Old broadcaster, new to the board today. Giving a talk Saturday on the history of radio in the Columbia River Gorge. I've worked at KIHR, KODL and Q-104. Started at KIHR in 1966 when Mac McCready owned it, was there when Paul Walden bought it. Later worked 12 years for KODL (including the tail end of the time it was KGLX) and spent a year working at Q-104 in 2004. Though I've worked in newspaper for the past 20 years, I still keep my hand in with the occasional fill-in shift or voice work.
Had the great pleasure of talking to Carl Fisher in Eugene yesterday. He and his dad "Pop" Fisher owned KUGN and put on KUMA in Pendleton and KJDY in John Day. Fisher said the Hood River station was never very profitable.
I'm talking on the stations of Hood River, Wasco and Klickiatat counties. That includes the two Warm Springs stations, and I had a great talk this morning with Keith Shipman of Horizon who filled me in on the convoluted history and number of call-letter changes for what is now KWLZ (Lazer 96.5).
Anybody got any good stories about KIHR, KCGB-FM, KQHR, KODL, KACI, KACI-FM, KMCQ (Q-104), KMSW, KLCK, KYYT (Y-102), KWSO or what is now KWLZ (formerly known as KRCO-FM, KWPK. "The Peak," KWEG "The Eagle," KTWI and KWSI).
As a real bonus, does anyone have anything on KRMW? That was the original call sign in 1955 for what has been KACI since 1959.
Thanks!

Rodger: Welcome aboard!

The Columbia River Gorge's first broadcast station was KQP Hood River. It began operation on May 24, 1922. KQP was owned by the Blue Diamond Electric Co. with studio & transmitter at 308 Cascade Ave. KQP broadcast on 360 meters (or 832.7kc) with the power of 10 watts. KQP was sold to Apple City Radio Club in 1923. Harry Read was in charge of KQP and purchased the station in 1925. He then moved KQP to Portland's Sylvan Hill where Harry later sold the station and it became KOIN. Harry would go on and start another Portland station KXL.

KFHB Hood River began operation in April 1923. KFHB was owned by P.L. Beardwell, owner of the Rialto Theatre. KFHB studio & transmitter were on Oak Street. KFHB broadcast on 360 meters (or 832.7kc) with the power of 5 watts. KFHB discontinued operation in June 1924.

KODL The Dalles began operation on October 21, 1940. KODL was owned by Western Radio Corp. KODL studio & transmitter were located on Sunset Hill (2112 Scenic Dr). KODL broadcast on 1200kc with the power of 250 watts day & 100 watts night. On March 29, 1941 KODL switched frequency to 1230kc. On September 1, 1953 network service began in the Gorge when KODL became an affiliate of the ABC Radio Network. On June 20, 1955 KODL switched frequency to 1440kc and increased power to 1,000 watts day & night. On October 1, 1967 KODL was purchased by Fredric A. Danz. On September 1, 1974 KODL was sold to Larson-Wynn, Inc.

Wow! I can see why you've got so much respect on this board. Everything I found so far indicated KODL was the first. I suspected there might have been some pioneers before that, and I am delighted to have that confirmed, and with details, yet.
As a kid growing up in Hood River, I can fondly remember Saturday matinees at the Rialto Theater downtown next to First National Bank. (That location is a parking lot now.) In the late 1950s and early 1960s our parents could park our Baby Boomer backsides for hours while we watched a double feature, a half-dozen cartoons, and, yep, even a vintage movie serial from the 1940s. Very cool to know that some earlier theater owner was into radio as well.
Your information pushes back the radio history in the gorge a full generation. Thank you so much.

Took a break. Here's more:

KIHR Hood River began operation on October 17, 1950. KIHR was owned by Oregon-Washington Broadcasters, Inc. (C.H. Fisher & C.O. Fisher). Studios were on 22nd Street. KIHR broadcast on 1340kc with the power of 250 watts. On April 1, 1967 KIHR was purchased by Columbia Gorge Broadcasters, Inc. (Paul Walden, President).

KRMW The Dalles began operation on June 3, 1955. KRMW was owned by Radio Mid-Columbia, Inc. (Oliver B. Earl, President). KRMW broadcast on 1300kc with the power of 1,000 watts daytime only. Calls changed to KACI in about 1960. On April 1, 1964 KACI was purchased by KACI, Inc. (Bill Neuman, President). This became part of group owner Juniper Broadcasting in the mid 70's with Gary Capps as President.

KCIV The Dalles began operation on November 1, 1968. KCIV was owned by Leslie L. Cunningham. KCIV broadcast on 104.5MHz with the power of 25,000 watts. KCIV was the Gorge's first FM station & Central Oregon's first commercial FM station. On June 20, 1984 KCIV became KMCQ.

