Guide to the Stanley M. Kelton radio collection PA Mss 120
Finding aid prepared by Wyatt Young and Zachary Liebhaber, 2016; revised by Zachary Liebhaber, 2018.
UC Santa Barbara Library, Department of Special Research Collections
University of California, Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara 93106-9010
special@library.ucsb.edu
2016 May 20; 2018
Title: Stanley M. Kelton radio collection
Identifier/Call Number: PA Mss 120
Language of Material:
English.
Contributing Institution:
UC Santa Barbara Library, Department of Special Research Collections
Physical Description:
34.93 Linear Feet
(11 document boxes, 8 half-size document boxes, 1 carton, 1 flat box, 13 flat oversize boxes, 1 record disc)
Creator:
Kelton, Stanley M., 1952-2015
Creator:
Weisenberger, Newcomb
Date (inclusive): 1922-2003
Abstract: Materials generated in the course of operations of the Southern California AM radio stations KFI 640kHz (1938-1950) and KFON
1280kHz (1924-1941) -- later to become KFOX Long Beach (1941-1977) -- amassed by attorney and educator Stanley M. Kelton (1952-2015).
Physical Location: Special Research Collections, UC Santa Barbara Library
Access Restrictions
The collection is open for research.
Use Restrictions
Copyright has not been assigned to the Department of Special Research Collections, UCSB. All requests for permission to publish
or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Head of Special Research Collections. Permission for publication
is given on behalf of the Department of Special Research Collections as the owner of the physical items and is not intended
to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which also must be obtained.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of Item], Stanley M. Kelton radio collection, PA Mss 120. Department of Special Research Collections, UC Santa
Barbara Library, University of California, Santa Barbara.
Acquisition Information
Gift of Mary Kelton Lopes, 2016.
Historical Note
In 1922, Earle C. Anthony was the founder and owner of what eventually became KFI, a radio station he controlled until his
death in 1961. Significant materials relating to Anthony are included in the Stanley M. Kelton radio collection. Aside from
being the founder of KFI, Anthony was also a composer, philanthropist, and Southern California entrepreneur who had ties and
affiliations to the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Packard Automobile Corporation. Anthony was also the founder of the Los Angeles
Auto Show, and was responsible for introducing neon signs to California. He personally built the first automobile in Los Angeles,
which is now housed in the Peterson Automotive Museum. KFI engineer and stalwart Newcomb B. Weisenberger began working for
Anthony in 1947. He is credited with being the studio engineer for the sign-on broadcast of the first regularly scheduled
program on KFI-FM (105.9), and for shooting camera during the early days of KFI-TV (Channel 9). After the advent of the internet,
he wrote prolifically about his radio career, focusing on his many years at KFI. Included in this collection are his personal
voice recordings to his parents in 1938, as well as the training manuals, handbooks, and radio and television operating instructions
(many of which he authored).
KFON first broadcast from the Jergins Trust Building in Long Beach in 1924 on 1290 kHz. It moved to 1240 kHz in 1927. The
1928 frequency reallocation resulted in a move to 1250 kHz. It moved to its current 1280 kHz frequency as a result of the
NARBA agreement in 1941.
KFON broadcasted from Long Beach beginning in 1924, serving the Los Angeles area. In 1941 KFON changed its call letters to
KFOX, intending to be acquired by 20th Century Fox, until the deal evaporated. Hal Nichols operated the station until his
death in 1952. As KFOX, it was one of the first stations in the Los Angeles area to feature country music programming. Sonderling
Broadcasting later bought the station from the Nichols estate and adopted a full-time country format. The station moved from
its long-time facilities at 220 East Anaheim to the International Tower during this period, and in 1974 was featured in the
film
Gone in 60 Seconds. In 1977 the station was then sold to Family Stations Inc., and became KFRN, offering Christian programming.
Scope and Content
The Stanley M. Kelton Radio Collection consists of mixed materials pertaining to Southern California AM radio stations KFI
640kHz (1938-1950) and KFON 1280kHz (1924-1941), which later became KFOX Long Beach (1941-1977).
