Idaho Falls/Pocatello

[searadiofreak]

This market is somewhat "over-radioed", but with that having been said, there are few stations that seem to  be live and local.  KLCE continues to be a very good sounding mainstream AC that invests in live jocks throughout the day.  How rare in a market this size?  Nice job. 

[DeadAudicy]

In the 70s I worked at what was then KSNN in Pocatello. Tho not playing syndicated out of mkt shows, it was automated except for 2 shows, morning and evening, as were most in the area, so...ever thus?
BTW, anyone have info on 70s era Poc radio, specifically (what was) KSNN?

[ercjncpr]

In the 70s I worked at what was then KSNN in Pocatello. Tho not playing syndicated out of mkt shows, it was automated except for 2 shows, morning and evening, as were most in the area, so...ever thus?
BTW, anyone have info on 70s era Poc radio, specifically (what was) KSNN?

I was able to talk my way into touring the studios of KSNN in 1976 (I was at the 10 watt KSBR Mission Viejo,CA the predecessor to the present Saddleback College station. A college student with dreams of a radio future) The person on duty when I walked through the door( I forget his name) at first refused to let me in because , in his words, "I have no respect for 10 watt college radio stations". After some persistence on my part, he did let me see everything including the 70s style automation equipment and the even older op boards which were gathering dust and cobwebs. KSNN was in its last days as a "Top 40" outlet. KSEI was still middle of the road/standards and 94.9 (now KPKY) was a one year old "beautiful" music station which went by the calls KSIH ("Keeping Southern Idaho Happy"). KWIK 1240 was country and the jocks were doing their thing in standing position with a 1950s vintage microphone. Every weeknight, KWIK would interrupt their country format for a half hour of Big Band Music followed by a half hour of Old Time Radio.

[DeadAudicy]

ercjncpr, do you remember which part of '76 you toured KSNN? And at which part of the of day?

[ercjncpr]

ercjncpr, do you remember which part of '76 you toured KSNN? And at which part of the of day?

It was August and I believe it was possibly in the 11am to 1pm range.

[DeadAudicy]

My god that might have been me...except I wouldn't say anything remotely disparraging low watt college radio, as that's how I began. Maybe a joke? I was a sick f*** back then. I started at KSNN in mid August of '76 and was on premise daily from maybe noon to midnight.

If I remember correctly, during the week the station was staffed (complete with receptionist!) with PD, MD, and probably newsguy, along with at least one AE...Actually I think there was only one AE: the GSM. Also the ancient owner with a wooden leg, and his wife. Any one of us could have given the tour, as there wasn't a lot else to do but occasionally beat on the automation for playing Abba, Bob Seger, and a commercial all at the same time.

If you remember a tall skinny guy, around 70 with bug eyes, it was the GSM. Big guy with curly hair and beard, the PD. Skinny guy with long hair and beard, the MD/evening jock.

The automation, which ran between morning show and evening show, was tedious to program, and a nightmare of repeating cart loops, incorrect time checks, double audio, and dead air...but that is how I came to know Idaho radio and figured it was expected. The control room was as you described...but also doubled as production room (while auto was in control), and featured a Revox reel to reel with sound-on-sound, terribly luxurious at the time.

So, why Pocatello from SoCal? And did your radio dreams pan out?

[ercjncpr]

My god that might have been me...except I wouldn't say anything remotely disparraging low watt college radio, as that's how I began. Maybe a joke? I was a sick f*** back then. I started at KSNN in mid August of '76 and was on premise daily from maybe noon to midnight.

If I remember correctly, during the week the station was staffed (complete with receptionist!) with PD, MD, and probably newsguy, along with at least one AE...Actually I think there was only one AE: the GSM. Also the ancient owner with a wooden leg, and his wife. Any one of us could have given the tour, as there wasn't a lot else to do but occasionally beat on the automation for playing Abba, Bob Seger, and a commercial all at the same time.

If you remember a tall skinny guy, around 70 with bug eyes, it was the GSM. Big guy with curly hair and beard, the PD. Skinny guy with long hair and beard, the MD/evening jock.

The automation, which ran between morning show and evening show, was tedious to program, and a nightmare of repeating cart loops, incorrect time checks, double audio, and dead air...but that is how I came to know Idaho radio and figured it was expected. The control room was as you described...but also doubled as production room (while auto was in control), and featured a Revox reel to reel with sound-on-sound, terribly luxurious at the time.

So, why Pocatello from SoCal? And did your radio dreams pan out?

I was born at Bannock Memorial Hospital August 9, 1956 (I know that it is part of the Portneuf Regional Med Center now).Although my family moved to California when I was about a year old, I spent a lot of suimmers up there in my youth. It turns out by sheer happenstance that '76 was the last time I was in the Gate City. I gave up radio in 1979 or so after the first rumors of deregulation were circulating. I felt that the days of locally owned and operated radio were coming to an end and I did not want to work for what eventually became the "Clear Channel " corporate entities of the radio universe. As for my vist to KSNN, I think it might have been the PD. The guy did offer an interview as I walked out the door. I told him I would consider it, but I decided to stay in SoCal. But I still have the memories

[DavidSC]

1970's---In the first part of 1978 I was working Saturday mid-day at KWIK's stand-up studio.  When I finished that shift I drove to IF to do a Saturday evening at KUPI.  Previous to this (76 to 78 I had worked as a salesman and afternoon (3-7) Air Personality at KUPI.  At that time most of IF (KUPI AM-FM simulcast, KID AM , and the other AM) were live 24/7.  KWIK in Poc was live 24/7, Í don't know about the rest of the stations.  KBLI was live most of the time if not all.

From 1972-1976 I sid mornings 5:30-9:00 in Preston at KPST and sold ads in Logan. We were live 5:30 to Midnight. A number of staffers went on to work in SLC and other markets. Dave Hall, Randy Timothy, Dan Kelly, David Chandler, Arnie Augustus (is this the right name-channel 8 IF later KSL and church HQ?) and others.  I think in the 70s most stations were live because someone with a FCC license had be on site and take readings every hour.  Some AM FM ran one live and one automated.