Can someone post a format history of these two stations 1940's thru the 1970's. Does one even exist?
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KMJ, KFRE
- Thread starter RadioStarOne
- Start date
R
radio Reporter
Guest
Find and ask Al Smith, former GM at KMJ he would know
RR
RR
here's the wikipedia page on KMJ. Not a whole lot about programming, but some interesting stuff about ownership/signal changes
______________________________________________________________________________________
KMJ first began broadcasting in March 1922. It was originally owned by the San Joaquin Power and Light Corporation and acquired by the McClatchy Newspaper Company in 1925. KMJ is the 38th oldest licensed continuously operated radio station in the United States.
When KMJ frist began broadcasting it was licensed as an "E & M" station and shared those frequencies with every other E & M station in existence at the time.
KMJ operated on a number of other frequencies between 1925 and 1932. Some of the frequencies used included 820 and 1350 kHz.
McClatchy was intent on improving the signal and eventually competed with KTAB in Oakland for a new frequency (580 khz) that was being made available by the newly created FCC. KMJ was awarded the new channel. There is some anecdotal evidence that CK McClatchy's political connections were employed to obtain the grant.
KMJ moved to 580 kHz in 1932 and operated with 1 kW non directional from a building rooftop in Downtown Fresno.
KMJ was an affiliate of the Don Lee Network and it also carried CBS network broadcasts until 1936 when it affiliated with NBC. KMJ remained a NBC affiliate until NBC ceased hourly newscasts in the 1990's. It then affiliated with ABC and then changed back to CBS when Westinghouse Electric Corporation (later be renamed CBS Corp.) acquired the station from American Radio Systems in 1998.
Eventually a new 5,000-watt non-directional transmitter site was constructed. It utilized a 5/8 wave antenna and was located 5 miles east of Fresno at the northeast corner of the intersection of Kings Canyon Road and Fowler Avenue. The new 5 kW site was first used in 1936.
Modern studios were also constructed south of the newspaper on Van Ness Avenue. McClatchy eventually donated the former newspaper and radio studio to the Fresno Metropolitan Museum. The studio building was subsequently used by KVPR and later as museum offices. It was demolished in 2007 as part of a renovation of the main museum building.
In 1941, Hammer Field (later to become Fresno Air Terminal) was constructed as a training base for the Army Air Corps. THe KMJ tower was directly in line with the runway and the Army wanted the site relocated. KMJ ended up moving the site some 16 miles west of Fresno to the intersection of Madera and North Avenues (south of Kerman). The existing transmitter building was jacked up and moved to the Kerman Site. The existing tower was unstacked and moved as well. However, it was only built to 660 feet. The remaining 330 feet was stored on the site with the intention of creating a directional array. World War II interrupted the project, and it was never restarted after the end of the war. The extra 330 feet of tower was eventually moved to Sacramento and used in the construction of the KFBK transmitter site after WWII (1945).
At the outset of World War II, the Department of War selected KMJ as the primary medium for alerting Central California residents.
Until 1936 and the arrival of KARM, it was the only radio station in Fresno.
From 1925 until 1987, KMJ was owned by McClatchy Company, which also owned KFBK in Sacramento, KBEE in Modesto, KERN in Bakersfield, and KOH in Reno. McClatchy Newspapers owned three daily newspapers called "The Bee" in Fresno, Sacramento, and Modesto.
In 1953, McClatchy signed on KMJ-TV on channel 24. The television station would be sold off in 1981 to become KSEE.
______________________________________________________________________________________
KMJ first began broadcasting in March 1922. It was originally owned by the San Joaquin Power and Light Corporation and acquired by the McClatchy Newspaper Company in 1925. KMJ is the 38th oldest licensed continuously operated radio station in the United States.
When KMJ frist began broadcasting it was licensed as an "E & M" station and shared those frequencies with every other E & M station in existence at the time.
KMJ operated on a number of other frequencies between 1925 and 1932. Some of the frequencies used included 820 and 1350 kHz.
