KBLA 1490, KHJ 930

[thebeach33445]

Hey Guys:

I can find this info anywhere in my research.

Would anybody know what the formats were on KBLA 1490 and KHJ 930 before they both became Top 40 in 1965?

Thanks

T.J.

 

[michael hagerty]

t.j.
Looks like KBLA was easy listening (they actually carried a radio version of The Lawrence Welk Show) until the flip to Top 40. It, the frequency switch (from 1490 to 1500) and a power boost all happened the same day: February 12, 1965.

KHJ went through a few approaches, including a brief shot at Top 40 in 1960, but for the most part it was a combination of easy listening, big personalities (Steve Allen & Jayne Meadows, Robert Q. Lewis) and talk at night (with Michael Jackson, who went to KABC when KHJ went "Boss" in April, 1965).

 

[jonbruce]

They actually were "mostly" top 40 in 1964 on 1490. Russ O'Hara and ,Vic Gruppie who morphed into Vic Gee on 1500 (now known as Jim Carson), Bob "Your Chunkie Leader" Wilson, Frank White, and Daryll Eversol (the all night satilite) were jocks there at the time. They did run the radio version of the Welk show in the mornings during the week (it came on a disc) and there were a number of brokered shows sprinkled in throught the day as well.

 

[oldiesfan6479]

They actually were "mostly" top 40 in 1964 on 1490. Russ O'Hara and...were jocks there at the time.

Russ on the radio in El Lay (well, Burbank) in '64? I thought he started out
in some small Cali markets and he didn't really "hit stride" until '67 in Tucson
(KFIF/KIKX) and San Berdoo (KMEN).

 

[LKellerIII]

t.j.


KHJ went through a few approaches, including a brief shot at Top 40 in 1960, but for the most part it was a combination of easy listening, big personalities (Steve Allen & Jayne Meadows, Robert Q. Lewis) and talk at night (with Michael Jackson, who went to KABC when KHJ went "Boss" in April, 1965).

I wasn't yet a big radio listener when KHJ flipped to Boss Radio in 65, so I missed all the action when Bill Drake and Ron Jacobs took over, but I do recall when it happened because my parents were furious - the MOR version of KHJ was one of their favorite radio stations, and my mother loved Michael Jackson. I believe they were in the minority, since KHJ's ratings were much lower than KNX, KMPC and KABC, among others.

My father thought Boss Radio was armageddon - the "kids" already had 2 stations (KRLA and KFWB). He believed in the radio domino-theory...that there would be nothing but rock stations by the late 60s.

 

[ercjncpr]

KHJ even aired OTR mysteries on Sunday afternoons in 1964...my favorite was The Shadow (which had ended its original run on 930 only 10 years earlier)

 

[Lopaka]

Would pre '65 have been the Robert W. Morgan era on KHJ? Did he do KMPC for a time?

 

[davideduardo]

Would pre '65 have been the Robert W. Morgan era on KHJ? Did he do KMPC for a time?

Morgan came in for Drake and Jacobs. Pre-1965, KHJ was still in the last days of old-line MOR, remnants of the Don Lee Network.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_Lee_(broadcaster)

 

[thebeach33445]

Hey David:

When you say "Old Line MOR" Do you mean Standards type music?

Thanks

T.J.

 

[michael hagerty]

t.j.


KHJ went through a few approaches, including a brief shot at Top 40 in 1960, but for the most part it was a combination of easy listening, big personalities (Steve Allen & Jayne Meadows, Robert Q. Lewis) and talk at night (with Michael Jackson, who went to KABC when KHJ went "Boss" in April, 1965).

I wasn't yet a big radio listener when KHJ flipped to Boss Radio in 65, so I missed all the action when Bill Drake and Ron Jacobs took over, but I do recall when it happened because my parents were furious - the MOR version of KHJ was one of their favorite radio stations, and my mother loved Michael Jackson.

Llew: My mom, too! KMPC all day, but Michael Jackson on KHJ at night.

 

[michael hagerty]

Would pre '65 have been the Robert W. Morgan era on KHJ? Did he do KMPC for a time?

Morgan came to KHJ from KEWB, Oakland in April of '65 and stayed until October, 1970. He went to WIND, Chicago,retuned to KHJ in January, 1972 and left in June, 1973.

He was at KIQQ from December, 1973 until October, 1975, when he left to do weekends and fillins at KMPC. He got the morning show in August, 1979 and stayed until 1984.

He was at KMGG in '84 and '85, got blown out when it became Power 106 in '86 and returned to KMPC six months later. He left for KRTH in August, 1992 and worked there until his death in 1998.

 

[GeorgeJ.]

My recollection of the 1490 KBLA was that the signal was better from the 1490 facility than the "upgraded" 1500...at least to the East from Burbank (Pasadena).

I also seem to recall that the 1500 KBLA was automated for a good number of months before they finally went with live programming on 1500...

 

[jonbruce]

Yes, The 1490 signal was better in Pasadena than 1500. At first 1500 was live with mostly older jocks like Tom Duggan and Syd Wayne as full top 40. When that didn't do what they hoped for it was automated for a number of months before the modification to "Super 15" KBLA with higher energy jocks Don Elliott and Bob Dayton. The old 1490 studios in the Burbank park were some of the worst I have ever seen with wires everywhere, an old Western Electric board and cart machines that you had to hold the carts in with your hand otherwise they would pop out. The new 1500 studio was one of the best I have ever seen; state of the art for the time.