Wikipedia

Portable broadcasting stations in the United States

Portable broadcasting stations in the United States was a category of AM band radio stations, which were not restricted to operation in a specific community, but instead were permitted to be transported for broadcasting from various locations. These authorizations began in the early 1920s during a period when radio regulation in the United States was the responsibility of the Department of Commerce. However, after the newly formed Federal Radio Commission (FRC) took over in early 1927, it was decided that allowing stations to make unrestricted relocations was impractical, and in 1928 the FRC announced that existing portables that had not settled into permanent locations would be deleted. Station owner C. L. Carrell attempted to overturn the new policy, but was unsuccessful.

Overview

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From 1922 to 1929, the U.S. government authorized approximately 45 portable broadcasting stations operating on the standard AM band. These stations could be transported to various locations, and normally did not operate while in motion. The station equipment was most commonly mounted on automobiles, trucks, buses and trains, plus, in one case each, a yacht (WRMU),[1] and an airplane (KHAC/KFBI). Four stations — KFVP, KRCA, KUPR and WEAL — did not receive standard licenses but instead operated under temporary authorizations.

The stations were used for a wide variety of purposes. Some were employed by their owners for company demonstrations and technical investigations. Others were hired out, generally for few weeks at a time, to theaters or local newspapers, commonly located in small midwestern towns that didn't have their own radio stations, to be used for special programs broadcast to a local audience. However, in a few cases the station's travels were nationwide, most notably KGGM (now KNML), which in 1928 was installed on a bus and accompanied the runners on a cross-country foot race from Los Angeles to New York City.[2]

Another prominent portable station was the Zenith Radio Company's WJAZ (later WSAX), a truck-mounted station[3] initially constructed to evaluate potential transmitter sites around Chicago for a proposed new company-owned station.[4] WJAZ also participated during the solar eclipse of January 24, 1925, when it was driven to a location within the path of totality at Escanaba, Michigan in order to test the effects of the sun's dimming on radio transmissions.[5] (The Edison Electric Company's WTAT was also employed to document the effects of the eclipse.[6] In its case the station was loaded aboard the United States Coast Guard cutter Tampa, which sailed to the center of totality off the coast of Rhode Island.)[7]

  •  
    1928 publicity photograph of KGGM, used each evening along the route of a coast-to-coast foot race.[8]
  •  
    A. H. Grebe Company's WGMU, installed on a Lincoln automobile body and based in New York City (1925)[9]
  •  
    A. H. Grebe Company's WRMU, installed on the MU-1 yacht based in Richmond Hill, New York City (1926)[1]
  •  
    In 1924-1925 the callsign WJAZ was assigned to a "motor truck" mounted portable transmitter, used to evaluate potential permanent transmitter sites around Chicago.[10]
  •  
    Breese-Wilde Model 5 airplane (KHAC (later KFBI), 1927)[11]

These stations were initially seen as a useful way to introduce the general public in small- and mid-sized towns to the innovation of radio broadcasting. However, as the number of permanently located stations increased, the portables began to be seen as a nuisance, as their mobility made it difficult to control the interference they caused to other stations transmitting on the same frequency.[12]

The Federal Radio Commission (FRC) was formed in early 1927, and was charged with bringing stability to the sometimes chaotic state of the AM broadcast band. As part of its efforts, on April 26, 1927, it released General Order 6, which stated that "Since the exact location of any radio broadcasting transmitter is an essential feature of the license, the Federal Radio Commission, as already announced, will not consider any application for a broadcasting license, except for a very limited period of time, in which the permanent location of the transmitter is not specified." The order also limited portable station license periods to no more than 120 days, with the further restriction that they would be limited to operating "with not more than 100 watts power output", and would only be assigned to one of two transmitting frequencies, either 1470 kHz or 1490 kHz.[13]

Subsequently, the FRC's General Order 30, adopted May 10, 1928, specified that all portable stations which had not found permanent homes would have to cease operating by July 1.[14] Fifteen days later, General Order 34 restated the coming prohibition, noting that there were currently eleven active portable stations, whose licenses would expire as of 3 a.m. July 1, 1928.[15]

The portable stations which had not found permanent sites were duly deleted by the fall of 1928, with one exception: KGIF, licensed to Robert B. Howell of Omaha, Nebraska, used in conjunction with his Senate campaign,[16] which remained authorized until the next year, with its location specified as being "Nebraska", and a power of just 71⁄2 watts.[17]

C. L. Carrell

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Main article: Charles Carrell
 
June 1925 advertisement promoting WHBM's theater broadcasts at Tipton, Indiana[18]
 
October 1925 advertisement promoting WIBJ's theater broadcasts at Dixon, Illinois[19]

The person most associated with portable broadcasting stations, and the individual most affected by their elimination, was Charles "C. L." Carrell, an entertainment promoter based in Chicago. Starting with three stations that were initially licensed under his own name — WHBM, WIBJ and WKBG — he expanded his holdings by taking over a portable station originally licensed to Billy Maine, WIBM, and purchasing three central Indiana standard stations — WBBZ, WHBL and WIBW — which were converted into portables. Thus, by the end of 1926, Carrell had a roster of seven stations, leased out through the C. L. Carrell Broadcasting Service.[20]

Carrell commonly used his portable stations, in conjunction with small-town theaters, to provide entertainment programs that featured radio personalities from major cities, which were broadcast by one of his stations to the local community. A May 1925 Logansport, Indiana event, broadcast by Carrell's WHBL, was advertised as: "Starting Sunday, May 24, 4 days, C. L. Carrell Brings to Logansport a New Radio Frolic. All New Radio Stars in a New Musical Review with a Broadcasting Station In Actual Operation on the Luna Stage".[21] A February 1926 advertisement for WBBZ's visit to Manitowoc, Wisconsin invited the curious to: "Come See---Hear, and be taken into the mysteries of radio broadcasting".[22] Over time Carrell's stations began staying in individual communities for longer periods of time, and included local entertainers, in part to judge whether establishing a permanent station was financially viable.

