KQLH 95.1 HISTORY

[thebeach33445]

Hey Guys:

Did KQLH in 1974 start out as a religous station then go Beautiful Music?

Can anybody give me a little history on 95.1 KQLH?

Thanks

T.J.

 

[jonbruce]

95.1 started out it's life in the 1950's as KFXM-fm with a similcast of 590am. They let the license laps as there was no interest in fm in those early days. It returned as KQLH in 1974 with a contemp. Christian music format. Soon "secular" hits were added to the mix. Under new GM Pat Michaels it became a soft ac. After he departed it turned into a hot ac, almost chr. When it was sold it became coujntry KFRG.

 

[Neel]

When my parents moved to Corona in late 1989, it was still KQLH and then shortly after became K-FROG country. Another station, 92.7 from Riverside, briefly picked up the KQLH calls and name and went AC after that.

While on this topic, anyone remember KOLA 99.9 in the late 80s? I vaguely remember it was a dance/Top 40 station.

 

[RicoGregg]

95.1 started out it's life in the 1950's as KFXM-fm with a similcast of 590am. They let the license laps as there was no interest in fm in those early days. It returned as KQLH in 1974 with a contemp. Christian music format. Soon "secular" hits were added to the mix. Under new GM Pat Michaels it became a soft ac. After he departed it turned into a hot ac, almost chr. When it was sold it became coujntry KFRG.

KQLH's original owner, Dr. William Roberts, recently reached 100 years of age and is still running what used to be the sister station of 95.1, KWRM (1370) in Corona.

In 1974, I applied for a job at KQLH. At the time it was located in an old building in downtown San Bernardino with the world's strangest elevator (don't ask).

The station manager was an elderly, cordial man named John Rhodes who in addition to being civil, was also obviously on the conservative side. During the interview, Mr. Rhodes was telling me about the plans they had for the station, and asked me the usual questions about my experience, etc., and I guess he noticed my thick head of hair which was relatively common on young men in 1974. Completely out of left field, he suddenly says:

"We are NOT going to be playing any of that hippie-dippy, hurdy-gurdy, mumbo-jumbo!"

It was all I could do to keep from laughing.

At a couple of rock stations I worked at later on, I used "hippie-dippy, hurdy-gurdy, mumbo-jumbo" on the air. I never forgot it.

As for KOLA in the 80s, for awhile in the mid-80s, they were all-metal. It only lasted for a little while, but I do believe they beat KNAC to the punch, but not by much.

 

[AlanInTheAM]

I was one of the original DJs on KQLH. It did indeed go on the air in 1974 with a Country-Pop Christian format. It was more country than pop. I spent most of my first 6 months on the hilltop babysitting the transmitter as the studio-transmitter link wasn't working properly and we had to have a licensed operator at the transmitter site. The original studio was on Court Street. When we went on the air with our 50,000 watts, we blasted LA Album Rocker KMET 104.7 off the air in the Inland Empire area. We got a lot of angry letters and phone calls for a year after. The "Hillbilly Christian" format, as Dr. Roberts called it, was a flop and the station soon resorted to a fundraiser concert to try to raise money like a public radio station. Paid religious block programs paid the bills that first year. We had very few paid sponsors. Remember, this was 1974 and FM was still a novelty compared to AM. A new program director named Don Painter came in. He changed the format to a mix of light pop and lighter Christian fare. This was dubbed "The Warm Sound of Music" and our sister AM station in in Corona changed its call letters from KREL to KWRM to reflect the new format. It retains those calls to this day, though probably no one knows what they mean. Later KQLH went to an all AC format with moderate success. I had moved on to KWOW in Pomona by then. To this day, the station enjoys a prime transmitter location off Highway 18 (Rim of the World Highway) and a number of other stations have co-located their transmitters there over the years. Country KFR(O)G was a logical format choice as AMer KCKC had been #1 for decades before the public lost interest in AM.

 

[radiofan111]

95.1 started out it's life in the 1950's as KFXM-fm with a similcast of 590am. They let the license laps as there was no interest in fm in those early days. It returned as KQLH in 1974 with a contemp. Christian music format. Soon "secular" hits were added to the mix. Under new GM Pat Michaels it became a soft ac. After he departed it turned into a hot ac, almost chr. When it was sold it became coujntry KFRG.