Materials include correspondence with the FCC, local advertisers, and various governmental agencies and organizations. Also
featured in the collection are station records, invoices, station equipment, broadcasting logs, notebooks, promotional materials,
advertisements, scrapbooks, inter office memos, training manuals, photographs of employees and equipment, as well as diagrams
and schematics of various equipment. The collection also contains items and memorabilia pertaining to station owner and California
entrepreneur Earl C. Anthony as well as esteemed radio engineer Newcomb B. Weisenberger. The collection was amassed by Huntington
Beach lawyer, educator, and radio enthusiast Stanley M. Kelton, and is unique in its content and scope.
Detailing the chronological history of Southern California radio stations KFI, KFON, and KFOX, the Stanley M. Kelton collection
offers insight into the perception, scheduling, and daily operations of early to late 20th century AM stations in California.
This is accomplished by the comprehensive collection of contemporary newspaper clippings displayed in the Scrapbooks series,
the bulk of which date from 1927 to 1941. Inside of the General files series are the bulk of daily operations materials for
KFI, the bulk of which date from 1938 to 1950, although some promotional materials and inter office memos pertaining to the
1970s era are also represented here. Log books, advertising correspondence, FCC communications and licenses, and files pertaining
to profit and personnel from KFI are also contained here.
Arrangement
The collection has been divided into the following series: 1. Scrapbooks (KFON), 2. General files (KFI), 3. Photographs and
memorabilia (KFI), 4. Audio (KFI), 5. Artifacts (KFI).
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Radio stations -- California, Southern -- Archives
Administrative records
Commercial correspondence
Photographs
Printed ephemera
Scrapbooks
Anthony, Earle C.
Series 1.
Scrapbooks (KFON)
Scope and Content
This series contains scrapbooks with hundreds of newsprint articles clipped from contemporary newspapers and publications,
and pasted into large, oversized scrapbooks. Inside the pages of the scrapbooks are hand-written notes and comments on the
articles contained. The dates for the series range from 1927 to 1941, and focus heavily on KFON, which later became KFOX.
Arrangement
These scrapbooks have been arranged chronologically.
flat-oversize 24
1927 December 1-1931 April 10
flat-oversize 34
1928 January 1-1929 October 3
flat-oversize 25
1929 November 18-1930 October 29
flat-oversize 26
1926 February 17-1927 December 31
flat-oversize 27
1931 April 12-1933 March 7
flat-oversize 28
1933 March 11-1934 December 19
flat-oversize 29
1935 January 1-1935 December 31
flat-oversize 30
1936 January 2-1938 June 23
flat-oversize 23
1937 September 10-1938 July 16
flat-oversize 31
1938 August 18-1940 August 23
flat-oversize 32
1940 August 23-1941 March 21
Series 2.
General files (KFI)
Scope and Content
This series consists of papers drawn directly from the office files of KFI 640 AM. Employee listings, accounts filed, dealings
with the FCC, Broadcast Advertising Bureau, daily program logs, clippings and press from local newspapers, per inquiry deals,
advertising, public affairs and good will dealings, radio central logs, the handbooks and training manuals of engineer Newcomb
B. Weisenberger, scripts, technician invoices, and various files pertaining to individuals in the radio profession are included
here. The bulk of the paper and materials represented are from roughly 1938 to 1950, though some promotional materials and
papers dating up to 1975 are included as well.
Arrangement
Files in this series have been arranged alphabetically. File names retain the creator's naming convention.
box 1, folder 2
AFTRA (American Federation of Television and Radio Artists) Correspondence
1950
box 19, folder 3
American Arbitration Association
undated
box 1, folder 4
ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers)
1950
flat-box 21, folder 1
Earl C. Anthony,
Packard Cormorant magazine, Volume XXXII Numbers 1-2
1985
flat-box 21, folder 2
Earl C. Anthony Transcriptions and Executive Order 33
undated
box 1, folder 5
"Basic Science" M.L. Thomas (Sent to Federal Communications Commission)
1938 June 6
box 1, folder 6
"Basic Science" M.L. Thomas (Sent to FCC)
1938 August 1
box 1, folder 7
Basic Science, Hawaiian Dream Lady (Sent to Fisher and FCC)
1938 October 20
box 1, folder 8
Better Business Bureau
1950
box 1, folder 9
Broadcast Advertising Bureau
1950
box 1, folder 10
Broadcast Music Inc.
