Bay Area Radio Stations
Airchecks, Images and Ephemera

Listed alphabetically by call letters.

The San Francisco Bay Area is a diverse region, and it has been the home of a diverse assortment of radio stations of varying musical styles with air personalities to meet any taste.

The Bay Area Radio Museum presents exhibits dating back to the origins of broadcasting in the Bay Area, to its days as a network hub for West Coast programming and for news from the Pacific Theater during World War II, on to the emergence of Top 40 during the 1960s and talk radio in the 1980s and 1990s.

This page dates to a legacy version of our website. While every effort is being made to update and augment the displays you’ll find here, we call your attention to our “Station Bio” project, which aims to create at least a basic history of every radio station to have ever been heard on Bay Area airwaves. You’ll find more details about that project here and you can use the “Search” tool anywhere on the site to enter a set of call letters for more information.

| KABL | KBLX | KCBS | KDIA | KEEN | KEST | KEWB | KFOG | KFMR |
| KFRC | KGEI | KGO | KGO-FM | KIOI | KIQI | KITS | KJBS | KKHI | KKIS |
| KKSF | KLIV | KLOK | KLOK-FM | KLS | KLX | KMEL | KMPX | KNBA | KNBC | KNBR |
| KNEW | KOBY | KOFY | KOIT | KOME | KPEN | KPO | KPSJ | KQW | KRE | KROW | KSAN |
| KSAY | KSFO | KSFR | KSFX | KSJO |KSOL | KTIM | KWBR | KWSS/KFAT | KWUN | KXKX | KYA | KYUU |

KABL  (960 AM; see also KROW)

• Midday Masterpieces and Limelight

• Broadcast: KROW Becomes KABL, May 11, 1959

KBLX

KCBS (see also KQW)

The Complete KCBS 74 Airchecks Collection

• The History of KQW & KCBS from Voices Out Of The Fog

• Print Ad: “Masters Of Melody,” April 13, 1956

• Broadcast: S.F. Seals vs. Quebec Aces (WHL Hockey), February 16, 1966 *

* — Included on The Bay Area Radio Museum Sports Page.

KDIA

The Complete KDIA Lucky 13 Airchecks & Jingles Collection

• The Early History Of KLS/KWBR/KDIA from Voices Out Of The Fog

• Press Photo: KDIA Mobile Unit, September 1961

• Advertising Sheet: “Walt Miller Reporting,” Circa 1961

• Photograph: KDIA Oakland Studios, c. 1976

KEEN

• Photograph: KEEN Grand Opening, June 21, 1947

• Photograph: KEEN De Anza Hotel Studio, Circa 1947

• KEEN 1370 Coverage Map, 1978

KEST (see also KSAN, KSOL)

• The Early History Of KEST from Voices Out Of The Fog

KEWB  (see also KNEW)

KEWB – Channel 91: The Complete KEWB Airchecks & Jingles Collection

See also: Jingles Only!

Individual Exhibits:

• Program Schedule Brochure: March 1961

• Broadcast: Bobby Dale, August 4, 1963

• Broadcast: The Real Don Steele, August 16, 1964

• Broadcast: K.O. Beachin, July 1965

• Broadcast: Johnny G, January 19, 1966

KFAT (see KWSS)

KFOG

KFMR

• KFMR 104.9 Coverage Map, Circa 1975

• KFMR 104.9 Program Schedule, February 1979

KFRC (AM)

KFRC: The Big 610 Collection

See also: Jingles Only!

