Utah's First Radio Station

Utah's First Radio Station

BY PEARL F. JACOBSON

Radio broadcasting as we know it today was a product of the first decade of the twentieth century, although the first successful experiments that led to radio were conducted during the late 1860's. In 1866 Mahlon Loomis, a District of Columbia dentist, was successful in sending the first message through the air. In 1888 Henrich Hertz produced electro-magnetic waves. Later, Marconi perfected the experiments of Loomis, Hertz, and others so that by 1901 wireless messages were being sent across the Atlantic. Radio broadcasting was begun in 1907, and some stations were being heard in America regularly by people in the Eastern States during 1920. By the year 1922 radio was becoming popular with the American public, and 14 years later there were over 27 million radio sets in use in the United States with more than 500 stations supplying them with programs. Radio was then "Big Business," for by the end of 1936 the gross receipts of N.B.C. were over $34 million, and for C.B.S. the amount was around $23.5 million.

Nathan O. Fullmer

Radio was pioneered in Utah by Station KZN in an historical first broadcast on May 6, 1922, from a 250-watt transmitter housed on the roof of The Deseret News Building. The story that follows is an account of these first years of radio in Utah.

It is hoped that the information presented here will be of some value to those who are interested in Utah history. Like most pioneer stories, this one of pioneering a radio broadcasting station in Utah has its moments of high resolve, frustrations, difficulties, and successful accomplishment.

Like many other pioneering ventures, the idea of building and operating a radio broadcasting station in Utah was first conceived in the minds and hearts of a few men. The men instrumental in this undertaking were either directly or indirectly connected with The Deseret News during the fall of 1921 when their idea began to take shape. At that time radio had "caught on" in the states east of the Mississippi River, and by 1920 people were listening regularly to programs being broadcast over several stations.

Radio was the wonder of the day, and it was also the most popular topic of conversation whenever people grouped together. One of the most significant of these conversations took place in the office of Elias S. Woodruff, general manager of The Deseret News, one morning in the fall of 1921. Mr. Woodruff had been conferring with the business manager, Nathan O. Fullmer, about matters pertaining to the publishing of a special news story. After they concluded their discussion, Mr. Woodruff asked Mr. Fullmer to remain for a few minutes to talk about something else. The "something else" was a discussion about building a radio transmitter. This had been mentioned by Mr. Fullmer to Mr. Woodruff on a previous occasion, but it had been more or less a bit of "wishful thinking," for radio transmitters were costly and scarce due to the fact that American Telephone & Telegraph Company had a monopoly on most of the equipment needed.

After discussing the problem for sometime, these two newspaper executives decided that the thing to do was to find out if they could obtain the necessary parts and equipment from some other source than American Telephone & Telegraph Company and have someone build a transmitter. Nathan Fullmer was really excited about this idea, for he had been hoping that his employer would be as enthusiastic over the idea of building a radio transmitter as he was. The discussion then led to the problem of locating the studio on the roof of The Deseret News Building. The only way to get to the roof was to climb three steep flights of narrow, iron steps. At the top a boardwalk led to a corner of the roof where the studio could be built. Arranging for a place to house the transmitter was fairly simple. The big problem was the transmitter itself.

During the last few weeks of 1921 the problem of obtaining parts for a transmitter was thoroughly looked into. The men were obsessed with the idea that The Deseret News should be the first to build a transmitter in Utah. This seemed to be the pattern, for all over the East newspapers were setting up radio broadcasting stations. The Deseret News did not have the financial backing that other newspapers in the East had, so their plans would have to be modest. The president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Heber J. Grant, did not approve the spending of $25,000 (the amount that American Telephone & Telegraph was asking for a transmitter) . This meant that if these Deseret News executives were to go ahead with their plans, they would have to build the transmitter themselves.

Next spring Elias Woodruff went on a business trip to Chicago, Detroit, and New York City. On April 21, 1922, he wrote a letter from Chicago to Nate Fullmer.