McClatchy was intent on improving the signal and eventually competed with KTAB in Oakland for a new frequency (580 khz) that was being made available by the newly created FCC. KMJ was awarded the new channel. There is some anecdotal evidence that CK McClatchy's political connections were employed to obtain the grant.
KMJ moved to 580 kHz in 1932 and operated with 1 kW non directional from a building rooftop in Downtown Fresno.
KMJ was an affiliate of the Don Lee Network and it also carried CBS network broadcasts until 1936 when it affiliated with NBC. KMJ remained a NBC affiliate until NBC ceased hourly newscasts in the 1990's. It then affiliated with ABC and then changed back to CBS when Westinghouse Electric Corporation (later be renamed CBS Corp.) acquired the station from American Radio Systems in 1998.
Eventually a new 5,000-watt non-directional transmitter site was constructed. It utilized a 5/8 wave antenna and was located 5 miles east of Fresno at the northeast corner of the intersection of Kings Canyon Road and Fowler Avenue. The new 5 kW site was first used in 1936.
Modern studios were also constructed south of the newspaper on Van Ness Avenue. McClatchy eventually donated the former newspaper and radio studio to the Fresno Metropolitan Museum. The studio building was subsequently used by KVPR and later as museum offices. It was demolished in 2007 as part of a renovation of the main museum building.
In 1941, Hammer Field (later to become Fresno Air Terminal) was constructed as a training base for the Army Air Corps. THe KMJ tower was directly in line with the runway and the Army wanted the site relocated. KMJ ended up moving the site some 16 miles west of Fresno to the intersection of Madera and North Avenues (south of Kerman). The existing transmitter building was jacked up and moved to the Kerman Site. The existing tower was unstacked and moved as well. However, it was only built to 660 feet. The remaining 330 feet was stored on the site with the intention of creating a directional array. World War II interrupted the project, and it was never restarted after the end of the war. The extra 330 feet of tower was eventually moved to Sacramento and used in the construction of the KFBK transmitter site after WWII (1945).
At the outset of World War II, the Department of War selected KMJ as the primary medium for alerting Central California residents.
Until 1936 and the arrival of KARM, it was the only radio station in Fresno.
From 1925 until 1987, KMJ was owned by McClatchy Company, which also owned KFBK in Sacramento, KBEE in Modesto, KERN in Bakersfield, and KOH in Reno. McClatchy Newspapers owned three daily newspapers called "The Bee" in Fresno, Sacramento, and Modesto.
In 1953, McClatchy signed on KMJ-TV on channel 24. The television station would be sold off in 1981 to become KSEE.
K
kenrayc
Guest
I can't seem to any history on KFRE ,Wikipedia only does the history of KFSN 30 and KFRE 59. KFRE (k-free) was oned by Triangle publications from 1959-1971 who also owned KFRE-TV 30 and KFRE-FM 101.9.After that not sure, I do know there format was MOR (Middle of the Road) which these days would be Soft AC.They switched to country in the early 80s.
K
kenrayc
Guest
Im still looking for history for KFRE.I do know growing up here KYNO 1300 BOSS RADIO was always #1 and KFRE with there 50'000 watt Blow Torch never could touch KYNOs Music.
I recall KFRE when Al Radka was on air...back in the '60's. Pretty much a variety of programs at the time. Seemed as if there was an afternoon game show as well, maybe around 3pm or so. The evening show was aimed at truckers and was sponsored by a cafe in Livingston... Pretty typical radio for the day... KFRE, KMJ, and KARM battled for the older crowd... KYNO and KMAK for the teens....KEAP had the country audience.
That was before the flip to a basic MOR format that was on-air during much of the later KYNO days and they had a few DJ's that someone around here might remember - Jay Stone (Jay Trachman) and Tom Maul...come to mind. I thought Dick Carr was also on KFRE, but that might have been earlier times.
