Unistar Network. Nickname: "Memories 1480." Owner:
Granum. Notable: Frank Gonzales. Sister station to KCDU-FM
(formerly KMEZ-FM.)
.
.
KDBN, Dallas.
Call letters established 9/21/1989 (though programming started 10/2/1989.)
Format: Dallas
Business
News
(plus programming from Business Radio Network [BRN] of Colorado Springs.
News resources included Associated Press [statewide business] and The Dallas
Times Herald [local business.]) Owner: Granum (6/1991 to format
change,) Gillmore (to 6/1991.) Broadcast SMU football games.
Sister station to KMEZ-FM. Programs: "America's Dining and
Travel Guide," "Dialogue," "Talkin' with Pauken" (hosted by Congressman
Tom Pauken.) Notables: Dick Aldama (operations manager and
news director,) John Butler. The KDBN calls were resurrected locally
by 93.3-"The Bone" in 2002.
.
.
KMEZ, Dallas.
Call letters established 11/15/1982. Format: Easy ("EZ")
Listening. Owner: DKM-Dallas Broadcasting Corp. (11/1/1986-1988,)
Gillmore (1988-3/1991.) Simulcast of sister station KMEZ-FM.
See KMEZ-FM for list of personalities. KMEZ moved from their original
KBOX studios to 5956 Sherry Lane, Dallas, in 8/1989. Flagship for
SMU football (1989.)
.
.
.
KBOX,
Dallas. Call letters established 7/14/1958. Format: Top
40 (7/14/1958-1/24/1967,) Country (1/24/1967-11/14/1982.) Owners:
Balaban (7/14/1958-8/1/1967,) Group One Broadcasting (8/1/1967-1986.)
Nicknames: "Wonderful K-BOX," "Big Top Radio." Sister station
of KBOX-FM/KTLC-FM. Named for Balaban VP John Box.
Programs: "Ask Tex Schramm" (started in early 1960s and later moved
to KRLD,) "Feminist View," "Amigo Forum," "In Black America," "Black History,"
"Spectrum," "Dallas Dialog," "Youth and Their Community," "Energy and You,"
"Lawn and Garden," "Myers Showcase," "Science of the Mind," "Chuck Howley
Show" (Howley was a Dallas Cowboys player,) "Man and his Environment."
Notables
as "Top 40": Ron Jenkins aka Ron McAlister, Bob Dayton, Pat Hughes
(1960-61,) Brad Wilson, Dan Ingram (1959-61; spent 40 years in New York
radio,) Frank Jolle (1/4/1965-12/30/1966,)
Gary Mack, Rex Miller, Danny Patrick McCurdy aka Dan Patrick, Frank Glieber
(hosted "Ask Tex Schramm" [Schramm was GM of the Dallas Cowboys,]) Roger
Barkley (spent 18 years at Los Angeles' KFI,) Ken McClure aka Ken Knox,
Jerry Clemmons, Joe Long, Mike Terry,
Tex DeWeese, Al Smith, Dave Tucker, Jerry Knight, Dan Casey, Terry Byrd,
"Emporer" Bill Ward (1964-71; jock, PD and later SM; spearheaded
the move from Top 40 to Country in 1967,) Bill Holley, Ben Laurie, Bobby
Brock (not the same as the former Times Herald TV columnist,) Johnny McKinney,
Jack
Schell aka Jack West (Schell broadcast nightly from a local bowling
alley, Circle Bowl,) Chuck Benson,
Chuck
Dunaway,
Gary West,
Jerry Goodwin aka Danny Preston, Al Lohman, Hal Raymond, Johnny Borders,
Tony deHaro (1960s; cousin of Anna deHaro, current KDMX
personality,) Bill Mackey (began 1961,) Ray Carnay, Irene Runnels, Glen
Sims, Jack Carney, Bill Jenkins, Paul Potter, Phil Allen, Robb Robbins,
Dick Clayton, Bob Whitney, John Box, Dick Morrison, Harriet Baker, Charles
Boland, Gordon Vaughn, Pat Conway, Jim
MacKrell aka Jimmy Kaye (later game show host, actor and infomercial
spokesman,) Eddie Gale (1958,) Edward Hunt, Lloyd George, Harry Hines,
Joseph Wolfman, Earl Bodine, Charlie Van Dyke (who served as an intern
at the station as a teen; hosted an occasional feature on high school happenings;
trademark voice was a result of rheumatic fever that scarred his vocal
cords at age 13,) Parker Daggett, Stanton Pearson, Bob
Davis (1969-76,) Tom Murphy, Pat Harrington, George "Super" Cooper,
Ken Dowe, Jack O'Day, Frank Malone, Jerry Kunkel, Sam Pate, Allen Abbott,
Kay Box, Mike Marshall (1960,) Ceryl McDonald, Karl King, Jack Dillon,
Dan Hydrick, Betty Verrell, Don Buehler.
