Tucson Radio Documentary

[landtuna]

Landtuna, think you are wrong about KTKT. KFIF signed off at sunset, but in all the years (since 1966) I don't ever remember KTKT signing off. We did alternate with KOMA though. KIKX on the other hand had a crappy directional signal that was lost east of Swan Road.

According to their tribute site KTKT went to a 24 hour signal in April of 1960. 

KIKX was a Country station when last I heard it - probably in the 70's - and I could receive it just fine at Broadway and Camino Seco.  When that same station was KCNA (beginning in the very early 50's) it had a great signal.  Their towers were at the very north end of Swan Road up in the Catalina foothills right alongside the Rillito River.  I lived south of Broadway and Swan and it was the first radio station I listened to as a very young kid.

[landtuna]

Of course, when KCNA (KTAN) moved from 1340 to 580, and the three sticks up at 4700 North Swan, in 1951, there was hardly anyone living out on the east side.

The great eastward population explosion actually began several years before 1951 in Tucson but the city didn't annex that county land until 1957-58.  When my folks bought their first house at Broadway and Swan Road in 1950 the nearest grocery store was Broadway Village.  We had gravel roads and septic tanks.  Sewers and paved roads didn't arrive until the late 50's.  Goodman's market opened up at the corner of Broadway and Swan in 1954 and so did Lucky Wishbone.  What more could you want?

[oldiesfan6479]

KIKX...I could receive it just fine at Broadway and Camino Seco.  When that same station was
KCNA (beginning in the very early 50's) it had a great signal.

Daytime, yes.  The problem was the night DA, which shot a null through parts of the
eastside.  The area around 22nd St. & Kolb, for example, was right in the middle of
the null.  B'way & Camino Seco was probably in one of their smaller lobes.  The big
nighttime lobe went SSW from the sticks and covered most of the (then) central,
downtown and southside areas.

I'm sure it was the same nighttime DA pattern going back to 1951 that was still in
place in 1967-69 for KIKX when it was Top 40 initially.

[bobjlv]

Oldiesfan, I am sure you are correct about the origins of KTKT. I was assuming we were talking about their Top 40 days. I moved to Tucson for my senior year of HS (1966), and was the typical teen listening to KTKT, and KFIF. I've also posted a KFIF Aircheck on YouTube for those that want to hear it.  Not only did we flip to KOMA after KFIF signed off, but also KCPX - Salt Lake City, which was on 1320 khz at the time. Here's a link to a 1976 Aircheck from KCPX: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aqZLTknxYZE.  Anyway I would guess memories of Tucson radio as a teen would depend on your age. Of course as we all know, John Walton literally gave away KFIF to the University of AZ so he could purchase the 580 frequency and start KIKX. Sad that they ended up surrendering their license over the Gary Craig incident, but as Tucson moved east of Swan, and of course the popularity of FM, their days were already numbered, both KIKX and KTKT, and I guess about any AM station in Tucson.

[99KTKT]

Sad that they ended up surrendering their license over the Gary Craig incident, but as Tucson moved east of Swan, and of course the popularity of FM, their days were already numbered, both KIKX and KTKT, and I guess about any AM station in Tucson.

AM Top 40's days in Tucson were even further numbered on July 1, 1977, when 93.7 KRQ(Q) signed on as Tucson's first FM Top 40/CHR station.  KIKX flipped to country only two months later, in September '77, while KTKT soldiered on for a few more Top 40 years, until fall of '81.  The other minor contender, daytimer 1330 KHYT, stayed with Top 40 until late '78 or early '79, then started jumping on bandwagons always a bit late:  First disco, then later new wave.

[PVHS67]

I'm not sure of the timing, but KIKX was Top 40, then went to "Groovy Grownup", if you wanted to get you fill of Dionne Warwick sings  Burt Bacharach and Hal David, that was the format for you.  That was almost as bad as the second day of them being on the air when they played the same , um, album for 24 hours, oy!

That was when they lost me to KWFM, the Groovy Grownup era.  I don't remember exactly when they went back to Top 40 (only to pull the license loosing stunt), but I left Tucson in 1979 and I think they were T40 at that time.

Hope that helps.

Bill

[landtuna]

AM Top 40's days in Tucson were even further numbered on July 1, 1977, when 93.7 KRQ(Q) signed on as Tucson's first FM Top 40/CHR station. 

I remember KRQQ's first week on-air well.  It was a disaster.  Dead air.  Automation which choked constantly.  Baaaaaaad! 

[oldiesfan6479]

I'm not sure of the timing, but KIKX was Top 40, then went to "Groovy Grownup", if you wanted to get you fill of Dionne Warwick
sings Burt Bacharach and Hal David, that was the format for you.

The flip from Top 40 to "Music For Groovy Grownups" was on May 26, 1969.

Jefferson K had left the building in March (to WRKO Boston as Shadoe Stevens);
his place was taken by John Mack Flanagan, who then went across the street to KTKT.
The only holdover into the MOR format--IIRC--was Ted Behr, who was also C.E.

And Mutual News with the MOR stuff, replacing ABC/C.

We'll now have to figure out who "Bill" from Palo Verde '67 is.

[PVHS67]

I'm just some old fart that listened to too much radio as a youth in Tucson.  Also can't remember dates either.  And remembers strange things, but not necessarily in the order that they happened.

Jim Stagg (PVHS '66) went to KHYT (1330) after he turned the transmitter off on the night of May 25th.

[99KTKT]

I don't remember exactly when they went back to Top 40 (only to pull the license loosing stunt), but I left Tucson in 1979 and I think they were T40 at that time.

Hope that helps.

Bill

No, they were not.  See my previous post--KIKX switched to Country in September 1977.