The History of LGBT Radio (Part 8)

from houstonlgbthistory.org

The first LGBT radio program in Houston was probably "Come Out Together Through the Hole in the Closet Door." It aired on alternate Sundays at 5:30 PM on 90.1 KPFT back in 1972.  The station only signed on March 1st, 1970, so the time window for an earlier program is narrow. The host was a woman named T. Sanders. He was succeeded by Chuck Berger who reworked the program into "Out of the Closet into the Streets." More here. He in turn passed the program to Linda Lovell. A November, 1972 folio describes the original program:

"A gay survival program. It is the intent of this program to convey through music, interviews and documentaries, the situations confronting homosexuals in society today and alternatives to those situations. Such subjects as prison reform, oppression and rehabilitation, job discrimination, role-playing and more will be explored. We hope to produce high quality programs which can be used on other spots within Pacifica. This program will air every other Sunday at this time."

In 1973 they debuted a 5:30 PM gay talk show "Lunch" hosted by Jim Strong. Jim was their Arts Director at the time.  Bur surprisingly in 1973 there was one other LGBT radio show in the Houston metropolitan area: Dave Lamble's Sunday morning talk show on 96.5 KAUM. In January of 1971, KXYZ dropped easy listening and flipped to progressive rock. They added local DJs (including Lamble) and changed calls to KAUM. But Lamble was also a DJ at KPFT. Back in 1972 he hosted Funk Magazine, spinning funk jazz and reading black literature. He was later News Director at KFWD in Ft. Worth. (There Dave Lamble at WRHU is unrelated) More here.

Then in 1975 they debuted a program that would last for decades.  Ray Hill was one of the founders of Wilde N' Stein back in July of 1975 and Hill at least became a Houston gay community icon. By 1975 the program  is listed as "Wilde N' Stein with Ray Hill and Friends." Their show aired Sunday nights at 10:00 PM to Midnight.  I'll quote that article regarding  the ground-breaking program:

"Wilde N' Stein with Ray Hill and Friends, on KPFT for nearly four years, is the longest-running gay program in the country. It is the only continuing gay program in Houston (Sundays, 10 p.m. - midnight).  Host Hill utilizes a magazine type format on the program. The show provides listeners with varied segments of interest such as the Gay World Report and music of artists like Holly Near and Meg Christian. Periodically Hill accepts calls on the air. "Sometimes we get real live honkies in the wild." he chuckled." Back in 1968 Hill met KPFT pioneers Larry Lee and Don Gardener who told him of plans for a new station for the community. "It sounded strange but wonderful"...

Hill spent some time in prison for burglary from October 1970 to March 1975. When released from prison for good behavior, the state of Texas gave him a $100 check and sent him on his way. Hill endorsed his to Pacifica radio. Both of Hill's parents were labor organizers, his father with the AFL–CIO and his mother with the Teamsters. So it comes as no surprise that Hill became a political activist for life. In 1980 Hill even became the manager of KPFT. This probably lead to KPFT's proliferation of gay radio programs.

In 1987 KPFT debuted another LGBT radio show, After Hours which debuted on September 6th. Initially airing at 2:00 AM, it had a relaxed variety-show format. Host Buddy Johnston was joined by co-host Jimmy Carper in 1989. Carper took over in 1992. The show blazed a trail making airtime for the trans community in the 1990s. Trans activists Sarah DePalma, Vanessa Edwards Foster, and Monica Roberts all co-hosted in that era. The show ran for 30 years and came to an end in 2017 on their anniversary. Carper died of HIV in 2014. Producer Chris Arasin took the helm for the last 3 years on air.  More here.

On the heels of Wilde N' Stein was the lesbian/feminist program Breakthrough. It was directly tied to the feminist newspaper of the same name. The show ran from from 1979 to 1992, starting with original hosts Nancy Fleming and Rita Saylors succeeded by Pokey Anderson and Cherry Wolf. Wolf quit the show in 1991. Pokey had previously been one of the publishers of the feminist magazine Mockingbird, and then the LGBT magazine Point Blank Times. One of the Wilde 'N Stein regular co-hosts was Mike Miesch who came on in 1980.

