Radio Tower Permit Sought

April 14, 1962 An application for a conditional-use zoning permit to establish a radio station with a 60-foot tower was filed yesterday by KRAB, a recently formed, noncommercial broadcasting organization. Lorenzo W. Milam, president, asked the permit for the property at 9028 Roosevelt Way N.E. Milam said there are other radio towers in the district.

December 17, 1962 — One of the more novel broadcasting experiments began operation here Thursday when KRAB FM took the air on 107.7 megacycles. The new frequency modulation outlet is unusual on several counts. The station was built and is manned by volunteer help; it will specialize in offbeat programming not otherwise available and the entire operation will be strictly non-commercial, period. Listeners in short will be spared the blessing of a few thousand well-chosen words from the sponsor after every selection. Whether the 20-kilowatt station makes it without advertising revenue will be up to listeners. Those who appreciate its programming will be asked for contributions to sustain the operation. The station is on the air from 5 o’clock in the afternoon until 11 at night and expects to offer daytime programming beginning next month. The transmitter and studios are in the old donut shop at 9029 Roosevelt Way. Lorenzo W Milam, a former announcer with KPFA, a non-commercial outlet operated by the Pacifica Foundation in Berkeley California is the spark plug behind the venture. His volunteer staff includes Robert Garfias as music director, Gary Margason as program director and Jeremy Landsman in charge of poetry and drama. Milam reports the station’s purpose is to present as many viewpoints as possible on the air.”We have 8 volunteer commentators now,” he said, “and we will bank heavily on forums and interviews, with opinion ranging from the far left to the far right. We intend to KRAB about a lot of things.” Most of these programs will pursue an “open end” pattern, running an hour, two hours or more. “Time is unimportant to us,” Milam said. “Our roundtable discussions will continue to their natural conclusion as the issue warrants.” Other programming features will be classical music not ordinarily heard on other stations, readings from the classics, drama, and general commentary. This will include such way out fare as Chinese operas and readings from Cicero in Latin with a jazz background. Some pessimists may argue there is no compelling demand for Cicero in Latin with or without Jazz accompaniment but Milam and his volunteers rate a 21-gun salute for having the courage to try something different. (C.J. Skreen – Seattle Times)

Lou Robbins

Lou Robbins — Admin/Editor | Airchecks

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