Following the FRC's announcement that it was eliminating portable stations, Carrell procured permanent locations for four of his stations, however the other three, WHBM, WIBJ and WKBG, were eventually deleted.[23] He petitioned the FRC to reverse the deletions, but was turned down.[24] He then appealed the decision to the District of Columbia Court of Appeals, which also ruled against him, stating:

"It is contended on behalf of the Commission that the licensing of portable broadcasting stations is not in the public interest, convenience, or necessity; that the Davis Amendment to the Radio Act of 1927 (45 Stat. 373) contemplates fixed allocation of broadcasting stations, and its mandate cannot be carried out if roving transmitters are allowed to operate; that under the allocation of stations as at present established the operation of migratory transmitters would result in harmful interference; that the difficulties of supervision of portable stations render it against public interest to license them; and that to permit portable broadcasting stations to rove at will over a portion of the country on any one broadcasting channel would deprive the public of the service of that channel to its full capacity. We think that the Commission acted within its authority when dealing with portable stations as a class... The order appealed from is accordingly affirmed at the cost of appellant."[25]

Carrell was also unable to convince the FRC to reactivate the station licenses so that they could be transferred to permanent locations. He went on to manage WBBZ, which had been relocated to Ponca City, Oklahoma, until his death in 1933, following which his widow, Adelaide Lillian Carrell, took over as owner and station manager until 1949.[26]

