Need Info/History Of The Old KCRA-1320?

[Madmansam]

I am looking for info/history of the Old KCRA-1320 (now KCTC-ESPN 1320)? I recall when I was younger in the 1970's, when they were advertised as KCRA NEWSRADIO 1320, but I seem to remember that it was a mix of News, Talk AND MUSIC. I just can't remember what type of music they played? Didn't TRIBUNE buy that station (and then KCTC-96.1) from KELLY BROADCASTING in 1979 and changed its calls to KGNR? And wasn't it TRIBUNE that eliminated Music from KGNR? Just Curious?

 

[Michael Rivers Kramer]

I am looking for info/history of the Old KCRA-1320 (now KCTC-ESPN 1320)? I recall when I was younger in the 1970's, when they were advertised as KCRA NEWSRADIO 1320, but I seem to remember that it was a mix of News, Talk AND MUSIC. I just can't remember what type of music they played? Didn't TRIBUNE buy that station (and then KCTC-96.1) from KELLY BROADCASTING in 1979 and changed its calls to KGNR? And wasn't it TRIBUNE that eliminated Music from KGNR? Just Curious?

KCRA was an AC station with news blocks in the morning and afternoon. It was known as News Radio 132. In August of 1978, Tribune purchased the station from Kelly and changed the call letters to KGNR. The music was eliminated by 1980 or so. KGNR was News Talk until the Spring of 1985 when they added Big Band music after 9AM. Within a year, the morning news block was gone and by the Fall of 1986, the format was changed again to Oldies. In January 1990, KGNR became KCTC, picking up 96.1's format which would become Mix 96 within a month. By the end of 1990, KCTC would drop easy listening for the satellite delivered "AM Only" (Now known as Dial Global's Amercia's Best Music).

 

[Madmansam]

I am looking for info/history of the Old KCRA-1320 (now KCTC-ESPN 1320)? I recall when I was younger in the 1970's, when they were advertised as KCRA NEWSRADIO 1320, but I seem to remember that it was a mix of News, Talk AND MUSIC. I just can't remember what type of music they played? Didn't TRIBUNE buy that station (and then KCTC-96.1) from KELLY BROADCASTING in 1979 and changed its calls to KGNR? And wasn't it TRIBUNE that eliminated Music from KGNR? Just Curious?

KCRA was an AC station with news blocks in the morning and afternoon. It was known as News Radio 132. In August of 1978, Tribune purchased the station from Kelly and changed the call letters to KGNR. The music was eliminated by 1980 or so. KGNR was News Talk until the Spring of 1985 when they added Big Band music after 9AM. Within a year, the morning news block was gone and by the Fall of 1986, the format was changed again to Oldies. In January 1990, KGNR became KCTC, picking up 96.1's format which would become Mix 96 within a month. By the end of 1990, KCTC would drop easy listening for the satellite delivered "AM Only" (Now known as Dial Global's Amercia's Best Music).

Actually Michael, KCTC picked up ABC/SMN's STARDUST Adult Standards format. It wasn't until 1995, when HENRY BROADCASTING acquired KCTC (as well as KYMX), that they switched to "AM ONLY". Then I think around 2002, They switched to JSN's MUSIC OF YOUR LIFE and carried until 2004 which they switched to AIR AMERICA.

 

[Michael Rivers Kramer]

I am looking for info/history of the Old KCRA-1320 (now KCTC-ESPN 1320)? I recall when I was younger in the 1970's, when they were advertised as KCRA NEWSRADIO 1320, but I seem to remember that it was a mix of News, Talk AND MUSIC. I just can't remember what type of music they played? Didn't TRIBUNE buy that station (and then KCTC-96.1) from KELLY BROADCASTING in 1979 and changed its calls to KGNR? And wasn't it TRIBUNE that eliminated Music from KGNR? Just Curious?

KCRA was an AC station with news blocks in the morning and afternoon. It was known as News Radio 132. In August of 1978, Tribune purchased the station from Kelly and changed the call letters to KGNR. The music was eliminated by 1980 or so. KGNR was News Talk until the Spring of 1985 when they added Big Band music after 9AM. Within a year, the morning news block was gone and by the Fall of 1986, the format was changed again to Oldies. In January 1990, KGNR became KCTC, picking up 96.1's format which would become Mix 96 within a month. By the end of 1990, KCTC would drop easy listening for the satellite delivered "AM Only" (Now known as Dial Global's Amercia's Best Music).

