KGO 810 San Francisco (formerly KGO 810 News), 60 years in news and talk, passed away suddenly during the middle of Mark Thompson’s midday show on October 6th, 2022. Cause of death was corporate heart failure and cognitive boardroom deficiencies. The station leaves behind a strong legacy and commitment to news, journalism, opinion and community engagement.
The 50,000 watt AM powerhouse station was born in the 1920s but came into her own in the early 60s when San Francisco was at the forefront of a new social movement, the likes of which were centered at Haight and Ashbury. Signing on the air January 8th, 1924, KGO (from General Electric’s Oakland transformer plant) was originally a 1,000 watt station. It increased power for the first time when it moved up the dial, a couple notches, from 790AM to the clear channel 810AM. That was during the Second World War. Its format changed many times over the next twenty years but most of the programming centered on music.
That all changed in the 1960s when KGO and other American radio stations started to find success with news and information programming, notably talk radio. This was when the station became the powerhouse of the west coast of North America - not only because of its Alaska to Mexico nighttime signal - but also because the station acknowledged and reflected stories that defined SF’s counterculture. It was also the home of famed radio and TV host Les Crane who is often credited with pioneering the world’s talk show format. From covering The Summer of Love and Harvey Milk’s election to the Berkley Riots and the 1989 earthquake, the ABC affiliate was a trusted voice for reliable information for close to 60 years.
However, radio was and is a tough business. By 2011, new corporate owner Cumulus made deep cuts in local programming at most of its stations. KGO - not immune. Layoffs included some of the best known names in the community…ratings dropped and the format was tweaked and tweaked again. Ultimately, a decision was made in October of this year to dump news for sports betting inspired shows, putting an end to an era.
KGO is survived by a family of broadcasters and journalists who continue to hold power to account and represent those who do not have a voice. Those who have graced her airwaves include (some predeceased): Gene Burns, Joanie Greggains, Gil Gross, John Hamilton, Ray Taliaferro, Bernie Ward and Bill Wattenburg. Guest hosts included Vancouver’s Art Finley, ABC correspondent Greg Jarrett and numerous top names in the world of political leadership, entertainment and sports.
As the ultimate social commentary, KGO’s remains are being blasted into the air as a societal parody known as The Spread 810 AM. A final resting place has not yet been determined. Those wishing to pay their respects can do so by tuning in to any local radio station that embraces news or news talk in a way that reflects the community being served.
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