Los Angeles Radio
History: 1920s
by Alex Cosper
Introduction
1920s
1930s
1940s
1950s
1960s
1970s
1980s
1990s
2000s
see also American Radio
History
Los Angeles was a very important market in the shaping of American radio history.
One of the city's most legendary stations, KHJ, was also one of its earliest,
signing on April 13, 1922, the same year that the U.S. Commerce Department began
issuing radio licenses across the country. The station was founded by C.R. Kierulff & Company,
which sold the property to Times-Mirror Company in late 1922.
KHJ debuted on 760 AM then by the end of the decade was moved to 900 AM.
One of the earliest stations to broadcast on L.A. airwaves was KNX, which started
out as 6ADZ, a five watt station owned by Fred Christian. It signed on the air on
September 20, 1920 at 1500 AM. The following year it moved to 833 AM and changed
call letters to KGC. It became KNX in May 1922 and increased power to 50 watts. In
1923 Christian sold the station to Los Angeles Evening Express owner Guy Earl.
Here's what the Los Angeles radio dial looked like
in 1922:
Los Angeles Radio Dial
1922
KDYR (Pasadena), owned by Pasadena Star-News Publishing Co.
KDZD, owned by W.R. Mitchell
KDZF, owned by Automobile Club of Southern California
KDZP, owned by Newberry Electric Corporation
KFI, owned by Earl C. Anthony
KHJ, owned by C.R. Kierulff & Co.
KJC, owned by Standard Radio Co.
KJS, owned by Bible Institute of Los Angeles
KLB, (Pasadena), owned by J.J. Dunn & Co.
KNN, owned by Bullock's,
KNR, owned by Beacon Light Co.
KNV, owned by Radio Supply Co.
KNX, owned by Fred Christian
KOG, owned by Western Radio Electric Co.
KSS (Long Beach), owned by Prest and Dean Radio Research Laboratory
KUS, owned by City Dye Works & Laundry Co.
KWH, owned by the Los Angeles Examiner
KXS, owned by Braun Corporation
KYJ, owned by Leo J. Meyberg
KZI, owned by Irving S. Cooper
KFAC, owned by Glendale Daily Press
One of the first stations in the nation to begin broadcasting 24 hours a day was
KGFJ in 1928 at 1230 AM. Decades later the station used the ID "the original 24-hour station."
That meant that between midnight and 6am KGFJ was the only L.A. radio station on the dial for the next few
years. The station found it could hold an audience's attention just by playing phonograph
records all night. KGFJ was originally launched by 23 year old USC student Ben McGlashan in 1927.
Introduction
1920s
1930s
1940s
1950s
1960s
1970s
1980s
1990s
2000s
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