He continued on the program until his death from AIDS in 1987. Jack Valinski joined Wilde 'N Stein in 1982 and after the death of Miesch he hosted the program until 1992, adding co-host Bruce Reeves in 1991. Then KPFT fired Buddy Guy, the host of After Hours in December of 1991. Apparently Johnston had some kind of conflict with Ray Hill, and live aired a few rambling diatribes and a possibly slanderous statement about the owner of a gay bar. Bruce Reeves left Wilde 'N Stein to keep After Hours going without it's long-time host.

It's probably worth noting at this point that Texas is one of four states (including Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma) in which gay sex is still illegal in 2020.  The statute, Chapter 21, Sec. 21.06 of the Texas Penal Code was adopted in it's present form in 1973. The state revised its criminal code to end its ban on heterosexual anal and oral intercourse, specifically retained it's ban on homosexual anal and oral intercourse. In 1974 amendments to Section 21.06 included the removal of the criminal penalties for bestiality, making sex with animals now legal in Texas, but gay sex still illegal. I think that tells us volumes about the Texas legislature.

So when GM Barry Forbes abruptly reformatted KPFT in November 1992 and cancelled both Wilde 'N Stein, and Breakthrough, that regardless of his intentions, you can imagine how it might be perceived.  After Hours wasn't cancelled but cut from 3 hours to 2. But those changes led to public protests. Pokey Anderson called it "a giant step backward" and resigned in protest.Ratings and listener donations dropped by over 30%. [SOURCE] The chaos is credited with bringing Barry Forbes career at KPFT to an abrupt end in 1994.

The protests and petition drives in 1992 also worked their magic and in March of 1993 Jack Valinski returned with a show under the name Lesbian & Gay Voices, which he re-named Queer Voices in January of 2002. It was co-hosted with Deborah Bell (also of Wilde & Stein) until she left in 1995.

The show is still heard today KPFT, still hosted by Valinski on Mondays, 8:00 PM to 9:00 PM, coming up soon on their 30th year. More here.

A History of Radio Station Bombings

Historically, in the U.S. radio station bombings have been rare. So rare, it was comic fodder in an episode of the TV program WKRP. This is not the case in other nations. Often in the case of war or unrest, media outlets become targets. The U.S. has been very fortunate in this regard. Before I dig into the details I'm going to specify "bombings" as opposed to other attacks for the sake of clarity. The IRA's attacks on Marconi stations are usually described as fires, not bombings and are excluded. Also notably so many radio stations were bombed in WWII I doubt my list is complete. Also excluded are bomb scares, and bomb threats. I am not distinguishing between "terrorist" bombings and wartime bombings or fire bombings. I include bombings of studios, towers or any of their electrical or structural parts. The nuances are too complex to split hairs.

I discovered in the course of this project that KPFT is not the only US radio station to have been bombed, though multiple sources claim that to be the case. A more complete list also includes: WEDR, KMAK, KFWB and WKRL. Most appear to have been racially motivated as was the case with KPFT.

2018 - (9/17) Saudi-led coalition airstrike on Yemen public radio/Hudaydah
2018 - (6/12) Afghan air force bombs Voice of Shariah Radio station
2016 - (10/2) ISIS Radio Station in Al-Bayan Iraq bombed by coalition forces
2015 - (4/29) Tao FM radio in Nigeria bombed
2015 - (5/14) Burundi's RPA radio station bombed
2014 - (7/30) Israeli AF bombs Sawt al-Watan radio station
2013 - (8/7) Building housing Wow FM bombed in the Phillipines
2013 - (3/9) Voice of the People bombed in Zimbabwe
2012 - (5/29) Dunya Radio bombed in Afghanistan
2012 - (10/5) Paraguayan People's Army bombs Radio Guyra Campana
2011 - (4/21) FM 93 Radio Dilbar bombed in Pakistan
2011 - (10/24) Radio Galkayo bombed in Somalia
2011 - (5/24) Nations Radio bombed in India
2011 - (10/23) Radio Galkayo bombed in Somalia
2010 - (8/12) Farc guerrillas bomb Caracol Radio, Columbia

