St Patrick Radio Program on KPO -- March 13, 2025

San Francisco Bulletin, 16-March-1925

Saint Patrick's Day is coming.

100 years ago this month, on the eve of Saint Patrick's Day, San Francisco's KPO broadcast a special program. KPO became today's KNBR (680 Kilohertz).

+

San Francisco Bulletin, 16-March-1925

KPO to Give Special Armistice Day Music -- November 14, 2024

San Francisco Examiner, 11-November-1924

San Francisco's pioneering radio station KPO (now KNBR) broadcast a special music program on Armistice Day, 1924 (11-November 1924). The music was composed by "the talented blind composer" Joseph B Cary. I can't find much about Cary except that he wrote a popular song, "When Honey Sings an Old Time Tune."

Hale's Radio to Relay Music -- May 9, 2023

San Francisco Examiner, 25-April-1923

In the golden age of radio, remote music broadcasts from hotels and clubs were very common. Here is an early example from the Fairmont Hotel to station KPO. John W Weeks was Secretary of War in President Harding's cabinet. Known as an honest man, Weeks was not involved in the Teapot Dome scandal.

Hale's Radio to

Relay Music

by Oliver W. Tuttle.

Commencing Sunday night at 8:30 o'clock "KPO," Hale Brothers' big broadcasting station, will inaugurate its new remote control system from the Fairmont Hotel.

Controlled by a switch install on the huge panel in the "KPO" operating room, the magic waves of Rudy Seiger's famous Fairmont Orchestra.

This notable feat of radio engineering skill was made possible through the co-operation with Hale Brothers of the Fairmont Hotel and the Leo J Meyberg Company.

Since the closing down of the old "KDN" station at the Fairmont radio fans have constantly inquired why Rudy Seiger and his musicians were no longer to be heard via the radio. They will now be heard daily between the hours of 1 and 2 and 4:30 and 5:30 o'clock in the afternoon. The regular Sunday concert will also be a feature of the weekly program.

The concert Sunday night will be featured by violin solos by Rudy Seiger. The members of the orchestra are J. Chandler Smith, piano; Jasha Schwarzman, cello; Jerome Simon, violin; H. Seiger, base, and Rudy Seiger, conductor.

Secretary of War John Weeks will speak from Hale Brothers' studio tonight at 8 o'clock.

His words will be eagerly listened to by thousands of radio fans up and down the Pacific coast, who, through the medium of their receiving sets, will have this great opportunity of hearing a figure of national importance. An attractive musical program will also be broadcasted.

San Francisco Examiner, 25-April-1923

Rudy Seiger's Shell Symphonists Orchestra: "Destiny" (1928)

KPO -- World Series by Radio Today! -- October 18, 2022

San Francisco Examiner, 04-October-1922

San Francisco radio station KPO began broadcasting 100 years ago today, on 17-April-1922. I remember reading about the 50th anniversary of successor KNBR in the Chronicle. The photos of the early studios caught my attention.

The original KPO studios were in the Hale Brothers department store at Fifth and Market. Hale Brothers owned the station. In 1929, the station moved to the Hale Brothers annex, seen behind the corner store. In 1927, the station became an early affiliate of the NBC Red Network. NBC acquired KPO in the 1930s and changed the call letters to KNBC. Later, they wanted to use the call sign for a Los Angeles station and changed the San Francisco station to KNBR. KNBR currently carries the broadcasts of San Francisco Giants games.

In 1922, KPO carried broadcasts of the World Series between the New York Giants and the New York Yankees.

Program for Radio Fans -- August 13, 2022

San Francisco Examiner, 30-August-1922

All private/commercial stations shared the 360 Metre Wavelength (832.75683 Kilohertz) for their regular broadcasts. They also shared the 485 Metre Wavelength (618.12878 Kilohertz) for weather reports. 

KPO became today's KNBR (680 Kilohertz) and KQW San Jose became today's KCBS (740 Kilohertz). 

