Thursday, September 27, 2007

QUERIES

Letters.
We get Letters.
We get stacks and stacks of letters.

Well, not actually stacks but I do get email from people seeking specific information. Sometimes I can give an answer, sometimes I can point them in the right direction, sometimes I have no clue.

So I thought I would steal a practice from genealogical research and start a Queries section. Any questions I receive which I can’t answer will be posted here and readers of the blog can offer assistance if they can. Responses can be posted in the Comments or emailed to me and I’ll forward or give your contact information to the original poster. This will appear on the sidebar under News and I’ll tag it when there are new queries.

Also, for those seeking information on air personalities, try this site which also has some non-air personnel. Only a small percentage of broadcasters have ever signed up, but it’s worth a shot. You can search by city, name and station.

1. Our first letter today comes from Stephanie, who’s looking for information on a 30s performing group. Stephanie writes:

Fascinating blog!

I'm trying to find out more about a group that reportedly performed on Houston Radio in the 1930s. Unfortunately I don't know which station.

The group was called the "Hawaiian Strummers", and one of the group was Julius Rogers, perhaps called Ben Rogers.

If you can help, I would be very grateful.

Stephanie

2. Sue, a researcher in New Orleans, is writing a biography of Peck Kelley whose Peck’s Bad Boys Jazz Dance Orchestra performed on the second Houston Post concert on WEV in 1922 and had a regular show on KPRC in 1925; he also served as band leader at Sylvan Beach Park in La Porte in 1925 and his band included Jack Teagarden, Don Ellis, Pee Wee Russell and others. She particularly wants to find a good copy of a picture postcard sent out by KPRC of the band in the studio.

3. Angela is looking for information about her Grandfather, Raymond Joseph Kelley, who hosted a talk program in the early 50s, possibly on KXYZ, called 'The People Ask' which featured himself and a Rabbi and a Priest. Anyone with any information or perhaps know of a recording so she can hear her Grandfather's voice?

4. Michael Roesner is looking for information and perhaps an air check of his grandfather, George E. Roesner, who was the long time Farm Reporter for KPRC radio and TV and may have had a column in the Post, too. He died when Michael was just 10 and he would like to know more and be able to tell his children about their great-grandfather.

24 comments:

Anonymous said...

Thanks for this insight article on perhaps Houston's most forgotten important figure of the 20th century.

Can you elaborate more on the unauthorized broadcasting station Reverend William States Jacobs had in the 1930s?

Also, explain the connection of radio tubes to a musical organ. How did this work? This sounds fascinating.

Bruce said...

These questions have been responded to following the article about Will Horwitz and XED.

Anonymous said...

"Broadcasting Yearbook says KLVL-FM, originally on 92.5, now KKBQ-FM, 92.9, started in August, 1962. The first listings appeared in the Chronicle on September 7, 1962."

I worked for KULF, 790 AM from 1973 thru 1977. Our 'sister FM' station was 92.9, easy-listening format, with call letters of KYND=-FM.

I (Jim Young) was news anchor/producer and traffic reporter for KULF. News Directors I worked for included David Fowler (who'd worked for KNUZ AM earlier), Dan Ammerman (who was long-time co-anchor w/Dave Ward on KTRK TV, Ch. 13, and news director at KXYZ am) and Chuck Scott (who'd been news director and anchor at KHTV, Channel 39. Other members of the news department when I worked there included George Thomas, Robert A. Knowlton and Henry McClurg (I forget Henry's airname), and Jim Wilson (real name Jim Guidry, who now owns and operates Guidry News Service www.guidrynews.com.

Many will remember my fellow "Traffic Watch cohorts, Jim Wilson, Kay Henderson (anchor) and DAAAVE HAAALE in the 'Kulf-Bird'.

Morning announcers during my tenure were Jim Tate and David Fowler. Other DJ's included Hal McClain & Jeff Mack, who actually were cousins.

Wow...those were the days!!!