.
Also Charlie
Van ("The Moving Man,") Ken Gaines aka Ken "Great" Scott (later a VP with
Salem; Salem bought KNIT-1480 in 2005,) Stu Hepburn (Sales Manager; worked
concurrently for KNOK,) Edward "Ned" Sheridan Jr (ND,) Chuck Kirk, Alan
Golden, Robert Swortwood, Joe McChesney aka J. Morgan Van Buren (later
with KXXK-FM as PD,) William Wentzell,
Khan
Hamon, Hyman Childs (currently owner of KKDA AM/FM and KRNB-FM,) Robert
Hanna, Bill Hampton, Leo Letterer, Bill Thompson. Notables as
"Country":Allan Peck and Peggy Newman
aka Peggy Sears (the "Peck and Peggy Show", 1976-80,) Allan Peck and Penny
Reeves (the "Peck and Penny Show," 1974-76; Peck currently DJs on KHYI-FM,
and owned a home theatre business; son Allan Peck II was a DJ on 96.7-The
Twister, and later was announcer for the "Ellen" TV show,) Bobby Dark,
Ron Rice (I), Jack Weston (later president of RCA Records in Nashville,)
Danny McDuff (1977-80; left for KPLX-FM,) Jim Rose (1971-72,) Len Mohnkern
(final broadcaster before 11/14/1982 signoff,) Roger Dimick (1970,) Larry
Whiteside, Doug Helton, Russ Campbell,
Davie White aka Davie Lee (1967-68,)Dick Moore (host of "Spectrum," replaced
by Dave O'Brien,) Lorna Littleway, Larry Scott, Dick Wheeler, Ross Ramsey,
Gail Lightfoot, Tim Kase, Tom Matts, Alan Holmes, Dave Manders (sales;
former Dallas Cowboys player and father of current country singer Mark
David Manders,) Bob Marion (host of "In Black America,") Bill Anderson
(host of "Man and his Environment,") Joe Greer, Bob Clayton, Jack Gardiner,
Art Keller (began 7/1967,) Dan Dailey (began 7/1967,) Allan King, Larry
Scott, Bob Bostian (GM; left in 1972 for a Denver station, but returned
to the area at KDNT later that year,) Roger Berk, Dave Malone, "Emmett,"
Sherman Cohen (who filed a discrimination suit against the station in 1971,)
Russel Lee Moore aka Russ "Weird Beard" Knight (1971,) Ted Roney, George
Pechancek, Don Wade, Jay Ward, Jason Walker, Mac Daniels, Jim Rohnes, Darcel
Barnes, David Hultsman, Patricia Smith-Melton (1979-1980,) Earl Vandervoort,
Craig Magee (PD in 1976,) Loren Wilhelm aka Dave O'Brien (as host of "Spectrum,"
"Dallas Dialog," "Youth and Their Community," "Lawn and Garden" and "Energy
and You,") Rick Fulgham,
Ken Loomis, Chester
"Chet" Maxwell (12/1969-11/1986,) Tom Lundgren aka "Tiger" Tom Allen,
Donald Curtis (host of "Science of the Mind.") Station located at
9900 McCree Road in Dallas (1958-1982.)
.
Mike Ehrle,
Mike Shannon, Gary McBrayer and company chronicle the history of KBOX and
KGKO...click here!
..
..
KGKO,
Dallas. Station established 1/25/1953. Format: Adult
Standards, Jazz. Owner: Lakewood Broadcasting. Not related
to the original KGKO at 570 kc. To have been sister station to proposed
KDTX-TV Channel 23. Programs: "Go to Town," "Morning Grinder
Show," "The Nightwatchman Show," "Municipal Affairs of Dallas County,"
"Bandstand." Notables: Tony Davis, Buddy Harris (as host of
the "Morning Grinder Show,") Tex DeWeese, Harvey Matusow, Don Keyes (1953-57;
his first job in radio; went to KLIF-AM thereafter and had a long, distinguised
career with the McLendon organization,) Leonard Coe, Sam Bennett, John
Knapp, Marvin Williams, Jimmy Harris, Ed Jordan, Carmine Anthony, Clem
Cooper, Bill Borum (as host of the "Nightwatchman Show,") Bud Vincent,
Gary Wood, "Gene." Station located at 9900 McCree Road, Dallas (1956-1958,)
and at the Cliff Towers Hotel (1952-1956; former home to KLIF-AM.)
