RADIO STATION KUDY

Rough Beginnings

The idea for the station was conceived by broadcaster Paul Crain. Starting out with the callsign KQDE, and later KUDY, the station took over five years to finally get on the air. Meanwhile, Crain sold the station to Delbert Bertloff, also known as Del Cody. Cody then sold the station to KUDY, Inc. who then put the station on the air. For the complete chapter of the KUDY story click here.

On the Air, Financial Problems

SOURCES

  1. Bertholf, Delbert. Letter to FCC requesting extension for consummation of transfer of construction permit, 21 June 1962. From the National Archives, College Park, Maryland.
  2. Bertholf, Delbert for KLYK. Letter written to Samuel Miller, Washington, DC. explaining problems concerning disposing of his interest in KLYK. 12 May 1962. From the National Archives, College Park, Maryland.
  3. Coon, Charles E. for Headlight Oil Company. Letter withdrawing offer to purchase Bertholf's KLYK contract. 10 May 1962. From the National Archives, College Park, Maryland.
  4. Freese, George M. Letter to Del Bertholf at KUDY. 11 December 1963. From the National Archives, College Park, Maryland.
  5. Haley, Andrew G. for Haley, Wollenberg, and Rader, Washington, DC. in reference to call letter change from KQDE to KUDY. 17 January 1962. An annotation appears on the letter stating "KQDE changed to KUDY ltr. written 1/31/62." From the National Archives, College Park, Maryland.
  6. KUDY - Application for Additional Time to Construct Radio station BMP - 11125. 16 December 1963. From the National Archives, College Park, Maryland.
  7. KUDY - Application Record - Broadcasting, BP-13,391, Form BC- 121, via Xen Scott.

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

  • Spokane Radio News Keep abreast of the current radio scene in Spokane.
  • Radio History on the Web Start here for your journey into the fascinating world of radio history. Radio historian Barry Mishkind is the webmaster.