KGO & KGO-FM History
David Kaye
on the Radio-Info website,
http://www.radio-info.com/mods/posts.php?Cat=&Board=bayarea .
Why am I posting it here? Because I'm a history buff and while
website message boards come and go, Usenet is forever. I'd like to
document that era a bit.
>
> How long has KGO been a news/talk station? What other
> formats have they had? (at least from the 1950's and later).
> Also, what kind of format did KGO-FM have (pre-KSFX)?
>
KGO has been news/talk since 1962 when Jim Dunbar, a rock DJ from
ABC's WLS in Chicago, decided to try the then new idea of talk. Prior
to that, KGO was what's now called a "full service" format, that is,
news, sports, weather, and music. It was that way since the network
programming began to be scaled back and then eliminated in the 1950s
with the advent of TV. Prior to that, they ran nearly fulltime ABC
(and prior to that NBC Blue) network programming of dramas, comedies,
and game shows.
I have an intro to a show KGO produced for the ABC network in I think
1946 featuring Bob Wills, the King of Western Swing (a cowboy swing
music genre very popular in the West in the 40s). It was annouced by
Jack Webb, who later went on to fame as the creator and star of
"Dragnet". Yes, Jack Webb worked at KGO, and in fact did a couple cop
and detective dramas there in the 1940s.
As to KGO-FM. It simulcast KGO until 1967, when it was split off
running automation on a Schafer 800 system, playing current rock
produced on open reel tapes by WABC in NYC (then the nation's leading
rock station).
This continued until 1968 when George Yahraes was brought in to turn
the ABC owned FM stations into something higher profile. He started a
syndicated music and magazine format called "Love". Love played
long-form rock music (Moody Blues, Blood Sweat & Tears, etc) and short
lifestyle features with people such as Village Voice columnists.
ABC Love was announced/anchored by John Rydgren (aka "Brother John"),
a hip Lutheran minister with a very very deep voice and a smooth "best
friend" style. Rydgren may have been the first rapper, actually. His
"word jazz-like"vignettes were called "Silhouettes" and eventually
released to hippie radio stations. He didn't really push God per se,
but did talk about drugs and mind expansion, philosophy, doing good
works, and odd observatiosn on society. Rydgren later went on to a
career as a DJ in LA and produced inspirational TV programming, too.
In 1971 I believe, George Yahraes moved from NYC to SF and took over
KGO-FM personally, and decided to push disco with live DJs. He
relocated the studio from the KGO building on Golden Gate to 1177 Polk
Street (near Post), the neighborhood which was then ground zero for
SF's disco movement. It was about that time that all the ABC FM
callsigns were changed to separate them from their AM identities.
At one point, they wanted to change the callsign from KSFX to KDIS to
take advantage of disco's popularity, but KDIA objected citing
callsign confusion, and the matter was dropped.
After disco faded, KSFX became a clone of the MusicRadio format
running then on many ABC FMs.
And after that faded, KSFX became KGO-FM once again and took the then
new ABC networked Talkradio format along with some local talkshow
hosts such as Michael Krasny.
Ciccio
> KGO has been news/talk since 1962 when Jim Dunbar, a rock DJ from
> ABC's WLS in Chicago, decided to try the then new idea of talk. Prior
> to that, KGO was what's now called a "full service" format, that is,
> news, sports, weather, and music. It was that way since the network
> programming began to be scaled back and then eliminated in the 1950s
> with the advent of TV. Prior to that, they ran nearly fulltime ABC
> (and prior to that NBC Blue) network programming of dramas, comedies,
> and game shows.
Also, at night prior to the move to "talk" circa '62, KGO aired "holy
roller" type of preachers. I say "holy roller" to distinguish them from the
current preachers on KGO starting about 10:00 p.m.and continuing
to 5:00 a.m. most weekdays.
Ciccio
Peter H.
>>
And after that faded, KSFX became KGO-FM once again and took the then new ABC
networked Talkradio format along with some local talkshow hosts such as Michael
Krasny.
>>
Also, the justifiably popular "Sex Talk" show, in evening drive time.
That lasted until 00:00:00 am, 2/1/1984 ... roughly ... when KGO AM Radio, Inc
sold KGO-FM to KLOK-AM, which made it KLOK-FM, for a while.