Actually Michael, KCTC picked up ABC/SMN's STARDUST Adult Standards format. It wasn't until 1995, when HENRY BROADCASTING acquired KCTC (as well as KYMX), that they switched to "AM ONLY". Then I think around 2002, They switched to JSN's MUSIC OF YOUR LIFE and carried until 2004 which they switched to AIR AMERICA.

Not true, they started with AM Only and switched to Stardust around 94 or 94. You ARE right that Henry returned the station to "AM Only". It was Entercom that flipped KCTC to the MYOL. KCTC didn't switch to Air America until late 2005 (about eight months after I left KSAC).

 

[Madmansam]

I am looking for info/history of the Old KCRA-1320 (now KCTC-ESPN 1320)? I recall when I was younger in the 1970's, when they were advertised as KCRA NEWSRADIO 1320, but I seem to remember that it was a mix of News, Talk AND MUSIC. I just can't remember what type of music they played? Didn't TRIBUNE buy that station (and then KCTC-96.1) from KELLY BROADCASTING in 1979 and changed its calls to KGNR? And wasn't it TRIBUNE that eliminated Music from KGNR? Just Curious?

KCRA was an AC station with news blocks in the morning and afternoon. It was known as News Radio 132. In August of 1978, Tribune purchased the station from Kelly and changed the call letters to KGNR. The music was eliminated by 1980 or so. KGNR was News Talk until the Spring of 1985 when they added Big Band music after 9AM. Within a year, the morning news block was gone and by the Fall of 1986, the format was changed again to Oldies. In January 1990, KGNR became KCTC, picking up 96.1's format which would become Mix 96 within a month. By the end of 1990, KCTC would drop easy listening for the satellite delivered "AM Only" (Now known as Dial Global's Amercia's Best Music).

Actually Michael, KCTC picked up ABC/SMN's STARDUST Adult Standards format. It wasn't until 1995, when HENRY BROADCASTING acquired KCTC (as well as KYMX), that they switched to "AM ONLY". Then I think around 2002, They switched to JSN's MUSIC OF YOUR LIFE and carried until 2004 which they switched to AIR AMERICA.

Not true, they started with AM Only and switched to Stardust around 94 or 94. You ARE right that Henry returned the station to "AM Only". It was Entercom that flipped KCTC to the MYOL. KCTC didn't switch to Air America until late 2005 (about eight months after I left KSAC).

I thought They started with STARDUST in 1990, but I was wrong, however, I do remember them with STARDUST in 1993, because at that time, Modesto's then KBEE-970 switched to AM ONLY in 1993, and I remember hearing that KCTC was also ADULT STANDARDS too but hearing them id as STARDUST MUSIC. Also in 1993, I remember KABL-960 switching to AM ONLY. As for the AIR AMERICA switch, You too are correct but I knew that. 2004 was a TYPO, I mean't to type in 2005.

 

[Madmansam]

I just checked out THE SACRAMENTO BEE's ONLINE ARCHIVES which has articles dating back to 1984, and this is what I got dealing with KGNR-1320. On MAY 20, 1985 KGNR switched from NEWS/TALK to NEWS/BIG BAND MUSIC. In September of 1986, GM Bob Henley retires and is replaced by Doug Stewart. Soon afterwards, KGNR switches to Automated Rock And Roll Oldies on SEPTEMBER 29, 1986. I do know that between 1986 and 1990, KGNR tried one of the OLDIES Satellite Services. Don't know if it was SMN or TRANSTAR. Then on FEBRUARY 1, 1990, EASY LISTENING and the KCTC calls move to 1320 while 96.1 changes to AC and calls to KYMX.

 

[rickradio]

It all began with KCRA radio signing on for the first time April 12, 1945 at 1340 kHz. It however, was not a slow news day. KCRA presumably hit the ground running with the news of FDR's death. Not one to rest on his laurels, Ewing C. Kelly had KCRA-FM on the air by 1950, presumably at 96.1. But apparently that wasn't enough for the ambitious Mr. Kelly, who partnered with Gerald and Vernon Hansen of the Crystal Cream and Butter Co. to put KCRA-TV on channel 3 in September 1955, a partnership which would last until 1962. That's why KCRA-TV is at the north end of 10th Street. The then-infant TV station set up shop in an old barn Crystal used to store their dairy trucks, and never moved.

Backing up to 1945, the KCRA call letters were actually a mistake. Mr. Kelly's new radio station was supposed to be "KRCA" because of the parent company of NBC, the new station's affiliation, but an FCC typist somehow flipped the two middle call letters, and it was never changed to the original intention for some reason.