List of stations

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  • NOTE: In the chart below, actions for which the monthly Radio Service Bulletin is used as the primary reference list the date of the issue which contains the announcement. In most cases the action took place sometime during month preceding the issue date, however, in cases where there was delay in making the official notification, the action might have occurred even earlier.
Call Initial
portable
authorization		 Owner's
Location		 Owner Notes
KFBN 9/1/1922[27] Oakland, California Borch Radio Corp. Deleted 2/1/1923.[28]
KFFZ 5/1/1923[29] Dallas, Texas Al. G. Barnes Amusement Co. Barnes operated a "Wild Animal Circus" which wintered near Love Field. Station was intended to be used while the circus was touring, with the plan that its "many voices are to be sent into places it intends to visit and to many other localities that, except for radio, would never experience the thrills that come with a circus".[30] Deleted 7/1/1924.[31]
KFJQ 9/1/1923[32] Grand Forks, North Dakota Electric Construction Co., valley radio division Deleted 11/1/1923.[33] (Relicensed two months later as a standard station)
KFRI 11/1/1924[34] Denver, Colorado Reynolds Radio Company To be used "On moving train in western Nebraska". Deleted 1/2/1925.[35]
KFVP 5/10/1925[36] Omaha, Nebraska Omaha Chamber of Commerce Temporary authorization for passenger train, May 10–24, 1925.[37]
KFVP 5/24/1925[36] Sioux Falls, South Dakota Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce Temporary authorization for passenger train, May 24–29, 1925.[38]
KFXJ 9/16/1925[39][40] Denver, Colorado Mountain States Radio Distributors, Inc. Moved to Edgewater, Colorado (near), no longer a portable station,[41] with owner R. G. Howell (Olinger Gardens), on 9/30/1926.[42] Currently KNZZ in Denver, Colorado
KFYJ 11/2/1925[43] Houston, Texas Texas Chronicle Publishing Co. Deletion was unreported, but occurred sometime between 12/31/1926[44] and 5/3/1927.[45]
KGFO 5/31/1927[46] Los Angeles, California Brant Radio Company Deleted 7/31/1928.[47]
KGGM 8/17/1927[48][49] Inglewood, California Jay Peters In 1928 broadcast each evening along the route of a coast-to-coast foot race.[8] Permanently moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico 9/29/1928.[50] Currently KNML, Albuquerque.
KGIF 8/31/1928[51] Omaha, Nebraska Robert B. Howell Deleted 5/31/1929.[52]
KHAC/KFBI 11/30/1927[53] San Francisco, California Flying Broadcasters, Inc. Assigned to "unnamed airplane". Call changed from KHAC to KFBI 2/29/1928.[54] Made test broadcast over Hayward, California.[55] Deleted 7/31/1928.[47]
KRCA 9/5/1925[36][56] Los Angeles, California Radio Corporation of America Station operated under a series of temporary authorizations at four different fairs and expositions. The first assignment was in September 1925 for Los Angeles. Three more assignments followed a year later in August and September 1926: San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Riverside, California.[57]
KUPR 8/12/1925[36] Omaha, Nebraska Union Pacific Railroad Temporary 45 day authorization. Reports about the Calf Club Special train (which used some of the same equipment previously used by KFVP), reviewed the itinerary of its "tour to every vital point of agricultural Nebraska" while employing the "latest innovation in mobile broadcast stations".[58][59] Deleted 9/11/25.
WALK 2/28/1927[60] Bethayres, Pennsylvania Albert A. Walker Reported as "no longer portable" 6/30/1927,[61] and permanently settled in Willow Grove, Pennsylvania 12/31/1927.[62] Deleted 4/30/1929.[63]
WBBZ 10/1/1925[40] Chicago, Illinois C. L. Carrell Originally licensed 3/1/1924 as a fixed station to Noble B. Watson, Indianapolis, Indiana.[64] Permanently located in Ponca City, Oklahoma 7/31/1928.[65] Currently WBBZ, Ponca City.
WCBG 3/1/1924[64] Pascagoula, Mississippi Howard S. Williams Deleted 12/31/1925.[66]
WCBR 4/8/1924[67][68] Providence, Rhode Island Charles H. Messter Deleted 7/31/1928.[47]
WCBS 8/19/1926[69][70] Providence, Rhode Island Harold L. Dewing and Charles H. Messter Moved to Springfield, Illinois sometime between 1/31/1927[71] and 5/3/1927.[72] Currently WFMB in Springfield.
WCWS 11/2/1925[43] Providence, Rhode Island Charles W. Selen Owners changed to Bridgeport Broadcasting Station (Harold D. Feuer and Charles W. Selen) 2/28/1927,[73] later based in Danbury, Connecticut.[74] Call changed to WCON 4/30/1928.[75] Deleted 7/31/1928.[47]
WEAL 6/00/1922[36] Des Moines, Iowa Mystic Shrine Temporary authorization for "special train... to coast and back".[76]
