| Construction |
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KRCO Building Shell 1949 - Enlarge
KRCO-AM studio facility under construction in 1949. |
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KRCO Building Construction - Enlarge
KRCO-AM's building nearing completion in
late 1949. |
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KRCO Tower Sections Ground - Enlarge
The steel for the tower being prepared for erection
by Fisher Tower Company. The studio facility is
under construction just east of where the tower
will stand. |
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KRCO Tower Pier Ground Radials - Enlarge
The KRCO-AM tower concrete pier is hidden beneath
forms, while newly buried ground radials for the
antenna are visible to the north and west. |
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KRCO Tower Lift Section - Enlarge
A section of steel is lifted into place as the
305 foot KRCO-AM tower is constructed. |
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KRCO Tower Climbers C-U - Enlarge
Two tower climbers can be seen fastening tower
sections together as KRCO-AM's 305 foot transmission
antenna is erected in late 1949. |
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KRCO Aerial Photo Circa 1955 - Enlarge
KRCO-AM studio on the Madras Highway (lower left,
divided highway). 305 foot tall transmission tower
is at right. A boardwalk for the transmission line
from the studio building to the tower is visible,
as well. This view is from the north, looking southwest
toward Prineville. (Photo by Giles' Photography). |
Owners |
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KRCO Bob Methany - Enlarge
C.R. "Bob" Matheny was KRCO's
co-founder and General Manager for 29 years (photo
by Dave Duncan).
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KRCO Owner John Kendell - Enlarge
John Kendell owned and operated KRCO-AM from 1978
to 1995. |
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KRCO Owner Jonathan Mann - Enlarge
Jonathan Mann owned KRCO-AM from 1995 to 2000. |
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Keith Shipman, President & CEO of Horizon Broadcasting Group, owner of KRCO-AM from 2000-present. |
On the Air! |
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KRCO Staff Circa 1960 - Enlarge
The KRCO-AM staff, circa 1960, included (L-R) Barry
"Buck" Lambert, Dick Burger, Rita Matheny,
Bob Matheny, Alveta Gustavson and Troy Fowler. |
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KRCO Troy Fowler - Enlarge
Troy Fowler hosted the KRCO country music program
each weekday morning. He's seen here at the
audio console. To his right are a transcription
turntables. The microphone is an RCA 77DX. (Photo
by Dave Duncan Photography). |
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KRCO Buck Lambert - Enlarge
KRCO's earliest newsman was Barry "Buck"
Lambert. He is seen here in the auxiliary studio.
Note the view of master control through the window,
where Troy Fowler is at work. |
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KRCO Dick Burger - Enlarge
Dick Burger was KRCO's earliest sports director
and sold commercials for the station, as well. |
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KRCO Tony Annicelli - Enlarge
Toni Annicelli hosted "Sunset Serenade"
on KRCO-AM in the 1950's. |
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KRCO Lookout Lady Photo - Enlarge
"The Lookout Lady", Jackie McRae, broadcast
her commentary from her home in Prineville. She
was the wife of former Prineville Mayer Dick McRae. |
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KRCO Alveta Gustavson - Enlarge
Alveta Gustavson was the receptionist and bookkeeper
at KRCO in the 1950's. |
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KRCO Rita Matheny - Enlarge
Rita Matheny was the station's first traffic
director (creating daily program logs). |
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KRCO Paulina Rodeo Coverage - Enlarge
KRCO Program Director Mike Miksche broadcasting
from the Paulina Rodeo. (Photo by Redmond Photo
Finishers). |
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KRCO Rodeo Coverage - Enlarge
KRCO Program Director Mike Miksche observes at
an event, while Bob Matheny (seated in grandstand
with audio console and reel to reel tape recorder)
engineers the broadcast. (Photo by Livingston Photo
Lab). |
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KRCO On Location - Enlarge
Mike Miksche of KRCO broadcasts an event from Prineville. |
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KRCO Pioneer Memorial Hospital - Enlarge
Jimmy Whetmore's singers peform at the Pioneer
