THANKS KEEL SEVENTY ONE

[RunWithScissors]

I am from Philly PA and was stationed at Fort Polk, LA 1970-1971, was there in the infantry we were all going to Viet Nam and it was depressing times. I have to admit if it were not for KEEL-71 things would of been a lot harder. Although Fort Polk was far from Shreiveport KEEL came in loud and clear during the day. I was from a big city and area and had many top 40 stations to listen to but in LA there was really nothing to choose from but KEEL made us feel at home with the hit music. I remember, One Toke Over the Line, Mr. Bojangles, Toast and Marmalade, 13 Questions, all this great music. Does anyone remember KEEL-71 in 1970-71, it was truly a fantastic station, again thanks to the staff at that time for making it a big easier with training in the Army at Fort Polk.

 

[93Q]

KEEL was a great station. KWKH was another 50KW AM there in Shreveport. The great days of AM radio.

 

[snoman]

KWKH is still, well I should say, back to broadcasting classic country favorites. I actually have a Radio/Press Pass from 1954 for the Louisiana Hayride, featuring a very young Elvis Presley. To be held at the Youth Building at the Louisiana State Fair Grounds on Saturday December 15th, at 8pm, and the proceeds from tickets go to the Shreveport YMCA. I actually found it at a Baseball Card Show in Hartford, Connecticut. I couldn't believe what I had found! I think I paid $20 for it. I just wished my Best Friend could have lived to see it. We went to the 50th Anniversary of that event in 1994, with Scotty and the Jordanaires, also Ronnie McDowell. It was fantastic. KWKH has an extraordinary history. So, does KEEL. Unfortunately, I was never around for the KEEL top 40 days. They were already News/Talk when I lived in the area.

A little trivia, the only Radio Commercial Elvis ever did was for that Southern Maid Donuts on Hearne Avenue there in Shreveport. It is still open today.

 

[jangleradiofan]

I was born in Shreveport, and remember KEEL 710 very well. It was the first Top 40 "hits" format I ever heard. I remember Larry Ryan in the morning (and he's STILL on the air in Shreveport at KLKL fm!) I also remember Howard Clark, who was a fave dj of mine. As a student at N'western State in Natchitoches in the late 60s and early 70s, KEEL radio was a lifesaver!

About the Elvis Southern Maid Donut commercial, when he did that commercial, the store was then located on Greenwood Rd., where the present Willis Knighton Hospital is located. The Bruce Jones family, who owned the S'port Southern Maid operation, was not only a major sponsor of the Hayride, but were big fans of the Hayride, and of course friends of Elvis. I understand he actually hung around some at the old Greenwood Rd store. Incidentally, he loved their jelly donuts! When the Hospital needed expanding, Mr. Jones just moved his operation down the road a bit to the present Hearne ave. location, but by then, ELvis was no longer coming to Shreveport! However, he is known to have made some landings out at Shreveport Regional Airport for the sole purpose of purchasing 20 or 25 dozen Southern Maid Donuts for himself and his touring entourage, then resuming his flight to wherever he was going!