1370 KFRO History

[radioaircheck]

I lived in Longview and as of September of 83, 95.3 was KNIF as easy Listening and did not really go AC until around 85 I believe.

 

[fredcantu]

Maybe they started the easy listening format after KNUE switched to country. That would have been sometime in 1982.

1981-1982 Was the beginning of the end for beautiful music/easy listening and the rush to "Continuous Country." It was also the time dereg kicked in and music stations started shuttering their local news.

 

[richaroo]

knif was changed to kaez when rick reynolds bought the station. we were mor and rick changed to beautiful music. when jr curtis bought the station charlie palmer and i talked him into going soft ac

 

[billyg]

Thank God the Marti is not in place, The single rack spaced CRL Spectral Energy processor is in place but to run the CRL boxes you have to have all three units the AGC, Limiter, and Compressor. The limiter is the only one there as I recall, and it is far superior to that Marti. But also KFRO is running a Harris MW-1 transmitter which is probably (for AM) the worst sounding transmitter ever!! It was the first solid state box, and they just sound horrible. Nothing sounds as good on AM as a plate modulated tube transmitter with a Dorrough DAP 310.

I agree, I know a lot of small town stations in Oklahoma that had one of those Harris boxes. Cheap radios, solid state transmitters, modern processors that are set for "clean" audio (talk radio) but have no punch and the NRSC 10K cutoff has really hurt AM audio. The old stuff sounded so much better.

I think KCUL 1410 in Marshall also has or had a MW-1 Harris, I know they did in the early 90's.

By the way the second worst transmitter is the Collins/Continental Power Rock 5 KW transmitter, which is what KWRD had for years! The Power Rock that was at KIIS 1120 in LA would actually turn itself off anytime they played Crystal Gayle. It seems that her voice hit some weird resonant frequency with the funky Pulse Wave modulation it does, and it shuts off!! Another good reason to not play Crystal Gayle! Play Loretta her sister LOL!!!

Funny story. I heard it's also a very dangerous transmitter to work on. Did KWRD finally replace thier old Power Rock?

 

[600kogo]

KCUL has the Harris MW-1A (the "A"means its blue, not grey like KFRO's), and yes it was there as of 3 weeks ago.

KWRD (from my understanding) changed the Continental power rock with a solid state box when Jerry Hantzen started running it. But the Power Rock is the most dangerous transmitter ever built due to the (i believe, if I remember correctly) negative 13kv!

 

[600kogo]

Sad thing that happened to KWRD's Power rock, was in the summer 05 or 06 cant remember, but Jerry Russell had put a timer on the air conditioner in the transmitter room (to save money). Well his board op left the transmitter on all night (the transmitter would only make 1500 watts at that time). About 8-10pm the transmitter's plate transfromer burnt up one of the 3 phase windings. This is why KWRD was off the air for a year until Phillip Burr came in lease to own the station and bought another transformer and replaced the heat sensor (so it could run full power again), and generally fixed the station. Which also explains why Phillip Burr is fighting the transfer of the KWRD license, and why it still hasnt transferred!

 

[billyg]

Sad thing that happened to KWRD's Power rock, was in the summer 05 or 06 cant remember, but Jerry Russell had put a timer on the air conditioner in the transmitter room (to save money). Well his board op left the transmitter on all night (the transmitter would only make 1500 watts at that time). About 8-10pm the transmitter's plate transfromer burnt up one of the 3 phase windings. This is why KWRD was off the air for a year until Phillip Burr came in lease to own the station and bought another transformer and replaced the heat sensor (so it could run full power again), and generally fixed the station. Which also explains why Phillip Burr is fighting the transfer of the KWRD license, and why it still hasn't transferred!

I didn't know that! I heard it got struck by lightning and fried up. KWRD used to be one of the best sounding stations in East Texas because of that Power Rock and Optimod AM. The new transmitter sounds a little muffled and needs a little high end boost.

And it's strange that Hanszen also sunk money into getting 1470 a FM translator when he still doesn't own it. I guess he thinks he'll eventually get it. It's a shame this mess is still going on.

 

[600kogo]

Well Billy that is the true story of what happened I got it directly from one of Russells entourage, when I was trying to buy KWRD! But KWRD was off the air for over a year and somehow it got its license back!!! And just like with KZEY and KOFY he didnt bother to file a renewal, but when it was caught the FCC let him get back the KWRD license immediately for some reason?

 

[billyg]

Well Billy that is the true story of what happened I got it directly from one of Russells entourage, when I was trying to buy KWRD! But KWRD was off the air for over a year and somehow it got its license back!!! And just like with KZEY and KOFY he didnt bother to file a renewal, but when it was caught the FCC let him get back the KWRD license immediately for some reason?

