Here is Jerry doing an hourly news report from later on the same night as the above aircheck. The KTKT hourly news opener can also be heard. This aircheck was originally recorded by Jerry Stowe and contributed from the collection of C J Brown.
AIRCHECKS
If you are up-to-date with your computer, you should be able to hear the clips below. All commentary is written by C.J. Brown. Enjoy.
THE AIRCHECKS: 1959-1964 In Chronological Order
The Jerry Stowe Show
July 5 1961 - 8:02 total
Jerry’s wonderful sense of humor and great story telling abilities can be heard on all of his tracks. This aircheck from Jerry’s overnight program features his show opening right after the midnight news. We can also hear a headline news report on the half hour that is mostly intact. We are introduced to Jerry’s sidekick Oliver. This aircheck was originally recorded by Jerry Stowe and contributed from the collection of C J Brown.
Jerry Stowe Show
Opener
1962 - 0:51 total
Here is the opening theme for the Jerry Stowe show circa 1962. I remember Jerry from when he started doing over nights during late 1960 into 1961. Jerry later moved over to do the noon spot in 1961 after Jay Lawrence vacated that spot. Jerry’s quick quips and fast paced humor started to shine at this point. When Guy Williams left KTKT for KRIZ late 1962 Jerry moved over to do the morning 6 – 9am spot. He remained the KTKT morning man up until late 1967 when he switched to 9 am to noon. Jerry was very funny while doing mornings. He used to throw a lot of friendly barbs back and forth with Frank Kalil. Frank would then throw them back during his program. The “oouie-oouie” thing heard over this theme was kind of a Jerry Stowe trademark sound around KTKT. This aircheck was originally recorded by Pat Maestro and contributed from the collection of C J Brown.
Jerry Stowe News
with the Jerry Stowe
theme song
July 5 1961 - 3:52 total
Here is another hourly news report from July 5. But the real treat here is the great Jerry Stowe Show theme song jingle that follows the news. This aircheck was originally recorded by Jerry Stowe and contributed from the collection of C J Brown.
The Jerry Stowe Show
Jan. 1964 - 7:36 total
Jerry is now doing his legendary morning program. Highlights include a couple of funny bits poking fun at news director Lloyd Couch and sponsor Rod Harbor. Jerry voices an Arizona Dairy Farmers and a Leo’s Auto Supply spot. Both were long time memorable KTKT ad clients. It is great hearing that “real Arizona milk cow milk” song again. This aircheck was originally recorded by Jerry Stowe and contributed from the collection of C J Brown.
Chris Borden
April 9 1959 11:30 total
Listen to both parts by clicking on
youtube A & B, right
Here is a great classic aircheck of KTKT morning guy Chris Borden. Chris uses a lot of humor and many drop-ins. The KTKT Color Radio format can be heard here in full force. The Coasters’ Charlie Brown is number three this week on the top 40. The KTKT time chime (squeal) is heard on this check. KTKT used that squeal type sound until early 1968. Another great feature here is the bottom of the hour headline news liner (voiced by Frank Kalil) and headline news weather jingle I don’t know who the newsman is on this broadcast. Plus we get to hear the long time used going out of KTKT news liner “If You Don’t Want It Heard on KTKT News…Don’t Let It Happen”. Here in 1959 it is used at the bottom of the hour. The top 40 tunes of the day are all scoped here. But there are many intact spots and other elements to enjoy. Chris mentions Bob Sinclair will be on at 9am today. Bob and Chris opened and operated a DJ training school while in Tucson. Another nice weather jingle is heard near the end of the aircheck. The aircheck ends during the opening of KTKT News on the top of the hour at 7am. This fine aircheck came my way from another collector. But it was originally recorded by Chris Borden and is now an exhibit at reelradio. Contributed here from the collection of C J Brown.
Chris Borden
April 19605:20 total
This aircheck starts out with a scoped edition of headline news and weather. Another set of news intros and KTKT weather jingles are heard. The “If You Don’t Want It Heard Liner” is heard again at the end of the news with a KTKT stinger jingle added. Chris still uses lots of humor in his program .The songs are scoped out. But plenty of local spots are to be heard here. These include Apache Tire and the Seat Cover King. Both the Flash TV spot and the ad for Greyhound Park makes mention of KTKT recently going to a 24 hour a day operation during mid April 1960. The origin of this aircheck is unknown and was contributed from the collection of C J Brown
Bob Sinclair
Early 1960 0:22 total
A very brief Tom Breneman Jr. news close and a short opening for the Bob Sinclair program. The origin of this aircheck is unknown and was contributed from the collection of C J Brown.
