new article from The PI about Seattle radio beginnings...

[halloaaryn]

Awesome new article about the beginnings of radio here in Seattle from the PI...

http://www.seattlepi.com/local/415324_radio13.html?source=rss

 

[DanStrassberg]

Awesome new article about the beginnings of radio here in Seattle from the PI...
http://www.seattlepi.com/local/415324_radio13.html?source=rss

I read the article and enjoyed it, even though I live in New England--not the Pacific Northwest. But I have a question. There was an allusion to a late-night KOMO sign-off. The year wasn't given, but whenever it was, KOMO was operating at 920. With the advent of NARBA (3/31/1941), what had been 920 became 950, which means that, at some point, KJR and (then co-owned) KOMO must have swapped frequencies with each other--although I'm not sure that KOMO really ever was on 970. So what frequencies was KOMO on before it moved to 1000 and what power did it use. In all likelihood, KOMO did not become directional until it moved to 1000, although there were a few directional AMs in the US before NARBA. The first AM DA went on the air on 620 WFLA/WSUN Tampa-St Petersburg in 1931 or 1932.

 

[Bongwater]

Awesome new article about the beginnings of radio here in Seattle from the PI...
http://www.seattlepi.com/local/415324_radio13.html?source=rss

I read the article and enjoyed it, even though I live in New England--not the Pacific Northwest. But I have a question. There was an allusion to a late-night KOMO sign-off. The year wasn't given, but whenever it was, KOMO was operating at 920. With the advent of NARBA (3/31/1941), what had been 920 became 950, which means that, at some point, KJR and (then co-owned) KOMO must have swapped frequencies with each other--although I'm not sure that KOMO really ever was on 970. So what frequencies was KOMO on before it moved to 1000 and what power did it use. In all likelihood, KOMO did not become directional until it moved to 1000, although there were a few directional AMs in the US before NARBA. The first AM DA went on the air on 620 WFLA/WSUN Tampa-St Petersburg in 1931 or 1932.

It was KJR on 970. KJR then moved up to 1000 and KOMO moved to 950 during the time of the NARBA musical chairs. But since 1000 kHz was a designated clear channel, KOMO decided to put their "favorite child" on the clear channel 1000 kHz and "that stepkid" on 950, which was a regional channel, if I recall. Good timing. In a few years, such duopolys became outlawed after the breakup of the NBC Red/Blue Networks (the Blue Network became ABC)....

 

[jdweaver]

There is a faboulous old photo of the KJR studio/xmitter building on Harbor Island taken in the early '40s. Long before the cranes. It was blown up to a large size and sat for years in the offices at the old 190 Queen Anne facility. Clearly on the building are the call letters KJR on one side and KOMO on the other. Not sure how they handled the engineering as the two tower KJR aray was all that was evident in the picture.

Anyway - the picture was last seen at the MOHAI. Hope it's still there. Some idiot...and I mean idiot...threw the picture out when KJR moved. It was rescued by someone (God Bless) and donated to the museum.

 

[LITTLEBOYBLUE]

At one point KOMO Control room was atop the Fisher Flour mill on Harbor Island ... the little room is still there. My recollection is the x-mitter was up there for awhile too -- which MIGHT explain why it is not on site across the waterway where 'JR was. Not sure if xmitter moved directly from Harbor Island to Vashon or had stops in between?? I'll have to resurrect my history databases...