Dear Nate:

As soon as I reached Chicago Mr. Woodman took me to the "Fair", a large department store doing broadcasting. I met a Mr. O'Grady who has charge of this department. He told me they were working in connection with the Chicago Daily News and could buy equipment independent of A. T. & T. Co. He quoted me $3,000 for a 1 kilowatt set with a radius of 750 miles, and $2,400 for a / 2 kilowatt set. He said they were fighting the A. T. & T. Co. monopoly through Rep. Britten of Illinois. I told him I would see Senator Smoot if I reached Washington. If not, I would write to him. Then I wired you and later got your message advising me of a $500.00 price at San Francisco. I am wondering if there can be a joker anywhere. If we can buy as we seem to be able to, why does A. T. & T. Co. quote such a price and appear to be so cocky?

If we buy a toy set we will kick ourselves, but O'Grady says his set will send 750 miles. Heretofore we were told by Wilson that 250 watts would do that. According to O'Grady, 1 kilowatt with a 1,000 watt motor generator is required to do the business. If Wilson has not gone, ask him this question. If he has gone, wire him and caution him to be sure of what he is getting.

The whole town is radio crazy. Every paper has radio bulletins in the windows. Every delivery wagon shrieks, "Keep posted on radio. Read the radio department of the Chicago Daily News." Hearst's paper splashes it all over, and every few blocks radio stores offer radio sets for sale.

I am too tired to write more tonight, but I wanted to let you know what I had learned here regarding radio. Read this to Goff and Homer. Regards to all. Cordially,/s/ Elias

A few days later, on April 25, 1922, Woodruff wrote from New York City to Fullmer as follows:

Dear Nate:

Just a hurried scribble. I have not written you a word, although, of course, we have been in touch with each other. It is comforting to know that all is going fine. I want you to express my thanks to Homer and Goff for their support and my appreciation for their efforts.

Radio is a real problem. I believe we will never be able to broadcast except in a small way. Nevertheless, it is good for Wilson to get the set for the amount he is spending. We may have to stop after awhile, and if we do we will not be out much. The publicity we can get before we are stopped or regulated will be worth while. The Detroit News has already spent $25,000.00 on broadcasting, so you see how much some of them think of it Cordially, /s/ Elias

Despite moments of doubt and discouragement, these men continued to plan and work toward their goal. Building the transmitter involved a lot of technical work, mostly on the part of Harry Wilson, the engineer. First one thing and then another would go wrong during the summer of 1922. The generator would quit working, and Wilson was always having trouble with the tubes. They would burn out like light globes, and they cost $110 each. The engineer finally decided to try using two 250-watt tubes as oscillators, and two 250-watt tubes as modulators. A three-horsepower motor to drive the 2,000 volt, 1 kilowatt plate-current generator was to provide power for the transmitter's tubes. A series of dry cells with 350 volts and a storage battery of 12 volts would be used to provide power for the speech amplifier tubes. These plans seemed to be practical solutions to the problems relative to the transmitter.

There was also the problem of an antenna. Harry Wilson went to work on it, and one day he brought in to Nate Fullmer a sketch of his plan. The antenna was to consist of eight wires, each 120 feet long, spaced 39 inches apart and arranged in an inverted "L." He explained to Fullmer, that he thought it would work, but that he could not know for sure until he tried it out.

Nate Fullmer was now getting anxious to know when the first broadcast could take place. When the engineer told him that it could probably take place within a month's time, he was elated. He felt that if the transmitter really worked, something truly worthwhile could be accomplished. The Deseret News would then be able to bring news from all over the world — game scores, weather reports, entertainment, and even L.D.S. conferences — into people's front rooms. He, as well as the other men who were working on the project, believed that radio had a great future, greater perhaps than any of them dreamed.

