Modesto Radio Museum

Submitted by
Name: Ivanna Williams
From: Atwater, CA

Comments:
When I was a kid, my Mama always had our kitchen radio tuned to KTRB and, during my high school years, she took turns driving some of us to high school. We would hear some of the news broadcast before leaving and our cue to head out was when he "Beer Barrel Polka" came on.

In the evenings, when we would be waiting for my Dad to come home from work, we would have the living room radio tuned in to the afternoon Bill Bates news hour. When he would play Bing Crosby's rendition of "When My Blue Moon Turns to Gold Again" that was the cue for us to put the cornbread in to bake (we always had hot, homemade bread at our meals).

I remember listening to Bill Bates call the various towns where weather information was relayed to him and he would always make me wish I could travel to those various places to see them for myself. One place he used to talk about was the "Moaning Caves".

I always wanted to see those but somehow never did. By the way, my maiden name was Bates. Of course, we didn't claim any relation to Bill but, coincidentally, my Mom was born 1900 as was Bill. I don't think she ever knew that Bill was the same age as she was. Maybe that was why she liked his programming so well, and his choice of music.

Best wishes on the museum project.

Ivanna Williams
KA6TZW

Admin reply: Thank You Ivanna for your comments.

Added: November 10, 2007

Submitted by
Name: Delbert Haglund
From: Ft. Smith, Ark.
E-mail: dpftsmith@msn.com

Comments:
I grew up in the Turlock area and remember listening to Chester Smith on KTRB and later on his own station in Ceres. Glad to hear he is still going strong. Thanks for the sound tracks of his music and his voice. Brought back some nice memories. Good luck on the museum project. His wife Ann sure has a wonderful voice.

Del

Admin reply: Thanks for the nice comments Del. Visit us ofter as we are adding material frequently.

Added: November 4, 2007

Submitted by
Name: Lois Moran
From: Turlock, CA
E-mail: loisom@peoplelpc.com

Comments:
Hi Bob, just letting you know I have just visited the museum for the first time in several months. My what a lot of new photos and other materials you have collected. Lots of it from people I have never heard of before.36647

Admin reply: Hi Lois, Thanks to contributors like you, we continue to build our website. Thanks for the nice comments. By the way, my last emails to you over the past several months have all be unanswered. Did you receive them? Bob

Added: October 26, 2007

Submitted by
Name: Randy Deaver
From: Sanger, CA
E-mail: randy@randydeaver.com

Comments:
My hat's off to Smokey Silver and his inclusion ito this Hall of Fame. I had the honor of meeting Smokey some time back. Smokey's is certainly deserving of such an honor. He is a wealth of knowlege in Country Music and has contributed much to it's history. Also, many thanks to Smokey for giving a few spins to my music.
Randy Deaver

Admin reply: Hi Randy, Thank you for your comments which we have forwarded onto to Smokey.

Added: October 14, 2007

Submitted by
Name: Tex Whitson
From: Las Vegas Nevada
E-mail: tex6@cox.net

Comments:
My friend , the great one , Smokey Silver told me about this site. I am very appreciative. Chester Smith and Smokey have contributed so much to the Radio scene . Smokey has provided us with historical information on Country music for years. His vast knowledge and unequaled collection of Records , tapes and CD's have settled many a discussion concerning the what , when and where of music. Congratulations on an outstanding contribution to the Music world.

Admin reply: Thank You Tex for your kind remarks. Smokey and Phyllis have been very helpful to us. Hope you visit often.