I guess that's his trick, he did it twice!
1) Let your station's license expire because of violations or neglect.
2) Let a new administration take charge of the FCC that doesn't know anything about the violations and let them discover you have an expired license
3) Reply pay a few fees/fine and get a new license. ;D

BTW speaking of KOFY I was in Tyler today and got some quick pics of the studio.. from the outside. I didn't see any STL anywhere but there was a huge satellite dish behind the building. No cars parked outside the building.
http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g170/jangleradio/East TX Radio/IMG_1938.jpg
http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g170/jangleradio/East TX Radio/IMG_1940.jpg
http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g170/jangleradio/East TX Radio/IMG_1942.jpg

And of broadcasters letting their transmitter facilities rot to hell.. Here is the former KDOK (also Y-99, KISS 107, then a few years later KDOK-AM & FM, KTBB, KYZS) building. Remembering what this place looked like in the late 80's its really really sad. :'(

I thought about doing some urban exploring, but the sun was starting to go down and who knows who or what might be inside?

http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g170/jangleradio/East TX Radio/IMG_1947.jpg
http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g170/jangleradio/East TX Radio/IMG_1948.jpg
http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g170/jangleradio/East TX Radio/IMG_1950.jpg

 

[600kogo]

Very sad the disrepair of the old KDOK building. Why didn't Gleiser buy that building and keep the stations in it rather than throw money down a toilet on rent for the Woodgate Center?? Plus then he could have kept his tower there?? But when the building on the loop gets sold his tower comes down and 92.1 and 1490 are off the air!!

 

[600kogo]

What is really sad is the fact that 2010 is the 75th anniversary year of KFRO, and no one did ANYTHING for it. I guess I will go over there for Christmas and leave a birthday cake on the front door of the transmitter.

 

[C414B]

Very sad the disrepair of the old KDOK building.

Yes, indeed.

Why didn't Gleiser buy that building and keep the stations in it rather than throw money down a toilet on rent for the Woodgate Center??

Guess it just wasn't as prestigious as being at the corner of Loop 323 and Copeland Road.

Plus then he could have kept his tower there?? But when the building on the loop gets sold his tower comes down and 92.1 and 1490 are off the air!!

Yep. And yep.

 

[Chuck]

Usually, when you buy a property, any existing leases get rolled into the sales agreement, so he's probably OK until those run out.

Does anyone know who actually owns the property? It seems like it is on the market for a long time. It certainly is not improving with age, but it is not as bad as the old KFRO engineering building... yet.

 

[billyg]

Usually, when you buy a property, any existing leases get rolled into the sales agreement, so he's probably OK until those run out.

Does anyone know who actually owns the property? It seems like it is on the market for a long time. It certainly is not improving with age, but it is not as bad as the old KFRO engineering building... yet.

My guess Gleiser still owns it. He should be responsible for taking care of his property instead of letting the old studios turn into a public eyesore, gang hideout or crackhouse.

As for the KFRO engineering building, I've never seen it, but know where it is. I need to go get some pics of it for my collection.

 

[Chuck]

As for the KFRO engineering building, I've never seen it, but know where it is. I need to go get some pics of it for my collection.

Wear a hardhat, maybe some construction boots and be careful. I nearly fell through some rotted floorboards.

 

[600kogo]

No Gleiser does not own the building! Mike Harris the former owner does. Yes Mike Harris who is in prison, and from my understanding once the property sells (if ever) the tower comes down. This is going to be difficult being the extreme cost of moving even a 1 tower AM station. That is if the FCC will approve a move? Then erecting a tower and putting in the ground system will cost the earth!

 

[600kogo]

You might want to wait to go out to KFRO, or if you want pics of the 1941 transmitter building you had better hurry before it falls down!

But the newer (2003) transmitter building is not holding up well. It was built for Dudley Waller by a family member!

 

[billyg]

No Gleiser does not own the building! Mike Harris the former owner does. Yes Mike Harris who is in prison, and from my understanding once the property sells (if ever) the tower comes down. This is going to be difficult being the extreme cost of moving even a 1 tower AM station. That is if the FCC will approve a move? Then erecting a tower and putting in the ground system will cost the earth!

Little wonder why Gleiser moved out. A move will be expensive but it can be done. Thankfully 1490 is non-directional. I'm surprised Gleiser didn't sell off 1490 like he did KEES. I guess he makes a little cash with ESPN radio.

You might want to wait to go out to KFRO, or if you want pics of the 1941 transmitter building you had better hurry before it falls down!

But the newer (2003) transmitter building is not holding up well. It was built for Dudley Waller by a family member!

Sounds like a reeeel mess, going to go check it out later this week. ;D

 

[gbranch]

Many thanks to whoever has updated Wikipedia's KFRO page and added tons of good, historical information. I had added a few things but someone has greatly expanded it and I would say KFRO now has a very comprehensive history.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KFRO_(AM)

It's sad, however, that there was no mention of KFRO's 75th anniversary in the LNJ or any other local media. I have sent a tip to the LNJ about the anniversary and maybe they will follow up.

My second home, Durango Colorado, also has a radio station celebrating it's 75th anniversary this year. KIUP, The Voice of the San Juan Basin, went on the air in 1935, and interestingly, also on 1370. They moved to 930 kHz in 1950. The local paper there did a very nice article on the station, if anyone cares to read it. KIUP, like KFRO in the past, has been very involved in the community and the definition of local radio. While now a ESPN radio affiliate, they still find room for a couple of hours of local programming a day.

http://durangoherald.com/article/20101224/NEWS01/712249916/‘Voice-of-the-San-Juan-Basin’

 

[600kogo]

Your Welcome. I went through my radio annuals, and some of my old paper work. As well as before Charlie (the program director from 83-04) I talked to him extensively about the history of KFRO, and about the Curtis's.