If not KPAT, who was the Mutual station in SF?

[bobgowa]

Thanks to all who replied to my KPAT question. If KPAT wasn't the local Mutual affiliate, who was? I recall reading that KFRC being in that group at one time, but the memory is fuzzy (like my head).

Bob Gowa

 

[LKellerIII]

Thanks to all who replied to my KPAT question. If KPAT wasn't the local Mutual affiliate, who was? I recall reading that KFRC being in that group at one time, but the memory is fuzzy (like my head).

Bob Gowa

Well, my head's not fuzzy (unfortunately), but my memory is. I remember hearing Long John Nebel, and his successor - Larry King - over the San Francisco Mutual affiliate in the mid 70s. But I can't pull the station call letters or frequency out of the moth-eaten depths of the memory banks.

Calling Boss Radio DJ...

 

[DavidKaye]

Thanks to all who replied to my KPAT question. If KPAT wasn't the local Mutual affiliate, who was? I recall reading that KFRC being in that group at one time, but the memory is fuzzy (like my head).

Bob Gowa

Nobody wanted Mutual. Back on June 26 I posted a history of Mutual after KFRC/Don Lee to the ba.broadcast newsgroup. Here's the post via Google Groups: http://groups.google.com/group/ba.b...af4e1b95340?lnk=gst&q=mutual#0e9fbaf4e1b95340

Someone pointed out the other day that KKHI played only the Fulton Lewis commentaries and made good on the spots for everything else on the network. So, the compensation from Mutual must have been very good indeed.

 

[pard]

Mutual was heard overnights on KNEW, I believe in the oldies format (prior to 1975. Names from Mutual I remember: Del Sharbutt, Candy Crowley, James Hall, Dan Hackel and Mike Hyde. I was the overnight jock much of the time then.

 

[raydioheadfm]

In the early 70's Mutual was also heard at times on 1450 KEST and on 1010 KSAY (at the time a day time country station). I may be crazy, but I believe that for a short time, night time newscasts on Mutual originated in SF (at KSAY)...then I believe actually originated out of KOMO in Seattle, again for a short time, before returning to Mutual in NY.

 

[JEREMIAH]

My only experience with Mutual was in the waning days of Golden West's KSF0 in the '80's when we carried Larry King overnight. I don't know the history of Mutaul in SF.

I have known Mike Heid for many years..and have worked with him.We're still in contact. He still sounds great, lives in DC where his wife is a doctor. He does V.O. was teaching at CSB and is chief usher at the National Cathedral, a very prestigious and well paying gig.

Mike told me a story ...when he was at Mutual in the '70s the company was in such dire financhial straits that even the typewriters weren't working. It was mom and pop owned..later Amway bought it. They sounded fine, though, you'd never know it by listening.

I also once worked with Fred Lowry, he was at Mutual during the Larry King era.



Jerry Gordon KNUU Las Vegas

 

[DavidKaye]

In the early 70's Mutual was also heard at times on 1450 KEST and on 1010 KSAY (at the time a day time country station). I may be crazy, but I believe that for a short time, night time newscasts on Mutual originated in SF (at KSAY)...then I believe actually originated out of KOMO in Seattle, again for a short time, before returning to Mutual in NY.

I am not sure that Mutual's Pacific feed originated at KSAY, given that it signed off at sunset, which meant 4:30 in December and the MP cut-ins had to happen at 4:30, 5:30, and 6:30 if memory serves me.

Also, unless I'm mistaken, Mutual Pacific originated at KIRO rather than KOMO. KIRO became the Mutual affiliate in 1973, after about 30 years with CBS.

 

[raydioheadfm]

David, you may be right on KIRO. But I'm positive the Pacific feed came from SF for a short time...as the anchor locked out with "San Francisco" or included it in the open or close. That's why I investigated it at the time (as a young teen, I might add!) Yes, KSAY did sunset sign off, but I remember hearing these SF casts on small MBS stations down the valley during this time. Again, it was not for long...a few months, max, if memory serves. When did KIRO switch back to CBS from Mutual? I know that is has been CBS since at least the early 90s?

 

[DavidKaye]

David, you may be right on KIRO. But I'm positive the Pacific feed came from SF for a short time...as the anchor locked out with "San Francisco" or included it in the open or close.

I'd say it was KKHI. This would account for KKHI carrying only the Fulton Lewis commentary and making good all the other avails. It's funny that just 10 years after Mutual had been a hot property nobody here wanted to carry them at all.

When did KIRO switch back to CBS from Mutual? I know that is has been CBS since at least the early 90s?

Sorry, no idea.

 

[pard]

I have known Mike Heid for many years..

I also once worked with Fred Lowry, he was at Mutual during the Larry King era.

Never knew correct spelling of "Mike Heid" and I forgot to mention Fred Lowry on Mutual in the middle of the (west coast) night on Mutual. Thanks.

 

[DavidKaye]

I also once worked with Fred Lowry, he was at Mutual during the Larry King era.

A long time ago there was a whistler named Fred Lowry who recorded on...Mutual Records (an R&B label so obscure it's not even listed in Wikipedia). The guy was an amazing whistler. Do you know if this was the same guy?

 

[JEREMIAH]

David Kaye:

I worked with Fred At WMEX in Boston. I never heard him whistle even once.


Jerry Gordon KNUU Las Vegas

 

[bobgowa]

Thanks to Jerry, David and all who responded. It's KSFO where I remember hearing Larry King and Jim Bohannon in the 80's.

I'm grateful - it was driving me nuts for some reason!

 

[DavidKaye]

Thanks to Jerry, David and all who responded. It's KSFO where I remember hearing Larry King and Jim Bohannon in the 80's.
I'm grateful - it was driving me nuts for some reason!

In the 1980s? I'm mystified. Where's Production Boy when we need him? He was there. He should have the correct dates and formats, etc.