1950
box 1, folder 11
Burn-Smith Company Incorporated
1950
box 2, folder 1
California State Broadcasters
1950
box 2, folder 2
Cancelled Telephone Lines
1950
box 2, folder 5
Department of Public Affairs and Good Will
1949
box 2, folder 6
Department of Public Affairs and Good Will
1950
box 19, folder 12
Equipment diagrams
undated
box 2, folder 10
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) correspondence
1935
box 2, folder 14
FCC KFOX 5KW Hearing
1936 April 15
box 3, folder 1
Federal Radio Commission
1934
box 3, folder 2
FCC (Hearings of Applications)
1934
box 3, folder 3
Ben S. Fisher correspondence
1934
box 3, folder 4
Ben S. Fisher correspondence (504 Southern Bldg. Washington D.C.)
1935
box 3, folder 5
Ben S. Fisher correspondence
1936
box 3, folder 6
Ben S. Fisher correspondence (902 Earle Bldg. Washington D.C.)
1937
box 3, folder 7
Ben S. Fisher correspondence (902 Earle Bldg. Washington D.C.)
1938
box 3, folder 8
Ben S. Fisher Station application
undated
box 3, folder 10
Graybar Electric Company
1950
box 3, folder 14
Rich Hills, C. Haliole, John Brown, sent to FCC
1938 April 11
box 19, folder 1
KA 4711, program log book
1939 January 11-1965 June 1
box 19, folder 3
KFI stationary [1]
undated
box 19, folder 4
KFI daily program logs
1947 October 20-1968 June 7
box 19, folder 5
KFI Kost employee lists
1978-1979
box 19, folder 6
KFI licenses and certificates
undated
box 19, folder 7
KFI miscellaneous memorabilia and magazine
undated
box 19, folder 8
KFI stationary [2]
undated
box 19, folder 9
Last Great Radio Show with Sweet Dick Whittington
1975-1976
box 19, folder 10
Lohman and Barkley
undated
box 4, folder 3
Long Beach Civil Defense Manual, KFOX
1951
box 19, folder 11
Miscellaneous clippings and press
undated
box 4, folder 8
Van C. Newkirk (broadcast advertising)
1950
box 19, folder 4
Number One project file,
KFI in the Sky, Bruce Wayne
box 4, folder 11
Per inquiry deals A
undated
box 4, folder 12
Per inquiry deals B
undated
box 5, folder 1
Political Completed Speech Request
1949
box 5, folder 2
Political Completed Speech Request
1950
box 5, folder 5
Public Affairs/Good Will
1950
box 5, folder 6
Public Interest File
1950
box 5, folder 7
The Pulse Incorporated
undated
box 5, folder 9
RA-AD Associates "Strawberry Bucket" Promotions
undated
box 5, folder 12
Radio Central Log
1953 January 1-1953 January 30
box 5, folder 13
Radio Central Log
1953 February 1-1953 February 29
box 6, folder 1
Radio Central Log
1953 March 1-1953 March 31
box 6, folder 2
Radio Central Log
1953 April 1-1953 April 30
box 6, folder 3
Radio Central Log
1953 May 1-1953 May 31
box 6, folder 4
Radio Central Log
1953 June 1-1953 June 30
box 6, folder 5
Radio Central Log
1953 July 1-1953 July 31
box 6, folder 6
Radio Central Log
1953 August 1-1953 August 31
box 7, folder 1
Radio stations, miscellaneous information
undated
box 7, folder 6
Sent information returned from FCC (5KW Hearing)
1939 August 29
box 7, folder 7
Southern California Broadcasters Association "A"
1949
box 7, folder 8
Southern California Broadcasters Association "B"
1949
box 7, folder 9
Southern California Broadcasters Association
1950
box 7, folder 10
Southern California Broadcasters Association Member memos
1949
box 8, folder 1
Southern Califorina Broadcasters Association Member memos
1950
box 8, folder 4
Statement of profit and loss
1947 January 1-1947 June 30
box 8, folder 8
Telephone lines - cancelled
1949
box 16
Unfiled FCC correspondence
1934-1936
box 13, folder 1
(Newcomb B. Weisenberger) circuit diagrams notebook
undated
box 13, folder 2
(Newcomb B. Weisenberger) circuit diagrams miscellaneous
undated
box 13, folder 3
(Newcomb B. Weisenberger) English Department memo file
undated
box 13, folder 4
(Newcomb B. Weisenberger)