WEBL 9/2/1924[77] New York, New York Radio Corporation of America Deletion was unreported, but occurred sometime between 12/31/1926[78] and 5/3/1927.[79]
WEBM 2/2/1925[80] New York, New York Radio Corporation of America Deleted 2/27/1926.[81]
WGBH 2/2/1925[80] Fall River, Massachusetts Fall River Herald Publishing Co. Deleted 8/1/1925.[82]
WGMU 7/1/1925[83] Richmond Hill, New York A. H. Grebe & Company Also employed a shortwave transmitter to relay remote programming for broadcasts over WAHG.[9] Deleted 7/31/1928.[47]
WHBL 1/30/1926[84] Chicago, Illinois C. L. Carrell Initially licensed 3/35/1925[85] as a fixed station to James H. Slusser, Logansport, Indiana.[86] Permanently moved to Sheboygan, Wisconsin, with owners Press Publishing Co. and C. L. Carrell, 2/29/1928.[54] Currently WHBL, Sheboygan.
WHBM 3/10/1925[87][86] Chicago, Illinois C. L. Carrell Deleted 9/29/1928.[23]
WIBJ 5/11/1925[87][88] Chicago, Illinois C. L. Carrell Deleted 9/29/1928.[23]
WIBL 6/1/1925[88] Chicago, Illinois McDonald Radio Co. Deleted 9/1/1925.[89]
WIBM 6/3/1925[90][83] Chicago, Illinois Billy Maine Transferred to C. L. Carrell 12/31/1926.[91] Moved to Jackson, Michigan 7/31/1928.[65] Currently WIBM, Jackson.
WIBS 6/29/1925[92][83] Elizabeth, New Jersey N.J. National Guard
57th Infantry Brigade 		Reported as "no longer portable" 6/30/1927.[93] Currently WZRC, New York, New York.
WIBT 8/1/1925[94] New York, New York Orlando E. Miller Deleted 11/2/1925.[95]
WIBW 12/31/1926[91] Chicago, Illinois C. L. Carrell Originally licensed 8/1/1925 as a fixed station to L. L. Dill, Logansport, Indiana.[94] Permanently moved to Topeka, Kansas 1/31/1928.[96] Currently WIBW in Topeka.
WJAZ/WSAX 10/1/1924[97] Chicago, Illinois Chicago Radio Laboratory Call changed to WSAX 9/1/1925.[98] Deleted 8/1/1928.[99]
WKBG 6/2/1925[87][83] Chicago, Illinois C. L. Carrell Deleted 9/29/1928.[23]
WKBU 12/31/1926[100] New Castle, Pennsylvania H. K. Armstrong Deleted 11/30/1927.[101]
WKBY 10/30/1926[102] Danville, Pennsylvania Fernwood Quick Deletion was unreported, but occurred sometime between 2/28/1927[73] and 5/3/27.[103]
WLBH 12/31/1926[100] Farmingdale, New York Joseph J. Lombardi No longer listed as portable 6/30/1927.[93] Changed to WPOE, Patchogue, New York 4/30/1929.[104] Deleted 1/30/1932.[105]
WLBN 12/31/1926[100] Chicago, Illinois William E. Hiler Changed to Little Rock, Arkansas 3/31/1928.[106] Call changed to KLRA 6/30/1928.[107] Deleted in 1995 as KSYG.
WMBA 12/31/1926[100] Newport, Rhode Island Le Roy J. Beebe Reported to be "no longer portable" 3/31/1928.[106] Deleted 11/30/1932.[108]
WMBH 1/10/1927[109][110] Chicago, Illinois Edwin D. Aber Reported to be in Joplin, Missouri and "no longer portable" 7/30/1927.[111] Currently KQYX, Galena, Kansas
WOBR 8/31/1927[49] Shelby, Ohio Earl Smith Deleted 7/31/1928.[47]
WRMU 8/1/1925[94] Richmond Hill, New York A. H. Grebe & Company MU-1 yacht. Also employed a shortwave transmitter to relay remote programming for broadcasts over WAHG).[1] Deleted 7/31/1928.[47]
WTAT/WATT 10/1/1923[112] Boston, Massachusetts Edison Electric Illuminating Company Call changed from WTAT to WATT 1/30/1926.[84] Deleted 7/30/1928.[47][113]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Launch New Broadcast Cruiser", Radio Digest, July 1, 1926, page 4.
  2. ^ "The Great 'Bunion Derby'" by Jack Rockett, Runners World, November 7, 2006 (runnersworld.com)
  3. ^ "WJAZ: It Was One Of A Kind!" by Alice Brannigan, Popular Communications, April 1996, pages 22-23.
  4. ^ "Radio Gossip and News: WJAZ's Portable Station", Washington (D.C.) Evening Star, November 16, 1924, Part 1, page 39.
  5. ^ "Tests of Radio During Eclipse Confirm Wave Length Theories", Washington (D.C.) Evening Star, January 25, 1925, page 3.
  6. ^ "Truck Helps to Record Eclipse", The Motor Truck, March 1925, page 15.
  7. ^ "Total Solar Eclipse of January 24, 1925" by Capt. F. B. Littell (Math., United States Navy), Publications of the United States Naval Observatory (series 2, volume 13), 1930, page 97.
  8. ^ a b "Portable Radio on Graham School Bus", Albuquerque Journal, May 6, 1928, page 6. This feature also ran, with identical photo and copy, in other newspapers in the United States.
  9. ^ a b "A Mobile Radio Relay Station" by David Lay, Popular Radio, July 1925, pages 130-135.
  10. ^ "A Portable Broadcasting Outfit", Literary Digest, November 8, 1924 (Vol. 83, No. 6), page 23.
  11. ^ "The Breese Monoplane 'Aloha'"Aero Digest, September 1927, page 304.
  12. ^ "Itinerant Radio Stations Doomed", Washington (D.C.) Evening Star, April 22, 1927, page 46.
  13. ^ "Portable broadcasting stations licensed only for a limited period" (General Order No. 6, April 26, 1927), Radio Service Bulletin, April 30, 1927, page 15.
