Happy 85th Birthday, KOL!

[adiant]

(K)KOL signed on 85 years ago today. They are my favourite Top 40 station of all time, in terms of total time I listened to them, and number of years (mid-'60s to 1971, up to the time that Robert O. Smith and Robin Mitchell left), and tied for my favourite station of all time (CKLG-FM Vancouver was the other).

My Today In Radio History column today dwelled almost entirely on KOL this morning, including both history and personal impressions: http://www.radiowest.ca/forum/viewtopic.php?p=12756703#12756703
Some unique graphics, too. The EKKO and Bryant stamps date from the late '20s and early '30s. The radio made to look like a microphone is from either the late '50s or early '60s.

 

[CorporateSuit]

(K)KOL signed on 85 years ago today. They are my favourite Top 40 station of all time, in terms of total time I listened to them, and number of years (mid-'60s to 1971, up to the time that Robert O. Smith and Robin Mitchell left), and tied for my favourite station of all time (CKLG-FM Vancouver was the other).

My Today In Radio History column today dwelled almost entirely on KOL this morning, including both history and personal impressions: http://www.radiowest.ca/forum/viewtopic.php?p=12756703#12756703
Some unique graphics, too. The EKKO and Bryant stamps date from the late '20s and early '30s. The radio made to look like a microphone is from either the late '50s or early '60s.

Well, wait a minute....I thought that KMPS was the original KOL and that they gave up those call letters. Then the Everett station created K...KOL, but it's really NOT the same station. I'm not sure you can say KKOL is actually celebrating it's anniversay when the original KOL still exists (under another name).

 

[searadiofreak]

Yes, since the original calls are not being used anymore in Seattle, it really can't be considered the 85th anniversary of KOL, especially since the frequency carried KMPS for many years. A better description would be the 85th anniversary of the frequency, with similar calls now on it.

However, that doesn't diminish KOL's long and colorful (Kolorful KOL!) history in the Seattle market. I agree, a very good Top40 in the 1960's!

 

[adiant]

KOL

KOL changed call letters to KMPS, then to KKOL. They have remained on their current frequency of 1300 KHz, since at least the major frequency shuffle of 1941. Their transmitter was on Harbor Island (Seattle) until the end of 2001, when they were forced to move, temporarily to a ship, and now a new 50,000 watt transmitter site. Details can be found at http://www.kkol.com/1300kolhistory.html

Everyone is entitled to their own definition of when a radio station ceases to be the same radio station, but, until now, everyone that I know (and I assume that would include the FCC) considers KKOL/KMPS/KOL the same radio station all these past 85 years.

 

[searadiofreak]

Re: KOL

KOL changed call letters to KMPS, then to KKOL. They have remained on their current frequency of 1300 KHz, since at least the major frequency shuffle of 1941. Their transmitter was on Harbor Island (Seattle) until the end of 2001, when they were forced to move, temporarily to a ship, and now a new 50,000 watt transmitter site. Details can be found at http://www.kkol.com/1300kolhistory.html

Everyone is entitled to their own definition of when a radio station ceases to be the same radio station, but, until now, everyone that I know (and I assume that would include the FCC) considers KKOL/KMPS/KOL the same radio station all these past 85 years.

Adiant, with all due respect, your logic just doesn't make sense to me. A radio station is not the same as the frequency. KKOL, KMPS, and KOL were all entirely different radio stations. Different formats, different owners, different call letters. KOL had a lifetime of about 53 years, 1922-1975. Again, a great 53-year run, no doubt. But KOL is not 85 years old. KOL doesn't even exist. The frequency exists with similar calls, but is so far removed from the original KOL that I just don't see how they can be lumped together.

Here are a couple of examples...The 95.7 frequency was KIXI-FM in the early 80's, became KLITE in the late 80's, then eventually KJR-FM in the 90's. Are they the same station? Not even close. Or, how about 97.3, the great south sound Top40 KNBQ, which later became Oldies KBSG. Same station, not hardly.

 

[adiant]

KOL

As I say, to everyone I've met, until now, the definition of a radio station pretty much followed the regulator's viewpoint: the FCC in the U.S. and the CRTC in Canada. Did the regulator apply the same licensing process as they do for a completely new entity, as when KOL-FM was first licensed, for example? Or KOOD-1480 Lakewood and KURB-1510 Mountlake Terrace back in 1968?

I know about both of your examples, but not quite enough to comment on them. In my local market (Edmonton, Alberta, Canada; I grew up near Vancouver, B.C.), the regulator views both CJCA and CKUA as one radio station, even though, during the 1990s, the owners of each shut the station down, it was off the air for some period and another owner asked the regulator for the license. In a more extreme example, the regulator views CKST-1070 the same station as CFMG-104.9, even though there have been 5 owners, 3 different formats, a change in city of license, and 4 different frequencies (2 on AM and 2 on FM) since sign-on in the late 1970s. On the other hand, whenever a station switches from AM to FM, anyone wanting the old AM frequency must apply, and go through the same lengthy process, just as anyone else would if they wanted to start a brand new radio station.