..
KLWO, Dallas.
Temporary call letters parked for KGKO on 2/13/1952.
.
1500
.
.
.
KJIM, Sherman.
Call letters established 7/31/1991. Format: Oldies. Owner:
"Bobbin'" Bob Allen (longtime DFW radio personality.) Calls resurrected
from KJIM-870. Located near the Woodlawn Country Club (started 1968.)
Daytime only station. Translator placed at 101.3 FM.
..
.
KTXO, Sherman.
Call letters established 1958. Format: Country and Western
(one of the first Texas stations to go C&W.) Calls stood for
Texas
and Oklahoma.
Owners: King Fisher/Jimmy Fisher/Harry O'Conner/Paul Carter dba O'Conner
Broadcasting (1958-60,) Bill Jaco and Tom Spellman (1960-69; Jaco was also
a disc jockey,) Floyd Shelton (1969-?,) Larry Henderson (co-owned with
his wife.) Notables: David Sprowl, John Scott, Bill Jaco, Gary
King. Increased power to 1,000 watts in 1968. Sister station
to KWSM-FM. Located on US 75, south of US 82; then to the Grayson
Bank Building; then to near the Woodlawn Country Club (started 1968.)
.
.
KTAN, Sherman.
Station established 12/19/1947. Format: Entertainment, Classical.
Owners: Joe Carroll and Elmer Scarborough (1947-48,) Tony Anthony
and E. T. Fant Jr (1948-?,) Charles L. Cain (?-1953,) Col. Howard L. Burris
(1953-55; operated under an LMA to Howard Davis,) Galen O. Gilbert (1955-57;
Gilbert later owned KDNT-Denton,) J. Lou Groves (1957; Groves was a theater
operator,) Senator William J. Samples (1957-58,) and King Fisher/Jimmy
Fisher/Harry O'Conner dba O'Conner Broadcasting (1958.) Programs:
"An Ear for Corn" (morning show,) "Concerts in Miniature" (hosted by Bill
Jaco,) Notables: Bill Jaco (who was the first to broadcast
on the station, and was PD,) Otis McKenzie, Bill Collins, Louise Cobler,
Sue Hill, Paul Phillips, Stafford E. Davis. Located at 2024 N. US
75, south of US 82.
.
1540
.
KAMM, University
Park.
.
.
KZMP, University
Park. Call letters established 12/29/1997. Format: Spanish
(as "El Gato," 12/2003-8/2004, simulcast from sister station KTCY-104.9;
was simulcast from other sister station KZMP-101.7 ["Radio Tricolor"] to
12/2003; along the way, KTCY-FM and KZMP-FM swapped calls,) Spanish Religious
(under LMA, 8/2004-1/2006,) "Radio Tricolor" (again, this time as simulcast
of sister KZMP 104.9 (1/2006-2009;) ESPN Sports (in Spanish) (started 2009.)
Owner: Z-Spanish Media, Entravision (bought 8/15/2000,) Lieberman
(bought 11/3/2006.) Licensed to Fort Worth until 2003. Notables:
Scott Savage, Dean James.
.
.
KPAD, Fort
Worth. Call letters established 6/6/1997. Format: Motivational
(non-religious.) Call letters stood for "Personal
Achievement
- Dallas."
Aired syndicated programming from the Personal Achievement Radio service.
Notables: Anthony Robbins, Zig Ziglar, Leo Buscaglia (all by satellite,)
Muriel Funches, Mark Lambert.
.
KTNO, Fort
Worth. Call letters established 2/8/1993. Format: Spanish.
Call letters derived from "Latino."
.
KSGB, Fort
Worth. Call letters established 3/27/1989. Format: Religious.
Owner: Jack Stuart
and Mary Gaines.
.
.
KSVZ, Fort
Worth. Call letters established 1/25/1988. Format: Religious.
Nickname: "K-Saves."
.
KMIA, Fort
Worth. Call letters established 6/25/1985, but station didn't sign
on until 9/1985. Call letters stood for "Ministry
in
Action."
Format: Spanish/Tropical/Caribbean (to 3/1/1986,) Black Religious
with some Spanish Religious (2/17/1986-1/25/1988.) Nickname:
"Faith 1540." Owners: Nelson Laberen, Command Broadcast Associates.
Notables: Era Alberto Soto, Jose Castillo, Josey Podesta.
.
KUQQ, Fort
Worth. Call letters established 1983. Format: Spanish.
.
KTIA, Fort
Worth. Call letters established 7/1979. Format: Spanish.
.
.
KMZK, Fort
Worth. Call letters established 12/1978 (calls were an acronym of
sorts for "muzik.")