KQLH's original owner, Dr. William Roberts, recently reached 100 years of age and is still running what used to be the sister station of 95.1, KWRM (1370) in Corona.

In 1974, I applied for a job at KQLH. At the time it was located in an old building in downtown San Bernardino with the world's strangest elevator (don't ask).

The station manager was an elderly, cordial man named John Rhodes who in addition to being civil, was also obviously on the conservative side. During the interview, Mr. Rhodes was telling me about the plans they had for the station, and asked me the usual questions about my experience, etc., and I guess he noticed my thick head of hair which was relatively common on young men in 1974. Completely out of left field, he suddenly says:

"We are NOT going to be playing any of that hippie-dippy, hurdy-gurdy, mumbo-jumbo!"

It was all I could do to keep from laughing.

At a couple of rock stations I worked at later on, I used "hippie-dippy, hurdy-gurdy, mumbo-jumbo" on the air. I never forgot it.

As for KOLA in the 80s, for awhile in the mid-80s, they were all-metal. It only lasted for a little while, but I do believe they beat KNAC to the punch, but not by much.

Was KQLH the one station inside the San Bernardino Inland Center Mall during the 80's?? I remember a radio station inside one of those malls.. Either 95.1 or 92.7? The weirdest thing to see a radio station inside a mall.

Neel: KOLA was Dance Contemporary in 88/89. Lynwood was the night jock and they had a dance mixshow called "Club KOLA" Friday and Saturday Nights where he spin on the radio, "straight up house music". This is before he came to KGGI. The regular playlist consists of Pop , Freestyle, house music, R&B, dance, and even slow songs. They would play some dance songs that KPWR didn't play. I remember them playing remixes of stuff like Jody Watley, Expose, Sweet Sensation, Johnny O, Cynthia, Hithouse (remember "Jack to the sound of the undergound"), The Timelords (the classic "Doctorin the tardis") etc... Its too bad nobody recorded it and remembers much about it.

 

[RicoGregg]

Radiofan111:

Yes, that was KQLH in the Inland Center Mall.

I worked a few fill-in shifts there. Neckties were required unless it was the all-night shift or if a woman was working.

It was strange working an all-night shift in a dark, empty mall. It was kind of like being in an old black and white detective movie.

 

[radiohistory]

Regarding 95.1 starting out as KFXM-FM, it has nothing to do with the current license for 95.1 KFRG. They are two separate licenses and have nothing to do with the other, except that there was a short-lived FM station on 95.1 simulcasting 590-AM in the early-'50s. The new license for the current 95.1 was issued in 1974.

Same thing happened in Los Angeles with 105.9, as Earle C. Anthony got KFI-FM on the air in 1947, running a few hours a day, separately from KFI-640 AM. Later, 105.9 began simulcasting 640-AM from late afternoon into the evening hours. But, since 105.9 was not making any money, Anthony took KFI-FM off the air and turned the license into the FCC in 1951. The current KPWR-105.9 license dates from December 1956. Also, there was a KMPC-FM on 100.3 FM simulcasting KMPC-710 AM from 1948 to 1951. But, with no sales profits, the station was not sold, and was taken off the air and the license was deleted by the FCC in 1951. This was before Gene Autry bought KMPC in 1952. A new license was issued for 100.3 FM in L.A. in 1957, the current KSWD/The Sound.

Other AM owners hung in there through the lean years of FM and kept their stations on the air, such as 95.5, 93.1, 101.1, etc.

Before moving to Monterey in 1986, I worked at KWRM-1370 in Corona part time from about June to December of 1985, after I was let go at KYMS. I remember that KQLH was our sister station but had studios in San Bernardino.

 

[MBSL500]

Wow, it was strange finding this thread after all these years.
In the early 70's, I was the morning DJ at KQLH when it was under the management of Don Painter.
Dr. Roberts owned the station.
The studio was in a rather beat up upstairs office building in San Bernardino Ca.

