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Live! At KRE Open House -- Be There!

We're only two weeks away from "Live! At KRE." You may have driven past KRE thousands of times over the years, but never had the opportunity to stop by for a visit -- so here's your chance. Last year's event was a blast, and I'd like to see all of you out there.

Here's the scoop:

WHERE: The Historic KRE Radio Station Building, 601 Ashby Ave., Berkeley
WHEN: Saturday, July 21, 2007, from 10 AM - 2 PM. (Gates open at 9:30 AM)
ADMISSION: $5 (Children under 12: free)

The California Historical Radio Society is proud to present its annual open house with a celebration of local radio history on the grounds of the famous KRE Radio Station Building, located under the huge radio tower on Ashby Avenue near Highway 80 in Berkeley.

The KRE building, which stood as an abandoned eyesore for many years, has been lovingly restored by the volunteer members of CHRS and converted into a world-class museum of radio and television, including vintage broadcast and production studios, displays of classic radios and television sets, a research library, a working ham radio shack (W6CF), electronic theory school and repair shop, plus a museum store and archival audio transfer and restoration service.

The open house will include tours of the facility, live music, and performances by the Bay Area’s own Broadcast Legends, as well as an auction of rare and unusual radios to help raise funds for CHRS’ continuing effort to preserve the rich history of broadcasting in the region.

Popular Bay Area radio personality Carter B. Smith will be on hand to host the festivities.

The historic KRE radio station building is one of the first structures built specifically for broadcasting in the Bay Area, and has been transmitting for seventy years from this location; it currently houses the transmitters for stations KVTO/1400 and KEAR/610 (formerly KFRC).

In the early 1970s, George Lucas used this location to film the Wolfman Jack and Richard Dreyfuss scenes in his film, “American Graffiti.” CHRS is believed to be one of the only vintage radio societies to have an historical AM radio station building as its headquarters.

The building will also serve as home to the Bay Area Radio Hall of Fame, with a “wall of honor” to celebrate the great men and women that have entertained local listeners on our airwaves for nearly a century.
 
[BUMP!]
 
Hey DJ, could you give the cross street for 601 Ashby

Mike: I know you asked David, but I hope you don't mind my answering half of your question...

The cross street for 601 Ashby is I-80 (Eastshore Freeway). Now how far it is from the Ashby station, that I don't know. That one I'll leave to DJ or whomever.
 
If you're heading east (which to me is north) on 80 from the Bay Bridge, Oakland, or points south, take the Ashby exit and watch for the Shellmound turn-out on the Ashby ramp.

Make that slight right onto the Shellmound turn-out, then make a left turn at the dead end. (If you go straight, you'll run into some train tracks.) After you make the left turn, the radio station will be just ahead on your left.

From I-80 West, take the Ashby exit. Go under the overpass and make a right turn on 7th Street, then turn right on Folger. Then left on Hollis. Then right on 67th. Then right on Shellmound, across the bridge and left into the gate.

(If that's too complicated, you may want to simply go to Hayward, hook a U-turn, then follow the directions for eastbound 80...)

The one thing to keep sight of when you're driving to KRE is that huge radio tower right at the edge of Aquatic Park. If you get lost, you've always got that tower as a landmark.

If parking inside the station gate is full, you may end up having to park along the perimeter road. Be prepared to do at least a bit of walking.

More details are available at http://www.californiahistoricalradio.com/photos72.html which includes photos of some of the items available during the auction.

Oh, and bring your camera, too!

DJ
 
Not to worry, DJ! I'll be arriving the night before and pitching a tent. Wouldn't want to have to park in El Cerrito, ya know! ;D
 
[BUMP!]

Just a reminder to keep the KRE open house on your calendar for next Saturday (July 21)!
 
BossRadioDJ said:
In the early 1970s, George Lucas used this location to film the Wolfman Jack and Richard Dreyfuss scenes in his film, “American Graffiti.” CHRS is believed to be one of the only vintage radio societies to have an historical AM radio station building as its headquarters.

Wasn't the 1260 tower at Candlestick was the location of the Wolfman scene?
 
DavidSC said:
Wasn't the 1260 tower at Candlestick was the location of the Wolfman scene?

Nope. The interiors were shot at KRE, and there's a big matching photo hanging in the station to prove it.

The exterior shots were done at KTOB in Petaluma.

DJ
 
I am looking forward to operating combo from 9:30 to 10:00 tomorrow. It will have been 44 years since I did that with records, and it was at KRE. Be sure and say hello if you are coming. Carter B.
 
CarterB said:
I am looking forward to operating combo from 9:30 to 10:00 tomorrow. It will have been 44 years since I did that with records, and it was at KRE. Be sure and say hello if you are coming.

Carter B.

That's right, kids! Carter B. Smith will be spinnin' the 78s from the KRE studio tomorrow morning (and hopefully at different intervals throughout the day).

It may be the first time anyone has cued up a 78 RPM record in the 21st Century...

Photos of young Carter B. in the KRE booth, the first time around:

http://www.bayarearadio.org/people/kre_carter-b-smith_1962.shtml

(Carter: is the 1962 date on these photos correct? I thought you might have been at KSFO by this time.)

Also, Michael Zwerling (owner of KSCO and KOMY) is working out the last-minute logistics of doing his Saturday morning radio show live from the station, too. He worked at KRE -- for John Hamilton (now of KGO) -- doing the snow phone reports back in the late 1960s.

Be there!

DJ
 
Carter: is the 1962 date on these photos correct? I thought you might have been at KSFO by this time.)


I went to KSFO in 1963. KPAT had taken over KRE shortly before I left for the big 560
 
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