Impromptu, profoundly uncomfortable, awkward
and totally unpredictable hilarious situations live on-air .

Anyone who worked in radio or TV stations prior to the computer and satellite era,  which began in the early '80s,  will remember how the news they delivered on the air reached them.  The main source was by teleprinters connected to telephones lines being fed by a news gathering companies including United Press which later became United Press International (UPI).
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Visitors since 11-10-2005
In 1958 the first  European “pirate” broadcaster to begin  broadcasting from international waters was Radio Mercur. Established by a group of Danish businessmen the station transmitted  from a small ship anchored off Copenhagen, Denmark.  Radio Mercur's success  led to other groups starting similar ventures  including Radio Nord in 1960 anchored off Stockholm, Sweden.  Radio Veronica in 1960 began broadcasting in Dutch from an old light ship anchored off the Dutch coast and Radio Caroline off the Essex, England coast. 
Memorabilia from the Bill Bates years  ( 1933 - 1969 ) at KTRB Modesto.  Teletype machines, QSL Cards, "ham radio"  and more.
This photo of the original studios of KTRB Modesto, and the mobile business trailer of KMPH on Norwegian Ave. in Modesto, CA show both businesses are vacant and the property has been up for sale for over a year.  This photo was taken on Oct. 16, 2010. 
Paul Harvey Aurandt,  better known as Paul Harvey died February 28, 2009 at the age of 90.
In the decades since her demise, the RMS Titanic has inspired countless books and several notable films while continuing to make headlines. The sinking of the Titanic Influenced Wireless Radio.
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Historic News Clippings
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Radio Bloopers
"Rockin' Ron" KFIV DJ 1975-1977
Antique Transmitter Rescued
Titanic influences wireless radio 
FUNNY SIGNS
Teletype machines delivered the news
  Guestbooks
"Mr. Microphone Man"
Good Morning Vietnam Era Musical Montage
KTRB Property History
Radio Caroline & The British  "Pirates"
Bob DeLeon Receives Lifetime Achievement Award
Computers and satellites propel broadcasting
Paul Harvey Dies
KO93 (KOSO) PATTERSON
KTRB Modesto Memorabilia
Turntable Inventor Dies
Modern technology has catapulted the way broadcast stations deliver their programs.   Anyone who worked in radio or TV stations prior to the computer and satellite era,  which began in the early '80s,  will remember how the news they delivered on-the-air reached them.   In the "old days" the news,  gathered by reporters around the world, was fed to radio stations around the country primarily by telephone data and voice lines  (teletype machines and voice networks.).  Many stations were affiliated with a major network like NBC, CBS, ABC, & Mutual, to name a few, which was delivered by a newsreaders over network lines.    Additionally,  stations received news via teletype networks including United Press and Associated Press. (See "News delivered by teletype systems")  and local news copy which was prepared and delivered from local their stations.  Today,  satellites have become the transport method and computers the source greatly assisting  the newsreaders delivering the news on-the-air.
Nevada Atomic Blast Test Rattles Modesto as reported by United Press on June 4, 1953. Cal Purviance read the news report on KTRB at 430 AM on the morning of June 4, 1953.  The Nevada Test Site was the primary testing location of American nuclear devices; 126 tests were conducted elsewhere (many at the Pacific Proving Grounds in the Marshall Islands). On July 17, 1962 the last atmospheric test detonation occurred at the Nevada Test Site. Underground testing continued until September 23, 1992.
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Nevada Atomic Blast Test Rattles Modesto
 
Newman FM
Hammond  U. S. Army Hospital
hidden hit counter
hit counter dreamweaver
The Modesto Area Music Association super MAMA lifetime achievement award was presented to former Modesto DJ, musician and Modesto Radio Museum board member Bob DeLeon.  The presentation was made at ceremonies held at the DoubleTree hotel ballroom on October 13, 2011. The award, presented by Chris Murphy, co-founder of the awards in 1999 with Chris Ricci, said DeLeon could have been one of the characters in the American Graffiti film created by Modesto native George Lucas in 1962. 
In 1942 KTRB moved from its original home on McHenry avenue to a new site on Norwegian avenue in Modesto.  The station at the time purchased  a surplus 1000 watt AM transmitter from the McClatchy Corp. in Sacramento as a backup for their main transmitter.  This story,  by our museum President John Chappell,  concerns the removal of the transmitter from the building on Norwegian.  The building has been empty for years has been burglarized several times.  The museum group hopes to display the transmitter someday if we are ever successful in obtaining a building.)

MacKenzie Repeater tape cartridge machine.  In the early 50's the Mackenzie Repeater tape cartridge machine brought to the broadcasting industry the first machine designed for continuous endless tape loop operation.  The magazines (cartridges) were made of metal with an exposed loop of tape.
Mackenzie Repeater Cartridge Machine
Radio Stations Modesto Area Index

Stories of audience check for MJC radio survey – Call letters assigned to KB0X– Bates radio shop advertisement – MJB coffee Ad– Princess Theater – Emergency Radio Conelrad – Ralph Brown files application for Modesto TV station – KTUR  plans to build studio and towers on Quincy Avenue– Stanislaus State radio station test the airwaves – KPIX San Francisco becomes first northern California TV station– KBEE–FM to broadcast Modesto Reds baseball games and much more.
Good Morning Vietnam Era musical montage.

1.  Build me up Buttercup - Foundations  
2.  Under the boardwalk- Drifters 
3.  Lollipop- Chordettes
4.  Dancin' in the streets- Martha & Vandellas 
5.  California Sun- The Rivieras
6.  Up on the roof - The Drifers
7.  A beautiful morning - The Rascals 
8.  59th Street Song- Harpers Bizarre
9.  Do Wah Diddy Diddy - Manfred Mann
10 Grease Megamix -Travolta & Newton-John
11. I get excited - Pointer Sisters
12. Long cool woman in a black dress- Hollies

Russ Friend,  inventor of the Russco Turntables, passed away Dec. 7th, 2011 at his Clovis, CA. home. He was 91.  Russ was a broadcast legend, providing numerous amounts of quality equipment, including the famous Russco turntables to the broadcasting industry.  (Information and photo courtesy of longtime friend Glen Pitts of Stockton, CA.)   (More)
Do you want to know more about microphones?  Perhaps you have a question?  There's a good possibility that Gary Avey, "The Microphone Man",  will have the answer.  Click here for his index page.
(1)  Museum guestbook 
(2) Ogden's guestbook 
Guestbooks – After you had a chance to look around our website, we would appreciate you taking a few minutes to sign our guestbook(s) and leave us your comments. Thank you !
On June 18, 1933  KTRB AM,  740 KCs, became the first commercial broadcast station on the air in Modesto and Stanislaus County. The station later change frequencies to 860 KCs. Twenty-one additional stations joined them by 2006 . The last, KMPH, came on the air July 10, 2006.  Here is the rundown.