Enchanting Harbor Island

KOL AM started around 1929, making it one of Seattle's earliest radio stations. It was owned by the Seattle Broadcasting Company, and located in a building on Harbor Island. There aren't many records of the station's earliest days. By 1958, KOL was a Top 40 station. The studios were still on Harbor Island, surrounded by gasoline storage tanks, railroad tracks, and busy shipyards.

I came to Seattle in the summer of 1965, and visited KOL one rainy night that fall. On the air was Danny Holiday. I asked him lots of questions, and I must admit that although Danny and I became friends over the years, and was one of the first to call me on the phone after my heart attack May 23, 2005, he really pissed me off that night! We both laugh about it now -- but it served me well. It made me absolutely determined to one day sit in his chair and play the hits!  I joined KJR in 1966, and in 1968 Danny called me from KUUU and offered me a job. Dick Curtis called that same day offering me a job at KOL. As I was delirous with a 104 fever that day, I turned them both down. I wasnt until I got over the flu that I remembered the phone calls. Despite turning down Curtis' original offer, I moved to KOL in April  1968. Twenty years after first meeting Danny Holliday, 1985, he was doing the Rock n Roll Time Machine on KZOK.  I was flattered when he requested that I fill in for him while he was on vacation. I did, and it went so well that KZOK hired me to do thirteen Weekend Specials. What fun! Thanks Danny

As for Kolorful KOL, in 1965, you could find Dex Allen, B.R. Bradbury, and Buzz Barr on the AM. Buzz was made PD, and he re-launched KOL as "Kolorful KOL, 13 Double O." Robin Mitchell came on board in 1967. Robert O. Smith, whom i first met working at KJR, also moved to KOL.  Dick Curtis moved over from KJR as PD, and he also did afternoons. Tom Murphy, Bobby Simon, Gary Crow, Robin MItchell, Chris Hill, Greg Connors, Don Wade, Paul Oscar Anderson,George Garret, Gary West and many other radio legends were part of KOL  Buckley Broadcasting became the new owner and GM in 1968. Dick Curtis was named GM of the AM in 69. He brought Lan Roberts back again to be PD and morning man.




A Little Bit Country...
IN 1973, KOL FM's independent programming ended. They briefly simulcasted with the AM again and then switched to soft rock. In 1975, both stations were sold to Hercules Broadcasting, owned by Manning Slater. The FM was changed to KEUT, an automated, beautiful-music format. The AM became KMPS, with a country format patterned after a station they owned in Sacramento. Rick Stewart was PD and also on the air, along with Art Lind, and Lee Rogers, playing the KMPS "Corral of Country Hits." Kay Spilker was sales manager, and Jim McGovern was GM.

Comments

[Dan Dennis]

AWWWW. Seattle radio in that time was just amazing, I remember listening to you in the evenings, with the timer from my old RCA table clock radio set for 1 hour. The first time I heard LOVE's version of Hey Joe was on your program , the same with CCR Graveyard Train. I thank you for the memories!! I had a small heart issue in December. Damn this getting old is for the birds! Thank You Burl

[Mike Barer]

The 3 letter call sign signifies one of the early stations. KXA gave up it's 3 letter call sign so it can be "The Truth" it should be KRAP, but I don't think the FCC would issue that one.

[Mike Barer]

Thank you for honoring my request on background on KOL. I will do a right up on KYYX soon.

[dave zarkin]

I was a huge KOL fan in the late 50s when I attended UW and living in ZBT house. Jockey John Stone was huge on KOL and I later heard him on a small N. CA station. I was a big fan of KAYO and the morning drive guy was Al something who called KAYO "poor but honest radio." The hours I wasted listening to Top 40 in the late 50s...oh my. My grade average would havea skyrocketed if I would have thrown out my Arvin radio. Early evenings Jim something with a deep baritone did "soothing music" and poetry on KOMO and you won't believe this but John Deremus is doing the same thing today on CBS affiliate KNXR in Rochester, MN. (syndicated I am sure) Mind boggling.

[linnea]

Wow...

Here I am, watching Dog Whisperer re-runs, and next thing you know, I'm reliving the days of my first transistor radio.

Thanks for the memories...

[Mike Barer]

You'r conversation with John Lennon would probably make an interesting story.

[wendy bickerton]

Could you please offer any information you have on John Deremus I have been trying to locate any recordings of him. I am from NewZealand and a radio station would broadcast his stories on late night radio.I would be very thankful if you could help me.
Thankyou, Wendy Bickerton

[Bill]

Geeze, Burl, in your list of KOL "legends," how come you left out Don Hughes, Logan Stewart, Bob Fuller and your old newsman, Bill Taylor? And what about RHW1, Tom Connors, Jeff Boeing,POA,Gary Todd,Lee Perkins and Jim Meeker?
C'mon!

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[WJE]

To the Zarkin note (above):

The morning guy at KAYO was Hal Raymond.

The poetry readings, voiced by Dave Ballard, were on KIXI (Center Aisle 91)not KOMO.

Jim Willis was another of Wally Nelskog's stable of memorable announcers at KIXI.

Rudy Perez, Martin Tobin, Bill Wippel, Bill Foster, Dean Smith and Ken Stewart were also part of KIXI's rich sound in the '60s and '70s.

The golden-voiced Dick Guthrie hosted "Music Till Midnight" on KING radio in the early 1960s, and then was the night booth announcer at KOMO TV for many years.

Jockey John Stone was the program director and afternoon drive DJ at KJR before before he went to KOL. While at KJR, Stone hired both Pat O'Day (from KAYO) and Dick Curtis.

[Bob]

Yea Bill,

Bob

[Burl Barer]

Bill Taylor is a real legend in my mind! Great newsman, swell guy.

[DT]

I saw a YouTube clip from KOMO-TV circa 1977 & the announcer saying "KOMO-TV Channel 4 Seattle" is that of Dick Guthrie. Is he still around or did he pass away sometime ago?