Local Radio Station Holds Many Memories
National Radio Day
As National Radio Day is recognized on Wednesday, Aug. 20, Wolf Point should be grateful for the long history that its own radio station carries.
According to Roosevelt County’s Treasured Years, Wolf Point was only the second city in Montana to have a radio station. KGCX was started in 1929 by Ed Krebsbach. The initial authorized power was 250 watts, but the power was increased to 1000 watts in 1936. Krebsbach had operated KGCX in Vida from 1926-1929. Wolf Point A City Of Destiny reports, “Wolf Point was very enthusiastic about having its own radio station. The Commercial Club immediately began raising money to help with the cost of new equipment and installation.” Westland Oil Company began construction on a new building for servicing cars on the corner of Second and Main. That building would also have a studio for the radio station. The very first broadcast occurred on July 16, 1929.
Facing challenges of the Great Depression in the 1930s, Krebsbach moved the station to Sidney in 1942.
A new radio station, KVCK, was started in Wolf Point during 1957. The letters VCK came from the last names of co-owners M.M. Vukelich, Pete Coffey and Krebsbach. The station went on the air on Sept. 1, 1957, with 250 watts of power. KVCK featured the Mutual Network, local sports and national programs like Queen for a Day. Coffey was the station’s manager.
Wolf Point resident Dave Arndt was involved with the station for many years, including as a parttime employee while in high school, and he has many fond memories of the station’s history in the community. Arndt even recalls when the station’s opening was celebrated in 1957. “I remember I got a ballpoint pen,” he said.
Arndt started working at the station in 1963 and stayed there until joining the U.S. Navy in 1966. Once he returned from his service, Arndt returned to the Wolf Point station as part of a career that included announcing jobs in such places as Bozeman; Shelby; Phoenix, Ariz.; and Portland, Ore. “I couldn’t believe I got paid for sitting on my butt and talking,” Arndt laughed.
He said one of his first duties was filing the 45s records. He got paid by being given a record. One of his payments was Catch A Falling Star by Perry Como.
During the 1960s, the radio station’s programming included Morning Melodies with Claire Hekkel from 6-10 a.m., Country Capers with Dennis Johnson from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Platter Parade with Bob Behr from 2-6 p.m. The music would change to rock starting at 4 p.m. when students were dismissed from classes.
Arndt was on the air to provide entertainment from 6-10 p.m. “I played stuff from all over the road,” Arndt said of his musical selections.
He explained that the station was on the air from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, except for Sunday’s 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. times. Religious programs included one by Pastor Bob Meehan. On occasion, the local band Neil Hanson and the Valley Wranglers would play country music live. The broadcast of local high school basketball games was also very popular.
“We owned the market,” Arndt said of the popularity of the radio station during that era.
He remembers one promotion involved people checking to see if their name was posted at the Ben Franklin store. If your name was there, you could call up the radio station for a financial prize.
The radio station used to bring in country stars such as Bill Anderson, Rex Allen Jr. and Cal Smith to perform at either the Wolf Point Elks Lodge or the American Legion Hall in Poplar.
In another promotion, Grand Ole Opry stars Minnie Pearl and Ferlin Husky came to the city.
Arndt said he has kept a historical piece of information through the station. He saved a bulletin from the teletype machine regarding when President John Kennedy was shot in 1963.
“It grabbed me immediately,” Arndt said of his affection for the radio business.