During the days and nights that followed, every effort was made to "get the job done." The men worked long hours, often forgetting their meals in their zeal to accomplish their purpose. A small, three-room station was built on the roof of The Deseret News Building. It consisted of a studio room for entertainers, an operating room, and a generator room. The station was simple and unpretentious, there not being the need for anything elaborate or costly for radio facilities at this time, nor did the promoters have much money to spend on it. The bare necessities were arranged for, which included heavy draperies to soundproof the studio as much as possible. Mr. Woodruff had warned Fullmer about this in a letter while on his trip East, and had cautioned him about the necessity of absolute silence on the part of everyone in the studio except the performer or announcer during a broadcast.

It began to look as though the date of the first broadcast could come sooner than Harry Wilson had predicted, and the transmitter soon was ready for testing. The technicians were ready to send the signal and broadcast some music, and Nate Fullmer had arranged with a friend of his, who had a little electrical shop east of Broadway and State Street, to try to "tune in" on it. In those days very few people had radio sets, and this was the nearest one available.

Great was the excitement that Saturday morning early in April of 1922, in the studio of Radio Station KZN, when preparations were completed to make the test. Engineer Wilson and his two assistants had "hooked up" the last transmitter equipment. Fullmer's friend, William Elder, had been notified by telephone that KZN was ready to "send." Nate Fullmer could no longer bear the suspense, and before anybody knew what he was going to do, he "took off," running practically every step to the electrical shop about four and a half blocks away to hear for himself if KZN's broadcast was really being picked up. People who saw him must have thought that Nate was running to a fire somewhere. A few of his acquaintances attempted to stop him to find out what the excitement was all about, but he was in a hurry.

When Elder saw him coming, he shouted the words that Fullmer most wanted to hear: "She's coming over, Nate! She's coming over! Congratulations!"

Needless to say, Nate Fullmer was thrilled, as were all who had been so vitally concerned with the venture. The first thing he did, of course, after catching his breath, was to telephone Harry Wilson and tell him the good news. Then he sent a telegram to Elias Woodruff who was still in the East on business for The Deseret News. After all these efforts it was such a great thrill to find that the thing that he and his associates had dreamed of, waited for, and prayed about was actually coming true.

Top: An early KSL studio. Drama was one of the feature attractions of early radio. This scene shows the KSL dramatic players during one of these broadcasts. Bottom: In contrast to the rather simplified facilities shown above, the modern control room is an electronic masterpiece with multiple turntables, stereo machines, and many other pieces of equipment.

Courtesy KSL Radio Station

The next step was to complete preparations for the dedication of the new broadcasting station, KZN. News of the coming event was publicized by The Deseret News, and many people caught "radio fever" and purchased the small radio crystal sets complete with ear phones and cat's whiskers for "tuning in." Persons who were prominent leaders in church, civic, and state affairs were invited to be present in the studios of KZN for the initial broadcast. Arrangements were made for President Heber J. Grant of the L.D.S. Church to speak the first words to go out to the world over KZN, and appropriate musical selections were prepared for the event. One important person who should have been present for the first broadcast, Elias S. Woodruff, was unable to attend because he had been detained on business in the East.

On the night of the dedication, May 6, 1922, there was a feeling of tense expectancy among the people assembled on the roof of The Deseret News Building. They had to be reminded to be quiet so as not to mar the broadcast, for it was easy to forget that the microphone would pick up the slightest sound and broadcast it as well as the planned program. Promptly at 8:00 p.m. President Grant spoke into the microphone of KZN, and with his ringing, resonant voice made the following statement:

This is my message to the people of the world — a quotation from the Doctrine & Covenants, known as Section 76, a revelation to Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon.

"And this is the gospel, the glad tidings which the voice out of the heavens bore record unto us,

"That He came into the world, even Jesus, to be crucified for the world, and to bear the sins of the world, and to sanctify the world, and to cleanse it from all unrighteousness;

"That through Him all might be saved whom the Father had put into his power and made by Him.

"For we saw Him, even on the right hand of God, and we heard the voice bearing record that He is the Only Begotten of the Father.