Fresno Bee at one time had listings of the programs on the stations, just as they now have TV listings. If you were to check w/the Bee, you might be able to gain access to the history....pretty interesting stuff.
That was before the flip to a basic MOR format that was on-air during much of the later KYNO days and they had a few DJ's that someone around here might remember - Jay Stone (Jay Trachman) and Tom Maul...come to mind. I thought Dick Carr was also on KFRE, but that might have been earlier times.
Fresno Bee at one time had listings of the programs on the stations, just as they now have TV listings. If you were to check w/the Bee, you might be able to gain access to the history....pretty interesting stuff.
ki6bkj said:I'm not certqain about KMJ but about that time Bill Alobert had a show on KFRE I believe it was called Valley Jamboree
Bill Albert was doing that C&W truckers show if I remember right... I remember listening to him every night when I was a kid.
ExKynoJox said:Bill Albert was doing that C&W truckers show if I remember right... I remember listening to him every night when I was a kid.
Wasn't that Fred Sanders who did the "Interstate Radio Network" (the truckers show) in the '80s/'90s?
Or are you refering to another era of KFRE?...
--jay
E
Ed Zachary
Guest
Caught wind of a rumor today that Peak will flip JACK-FM to a simulcast of KMJ at 5AM on Thursday 3/26. Apparently it came from a client/agency. Does anyone have any corroboration?
K
kenrayc
Guest
What LOTUS should do with KHIT is play more 80s to make up for JACK. Play the New Wave and Mainstream hits up to 1989. Their currently playing mainly 70s which can be heard on 97.5 KABX, 95.7 the Fox and even KJWL.
P
paulf10212
Guest
RadioStarOne said:Can someone post a format history of these two stations 1940's thru the 1970's. Does one even exist?
I worked at KFRE 940 in the 70's. At that time it was a MOR (middle of the road) format playing everything from the Beatles to Sinatra. Al Radka had a show in the 60's when it was owned by Triangle Productions. It was purchased by Walter Lake and he ran it until the late 80's. The jocks were Mike Webb, (real name Bill Webb) morning drive, Pete Ladd middays, Sam Schwan afternoon drive, Von Drummonds evenings and Pat Kelley of "Peppermint Pat Kelley" nights. Tom Maul also was one of the jocks in the 70's. KFRE never competed with KYNO, that was Kmak.
Al Radka has a short lived saturday show on KFRE in the 70's that didn't amount to much
At least late 50s to 1968: KFRE was MOR with Al Radtka being the main talent, (he also had a show on KFRE-TV12.)
They carried CBS network programming (can't recall when that ended; 1971, I think.)
By 1969 they were still MOR but with a more modern sound, although they still ran Bill Albert's Valley Jamboree;he'd be on KPMC in Bakersfield in the 70s.)
KFRE-FM was on 93.7 (KARM-FM was on 101.9 in those days.)
The FM often ran separate, automated MOR.)
In 1971, Triangle sold the station, and I believe the FM was sold separately, becoming KFYE and using the same programming concepts as KIOI in San Francisco.
Meanwhile, the AM remained AC, but more personality-driven. By the early 80s, it had morphed into oldies, although I don't recall KFRE ever using "oldies" or "gold" as a positioner.
I can't recall when the switch to country occurred; I thought it was September 1985, but it may have been as early as 1983.
The 1970s KFRE jock was Bill Stone, by the way, not Jay Stone.
As for KMJ, it was MOR from the 1950s into the 1970s, changing to a mostly mellow modern AC around 1972 or 3. The news and ag emphasis has always been there.
Their approach was low-key, as was KFRE's, but KFRE distinguished themselves more on the personality front. I don't recall when the switch to talk took place, sometime in the 1980s.
KMJ-FM was classical until the early 1970s, as I recall, (97.9), running various automated formats into the 1980s.)
For years KMJ carried San Francisco Giants baseball and 49ers football, with KFRE handling conflicts and overflow games.
Incidentally, re 101.9: I believe they were KARM-FM until around 1977 or so, then KFRE got it. IIRC, they were country for a while as KFRY.