KCGB Hood River began operation on December 4, 1978. KCGB was owned by Columbia Gorge Broadcasters, Inc. (Paul Walden, President). KCGB was co-owned KIHR. KCGB broadcast on 105.5MHz with the power of 3,000 watts.

December 2004 I filled in for Steve Curley (Squirrel) Blues show one night 7pm-Midnight KMCQ, at Midnight I turned on the automation, locked the door and dropped the key thru the door slot. I was listening to Don Henley and when it ended so did the music (Dead Air) I had no idea who to call and could not get back in the station, so I just turned the dial and drove back to Portland. My first lesson about automation, make sure its not in jock assist before you leave.I never heard what ended up happening. That is why I do my Blues Show Live on KINK.

Thanks, Craig. I had most of that latter info, but you had several additional bits that were welcome.
And, Bigba, that happened to me less than a year ago. I fill in several times a year on Dan Ross' Singer-Songrwriter on Sunday show, originally on Q-104, now on KACI-FM. I had signed off, timed it right up to the ID leading into ABC News, grabbed my stuff, and was halfway up the hill to home when the news ended and there was nothing but dead air. Apparently I had bumped the switch to live assist. I got back there in record time. Still had the key, was able to go in and switch back to automation. Probably not more than 3 minutes of carrier hiss, but scary,

Don't know if anybody has mentioned it here, but just a couple of weeks ago, Bicoastal's three stations in The Dalles (KACI, KACI-FM and KMSW) moved out of the address they'd had for more than 40 years, and moved into the quarters formerly occupied by Q-104. What's more, Q104 manager John Huffman bought the building he used to lease, and is now Bicoasal's landlord. (He was also appointed to the state legislature from District 59.)
I note in my talk tomorrow that the eastern part of the gorge is currently served by a state representative who's a former broadcaster, and a Congressman who's a former broadcaster (Greg Walden). Then the managing editor of our paper, The Dalles Chronicle (Kathy Gray), the news editor (that's me) and our newest sales person (Nikki Lessich) have all worked in multiple stations locally. And one of our Port Commissioners (Rod Runyon) had a long career in radio here, in Boise, Medford and Marysville-Yuba City. Resistance is futile, etc.

Segueded: I added two more lines on the KODL history after you had posted last night incase you did see them. They're the last two at the end.

Thanks - the scary thing is that I was there working for SR0 on what was then KGLX ("The Golden X") with its tightly-controlled playist of oldies, monster oldies, current hits and recurrents at the time Larson-Wynn bought it. They day the transfer came through we reverted to the KODL call letters and went to a beautiful music format, 50 percent instrumental, three songs in a row, back-announced. It was an interesting transition. Spent the next 12 years there. Al Wynn bought out Brent Larson a couple of years later and still owns the station

I too was at the (The Golden X) circa Oct 73 till April 74, I believe Bob Summers was PD and Bo Donovan National PD for SRO.. I was Graig Micthell at the time..Some of the oldies were on cart.. Fun memories

I went to college with the late D. David Brumbaugh/Michael Julian Lewis,(depending on whether he was working at KODL or KACI at any given time). I visited him about once a year for about 20 years. On the first 2 visits, it was 110 degrees both times(I almost didn't come back)! I had completely forgotten about KGLX! On my various trips, he would introduce me to people like Les Cunningham, Rick Lewis and Steve Webber(Chuck Webber at KISN). One time, he sent me to Goldendale to check out the brand new station. When I arrived, I found a tower, surrounded by unburied radials and a small travel trailer. Inside was Cole Malcomb. Within 5 minutes, I found myself segueing records. Later, I learned he was the son of my choir director in college.

Hey, great to hear from you both. I started as a weekender in March 74 at the X. Remember that the first thing absolutely out of your mouth every time you opened the mike was "14 KGLX." Bo used to have phone loops from each station to his office in Seattle? Bellingham? Wherever SRO hung its corporate hat. The loops were so he could listen in and critique. Did you crossplug? Did you come out of the news not just with an oldie but a monster oldie? If not, terse little memos would be heading your way.
And Semoochie, i remember Mike/ David well. My boss, Al Wynn, was tickled the time we lured him away from Bob Walters at KACI, and he was so afraid of confrontation that he just didn't show up one day there and showed up on the hill working for us. I thought it was funny how angry Wynn got when Mike/David did the same thing to us when he returned to KACI.
He was a very strange guy. I remember he had a binnacle in his living room so that he could look out his window toward the Columbia and pretend he was steering his boat...
Cole and Kevin are both still around at Y-102 and KLCK

He also had the old "yard" from KACI as well as various radio tubes and other such paraphernalia. When I first met him, I noticed a bass undertone to his voice as if his voice was emanating from the radio. I never heard that from anyone else and don't know if I can describe it correctly. We were only 18 at the time.