Frank Kalil
Early 1960 2:33 total
To start we hear a brief edited KTKT news close this time with Alan Jay. What follows is the open of the Frank Kalil program. Frank brought Color Radio to Tucson May of 1957 after working with Chuck Blore in El Paso for Gordon McLendon. Other than a couple of short absences Frank Kalil was the KTKT afternoon drive guy from May of 1957 until mid December 1967. During this long run he always held the top spot in the ratings.
Often he commanded over 50% of the total Tucson radio audience. Too bad we do not have more of Frank to enjoy. The origin of this aircheck is unknown and was contributed from the collection of C J Brown.
Tim Parker
November 1963
6:15 total
This check kicks off with the KTKT “classic” jingle used to intro an oldie. Also heard is another headline news opener. Too bad the headline news and spot are edited out. But the headline weather jingle and weather with news director Lloyd Couch is still intact. This aircheck was recorded by Pat Maestro and contributed from the collection of C J Brown.
Bob Bell
September 1964
7:39 total
What I like best on this aircheck are the spots. The most priceless to me are the in house spots produced by KTKT. A classic Rubitom’s record store voiced by Phil Richardson (and others) is one of the best. Another great piece is Jerry Stowe doing the “Miss Teenage America” promotion piece. The theme song used here was a familiar sound as KTKT co-sponsored this event for several years during the sixties. Two other notable local spots heard are for a wrestling event at Tucson Gardens and another for The Tucson Drag Way. Who is that guy doing the wrestling spot? Sounds like Tom Madison on the drag spot. The aircheck has a couple PAMS Series 18 jingles. Plus a couple of other non PAMS jingles I can’t identify. Another sound that many Tucson residents of the era will recognize is the “nickel and a dime “melody used in the ad for Burger Chef. This aircheck was recorded by Pat Maestro and contributed from the collection of C J Brown.
If you have any airchecks of KTKT, or know somebody who does, please contact us at colorchannel99@yahoo.com.
Ray Lindstrom
9 PM News
Mon, Nov. 18, 1963
5:34 total
During the early sixties after KTKT was granted 24 hour authority April 1960 the evening DJ’s would cover the hourly news reports and also the headlines on the half hour. The 6 – 9 PM jock would stay over and do the news from 9 to 1130 pm. The 9 to midnight DJ would come in early to do the news from 6 – 9 PM. The overnight jock covered his own news reports during his shift. During 1964 the KTKT news staff expanded to the point where a dedicated newsman reported the news during the evening hours up to midnight. But here – just a few short days before the JFK assassination our Webmaster Ray Lindstrom takes over the news duties after completing his 6 to 9 DJ shift. After Ray’s great 9 PM news cast listen for the opening theme song for the Lee Smith Show. This aircheck was originally taped by Ray Lindstrom and recovered from his personal collection of tapes. Prepared for the KTKT Tribute Site by C J Brown.
Frank Kalil Show
Week of Feb 3–10 1962
4 PM 7:15 total time
This brief aircheck starts during the 4 PM newscast in progress- Noon to 3 PM KTKT DJ Jerry Stowe reporting. Except for a couple of brief absences Frank Kalil was the afternoon drive time DJ from May 1957 to Dec 1967. Kalil was also the program director who put the “Color Radio” format on the air at KTKT. During the sixties Frank served as the programming manager - in charge of the program directors and all of that went out over the air. Much of KTKT’s success during this era must be attributed to Frank’s passion for perfection and quality. Here we hear Frank doing a break – and adding some humor -after Eddie Hodges’ “Bandit of My Dreams” - the #22 song this week on Tucson’s only certified sound survey this week. Frank also introduces a Timi Yuro song and this week’s “KTKT Pick Hit” by Sheb Wooley. Prepared for the KTKT Tribute Site by C J Brown
To listen to any aircheck, click on the youtube arrow...enjoy!
Ray Lindstrom
Dec. 31, 1964-Before 12M
Countdown to 1965 featuring all the KTKT Swingin' 7 Disc Jockeys
Tucson's legendary evening DJ leads listeners from 1964 into 1965 with this brilliant production. This air check has great historic value as the voices of each member of the then current KTKT "Swinging Seven" DJ staff are heard.
Frank Kalil
Sept. 17, 1959 22:41 total
Frank Kalil took several generations of Tucson listeners home from work or school for more than ten years while holding down the afternoon drive time program on KTKT. Using a great wit, perfect timing and a drive for perfection while on the air Frank Kalil often commanded more than 50% of the Tucson radio audience. Those same skills served KTKT and Frank Kalil as he also held the position of program manager for those same ten years. This air check is a great example of early top 40 radio when the format was young and new.
Frank Kalil
Jan. 1964 - 23:52 total
Here is more of Frank Kalil doing his top rated afternoon drive program on KTKT. Frank Kalil held the number one spot in the ratings during this time period almost the entire time since the start of his KTKT program May 1957.