Memorial Hospital Benefit, presented by KRCO (Photo
by Giles' Photographers). |
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KRCO Kids Host - Enlarge
KRCO's kids program host greets youngsters
with their favorite 45 records. |
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KRCO Commode - Enlarge
He really wasn't on the air, and the news
wasn't rolling off the teletype! Mike Miksche
shows off the KRCO-AM restroom – note the
platform, which is still present to this day! (Photo
by Redmond Photo Finishers). |
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KRCO Sock Hop - Enlarge
KRCO air personalities were on hand for school
dances in the 1960's. |
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KRCO Amphib Car 1964 - Enlarge
Listeners still talk about the KRCO station vehicle
of 1964. This amphibious vehicle worked equally
well on land, or sea (or reservoir)! |
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KRCO 1978 Program Lineup - Enlarge
The 1978 KRCO program lineup. Note that the station
signed off at sunset, per FCC rules. KRCO didn't
begin operating at night until 1981. This advertisement
appeared in the Madras Pioneer. |
Advertisements/Sales/Promotions |
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KRCO Open House Sign On Ad - Enlarge
KRCO signed on January 31, 1950 – two days
after their promotional campaign began. FCC authorization
did not arrive until January 30, 1950. |
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KRCO 10th Anniversary Ad - Enlarge
KRCO celebrated its 10th anniversary in 1960 with
an open house. Note that many of the station's
original employees were still on staff. |
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KRCO CCHS Football Ad 1950s - Enlarge
KRCO carried Crook County High School football
games on a tape delay (to Saturday morning) when
the station went on the air in 1950. |
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KRCO PDX Beavers Baseball Ad - Enlarge
KRCO carried Pacific Coast League baseball games
featuring the Portland Beavers in the 1950's. |
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KRCO Dale Sundstrom Ad - Enlarge
KRCO ran a series of promotional advertisements
to introduce their air personalities and station
personnel. This ad features Dale Sundstrom.
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KRCO Maude Bailey Ad – 1951 - Enlarge
KRCO ran a series of promotional advertisements
to introduce their air personalities and station
personnel. This ad features Maude Bailey.
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KRCO Merle Nance Ad – 1951 - Enlarge
KRCO ran a series of promotional advertisements
to introduce their air personalities and station
personnel. This ad features Merle Nance.
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KRCO Mike Miksche Ad – 1951 - Enlarge
KRCO ran a series of promotional advertisements
to introduce their air personalities and station
personnel. This ad features program director Mike
Miksche.
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KRCO Lookout Lady CO Ad - Enlarge
Jackie McRae was KRCO's original "Lookout
Lady." She broadcast her commentaries from
her home in Prineville, which consisted of homemaking
hints, recipes, etc. |
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KRCO Sales Coverage Map - Enlarge
One of KRCO's earliest coverage maps –
used for sales and advertising purposes. The 1,000
watt signal covered all of Central Oregon. |
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KRCO Ag News Flyer - Enlarge
KRCO's owner John Kendell was honored by
the Agriculture Industry for KRCO's commitment
to covering Farm News. |
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KRCO Bumper Sticker Campaign - Enlarge
Remember these? KRCO 69 bumper stickers were seen
throughout Central Oregon in the 70's and
80's. |
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KRCO Blackout Bingo Ad - Enlarge
KRCO's popular Blackout Bingo game paid cash
prizes to listeners in the early 1990's. Pictured
are Bobby Smith (left) and Bryan Williams. |
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| Photo Credits: Dave Duncan
Photography, Livingston Photo Lab, Giles' Photographers
for Central Oregon, Redmond Photo Finishes. Every
effort has been made to provide proper credit to those
whose work was contributed to KRCO-AM throughout its
history and is used on this site. Please contact us
if you have information regarding these photographs.
Newspaper advertisements originally appeared in the
Central Oregonian and/or the Madras Pioneer. |
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