KOOD Lakewood, KSND Debut, KGA Billboards, Stu Martin Radio Show & CKWX Anniversary

February 18, 1968

Suburban Tacoma Gets a New Radio Station Saturday As KOOD Signs on Saturday morning at 1480 AM. The Lakewood station is successor to KFHA, off the air for a year or so. The new station is owned by Timnankin Inc., with Bob Cooper, of Seattle, as principal stockholder.
Doug Taylor, general manager, said the station will program “the Golden Sound,” best-selling records from the pop music field, in sets of two or three.
The daytime only station will have its basic reception area south of Tacoma.

KETO AM’s new call letters will be KSND.

March 17, 1968

Newest personality at KIRO AM is Don Clark, from Fresno, on the air from 8 PM to midnight weekdays.

KING-AM’s new midday man is Jim Kelly. Kelly, young veteran of the Navy, and radio stations in Yakima and Chicago, moved to KING from KTAC Tacoma. His air shift begins at 10 AM weekdays.

Mel Gaumer, a sports announcer for KING in 1947, and also has worked since at stations in Indiana, Phoenix, and California, has been named news director of KTAC Tacoma.

Spokane’s KGA is tooting its horn loudly these days. Even to the point of buying billboard space in downtown Seattle urging “tonight, Dial 15, the station that goes everywhere.”

March 31, 1968

Stu Martin will begin broadcasting from a Bellevue nightspot on Monday, from midnight to 3 a.m.
Martin said he intends to “terrorize the airwaves” from a broadcast bar (you know, like a piano bar), on KMO Tacoma.
The former television-movie host will introduce a format including silly contests, interviews and many of his former sponsors.
In addition to an entourage including “Miss Late Date,” Martin will offer a new image. He will wear in Nehru suit and beads. But then you can’t see that on radio.

Danny Holiday is program director at KSND. Robert O Smith has moved over from KJR to the morning slot at 1590 AM. Squire Worthington has the 6 PM to midnight shift. He is from the Yakima and Tri-Cities area.

Don Clark at KIRO AM is having fun with the telephone. Clark has called Rod McKuen, Bill Cosby and Arthur Prysock. Clark’s most recent call was to London to enter a bid for the London Bridge. It is for sale.

KJR has hired good old Charlie Brown as a weeknight disk jockey. Brown was snatched away from KJRB, a sister station in Spokane.

April 1 will mark the 45th anniversary of CKWX 1130 in Vancouver BC. Today’s “Remember When” radio program will review some of the programs and personalities which have highlighted program schedules over the years.

Author: Victor Stredicke

Former radio columnist for the Seattle Times (1964-1989). --- View other articles by Victor Stredicke

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