After a great lunch and interesting conversation, President Art Gregory played some fun old KGEM jingles and promos from the late 1950s and early 1960s; including the intro to John Runkle Jr.’s Rock n’ Roll Show where he
billed himself as “The World’s Tallest Disc Jockey.” John even appeared on the tape announcing a 60’s rock instrumental by the Marrketts, and doing the legal ID “This is K-G-E-M Boise and Nampa Idaho, K-GEM! Idaho’s Most Powerful Radio Station!”

We then heard a KGEM sign-on and legal ID from 1972, as well as both the sign-on, and sign-off for KCID-AM in Caldwell, now KGEM’s “sister station.” KCID exchanged programming with KGEM last year, adopting the Original Hits” Nostalgia format that KGEM has been running since the late 1980s. KGEM is now running the 60s Oldies format that KCID had been carrying since Journal acquired KCID AM few years ago.

Member R.W. Egelston then took the mic and explained that it was actually he who took the aerial photos used in KGEM’s 1961 application to 10,000 watts. R.W. started at KGEM in 1946. RW had been a photographer and was comfortable around planes, but did not realize that one of the shots required the old World War II “open cockpit” plane to turn sideways with R.W. shooting straight down! R.R. also explained that KGEM’s first transmitter site was
also on the Bench near Denton and Morris Hill. The station started with 250 watts on 1340 KC with studios on the 2nd floor of the Owyhee Hotel. He told
several other great stories as to why the Cassia Street location was selected and the perils involved in building it.

Tim Hogue told of listening to John Runkle in August of 1962 and learning that Marilyn Monroe had passed away, and spoke of KGEM broadcasting live from the Howdy Partner.

Art Gregory then told the story of when KGEM Manager Bob Weisenburger fired every single employee at the station! He then shut the station off the air, called the owners in Salt Lake City and told them what he’d done. Employees who wanted to get hired back then had to report back to the station at 8:00 A.M. on Monday, and some did and were rehired. Art also told several other great KGEM stories, and passed around the Foundations

Member Clint Tinsley then explained how he first got into radio in Boise and worked for both KGEM at KYME at the same time! Clint also spoke of the “K-GEM Spotlight,” the old World War II Military Searchlight that KGEM owned
and took to all kinds of events.

Frank Aden Jr, who is the State’s foremost authority on the early history of Idaho television , told the complete story of KGEM-TV. Frank covered from when KGEM first obtained the 2nd TV construction permit in the state, to
when KGEM’ abandoned Channel 9 in favor of buying KFXD’s Channel 6 construction permit. Nothing ever happened with building Channel 6, and KGEM’s permit expired. In late 1958, Roger Hagadone put on a 2nd Channel 6, KCIX-TV, which only lasted until early 1960. The current Channel 6, KITC, which is now KIVI-TV, went on the air in 1974. Member Clint Tinsley (above) was one of their first engineers.

It was a great meeting and was enjoyed by all. We hope to be able to tour the Cassia Street transmitter site in the coming months when the weather warms up. Below is a list of those attending the meeting. Watch our website
http://www.historyofidahobroadcasting.org for pictures and audio excepts of the meeting.

Here is a list of all who attended.

Officers:
Art Gregory – President
Frank Aden Jr. – Vice President

Members:
R.W. Egelston – former KGEM and KIDO Engineer
Al Hale – form KTVR-TV Transmitter Operator
Clint Tinsley – former KGEM/KYME Announcer and KATN/KBBK, KITC-TV Engineer
Bob Ahmann – former Chief Engineer for KFXD-AM and KYME-AM
Marty Holtman – former KBOI Radio/TV personality, KBCI-TV & KIDO
Weatherman, KSPD Gen. Mgr., KAIN Anncr.
Tip Goss – former KATN-AM Announcer, current Peak Broadcasting Board
Operator.
Cindee Scholfield – Account Executive Peak Broadcasting
Byron Johnson – former Idaho Supreme Court Justice

New Members who joined February 29th
Kitty Delory Fleishman
Ken Harris – Former owner of Blues Bouquet and Member of the Hoochie Coochie
Men Blues Band

Guests who attended and participated in the meeting:
Steve Davidson
Tim Hogue
Rick Hogue
Lucas Babin – Account Executive Peak Broadcasting
Jim Kimball – Producer of the Jon & Chris Show on KFXD-AM

The History of Idaho Broadcasting Foundation wishes to thank everyone who attended and urges you to “stay tuned” for more information about our March meeting, the time and place of which, will be announced here.