"That by Him and through Him, and of Him the worlds were created, and the inhabitants thereof are begotten sons and daughters of God."

This is the end of the quotation. I bear witness to all mankind that Joseph Smith was a prophet of the true and living God.

President Grant's speech was followed by an address from Mayor C. Clarence Neslen, whose statement is as follows:

Personally, I am particularly interested in this accomplishment on the part of this paper, because I earned, or at least received my first money from this institution, as a boy, and worked hard in this institution for sixteen years. It is a pleasure, on behalf of this city, to congratulate them and to send a few words of greeting to you listeners wherever you may be.

It is fitting, of course, to have this word of greeting come in the springtime, at the beginning of new things. Here in Salt Lake City, we are now enjoying beautiful spring weather and we presume that is the case throughout this intermountain country. We have passed through a rather severe winter —• a trying winter — but I am sure, from indications here, times are improving, things are getting better, and there is nothing but hope and cheer before us, and we should all feel encouraged and decide to go forth with renewed energy, undertaking those things that lie before us.

I feel to congratulate the people of this state and this intermountain country for the fortitude which they manifested in the trials they had before them during the recent winter. Nowhere, perhaps, could we find such stability, such conservatism, and such fortitude on the part of the people under such trying conditions. We were calm and deliberate, and we all feel that we have withstood the storm, and, now that things are brighter, it is a pleasure to congratulate each other over this wonderful invention that has been made possible here for us to use, through the enterprise and the liberality of this, one of the leading newspapers of the western country.

I send personal greetings and greetings on behalf of this city to you all, and will now bid you good night.

Another voice which was heard was that of Mrs. Heber J. Grant, who said,

I think this is one of the most wonderful experiences of our lives. I am glad I live in this age when every day — almost every hour, brings us some new invention. I would not be surprised if we were talking to the planets before many years. This is one of the most wonderful inventions of this or any other age.

President Anthony W. Ivins stated,

When the Mormon pioneers entered the Salt Lake Valley in 1847, at which time the Pony Express was the most rapid means of communicating news from one point to another, they little dreamed that before a period of seventy-five years had passed their children would talk to the world by wireless.

George Albert Smith gave the closing remarks,

I have had many unique experiences in my life. I had the privilege of riding the first bicycle that came into Salt Lake City, and the first pattern of safety bicycle that came here. I talked in the first telephone that came here and have talked over the long distance telephone from San Francisco to New York. I have heard the Pacific and the Atlantic oceans rumbling over the wires. I have also had the pleasure of riding in an airplane from Brussels to London, at the rate, part of the time, of 100 miles an hour.

I have lived to see many wonderful things occur, as predicted by the prophets of old, wherein it was stated that when the Book of Mormon should first come forth, the Lord would commence his work among the nations, and we have lived to see more wonderful indications during the period of time since the coming forth of the Book of Mormon, that would contribute to the comfort and satisfaction of the human family, than have occurred in all the balance of time since the world was created.

And now, to cap the climax, we have the opportunity of talking over a wireless telephone, and having it broadcasted to very many stations scattered at intervals anywhere from 500 to 1,000 miles away. I had the privilege once of sending the first wireless telegram that was ever received by President Joseph F. Smith, when I was out in the Atlantic Ocean, but I look upon this wireless telephone as the culmination of all the marvelous experiences to which the human family has thus far been heir, and I congratulate the people who live in this wonderful land of liberty, this country which is always foremost in matters of invention, and I am grateful indeed, that my lot has been cast among a people who look forward to every good thing for the benefit and uplift of mankind.

A humorous incident has gone down in the history of this first broadcast, for President Grant was heard by his listeners from far and near to say during his speech, "Turn off the heat." Many letters came to KZN from people who had heard those words and wondered about them. The explanation was that it was cool this May evening on the roof of The Deseret News Building, and somebody had connected an electric heater to provide some warmth right behind President Grant. Apparently, it was providing too much warmth.