• Verification Card: November 21, 1937

• Photograph: The Breakfast Gang, c. 1940s

• Broadcast: S.F. Seals vs. Seattle Totems (WHL Hockey), May 6, 1963

• Broadcast: S.F. Seals vs. L.A. Blades (WHL Hockey), April 17, 1964 ***

• Broadcast: Jay Stevens, June 19, 1968 *

• Broadcast: Dr. Don Rose, March 1974 **

• Broadcast: Dr. Don Rose, August 9, 1974 **

• Broadcast: The $61,000 Challenge, 1985

• Broadcast: The Big 610 Becomes Magic 61, August 1986

• Broadcast: Magic 61 Era Ends, August 12, 1993

• Broadcast: Family Radio Takes Over 610/KFRC, April 29, 2005

* — Included in The Big 610 Collection.
** — Included in the Dr. Don Rose Collection.
*** — Included on The Bay Area Radio Museum Sports Page.

KGEI

• Photograph: KGEI Belmont Transmitter Facility, 1960

• Photograph: KGEI Transmitter Facility (Aerial View), 2004

KGO

The Complete KGO News/Talk 810 Airchecks Collection

• Verification Card: September 23, 1937

• Broadcast: “The Good Word,” July & September 1947

• Broadcast: Dude Martin – Sunrise Roundup, Feb. 11, 1948

• “The Story of KGO,” February 1949

• Sales Brochure: “KGO Puts The Most Power…”, 1950

• Program Schedule: September 25 to October 8, 1950

• Broadcast: Jim Eason, April 1972

• Broadcast: Art Finley, May 9, 1978

• Broadcast: Raiders vs. Chargers, September 10, 1978

KGO-FM 103.7

• Broadcast: KGO-FM Automated Programming, Oct. 16, 1967

KIOI (see also KPEN)

The Complete K-101 Airchecks Collection

KIQI (see also KSAY, KIOI)

• Photograph: KIQI Transmitter Building, Circa 1976

KITS (105.3 FM, San Francisco)

The Complete KITS Airchecks Collection

• George “Flip” Fryer on Hot Hits KITS, 1986

• Lori Thompson on KITS Live 105, November 5, 1990

• Playlist: Live 105 – Volume 92, Winter 1994

KJBS

• Print Ad: From “Broadcast Weekly,” August 3-9, 1930

• KJBS Corporate History, Circa 1937

• Verification Letter (QSL): February 6, 1939

• Verification Card (QSL): August 1, 1940

KKHI (see also KSMO, KOBY, KPIX, KYCY)

• Photograph: Belmont Transmitter Site, 1976

KKIS (990 AM and 92.1 FM, Pittsburg-Concord)

• Letter: From KKIS GM Jerry Bassett, April 30, 1962

• Broadcast: Pittsburg vs. Albany High School Basketball *

• Newspaper: “KKIS Top 33 On 99,” June 21, 1966

• Newspaper: “KKIS Top 33 On 99,” July 12, 1966

• Newspaper: “KKIS Top 33 On 99,” January 3, 1967

• Photograph: Bill Plummer, KKIS Studio, Circa March 1967

• Recording: Bill Plummer Spot Reads, 1981 *

• Broadcast: Dr. Don Rose on KKIS, January 5, 1987 **

* — Included in the Bill Plummer Collection.
** — Included in the Dr. Don Rose Collection.

KKSF (103.7 FM, San Francisco)

• Broadcast: Danny Green on KKSF, July 30, 1987 (90 minutes)

The final hour of San Francisco’s KLOK-FM, hosted by Bruce Michaels, leading up to the debut of the new KKSF at midnight with Danny Green.

KLIV (1590 AM, San Jose)

The Complete KLIV Airchecks Collection

See also: Jingles Only!

• Promotional Antenna Flag: KLIV Radio 159 (c. 1965)

• KLIV “Norman” Window Sticker (Image, c. 1966)

• Broadcast: Gary Seger (November 5, 1967)

• Photograph: KLIV Studios, Story Road (c. 1976)

• Rate Card and Coverage Map (September 1978)

KLOK (1170 AM, San Jose)

Broadcast: Don Welsh and Sid Sports on KLOK (November 14, 1974)

The KLOK morning show, hosted by Don Welsh, with sports reports by Len Shapiro as “Sid Sports.”