2008 - (10/23) bombing of marine barracks TV & radio in Beirut, Lebanon
2006 - (10/17) Voice of Tigers radio station bombed in Sri Lanka
2005 - (5/6) Voice of Charity radio station bombed in Lebanon.
2002 - (8/28) The Voice of The People (VOP) bombed in Zimbabwe  [LINK]
2002 - (4/21) A bomb detonated near radio station DXMD in the Philippines
2001 - (8/29) Caracol Radio offices in Medellin, Columbia
2000 - (9/19) DXWO radio station bombed in the Philippines
2000 - 12/13) DXMS radio station bombed in the Philippines

1999 - (4/23)  NATO bombed Radio Television of Serbia HQ
1998 - (5/30) DXLL radio journalists bombed in the Philippines
1997 - (?/?) Nigerian jets bomb state-run radio in Sierra Leone
1994 - (4/18) RPA shelled the RTLM station in Rwanda
1993 - (2/26) Truck bombing of WTC takes multiple NYC radio towers

1988 - (8/10) Israeli AF bombs PLO radio station in Lebanon
1986 - (2/25) Radio Veritas bombed by loyalists of Gen. Fabian in Phillipines
1985 - (10/17) Voice of Hope christian radio station bombed in Israel
1983 - (10/25) Radio Free Grenada bombed by US Navy SEALS [LINK]
1981 - (2/22) Radio Free Europe bombed in Munich, Germany
1980 - (2/19) YSAX bombed in El Salvador by guerrillas

1977 - (8/16) FLNC bombs radio relay station in Corsica, France
1973 - (4/20) Radio Grenada fire bombed
1973 - (9/11) CIA-backed Chilean Military forces bomb radio stations
1972 - (12/13) Radio Hanoi bombed in Vietnam
1971 - (5/4) Radio towers of the KMAK bombed in Fresno
1971 - (?/?) Radio North Sea bombed by Norbert Jurgens [LINK]
1971 - (1/21) KPFT bombed by KKK (again)
1970 - (5/12) KPFT bombed by KKK [LINK]

1968 - (2/14) USAAF bombs Radio Hanoi  in Vietnam
1967 - (?/?) WKRL firebombed in Rockland, MD [LINK]
1965 - (5/13) Loyalistas bombed rebel-controlled Radio Santo Domingo
1962 - (8/9)  980 KFWB-AM bombed in Los Angeles
1961 - (7/5) La Paz radio station bombed
1961 - (12/18) - Armed Forces of India bomb Radio station in Goa
1960 - (?/?) WEDR bombed by the KKK (multiple events) [LINK]
1956 - (?/?) Cyprus Broadcasting Service bombed
1955 - (?/?) Agents of Roberto Farinacci bomb Vatican radio station
1955 - (12/8) Japanese military bombs Guam Navy Yard and radio station
1953 - (5/1) USAAF bombs radio station at Pyongyang, North Korea