Handbook of Operating Instructions for Radio Sets, SCR-522-A and SCR-542-A
undated
box 14, folder 1
(Newcomb B. Weisenberger) KEGA, W6XCI, KA4710 (frequency check log book)
undated
box 17, folder 1
(Newcomb B. Weisenberger) Notes and KFI inter office correspondence
undated
box 14, folder 2
(Newcomb B. Weisenberger) photographs, Chevrolet Musical Moments Revue
undated
box 14, folder 3
(Newcomb B. Weisenberger)
Radio Television Extension Training Manual, First National Television (Training Division), loose
undated
box 15, folder 2
(Newcomb B. Weisenberger)
Radio Television Extension Training Manual, First National Television (Training Division),, notebook
undated
box 17, folder 2
(Newcomb B. Weisenberger)
Radio Television Extension Training Manual, First National Television (Training Division), notebook, lesson 26
undated
box 14, folder 4
(Newcomb B. Weisenberger) television notes
undated
box 19, folder 16
(Newcomb B. Weisenberger) unfiled miscellaneous notes and KFI interoffice correspondence
undated
box 19, folder 17
Jack Wells original cartoons
undated
box 9, folder 1
Huntington Park Signal advertisements
1940 July 1-1940 December 31
box 9, folder 2
Long Beach Independent advertisements
1940 July 2-1940 July 31
box 9, folder 3
California Eagle
1940 July 4-1940 December 19
box 9, folder 4
Miscellaneous
1940 July 17-1940 October 25
box 10, folder 1
Technician invoices
undated
box 10, folder 2
KFOX promotional folders
undated
box 11, folder 1
Miscellaneous advertisments
1940 January 2-1940 July 1
box 12, folder 1
A.M. Log
1956 June 8-1956 October 20
box 12, folder 2
A.M. Log
1956 October 21-1957 March 3
Series 3.
Photographs and memorabilia (KFI)
Scope and Content
This series contains various slides, photographs, prints, and promotional materials related to KFI, and its founder, Earl
C. Anthony. The subjects of the photos are of staff, engineered radio equipment, sheet music composed by Anthony, shares in
the Packard Motor Car Company, aerial photos taken by radio broadcaster Bruce Wayne for the KFI in the Sky News Broadcast,
personal retirement photos for engineer Newcomb B. Weisenberger, photos of the KFI façade and exteriors, and publicity stills
for radio personalities. The bulk of these photos range from the 1950s through the 1970s
box 20, folder 1
KFI photograph album (equipment and engineering)
undated
box 20, folder 2
141 N. Vermont pictures (Rotunda demolition and panorama)
undated
box 19, folder 1
141 N. Vermont demolition
undated
box 19, folder 3
KFI engineering photographs
1999 September 24
box 19, folder 4
KFI Eye in the Sky, Bruce Wayne slides
undated
box 19, folder 5
Unfiled photographs
undated
box 19, folder 7
Newcomb B. Weisenberger retirement photographs
undated
flat-oversize 22, folder 1
KFI staff photograph
1950s
flat-oversize 22, folder 2
KFI Golden Anniversary promotional program
undated
flat-oversize 22, folder 3
Framed Earl C. Anthony 100 Packard Motor Car shares
undated
item R0206
Framed print, Season's Greetings from Hal Nichols
undated
Series 4.
Audio (KFI)
Scope and Content
This series contains the Home Voice Recording for KFI engineer Newcomb B. Weisenberger, and was recorded on 45 vinyl. The
track listing of "Talk Greetings" and "Hello Folks" contains messages Weisenberger self recorded and mailed to his parents
on the 21st of February, 1938.
item A27203/D12
Newcomb B Weisenberger home voice recording (Talk A, Talk B. "Talk Greetings" and "Hello Folks")
1938 February 21
Series 5.
Artifacts (KFI)
1920s-1930s
Scope and Content
This series contains original KFI radio station broadcasting equipment.
Access Restrictions
This series has not been processed. Please contact the UCSB Department of Special Research Collections in advance to request
access.