KPO -- Broadcasting Features for Monday! -- June 21, 2022

San Francisco Examiner, 11-June-1922

The original KPO studios were in the Hale Brothers department store at Fifth and Market. Hale Brothers owned the station. In 1929, the station moved to the Hale Brothers annex, seen behind the corner store. In 1927, the station became an early affiliate of the NBC Red Network. NBC acquired KPO in the 1930s and changed the call letters to KNBC. Later, they wanted to use the call sign for a Los Angeles station and changed the San Francisco station to KNBR.

This ad for Hale's Brothers mentions the radio station but not the call letters. The Shriners (Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine) were having their annual convention (Imperial Council Session). Imperial Potentate Cutts was the outgoing head of the organization. 

Fanchon and Marco (Wolff) had various companies touring in vaudeville and ran a dance school in Los Angeles. I have never heard the song "Islam Greets You."

KPO/KNBR 100 -- April 17, 2022

San Francisco radio station KPO began broadcasting 100 years ago today, on 17-April-1922. I remember reading about the 50th anniversary of successor KNBR in the Chronicle. The photos of the early studios caught my attention. 

The original KPO studios were in the Hale Brothers department store at Fifth and Market. Hale Brothers owned the station. In 1929, the station moved to the Hale Brothers annex, seen behind the corner store. In 1927, the station became an early affiliate of the NBC Red Network. NBC acquired KPO in the 1930s and changed the call letters to KNBC. Later, they wanted to use the call sign for a Los Angeles station and changed the San Francisco station to KNBR.

San Francisco Examiner, 15-April-1922

Notice that the article does not mention call letters. KPO's planned content sounds exciting. 

San Francisco Examiner, 18-April-1922

The radio schedule for the day after KPO went on the air. Notice that no call signs are used, just the names of the owners ("The Emporium") or the location of the station ("Rock Ridge, Oakland"). All stations shared a single frequency. KPO started out with a one-hour slice from 9am to 10am.

KNBR has carried radio broadcasts of San Francisco Giants games since 1979. 

Radio history from John Schneider's wonderful site Voices Out of the Fog:
http://www.sfradiomuseum.com/schneider/articles.shtml

Radio Site #4 -- May 31, 2009

I remember the articles in the Chronicle when KNBR celebrated its 50th anniversary in 1971. I liked the photos of the early studios.

KNBR started in 1921 as KPO. The original studios were in the Hale Brothers store at Fifth and Market. In 1929, the station moved to the Hale Brothers annex, seen behind the corner store. NBC acquired KPO in the 1930s and changed the call letters to KNBC. Later, they wanted to use KNBC for a Los Angeles station, and changed the San Francisco station to KNBR.

Radio history from John Schneider's wonderful site Voices Out of the Fog: http://www.sfradiomuseum.com/schneider/articles.shtml

This is my 100th post of the year and my 400th overall.

Radio Site #1 -- December 19, 2008

The San Francisco Radio City building at O'Farrell and Taylor was built for NBC (the National Broadcasting Company) in 1942. Stations KPO (NBC Red Network, later KNBC, now KNBR) and KGO (NBC Blue Network) were housed there. NBC sold the Blue Network, which became the basis of ABC (the American Broadcasting Company) in 1943. KGO continued to use Radio City until 1954. KNBR moved out in 1967. The building was later used for many years by a UHF television station, KBHK, Channel 44.


I took the photo of the CJ Fitzgerald mural in July, 2002.


Radio history from John Schneider's wonderful site Voices Out of the Fog: http://www.sfradiomuseum.com/schneider/articles.shtml


The family joined me downtown after work. We went to the Cheesecake Factory at Macy's for supper. The lady in the ground floor lobby said it would be 35-40 minutes for three people. We went upstairs and found the lobby jammed with people. We put in our name and the guy at the desk said to come back in 20 minutes and get a pager. It took another 25 minutes. Then we got a table outside on the balcony. Despite the heaters, it was very cold. The food was good and the lights were beautiful. We had a nice time.