David Kaye
> Also, the justifiably popular "Sex Talk" show, in evening drive time.
>
Ah yes, David Lamble. He's still around town, mainly doing movie and
cultural reviews for the Bay Area Reporter. (So much for Karel's
one-time claim that he was the first openly gay talkshow host. Both
Lamble and I beat that by a good 10 years.)
> That lasted until 00:00:00 am, 2/1/1984 ... roughly ... when KGO AM Radio, Inc
> sold KGO-FM to KLOK-AM, which made it KLOK-FM, for a while.
Oh my...."Yes/No Radio", where people voted on their favorite songs
for the station to play. That was a disaster. I once phoned KLOK(AM)
to ask about the FM's format since nobody at FM was answering the
phone. The DJ on the AM side said, "Don't ask me about them. I don't
know anything about them and I don't *want* to know." At that time,
the AM KLOK was getting respectable numbers, and I guess the guy
didn't like being identified with the FM.
Stephen Denney
Thanks for the very interesting history. Two of my favorite KGO talk show
hosts of all time are Ira Blue and Al "Jazzbo" Collins. I would be
interested to hear more history about them or some of the other KGO talk
show hosts.
- Steve Denney
sfdavi...@yahoo.com (David Kaye) wrote:
> Message-ID: <6b49c602.04062...@posting.google.com>
>
> I'm posting this here, though it is actually in response to a question
> on the Radio-Info website,
> http://www.radio-info.com/mods/posts.php?Cat=&Board=bayarea .
>
> Why am I posting it here? Because I'm a history buff and while
> website message boards come and go, Usenet is forever. I'd like to
> document that era a bit.
>
>
>>
>> How long has KGO been a news/talk station? What other
>> formats have they had? (at least from the 1950's and later).
>> Also, what kind of format did KGO-FM have (pre-KSFX)?
>>
>
> KGO has been news/talk since 1962 when Jim Dunbar, a rock DJ from
> ABC's WLS in Chicago, decided to try the then new idea of talk. Prior
> to that, KGO was what's now called a "full service" format, that is,
> news, sports, weather, and music. It was that way since the network
> programming began to be scaled back and then eliminated in the 1950s
> with the advent of TV. Prior to that, they ran nearly fulltime ABC
> (and prior to that NBC Blue) network programming of dramas, comedies,
> and game shows.
>
> And after that faded, KSFX became KGO-FM once again and took the then
> new ABC networked Talkradio format along with some local talkshow
> hosts such as Michael Krasny.
> -- end of forwarded message --
>
Karel
get your claims right:
Part of first OPENLY GAY MALE COUPLE to have a show in DRIVE TIME in
MAJOR MARKET RADIO on a MARJOR MARKET STATION
Only Openly Gay Host Currently employed on a Regular Basis on KGO
Only Opnely Gay Host working for three years at KFI
One of only seven openly gay hosts working in talk radio in the United
States.
All that aside....
One of the most entertaining, informative, and relevant hosts working,
gay or not.
Karel
David Kaye
> One of the most entertaining, informative, and relevant hosts working,
> gay or not.
A person may be a painter or a sculptor, but the designation "artist"
is made by the audience, not by the painter or sculptor. So, too,
qualifiers such as "entertaining", "informative", and "relevant"
belong to the audience to make, not to the talkshow host.
Ciccio
Oh, but not for Mimi Karel. Don't you know with him it's all Me-Me-Me-Me AND
Me-Me-Me-Me-Me-Me- AND Me-Me-Me-Me-Me- AND Me-Me-Me-Me-Me.
Ciccio
Steven Rubio
<sde...@OCF.Berkeley.EDU> wrote:
>
>Thanks for the very interesting history. Two of my favorite KGO talk show
>hosts of all time are Ira Blue and Al "Jazzbo" Collins. I would be
>interested to hear more history about them or some of the other KGO talk
>show hosts.
Gotta second that, esp. Al Collins. Ira Blue, for whatever reason,
seems to embody early Bay Area talk radio to me ... he's the guy whose
name I remember, at least. As for Al Collins, in every one of his
guises, he was a joy, including the local morning teevee show back in
the 60s, and his "comeback" all over the radio dial late in his life.
Steven
Steven Rubio
wrote:
>KGO has been news/talk since 1962 when Jim Dunbar, a rock DJ from
>ABC's WLS in Chicago, decided to try the then new idea of talk.