Format: Beautiful Music. Owner: Co-owned by actor Jimmy
Stewart and William Schuller dba Radio 15, Inc. Nickname: "Radio
15." Notables: Dave Mitchell, Mark Martick aka Mark Roberts,
John B. Wells, John Rody, Jack Dillon, Steve Cromer, Clarice Merryweather,
Pat Gradski.
.
.
KRXV, Fort
Worth. Call letters established 3/3/1976. Format: All News
(3/3/1976-9/5/1977,) "Bright, Beautiful Music" (9/5/1977-12/1978.)
Call letters derived from roman numerals (R=Radio,
XV=15.)
Nickname: "Radio 15". Owner: Co-owned by actor Jimmy
Stewart (I) and Bill Schueler (Schueler also owned the Oklahoma News Network)
dba Radio 15, Inc. Network affiliation: NBC News and Information
Service. Notables: Dave Mitchell, James "Jim" Miklaszewski
aka James Alan (later Pentagon correspondent for NBC-TV,) Rob Milford aka
Rob Williams, Elizabeth Schuller, Larry LaMottoe, Greg LaMottoe (Larry
and Greg went to CNN thereafter,) Rick Wais, Hal Eisner, Bob Rayel, Dan
Steffel, Norris Palmer, Larry Fitzgerald, Robert Allen, Peter Wellish aka
"Dr. Gonzo" (Fitzgerald, Allen and Wellish left the station after the All
News format ended on 9/5/1977.) When KBUY owner John B. Walton sold 1540
to Radio 15, he kept the KBUY calls and transferred them to his station
in Amarillo. Later, his station in Ruidosa, NM was given the calls
KBUY-FM. Station located at Seminary South shopping mall in Fort
Worth.
.
.
KBUY, Fort
Worth. Call letters established 1/1/1967. Format: Ethnic,
Spanish (c. 1972,) 'Country
Classical' (started 1/2/1967.) Owner: John B. Walton (bought
8/24/1966.) Sister station to KBUY-FM (both KCUL-AM and FM were sold
to John Walton and became KBUY-AM/FM.) Format adjustment in 1967
was noted to be "an 'uptown' version of KCUL." Network affiliation:
Mutual. Program: "Cowtown Hoedown" (carried over from KCUL.)
Notables: Jack Dillon, Joe Fuchs aka Jay
Weaver (1/1966-1972,) Thomas Shelby Brown aka Randy Ryder, Harroll
Harbuck aka Hal Jay (began 1972,) Brad
Wilson, Boxcar Willie, Ted Mack, James Schumacher, Larry Shannon aka Charlie
Wise, David Perkins aka Charlie Brown (1967,) Skeeter Gordon, Gene Kelly
(aka Jelly Belly Kelly or Chuck Roast; PD; later with KXOL and spent many
years in San Antonio radio thereafter,) Ken Enos aka Ken Knight (left for
San Antonio radio,) Wade Simms aka Cary Simms (later with WBAP-TV,) Ron
Rice (II), Larry Glenn, Don Sitton aka Don Miller, Jerry Condra aka Jerry
Parks (not the same as WFAA-TV's Jerry Park,) Lawton Williams (singer/songwriter,)
Eddie Craig (began 1/25/1969; late of KPCN,) Tony Berta, Roy Lemons (SM,
1966-1969,) Don Thomson (PD,) Eddie Steward, Bob White (original PD,) Bob
Allen (PD,) Bud McKool aka Bob Gordon, Darrell Monroe, Don Swancy, Ron
Peterson, Bill Smith aka Bill Mack (II) (PD; began 10/1967; had been with
predecessor KCUL-AM,) Stacy Richardson (1972-1973,)
Gary
Smith (1967-1969,) Bo Powell (began 1/23/1969; defected from KPCN,)
Virgil Dowell aka Mike Bradley, Larry Fitzgerald, Jay Langhammer (1971,)
Tom Bigby (PD; in Philadelphia radio for many years thereafter.)
Broadcast with 50Kw (day) and 5,000 watts (night.) Station located
at Seminary South shopping mall in Fort Worth. When John Walton sold
KBUY-AM, he retained the call letters and sent them to his Amarillo, TX
station.
.
.
KCUL, Fort
Worth. Station established 1949. Format: Variety (to
mid-1950s,) Country (mid-1950s-1/1/1967; also had blocks of Spanish programming
in 1958.) Nickname: "The Station of Distinction," "Big Radio
KCUL," "#1 Gun for Country Fun," "Sweet Popular and Semi-Classical."
