Did REVEREND JIM JONES ever had a show on S.F. Radio?

[Madmansam]

Today (November 18) marks the 30TH Anniversary of the JONESTOWN MASSACRE which was led by the Reverend JIM JONES of SAN FRANCISCO. I am curious if Rev. Jim Jones ever had a RADIO SHOW in the Bay Area? A friend tells me that THE PEOPLES TEMPLE bought time on a San Francisco Religious Radio Station but wasn't sure if it was KFAX-1100 or then Religious KEST-1450.

 

[DavidKaye]

Today (November 18) marks the 30TH Anniversary of the JONESTOWN MASSACRE which was led by the Reverend JIM JONES of SAN FRANCISCO. I am curious if Rev. Jim Jones ever had a RADIO SHOW in the Bay Area? A friend tells me that THE PEOPLES TEMPLE bought time on a San Francisco Religious Radio Station but wasn't sure if it was KFAX-1100 or then Religious KEST-1450.

Not that I'm aware of. They did publish a little monthly newspaper. It was actually quite scary walking past their church on Geary and Fillmore (pre-the move to Jonestown) because whether it was 2pm or 2am there'd be people chanting and singing and whatnot and you could hear Jones and hypnotic voice on the PA.

On the other hand, people didn't think much about the church or its nasty implications because it just sounded like yet another over-the-top Christian revival churches. So, I can't blame the politicos for not seeing how dangerous the church was.

 

[LKellerIII]

Today (November 18) marks the 30TH Anniversary of the JONESTOWN MASSACRE which was led by the Reverend JIM JONES of SAN FRANCISCO. I am curious if Rev. Jim Jones ever had a RADIO SHOW in the Bay Area? A friend tells me that THE PEOPLES TEMPLE bought time on a San Francisco Religious Radio Station but wasn't sure if it was KFAX-1100 or then Religious KEST-1450.

Not that I'm aware of. They did publish a little monthly newspaper. It was actually quite scary walking past their church on Geary and Fillmore (pre-the move to Jonestown) because whether it was 2pm or 2am there'd be people chanting and singing and whatnot and you could hear Jones and hypnotic voice on the PA.

On the other hand, people didn't think much about the church or its nasty implications because it just sounded like yet another over-the-top Christian revival churches. So, I can't blame the politicos for not seeing how dangerous the church was.

No - I didn't blame the politicians, either. Jones was mentally ill - probably clinically paranoid, but he was very wily. San Francisco was just a couple of years into a more progressive political era; "big machine" Democrat Joe Alioto had been Mayor before George Moscone. The voters had rejected Dianne Feinstein's more moderate views in the 1975 mayoral election. People have forgotten, but Dianne actually came in third after realtor John Barbagelata.

Jones made friends with Moscone and the new, more liberal power-brokers. His flock was very diverse, and many were poor, so it was natural to include Jones in the progressive movement. Moscone appointed him to the Housing Commission, if I remember correctly.

Ironically, if Jones hadn't taken himself and the People's Temple out of the picture by moving to Guyana, he probably would have wielded some influence in city politics. In the weeks following the tragedy in Jonestown, Moscone caught a lot of flack for his earlier support of Jones...but of course, all that stopped with his assasination, and that of Harvey Milk less than a month later.

Sorry for the diversion away from the radio question...thinking about those times still makes me emotional.

 

[djj]

The link below says this about Jim Jones:
"...Through evangelistic rallies and radio broadcasts Jones addressed literally hundreds of thousands of people in cities all over the United States."

http://www.newdawnmagazine.com/Articles/Who Was Jim Jones.html

It does not says where the "radio broadcasts" originated, but the story does
say his church expanded into Los Angeles and San Francisco in the mid-1970s...

I, like Lkeller, have very bad vibes about Jonestown. My brother just came
home after a two-year church mission in Spain (different church), and was only
a few days later greeted by this news. We both shook our heads in disbelief...
--jay

 

[lenhockey]

According to a book, Salvation and Suicide written by David Chidester, Jim Jones had a regularly schedule broadcast on KFAX during 1972 to late 1973/early in 1974.