Once in awhile I ask this question, usually in this newsgroup. I was
once told that Jim Dunbar was "Claude the Magnificent" on Dreadful
Mysteries. Can anyone confirm this?
Steven
Patty Winter
Stephen Denney <sde...@OCF.Berkeley.EDU> wrote:
>
>Thanks for the very interesting history. Two of my favorite KGO talk show
>hosts of all time are Ira Blue and Al "Jazzbo" Collins.
Ahem. "Jazzbeaux." :-)
Patty
Eric Weaver
Originally "Jazz Bow". How many people these days will choose an air name
after a necktie?
John Higdon
pat...@wintertime.com (Patty Winter) wrote:
Thank you, Patty. But now...you have introduced a spelling flame. Stand
back!
--
John Higdon | Email Address Valid | SF: +1 415 428-COWS
+1 408 264 4115 | Anytown, USA | FAX: +1 408 264 4407
David Kaye
> Once in awhile I ask this question, usually in this newsgroup. I was
> once told that Jim Dunbar was "Claude the Magnificent" on Dreadful
> Mysteries. Can anyone confirm this?
Both Jim Eason and Jim Dunbar said this was so. I remember that an
announcer at the end of "Dreadful Mysteries" said something to the
effect of "Claude the Magnificent was the handiwork of Hap Kaufman".
I'm not sure if the name was Hap Kaufman or not, but that's how I
remembered it. Now, it's been said that Jim Dunbar did not use his
real name on KGO. So, it could be that this Hap Kaufman character =
Jim Dunbar.
It stands to reason that Dunbar would have done the character, being
the PD as well as air talent, and the shaper of the entire KGO
personnae.
Whoever did it, it was good. It was pretaped, that much I do know, as
I'd heard a couple reruns.
David Kaye
> Gotta second that, esp. Al Collins. Ira Blue, for whatever reason,
> seems to embody early Bay Area talk radio to me ... he's the guy whose
> name I remember, at least. As for Al Collins, in every one of his
> guises, he was a joy, including the local morning teevee show back in
> the 60s, and his "comeback" all over the radio dial late in his life.
Ira Blue I understand was a carryover from the former KGO, where he
was a sportcaster and did play-by-play. I assume that with the
ironclad union contracts of the day, KGO used as many of these guys as
possible. I think Jay Snyder, Jim Moore, and Bob Trebor were all part
of the pre-talk KGO/ABC staff. They also all sounded like they'd come
out of some sort of ABC announcer training school.
Al Jazzbeaux Collins was a favorite. I first met him when I was 9
years old and he was appearing at the garden show beind held at the
Oakland Exposition Building, a Cow Palace-like place. He was there in
support of KSFO and channel 7. He was in his trademark coveralls. I
remember that he refused to give me an autograph.
I guess what I liked about him was that he could be interpreted either
as brilliant or obtuse, depending on the observer. My mom thought he
was just a hep cat personnae, while I thought he was brilliant,
especially when he got into poetry or telling a joke that didn't
appear to make sense.
Steven Rubio
wrote:
>Al Jazzbeaux Collins was a favorite....
>
>I guess what I liked about him was that he could be interpreted either
>as brilliant or obtuse, depending on the observer. My mom thought he
>was just a hep cat personnae, while I thought he was brilliant,
>especially when he got into poetry or telling a joke that didn't
>appear to make sense.
I think he was a brilliant hep cat!
Makes me want to eat some grasshopper pie, or some crepe suzettes. As
for badges ...
Steven
Karel
someone else who it all about. Rush. Howard. Laura. Gene, Bernie.
Every show is all about the host, and yet you find fault with that?
You watch Oprah for OPRAH, not who's on the show, for Ellen, for
Rosie, etc.
Yup, mi, mi, mi, me, me, me. And by the way, whoever posted it's up to
the auidence and not the person to say whether or not they're an
artist, etc...what a load of crap from a non-artist. When you fill out
a job app, what do you put? I put enterainer and/or artist. Because
that's what I am. Do I make art? Well, that's up to the listener,
viewer, etc, but nonetheless, Im an artist by definition:
One who practices some mechanic art or craft; an artisan. [Obs.]