Regularly scheduled radio programs were broadcast daily after the first one. These were short programs at first, only a half an hour from 8:00 to 8:30 p.m., but gradually increasing to an hour and a half each evening. One major reason for short programs was, of course, the limited facilities of KZN. Another reason was the newness of this type of entertainment. The persons involved were only amateurs who were just "feeling their way."

Public response to KZN's broadcasts was very gratifying. Letters and telegrams from listeners in many states and as far as Honolulu were received by The Deseret News and KZN, each expressing appreciation and pleasure at hearing the programs. The News published many of these messages. One writer from Los Angeles, Mr. M. L. Babcock, stated, "I have just listened in on the best example of radio broadcasting from a distant station that I have yet received, and I have heard nearly every station west of the Rocky Mountains."

Another radio "fan" from Los Angeles wrote,

Probably the most wonderful station in the West is KZN, The Deseret News phone at Salt Lake City. It's signals come in throughout the entire Pacific slope with almost the same strength as a local station. People with good crystal detector receivers in Los Angeles are hearing KZN nightly.

A letter from Mr. O. H. Hovey, of Perry, Oklahoma, said,

Complying with radio request from KSB (St. Louis Post-Dispatch) we wish to say that your broadcast came in with wonderful resonance at 12:25 this morning. We didn't get in to get all of it, being tuned to other stations; but can assure you that your modulation was excellent, and, further, that you evidently have at your disposal some splendid talent. Come again, and often. If you publish an advance program I would be glad to be placed on your mailing list. I am said to be one of the oldest and most enthusiastic radio fans in the country, going on 70 years young.

Such messages as these were, of course, very much appreciated by the officials of The Deseret News and KZN who had worked so hard to put the enterprise over successfully. According to their records they heard from 18 states as far east as Iowa and all up and down the Pacific Coast during the first weeks of broadcasting. One especially prized response came from the Honolulu Star Bulletin, Honolulu, Hawaii, written October 3, 1922, and published October 14, 1922, in The Deseret News. In it George S. Teall, manager of the radio department, said that he had received KZN's concert "loud and clear, even louder than our own station only 250 miles away."

Now that KZN had been successfully launched, many plans were developed to improve not only the engineering aspects of radio broadcasting, but also the programming. One of Nate Fullmer's ambitious ideas was to broadcast musical programs directly from the McCune L.D.S. School of Music on North Main Street, in Salt Lake City. The technicians were able to do this by stringing a wire from that building down on top of the temple square wall and across the street to the transmitter. The recital hall and certain other studios at the school had acoustics that were far superior to those at the studio of KZN, and these eliminated much of the echo that was so prevalent in many broadcasts. Many of the performers were prominent local musicians. A typical program listed Becky Almond, piano soloist; Robert S. Fisher, cello soloist; P. Melvin Peterson, baritone soloist; and John J. McClellan, pianist, accompanying Willard Weihe in a violin concerto. A regular program of special interest to children, called the Peter Rabbit Club, broadcasted musical selections performed by children. It also broadcasted birthday greetings to children who belonged to the club.

As time went on, it was found that this facility called radio was to mean more to people than just a medium of entertainment. Persons prominent in public office and politics began to use this means to reach the people. One such person to speak over KZN October 25, 1922, was William Jennings Bryan, "the Silver-voiced Orator," who posed with Deseret News and KZN officials for a newspaper picture on that occasion. A few months later on June 26, 1923, KZN made "radio history" by relaying President Warren G. Harding's address in the Mormon Tabernacle in Salt Lake City to thousands of listeners. It was an exciting experience. Many persons heard the broadcast from a "specially constructed station in Liberty Park that was connected up with the tabernacle amplifiers." This, of course, was a "first" that was followed in the years to come by many addresses of prominent persons in all walks of life.