Anyway, that was where my logic came from.

 

[searadiofreak]

Jon, (adiant) I respect your expertise. We may just be talking about apples and oranges here. No biggie. In the end, we both agree KOL was a fantastic radio station in the 60's and early 70's. Loved their jingles, and loved their attitude that they could take on Channel 95! They were a victim of increased market competition, with KING-AM joining the fray, and then of course the exodus to FM.

I also enjoyed listening to Vancouver radio in the 70's, but kind of hard to pull in around Seattle. CFUN was an easy DX listen at night, and I loved their high energy presentation in the mid-70's. By that time, Seattle radio was quite mellow comparitively. CKLG was harder to DX, but when I did get them, I was quite impressed. A quality radio station with those great accapella jingles and super talent!

 

[adiant]

Vancouver Top 40

Yes, many of the Vancouver stations did not put much signal South, especially at night. By 1970 or so, they almost all had 50,000 watts. But, to get it, they had to have pretty tight patterns to protect other stations on their frequency, usually to the South. As a result, transmitters were generally South of Vancouver with a strong signal North and not much South.

Ironically, the first 50KW Vancouver station did not have to protect anything to the South, so had a nice signal into Seattle and Portland -- CKWX-1130 in the late '50s, where Red Robinson came to the attention of Portland radio folks, and ended up working in Portland radio until he was drafted.

Like Seattle, with KOL, KAYO and KJR battling it out in the late '50s with Top 40, Vancouver began with CJOR-600 (where Red began), CKWX and then CFUN-1410. CKLG-730 joined the battle in 1964, after CJOR and CKWX had long since dropped out of the picture, leaving CFUN alone in the market prior to LG's entry. CFUN gave up in the late '60s, even changing call letters to CKVN with a mostly News format. But they came back strong in 1971, though CKLG was a really tough competitor.

On the FM side, KOL-FM and CKLG-FM were quite similar, both starting alternative programming around 1968, quickly going 100% Rock album cuts.

Back to signals: KOL was a tough listen in Vancouver much after sunset. I always attributed it to being at just the right distance and power to have the sky wave and ground wave signals interfere with each other, causing phasing and other nasty effects.

But the one station with a killer signal was KGA-1510 Spokane, the one year they were Top 40 (most of 1968). Years later (around 1980), they were the strongest non-local at night in San Diego! One of their DJs, John Novak, had enough of an audience in Calgary that he actually moved to CKXL after KGA switched to Country.

 

[xmtrland]

I can relate to this topic. What to call stations that change call letters a lot. Out here on Vashon I’m always calling the 1090 transmitter facility KING. So I have gotten used to referring to stations as the licensed frequency. 1090 and 770 facility, for what used to be KING 1090 and the 820, 950 facility that used to be KQIN.

Here is my take on station age.

If you look at a station from an engineering perspective. The original license date is the birth of a station. The original license is what is sold and bought, the ability to broadcast on that frequency. I think what KKOL is celebrating is the fact that 85 years ago a license to broadcast was issued. Stewardship of that license has provided the Seattle metro area with a signal that has been on the air consistently for 85 years. There was an adjustment to the frequency in 1941. But that still involved the original license.

Without the licensee there is no radio station. Licenses can be modified, frequencies changed, power levels raised. It’s that original license date that started the station and marks when the station went into service.

Stations can also celebrate the date that they changed format. So this is just a way for a station to have 2 celebrations a year. One for the date the license was issued and another celebration for the format.

KUBE celebrates the date they launched the KUBE format. They don’t celebrate the original license date. Which is what KKOL is doing. I hope we have not opened a Pandora’s box here, giving stations another reason to throw a party to celebrate their existence.

Opps forgot about call letter changes but those celebrations are more tied to celebrating a format/imaging change. So for some stations they have a reason to celebrate their existence 3 times a year. License date, format date and call letter date.

 

[searadiofreak]

LOL! That is kind of what my discussion with adiant was about...that big grey area as to how define an anniversary of a product that exists only in "air"! I guess more of the "magic" of radio...

 

[LITTLEBOYBLUE]

Isn't this a lot like the "Elvis would have been 200 years old today if he had not rolled snake-eyes in the Graceland Can" celebration we do every year? Some people get joy because they celebrate that anniversary; others think the birthday clock shoulda stopped when Elvis' ticker did. Each side is right in their own way.

Meanwhile...happy birthday to the KOL license...however ya wanna interpret that. It truly was "ahead of its' time"

 

[searadiofreak]

Right on LBB, we can argue about the relatively unimportant details of when stations were actual "stations", but the bottom line is KOL was a fantastic part of Seattle radio. KJR was the King (OK, wrong word and calls), but KOL gave them a real run for their money with Dick Curtis, Robin Mitchell, Burl Barer, and others. The 60's ended, then upstart KING came on and eventually was a real contender with their "More Music", fake drake sound. The 70's brought an end to KOL, then KING, and finally KJR (who maintained a semi-Top40 format into the early 80's). What a great era for Seattle radio. Great talent, (Gary Lockwood, Andy Barber, Charlie Brown, and others), but FM finally took over with KPLZ (KPlus), and KUBE as the 70's became the 80's. What a wonderful time that sadly will probably never happen again.