How to build ships, and dreadful ordnance cast, Instruct the articles
and reward their. --Waller.
2. One who professes and practices an art in which science and taste
preside over the manual execution.
Note: The term is particularly applied to painters, sculptors,
musicians, engravers, and architects. --Elmes.
3. One who shows trained skill or rare taste in any manual art or
occupation. --Pope.
4. An artful person; a schemer. [Obs.]
Syn: Artisan. See Artisan.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA,
Inc.
artist
n : a person whose creative work shows sensitivity and imagination
[syn: creative person]
John Higdon
ka...@karelchannel.com (Karel) wrote:
> n : a person whose creative work shows sensitivity and imagination
> [syn: creative person]
You left out the part that states that those who design, build, and
maintain the structure on which the "artisan" plies his craft are
insignificant nobodies.
David Kaye
> n : a person whose creative work shows sensitivity and imagination
> [syn: creative person]
Indeed, sensitivity and imagination can only be determined by the
audience. I rest my case.
Ciccio
news:b3eebdd0.04062...@posting.google.com...
> yup, on my show it is all about me. You don't like it? Listen to
> someone else who it all about. Rush. Howard. Laura. Gene, Bernie.
> Every show is all about the host, and yet you find fault with that?
> You watch Oprah for OPRAH, not who's on the show, for Ellen, for
> Rosie, etc.
Those people don't tell you every minute that it's because of them, that one
is tuned into their shows. You constantly drone on about Me-Me-Me and
everybody and Me-Me-Me and everything and Me-Me-Me...I AM Karel, the center
of the universe...all planets, stars and galaxies, revolve around Me-Me-Me.
I AM Karel, I AM gay, watch I'll show you...Listen honey, when I talk it's
about Me-Me-Me, so just hush your mouth, unless you talk about Me-Me-Me.
If you could just get rid of your constant over-the-top gay shtick, your
megalomania and narcissism, you'd be a pretty good listen.
Ciccio
Karel
> is tuned into their shows. You constantly drone on about Me-Me-Me and
> everybody and Me-Me-Me and everything and Me-Me-Me...I AM Karel, the center
> of the universe...all planets, stars and galaxies, revolve around Me-Me-Me.
Yes, you're right, in my world they do. Do they not in yours? Too bad
if they don't. THe funny thing is, that so much of my universe is so
relative to so many. Maybe, we're in the same universe after all. Yo
do the math.
> I AM Karel, I AM gay, watch I'll show you...Listen honey, when I talk it's
> about Me-Me-Me, so just hush your mouth, unless you talk about Me-Me-Me.
Yes, and your point?
>
> If you could just get rid of your constant over-the-top gay shtick, your
> megalomania and narcissism, you'd be a pretty good listen.
>
Shtick? Don't listen to me any more please. You don't get it. Honey,
it ain't a shtick, to use your words, this is ME ME ME. You seem to
think talk hosts aren't megalomainacs and narcissists....YOU'RE WRONG.
By the very nature of our job, we have to be. You turn on a microphone
under such pressures and talk for three hours and not have a great
deal of confidence in yourself. You debate world leaders about how
screwed up they are, and not have confidence in yourself, your point
of view, YOU YOU YOU. Please.
It's obvious you don't like me or my show, and that's fine. But
instead of trying to change me, just change the channel. Even if
EVERYBODY does, and I'm fired, it's no big deal, because to do a show
any other way would be to do a show that wasn't honestly ME and I
can't do that.
Karel
> Ciccio
John Higdon
ka...@karelchannel.com (Karel) wrote:
> Yes, you're right, in my world they do. Do they not in yours? Too bad
> if they don't. THe funny thing is, that so much of my universe is so
> relative to so many. Maybe, we're in the same universe after all. Yo
> do the math.
Those of us in the real workaday world find that if we do well in our
endeavors, we get to keep our jobs. No one lavishes praise for us doing
what we were hired to do.
> It's obvious you don't like me or my show, and that's fine. But
> instead of trying to change me, just change the channel. Even if
> EVERYBODY does, and I'm fired, it's no big deal, because to do a show
> any other way would be to do a show that wasn't honestly ME and I
> can't do that.
That is good advice. But it works both ways. I'm going to put this as
clearly and succinctly as I can. The purpose of THIS FORUM is to discuss
broadcasting in the Bay Area. For the most part, that's what we do. It
is not a fan club, a Feel Good party, or any sort of mutual admiration
society. Everyone here gives and takes heat.
