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Old radio stations; What happened to their stuff?
- Thread starter PSAIRCHECKS
- Start date
Re: carts. Nothing vintage, and tape in poor condition. Even worse condition since the garbage man took them all away a few days ago. Probably one of the toughest things I ever had to do. I still have a few good cart machines, and a couple of reel-to-reel units, suitable for memories.
I don't miss the nicotine on the formica, on the console knobs, windows, etc.
I don't miss the nicotine on the formica, on the console knobs, windows, etc.
I have an actual program log from KIRO AM from August 12, 1948. My dad worked part time at the KIRO transmitter since 1974. They were cleaning out old boxes and he kept that log. Two things ran across my mind when I stumbled across it in my dad's office last winter. First I thought it was a transmitter log. It was so thick (over an Inch thick). Then I started to thumb through it and noticed this was the daily On Air operators log for that day back in 1948. It has the scripts for the radio plays that aired that day. Weather forecast. Record log play list. Signatures. All the commercials were read live (no cart machines). Very interesting insight to radio and what was said on KIRO back on August 12, 1948. Here is another interesting fact about that log. Why did my dad pick that log to retain? That's his birthday, he would have been a teen attending West Seattle High School. There is a good chance he was listening to or heard KIRO that day. The log is an interesting read. I'm trying to get the time to scan it and place it on line.
I am actually trying to preserve what is left out here on Vashon as far as radio history and will be working with our local history museum on this project. From the time the three big 50KW stations were built out here, till the early 70's, they could not remote control the plants. There were a staff of engineers who lived out on Vashon to operate the stations transmitters. The engineers were very much part of the community. KIRO was a voting station for Maury Island.
My goal is to catalog a list of items from Vashon that could be used in a display of vintage northwest radio history. Every year that ticks by the KVI transmitter building and tower makes history. Built in 1935, how many other commercial buildings (in Washington state), let alone a radio transmitter site that been in continuous operation with the same tower..same calls and has not polluted the neighborhood. Most people on Vashon can't tell where the transmitter building is. That building with it's architecture is a piece of radio history and it's very unchanged with the exception of new transmitters.
I am actually trying to preserve what is left out here on Vashon as far as radio history and will be working with our local history museum on this project. From the time the three big 50KW stations were built out here, till the early 70's, they could not remote control the plants. There were a staff of engineers who lived out on Vashon to operate the stations transmitters. The engineers were very much part of the community. KIRO was a voting station for Maury Island.
My goal is to catalog a list of items from Vashon that could be used in a display of vintage northwest radio history. Every year that ticks by the KVI transmitter building and tower makes history. Built in 1935, how many other commercial buildings (in Washington state), let alone a radio transmitter site that been in continuous operation with the same tower..same calls and has not polluted the neighborhood. Most people on Vashon can't tell where the transmitter building is. That building with it's architecture is a piece of radio history and it's very unchanged with the exception of new transmitters.
Regarding KWYZ in Everett...I was with them for 4 years back in the day. Started out on the overnight shift - worked up to mid days. (after having worked for a year @ KSKI in Sun Valley, ID - whose manager once said to me: "I don't much believe in raises, after all, you're working in radio in world famous Sun Valley" ...yeah, right ... Those days are long gone -- but find myself looking back on them with fondness, all the same. Worked with the legen (wait for it) dary - Bill O'Mara @ KWYZ/Radio 123. I feel badly for young kids who are biten by the radio bug these days. (if that's even possible anymore as I suspect 'radio' simply doesn't play as large a role in their lives as it did mine, going back to the days of KJR vs KOL in the Seattle area). Simply not the opportunities during this age of syndication, streaming, etc, etc...
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searadiofreak
Guest
When I worked at KVI in Seattle, (mid-to-late 80's) there was a room completely dedicated to the music carts. In fact, I think there was even an employee who was in charge of this room. (different era, indeed).
In fact, many flunkies, including myself, were in charge of arranging the carts for the prime shows. (I was in charge of arranging the carts for Humble Harv, during his short stay at KVI in the late 80's. I also was assigned to get his coffee.)
But other jocks during this period would get their own carts, and were responsible to put them back in their place. It was simpy part of the job. A part of the job that doesn't exist anymore.
In fact, many flunkies, including myself, were in charge of arranging the carts for the prime shows. (I was in charge of arranging the carts for Humble Harv, during his short stay at KVI in the late 80's. I also was assigned to get his coffee.)
But other jocks during this period would get their own carts, and were responsible to put them back in their place. It was simpy part of the job. A part of the job that doesn't exist anymore.
Some of the items from stations I have worked at are in my hobby studio. The Russco Studio Pro turntables from the top 40 station I worked at, the Century 21 50s/60s Gold automation 10" reels (about 20 or so), three Otari MX505 reel to reel decks from the TV station I work at and some audio processing equipment when this TV station switched from analog to digital. I have also bought some items to complete my studio, like a board and cart machines. My prize possessions, though, are all the master reels of jingles that the top 40 station I worked at aired, from 1963 to 1978. Those bought in 1978 were used through 1986. I've ripped the jingles to MP3s. I stream online from time to time with (about 7000) oldies and the jingles. Sounds like it did when I worked there.