1948 - (12/19) Radio Station at Yogyakarta, Java bombed by Netherlands AF
1945 - (11/25) British AF bombs Radio Republik Indonesia/ Surakarta
1945 - (8/6) JOFK and the city Hiroshima Japan bombed by US
1945 - (4/30) USAAF bombs bombs radio station at Truk Atoll
1945 - (4/19) USAAAF bombs radio station at Neu-Ulm, Bavaria
1944 - (10/10) USAAF bombs Pagan Island radio station
1944 - (10/4) USAAF bombs Iwo Jima radio station
1944 - (8/8) USAAF bombs radio station in Hallandia New Guinea
1944 - (7/7) USAAF bombs radio station on Woleai, E. Caroline Islands
1944 - (5/19) Bombing radio stations on islands of Maloelap, Jaluit & Wotje Atolls
1944 - (5/24) USAAF bombs radio station on Wotje Island
1944 - (2/28) USAAF bombs radio station in Pintha area Burma
1944 - (2/24) USAAF bombs radio installation on Mille Atoll
1944 - (2/24) USAAF bombs radio station(s) in Burma
1944 - (2/23) USAAF bombs radio station at ManPang, Burma
1944 - (2/18) USAAF bombs radio station at Waingmaw, Burma (again)
1944 - (2/15) USAAF bombs radio station at Waingmaw, Burma
1944 - (2/13) USAAF bombs radio "installations" Kamaing, Burma
1944 - (2/9) USAAF bombs radio station SW of Haiphong, Vietnam
1944 - (2/7) USAAF bombs radio station in Vinh, Vietnam
1944 - (1/18) USAAF bombs radio station on Jaluit Atoll
1943 - (11/11) USAAF bombs radio station at Yoyang, Burma
1943 - (8/31) USAAF bombs radio station at the Solomon Islands

1932 - (2/15?) Japanese forces bomb RCA's Mukden radio station

HOU

For all intents and purposes it's not just a state. It's a different planet supported by tax subsidies on the other 49 states. (Texas gets 30% of it's budget from the Federal government.) Fiscal trivia aside, It's an interesting piece of geography in terms of radio.Houston has had a ratings anomaly I'd noticed for years but never examined. I'd wondered for years how KSBJ, a non-commercial Christian Con. outlet could get a 4-share in a top 10 Metro. The reason, at least in part, is that they are a trimulcast. 89.3 KSBJ is also 89.5 KZBJ, 91.1 KYBJ, and six repeaters totally blanketing Houston, Beaumont, Galveston, Bryan, Freeport, and south to Victoria. Through sheer coverage they improve their odds of appearing in a sample in a geographically large metro. Additionally by occupying 9 different frequencies they reduce the incidence of competitors in the market.

On the FM band they have only two vague competitors: religious talker KAFR which is all satellite fed from AFR and KHCB 105.7 which is also all religious talk. KJIC is there as well but it's to the south of the metro and inspo. It is a very special situation to be the only Christian Con. outlet in a major metro.

My favorites in the market are KPFT, which I've written about before. This morning they've got The South Austin Jug Band in the studio live. KTSU which plays jazz 99% of the time was running an NPR program "Tell me More" when I checked. KACC is too weak to hear up by the airport. KTRU normally reliable is running some local football game. snore. 91.3 KPVU, however was rocking some Howling Wolf last night. But I could tell it was automated. It feels strange to stop there but there are no Public radio Stations on the AM band in all of Texas. It leaves over 2 million Texas without the option of Public Radio. Strange place this Texas...

The Bombing of KPFT

KPFT was founded by journalist Larry Lee, who convinced Pacifica Radio to establish an independent radio station in Houston, TX. His dream became a reality in March of 1970. In that same year, KPFT became the first, second and only radio station in the United States to have its transmitter bombed by terrorists. More here. 

The first sound to emanate from 90.1 FM in Houston was the song Here Comes The Sun from the then-brand-new Beatles album, Abbey Road. About two months later on May 12 members of the KKK blew up the KPFT transmitter, and the station was off the air for weeks.

Several months after completing repairs and returning to the air, the transmitter was bombed a second time! The October 6th bombing caused much more extensive damage. The cost of the damage was estimated to be about $35,000 —that's $222,000 in today's money adjusted for inflation. KPFT was off the air for more than three months. They resumed broadcasting on Wednesday, January 20th, 1971. A guard of armed police surrounded the station. They interviewed the mayor and the chief of police who both sided with the KKK, questioning their right to broadcast, and accusing them of airing obscene records.  Arlo Guthrie performed live in studio opining his set with Alice's Restaurant. This was the song that they had been playing when the October bombers struck.  Guthrie stepped up to the mic and said:

"So I was sitting in West Palm Beach yesterday, —this is in Florida— and I said "Wow, I'm gonna go over to Houston. What am I going to do there?" I mean maybe somebody will bomb me.. I didn't have any songs about bombs, or nothing like that, so I had to write one. I'd like you to sing it with me..."

