Tag Archives: KEZX



radio

Radiation concerns raised over Seattle broadcast towers

2011/06/03 – 9:03 pm

[1985] A federal investigation of radio frequency radiation levels at the Seattle antenna site used by 10 FM stations is set to begin (May 6) with representatives of the Environmental Protection Agency and the FCC present to conduct the week-long study.

The 10 FM’s at the Cougar Mountain site are KUBE, KPLZ, KLSY, KZOK, KMPS-FM, KISW, KMGI (formerly KRAB), KESZ, KIXI-FM and KQKT (formerly KKMI). Three of the stations have antennas on a single tower, two share a second, and the other five use their own structures at the 12-acre facility, which houses 21 towers for FM, microwave and two-way radio communications.

The antenna farm was targeted for the joint EPA-FCC study following complaints by nearby residents of alleged excessive exposure to RF, or nonionizing, radiation resulting from the broadcasters’ towers.

[excerpted from Broadcasting Magazine]
***CORRECTION: Call letter error, KESZ should read KEZX. Call letters KESZ were not in use anywhere until 1988, replacing call letters KLSI/Phoenix.

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history radio

Of classical music, minority formats and corporate entities

2011/04/01 – 10:31 pm

My name is Larry Bern. I worked at the “original” KISW from 1968 until 1971 on 92nd & Roosevelt Wy. NE. when we played classical music before there was a KING-FM.

At the end of my time there, I had the unfortunate experience of meeting Lester Smith and, then, KJR manager Pat O’Day (Paul Berg) when former owner Elwood Lippincott let the station go for a mere $75,000 (I saw the documents.)

After that, I moved to KLSN in the University Village Shopping Center until it was sold in 1972 to the former owners of KYAC. Minority formats do not work in Seattle.

After three years with the American Forces Radio & Television Service in what was then called “West” Germany, I came back to Seattle, spent three years in Christian radio (KBLE), which was later sold, and became the operations manager of KEZX, the former KBBX which birthed Bill Yeend of KIRO and now KOMO.

After that, I spent Sunday mornings playing country music at KWYZ in Everett.

In 1986, it was time to go. It wasn’t fun anymore.

Larry

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Entertainment Music news radio

KLAY Radio: A piece of the Clay Huntington Legacy

2010/07/07 – 7:22 pm

Clay Hungtington has operated stations KFHA-Lakewood, KLAY FM Tacoma, KQLA-Lakewood and now KLAY 1180-Lakewood, serving the Tacoma and South Sound area for well over 50 years. [pictured: Clay Huntington, voice of Tacoma Tigers baseball 1946-1951;] Huntington’s early sports broadcast career includes stints at KTBI, KTNT and KMO radio stations and both KTVW and KTNT television. All of this, as well as sports broadcasts on a 14-station network that covered Washington, Oregon, and Alaska. His vast record of community involvement includes helping to fund the construction of Cheney Stadium in 1960 and bring Triple A baseball back to Tacoma.
KLAY 106.1 FM was the first STEREO FM station in the Puget Sound region. At that time, KLAY FM was a Beautiful Music station. Ahhh…the sounds of Mantovani, Enoch Light and Richard Claydermann. Beautiful music orchestrations, programmed as background music, pleasant, relaxing and suitable for the office, home or in the car. Listeners stayed with KLAY FM for hours each day at work and at home. This format was relaxing and almost hypnotic when programmed right.
Competition for this format grew during the 60s and early 70s, with several stations adopting the format for some period. Over time there was KEZX, KBRD, KSEA, KIXI and KBIQ. Oceans of Beautiful Music emanated from some great Puget Sound area radio channels.
KLAY FM switched to a very different sound in the latter part of the 60s, Progressive Rock. Again, the station performed well and many people still recall that era and the DJs of KLAY. For example, Steve Slaton, who went on to a career at Album Rock stations in Seattle.
The FM was sold in the early 80s and became KRPM FM [now KBKS]. Clay Huntington continues to operate the AM, located in Lakewood at 1180 AM. He is still at the helm each day as 1180 KLAY broadcasts a talk radio format. Featured are many local hosts, such as well known civic leader Mike Lonergan and longtime horse racing expert and broadcaster, Vic Cozzetti, known as Victor the Predictor.

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Analog television Entertainment kids Music news radio Television TV Personalities

Puget Sound Radio-TV Voices

2010/06/06 – 1:28 pm

[Original KTNT TV facility - 11th & Grant Street - Tacoma] NOTES on two KTNT TV staffers and their other career highlights:

Charlie Burd began his career as morning man at KMO when it was the Country Giant. His radio career also took him to: KBRO in Bremerton [news], announcer at KTAC-AM/KBRD-FM, announcer at KEZX Seattle. Later, Burd was Ranger Charlie on Channel 11 and was also their station booth announcer. I worked with Charlie at Country KRPM FM in 80s when the studios were located in downtown Tacoma at 9th & Pacific Ave. Burd’s last job was as the overnight DJ at KMAS in Shelton, January 1998 to April 2000.

[Pictured on right: The KTNT facilities remodeled, recently the home of Verizon Communications.]

Another KTNT alumni–Leland “Lee” Knudsen – A familiar voice to radio and television listeners in the Puget Sound area from the 1950s until his retirement in 1986. His earlier radio career included: classical KISW-FM Seattle, MOR KTAC-AM Tacoma, classical KXA-AM Seattle, newscaster/Program Director KTW-AM, announcer KING AM & FM, jazz show host at KBVU Bellevue, and KTAC AM & FM again 1967. Knudsen was TV booth and news announcer at KTNT-TV and later KSTW (Channel 11), Tacoma. At KSTW, he was the announcer that introduced the afternoon movie each day. He retired in 1986.

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