Copyright 2020 by Carl Mann All Rights Reserved. Please feel free to use this material in a responsible manner, providing credit and attribution. This work may be used free of charge. Selling is prohibited. Commercial copying, hiring, lending, or digital posting is prohibited and will constitute an infringement of copyright. Permission granted to reproduce this work for personal and educational use only. Obtain permission before redistributing. In all cases this notice must remain intact. Photos and illustrations are copyrighted by the author except where courtesied and may not be reproduced outside of this content without proper permission from the credited owners. First Edition 2020 This work is dedicated to the two men who gave their all to make AM, FM, and TV a technical reality: Edwin Armstrong and Philo T. Farnsworth. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The workhorse sources of this project were the archives of the Omaha World-Herald and the dozens of publications preserved in David Gleason’s amazing website AmericanRadioHistory.com, especially Broadcasting Magazine, and Billboard Magazine. Other publications and organizations include: Creighton Magazine, spring 1996, Radio World magazine, Fremont Valley Museum, Norfolk, NE, Georgia Radio Hall of Fame, Hamilton Tip Sheet, Hitmakers 1984, Lincoln Journal Star, Nebraska Broadcasters Assoc., Omaha Central High School Archives, Pottawattamie County Historical Society, Purdue University for 2002 thesis by Steven Robert Scherer, Sponsor Magazine, Television Magazine 1957, Time Magazine of June 4, 1956, and WOW Tower monthly publication 1940s In the bibliography are: Burnishing the Brand by Tom McCourt and Eric Rothenbuhler, 2004 Radio & Records, Greatest Radio Promotions of All Time, 1981 The Birth of Top 40 Radio, by Richard W. Fatherly and David T. McFarland The Hits Just Keep on Coming by Ben Fong-Torres 1998 Turn It Up! American Radio Tales 1946-1996 by Bob Shannon Unauthorized Biography of Johnny Carson by Smith, Corkery Council Bluffs Broadway by Richard Warner, Ryan Roenfeld Photo and illustration sources outside the author’s collection of paraphernalia and brochures are credited to their source, particularly to the Omaha World-Herald. Most importantly are the individuals whose contributions are acknowledged with gratitude: Michelle Gullett of the Omaha World-Herald, Chuck Hoffman, Deane Johnson, Steve Brown, Erik Foxx/Alan Cain, Ernest J. Wesolowski, Frank Merrill, Gary Emenitove, Gregg Ottinger, John Erling, John Menzies, Kris Erik Stevens, Larry R. Jansky, Lyle Davis, Mike Shane, Phil Robbins, John King, Clark Besch, Janet Conry Mohring, Roger W. Morgan, Ron Ugly Thompson, Steve Taylor, Tom Barsanti, Jim Timm and Marty Riemenschneider both of the Nebraska Broadcasters Association, David Gleason, webmaster of American Radio History dot com, Dick Warner of the Pottawattamie County Historical Society, and radio historian Mark Durenberger. TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER ONE – THE POST WAR YEARS FEDERAL REGULATIONS TIGHTEN FURTHER THE BOOM YEARS BEGIN WOW 590 Omaha KOWH 660 Omaha KFAB 780 Lincoln KOIL 1290 Omaha KBON 1490 Omaha KSWI 1560 Council Bluffs OMAHA FM- PIONEERING A NEW BROADCASTING BAND KOAD 92.5, to 92.9, Omaha KSWI FM 107.9, to KFMX, to 96.1, Council Bluffs KFAB 97.9 Lincoln KBON FM 98.7 Omaha THE FM EXODUS THE ENTRY OF TELEVISION RADIO PERSONALITIES ARE THRUST INTO TELEVISION SIDEBARS AND FOOTNOTES-- THE STANDINGS, 1949 JOHNNY CARSON AND MERRILL WORKHOVEN KOIL’s 50-THOUSAND WATT PLAN FM PIONEERING IN OMAHA THE DOWNTOWN NEWS TICKER 1370/1400 KORN, 1340 KFGT- THE FREMONT STATIONS- PART ONE CHAPTER TWO- NETWORKS OUT, DJ'S IN THE GOLDEN AGE FADES THE TELEVISION BOOM RADIO NETWORKS FADE TO LOCAL PROGRAMMING THE DAWNING OF DJ’S OMAHA’S RADIO DIAL-- 1950s 590 WOW OMAHA 660 KOWH OMAHA 1110 KFAB OMAHA 1290 KOIL OMAHA 1420 KOOO OMAHA 1490 KBON OMAHA 1560 KSWI COUNCIL BLUFFS SIDEBARS and FOOTNOTES-- THE KOWH SALE TO WILLIAM BUCKLEY THE TODD STORZ “WAITRESS AND JUKEBOX” MYTH HOW THE LABEL “TOP 40” WAS BORN THE STORZ STATIONS EMPIRE THE STORZ BREWERY THE OTHER PIONEER- GORDON MCLENDON THE OVERNIGHT SHIFT EDUCATIONAL STATIONS RETURN, USING CARRIER CURRENT MUSIC PLAYLISTS 1952 ROCK AND ROLL ROOTS IN OMAHA CHAPTER THREE- MUSIC AND NEWS THE NETWORKS TURN TO NEWS 590 WOW Omaha- STAYS OLD-SCHOOL 660 KMEO, KOWH, KOZN- AFTER THE HEADY TOP 40 YEARS 1110 KFAB- ESTAB;ISHES A FIRM FOOTING 1290 KOIL- THE GLORY YEARS 1420 KOOO- MEANWHILE, BACK AT THE RANCH 1490 KBON- TALK RADIO COMES TO OMAHA 1560 KSWI, KRCB- STRUGGLES ON FM RETURNS– AND SOON GOES STEREO 94.3, 94.1 KQAL, KOWH FM Omaha 96.1 KCOM, KOIL FM, KICN, return to KOIL FM Omaha 99.9 KFAB FM