Bruce said...

Thanks for your post Jim. The frequency shift for KYND - Kind 92 as they referred to it for a long time - was late 82 or early 83.

I have some tapes of KULF from '78 - guess I missed you! Scotty Tripp was doing AMs so I guess Tate had already left.

I have some David Fowler from his stint on KLYX-FM but he wasn't on the KULF tapes.

I have to get around to getting these organized and getting them off to Grady McAlister, if he wants them.

Bruce

MissPati said...

I found this letter in my grandmother's picture album. can you give any information about these people or who is Biff? and would it be possible to find out if this is radio station that I my grandmother, Jennie Eva Pitts, worked at? the date on letter is Aug 10,1960.


DEAR FOLKS,
How's EVERYTHING AT YOUR HOUSE? HOPE YOU'RE FINE~ AS WE ARE. THANKS TO ALL WHO HAVE TAKEN THE TIME TO WRITE SINCE OUR LAST MESS IN THE MAIL. SHIRL HAD A LITTLE THROAT SORENESS FOR A FEW DAYS, BUT IS FINE NOW. I'M DISGUSTINGLY HEALTHY, THANKS TO THE GOOD LORD. You KNOW, IN ALL MY LifE I'VE NEVER BEEN REALLY SICK. I REMEMBER IN 1950 I WENT HOME TO SAN ANTONIO TO HAVE MY TONSILS OUT, BUT OTHERWISE THE MOST I'VE EVER HAD WAS A COLD. ANYWAY, WE'RE FINE AND GRATEFUL FOR IT. EVEN OUR CRAZY MINAH B'RD WOODLES IS MEAN AS EVER. IF YOU'VE NEVER HAD A MINAH BIRD, YOU SHOULD ASK THE ~iITEHEADS WHAT IT'S LIKE. THEY GOT ONE WHEN THEY WERE HERE LAST SUMMER ON VACATION. GUESS WHAT THEY NAMED IT •• ? SI~LEYJ (CAN'T EVEN SPELL IT - HA1)o
OUR SITUATION HERE IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE AT ANYTIME. I'LL LET YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENS AS TIME GOES ON AND I KNOW FOR SURE FOR MYSELF. LATEST ON THE KXYZ THING IS YES­DEFINITELY~ BUT JUST WHEN WE'LL START IS SOMETHING ELSE AGAINo I DON'T KNOW YET JUST WHAT KIND OF SHOW I'M GONNA OO~ THE MAN SAYS IT LOOKS LIKE THEY ARE GONNA KEEP IT POP FOR THE TIME BEING ANYWAY. I'M STILL TRYING TO TALK HIM INTO LETTIN' ME DO A COUNTRY SHOW, BUT I JUST MAY END UP DOING A POP SHow.ANYWAY~ THAT'S THE STORY UP TO NOW. J' LL LET YOU KNOW MORE AS I fllND OUT MYSELF.