  14. ^ "Portable stations no longer licensed" (General Order No. 30, May 10, 1928), Radio Service Bulletin, May 31, 1928, page 8.
  15. ^ "Extension of portable broadcasting stations licenses" (General Order No. 34, May 25, 1928), Radio Service Bulletin, May 31, 1928, page 9.
  16. ^ "Transcript of Record" C. L. Carrell (Appellant) vs. The Federal Radio Commission, Court of Appeals of the District of Columbia, October Term, 1928, No. 4899, page 40.
  17. ^ "Broadcasting Stations", Radio Service Bulletin, February 28, 1929, page 24.
  18. ^ Martz Theatre (advertisement), Tipton (Indiana) Daily Tribune, June 4, 1925, page 5.
  19. ^ Dixon Theatre (advertisement), Dixon (Illinois) Evening Telegram, October 22, 1925, page 12.
  20. ^ "Broadcasting Stations" (as of December 31, 1926), Radio Service Bulletin, December 31, 1926, pages 9-21.
  21. ^ Luna Theater (advertisement), Logansport (Indiana) Morning Press, May 22, 1925, page 6.
  22. ^ Mikadow Theatre (advertisement), Manitowoc (Wisconsin) Herald-News, February 26, 1926, page 6.
  23. ^ a b c d "Strike Out All Particulars", Radio Service Bulletin, September 29, 1928, page 11.
  24. ^ "V. Litigation" (No. 4899, C. L. Carrell v. Federal Radio Commission), Third Annual Report of the Federal Radio Commission (October 1, 1928-November 1, 1929), page 74.
  25. ^ "Carrell vs. Federal Radio Commission", Court of Appeals of District of Columbia (36 F.2d 117) (1929) No. 4899, argued October 8, 1929 and decided November 4, 1929.
  26. ^ "Actions of the FCC: January 7 Decisions: Assignment of License", Broadcasting, January 17, 1949, page 61.
  27. ^ "New Stations", Radio Service Bulletin, September 1, 1922, page 3.
  28. ^ "Strike out all particulars", Radio Service Bulletin, February 1, 1923, page 7.
  29. ^ "New Stations", Radio Service Bulletin, May 1, 1923, page 3.
  30. ^ "Big Circus By Radio Monday Night First Program Of Its Kind", Dallas Morning News, March 26, 1923, Section 2, page 1.
  31. ^ "Strike out all particulars", Radio Service Bulletin, July 1, 1924, page 9.
  32. ^ "New Stations", Radio Service Bulletin, September 1, 1923, page 3.
  33. ^ "Strike out all particulars", Radio Service Bulletin, November 1, 1923, page 9.
  34. ^ "New Stations", Radio Service Bulletin, November 1, 1924, pages 2-3.
  35. ^ "Strike out all particulars", Radio Service Bulletin, January 2, 1925, page 8.
  36. ^ a b c d e "United States Temporary Broadcast Station Grants: 1922-1928" (earlyradiohistory.us)
  37. ^ KFVP (Omaha Chamber of Commerce) newspaper articles (earlyradiohistory.us)
  38. ^ KFVP (Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce) newspaper articles (earlyradiohistory.us)
  39. ^ "Date First Licensed" (Image #2), FCC History Cards for KNZZ.
  40. ^ a b "New Stations", Radio Service Bulletin, October 1, 1925, page 3.
  41. ^ "Decrease in Radio Stations Licensed", Washington (D.C.) Evening Star, September 5, 1926, page 14.
  42. ^ "Alterations and Corrections", Radio Service Bulletin, September 30, 1926, page 8.
  43. ^ a b "New Stations", Radio Service Bulletin, November 2, 1925, page 3.
  44. ^ "Broadcasting Stations", Radio Service Bulletin, December 31, 1926, page 11.
  45. ^ "List of broadcasting stations issued temporary permits", Radio Service Bulletin, April 30, 1927, page 7.
  46. ^ "New Stations", Radio Service Bulletin, May 31, 1927, page 3.
  47. ^ a b c d e f g h "Strike Out All Particulars", Radio Service Bulletin, July 31, 1928, page 18.
  48. ^ "Construction Permit and License Record" (Image #3: first entry), FCC History Cards for KNML.
  49. ^ a b "New Stations", Radio Service Bulletin, August 31, 1927, page 3.
  50. ^ "Alterations and Corrections", Radio Service Bulletin, September 29, 1928, page 10.
  51. ^ "New Stations", Radio Service Bulletin, August 31, 1928, page 3.
  52. ^ "Strike Out All Particulars", Radio Service Bulletin, May 31, 1929, page 12.
  53. ^ "New Stations", Radio Service Bulletin, November 30, 1927, page 2.
  54. ^ a b "Alterations and Corrections", Radio Service Bulletin, February 29, 1928, page 6.
  55. ^ "Hanger Chatter", Oakland Tribune, April 5, 1928, page 14.
  56. ^ "New Stations", Radio Service Bulletin, July 31, 1926, page 3.
  57. ^ KRCA newspaper articles (earlyradiohistory.us)
  58. ^ "Calf Club Special Will Have Own Radio", Omaha (Nebraska) World-Herald, August 22, 1925, page 11.
  59. ^ KUPR reports in the Omaha World-Herald (June 28, 1925—October 25, 1925)
  60. ^ "New Stations", Radio Service Bulletin, February 28, 1927, page 3.
  61. ^ "Alterations and Corrections", Radio Service Bulletin, June 30, 1927, page 9.
  62. ^ "Alterations and Corrections", Radio Service Bulletin, December 31, 1927, page 4.
