KPRA (FM): KWJJ's 1st Sister...

Feedback.pdxradio.com message board: Portland Radio History: KPRA (FM): KWJJ's 1st Sister
Author: Craigadams (63.110.90.132)
Saturday, December 15, 2001 - 8:32 am
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On September 25, 1947 KPRA began operation on 95.7mc with the power of 250 watts. KPRA was owned by Pacific Radio Advertising Service, also standing for call letters. The company owners were Wilbur J. Jerman & John C. Egan. They also owned KWJJ Broadcasting Co., Inc. KPRA studios were located at 1017 S.W. 6th Ave. (KWJJ's address: 1011 S.W. 6th Ave.). KPRA's transmitter site was located on Healy Heights. Mr. Jerman was General Manager. KPRA was Portland's 3rd FM Station. KPRA broadcast Monday through Saturday 10AM to 1PM & 6:30PM to 10PM. On this date KPRA's first night broadcast was a Beaver Baseball Game. KPRA Simulcast one program with KWJJ "What's On FM" at 12:45PM daily, answering that question.

Power was increased a month later to 3,410 watts. On January 9, 1948 KPRA switched to 95.5mc. Also in 1948 William E. Richardson became G.M. Mr. Jerman became President of KPRA.

On September 24, 1948 KPRA announced that it was temporarily suspending operation to allow installation of new equipment. This was a ploy to shut down KPRA gracefully after one year, to the day. The station could not generate enough revenue to support it's self. FM Broadcasters were beginning to realize the new wavelength was going to take longer to accept. Maybe in a year or two. That was the thought of many broadcasters at the time, including Mr. Jerman. Stay tuned to 95.5mc for KWJJ-FM.

Author: Wayne (12.224.149.21)
Saturday, December 15, 2001 - 3:08 pm
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KPRA sounds like a better choice for call letters for KPDQ which stood for pretty darn quick, like I said earlier, hardly appropriate for the format KPDQ has


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