The counterpoint to your constant admonition to "change the channel" for
those making critical comments about your show, your technique, and even
you personally would be to suggest that perhaps you might not want to
hang out here. We've been here for a decade and a half; we didn't pop up
overnight just to give you grief. We talk critically about broadcasting
and you, like it or not, are now a part of Bay Area broadcasting. That
means your show is on the table, dear heart, and "that's the way it is".
If you actually WANT to read what we have to say, so be it. But don't
respond to every criticism written herein with "change the channel".
That's not the point of this group. If we all just "changed the channel"
on things with which we found fault, this would become a rather boring
place to be.
If you don't like what we have to say, you have three choices. Stop
reading the newsgroup. Continue reading the newsgroup. Continue reading
the newsgroup, and participate. My only suggestion is that if you select
the last option that you make your paricipation as vibrant here as you
would like your show to be. We aren't going to change the charter of
ba.broadcast to "freely criticize or praise everyone and everything
relating to Bay Area broadcasting except Karel; he may only be praised."
Note how people such as Brian Copeland, Ronn Owens, Alex Bennett, Tony
Russamano, and many others handle their own participation here. I
realize that You Are Karel, but I think that even Karel could be more
illuminating than "if you don't like it, change the channel", don't you
think?
Ciccio
> Yes, you're right, in my world they do. Do they not in yours? Too bad
> if they don't. THe funny thing is, that so much of my universe is so
> relative to so many. Maybe, we're in the same universe after all. Yo
> do the math.
No Karel, they do not. They don't *say* they're great and talented, they
*show* it. If you would show it, you wouldn't need to say it.
> Yes, and your point?
Oh, it's Karel, the OBTUSE gay talk show host.
> Shtick? Don't listen to me any more please. You don't get it. Honey,
> it ain't a shtick, to use your words, this is ME ME ME.
Do you know how nuts that sounds? Has radio sunk to such a low that *real*
whackos do shows, rather than performers with whacko personae?
>You seem to think talk hosts aren't megalomainacs and
narcissists....YOU'RE WRONG.
No, I am not wrong. It's one thing to be self-assured, or desire external
validation, or even be egotistical. You, however, are over the top into
megalomania and narcissism. And if that is a true infliction that you have,
believe me you have my pity, not my scorn.
> It's obvious you don't like me or my show, and that's fine. But
> instead of trying to change me, just change the channel. Even if
Well, most of the time I don't like the show because your constantly being
self-laudatory is boring. I don't know you as a person. I have no reason to
dislike you as a person. You seem family oriented, a loyal friend, and
concerned for your fellow man. Ain't a damn thing wrong with that. So, I'm
not trying to change you at all. I do, indeed, change the channel quite
frequently when after 20 or so minutes you fail to be entertaining.
> EVERYBODY does, and I'm fired, it's no big deal, because to do a show
> any other way would be to do a show that wasn't honestly ME and I
> can't do that.
But that's what being an entertainer is all about. People generally don't
pay to see/hear entertainers to be themselves. And for sure they don't pay
to hear entertainers say how great and fabulous the entertainers are. Sure,
there are entertainers who are famous for adding such to their bits, like
Little Richard Liberace, and Muhammad Ali. But they gave a ton of
entertainment and they were great. You give little entertainment, and I
hate to break it to you...but you ain't great.
But hey, if you're happy, and you're employed, then bravo. I'm only giving
my .02 as just one listener.
Ciccio
David Kaye
> But that's what being an entertainer is all about. People generally don't
> pay to see/hear entertainers to be themselves.
Indeed. I remember when a TV show did an "at home with" segment on
Lucille Ball and her husband Gary Morton. After seeing "I Love Lucy"
reruns all my life, I expected her to live in some glamorous house,
maybe with conga drums on the walls or something.
Not quite. Her living room looked all dime store swag lamps and shag
carpeting. It honestly looked as if it'd been furnished by K-Mart.
If Lucille Ball had portrayed herself as she *really* was all these
years, nobody would have watched her.
> And for sure they don't pay
> to hear entertainers say how great and fabulous the entertainers are.
