Your questions about KRTH, KWOW and more

Before I get to the mail, I want to let you know that I have most definitely not given up on my series of reports on stations that are not here anymore. It's just something that takes time. I promise it's coming, and I am still open to ideas, some of which are presented below to perhaps spark your memory for other ideas.

One station I really want to feature is KDAY (now KBLA, 1580 AM), primarily due to a DJ named Earl Trout. I have heard airchecks of Trout playing Top 40 music and it is such a fun listen that I want to find out more. Now on to the mailbag: “In order to claim a radio station is a certain age, some things need to stay the same. A station without the same location or call letters can't be considered the same station. For example, KMJ in Fresno is 100 years old, broadcasting with the same call letters since 1922. I can't name one thing that stayed the same about KRTH for 82 years.”

This is an interesting point, and I suppose it depends on how you look at radio history. I look at it as a continuum such that if there is a connection that can be made similar to that of a family tree, then I consider it the same station. In the case of KRTH, it launched as K45LA and changed to KHJ-FM under the ownership of Don Lee. It was owned by RKO for many years both before and after it changed to KRTH, and as KRTH has been under numerous owners since then. That's all one line, even with the FCC-required frequency changes in the early years, so I consider it the same station.

That would be different from a station such as that found on 105.9 FM. From 1946-1951, it was KFI-FM, but it went off the air in 1951 and has absolutely no connection with KPWR — Power 106 — which uses the frequency now. Power's genesis actually dates back to 1955 when a construction permit for KBMS was issued; the lineage then goes through KWST to KMGG and finally KPWR.

But if you are a purist where the call letters or something else must be the same — and I understand the position fully — I suppose 51 years is still a good run.

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“I'm looking forward to your series on radio stations that aren't here anymore, especially KWOW. In the '80s, I was living in the Upland-Ontario area and frequently would listen to the station. At the time I didn't realize it was automated (and may have been the first automated station in the U.S.) though I did suspect as much after a while. It had a unique mix of oldies, including more obscure tunes not played on other stations.”

I remember tuning up and down the dial on one of the early tube radios I used when younger. KWOW was always a treat. And like some of the other stations I'd consider quirky (Big Band KGRB comes to mind) it gave the

AM band some real character … a true human touch. I think some of that quirkiness is what is missing from radio today, and definitely one of the reasons I want to learn more about these smaller stations myself. Maybe someday own one, once the sales price hits my pay grade … .

Speaking of those old tube radios — if you ever owned one, you might remember that the chassis is connected to one side of the electrical plug. Meaning, it's either “hot” with 110 volts when it's on or when it's off, depending on the direction the plug goes into the wall socket. How the heck did I not electrocute myself using those and repairing them when I was young?

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“I really enjoyed your article a couple of weeks ago about the radio stations that feature older music. I happen to listen to all those radio stations you listed. I did notice KOLA (99.9 FM) wasn't one of the stations included. Most of my friends listen to it. KOLA is also not one of the radio stations that is listed on the radio ratings you give to us, and I wonder why that is. I'm sure more people listen to KOLA than say a radio station like KRLA (870 AM) for example. Can you tell me why KOLA doesn't make this list? “

The reason it wasn't listed in my column on the stations was that the focus was stations that supposedly play new music. But you are right — it is a great station! The reason it doesn't make the ratings is due to the signal. While we both get it where we live, that is luck of the terrain. In my case, once I drive out of the South Bay, I get interference from KTYD in Santa Barbara, for example.

So oddly, even though the signal comes from Riverside/San Bernardino, KOLA is like a local station in much of San Pedro and the surrounding area. It just isn't strong throughout all of Los Angeles to make a dent in the Los Angeles area ratings. In its home market of Riverside, though, it dominates.

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“I always wondered what it costs to run a typical radio station. The cost of electricity, for example. Maintenance and salaries. Are there licensing fees? If they play music what royalties and other fees they might pay? Can they write off some of the cost? Then how much money do they take in selling advertising to try and turn a profit? Are there other services they might sell to generate revenue?”

That is an interesting series of questions that would fill an entire column. And will, in the future. You haven't even begun to talk about other costs, such as the debt service from the purchase of the station, equipment, land and more. Looks like I have my work cut out for me. Thank you for a great suggestion!