HEY~ I HEARD MY OLD BAREFOOT BUDDY IS DOING A DAILY SHOW ON KRCT NOW. BLESS HIS HE~ 1 I'M SO GLAD FOR HIM. I KNOW HE'S THR I LLED ABOUT I T AND I AM TOO. You ALL BE SURE TO LISTEN AND SUPPORT OLD JACK uERRICK, WILL YOU? YOU'LL NEVER FIND ANYONE MORE APPRECIAT~VE AND GRATEFUL FOR YOUR INTEREST, AND THAT'S FOR SURE. KEEP JACK ON THE BALL FOR ME, WILL YOU? HE'S ONE OF THE BEST OnD HILLBILLIES THAT EVER SLUD INTO A PAtR OF BOOTS, AND THAT'S FOR SURE.
ONE OF MY OLDEST FRIENDS, JOE ALLISON, WHO'S A TOP D.J. AT KFOX HERE IN LONG BEACH, HAS JUST BEEN MADE HEAD OF THE NEW COUNTRY ~USIC DEPARTMENT AT LIBERTY RECORDS. HE'S JU S T SIGNED AND IS SE T TO REC ORO BOB WILLS ANC THE TEXAS PLA YLOYS. WITH TOr~dViY DUNCAIei ACOUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, SHIRLEY AND I WENT UP TO LA0 VEGAS TO VISIT MY DEAR FRIEND WADE RAY AND HIS WIFE GRACE. BOB AND TOMMY AND THE BAND WERE WORKING WITH HIM THERE AT ~HE GOLDEN NUGGET. HAD A CHANCE TO CUT UP SOME OLD TIMES WITH BOB AND TOMMY, AS WELL AS WITH WAGE. WHAT A WONDERFUL GUY THAT WADE IsA AND SUCH A REAL FRIEND.
OLD "POKE SALAO" CHARLIE WALKER HAS BEEN HERE THE PAST WEEK WORKING AROUND THE AREA. HE'S DONE REALL GOOD TOO. CHARLIE YOU KNOW IS STILL LIVING AND WORKING IN SAN ANTONIO AT Kr~C AS A TOP COUNTRY D.J., AND NOW IS ALSO A BIG NAME AS A RECORD ARTIST AFTER H'S BIG "PICK NE UP ON Y'JLR WAY DOWN" ON COLUMBIA LAST YEAR. lVERLE TRAVIS
HAS BEEN IN THE HOSI?ITAL, PRETTY BAD SICK I GUESS. I'M SORRY I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S THE TROUBLE~ BUT I KNOW YOU WISH WITH ME A QUICK RECOVERY FOR MERLE.
RE~EMBER BOB CUTTING? BOB AND I WERE THE ORIGINAL PAIR ON THE OLD HOUSTON HOEGOWN
ON KNUZ WHEN WE FIRST WENT ON THE AIR BACK IN FEBRUARY 1948. BOB WALKED IN TO THE STUDIO ONE DAY ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO AND ALMOST SCARED ME OUTTA MY PANTS. HE'S BEEN LIVING IN DENVER AND WORKING IN RADIO THERE FOR THE PAST EIGHT YEARS. HE WAS IN L.A. LOOKING FOR A NEW LOCATION IN RADIO. ANY OF YOU WHO'D LIKE TO DROP A NOTE TO SAY HELLO TO BOB, I KNOW 'T WOULD TICK&E HIM IF YOu'D WRITE TO BOB CUTTING - 150 DEL MAR CIRCLE, APT. A - AURORA. COLORADO. SOME OF YOU ASKED ABOUT HAZEL ADAMS' ADDRESS.
I FOUND IT, IN CASE YOU'RE INTERESTED: HAZEL ADAMS - 605 EAST 18TH ST.~CHEYENE. WYOMING.HAZEL LIVED IN BAYTOWN FOR YEARS AND WAS ALWAYS A BIG COUNTRY MUSIC BOOSTER.