A decade later, the KKK's Grand Wizard claimed that his greatest act "was engineering the bombing of a left-wing radio station," hinting none-too-subtly at KPFT. In 1977 bomber Jimmy Dale Hutto was ratted out by FBI informant Russell Rector. Russ has been in the witness protection program since the bombing because the KKK was pretty upset about his informing. Ultimately a whole quartet were indicted: Louis R. Beam Jr., a 24 year old salesman; Peter Lout Jr., a 26 year-old construction worker; Jimmy Dale Hutto a 24 year old chemical worker, and Paul William Moratto a 24 year old electrician. Hutto for his part was arrested in February by the FBI as he was driving toward California with Moratto. His intention was to dynamite more Pacifica radio stations.

Despite the actions of these right-wing terrorists, The Pacifica Network grew to five stations: KPFA in Berkeley, KPFK in Los Angeles, WBAI in New York, WPFW in Washington, and KPFT in Houston. Until 1983 it also included KRAB in Seattle. More here.

Oh I've been a Traveling Man

I thought I'd stop my historical tirade of trivia for a moment and tell you about some of the amazing radio I've heard in the last couple weeks. I've been to Seattle, Houston, Miami and a lot in-between. I am in a Miami hotel right now, its about 105 degrees and everybody is taking a siesta waiting for the sun to go down.
WTIP 90.7 FM Grand Marais, MN  - Link.

WHSA 89.9 Brule, WI ...I heard this great Jazz show, whose Dj had that classic ashtray voice that so belongs to Jazz radio. - Link.

WVUM 90.5 Miami, FL ...In the sweltering Miami heat after work I did nothing but hide in my hotel room and crank the radio and the AC. I heard so much music that I will be buying next week. Great goddamn station. - Link

CKUA 97.3 Medicine hat Alberta CANADA ...an amazing blues show "The Long Weekend". Just amazing. I hit 97.3 and heard Tampa Sed singing Juicy Lemon Blues. You just can't beat that. I was just awed. They focus on music between 1918 and 1939. - Link.


Here is the playlist: The Long Weekend: Program #39:

1. Tampa Red: "Through Train Blues" (1928)
2. Ma Rainey: "Blame It On the Blues" (1928)
3. Tampa Red and Georgia Tom: "It's Tight Like That" (1928)
4. Tampa Red's Hokum Jug Band: "Come On Mama, Do That Dance" (1929)
5. Tampa Red: "Juicy Lemon Blues" (1929)
6. Tampa Red: "You Got To Reap What You Sow" (1929)
7. Tampa Red & Georgia Tom: "New Stranger Blues" (1931)
8. Tampa Red: "Bumble Bee Blues" (1931)
9. Tampa Red: "I'll Kill Your Soul" (1934)
10. Tampa Red: "Sugar Mama" (1935)
11. Tampa Red: "Denver Blues" (1934)
12. Tampa Red and the Chicago Five: "Maybe It's Someone Else You Love" (1936)
13. Tampa Red and the Chicago Five: "Rock It In Rhythm" (1938)
14. Tampa Red: "Travel On" (1937)15. Tampa Red: "Anna Lou Blues" (1940

In Houston I kept getting lost and doing laps of Route 610. I listened to a lot of radio: KJIC a quintessential Gospel station, KSBJ a real taste-maker for christian CHR, KPFT a strong and intelligent left-leaning talker, KTSU's great late night jazz programs and KTRU!!! holy Taquitos that station rules. I heard hours and hours of programming that just lined out song after song like a brilliant mix tape. Then I ate Taquitos from Whataburger.


In flight I was able to catch KZZY in North Dakota.  They have a whole set of station IDs and breakers totally milking their slickly-named city of license: DEVILS LAKE! ...Now that is a city for a rock station. I heard so many other cool snippets but I couldn't readily identify their calls. If I figure out more, I will let you know as always.