Print Ad: “The Buddy & Fran Show” with Buddy Clyde and Fran Marion (November 1969)

KLOK-FM (103.7 FM, San Francisco)

• Broadcast: Bruce Michaels on KLOK-FM (July 30, 1987; 90 minutes)

The final hour of San Francisco’s KLOK-FM, hosted by Bruce Michaels, leading up to the debut of the new KKSF at midnight with Danny Green.

KLS (see also KWBR, KDIA)

• KLS History from “Voices Out Of The Fog”

• Promotional Brochure: KLS Radio Village, c. 1937

KLX (see also KEWB, KNEW)

Broadcast: KLX Becomes KEWB, June 8, 1959 (14 minutes)

The final hours of Oakland’s venerable KLX, owned by the Oakland Tribune, as it segues into a new era as Top 40 KEWB. (Included in the Complete KEWB Airchecks Collection.) 

KMEL

The Complete KMEL Airchecks Collection

KMPX

• Historical Timeline: KMPX 106.9 FM (1962-1978)

• Broadcast: Edward Bear on KMPX FM107, October 11, 1967

• KMPX: The Big Band Era Airchecks Collection (1972-1982)

KNBA (1190 AM, Vallejo; previously KGYW)

• The History of KNBA Vallejo (1947-1994)

KNBC (see also KPO, KNBR)

• Broadcast: KPO-KNBC “Hail and Farewell,” November 23, 1947

• Broadcast: “The Standard Hour” on KNBC, December 4, 1949

• Program Schedule: KNBC AM & FM, February 1951

• Photograph: KNBC 20-Year Employees, 1957

KNBR (see also KPO, KNBC)

The Complete KNBR/68: The NBC Years Collection

See also: Jingles Only!

• Print Ad: KNBC Becomes KNBR, November 1962

• KNBR “Class Of 68” Promotional Photo, 1973

• Broadcast: Frank Dill, April 22, 1975

KNEW (see also KEWB)

The Complete 910 KNEW Airchecks Collection

See also: Jingles Only!

• Broadcast: “California Gold” Format Ends, June 30, 1974

KOBY

• The History of KSMO and KOBY

• Jingles: IMN/Richard H. Ullman “W Series” Demo, c. 1958 *

• Broadcast: Al Knight on KOBY, 1959 *

KOFY (1050 AM)

• Broadcast: “Cruisin’ On A Sunday Afternoon,” June 21, 1981

• Broadcast: Kool Gold KOFY 1050, October 15, 1991

KOIT

• Bill Holley on KOIT 93.3 FM (August 29, 1971)

KOME

The Complete KOME Airchecks Collection

KPEN (97.7 FM, Los Altos)

• Print Ad: “The Very Best…” (Circa 1979)

KPEN (101.3 FM, Atherton/San Francisco; see also KIOI)

• Photograph: King’s Mountain Transmitter Site (Circa August 1957)

• Broadcast: “Excursions In Sound,” 1959 and 1960

• Broadcast: “War Of The Worlds,” April 17, 1964

• Broadcast: Mighty Wurlitzer Concert, May 30, 1964

• Broadcast: Bill Browning, January 23, 1967*

* — Included in The KPEN Collection.

KPO (see also KNBR)

• Broadcast: “Friday Night Quarterbacks,” December 25, 1942 *

• Broadcast: KPO-KNBC “Hail and Farewell,” November 23, 1947

* — Included in The Ernie Smith Collection.

KPSJ

• Print Ad: “We Interrupt Our Beautiful Music,” December 1972

KQW (see also KCBS)

• Broadcast: The Story Of KQW (November 10, 1945)

KRE

• Photographs: Carter B. Smith at KRE, 1962

KROW (see also KABL)

• Verification Letter: December 23, 1937

• Photograph: KROW Radio Center Building, circa 1950s

• KROW Becomes KABL (May 11, 1959)

KSAN (AM)

The Complete KSAN 1450 Airchecks Collection

• Broadcast: George Oxford on KSAN, 1955

KSAN (FM)

The Complete KSAN Jive 95 Airchecks Collection

KSAY (see also KIQI)

• Music Survey: KSAY Top 20, November 2, 1962

KSFO

KSFO: The Golden West Collection

See also: Jingles Only!

