KHQ - 1922 to Present

Louis Wasmer founded the pioneer radio station KHQ in 1922 in Seattle, as part of a motorcyle shop he owned. He later re-established the station in Spokane in 1925. Although the KHQ calls are no longer used on the AM band, they still exist on TV. The long time frequency of 590 kHz which KHQ used until 1985 is now occupied by KQNT. Click on the links below to see KHQ's interesting place in radio history.

The picture to the left is a view of the KHQ's tower on top of the Davenport Building probably from the 1940's based on the age of the automobiles pictured. KHQ was not using the tower at this time. The KHQ and KGA signs are attached to the Radio Central Building which was being used by those station at that time. Click on the image for a larger view.

KHQ Links

Compiled and edited by Bill Harms - updated 15 November 2015

Courtesy of Jerry Berg. Click on the image above for a larger view.

LINKS TO INDIVIDUAL
STATION HISTORIES

  • Emil Olson's station - Said to be the first station in Spokane to broadcast music
  • KFZ - Licensed by Doerr-Mitchell Company - The first licensed commercial broadcast station in Spokane
  • KOE - Licensed by the Spokane Chronicle Newspaper
  • KFDC/KFPY/KXLY - Humble beginnings to major market force
  • KHQ - 1922 to present
  • KFIO/KLYK/KSPO etc - Claims to be the oldest operating station in Spokane
  • KGA - Started in 1927
  • KREM - Started broadcasting in the late 1940's in Downtown Spokane. Become part of Dorothy Bullitt's King Broadcasting.
  • KNEW/KJRB - became Spokane's number one top 40 station in the 1960's.
  • KVNI - The Voice of North Idaho
  • KZUN Opportunity - "The Voice of Spokane Valley" from 1955 to 1985.
  • KCFA and KMBI - now owned and operated by the Moody Bible Institute.
  • KUDY etc
  • KPEG/KEZE/KCKO - Started out as an all-female station with the all announcers named Peg. Made a splash as a country station in the 1960's.
  • KLFF Mead - The short history of "Clef Radio"
  • KDNC/KXXR/KSVY - Started out on the Moran Prairie and ended up in the Spokane Valley.
  • KTWD - Spokane's first commercial FM only station and first FM Stereo station. Established in 1966 by Terry Denbrook.
  • KPBX - Started in George Cole's basement in the early 1970's. Now a major public radio station.

COMING SOON

  • Which station is the oldest station in Spokane? - Look here for the interesting answer

OTHER NEAT LINKS

  • If you have a radio history related website that you would like to be featured here, please contact me.
  • Radio History on the Web Start here for your journey into the fascinating world of radio history. Radio historian Barry Mishkind is the webmaster.