 | Faye Graves, a native Wichitan, attended school at Friends and Wichita State, concluding at Midwestern Theological Seminary. He has been active in media for many years with Channel 12, KIRL, KFDI, KOOO AM & FM (Omaha), KFRM & KICT 95, as an owner, manager, producer, director and announcer. He has served as President of the Haysville Board of Education. He has also served on several national boards of the Southern Baptist Convention. Faye currently serves as Executive Pastor and Director of Administration and Education at Immanuel Baptist Church, 1415 S. Topeka, Wichita. You may contact Faye by e-mail fmgraves@amenibc.org, or by phone at (316) 262-1452. |
Nostalgia
2005-07-01 12:17:00
Old time radio
: Can you remember when stations did not play the same kind of music, or were labeled as Talk stations?
ANSWER: Radio back in the 30s, 40s, and 50s was what was called Block Programming. KFH was probably the leader in programming with this format. Instead of following a single mode of music or talk, this programming was Variety at its best. Now remember there was no TV in Wichita until the mid-50s, so radio was really big. KFH would start in the mornings with a country music show, emceed by Mack Sanders, and then Bruce Behymer would come along with a program that was totally farm information and reports. Following until mid-morning was Pop Music, Big Bands, Artists of the Day and all kind of music. One of the best known disc jockeys for this programming was Johnny Merrill, known as the Morning Mayor. Mid-morning was a program just for the ladies, hosted by Ethel Jane. Noon featured Live in an Auditorium Studio, in which The Ark Valley Boys, a country band, performed to a live audience. KFH was also noted for its popular talk show, hosted by George Wells. Of course the CBS programs: serials, mysteries, and news were all intermixed into their local schedule. Bill and Doree Post had a late night show where they sang and had interesting conversation between husband and wife.Other major stations in the city were KANS, that later became KLEO. KNSS was the NBC station featuring Corky's Coral Gang, local record shows, George Gow with the News, Raymond Shelly at the console of the Miller Theatre Organ and the great NBC shows and news. KFBI was ABC in Wichita and proclaimed the most powerful daytime signal of 10,000 watts. They had Mack Sanders and the Ranch Boys show, followed by Lester Weatherwax and his farm news. Later, KAKE was added with disc jockeys, Tom Leahy and his famous Irwin's Dance Party, Bill Young who did sports, high school games, and disc jockey shows, and Graham Fletcher and the news. KWBB featuring Lee Nichols and his country music played all afternoon, and Jim Setters and his terrific On the Spot news with his whole news team.Then Formula Radio arrived. Todd Storz was one of the first to feature this format and at this time it was all Rock. Here in Wichita, KFBI was purchased by Mary Pickford and Buddy Rogers, two movie stars, and they changed the letters to KIRL. When their format failed, the Lynch family bought the station, but could not get the old KFBI call letters, so they called it KFDI. Today you are hard pressed to find a Block programmed station anywhere on the dial which makes it hard for some of us who like Big Band and Pop music. Wichita has a station that plays this format, KSGL at 9:00 A.M., so if you want to hear Sinatra, Martin, Joni James and all the rest… that's where you'll find it, but only part-time.