 

[Madmansam]

Backing up to 1945, the KCRA call letters were actually a mistake. Mr. Kelly's new radio station was supposed to be "KRCA" because of the parent company of NBC, the new station's affiliation, but an FCC typist somehow flipped the two middle call letters, and it was never changed to the original intention for some reason.

Thanks Rick for the info. Actually, This part I had already knew through the KCRA 50TH Anniversay Special from back in 1995. Before that, I had thought that maybe it stood for "K- saCRAmento". But I was wrong.

 

[Dave Williams]

KCRA was an AC station with news blocks in the morning and afternoon. It was known as News Radio 132. In August of 1978, Tribune purchased the station from Kelly and changed the call letters to KGNR. The music was eliminated by 1980 or so.

Close, but not quite right. But I gotta tell ya -- even though I was working there at the time the dates, even the exact year, escape me.

KCRA was an AC station with morning and afternoon news blocks until the mid-seventies when it went all news and talk all the time. News Radio 132 had a morning and afternoon news block with talk shows all other hours of the day until 1986. It was, in fact, purchased by Tribune and the call letters changed to KGNR at some point in the late seventies but it went all news and talk before then. Lee Kirk was probably the first talk show host in Sacramento, working middays at KCRA.

I took over hosting the morning show from Larry Page in July 1981. Four years later my partner, Bob Nathan, and I moved over to KFBK.

I can probably dredge up some more specifics if anybody is interested.

 

[TedL]

KFBK tried to beat KCRA or KGNR for years... even hired Larry Page to do the morning news, and several other KCRA (AM) people. Bob who's name I can't remember right now (who wrote news in the afternoon at KCRA) worked at KFBK when I was at "NewsTalk 15" in 80 & 81.

When they hired Dave and Bob away from KGNR that was the death knell for KGNR's news format. Eventually even Airwatch traffic pilot Joe Miano flew over to KFBK.

Ted

 

[Dave Williams]

You got it right, Ted.

I believe you're talking about Bob Van Roy who moved from KGNR to KFBK. What a wonderful guy he was. He died in the late eighties or early nineties.

Dave

 

[Michael Rivers Kramer]

KCRA was an AC station with news blocks in the morning and afternoon. It was known as News Radio 132. In August of 1978, Tribune purchased the station from Kelly and changed the call letters to KGNR. The music was eliminated by 1980 or so.

Close, but not quite right. But I gotta tell ya -- even though I was working there at the time the dates, even the exact year, escape me.

KCRA was an AC station with morning and afternoon news blocks until the mid-seventies when it went all news and talk all the time. News Radio 132 had a morning and afternoon news block with talk shows all other hours of the day until 1986. It was, in fact, purchased by Tribune and the call letters changed to KGNR at some point in the late seventies but it went all news and talk before then. Lee Kirk was probably the first talk show host in Sacramento, working middays at KCRA.

I took over hosting the morning show from Larry Page in July 1981. Four years later my partner, Bob Nathan, and I moved over to KFBK.

I can probably dredge up some more specifics if anybody is interested.

Thanks for the correction Dave. It's great to hear from you. I was really sorry to hear about your departure at KNX.

 

[Dave Williams]

Michael,

Thanks for the kind words. Truth is, my departure from KNX feels like early release for good behavior.

I enjoyed the people I worked with. I enjoyed parts of the job. But I wore a CBS straitjacket for five years and now they've been kind enough to give me enough of a severance package to allow me to choose my next job carefully.

I just enjoyed a full holiday season with my family without having to wake up at 2:00AM. I'm a happy guy.

Dave

 

[BossRadioDJ]

I am looking for info/history of the Old KCRA-1320 (now KCTC-ESPN 1320)? I recall when I was younger in the 1970's, when they were advertised as KCRA NEWSRADIO 1320, but I seem to remember that it was a mix of News, Talk AND MUSIC. I just can't remember what type of music they played?

I just posted some 1973 KFBK audio under the "KFBK QUESTION" thread ... and here's some KCRA/1320 audio (about 20 minutes worth) from Nov. 27, 1973, so you can answer your own question:

http://www.sfradiomuseum.com/audio/schneider/KCRA_1973-11-27_Brian-Kennedy.ram

There's some Donovan ("Season Of The Witch," which starts the recording), Olivia Newton-John, Paul Simon, Ringo ... and NBC News. The ID is "KCRA Newsradio" -- between all the music.

This and the KFBK 'check are from John Schneider's archives in the Bay Area Radio Museum. We've got a ton of country KRAK Radio (11-4-Oh!) going back to the early 1960s, plus some KNDE, KROY and KCTC from the early '70s.