If I remember, our chief Engineer was named Dennis.
The afternoon jock was named Bill Powers. Another jock was Randy something.

I still have some air checks and some promos of the station after all these years.
I might even be able to find my old blue KQLH 95.1 windbreaker.

 

[36james]

Radiofan111:

Yes, that was KQLH in the Inland Center Mall.

I worked a few fill-in shifts there. Neckties were required unless it was the all-night shift or if a woman was working.

It was strange working an all-night shift in a dark, empty mall. It was kind of like being in an old black and white detective movie.

so what happened to KQLH when it became Country, KFRG? was it still in the Inland center mall or no?

 

[MisterGort]

95.1 - had at least 3 owners. KFXM-FM. Then in 1962-63 for a CP as KRCS - 11.5 KW + 1620 feet -- owned by Telemusic. No other info. 99.1 went on the air June 15, 1959 -- and was KFMW in 1963. 31 KW ERP + 1630 feet HAAT. Owned by KGMJ, Inc -- part of International Good Music Stations - Mr. Rogan Jones. (KGMI FM /AM - 92.9 / 790 - Bellingham, Wa, KGMJ FM 95.7 - Seattle, Wa, KFMU-FM 97.1- Los Angeles, KBAY-FM 104.5 - San Francisco and KGMG-FM - 95.5 - Portland, Or. Mister Jones was also a part owner of KPQ - AM 560 in Wentachee, WA. with Jim Walllace.

 

[MisterGort]

My bad ! I ment to say that 99.9 - San Bernardino - went on the air as KFMW on June 15, 1959. 99.1 - Riverside - went on the air on Feb. 27, 1959 as KPLI (FM) with 1.5 KW ERP - + 1630 feet HAAT. Parker-Lee, Inc. (Dr. Charles Fuller, Pres.) was the first owner of 99.1 Riverside. 97.5 Riverside -- KDUO - first went on the air March 17, 1959 with 72 KW ERP + 1630 feet HAAT. KFXM bought KDUO - Jan 1, 1962. All four stations -- 95.1, 97.5, 99.1 and 99.9 were first located on Box Springs Mtn - Riverside.

 

[Unregistered]

KQLH DJ Question

Hello! My father was a DJ at KQLH in the 70's, he passed away in 1999 -his name was Gordon Savala...does anyone know his DJ name? I have a picture of him as a DJ in the KQLH studio and another of him with the KQLH jacket. Thanks for any help.

Wow, it was strange finding this thread after all these years.
In the early 70's, I was the morning DJ at KQLH when it was under the management of Don Painter.
Dr. Roberts owned the station.
The studio was in a rather beat up upstairs office building in San Bernardino Ca.

If I remember, our chief Engineer was named Dennis.
The afternoon jock was named Bill Powers. Another jock was Randy something.

I still have some air checks and some promos of the station after all these years.
I might even be able to find my old blue KQLH 95.1 windbreaker.

 

[DaleBerg]

DJ

I was a jock at KQLH in 1980. Don Painter was the GM, his wife at the time Marilyn was the station manager. Their son Rick Painter was the PD. He left and the evening jock Arden Lawrence became the PD. Arden's new wife Kim was the midday jock. They both got fired for getting married. Apparently it was okay for the Painters to be married, but not anyone else. Sam Jackson was doing afternoons and became the PD after Arden was fired. I was working evenings. They hired a guy named Dave Young as music director and midday jock. He had a spat with Ricks future wife Jane who worked in the office. Dave was fired and I became midday jock and asst. Music director. In May 1981Don and Marilyn left for Florida. Dr Roberts hired Pat Michaels as GM. He turned the station into a light AC station playing Engelbert Humperdink, Perry Comp, Neal Diamond, and others. Now the station is KFROG 95.1

 

[MBSL500]

Hello! My father was a DJ at KQLH in the 70's, he passed away in 1999 -his name was Gordon Savala...does anyone know his DJ name? I have a picture of him as a DJ in the KQLH studio and another of him with the KQLH jacket. Thanks for any help.