How about more on the "Golden X"..I remember we played the fake "Drake" jingles however, the news open jingle was a copy of the of the real "Drake" jingle. I remember the receptionist was Connie. Also, Bo Donovan was not happy with me because I played "Rock the Boat" out of the box, because he was the one that added all the currents. I was a brat, but it was great fun.

Connie was Connie Wageman, who passed away a couple of years ago. Sad to report she got hosed by SRO because the money she'd put in the company retirement fund wasn't there long enough to be vested when Larson-Wynn took over Sept. 1 1974 and she no longer worked for SRO. I believe she got her contributions back, but none of the gains they'd made, or any of the matching contributions from SRO.

Here's a tidbit. I saved a faint photocopy of the KGLX Rotation Key and Format By-Laws. I suspect it may be the only one in existence these days.

I'll try to format it on this screen as closely as possible to the way it is on the paper:

K G L X Rotation Key 14 Commercial Minutes

:03 (O)

:06 * O

:08 ° Spot Sets

:11 A

:14 O

:16 ° Spot Sets

:19 B

:22 O

:24 ° Spot Sets

:27 * O

:30 A

--- 1/2 Hour Break

:33 (O)

:35 ° Spot Sets

:38 * O

:40 ° Spot Sets

:43 A

:46 O

:48 ° Spot Sets

:51 * O
)
:54 (O)

:56 ° Spot Sets

:59 B

Format Symbol Code:
( ) Monster Oldies
° Station Jingle
* Station one-liner
) Music Sweep (non jingle - no talk)


KGLX Format/By Laws Effective 11/22/73

"A" Records Image Hits. Current proven hits.
"B" Records New additions or current picks.
"O" Records Oldies. Top 20 or better.
(O) Records Monster oldies. Top 5, million seller
or former #1.

COLOR CODE

RED STICKERS Free play, any day part.
BLUE STICKERS Restricted play... 6 pm to midnight only
YELLOW STICKERS Restricted play... 6 am to 6 pm only

MUSIC EXITS
The station's sig (14/ K G L X) is to be the first spoken words on all music exits, no exceptions. This covers back talks into spot sets and double plays....anytime you are coming out of music

The time is a must in every music exit.

Double the checks in morning drive ( 6 to 10 am). Once in the exit and again over inor to the record following the spot sets.

In all double plays, start the second record before beginning your music exits. No straight segs.

SPOT SETS

PSA, weather and live spots are to proceed produced spots at all times.

No live copy between produced spots, except tags.

No produced tags....live tags only.

No spot set will contain more than two (2) minues of commercial time.

Spots are to be logged nd run in building lengts, i.e. 10, 30, 60, etc.

No breaks of any kind between spots

no direct segs from music to spots

ONE LINERS

One liners will be typed on blue index cards and are to be rotated evenly.

Use only when called for in the rotation key, they are not crutches.

Read underlined copy as is

MUSIC ROTATION

The A, B, O, (O) rotation is to be followed to the letter....NO EXCEPTIONS

If you run out of music because of a light commercial load,revert back to the top of the key and repeat as is, jinles, one liners...everything.

NEWS FORMAT

1) Out of the hour's last record hit the "K G L X News Open"

2) Over fade say:
"And now a look around he northwest from KGLX...a unit
of Sterling Broadcasting."

3) Go right into the body of your newscast

4) If spots are logged break with:
"KGLX News Time...(time)."

5) Break for weather with:
"Mid-Columbia weather....."

6) End with current temps and hit the "KGLX News Close/I.D."

7) Seg right to the first record of the hour

HALF HOUR BREAK

Over the fade of your bottom of the hour record and your half hour "Monster Oldie" say:
"It's (time) at KGLX and All Hit Music."
Say this and only this. No more, no less.

Never dig down int o the "B" or "A" stacks, play them as they come up except for consideration of the color code.

If there are no spots called for continue to follow the music key stopping only if a psa or weather is logged.

Follow the rules and earn the right to win....
...break the rules and you earn nothing.

By the way, a special thanks to all for the info and memories. My talk today was well-received

One of these days you're going to have to figure out if you're a newspaper guy or an old broadcaster! Welcome back to radio, cousin!

Hey, happy to hear from the REAL radio guy in the family. One of these days I hope to buy a clue somewhere...