KSFO Historical Timeline

• Broadcast: Charlie Arlington, October 30, 1944

• Photograph: KSFO – Fairmont Hotel Exterior, Circa 1960

• Print Ad: “When In Doubt … Punt!” – Circa 1960

• Video: The Great Race of 1961

• Broadcast: Don Sherwood, March 3, 1961 *

• Print Ad: “Sherwood Family Portrait,” Circa 1962

• KSFO: “The Sound Of The City” Theme Music Collection

• Broadcast: Jim Lange, July 1, 1971

• Broadcast: Terry McGovern, July 1, 1971 **

• Broadcast: Dan Sorkin, July 1, 1971 **

• Broadcast: Larry Ickes, December 12, 1983

* — Included in The Don Sherwood Collection.
** — Included in KSFO: The Golden West Collection.

KSFR (94.9 FM; see also KSAN-FM)

• Broadcast: KSFR – A Broadcast Day Begins (Circa 1959)

KSFX

• Broadcast: KSFX Becomes KGO-FM, May 3, 1982

KSJO

• “Sheila Rene Backstage” 1981 – ’82

KSOL (AM)

The Complete KSOL 1450 Airchecks Collection

• KSOL 1450 Soul Twenty Power Survey, September 15, 1970

KSOL (FM)

KTIM

• Photograph: Ben Schwarzmann (Alex Bennett), c. 1957

KWBR (See also KLS, KDIA)

• Broadcast: Bouncin’ Bill on KWBR, July 1, 1955

• Music Survey: KWBR 1310 Top 25, March 13, 1959

KWSS

The Complete 94.5 KWSS Collection

KWUN

KWUN 1480 Historical Timeline

• Broadcast: Tom Richard, 1981 (Composite)

• Photograph: KWUN Studio Building, 1981

• Profile: Richard Helzberg (Owner), August 15, 1982

• Broadcast: Darlene Heath, c. 1986 *

* — Included in KWUN Historical Timeline.

KXKX (88.5 FM, San Francisco)

• History & Photographs from the George Conklin Collection

KYA

Assorted KYA Photographs, 1930s through 1950s

From the collection of the Bay Area Radio Museum, a variety of photographs showing KYA studios, transmitter facility and personnel during the early part of the station’s history.

KYA: The Top 40 Years, Part 1 (1950s & 1960s)

KYA: The Top 40 Years, Part 2 (1970s & 1980s)

See also: Jingles Only!

KYA Historical Timeline

• Verification Letter: April 20, 1939

• Broadcast: “Sports Page Of The Air,” April 15, 1942 *

• Postcard: Foreman Bill, December 1945

• Print Ad: KYA – Broadcasting Yearbook (1953)

• Broadcast: Lucky Logan (Norman Davis), May 23, 1960

• Broadcast: Bobby Mitchell, December 15, 1961

• Broadcast: Tom “Big Daddy” Donahue, December 15, 1961

• Broadcast: Gene Nelson, April 6, 1965 **

• Broadcast: Gene Nelson, April 14, 1965 **

• Team Photo: KYA Radio Oneders, 1966

• Team Photo: KYA Radio Oneders, 1967

• Broadcast: Sean O’Callaghan, September 22, 1967

• Chris Edwards 

• Tom Campbell 

• John Lennon Peace Talk, 1969

• Broadcast: Bwana Johnny, May 29, 1970

• Broadcast: John Hardy, June 20, 1972 ***

* — Included in The Ernie Smith Collection.
** — Included in KYA: The Top 40 Years, Part 1.
*** — Included in KYA: The Top 40 Years, Part 2.

KYUU

• The Complete 99.7 KYUU Airchecks Collection