I believe I worked with your Dad. Really nice guy. In fact he was the DJ who handed me my KQLH blue windbreaker.
I remember when the KQLH small went to a Taco joint in San Bernardino where we all participated in a taco eating contest.
If I remember correctly, your Dad won.
Sorry I don't remember his on-air name.

I lost my KQLH windbreaker years ago.
If you would, post the pictures of your dad. I'd love to them after all these years.

The KQLH console.

 

[MBSL500]

That should have read: "I remember when the KQLH staff went to a Taco joint in San Bernardino where we all participated in a taco eating contest".

 

[Unregistered]

"They both got fired for getting married."

Dale, you've posted untrue statements. Only Arden and Kim themselves (in addition to management: Don, Marilyn and Rick Painter) know why they were fired. Several married couples were employed at KQLH-FM. Being married was not the issue. Only Dave Young himself (in addition to management: Don, Marilyn and Rick Painter) knows why he was fired. RP

I was a jock at KQLH in 1980. Don Painter was the GM, his wife at the time Marilyn was the station manager. Their son Rick Painter was the PD. He left and the evening jock Arden Lawrence became the PD. Arden's new wife Kim was the midday jock. They both got fired for getting married. Apparently it was okay for the Painters to be married, but not anyone else. Sam Jackson was doing afternoons and became the PD after Arden was fired. I was working evenings. They hired a guy named Dave Young as music director and midday jock. He had a spat with Ricks future wife Jane who worked in the office. Dave was fired and I became midday jock and asst. Music director. In May 1981Don and Marilyn left for Florida. Dr Roberts hired Pat Michaels as GM. He turned the station into a light AC station playing Engelbert Humperdink, Perry Comp, Neal Diamond, and others. Now the station is KFROG 95.1

 

[Richard Allan Q95FM]

15,000 watts (not "50,000"). The "Warm Sound of Music" was KWRM-AM programming A/C, not KQLH-FM. KQLH-FM was better known as Q95FM giving you "SomeOne to Believe In." A jacket with the logo hangs in my closet. A digital photo is available.

I was one of the original DJs on KQLH. It did indeed go on the air in 1974 with a Country-Pop Christian format. It was more country than pop. I spent most of my first 6 months on the hilltop babysitting the transmitter as the studio-transmitter link wasn't working properly and we had to have a licensed operator at the transmitter site. The original studio was on Court Street. When we went on the air with our 50,000 watts, we blasted LA Album Rocker KMET 104.7 off the air in the Inland Empire area. We got a lot of angry letters and phone calls for a year after. The "Hillbilly Christian" format, as Dr. Roberts called it, was a flop and the station soon resorted to a fundraiser concert to try to raise money like a public radio station. Paid religious block programs paid the bills that first year. We had very few paid sponsors. Remember, this was 1974 and FM was still a novelty compared to AM. A new program director named Don Painter came in. He changed the format to a mix of light pop and lighter Christian fare. This was dubbed "The Warm Sound of Music" and our sister AM station in in Corona changed its call letters from KREL to KWRM to reflect the new format. It retains those calls to this day, though probably no one knows what they mean. Later KQLH went to an all AC format with moderate success. I had moved on to KWOW in Pomona by then. To this day, the station enjoys a prime transmitter location off Highway 18 (Rim of the World Highway) and a number of other stations have co-located their transmitters there over the years. Country KFR(O)G was a logical format choice as AMer KCKC had been #1 for decades before the public lost interest in AM.

 

[Thomps2525]

Another jock from the old Q95 is Michael Bankston, who also worked at KFSG and is now a mobile DJ: http://contempocelebration.com/

 

[Richard Allan Q95FM]

Yes, there was an engineer named Dennis.

Wow, it was strange finding this thread after all these years.
In the early 70's, I was the morning DJ at KQLH when it was under the management of Don Painter.
Dr. Roberts owned the station.
The studio was in a rather beat up upstairs office building in San Bernardino Ca.

If I remember, our chief Engineer was named Dennis.
The afternoon jock was named Bill Powers. Another jock was Randy something.

I still have some air checks and some promos of the station after all these years.
I might even be able to find my old blue KQLH 95.1 windbreaker.