  63. ^ "Strike Out All Particulars", Radio Service Bulletin, April 30, 1929, page 13.
  64. ^ a b "New Stations", Radio Service Bulletin, March 1, 1924, page 4.
  65. ^ a b "Alterations and Corrections", Radio Service Bulletin, July 31, 1928, page 17.
  66. ^ "Strike Out All Particulars", Radio Service Bulletin, December 31, 1925, page 6.
  67. ^ "Brief on Behalf of Federal Radio Commission" C. L. Carrell (Appellant) v. Federal Radio Commission, Court of Appeals of the District of Columbia, April Term, 1929, No. 4899, page 2.
  68. ^ "New Stations", Radio Service Bulletin, May 1, 1924, page 3.
  69. ^ "Date First Licensed" (Image #2), FCC History Cards for WFMB.
  70. ^ "New Stations", Radio Service Bulletin, August 31, 1926, page 3.
  71. ^ "Alterations and Corrections", Radio Service Bulletin, January 31, 1927, page 7.
  72. ^ "List of broadcasting stations issued temporary permits" (May 3, 1927), Radio Service Bulletin, April 30, 1927, page 10.
  73. ^ a b "Alterations and Corrections", Radio Service Bulletin, February 28, 1927, page 6.
  74. ^ "Broadcasting Stations" (June 15, 1927), Radio Service Bulletin, May 31, 1927, page 15.
  75. ^ "Alterations and Corrections", Radio Service Bulletin, April 30, 1928, page 5.
  76. ^ WEAL newspaper articles (earlyradiohistory.us)
  77. ^ "New Stations", Radio Service Bulletin, September 2, 1924, page 3.
  78. ^ "Broadcasting Stations", Radio Service Bulletin, December 31, 1926, page 15.
  79. ^ "Broadcasting Stations", Radio Service Bulletin, April 30, 1927, page 10.
  80. ^ a b "New Stations", Radio Service Bulletin, February 2, 1925, page 3.
  81. ^ "Alterations and Corrections", Radio Service Bulletin, February 27, 1926, page 7.
  82. ^ "Strike Out All Particulars", Radio Service Bulletin, August 1, 1925, page 7.
  83. ^ a b c d "New Stations", Radio Service Bulletin, July 1, 1925, page 3.
  84. ^ a b "Alterations and Corrections", Radio Service Bulletin, January 30, 1926, page 7.
  85. ^ "Date First Licensed" (Image #2), FCC History Cards for WHBL.
  86. ^ a b "New Stations", Radio Service Bulletin, April 1, 1925, page 4.
  87. ^ a b c "Transcript of Record" C. L. Carrell (Appellant) vs. The Federal Radio Commission, Court of Appeals of the District of Columbia, October Term, 1928, No. 4899, page 5.
  88. ^ a b "New Stations", Radio Service Bulletin, June 1, 1925, page 3.
  89. ^ "Strike Out All Particulars", Radio Service Bulletin, September 1, 1925, page 8.
  90. ^ "Date First Licensed" (Image #2), FCC History Cards for WIBM.
  91. ^ a b "Alterations and Corrections", Radio Service Bulletin, December 31, 1926, page 8.
  92. ^ "Date First Licensed" (Image #2), FCC History Cards for WZRC.
  93. ^ a b "Alterations and Corrections", Radio Service Bulletin, June 30, 1927, page 10.
  94. ^ a b c "New Stations", Radio Service Bulletin, August 1, 1925, page 3.
  95. ^ "Strike Out All Particulars", Radio Service Bulletin, November 2, 1925, page 9.
  96. ^ "Alterations and Corrections", Radio Service Bulletin, January 31, 1928, page 5.
  97. ^ "New Stations", Radio Service Bulletin, October 1, 1924, page 3.
  98. ^ "Alterations and Corrections", Radio Service Bulletin, September 1, 1925, page 7.
  99. ^ "Zone 5 Deleted Stations", Second Annual Report of the Federal Radio Commission For the Year Ended June 30, 1928, page 152.
  100. ^ a b c d "New Stations", Radio Service Bulletin, December 31, 1926, page 4.
  101. ^ "Strike Out All Particulars", Radio Service Bulletin, November 30, 1927, page 2.
  102. ^ "New Stations", Radio Service Bulletin, October 30, 1926, page 3.
  103. ^ "List of broadcasting stations issued temporary permits", Radio Service Bulletin, April 30, 1927, page 12.
  104. ^ "Alterations and Corrections", Radio Service Bulletin, April 30, 1929, page 13.
  105. ^ "Strike Out All Particulars", Radio Service Bulletin, January 30, 1932, page 22.
  106. ^ a b "Alterations and Corrections", Radio Service Bulletin, March 31, 1928, page 8.
  107. ^ "Alterations and Corrections", Radio Service Bulletin, June 30, 1928, page 9.
  108. ^ "Strike Out All Particulars", Radio Service Bulletin, November 30, 1932, page 24.
  109. ^ "Date First Licensed" (Image #2), FCC History Cards for KQYX.
  110. ^ "New Stations", Radio Service Bulletin, January 31, 1927, page 4.
  111. ^ "Alterations and Corrections", Radio Service Bulletin, July 30, 1927, page 5.
  112. ^ "New Stations", Radio Service Bulletin, October 1, 1923, page 3.
  113. ^ WTAT/WATT entry, Department of Commerce Deleted Broadcast License Files (1921-1927): Accession #52-A-51 - Box 1.
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List of stations

