Modesto Radio Museum

Submitted by
Name: Charlotte Schell
From: Modesto, California
E-mail: tinaandcharlotte@att.net

Comments:
Thank you for posting pictures and songs from the Jack Stewart Dance Band. My dad played sax in this band.

Admin reply: Thank You for your comments. Many good times were enjoyed dancing to the band. Editor

Added: May 4, 2012

Submitted by
Name: Christina Schell
From: Modesto, CA.
E-mail: ctschell74@yahoo.com

Comments:
I just happened upon this site and very glad I did! My Dad, * * * Schell, played sax in the Jack Stewart Band in the 50's. I got to hear two songs one I remember very well "I want to be happy." Thank you so much for posting this if you have anything else with my Dad please let me know. I just liked you on FaceBook and hope I can bring some friends of mine on it too :D :)

Admin reply: Thank You for your comments. Many good times were enjoyed dancing to the band. Editor

Added: May 4, 2012

Submitted by
Name: Rick Pearce
From: Stockton
E-mail: rev1931@yahoo.com

Comments:
Just ran into this site and was shocked to see the video of my Grandfather Barthol Pearce speaking as the KTRB news commentator back in the 50s. Loved to here his voice again.
Rick Pearce

Added: April 4, 2012

Submitted by
Name: Bill Croghan
From: now Las Vegas, NV
E-mail: billcroghan@earthlink.net

Comments:
great site. I was Cheif engineer for KCEY/KMIX back in 78-80 under Dennis Behan's ownership. Great times. Went from there to Tucson under Behan, and ended up in Las Vegas with Lotus Broadcasting 13 years ago. I have some pictures of the KCEY/KMIX staff I'll try to scan and send to you whcn I can. Love to hear from some of the old staff.

Admin reply: Thanks for signing our guestbook Bill. We would very much like to have copies of any photographs newspaper articles etc. or if you're feel like writing a story or two about your days at KCEY/KMIX, we would love to have them. Bob, webmaster

Added: January 10, 2012

Submitted by
Name: Jon Domke
From: Modesto
E-mail: jdomke1@yahoo.com

Comments:
I would like to extend my condolences to the family of Cal Purviance. I'm a member of the recently reformed Civil Air Patrol squadron in Modesto and just found out about his death today. Our squadron has a small selection of historical pictures and a few with Cal in them. I would love to have more and learn more about what he did while serving. Thank you.

Added: November 16, 2011

Submitted by
Name: Joni Green
From: Modesto
E-mail: jgreen@creative-alternatives.org

Comments:
I have enjoyed looking over this information. My 15 years in radio were an incredible experience. Those were the days when creativity was welcomed and cookie cutter sound and big business was kept at a distance....my how times have changed. People still remember and listeners still miss those days. Well, this is short but thank you for the look into the museum.

Joni

Added: October 31, 2011

Submitted by
Name: Donna Mc Kinnon

Comments:
My earliest memories of KTRB are of listening to Bill Bates every morning getting ready for school - I was born in Dec. of 1934 so I started school around 1940ish - my school, Ransom Elementary School was out on the west side of Modesto and was a 1-8 grade school.

One morning Mrs. Ewing the first and second grade teacher had the first grade lined up at the front of the room in our little chairs and we were all asked to sing a song. Now one item of interest is that Ransom School was made up, primarily, of Old German Baptist Brethern Church members and their families. These people were commonly called (by themselves as well as others) Dunkards because of their practice of "dunking" new members in the river for baptism. These people did not dance, play cards or have radios. They used to gather at each other's houses and sing on Wednesday evenings., So, back to my tale of singing. Each child was asked to stand and sing a short song. There were a variety of religious and old semi religious songs and when it was my turn to sing I stood up and proudly sang a ditty I heard on KTRB every morning that went, "Horsie keep your tail up, horsie keep your tail up, keep the sun out of my eyes. Horsie keep your tail up never mind about the flies." I wonder if that song exists anywhere today? Mrs. Ewing got very cross with me and I never did figure out why until I was older and more "worldly"

When I was somewhat older. possibly closer to ten I'm guessing, my cousin lived not far from KTRB on Granger Avenue. At that time there was a program on Saturday mornings run, I believe, by Mrs. Carol Glass and was called "the Children's Hour". My cousin, Betty Lou Havener was two years older than me and often sang and played the piano and possibly the Hawaiian steele guitar. Betty Lou could sing. I couldn't carry a tune in a bucket, but Mrs. Glass was very fair - you showed up, you performed. I don't remember how many times I sang by myself and with my cousin, but it was a considerable treat for me and great for my self confidence.

In my later years around 14-15 , there was an older guy (23ish) in my neighborhood who used to let me drive his car all over the countryside and would spirit me out of Job's Daughters meetings and take me out to visit his many friends at KTRB - one I recall was Andy Anderson. This practice continued mixed in with a bit of kissing until my mother learned of it and found he had spent some time in the pokey for spiriting another under 16 girl across the state border on a bus for "immoral purposes".

I think those are the only memories of KTRB other than listening to it until I was in high school and we used to use Norwegian Avenue for a drag strip and started at about KTRB and ran almost to McHenry.

Added: October 19, 2011

Submitted by
Name: Bob Neutzling
From: Hughson
E-mail: bneutz1@sbcglobal.net

Comments:
I was very saddened to hear about the passing of Mel Friedman's wife, Charline. I had the pleasure of knowing her and seeing her at many social functions over the years, going back to the early 1970's. She was always most gracious and the epitome of class. And I have had the pleasure of knowing and working with Mel at both KFIV and KCEY/KMIX. Everyone in Modesto area radio knows that Mel has always been the ultimate professional, dating back long before I met him to the early days of KTRB. My thoughts and prayers go out to Mel during this difficult time.

Bob Neutzling

Added: September 20, 2011

Submitted by
Name: Denis Agenet
From: France

Comments:
Subject: GREAT WEBSITE !!!

Hi there,

Just few words from France to say how much I do appreciate your woderfull website! I'm musician in France and have few cool old mics in my studio (RCA 77DX, 74B, Sony C38, 403 senn, D25AKG...) anyway your website makes me dreaming a little bit more ;-)

All the best, cheers !!
Denis

Added: February 21, 2011

Submitted by
Name: Lee Roddy
From: Penn Valley, CA
E-mail: leeroddy1@gmail.com

Comments:
Thanks for letting me know the sad news of Cal Purviance's death. I think Cal, Cecil Lynch and I were about the only staff survivors from those golden years. My wife Cicely did the weekly Tots and Teens program for eight years, but wasn't on staff. Cecil who already in his 90s when Cal video interviewed Cicely and me for the KTRB Museum a few years ago.

I had only been at KTRB about four years when Cal began working there. Cicely and I got to know him quite well before I left after eight years to manage my first radio station. About three years ago, Cal and his wife visited us here in Nevada County.

Cal was one of those rare people who never ruffled people's feathers; not even the prickly kind who easily got upset. In fact, I don't remember anyone ever having a beef with him. He was one of those special people of who it can truly be said, "His corner of the world is better because of his life." It is an honor to have known him.

Lee

Added: January 29, 2011