➦In 1901...American musician, songwriter, singer and orchestra leader Wayne King was born in Savanna, IL.
In early radio of the 1920`s his band was featured in half-hour`remote` broadcasts from Chicago`s Aragon Ballroom. In the 1930`s he was heard on the networks in weekly half-hour broadcasts for Lady Esther cosmetics, a line he is credited with popularizing. In the mid-40`s he was a summer replacement for the Jack Benny and Jimmy Durante programs. The saxophonist and bandleader died July 16, 1985 at age 84.
Charlie McCarthy, Edgar Bergen |
➦In 1903...American actor, comedian and radio performer, Edgar Bergen was born (died September 30, 1978 at age 75). With his little wooden ‘sidekicks’ Charlie McCarthy and Mortimer Snerd, he delighted audiences for decades. He had a featured Sunday evening show first on NBC and then on CBS Radio from 1937 to 1955. He died in his sleep following a performance in Las Vegas Oct 1 1978 at age 75. He was also the father of actress Candice Bergen.
➦In 1922...WDAF (now Sports KCSP) was started by the Kansas City Star. The official starting date is open to dispute, because the Star's broadcasting activities pre-dated WDAF.
On February 16, 1922, the Star used WOQ, the station of the Western Radio Company, to broadcast what the newspaper described as a "wireless telephone concert". The Star had just constructed radio studios at its building at 18th and Grand. In that evening's newspaper, the program appeared on the front page:
Courtesy of route56.com |
The Star adopted the WDAF call letters May 16, 1922. WDAF bounced around various frequencies, traveling to 750, 730, 680, 820 and 810 kHz. WDAF moved to 610 kHz in 1928, splitting time with station WOQ. WDAF joined the NBC radio network before moving to 610 kHz, running both Red & Blue programs up until 1930, when they became a primary NBC Red affiliate.
It also had become the westernmost affiliate of the NBC Red Network. WDAF retained its NBC affiliation well into the 1960s.
WDAF changed its call letters KCSP on September 23, 2003, after moving the longtime country music format to the FM. Entercom still maintains the WDAF-FM call letters at 106.5. Today KCSP airs Sports Talk.
➦In 1929...KGIO changed call letters to KID-AM in Idaho Falls, Idaho.
The station was first licensed under the call letters KGIO, and began broadcasting on December 3, 1928 on a frequency of 1320 kHz. On February 16, 1929, the call was changed to KID, and the station began broadcasting under this call. The station had moved to 1350 kHz by 1942 (likely in the March 29, 1941 changes, pursuant to the North American Radio Broadcasting Agreement, that saw many stations raise frequency by 10 to 30 kHz), where it stayed for several years. In 1950, the station changed from 1350 to its current 590 kHz frequency.
Today the station is owned by Townsquare Media and airs a News/Talk format at 590 AM.
Sonny & Cher |