edit
  • NOTE: In the chart below, actions for which the monthly Radio Service Bulletin is used as the primary reference list the date of the issue which contains the announcement. In most cases the action took place sometime during month preceding the issue date, however, in cases where there was delay in making the official notification, the action might have occurred even earlier.
Call Initial
portable
authorization		 Owner's
Location		 Owner Notes
KFBN 9/1/1922[1] Oakland, California Borch Radio Corp. Deleted 2/1/1923.[2]
KFFZ 5/1/1923[3] Dallas, Texas Al. G. Barnes Amusement Co. Barnes operated a "Wild Animal Circus" which wintered near Love Field. Station was intended to be used while the circus was touring, with the plan that its "many voices are to be sent into places it intends to visit and to many other localities that, except for radio, would never experience the thrills that come with a circus".[4] Deleted 7/1/1924.[5]
KFJQ 9/1/1923[6] Grand Forks, North Dakota Electric Construction Co., valley radio division Deleted 11/1/1923.[7] (Relicensed two months later as a standard station)
KFRI 11/1/1924[8] Denver, Colorado Reynolds Radio Company To be used "On moving train in western Nebraska". Deleted 1/2/1925.[9]
KFVP 5/10/1925[10] Omaha, Nebraska Omaha Chamber of Commerce Temporary authorization for passenger train, May 10–24, 1925.[11]
KFVP 5/24/1925[10] Sioux Falls, South Dakota Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce Temporary authorization for passenger train, May 24–29, 1925.[12]
KFXJ 9/16/1925[13][14] Denver, Colorado Mountain States Radio Distributors, Inc. Moved to Edgewater, Colorado (near), no longer a portable station,[15] with owner R. G. Howell (Olinger Gardens), on 9/30/1926.[16] Currently KNZZ in Denver, Colorado
KFYJ 11/2/1925[17] Houston, Texas Texas Chronicle Publishing Co. Deletion was unreported, but occurred sometime between 12/31/1926[18] and 5/3/1927.[19]
KGFO 5/31/1927[20] Los Angeles, California Brant Radio Company Deleted 7/31/1928.[21]
KGGM 8/17/1927[22][23] Inglewood, California Jay Peters In 1928 broadcast each evening along the route of a coast-to-coast foot race.[24] Permanently moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico 9/29/1928.[25] Currently KNML, Albuquerque.
KGIF 8/31/1928[26] Omaha, Nebraska Robert B. Howell Deleted 5/31/1929.[27]
KHAC/KFBI 11/30/1927[28] San Francisco, California Flying Broadcasters, Inc. Assigned to "unnamed airplane". Call changed from KHAC to KFBI 2/29/1928.[29] Deleted 7/31/1928.[21]
KRCA 9/5/1925[10][30] Los Angeles, California Radio Corporation of America Station operated under a series of temporary authorizations at four different fairs and expositions. The first assignment was in September 1925 for Los Angeles. Three more assignments followed a year later in August and September 1926: San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Riverside, California.[31]
KUPR 8/12/1925[10] Omaha, Nebraska Union Pacific Railroad Temporary 45 day authorization. Reports about the Calf Club Special train (which used some of the same equipment previously used by KFVP), reviewed the itinerary of its "tour to every vital point of agricultural Nebraska" while employing the "latest innovation in mobile broadcast stations".[32][33] Deleted 9/11/25.
WALK 2/28/1927[34] Bethayres, Pennsylvania Albert A. Walker Reported as "no longer portable" 6/30/1927,[35] and permanently settled in Willow Grove, Pennsylvania 12/31/1927.[36] Deleted 4/30/1929.[37]
WBBZ 10/1/1925[14] Chicago, Illinois C. L. Carrell Originally licensed 3/1/1924 as a fixed station to Noble B. Watson, Indianapolis, Indiana.[38] Permanently located in Ponca City, Oklahoma 7/31/1928.[39] Currently WBBZ, Ponca City.
WCBG 3/1/1924[38] Pascagoula, Mississippi Howard S. Williams Deleted 12/31/1925.[40]
WCBR 4/8/1924[41][42] Providence, Rhode Island Charles H. Messter Deleted 7/31/1928.[21]
WCBS 8/19/1926[43][44] Providence, Rhode Island Harold L. Dewing and Charles H. Messter Moved to Springfield, Illinois sometime between 1/31/1927[45] and 5/3/1927.[46] Currently WFMB in Springfield.
WCWS 11/2/1925[17] Providence, Rhode Island Charles W. Selen Owners changed to Bridgeport Broadcasting Station (Harold D. Feuer and Charles W. Selen) 2/28/1927,[47] later based in Danbury, Connecticut.[48] Call changed to WCON 4/30/1928.[49] Deleted 7/31/1928.[21]
WEAL 6/00/1922[10] Des Moines, Iowa Mystic Shrine Temporary authorization for "special train... to coast and back".[50]
WEBL 9/2/1924[51] New York, New York Radio Corporation of America Deletion was unreported, but occurred sometime between 12/31/1926[52] and 5/3/1927.[53]
WEBM 2/2/1925[54] New York, New York Radio Corporation of America Deleted 2/27/1926.[55]
WGBH 2/2/1925[54] Fall River, Massachusetts Fall River Herald Publishing Co. Deleted 8/1/1925.[56]
WGMU 7/1/1925[57] Richmond Hill, New York A. H. Grebe & Company Also employed a shortwave transmitter to relay remote programming for broadcasts over WAHG.[58] Deleted 7/31/1928.[21]
WHBL 1/30/1926[59] Chicago, Illinois C. L. Carrell Initially licensed 3/35/1925[60] as a fixed station to James H. Slusser, Logansport, Indiana.[61] Permanently moved to Sheboygan, Wisconsin, with owners Press Publishing Co. and C. L. Carrell, 2/29/1928.[29] Currently WHBL, Sheboygan.
WHBM 3/10/1925[62][61] Chicago, Illinois C. L. Carrell Deleted 9/29/1928.[63]
WIBJ 5/11/1925[62][64] Chicago, Illinois C. L. Carrell Deleted 9/29/1928.[63]
WIBL 6/1/1925[64] Chicago, Illinois McDonald Radio Co. Deleted 9/1/1925.[65]
WIBM 6/3/1925[66][57] Chicago, Illinois Billy Maine Transferred to C. L. Carrell 12/31/1926.[67] Moved to Jackson, Michigan 7/31/1928.[39] Currently WIBM, Jackson.
WIBS 6/29/1925[68][57] Elizabeth, New Jersey N.J. National Guard
57th Infantry Brigade 		Reported as "no longer portable" 6/30/1927.[69] Currently WZRC, New York, New York.
WIBT 8/1/1925[70] New York, New York Orlando E. Miller Deleted 11/2/1925.[71]
WIBW 12/31/1926[67] Chicago, Illinois C. L. Carrell Originally licensed 8/1/1925 as a fixed station to L. L. Dill, Logansport, Indiana.[70] Permanently moved to Topeka, Kansas 1/31/1928.[72] Currently WIBW in Topeka.
WJAZ/WSAX 10/1/1924[73] Chicago, Illinois Chicago Radio Laboratory Call changed to WSAX 9/1/1925.[74] Deleted 8/1/1928.[75]
WKBG 6/2/1925[62][57] Chicago, Illinois C. L. Carrell Deleted 9/29/1928.[63]
WKBU 12/31/1926[76] New Castle, Pennsylvania H. K. Armstrong Deleted 11/30/1927.[77]
WKBY 10/30/1926[78] Danville, Pennsylvania Fernwood Quick Deletion was unreported, but occurred sometime between 2/28/1927[47] and 5/3/27.[79]
WLBH 12/31/1926[76] Farmingdale, New York Joseph J. Lombardi No longer listed as portable 6/30/1927.[69] Changed to WPOE, Patchogue, New York 4/30/1929.[80] Deleted 1/30/1932.[81]
WLBN 12/31/1926[76] Chicago, Illinois William E. Hiler Changed to Little Rock, Arkansas 3/31/1928.[82] Call changed to KLRA 6/30/1928.[83] Deleted in 1995 as KSYG.
WMBA 12/31/1926[76] Newport, Rhode Island Le Roy J. Beebe Reported to be "no longer portable" 3/31/1928.[82] Deleted 11/30/1932.[84]
WMBH 1/10/1927[85][86] Chicago, Illinois Edwin D. Aber Reported to be in Joplin, Missouri and "no longer portable" 7/30/1927.[87] Currently KQYX, Galena, Kansas
WOBR 8/31/1927[23] Shelby, Ohio Earl Smith Deleted 7/31/1928.[21]
WRMU 8/1/1925[70] Richmond Hill, New York A. H. Grebe & Company MU-1 yacht. Also employed a shortwave transmitter to relay remote programming for broadcasts over WAHG).[88] Deleted 7/31/1928.[21]
WTAT/WATT 10/1/1923[89] Boston, Massachusetts Edison Electric Illuminating Company Call changed from WTAT to WATT 1/30/1926.[59] Deleted 7/30/1928.[21][90]