Added: October 10, 2007

Submitted by
Name: Lee Mackenzie
From: Modesto
E-mail: mlmackenziejr@yahoo.com

Comments:
Great website! Wonderful examples of Modesto area radio history. Bob Pinheiro has done a terrific job w/ this tribute to local broadcasting.
I was first on-air at KFIV in the mid-60s and subsequently worked as announcer/operator at many (probably MOST)Modesto area stations at one time or another. Had the pleasure of working with and for some of the legendary names chronicled on this site including Cal Purviance, Chester Smith and Smokey Silver. Speaking of major names on this site, he may not remember me but I attended high school w/ Harry Pappas. I was one year ahead of Harry at Modesto High. He visited my first amateur radio station (WA6EHQ) a few times and later introduced me to some of the deejay staff at KFIV. I recall some inspiring conversations w/ Harry talking about his ambitions and plans to join his two older brothers in the radio biz. And of course Harry has achieved immense success in radio/tv broadcasting:) Congratulations Harry. Keep up the good work Bob. May the MRM continue to flourish!

M. Lee Mackenzie W6MLM (ex-WS6Q,WA6SHV,WA6EHQ) Modesto

Admin reply: Hi Lee, Great to hear from you and thank you for your comments.

Added: August 15, 2007

Submitted by
Name: Tom Cardinal
From: Fort Walton Beach, FL
E-mail: tomc@cox.net

Comments:
I worked as a part timer at KTRB for a few months in the latter half of 1984 before the station went 50KW while Clyde Michael was the Chief Engineer and Pete Pappas was the owner. It's nice to see a site dedicated to KTRB and Modesto radio.

Admin reply: Hi Tom; Thank you for your comments and viewing our website. Visit often as we are constantly adding new material.

Added: August 2, 2007

Submitted by
Name: Gary Avey
From: Chico, Ca
E-mail: gavey@deercreekbroadcasting.com

Comments:
Hi, Great site!!! I worked at KFIV in 1961. Before that at KYOS in Merced...but before that I used to hang around KTRB before going to school at the Don Martin radio school in Hollywood. I spent the rest of my career at KHSL-AM and TV in Chico. I retired and now am back at work as production director for Deer Creek in Chico...we have a cluster of 4 FMs and 2 AMs.
I'd like to say hi to Mel Freedman...he may remember me...he followed my shift on the air at KFIV as "Alfred E. Newman"!! Look forward to visiting the museum when it gets up and running.

Admin reply: Hello Gary, Thank you for signing our guestbook. We will be in touch with you via direct email.

Added: June 8, 2007

Submitted by
Name: Randy Halsey
From: Sanger.ca.
E-mail: hollywood2951@comcast.net

Comments:
After viewing the guestbook I have to comment about my memories of KTRB and the late Mr.William
H Bates.I knew Bill from a personal level. My mother was married to Bill at the time of his death.I remember my mother recieving the news from Bill's daughter that Bill had passed away in
the early morning hours on April. 3 1969. He was
visiting his daughter at her home in San Jose.ca.
Bill loved the Sierra Nevada Mountains.He owned two cabins,one at Dardanell's and Bumblebee.My
mother has many item's that can be donated to the
museum.I've already asked her and she said that she would give the many items she has to the museum. Please contact me to make arrangements
thank you. Randy.

Admin reply: Hi Randy, Thank you for signing the guestbook. We will be contacting you directly via your email.

Added: June 8, 2007

Submitted by
Name: Bridget Stepp
From: Wildomar, CA
E-mail: BRIDGETSTEPP@MSN.COM

Comments:
Hello everybody...I'm Glenn Stepp's oldest grandchild. I was fortunate enough to have my name & birth announced over the air by Chester Smith way back on February 9th, 1971.

I came across your website awhile back & I have been working with Bob Pinheiro to update some of the information about my Grandpa Glenn. It's sad to think that he has been gone 10 years already as of April 30th. I greatly appreciate your efforts to keep the memory alive of these founding artists of country music. I've heard some pretty good stories about my Grandpa Glenn, Chester Smith, Mel Haggard, & Del Reeves. I'd love to heard more from anyone that is reading this.

I just wanted to thank you again & let you know that I'm really looking forward to the opening of the museum. I was raised in Riverbank but for the past nearly 3 years I've been living in Southern California. I make a trip up to the Central Valley a few times a year & can't wait to see the museum. Thanks you so much for keeping my Grandpa's memory alive along with all the other local music talents.

Take care;
Bridget Stepp

Added: May 28, 2007