SRF...those carts all wound up in my basement, along with what was left of the 45's library at KVI. After weeding through what I wanted to salvage (some on cart because there was no other recording), I offered the carts to KCMU @ the UofW (prior, I believe, to their transition to KEXP). I was thinking they may want a bunch of "raw" cartridges. A couple weeks later, I get a written thank you note for all the "gems" that were on the carts, which really blew me away since they were so far out of the radar of the format. For example, they were elated to have a copy of "Houston" by Dean Martin. As you may recall, we had a gold mine in that cart library....about 15% of which actually made it on-air -- always a HUGE point of contention for me!
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searadiofreak
Guest
LITTLEBOYBLUE said:
Yep, when I was there in the mid and late 80's, the library was still intact, complete with the inactives you mention above. It was a source of pride I guess that they kept the entire library in one place, despite many inactive titles.
Another example of this is KZEL Eugene, but with vinyl. The Classic Rocker prided themselves on keep all that vinyl on hand. Don't know whatever happened to it. Perhaps someone does.
CBS on Dexter just had spring cleaning...Cart machines & processors & tons more to the dumpster.
I have a hard time accepting landfill destinations and my basement proves it, but I wish I'd somehow managed a nice old
mono RCA board like a BC-5 or BC 6.
I do have some interesting stuff, but nothing from radio stations...
I sure wish I had asked for some stuff from WNWI if I'd known when it was being bulldozed.
I pray there were enough VTI alumi around to save it all.
mono RCA board like a BC-5 or BC 6.
I do have some interesting stuff, but nothing from radio stations...
I sure wish I had asked for some stuff from WNWI if I'd known when it was being bulldozed.
I pray there were enough VTI alumi around to save it all.
I
iamashark
Guest
Hey all,
I'm currently going through the KJR archives right now and encoding their old reels. some pretty cool stuff in there... original work parts and complete production pieces for stewart street episodes, a few Seafair broadcasts, a few year's composite packs for sales and enough various jingle packages from the 60s to early 80s to choke a camel.
A few years ago when I worked at Entercom I had a chance to go through the KNDD archives too and encoded many MANY different bits since '91. Couldn't find anything from before the flip.
I'm currently going through the KJR archives right now and encoding their old reels. some pretty cool stuff in there... original work parts and complete production pieces for stewart street episodes, a few Seafair broadcasts, a few year's composite packs for sales and enough various jingle packages from the 60s to early 80s to choke a camel.
A few years ago when I worked at Entercom I had a chance to go through the KNDD archives too and encoded many MANY different bits since '91. Couldn't find anything from before the flip.
My friend was program director of WOR, New York for around 3 years. I asked him once what treasures were there, since the station had been at 1440 Broadway well over 40 years.
What airchecks of Jean Shepherd? John Gambling? Gene Klavan. What old papers, memos, memorabilia?
His answer: Nothing. There was absolutely nothing. (And he's the kind of guy that would look for that stuff and take it home). There was no tape library, no reel-to-reels in boxes, no record library. Nothing. Nobody had ever bothered to save or archive anything. There was no audio history of WOR at the station at all, and he had access to EVERYTHING.
What airchecks of Jean Shepherd? John Gambling? Gene Klavan. What old papers, memos, memorabilia?
His answer: Nothing. There was absolutely nothing. (And he's the kind of guy that would look for that stuff and take it home). There was no tape library, no reel-to-reels in boxes, no record library. Nothing. Nobody had ever bothered to save or archive anything. There was no audio history of WOR at the station at all, and he had access to EVERYTHING.
S
searadiofreak
Guest
iamashark said:
I am glad you appreciate the history. Perhaps you have some hidden gems. Keep in mind, though, that much of KJR's history has already been preserved and many of us "historians" have a lot of it already. So, you may not get much response from this. However, if there is something that stands out to you, then please share. Norm Gregory has a great site, as others do. I, personally have atleast 60 hours of scoped KJR programming from 1974 to 1981. Who knows how valuable this is. I just keep it and listen occasionally. If someone is interested in it, then I would be open to conversation.
i happened to find an old buick commercial jingle tape that was used back in 1990 to bout 1991 for buick cars at the time. still worth it. i to am always looking for old equipment. some of the time what i find is people want an outragous amount of money for some of this stuff even if it is broken or partly works they still want to nickle and dime ya. i wish to be able to start my own net radio station sometime and be a true dj and all but i would have to find some equipment first
Bill Wolfenbarger said:
Then you really wouldn't miss the "Downing Days" at KBKW, when a huge ashtray took up residence in front of the cart machines. 3 guesses where all the smoke got pulled in...
Everything is temporary! Enjoy it while you can!
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