References

edit
  1. ^ "New Stations", Radio Service Bulletin, September 1, 1922, page 3.
  2. ^ "Strike out all particulars", Radio Service Bulletin, February 1, 1923, page 7.
  3. ^ "New Stations", Radio Service Bulletin, May 1, 1923, page 3.
  4. ^ "Big Circus By Radio Monday Night First Program Of Its Kind", Dallas Morning News, March 26, 1923, Section 2, page 1.
  5. ^ "Strike out all particulars", Radio Service Bulletin, July 1, 1924, page 9.
  6. ^ "New Stations", Radio Service Bulletin, September 1, 1923, page 3.
  7. ^ "Strike out all particulars", Radio Service Bulletin, November 1, 1923, page 9.
  8. ^ "New Stations", Radio Service Bulletin, November 1, 1924, pages 2-3.
  9. ^ "Strike out all particulars", Radio Service Bulletin, January 2, 1925, page 8.
  10. ^ a b c d e "United States Temporary Broadcast Station Grants: 1922-1928" (earlyradiohistory.us)
  11. ^ KFVP (Omaha Chamber of Commerce) newspaper articles (earlyradiohistory.us)
  12. ^ KFVP (Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce) newspaper articles (earlyradiohistory.us)
  13. ^ "Date First Licensed" (Image #2), FCC History Cards for KNZZ.
  14. ^ a b "New Stations", Radio Service Bulletin, October 1, 1925, page 3.
  15. ^ "Decrease in Radio Stations Licensed", Washington (D.C.) Evening Star, September 5, 1926, page 14.
  16. ^ "Alterations and Corrections", Radio Service Bulletin, September 30, 1926, page 8.
  17. ^ a b "New Stations", Radio Service Bulletin, November 2, 1925, page 3.
  18. ^ "Broadcasting Stations", Radio Service Bulletin, December 31, 1926, page 11.
  19. ^ "List of broadcasting stations issued temporary permits", Radio Service Bulletin, April 30, 1927, page 7.
  20. ^ "New Stations", Radio Service Bulletin, May 31, 1927, page 3.
  21. ^ a b c d e f g h "Strike Out All Particulars", Radio Service Bulletin, July 31, 1928, page 18.
  22. ^ "Construction Permit and License Record" (Image #3: first entry), FCC History Cards for KNML.
  23. ^ a b "New Stations", Radio Service Bulletin, August 31, 1927, page 3.
  24. ^ Cite error: The named reference KGGM was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  25. ^ "Alterations and Corrections", Radio Service Bulletin, September 29, 1928, page 10.
  26. ^ "New Stations", Radio Service Bulletin, August 31, 1928, page 3.
  27. ^ "Strike Out All Particulars", Radio Service Bulletin, May 31, 1929, page 12.
  28. ^ "New Stations", Radio Service Bulletin, November 30, 1927, page 2.
  29. ^ a b "Alterations and Corrections", Radio Service Bulletin, February 29, 1928, page 6.
  30. ^ "New Stations", Radio Service Bulletin, July 31, 1926, page 3.
  31. ^ KRCA newspaper articles (earlyradiohistory.us)
  32. ^ "Calf Club Special Will Have Own Radio", Omaha (Nebraska) World-Herald, August 22, 1925, page 11.
  33. ^ KUPR reports in the Omaha World-Herald (June 28, 1925—October 25, 1925)
  34. ^ "New Stations", Radio Service Bulletin, February 28, 1927, page 3.
  35. ^ "Alterations and Corrections", Radio Service Bulletin, June 30, 1927, page 9.
  36. ^ "Alterations and Corrections", Radio Service Bulletin, December 31, 1927, page 4.
  37. ^ "Strike Out All Particulars", Radio Service Bulletin, April 30, 1929, page 13.
  38. ^ a b "New Stations", Radio Service Bulletin, March 1, 1924, page 4.
  39. ^ a b "Alterations and Corrections", Radio Service Bulletin, July 31, 1928, page 17.
  40. ^ "Strike Out All Particulars", Radio Service Bulletin, December 31, 1925, page 6.
  41. ^ "Brief on Behalf of Federal Radio Commission" C. L. Carrell (Appellant) v. Federal Radio Commission, Court of Appeals of the District of Columbia, April Term, 1929, No. 4899, page 2.
  42. ^ "New Stations", Radio Service Bulletin, May 1, 1924, page 3.
  43. ^ "Date First Licensed" (Image #2), FCC History Cards for WFMB.
  44. ^ "New Stations", Radio Service Bulletin, August 31, 1926, page 3.
  45. ^ "Alterations and Corrections", Radio Service Bulletin, January 31, 1927, page 7.
  46. ^ "List of broadcasting stations issued temporary permits" (May 3, 1927), Radio Service Bulletin, April 30, 1927, page 10.
  47. ^ a b "Alterations and Corrections", Radio Service Bulletin, February 28, 1927, page 6.
  48. ^ "Broadcasting Stations" (June 15, 1927), Radio Service Bulletin, May 31, 1927, page 15.
  49. ^ "Alterations and Corrections", Radio Service Bulletin, April 30, 1928, page 5.
  50. ^ WEAL newspaper articles (earlyradiohistory.us)
  51. ^ "New Stations", Radio Service Bulletin, September 2, 1924, page 3.
  52. ^ "Broadcasting Stations", Radio Service Bulletin, December 31, 1926, page 15.
  53. ^ "Broadcasting Stations", Radio Service Bulletin, April 30, 1927, page 10.
  54. ^ a b "New Stations", Radio Service Bulletin, February 2, 1925, page 3.
  55. ^ "Alterations and Corrections", Radio Service Bulletin, February 27, 1926, page 7.
  56. ^ "Strike Out All Particulars", Radio Service Bulletin, August 1, 1925, page 7.
  57. ^ a b c d "New Stations", Radio Service Bulletin, July 1, 1925, page 3.
  58. ^ Cite error: The named reference WGMU was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  59. ^ a b "Alterations and Corrections", Radio Service Bulletin, January 30, 1926, page 7.
  60. ^ "Date First Licensed" (Image #2), FCC History Cards for WHBL.
  61. ^ a b "New Stations", Radio Service Bulletin, April 1, 1925, page 4.
  62. ^ a b c "Transcript of Record" C. L. Carrell (Appellant) vs. The Federal Radio Commission, Court of Appeals of the District of Columbia, October Term, 1928, No. 4899, page 5.
  63. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference Strike Out All Particulars was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  64. ^ a b "New Stations", Radio Service Bulletin, June 1, 1925, page 3.
  65. ^ "Strike Out All Particulars", Radio Service Bulletin, September 1, 1925, page 8.
  66. ^ "Date First Licensed" (Image #2), FCC History Cards for WIBM.
  67. ^ a b "Alterations and Corrections", Radio Service Bulletin, December 31, 1926, page 8.
  68. ^ "Date First Licensed" (Image #2), FCC History Cards for WZRC.
  69. ^ a b "Alterations and Corrections", Radio Service Bulletin, June 30, 1927, page 10.
  70. ^ a b c "New Stations", Radio Service Bulletin, August 1, 1925, page 3.
  71. ^ "Strike Out All Particulars", Radio Service Bulletin, November 2, 1925, page 9.
  72. ^ "Alterations and Corrections", Radio Service Bulletin, January 31, 1928, page 5.
  73. ^ "New Stations", Radio Service Bulletin, October 1, 1924, page 3.
  74. ^ "Alterations and Corrections", Radio Service Bulletin, September 1, 1925, page 7.
  75. ^ "Zone 5 Deleted Stations", Second Annual Report of the Federal Radio Commission For the Year Ended June 30, 1928, page 154.
  76. ^ a b c d "New Stations", Radio Service Bulletin, December 31, 1926, page 4.
  77. ^ "Strike Out All Particulars", Radio Service Bulletin, November 30, 1927, page 2.
  78. ^ "New Stations", Radio Service Bulletin, October 30, 1926, page 3.
  79. ^ "List of broadcasting stations issued temporary permits", Radio Service Bulletin, April 30, 1927, page 12.
  80. ^ "Alterations and Corrections", Radio Service Bulletin, April 30, 1929, page 13.
  81. ^ "Strike Out All Particulars", Radio Service Bulletin, January 30, 1932, page 22.
  82. ^ a b "Alterations and Corrections", Radio Service Bulletin, March 31, 1928, page 8.
  83. ^ "Alterations and Corrections", Radio Service Bulletin, June 30, 1928, page 9.
  84. ^ "Strike Out All Particulars", Radio Service Bulletin, November 30, 1932, page 24.
  85. ^ "Date First Licensed" (Image #2), FCC History Cards for KQYX.
  86. ^ "New Stations", Radio Service Bulletin, January 31, 1927, page 4.
  87. ^ "Alterations and Corrections", Radio Service Bulletin, July 30, 1927, page 5.
  88. ^ Cite error: The named reference WRMU was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  89. ^ "New Stations", Radio Service Bulletin, October 1, 1923, page 3.
  90. ^ WTAT/WATT entry, Department of Commerce Deleted Broadcast License Files (1921-1927): Accession #52-A-51 - Box 1.
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