KFRO (AM)
Branding | KFRO 94.1 |
---|---|
Programming | |
Format | Oldies |
Affiliations | Former: Galaxy Nostalgia Network, Fox Sports Radio, Moody Bible Institute, Mutual (MBS), NBC-Blue/ABC, Keystone, TSN, CBS |
Ownership | |
Owner |
|
History | |
First air date | February 6, 1935 |
Call sign meaning | Keep Forever Rolling On |
Technical information | |
Facility ID | 70455 |
Class | D |
Power | 1,000 watts day 100 watts night |
Transmitter coordinates | 32°30′7″N 94°42′12″W / 32.50194°N 94.70333°W |
Translator(s) | See § Translator |
Links | |
Website | kfroradio |
KFRO (1370
Translator
Call sign | Frequency | City of license | FID | ERP (W) | HAAT |
Class | FCC info | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
K231DK | 94.1 FM | Longview, Texas | 202806 | 250 | 48 m (157 ft) | D | LMS | First air date: TBD |
History
James R. Curtis received a license in 1924 to operate KFRO on 1220 kilohertz in
On October 30, 1933, Voice of Longview received a construction permit to build a 100-watt radio station on 1370 kHz in Longview. The location was listed as a generic "local hotel" for both transmitter and studios (as that was what the larger market stations were doing, renting space in hotels).
The call letters KFRO stand for "Keep Forever Rolling On".
KFRO "The Voice of Longview" signed on the air on February 6, 1935, on 1370 kilohertz with a power of 100 watts daytime by owner J.R. Curtis. The original studio building and transmitter for KFRO was at the northwest corner of S. Green Street (then known as Texas State Highway 149) and Radio Street on the southern edge of town. The original KFRO studio building still exists as of 2020 and is a private residence.
In 1935 KFRO tried to move its frequency to 1210, but was stopped after an experimental period on 1210.
In 1935 First Baptist Church of Longview first started to broadcast its services on KFRO. This made the First Baptist Church Broadcast the third longest-running program in broadcasting (The
On October 7, 1936, KFRO powered up from 100 watts to 250 watts from the location on Radio Street in South Longview.
For two years (until 1937), Rogers Lacy (legendary oil wildcatter in Longview) was partners with J.R. Curtis. On July 24, 1937, James R. Curtis became full owner of "The Voice Of Longview".
On March 18, 1937, KFRO covered the New London School explosion, in which approximately 300 students and teachers were killed in the deadliest school building disaster in US history. Ironically, the victims of the explosion were taken to the Jacksonville, Texas hospital. The Jacksonville Hospital later became the headquarters of Waller Broadcasting, the one time owners of KFRO.
In 1937, KFRO's studios moved to 620 Glover-Crim Building Suite 411 in downtown Longview.
In 1938
.In 1939 KFRO's transmitter moved to its current site, the property behind the J.R. Curtis mansion at 2118 East Marshall Avenue (Hwy 80). At the new transmitter site there were three towers erected, which allowed KFRO to be a full-time station. KFRO's new transmitter was an RCA BTA-1D. At that time KFRO was an RCA turn-key station. KFRO runs 1 kilowatt with one tower daytime, and 1 kilowatt three-tower directional at night.
In 1940
In 1947, KFRO moved into the former home of the Hurst Eye, Ear, Nose, and Throat Hospital on Methvin Street in downtown Longview and renamed it the Curtis Building. The new studios were very plush, with grand piano, harp, and room for a full band. The Hurst Hospital building was built in 1919 by Dr. V.R. Hurst, and was located on Methvin Street, between the U.S. Post Office and the Hilton Hotel.
In 1941 the
In 1953, The East Texas Hillbilly Jamboree debuted on KFRO. The show opened at the Rita Theatre starring
In the 1980s, Curtis moved KFRO to new facilities at 481 East Loop 281 near N. Fourth St, in northeast Longview.
The Curtis Building and the former Hilton Hotel were torn down in the early 1990s and the site is now occupied by Heritage Plaza.
In the mid-1980s J.R. Curtis Jr. bought 95.3
Throughout KFRO's history it has been every network affiliation (except
KFRO remained in the Curtis family for 63 years until the late J.R. Curtis Jr. sold the station in 1998.
Sunburst years
On June 15, 1998, the KFRO stations were bought by Sunburst, who moved KYKX into the KFRO building on the Loop. The Sunburst group included 105.7 KYKX Longview, 104.1 KKUS Tyler, 100.7 KPXI Overton, 1370 KFRO Longview, and 95.3 KFRO-FM Gilmer. At that point "Voice of Longview" Broadcasting ceased to exist. A few months after the sale, J.R. Curtis Junior died in a motorcycle accident. A few months after that J.R. Curtis Senior, founder of KFRO died.
Waller years
On October 18, 2000, KFRO,
.Access.1/East Texas Radio Group years
On January 7, 2005, KFRO was purchased by Access.1 (East Texas Radio Group), and became a tri-mulcast of Classic Country 104.1 KKUS, Tyler. Access.1 moved KFRO from its 20+ year home in the Curtis Building at 481 E Loop 281, to its current home at 4408 North US Highway 259 in Longview where the audio loops through, KYKX is also in the building. KFRO was being run from a small six-channel mixer in the KKUS control room in Tyler, this ended with the simulcast of The Ranch.
