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1460 AM Kirkland 1961-2014

In 1974, SRO owned KTW 2-Way Newsradio 1250. Aaron "Skip" Brown got his start there. As did Wayne Cody and Gregg Palmer. They also owned their tower on Pigeon Point. And here's where the fates of 1250, 102.5, 1460 and 1590 collide.

SRO wanted to move KTW from 1250 to 1590 and use KUUU 1590s 24/7 potential (they were still signing off at sunset on 1250)

SRO also owned KTW-FM, progressive rock, still in mono on 102.5 FM (the FM tower was still on Pigeon Point.) They relaunched it as OK-102 under the KZOK call letters and began some serious FM signal upgrades and stereo sound (they were one of the very LAST mono commercial FM stations in Seattle.)

Papers were filed to the FCC to move KTW to 1590 and I'm not sure if they were approved - I think they were. But around this time, SRO decided to drop the news talk format on 1250. SRO sold 1250 to Carl-Dek, owners of KYAC 1460/96.5. I'm not sure when 1250 went 24/7, but it was sometime after this transaction. SRO kept KUUU's format, but later changing to a simulcast of KZOK-FM, then to automated Gold AC and eventually, KJET.
 
When SRO acquired KUUU they automated the gold format. Same automation used when they dumped the oldies and went with TM's "Mellow Rock" ... which at the time seemed to me like a wimpy format (I was working there); but wasn't long after that, the mushy-AC was format du jour for all the FM's that wanted female adults. Come to think of it, just a few years after SRO abandoned the "gold" format, we wound up with KVI, KJR competing for that base; followed by the launch of KBSG. They were always just a notch ahead of their time. KZOK at the time had an incredible line-up featuring the likes of Bobby Simon, Gary Crow, Norm Gregory...who was also PD. Classic battle between KZOK-FM and KISW-FM, who had a brilliant billboard campaign of "Better than just O.K.".
 
Great updates to my memories of events. Thanks, both.

I worked as a projectionist for SRO's theatre side back then. Only got close enough to their radio division to absorb the semi-useless details that old guys like to turn into stories.

Wasn't KZOK's slogan "OK one-oh-two and a half"... or did that come later?

I did see 1590's automation once. I think you had to go through the FM control room to get to it, maybe?

"Where have all the good songs gone?... Kay-you sixteeeeeeen!!"

Pretty decent jingles.
 
There was also KMOK Lewiston. Any relation?
 
I suspect it was country all along. It is currently owned by Ida-Vend Co. Interesting when SRO owned KALE and KIOK, they broadcast from the old location of the Benton Theater, which was SRO for a short time, then SOL
 
KIOK is now "94.9 the Wolf". When did they flip to C/W?

-crainbebo
 
KIOK was a DAMN GOOD small market CHR in the late '80s - probably the best small market CHR I ever heard. They sounded every bit as good as the Seattle stations - sometimes better. Here's a little sample (starts in Spokane, then moves its way to KIOK and then Seattle.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-K4hAvXgpo
 
I can assure you NO ONE has really been listening to 1460 seriously since September 1986. (when KARR returned to the air after 9 months off the air with Family Radio)

I remember hearing Family Radio for the first time and thinking "This has got to be a JOKE..."
 
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