THIS MONTH'S HONOR ROLL (FOLKS WE'VE HEARO FROM SINCE WE WROTE LAST):
JOHN & NITA ROGERS{BIG BIRD'S COMIN' ),JEAN SUMvERS (GRANDMA), BUD & BUD HOOPER (LOUISIANA HAYRIDERS), WRS. SOUTH (THANKS FOR THE MAIL), GRANDMA VERCHER (YOUNGER THAN ALL OF US), GRANDMA, I'M AFRAID YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE SENT IT •• CAN'T FIND 'T. WRS. MASTIN (WROTE MRs. SOUTH - MEmTloNED BARBARA WHITEHEAD'S MARRAIGE),MRS. BAKENHUS(WANTS TO KNOW ABOUT THE FRIENDSHIP CLUB-' WOULD Too),TEXAS REi. (VAL.ENTINE PRETTY - THANKSI STILL SENDING IN THOSE REQUESTS-L.OVES THAT "TATER"), THE HERMAN OBERPRILLAR (so GOOD TO HEAR FROM THEM. WRITE AGAIN & TELL ME WHAT YOU'RE DOING') LOUISE FUUV£R(SAYS JERRY JERICHO IS A HAYRIDE REGULAR-RECORDS IN NASH. SOON FOR COL. BEE GASTON(BEE, SOMEDAY I'M GONNA WRITE A NOVEL-SEND ME THE INFO),VANN & JENNIE EVA PITTS (SAYS SLEEPY BOB 15 ON KTRH-TELL ME MORE)~ HAZEL AUAMS(SAYS DON'T JUMP IN THE CAR AND S~AM THE DOOR-SHE DID AND THE BACK WINDOW FELL OUT-HUSBAND!S WORKING ON A MISSILE), PliW AND tviAY DURDEN(wORKS WITH THE "BIG BROTHERS. INC.", LISTED IN HOUSTON PHONE DIRECTORY. 'F YOU WANT TO HEL.P SOME BOYS BE GOOD BOYS, GRADY SAya CONTACT THEM':
THE HIGGANBOTHAMS IN HUNTSVILLE-REMEMBER GENEVA? (SENT ME A PICTURE OF HER-SHE'S A REAL LITTLE LADY NOW-LEARNING CORNET-SUNG SOME WITH RED NOVAK, HERBIE REMINGTON. ETC THE FROELICHS(MY GIRL fRIEND VIVIAN IS STILL GOING TO SCHOOL-SISTER FAYE IS STILL PICKIN' THE GUITAR), THE ROSSES (JLORIA JvY & M1NOR)-TOOK PICTURES OF THE SNOW IN HOUS-BUT HASN'T SENT US ANY.) RITA & LOW$S RAES~£R~THREEW AWAY REDUCING PILLS AND LOST WEIGHT WHILE SHE WAS "GRANDMA SITTIN' FOR MAMA, WHO VISITED BY THE STORK)_
HOPE I DIDN'T MISS ANYONE. IF I DID, YOU KNOW IT'S ONLY BECAUSE I'M NOT A GOOD SECRETARY, AND NOT BECAUSE I DON'T APPRECIATE YOUR TAKING THE TIME TO WRITE. DO IT AGAIN! NOTHING PLEASE ME MORE THAN TO BE REMEMBERED BY FRIENDS. PLEASE LET'S KEEP IN TOUCH. ONE OF THESE TIMES SOON WE HOPE TO COME HOME AND HOPE TO BE ABLE TO GET IN TOGETHER WITH ALL OF YOU WHEN WE DO. STILL NO WORD ON TEH DATE OF SHIRLEY'S APPEARANCE ON GROUCHO'S SHOW. PORMISE I'LL YOU KNOW AS SOON AS WE FIND OUT. BE GOOD TO YOURSELF AND EVERYBODY ELSE, YOU HEAR ME? BIFF