On January 1, 2015, Access.1 entered into a three-year LMA with Alpha Media. Alpha Media will run KFRO, while Access.1 will retain ownership of the station. Alpha Media purchased KFRO's sister stations KYKX, KKUS, KOOI, and KOYE. Alpha also purchased the Access.1 stations in Shreveport, Louisiana.
November 30, 2015, Access.1 ceased to exist, and the last three remaining stations, KFRO, KCUL-FM, and KSYR, were folded into a new holding company, A.1 Investco LLC. A.1 Investco is controlled directly by Todd Boehly, the CEO of Guggenheim Capital. On March 1, 2016, Guggenheim filed with the FCC to transfer control from the former CEO of Guggenheim, Todd Boehly, to the new CEO, Kevin Gundersen.
RCA Broadcasting
On November 1, 2016, RCA Broadcasting (owner of 1410
On March 20, 2017, KFRO was taken silent due to transmitter damage caused by a lightning strike. On January 18, 2018, KFRO returned to the air. The station's programming is recorded talk.
On January 31, 2018, RCA Broadcasting filed a request to obtain a construction permit to build an FM translator for KFRO at 95.9 MHz, from tower 2 at the KFRO transmitter site on highway 80.[1] The application was granted for the translator on June 11, 2018, and the frequency changed to 95.7 MHz, as K239CT. Effective November 18, 2022, the translator moved to 94.1 MHz, as K231DK.
Present programming
Following the Christmas format, and beginning January 2, KFRO began stunting with continuous Star Trek and Sci Fi theme music until 8 pm February 6.
On February 6, 2022, at 8 pm, the 87th anniversary of KFRO's first broadcast, KFRO aired a live broadcast of "Galaxy Moonbeam Night Site", celebrating the 87 years of KFRO and highlighting the glory years of KFRO.
At 9 pm, immediately following Galaxy, owner Scott Rice, thanked all that had contributed to the station, and helped with the station's acquisition and equipment. Then opened the station in prayer. Then the music was started, with the first song being Frank Mills' Music Box Dancer, dedicated to Rice's late mother, and KFRO changed to a full service oldies station, once again as "The Voice of Longview".[2]
Former programming
Until May 2013, KFRO and 1410 KCUL simulcast the Moody Bible Institute's satellite radio feed called "The Way". The station stunted in preparation for the format change for over two weeks.
The former KFRO/Ranch on air staff included
From 2017-2021, 1370 KFRO was the 24/7 home of the Galaxy Nostalgia Network, which exclusively produces "Galaxy Moonbeam Night Site", a nostalgia, history, and educational talk show. KFRO continues to be the key station of the Galaxy Nostalgia Network.
Sports
KFRO was the first Longview radio home of the Dallas Cowboys. KFRO was the original home of the Lobos.
Engineering
1370 KFRO is a class B station. KFRO is 1 kilowatt day non-directional (1 tower), 1 kilowatt night directional (three towers). The KFRO towers are 177 feet tall. The current KFRO transmitter building was built in 2003. KFRO signed on in 1935 with a 100-watt homemade transmitter. In 1935 KFRO increased its power to 250 watts with a
Former sister stations
1370 KFRO Longview is owned by RCA Broadcasting LLC, its East Texas former sister stations are:
- 104.1 KKUS Tyler (sold to Alpha Media)
- 105.7 KYKX Longview (sold to Alpha Media)
- 96.7 KOYE Frankston (sold to Alpha Media)
- 106.5 KOOI Jacksonville (sold to Alpha Media)
- 1410 KCUL Marshall (sold to RCA Broadcasting, LLC)
- 92.3 KCUL-FM Marshall (was in a long term LMA with Alpha Media, then sold to RCA Broadcasting, LLC October 1, 2019)
KFRO legend
The longtime program director of 1370 KFRO, Charlie Thomason (from 1983 to 2004), died at the control board of KFRO in the main control room at 481 East Loop 281, on June 6, 2004. When Thomason died a stain appeared on the carpet. The concrete was treated and carpet replaced, but the stain continues to reappear. The building was last the home of KFRO 1370, KFRO-FM 95.3, KYKX 105.7, KXAL 100.3, and KDVE 103.1. The Waller family sold the building in 2011, and it is a Panera Bread restaurant.
80th anniversary
February 6, 2015, marked the 80th anniversary of the first air date of KFRO in Longview.
References
- ^ "KFRO Facility Record". United States Federal Communications Commission, audio division.
- ^ KFRO Relaunches With Oldies Radioinsight - February 9, 2022
- ^ "AM Stereo Stations". meduci.com.
External links
- KFRO in the FCC AM station database
- KFRO in Nielsen Audio's AM station database
- DFW Radio/TV history
- Grant Turner - Country Music Hall of Fame
- East Texas Hillbilly Jamboree 1953