Event: KMOX Radio Station Goes On the Air Brief Description: KMOX radio commenced operations on Christmas Eve 1925. Its call letters stand for West of the Mississippi (K), Missouri (MO), and Christmas (X). The station was called the Voice of St. Louis, Inc. by the many businesses that were involved in its organization, including Wagner Electric, St. Louis Globe-Democrat, the Merchants Exchange and Mississippi Valley Trust Company. KMOX was one of the original stations affiliated with the United Independent Broadcasters, forerunner of the Columbia Broadcast System (CBS). CBS started acquiring stock in KMOX in 1930 and had 100% ownership by 1932. In the 1930s KMOX moved away from using network programming and began to produce its own local programming. Prior to the onset of television, KMOX focused extensively on entertainment programming. Once television took over this genre, it led the way, under the direction of Robert Hyland, who became general manager in 1955, towards news, information, sports, and community service. This format revolutionized radio programming nationwide. In 1958, KMOX became one of the first broadcast stations to air editorials and replies. Its emphasis on sports began in 1955 when the Cardinals play-by-play was added to the schedule. One of its most successful programs was "At Your Service," a program featuring guest experts and listener telephone call-ins. Since KMOX started the format in 1960, more than 2,000 radio stations throughout the world have followed suit. Over the years, KMOX has employed some of the country´s most respected and recognizable personalities, including Jim White, Lou Payne, John McCormick, Jack Buck, Rex Davis, Jack Carney, Anne Keefe, Bob Costas, Bill Wilkerson, Wendy Wiese, Harry Caray, Dan Dierdorf and Charles Brennan. [The St. Louis Portrait, p. 201,http://www.kmox.com] Year: 1925 Decade: 1920 - 1929 Beginning Date: Dec. 24, 1925 |
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