Bruce said...

Thanks for your post MissPati. That's some very interesting information. The Biff is undoubtedly Biff Collie. He was one of the original hires on KNUZ in 1948, as a sports reporter as I recall, but went on to become morning man and then also did mornings for KLEE and KPRC that I can remember. I was never aware of him on KXYZ, particularly as late as that, but that doesn't mean it didn't happen. You can Google on his name and probably get some hits. He's in either the Country Radio Hall of Fame of Country Music Hall of Fame, or perhaps both, and he hosted what may have been the first appearance of Elvis in Houston. (I don't have access to all my notes right now - I'll post more when I have a chance to go through them if I find anything else).

Sorry, right now I don't have anything on your grandmother

MissPati said...

Thank You so much for your reply. I really didn't think I would get a reply at all. I am doing some family history research and I have numerous emails out with only a very few replies. I would appreciate anything else you can send me when you have time. One thing I have discovered. Research takes time. again .thanks

bob roup said...

No comment on previous and I have never blogged or tweeted. Not sure what I am doing, but googled "Houston Radio History" and found this site.

My comment and question..In 1960 KILT sponsored the mascot team for the Houston Oilers or KILT Baby Oilers. Are there any archived clippings or programs from this year? I was on this team and lost all scrap book material to a house fire many years back. I was saving to give my grandchildren. KILT continued to sponsor this team for 4 -5 yrs I recall. 1960 was the first year and of course the first year for the Houston Oilers. The age group was 12-14 and we would play over 30 games that season and traveled to other AFC cities and played their local teams. We would play before some of the Oilers' games at Jepessen stadium. KILT would carry the broadcast of some of these games. We lost our first game then went undefeated.

Bruce said...

Bob - Thanks for the post. Contact me again and leave your email (it will not be published) so I can get in touch with you with some suggestions or just email me on the profile page.

Thanks.

Bruce

Pati Standridge Holder said...

I haven't written comments in several years. I was so glad to see I am on the emailing list. my grandmother worked for this station many many years ago and I love keeping up with it as it is a part of my family history. thank you
Pati in Oklahoma

Bill Eddy said...

I too played on this team. I played in the backfield along with QB Lynn Brooks, FB Wayne Townsend and RB Tommy Maxwell. Playing on this team was great fun and a hilight of my youth

Anonymous said...

Hi I've come across a old photo that is signed Bob Hall. in it he is playing a piano and there is a mic on the piano with the call letters KXYZ.
Who is Bob Hall?

Bruce said...

I don't recognize the name. Any clues as to the date of the pic? Can you post it somewhere and provide a link?

Unknown said...

Does anyone know whatever happened to Jim Young (Youngbloom) KPRC later KLVI at Beaumont. He had a show at KLVI called "Comment" and really had an interesting one claiming knowledge of Oswald. Even the FBI got involved. I think he later moved back to Houston.

Anonymous said...

Loved finally seeing a photo of Dizzy Lizzy! Can anyone identify her theme song? I always tried to tune in for the start of the show so I could hear it.

Don H said...

Can you hum a few bars for me?

Douglas Johnson said...

To Michael Roesner. I loved your Great Grandfather, George Roesner. Get in touch with me and I'll share one great story with you.

Rusty C said...

I may be lost in a fog but, I remember KFMK in Houston in the late 60's early 70's. Does anyone else? And, being new to this site whatever happened to Jewel McGowen?

Unknown said...

To Douglas Johnson, sorry I did not check back sooner. Let me know if you are still available.

Unknown said...

To Douglas Johnson, I would love to hear it sometime if at all possible.

Anonymous said...

I do remember listening to George Roesner on KPRC 950 in the late 1950's and into the 1960's. He had a Farm and Ranching program early in the morning. George was very knowledgeable about all things in agriculture, both crops and livestock. Just after George's show finished everyday the Tim and Bob show (with Tim Nolan and Bob Byron) came on KPRC 950 radio. Every morning they would take the last 2 minutes of George's show and come into his studio when George was still live on the air. Tim and Bob would tickle George mercilessly while he was speaking and George would say, "Stop, Quit, Get Out of Here!" "Git, I said Git Out of Here!" Everyone listening in Houston would howl with laughter. George Roesner donated a lot of his off the air time to FFA livestock shows around the Houston area and also 4H shows. He was a true professional and many thousands of us really enjoyed listening to George over the years.

Unknown said...

When I was a very young boy, I recall having to wake up very early on Saturday mornings to watch George Roesner RFD and his farm report. I was born and raised in Houston and had about the same connection to farming as I did nuclear physics, but I wouldn't miss it and still remember all these years later.

Ryan Anders said...

Do you know where I can search for KTHT archive recordings from July 1969?



I’m working on a book about a German man, Heinz Stucke, who traveled around the world for 52 years on a 3-speed bicycle. He did an interview at 10 am on 7 July, 1969 with Steve Edwards and took some questions from callers.



Thanks, Ryan

Bruce said...

I have Ryan's email or post your answer here.