Owner: East-West Broadcasting (to 2/12/1951; the station was named
for investor A. B. Culbertson,
but other sources mention a connection to FW optometrist L. H. Luck [Luck
Optical,] and that "KCUL" is "luck" spelled backwards,) Dr. James Ulmer
(2/12/1951-1955,) Kurt Meer dba Dalworth Broadcasting (1955-8/24/1966;
Meer purchased KJIM-870 after selling KCUL,) John B. Walton (8/24/1966-into
KBUY.) Sister station to KCUL-FM. First local station
to program Country music 24 hours a day. Programs: "Cowtown
Hoedown" (from The Majestic Theatre; hosted by "Uncle Hank" Craig; show
continued on its own with Craig as host after KCUL dropped it;) "Homemaker's
Holiday," "Ladies...Pat Patterson," "Open Line," "Guiding Lines" (fishing
show,) "Mexico Lindo," "Women's Wisdom," "The Lunch Munchers Show," "Teen
Club," "Cotton Pickers," "Life Line" (religious program funded by Dallas
millionaire H. L. Hunt,) "Man on the Beat," and religious programs hosted
by Garner Ted Armstrong and Carl McIntyre. Notables: Bill Smith
aka Bill Mack (II) (1963-1966,) Hugh Lampman, Ben Toney, Duane Ramsey,
Dan Allison, Reb Foster aka Dennis Bruton, Willie Nelson (yes, the country
singer!), Joe Fuchs aka Jay Weaver
(began 1/1966,) Brett Allison, Vincent Pulido, Jack Britton, "Dandy" Don
Logan (1958-59,) Dick Wheeler (jock and co-host of "Ladies...Pat Patterson,")
Glenn "Uncle Hank" Craig, Ron McCoy,
Gary
Smith (worked briefly at KCUL before the call letter change,) Bo Powell,
Ron Rice (II), Gene Kelly aka "Jelly Belly Kelly" and "Chuck Roast," Virgil
Dowell aka Mike Bradley (PD,) Bob White (PD,) Bob Allen (PD and host of
"Open Line,") Bill Hightower, Bud Faulder, Eddie Stewart, Ray Robbins,
Morgan Choat, Bob
Peacock ("The Bird With the Word,") Terry Jones, Bob McCord, John Gilliland,
Pat Patterson (host of "Ladies...Pat Patterson,") Jerry Condra aka Jerry
Parks (not the WFAA-TV personality,) Bruce Chambers (president and GM,)
Roy Lemons (GM, 1966-1969,) Don Sitton aka Don Miller, John Fox, Angie
Meer, Jim Tucker, Nestor Cuestra, Dick McLendon (host of "The Lunch Munchers
Show,") Carl Logan, Bill Woods (host of "Teen Club," which featured the
'Great 38' songs,) Anne Cross, Johnnie Lemons, "Wild" Bill Reynolds, A.
B. Culbertson, M. Ward Bailey, T. S. Christopher, John Griffith, Maydell
Wallace, Joe McKinney,Max "Pretty Boy" Floyd,
Horace Logan,
James MacKrell, Sr
aka "Uncle Mac" (jock and hosted "Guiding Lines;" father of local jock
and later game show host Jim MacKrell,) Rita Reynolds (host of "Women's
Wisdom,") Jose Guerrero (host of "Mexico Lindo" show,) "Easy" Ed Hamilton,
Larry Glenn, Tony Berta, Darrell Monroe, R. L. McAllister (engineer,) Andres
Mantecon, Lawton Williams (PD and GM.) Broadcast with 50Kw (day)
and 1,000 watts (night.) Station located at 3607 Camp Bowie, Fort
Worth.
.
1570
.
.
KPYK,
Terrell. Call letters established 4/1/1992. Format: Big
Bands and Great Singers (primarily adult standards and big band from the
1930s-1950s.) Owner: Mohnkern Electronics, Inc. Nickname:
"The Pick of
the Dial." Chuck Mohnkern and his father Len have also owned the
Radio Shack dealer store in Terrell since 1980. KPYK has petitioned
the FCC for a position on the expanded AM band. Programs: "The
Joe Mazza Show," Karaoke Night," "The Old Ship of Zion," "Journey into
Song," "Imagination Theater," "Mick Williams Cyber-Line" (started 2001;
syndicated from USA Radio Network,) "Good Day USA," "Oasis," "Musical Milestones,"
"Second Thoughts," "Guidelines," "Keys for Kids," "Earth and Sky," When
Radio Was," "Down Gilead Lane," "Unshackled," "Radio Super Heroes," "The
Bob Snyder Show," "Saturday Date." Also broadcasts Terrell city council
and school board meetings and high school sports. Notables:
Len Mohnkern, Warren Brooks, Chris Babler, Liz Mohnkern, Marvin Malone,
Chuck Mohnkern, Eric Bradley, Reginald Daniels, Dave Washburn, Bill Rand,
Warren Daniels, John McCarty (voicetracked.)