Omaha 92.3 WOW FM Omaha 98.7 KSWI FM Council Bluffs- Construction Permit Only 98.5 KRCB FM Council Bluffs 101.7 KGBI, Omaha- Grace Bible Institute 91.5 KIOS Omaha- Omaha Public Schools SIDEBARS and FOOTNOTES-- THE PAYOLA SCANDAL KOIL’S LEGENDARY PLAYERS OF THE 1960s BUT IT SOUNDS SPONTANEOUS... THE STEVE BROWN LEGACY OMAHA’S SWANCO BROADCASTING AND THE SWANSON FAMILY THE TELEVISION ANTENNA FARM CHAPTER FOUR- FM CLAWS ITS WAY UP THE 1970S—AN OVERVIEW OF A FAST-MOVING DECADE 1290 KOIL GOES DARK, RETURNS TO A NEW LANDSCAPE 590 WOW OVERTAKES AN EMBATTLED KOIL 1110 KFAB BECOMES THE HERITAGE LEADER THE SMALLER STATIONS STRUGGLE 660 KOZN, KOWH, KCRO- FROM COUNTRY TO CHRISTIAN 1420 KOOO, KESY- THE DEFINITION OF A NOSEDIVE 1490 KBON, KLNG, KYNN- NEWSTALK SELLS OUT TO COUNTRY 1560 KRCB, KQXV, KLNG- FLAILING AROUND FOR A NICHE TOP 40 FRAGMENTS WHILE FM STRUGGLES UPWARD 91.5 KIOS- OMAHA’S FIRST NON-COMMERCIAL FM 92.3 WOW FM, KFMX, KEZO- A FAILED RUN AT THE YOUNGER DEMOS 94.1 KOWH FM, KYNN FM- ABANDONING THE BLACK AUDIENCE 96.1 KOIL FM, KEFM- BEAUTIFUL MUSIC FADES OUT 98.5 KRCB FM, KQKQ- PROGRESSIVE ROCK FINDS A NICHE 99.9 KFAB FM, KGOR- AUTOMATED TOP 40 MAKES INROADS 100.7 KGBI- STRONG SUPPORT FOR CHRISTIAN RADIO NEW FMs FILL THE DIAL 90.7 KVNO- Univ. of Nebraska Omaha- FINE ARTS PROGRAMMING 91.9 KDCV Blair- Dana College- A LOW POWER CLASS D STATION 104.5 KOOO FM, KESY- FROM TWANG TO STRINGS SIDEBARS and FOOTNOTES-- WHO TURNED BURDEN IN TO THE FCC ? DON BURDEN AFTER KOIL THE 1970s LEGENDS OF KOIL- PAYOLA- DID IT EVER GO AWAY? 1975— OMAHA RADIO COVERS A BLIZZARD AND A TORNADO 1000 KOTD- THE PLATTSMOUTH STATION 1340 KHUB THE FREMONT STATION- PART TWO 105.5 KHUB FM- FREMONT’S NEW FM STATION THE LUSTER FADES FORWARD By Richard Warner I’m a disc jockey. I still remember saying that, the first time someone asked me what I did after I landed my first radio job. I wasn’t sure what reaction to expect. I braced myself for that askance look typically reserved for ex-convicts and winos on welfare. I was quite aware my gig was nothing more than an overnight shift once a week on the least listened to station in the market. Instead of disdain, the response was an enthusiastic, “Oh, really?” And that’s the reaction I noticed for the next twenty years. Those two decades at KQKQ were indeed interesting. That underdog station managed to pull off what has to be one of the most astonishing “rags-to-riches” stories in the city, transforming itself into the incredibly popular and profitable “Sweet 98,” and carrying me into morning drive as the half of the original “Breakfast Flakes.” Eventually I became a dentist. People would say, “That’s nice. But weren’t you once a disc jockey?” There’s just something especially alluring about radio. I first encountered Carl Mann the way thousands of other local people did; I listened to him on KOIL. I wouldn’t actually meet him for another thirty-five years. Radio people love to tell stories, so I was quite eager when we planned lunch. Carl told me he was writing a book on local radio history, so I figured he’d have plenty of stories to share. Carl had more than stories. He had facts. Lots of facts, neatly organized in notebooks. We’ve all known people who said they were “going to write a book” about one thing or another. Almost none ever do. When I saw the information he collected there was little doubt in my mind Carl’s book would come to fruition. I also discovered he’s one of the most meticulous researchers I’ve ever encountered. I’ve spent many years as an officer of the local historical society, and fancied myself something of a local radio historian. After a few minutes talking to Carl I discovered how little I knew, and of that, a good deal of what I thought I knew wasn’t correct anyway. They say nothing is truly lost until it is forgotten. Thanks to Carl’s collection and preservation of these details, the history of this important industry that sometimes mirrored and sometimes shaped our lives won’t be left behind. One last thought. Who is this book for? I think it will find a niche at several levels. Everybody likes a good story, and this one is particularly captivating. The era opens with the foregone premise radio is dead, killed off by the advent of television. Yet the most insanely profitable years of radio were just ahead. Just how could that happen? It’s a tale of imagination, risk, and skulduggery, with Omaha right there at ground zero. Obviously these pages are an essential read for radio history buffs, regardless of which market they are interested. Omaha impacted all, be it as a stepping stone for personalities on their way up to the bigger cities, or the genesis of Top 40. Listeners will be interested as well.