Another type of program that began July 14, 1923, was the broadcasting of dance music from the Hotel Utah Roof Garden orchestra. This was accomplished by means of a remote control system which transmitted this music to the KZN control room and was then broadcast. Dance music from Owen Sweetin's Band at Saltair was also brought in by telephone line to KZN's control room to be broadcast. During these first years of radio broadcasting from KZN, many performers donated their services freely. It was later on, when radio had proved itself, that advertising came into the picture as holder of the "purse strings" and hired performers.

Radio was here to stay, but by June 1924 KZN had had its day, and radio broadcasting in Utah was to take a new course. KZN had done the pioneering, and it was time for another development. The first step in this was taken when The Deseret News sold its interest to John Cope, KZN radio engineer, and to his father, F. W. Cope. At this time the Radio Service Corporation of Utah was formed. On June 13, 1924, the call letters were changed from KZN to KFPT. The power was still 500 watts, but the kilocycles had been changed to 1,149. The studios were kept for a time on the roof of The Deseret News Building. On November 17, 1924, Earl J. Glade joined the radio station where he served as supervisor of programming. He also managed the sales and accounting, and often did the announcing. He served on the staff of the station for many years, seeing it grow to the great station that is KSL today.

The L.D.S. Church acquired stock in the radio station in 1925, as did The Salt Lake Tribune. The next development was to again change the call letters from KFPT to KSL. This was done on June 24, 1925, and power was at that time increased to 1,000 watts and the frequency to 1,000 kilocycles. Then in 1929 KSL received permission to build a 5,000-watt transmitter, the frequency was changed to 1,130 kilocycles, and the clear channel designation was obtained.

Just prior to this time, national radio networks had begun to be formed, and radio had really become important to the American way of life. New developments of all kinds in radio had come rapidly, and fancylooking radio sets adorned the living rooms of most American homes. Early in the history of the National Broadcasting Company, KSL became one of its affiliates. On July 15, 1929, the first of the Tabernacle Choir broadcasts over N.B.C. was begun as an experiment with Anthony Lund as director ; Edward P. Kimball, organist; and Ted Kimball, announcer. Today the Tabernacle Choir has the distinction of being the oldest continuously broadcast program in radio.

Another progressive move in the history of this radio station came on October 16,1932, when the Federal Communications Commission granted KSL permission to increase its power to 50,000 watts. It was during this year that KSL dropped its affiliation with the National Broadcasting Company and joined the Columbia Broadcasting System. In the closing months of 1932, KSL moved to new studios on the top floor of the Union Pacific Building and changed its frequency from 1,130 kilocycles to 1,160, its present location. In 1947, the Kearns Corporation, owner of The Salt Lake Tribune, sold its stock in KSL in order to back another radio station in Salt Lake City and become the principal stockholder.

Throughout the history of KZN and KSL, there have been many interesting programs and entertainers. Two old favorites, Parley Bair and Francis Urry, who performed as a comedy team known as "The Bates Boys," are remembered by many persons and are great entertainers to this day. Another popular pair of KSL comics back in 1928 were Roscoe Grover and Ted Kimball, who are still active in radio.

KSL moved to its new home at Broadcast House on Social Hall Avenue, Salt Lake City, February 10, 1962. The spacious studios, large offices, and amazing new modern equipment mark a sharp contrast to the facilities of those early days in 1922. Today, of course, KSL-TV walks hand-inhand with KSL-Radio. Arch Madsen, president of KSL Radio and Television, and Joseph A. Kjar, general manager of KSL Radio, together with their staffs, offer television and radio programs to a large listening and viewing audience in the intermountain area of the West.

In 1963 the Salt Lake City Telephone Directory listed 13 radio stations. Radio has become commonplace — something that the modern generation takes for granted. The children of today find it hard to understand that great changes have taken place just within the last 40 years; but to many persons, who have seen the transition from a little 500-watt powered station to the great radio station that is KSL today, the developments have been marvelous. Living through the changes that have marked the first half of the twentieth century in Utah has been an exciting and thrilling series of experiences —• not the least of these has been the birth and development of the first radio station in Utah.

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