Rock Radio Scrapbook

AIRCHECK OF THE WEEK
For week of February 23, 2014
Edition #772

Talent: KEN KNOX
Station: KLIF Dallas
Date: January 4, 1961
Time: 18:08

One of the first Top 40 stations in the U.S., KLIF was also one of the most popular. The brainchild of radio pioneer Gordon McLendon, KLIF dominated the Dallas-Fort Worth radio market in the '50s, '60s and early '70s with hit music, personality jocks, a top-notch news department and aggressive promotion. Said one broadcast executive of KLIF, "it was a mountain, a station people talked around the world ... there was a sense something was happening there all the time."

One of the KLIF jocks during this golden era was Ken Knox. He did morning drive from 1958 to 1960, followed by a short stint in late mornings before departing in 1961. In addition to his on-air duties, Knox also appeared in three movies filmed in Texas: The Giant Gila Monster (1959), My Dog, Buddy (1960) and Beyond the Time Barrier (1960). Knox, who also jocked in Dallas at KILN, KBOX, KTLC-KMEZ and KCNC, died in 1988 at the age of 73.

Included on this aircheck is a clip from Jimmie Fidler, the acerbic Hollywood gossip columnist. At its peak in 1950, Fidler`s radio show appeared on 486 radio stations and was heard by an estimated 40 million. You`ll also hear KLIF JetStream News with Jack Terry.

Enjoy Ken Knox on KLIF here.

(The Bill Dulmage Collection)

More 1961 airchecks here!