.
.
KTER, Terrell.
Station established 11/6/1949. Format unknown. Owner: Terrell
Tribune (1947-1950s,) Wnorowski (1950s-early 1960s,) Billy D. Pirtle (early
1960s-late 1970s; the station changed hands twice before Pirtle had to
repossess it!,) Billy D. Pirtle (early 1980s-1986,) Bill Collins
(1986-1992.) Daytime-only station, as the Terrell Tribune originally
chose a frequency that was designated as a Mexican clear channel, and had
power limits imposed after sunset (it was also less expensive to operate
for 12 hours instead of 24!) Also used occasionally as a broadcasting
lab for Elkins Institute students in the 1970s. Notables: Ben
Smith, Mike Terry, Bob Wilson, Derek Frerichs, Bill Boyd (country singer,)
Jim Boyd (brother of Bill,) , Rev. Warren Daniels (cleaned station in exchange
for getting a Sunday radio program,) Jim Rose (PD/MD,) Jack Darden (1966,)
Joe Goodwin, Gus Jones, Bill Hughes, Dale Berry. Located at the American
National Bank building on Moore St.
.
1580
.
.
.
KGAF,
Gainesville. Station established 10/1/1947. Format:
Classic Country. Nicknames: "Hometown Radio," "The Voice and
Choice of North Texas and Southern Oklahoma." Owner: Eberhart
Broadcasting (2/2008-date; headed by longtime DFW radio personality and
consultant Steve Eberhart, who jocked at KGAF in the 1970s,) First IV Media
(11/15/1974-2/2008,) White Fuel Corporation, Bud and Joe Leonard Jr. dba
Gainesville Broadcasting (1947-1967; Joe Leonard also owned Lin Records.)
Programs: "Dee's Breakfast Club," "Swap it to Me." Notables:
Steve Eberhart (disc jockey, 12/3/1973-5/1976; owner, started 2/2008,)
Dee Blanton (host of "Dee's Breakfast Club,") Curt Spain, Stephen Monahan,
Chad Henderson, Clay Corbett, Ray Whitworth aka Ray Kennedy (to fall, 1977,)
Randy Williams, Mike Stoddard, Mike Parenti aka Mike Monday, Ross Whitmire,
David Klement, Mike Smith, Pat Bolin, Steve Simmons, Bob Couch. Studios
located at Radio Hill in Gainesville. Formerly sister to KGAF-94.5
FM. Owner Steve Eberhart explains the station layout: "At the
time in the late 1940s, it was well built with acoustic soundproof walls
and windows. It included a master control room (later the transmitter
room, which was (later) enlarged to facilitate the FM transmitter, a horseshow
Gates console setup for disc jockey duty, a small production studio, and
a large, live performance studio where live bands performed in the early
days! The performance studio for (many) years later was used as an
office, but is still equipped with soundproofing, and the old mic jacks
that were used (then.) It is actually one of the few 'retro studios'
still in use that essentially hasn't changed since the 1940s." Eberhart
also mentioned that Elvis Presley visited the KGAF studios in the 1950s,
prior to a concert in Gainesville! The Leonard brothers made more
money off selling FM sideband broadcasts (ala Muzak) to local businesses.
Daytime only station (1947-1980s,) 24 hours a day (started in 1980s.)
.
1600
..
.
.
KRVA, Cockrell
Hill. Call letters established 1/1/1993. Format: Adult
Contemporary (via Jones Radio Network; started 11/1/2006,) Asian/Indian
(2005-10/31/2006,) Spanish. Owner: Z-Spanish Media, Entravision,
Mortenson (started 11/1/2006.) Nickname: "Radio Variedades."
Was simulcast of sister station KRVA-FM 106.9 until the FM was sold to
First Broadcasting (the stations still share the same calls, but are no
longer related.)
.
.
KSSA, Cockrell
Hill. Call letters re-established 8/5/1987. Format: Spanish.
Call letters stood for "casa."
Owner: Marcos Rodriguez dba Radio Plano Inc. Call letters resurrected
from 1270 AM. Sister station to KSSA-FM 95.3 (simulcast.) Program:
"A Su Salud." Notable: Felice Doyle (host of "A Su Salud.")
Frequency was dark between 1/7/1987 and 8/5/87. Moved license to
Cockrell Hill in 1987.
.
.
KTNS, Plano.
Call letters established 7/1/1985. Format: News/Talk.