 

[LITTLEBOYBLUE]

I think one reason KJR lasted longer than others was they "got" personality. KING hired many of the people you remember (Andy Barber, Gary Lockwood, Phil Harper) then in their infinite wisdom would tell them to "shut the h377 up and play the hits"...eventually launching their "20 minute music jams" with some incredible talent reduced to basically board-ops. To no one's amazement, most of those former-KING leaders are market (or regional) managers in today's radio. KJR/KOL's leadership, meanwhile, mostly on the sidelines with a MAJOR eye roll!!

 

[majoradio]

KJR vs KOL

I think one reason KJR lasted longer than others...

KJR simply 'sounded' better!!

 

[semoochie]

Xmtrland has the correct explanation: In Portland, KUPL has been on both 1330 and 970 but the station histories are not related. 1330 is the KALE/KPOJ/KPOK/KUPL etc history whereas later adding a new KUPL-AM contributed to the KOIN/KYTE etc history. The current KPOJ has no connection with 1330 and is a direct descendent of KGW.

 

[LITTLEBOYBLUE]

Xmtrland has the correct explanation: In Portland, KUPL has been on both 1330 and 970 but the station histories are not related. 1330 is the KALE/KPOJ/KPOK/KUPL etc history whereas later adding a new KUPL-AM contributed to the KOIN/KYTE etc history. The current KPOJ has no connection with 1330 and is a direct descendent of KGW.

How would you view the KJR-FM resurrection of KJR-AM? Are they a continuation of same history or two different entities? Spirit of station is same, but frequency, ownership, license completely different.... (this is intended to be a serious question not challening your post...)

 

[searadiofreak]

Xmtrland has the correct explanation: In Portland, KUPL has been on both 1330 and 970 but the station histories are not related. 1330 is the KALE/KPOJ/KPOK/KUPL etc history whereas later adding a new KUPL-AM contributed to the KOIN/KYTE etc history. The current KPOJ has no connection with 1330 and is a direct descendent of KGW.

How would you view the KJR-FM resurrection of KJR-AM? Are they a continuation of same history or two different entities? Spirit of station is same, but frequency, ownership, license completely different.... (this is intended to be a serious question not challening your post...)

Funny, this thread seems to have posed more questions than answered. A great big grey area here...

But I've always believed that a radio station exists over the years with the same calls, same frequency, and similar, if not somewhat different formats. KJR is still alive despite their format change. KOL is long gone, IMHO. How about KVI, KIRO, KOMO? They are not the same as they once were, but they still are on the same frequency and have the same calls. Isn't that the ultimate criteria?

 

[IndigoCoyote]

You mean classical/ chorale KJR at 1000 AM? Because that's what they were and what they were doing. KOMO was at 950. Many many format, ownership, engineering, and so forth changes over the years. KVI was originally licensed to Tacoma and I think somewhere else than 570. KIXI was at 910 (IXI, get it?) and moved it's COL to Mercer Island when they moved to 880 and upped to 50K.

As far as original frequency, format, COL being the longest lived? I am guessing and could use some help here. Seems like KIRO has always been 710 Seattle and those calls. The 105.3 and 630 licensed to Edmonds have always been Christian and I (think?) always owned by what is now Christa Ministries. They most definitely have always been licensed to Edmonds. 1050 KBLE Seattle I don't have a historical handle on...but it is now Catholic w offices in Kirkland and a long time ago I think it was more Baptist or some such.

One station I worked at ages ago, 1430 KBRC Mt. Vernon, started in 1946 with the same COL, calls, frequency. Newish owners and fully on the bird now though. I wonder if KGY Olympia is the "most original" of any left in the Puget Sound? I don't know about frequency, but COL and calls unchanged since your dad was just a gleam in grandad's eyes. Any thoughts on others?

 

[searadiofreak]

When you say "COL", I assume you mean City of License.
KVI may be the oldest calls and frequency in Seattle/Tacoma. (Was not aware that it was an original Tacoma license!)

I had the opportunity to collect some paychecks from Golden West-KVI...if I had only known the history!, although Gene Autry came through the building when I was on the air! Didn't bother to come into the studio, but no biggie. I saw him through the window and was amazed at his small stature, I guess you look a lot bigger on the silver screen!

 

[semoochie]

My take from outside the market is that since KJR-FM is on 95.7, it is part of the history of KIXI-FM and KIXI-AM, assuming the latter put it on the air in the first place. They are not related to KJR in any historical way since they were already on the air before making an ownership connection with them.