They carried CBS network programming (can't recall when that ended; 1971, I think.)
By 1969 they were still MOR but with a more modern sound, although they still ran Bill Albert's Valley Jamboree;he'd be on KPMC in Bakersfield in the 70s.)
KFRE-FM was on 93.7 (KARM-FM was on 101.9 in those days.)
The FM often ran separate, automated MOR.)
In 1971, Triangle sold the station, and I believe the FM was sold separately, becoming KFYE and using the same programming concepts as KIOI in San Francisco.
Meanwhile, the AM remained AC, but more personality-driven. By the early 80s, it had morphed into oldies, although I don't recall KFRE ever using "oldies" or "gold" as a positioner.
I can't recall when the switch to country occurred; I thought it was September 1985, but it may have been as early as 1983.
The 1970s KFRE jock was Bill Stone, by the way, not Jay Stone.
As for KMJ, it was MOR from the 1950s into the 1970s, changing to a mostly mellow modern AC around 1972 or 3. The news and ag emphasis has always been there.
Their approach was low-key, as was KFRE's, but KFRE distinguished themselves more on the personality front. I don't recall when the switch to talk took place, sometime in the 1980s.
KMJ-FM was classical until the early 1970s, as I recall, (97.9), running various automated formats into the 1980s.)
For years KMJ carried San Francisco Giants baseball and 49ers football, with KFRE handling conflicts and overflow games.
Incidentally, re 101.9: I believe they were KARM-FM until around 1977 or so, then KFRE got it. IIRC, they were country for a while as KFRY.
In 1958, Fresno had these stations on FM:
KRFM on 93.7 (doubt they were affiliated with KFRE at the time)
97.9 KMJ-FM
101.9 KARM-FM
The TV lineup in July '58:
KFRE-12 (which I'm certain was CBS);
KMJ-24 (which I'm sure was NBC);
KJEO-47 (which I'm sure was ABC);
KBID-53 (suspended operation)
In 1946, 940 was occupied by KTKC Visalia; 1240 was KCOK Tulare, and KFRE was on 1340.
By late '48, KFRE was on 940 licensed to Fresno with ABC, KYNO was Mutual, KMJ was NBC, and KARM was CBS.
This from the lists at Jeff Miller's excellent radio history site, jeff560.com.
KRFM on 93.7 (doubt they were affiliated with KFRE at the time)
97.9 KMJ-FM
101.9 KARM-FM
The TV lineup in July '58:
KFRE-12 (which I'm certain was CBS);
KMJ-24 (which I'm sure was NBC);
KJEO-47 (which I'm sure was ABC);
KBID-53 (suspended operation)
In 1946, 940 was occupied by KTKC Visalia; 1240 was KCOK Tulare, and KFRE was on 1340.
By late '48, KFRE was on 940 licensed to Fresno with ABC, KYNO was Mutual, KMJ was NBC, and KARM was CBS.
This from the lists at Jeff Miller's excellent radio history site, jeff560.com.
K
kenrayc
Guest
multiplex said:In 1958, Fresno had these stations on FM:
KRFM on 93.7 (doubt they were affiliated with KFRE at the time)
97.9 KMJ-FM
101.9 KARM-FM
The TV lineup in July '58:
KFRE-12 (which I'm certain was CBS);
KMJ-24 (which I'm sure was NBC);
KJEO-47 (which I'm sure was ABC);
KBID-53 (suspended operation)
In 1946, 940 was occupied by KTKC Visalia; 1240 was KCOK Tulare, and KFRE was on 1340.
By late '48, KFRE was on 940 licensed to Fresno with ABC, KYNO was Mutual, KMJ was NBC, and KARM was CBS.
This from the lists at Jeff Miller's excellent radio history site, jeff560.com.
What about The Dumont TV network that aired on Channel 27 (Tulare) and KICU Channel 43 that broadcasted from Eshom Point.
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