ABC Talk Radio affiliate. Owner: John T. Pickens dba NMR, Inc.
Programs: "The Evening News Hour" (local,) "Owen Spann Show," "Michael
Jackson Show" (not the singer,) "Ira Fistell Show," "Ray Briem Show" (ABC
syndicated shows.) Notables: Andy
McCollum, Harold Baker, David Faulkner, Randy Wiles, Pat Foss, Ed Busch,
Andy
Connell aka Adam Kelly, Art Riley, Bob Miller. Dark after 1/7/1987.
Located at 1310 Avenue K, Plano.
.
.
KXVI, Plano.
Call letters established c. 1976. Format: Middle-of-the-Road
(c. 1976-77,) Contemporary Religious, Religious Rock (1985,) Country Gospel
(late 1970s.) Call letters stood for "16"
in roman numerals. Nickname: "K-16," "First in Gospel Country,"
"Top Rated Metro-Plex Suburban Radio." Owner: John T. Pickens
dba NMR, Inc. Programs: "This Week in McKinney," "Gospel Show."
Notables: Dave Mitchell, Mark Bacall, Phil Dickerson, Chris Goodwin,
Wyatt
Cox (ND, 1982-84,) Andy Connell
aka Crash Kelly, Ike Blevins, Jennifer Ellis, Bob Wilson, Tim Easley, Rhonda
Miller, Bob Brown, Bruce S. Ford, Josh Fuller, Larry Collins (as host of
"This Week in McKinney,") Bob Wilson (GM,) Bruce Sifford (as host of "Gospel
Show.") Located first in McKinney, then to 1310 Avenue K, Plano.
Recently, the KXVI calls were re-used at 100.5-Pittsburg for "The Bridge
Network," a DFW-based religious broadcaster serving East Texas.
.
.
KYAL, McKinney.
Call letters established 9/1965. Format: Country (late 1960s.)
Call letters stood for "y'all."
Nickname: "Your North Texas Neighbor," "Top of the Dial at 1600,"
"The People Pleasers," "Top-Rated Suburban Radio Station." Owner:
AHB Broadcasting (3/1969-1971,) John T. Pickens dba NMR, Inc. (1971-1987.)
Notables: Larry Shannon, Stan Wilson (II), Brad Wilson (who started at
the station at age 14; Stan Wilson was Brad's father,) Bob Wilson,
Bill
Bragg, Larry Collins, Arnold Poovey aka "Texas Joe" Poovey aka "Groovey
Joe Poovey" aka Johnny Dallas, Mike Terry, Thomas Shelby Brown aka Randy
Ryder (late of KPCN; concurrently owned a Baskin-Robbins franchise in Duncanville,
TX,) Wayne Farrar, Troy G. Young, James L. Shell (GM,) James Thomason.
Daytime only station. Located in Frisco (1968-69,) at 1312 Central
Expressway, Plano (1969-1972;) 701 15th Street, Plano (1971-74,) and 1310
Avenue K, Plano (1974-on.)
.
.
KMAE, McKinney.
Station established 9/29/1947. Format: Variety. Owner:
George W. Smith Jr dba McKinney
Air
Enterprises
(Smith was mayor of McKinney, 1957-59.) Network affiliation:
Liberty Broadcasting Service. Station band: "The Bennie Dugger
Quartet." Notables: Wayne Farrar, C. W. Rampy, H. D. Mouzon
(sales and later news director; sold cars in the 1970s and 1980s, eventually
opening Mouzon Jeep in Richardson, TX in the late-1980s,) Arnold Poovey
aka "Texas Joe" Poovey aka "Groovey Joe Poovey" aka Johnny Dallas, Roger
Dimick (1964-65.) Located at 218 E. Virginia, McKinney. Daytime
only station.
.
1630
.
.
KKGM,
Fort Worth. Call letters established 4/1/2004. Format:
Southern Gospel. Owner: Mortenson. Successor to KSKY-660,
the longtime Religious-formatted station that switched to Conservative
Talk on 4/5/2004. The format and most of the employees defected to
KKGM. Carries all Oklahoma University (OU) sporting events.
Notables: Lon Sosh (GM,) Ray Whitworth, Jack Davis (PD; with KAAM-770
concurrently until 2007,) Paul Hughes, Nancy "Nan" Burns, Bob Hood, "Paladin,"
Craig Whitehurst, Jason Fields, Beverly Black, Mike Price, John Holcomb,
Miguel Corona. Station located at Executive Airport (the former Red
Bird Airport.)
.