> Sure,
> there are entertainers who are famous for adding such to their bits, like
> Little Richard Liberace, and Muhammad Ali. But they gave a ton of
> entertainment and they were great.
On a couple occasions I met Liberace, since I once worked with his
brother, George Liberace, a musical talent in his own right (violinist
and bandleader). Together they'd had TV shows over the years and
such. Both of these stars were friendly and gracious in person. At
the time Liberace was at the height of his career, a Vegas showman
commanding huge salaries at the casinos. I asked Liberace about
growing up as a prodigy. He said he was nothing of the kind. He said
he practiced long hours to get good, and rehearsed his show over and
over again to make sure that the kinks were worked out and that he
could milk the most entertainment out of each show. He was
surprisingly candid about all this.
This got me to thinking that the truly great entertainers (even the
people like Cary Grant who appeared to just walk through his screen
roles) put in all kinds of time to hone their skills and get the most
entertainment value out of what they do.
It made me appreciate the great performers.
David Kaye
> But that's what being an entertainer is all about. People generally don't
> pay to see/hear entertainers to be themselves.
Indeed. I remember when a TV show did an "at home with" segment on
Lucille Ball and her husband Gary Morton. After seeing "I Love Lucy"
reruns all my life, I expected her to live in some glamorous house,
maybe with conga drums on the walls or something.
Not quite. Her living room looked all dime store swag lamps and shag
carpeting. It honestly looked as if it'd been furnished by K-Mart.
If Lucille Ball had portrayed herself as she *really* was all these
years, nobody would have watched her.
> And for sure they don't pay
> to hear entertainers say how great and fabulous the entertainers are.
> Sure,
> there are entertainers who are famous for adding such to their bits, like
> Little Richard Liberace, and Muhammad Ali. But they gave a ton of
> entertainment and they were great.
On a couple occasions I met Liberace, since I once worked with his
Mark Howell
wrote:
>This got me to thinking that the truly great entertainers (even the
>people like Cary Grant who appeared to just walk through his screen
>roles) put in all kinds of time to hone their skills and get the most
>entertainment value out of what they do.
It is extremely difficult to make it all look easy. Conversely, those
who THINK it's easy tend to make fools of themselves once they get on
stage or on microphone.
I've also found that the great entertainers are usually well-educated,
which does not necessarily mean well-schooled. Even the school
dropouts have read widely and made considerable efforts to educate
themselves about things both inside and outside their chosen field of
endeavor, and have a keen curiousity about things other than
themselves.
Mark Howell
leansto...@democrat.com
Burns, I gave Don and Mike a shot. [KYCY] Not my cup of tea, but I can
see how they have a following. They are quite the story tellers, and
seem to have a million of them.
Getting back to Karel, nothing is worse than when he does an
interview. When somebody is being interviewed, I want to hear mostly
from that person, not the host other than to ask the questions. As
much as I'm just a so-so fan of Pete Wilson (too middle of the road
for me), the guy can do interviews. The way Wilson interviewed
President Clinton on Friday was exceptional. He asked some out of the
ordinary questions, and gave the guy some space to answer. And if you
want proof that Pete Wilson doesn't read this newsgroup, he stil keeps
asking the callers how they are doing. Argh! I don't care how the
caller is doing. I don't even care how the host is doing. The chit
chat drives me crazy. I'd like just for once to have Pete ask the
caller how they are doing, and get a reply like "Well Pete, my
hemroids are acting up, the truck is running kind of rough, my wife is
cheating on me with the postman, and my dog ran away."
John Higdon <absolutel...@verislimesucks.com> wrote in message news:<absolutely.no.spam-E...@equine.announcetech.com>...
John Higdon
leansto...@democrat.com (gip...@republican.com) wrote:
> Actually, I do change the channel.
Of course. So do I. My point to Karel was that repeating that advice
over and over in a forum, the design purpose of which is to discuss
broadcasting issues, is less than useful.
Ciccio
> In article <574529a8.04070...@posting.google.com>,
> leansto...@democrat.com (gip...@republican.com) wrote:
>
>> Actually, I do change the channel.
>
> Of course. So do I. My point to Karel was that repeating that advice
> over and over in a forum, the design purpose of which is to discuss
> broadcasting issues, is less than useful.
>
Yeah, no kidding. As if somebody who is being bored doesn't know to change
the channel.
Ciccio