Recalling San Francisco radio station Channel 91, known as KNEW in 1970s and as KEWB in 1960s. As KEWB the station played the Top 40 hits of the day.
In San Francisco, radio station AM 910 was KEWB from 1958 to 1966, then became KNEW continuing the pop music tradition until 1974. This site presents history and memories of those legendary radio stations. KEWB DJs included Gary Owens, Casey Kasem, Bobby Dale, Ron Lyons, Ron Reynolds, Don McKinnon, Robert W. Morgan, Buck Herring, Honest John Trotter, Art Nelson, Perry Roberts, Chris Borden, Jim W
ayne, Michael Jackson, Ken Knox, and many more radio entertainers. As KNEW the station played adult contemporary + classic hits ("oldies"). KNEW DJs included Ron Lyons and Ron Reynolds from KEWB days, plus Tom Campbell, Bill Collins, John Hawkins, Harry Stephens (Osibin), Hal Pickens, Bob Raleigh, Eddie Alexander, and more. Also, KNEW pioneered "relationship" radio with Don Chamberlain hosting call-in show California Girls and Dee Merritt hosting California Guys. KEWB was owned by publishing company Crowell-Collier. When the station was bought by Metromedia Broadcasting it changed the call sign to KNEW to match its New York station WNEW.
11/25/2018
KNEW Radio's Rosie Lee Allen and John Hawkins with singer/actor James Darren, visiting to promote his record "Mammy Blue".
At KNEW Rosie was in the programming department since 1969. John directed music and programming during its Greatest Hits era.
After KNEW, Rosie went on the air. For 25 years at KGO AM 810 she was co-anchor of the afternoon news show, plus fill-in talk show host, and for 9 years she was on KGO TV 7 show “Marketplace”. After KGO Rosie was back at KNEW, on the air during its Talk 9-10 era. And in recent decades Rosie was a leader of non-profit breast cancer organization "Friends of Faith".
06/28/2017
More photos posted of KNEW radio remote broadcasts. Added pictures from 1972, DJ Bob Raleigh at Bayfair Center in San Leandro.
06/22/2017
KNEW Flashback to 1974! We just discovered a bunch of photos taken for promotional purposes, shot at the studio, office, and transmitter. Nice pictures of radio station staffers who happened to be there, but unfortunately many more are not in the photos.
05/08/2017
A young Ben Fong-Torres meets KEWB Channel 91 DJ Gary Owens.
Gary's creative morning show was a huge inspiration to young wannabe DJs aspiring to be funny on the radio.
Ben became a DJ on KSAN, and a writer on pop music, interviewing major performers for Rolling Stone Magazine and others.
Gary Owens..KEWB Oakland Ca..1959 click on link to listen..
The young man at his left is Journalist Ben Fong Torres who covers the music industry for Rolling Stone and other publications..
KNEW had a talented tech team that kept the operation humming: Carl Dahlstrom ("Carl Caterpillar"), Sam Danos, Cliff Foote, Alan Glesser, John Hawkins, Jim Lehman, Karl Neely, Dale Phillips, Art Rekedal, Ted Sims, Jim Tharp, Roy Trumbull, and more...
04/10/2013
Air personalities (some sadly gone) who entertained on KNEW Channel 91:
Ron Lyons (late)
Ron Reynolds
Bill Collins (late)
Tom Campbell
Eddie Alexander (late)
John Hawkins
Harry Stephens ( Harry Osibin )
Jimmy Jet Powers ( Jim Courant )
Hal Pickens (late)
Rick Cimino (late)
Bob Raleigh
Don Chamberlain (late, California Girls)
Dee Merritt (California Guys)
05/16/2010
KNEW history in Wikipedia
KNEW (910 AM, "910AM") is a radio station in San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose, CA, USA. KNEW is the newest of the Bay Area's conservative talk radio stations. 910am is owned by Clear Channel. Prior ...
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San Francisco radio station AM 910 was called KEWB from 1959 to 1966, then as KNEW continued the Channel 91 tradition until mid-1974 -- 15 years entertaining the Bay Area. This site presents history and memories of that legendary radio station and its two names.
As KEWB Channel 91 the station played the pop/rock hits of the day, promoting itself as Color Radio to parallel the excitement of then-new color television. KEWB DJs include Gary Owens (later, TV Laugh In), Casey Kasem (later, TV and radio American Top 40), Bobby Dale, Ron Lyons, Ron Reynolds, Don McKinnon, Robert W. Morgan, Buck Herring, Honest John Trotter, Art Nelson, Perry Roberts, Chris Borden, Jim Wayne, Michael Jackson, Ken Knox, and many more radio entertainers.
As KNEW Channel 91 the station played The Greatest Hits Of All Time, a mix of current adult contemporary and classic pop/rock hits ("oldies"). KNEW DJs included two KEWB veterans, Ron Lyons (formerly KNBR) and Ron Reynolds, plus Tom Campbell (formerly KYA), Bill Collins (formerly WHK), John Hawkins (formerly KKIS, KMPX), Harry Stephens Osibin (also KDIA), Hal Pickens (formerly KFWB), Bob Raleigh, Eddie Alexander (also KRON TV), Jimmy Jet Powers (formerly KLIV), and more. Also, KNEW pioneered "relationship" talk radio with Don Chamberlain hosting call-in show California Girls and Dee Merritt hosting California Guys.
AM 910 History:
1922 - KLX went on the air. Owned by newspaper Oakland Tribune. The three letters (instead of four) indicates this radio station was among the early pioneers of broadcasting.
1959 - KEWB Channel 91. Station acquired by Crowell-Collier, publisher of magazines and encyclopedias. New call letters chosen to match Los Angeles sister station KFWB, where program director Chuck Blore pioneered the Color Radio format adopted by KEWB (and KDWB Minneapolis). Channel 91 was known for being fun and funny.
1966 - KNEW / 910. Station acquired by Metromedia Broadcasting. New call letters matched New York sister station WNEW. A format similar to NY was tried, well-done but not a big success in Bay Area.
1971 - KNEW Channel 91. It’s back! Metromedia brought in new general manager Ken Gaines and new program director John Hawkins, who brought back KEWB-style fun spirit, irreverent DJs, memorable jingles, and a fast-paced music blend of current adult hits and classic hits (“oldies”). Many KNEW air, news and operational staffers were from KEWB days. Bay Area listeners loved the new Channel 91.