KNAX, Fort
Worth. Call letters established 3/20/2001. Format: Spanish
Religious ("Radio Christiana," started 7/2002,) Spanish (simulcast of KTNO-1440,
3/20/2001-7/2002.) Owner: Mortenson (bought 5/31/2002.)
Station had applied for license city move to Euless and for call letters
"KHEV," but went with "KKGM" instead in 2004.
.
KBCM, Fort
Worth. Call letters established 3/6/1998. Format: Spanish.
.
KOME, Fort
Worth. Station established 1994. Format: Gospel (simulcast
of KHVN.) Owner: Infinity. Intended to be the dial expansion
position for KHVN-970 AM, to become the new permanent home for KHVN in
2004, but Infinity sold the frequency in 1998. Since Mortenson later
owned both 970 and 1630, divesting of KHVN was scheduled for 12/31/2007.
.
1640/1680
.
WCO767,
Dallas-Fort Worth Airport. Low-power stations broadcast American
Airlines departures (1640) and arrivals (1680) from Dallas-Fort Worth International
Airport. One source says that only 1680 was in use. Formerly
known as WPLR660.
.
1670
.
WPIW244,
Farmers Branch. Low-power station broadcast city of Farmers Branch
information. Moved from 690 kc.
.
WPMG537,
Midlothian. Low-power station broadcast city of Midlothian information.
Moved from 800 kc.
.
WPPG486,
Watauga. Low-power station broadcast city of Watauga information.
.
1700
.
.
.
KKLF,
Richardson. Call letters established 3/21/2005 (calls moved from
950 AM; 950 was dissolved in 2005 as part of FCC dial expansion program
of 1989.) Format: Sports Talk (simulcast of KTCK-1310,) Comedy
(programmed by George Gimarc.) Owner: Susquehanna. City
of license changed to Richardson in 2005.
.
.
KTBK, Sherman.
Station established 3/31/1999, although licensed on 6/22/1998. Format:
Sports Talk (simulcast of KTCK-1310.) Formerly broadcast in stereo.
Owner: Susquehanna (bought 3/13/1998,) Sock Hop Radio.
.
Thanks
for stopping by, and feel free to email
your comments to me!
Thanks
to Safford Black for use of several of the logos on this page, and to Bill
Fairlie and Richard Schroeder for their early radio research. And
special thanks to Alan Barnes, Chris Huff, Dave Tucker, Randy
Brown, the late Jay Weaver,
Michael
James (Lucas), the late Larry Shannon, Gary McBrayer, the late
Steve
Farrington, the late Rusty Reynolds,
Steve
Eberhart, Robert Bass, the late Lan Roberts, the late Bob Bruton, Jim
Cumbie, Chip Kelley, the late Don Keyes, Jim Edwards (Bruce Buchanan,)
Dan Halyburton, Dave Mitchell, David Stewart, Mike
Ehrle, Ralph Gould, Mickey Grant, Jay Philpott, Ray Whitworth,
Chuck
Mohnkern, Bob Fox, Dee Blanton, David
Hultsman, Frank Benton, the late Art Riley, Jack Darden, Laurel Ornish,
John Dew, Jim Belcher, Mick Williams,
Paul Gleiser, Mike Robinson, Bud Turner, Alisa (Robinson) Simmons, Michael
Parmes, the late Ray Weathers, Stuart
McRae, Shawn Zurbrick, Ed Padget,
Stu Hepburn, Mark Shepard, Melissa Rasmussen, Sam Goforth,
Russ
Bloxom, Lee Brumm, Verne Horsley, John Lewis Puff, Doug Helton, Tom
Roman, Jim Goodman, Jim Ewing, Rob Milford, Robert Snyder, Kevin Tekel,
Jim
Thomas, Rick Boisvert, Mike Shaw, Alan Balthrop, David Crosthwait,
Gary West, Greg Sells, Mike Vasquez, Brett X, Bruce Carter, Arnold L. Davis
Jr., Jeffery Folse and the many others who have corresponded with names,
airdates, reflections, encouragement and other useful information!
Backronym:
A reversed acronym—the words of the expanded term were chosen to fit the
letters of the acronym, instead of the other way around. For example,
the call letters "KFJZ" were not originally chosen to stand for "Fort Worth
Jazz;" this was a phrase designed way after the fact to fit the old call
letters.
Carrier
current, AKA "wired wireless," uses low-power radio-frequency signals,
transmitted along electrical conductors. The transmissions are picked up
by receivers that are either connected to the conductors, or located a
short distance from them. Carrier current transmission is used for low-power
broadcasting that covers a small geographical area, such as a college campus.
The most common form of carrier current uses longwave or medium wave AM
radio signals that are sent through existing electrical wiring, although
other conductors can be used, such as telephone lines.
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