 

[LKellerIII]

The link below says this about Jim Jones:
"...Through evangelistic rallies and radio broadcasts Jones addressed literally hundreds of thousands of people in cities all over the United States."

http://www.newdawnmagazine.com/Articles/Who Was Jim Jones.html

It does not says where the "radio broadcasts" originated, but the story does
say his church expanded into Los Angeles and San Francisco in the mid-1970s...

I, like Lkeller, have very bad vibes about Jonestown. My brother just came
home after a two-year church mission in Spain (different church), and was only
a few days later greeted by this news. We both shook our heads in disbelief...
--jay

Pardon the further diversion, but did you read that New Dawn link, djj? It's written by conspiracy theorists who believe Jones was doing good work, there were no suicides, and implies that Jones and his flock were assassinated by the CIA. The only rationale they provide is that the US establishment was somehow "threatened" by Jones' anti-capitalist message.

The problem with this (like most other silly political conspiracy theories) is that they are explained by ridiculous and illogical presumptions. Why would the CIA and the American "establishment" feel threatened by a communal settlement like Jonestown in a tiny, backward South American country? It makes absolutely no sense. And of course, the article makes no references to the audio tapes of Jones talking to his flock about their pending deaths, telling them to die with dignity, and how drinking the Kool-Aid would be "just like going to sleep." I guess the conspiracy nuts would say that the tapes were fakes.

Unfortunately, all the nuts in the world now have websites. Depressing.

 

[djj]

Yes, I did read that before posting it, LK, and I agree with you 100% on all counts...

I only provided that link to show that a Jim Jones radio show existed; after LenHockey
mentioned the KFAX info, I since found a coupla sites (including, interestingly enough,
the Internet Movie DataBase or IMDB.com) that mention Jones' KFAX and/or radio history...

Apologies for the rest of the info on that previous link - and you're right, LK: It's too bad
these "conspiracy theorists" are running amok...
--jay

 

[Madmansam]

According to a book, Salvation and Suicide written by David Chidester, Jim Jones had a regularly schedule broadcast on KFAX during 1972 to late 1973/early in 1974.

Thanks Len, You answered my question.

 

[JEREMIAH]

I WAS FAIRLY NEW IN S.F. WHEN I WAS WATCHING TV ONE SUNDAY MORNING AND SAW A LIVE SHOT FROM THE "PEOPLE'S TEMPLE" ON A NEWSCAST. I WAS NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE P.T. AND WAS CURIOUS AS TO WHAT ALL THE FUSS WAS ABOUT. I SOON FOUND OUT. WHAT HAPPENED WAS ALMOST BEYOND BELIEF
BUT IT DID HAPPEN. AS IF THAT WASN'T BAD ENOUGH,NOT TOO MUCH LATER MAYOR MOSCONE AND SUPERVISOR HARVEY MILK WERE MURDERED IN COLD BLOOD BY DAN WHITE.

THOSE INCIDENTS WILL REMAIN WITH ME FOREVER.


JERRY GORDON KNUU LAS VEGAS

 

[Madmansam]

I WAS FAIRLY NEW IN S.F. WHEN I WAS WATCHING TV ONE SUNDAY MORNING AND SAW A LIVE SHOT FROM THE "PEOPLE'S TEMPLE" ON A NEWSCAST. I WAS NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE P.T. AND WAS CURIOUS AS TO WHAT ALL THE FUSS WAS ABOUT. I SOON FOUND OUT. WHAT HAPPENED WAS ALMOST BEYOND BELIEF
BUT IT DID HAPPEN. AS IF THAT WASN'T BAD ENOUGH,NOT TOO MUCH LATER MAYOR MOSCONE AND SUPERVISOR HARVEY MILK WERE MURDERED IN COLD BLOOD BY DAN WHITE.

THOSE INCIDENTS WILL REMAIN WITH ME FOREVER.


JERRY GORDON KNUU LAS VEGAS

I heard the news on both those incidents on the original KSFO-560. Probably the same time you replaced the Original J.G. at KSFO, JOHN GILLILAND.