Ed Craney
Encyclopedia
Edmund Blodgette "E.B." "Ed" Craney (February 19, 1905-March 6, 1991) was an American radio and television executive. He brought the first radio station to Butte, Montana
, in 1929, KGIR, which eventually became a part of his chain of unparalleled radio stations dubbed “The Z-Bar Network.” Craney also had a hand in beginning Montana's first local television station in 1953 that was also located in Butte. Craney founded the Montana Broadcasters Association, while KGIR was the first station to join the National Broadcasters Association.
, Washington to Lucy Blodgette, a schoolteacher, and James Craney, a Superintendent of the Great Northern Railway. The elder Craney's job eventually brought him to Swan Lake, Montana to work with the Somers Lumber Company, while his mother remained a teacher. Craney was raised at the family house at Swan Lake, as were his sisters Emily, Martha, and Cora, and brother Oliver. The Craney family lived at Swan Lake on an island that was only accessible by steam boat.
, went on the air in November 1920. Craney eventually got his First Class Radio License at a radio school held at a YMCA
in Seattle, Washington
.
With the help of storeowner Tom Symons, Craney had in a large part contributed to the opening KFDC (later KXLY) in Spokane in 1922. Symons eventually backed Craney when he decided to open a broadcast station in the booming mining town of Butte, Montana.
(FRC), which was the predecessor the Federal Communications Commission
(FCC), issued the license for radio station KGIR in 1928. The station’s location was hand picked by Craney and was to be originally located within the Finlen Hotel; however, due to complications, the KGIR studios was built across the street from the hotel on the fourth floor of Shiner’s Furniture on Park Street. KGIR officially went on the air on January 31, 1929, an almost full nine months before the Great Depression
of 1929 would hit the United States. The first broadcast sent from station KGIR was heard around the town of Butte and Dillon, and as far away as the Pacific Coast. With radio in the city of Butte, listeners enjoyed what they heard on the station, including local bands and singers, in addition to religious programming, to live inauguration of President Herbert Hoover
, which was heard around the town, and as far away as Ramsay
, a small community just west of Butte.
The station moved to its Broadway Street location in Butte, which at that time was the old office of the Senator William A. Clark. In more recent times, the building was used as the bus depot, and currently houses CCCS, Incorporated. The station remained at this location until property was acquired by Craney and the station was moved west of town.
Before Craney had relocated the KGIR studios to Nissler Junction near Butte, he had been acquiring radio stations from around Montana and making them a part of his Z-Bar Network, which was an old Montana Cattle brand. The stations that Craney purchased were KPFA in Helena and KRBM in Bozeman. With the purchase of station KPFA in Helena, when joined together with KGIR, it led to creation Craney’s network. Craney then also went to purchase stations in Great Falls and Helena, both in 1947, they were KXLK and KXLL, respectively.
After searching through various radio sources, Craney found that there was a string of call letters that were not in use by the FCC at that time. He found a combination of call letters all containing “XL” letters. Craney then petitioned the FCC to have his Montana stations’ call letters changed so that they all have an “XL” sign. The petition was granted, and thus The Z-Bar Network grew to include the Montana stations KXLF (formerly KGIR), KXLJ (formerly KPFA), KXLQ (formerly KRBM), KXLK, and KXLL. The Z-Bar Network was one of the most successful in Montana history and has left its mark along with Craney’s regional broadcast sales office that was also headquartered in Butte, the Pacific Northwest Broadcasters. All five stations in the Z-Bar Network were affiliates of the National Broadcasting Company (NBC
).
Along with his Z-Bar Network across the state of Montana, Craney also founded The Pacific Northwest Broadcasters, which was an agency to help in assisting the Montana stations with getting advertisement sales from larger cities.
, that was Montana’s first, and began Montana’s first television network, The Skyline Network, which was the predecessor to the Montana Television Network
, ran by Joseph Sample. Although KXLF-TV did have one competitor when it began in 1953, KOPR-TV, would eventually close after 13 months on the air.
Craney died in Montpelier, Idaho
, on March 6, 1991.
Butte, Montana
Butte is a city in Montana and the county seat of Silver Bow County, United States. In 1977, the city and county governments consolidated to form the sole entity of Butte-Silver Bow. As of the 2010 census, Butte's population was 34,200...
, in 1929, KGIR, which eventually became a part of his chain of unparalleled radio stations dubbed “The Z-Bar Network.” Craney also had a hand in beginning Montana's first local television station in 1953 that was also located in Butte. Craney founded the Montana Broadcasters Association, while KGIR was the first station to join the National Broadcasters Association.
Early life
Craney was born in SpokaneSpokane
Spokane is a city in the U.S. state of Washington.Spokane may also refer to:*Spokane *Spokane River*Spokane, Missouri*Spokane Valley, Washington*Spokane County, Washington*Spokane-Coeur d'Alene-Paloos War*Spokane * USS Spokane...
, Washington to Lucy Blodgette, a schoolteacher, and James Craney, a Superintendent of the Great Northern Railway. The elder Craney's job eventually brought him to Swan Lake, Montana to work with the Somers Lumber Company, while his mother remained a teacher. Craney was raised at the family house at Swan Lake, as were his sisters Emily, Martha, and Cora, and brother Oliver. The Craney family lived at Swan Lake on an island that was only accessible by steam boat.
Beginnings in radio
After the family had spent five years at Swan Lake, Craney moved back to Spokane, where he attended North Central High School where he became part of the school’s radio club. Although Craney’s mother wanted him to become a doctor, his real passion was radio broadcasting. Radio broadcasting was in its primitive stages when Craney began to work with the then-modern equipment. AM radio was still young at this time with very few stations legally broadcasting. The first licensed radio station in the United States, KDKAKDKA (AM)
KDKA is a radio station licensed to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. Created by the Westinghouse Electric Corporation on November 2, 1920, it is one of the world's first modern radio stations , a distinction that has also been challenged by other stations, although it has claimed to be the first in...
, went on the air in November 1920. Craney eventually got his First Class Radio License at a radio school held at a YMCA
YMCA
The Young Men's Christian Association is a worldwide organization of more than 45 million members from 125 national federations affiliated through the World Alliance of YMCAs...
in Seattle, Washington
Seattle, Washington
Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
.
With the help of storeowner Tom Symons, Craney had in a large part contributed to the opening KFDC (later KXLY) in Spokane in 1922. Symons eventually backed Craney when he decided to open a broadcast station in the booming mining town of Butte, Montana.
KGIR
The Federal Radio CommissionFederal Radio Commission
The Federal Radio Commission was a government body that regulated radio use in the United States from its creation in 1926 until its replacement by the Federal Communications Commission in 1934...
(FRC), which was the predecessor the Federal Communications Commission
Federal Communications Commission
The Federal Communications Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, created, Congressional statute , and with the majority of its commissioners appointed by the current President. The FCC works towards six goals in the areas of broadband, competition, the spectrum, the...
(FCC), issued the license for radio station KGIR in 1928. The station’s location was hand picked by Craney and was to be originally located within the Finlen Hotel; however, due to complications, the KGIR studios was built across the street from the hotel on the fourth floor of Shiner’s Furniture on Park Street. KGIR officially went on the air on January 31, 1929, an almost full nine months before the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
of 1929 would hit the United States. The first broadcast sent from station KGIR was heard around the town of Butte and Dillon, and as far away as the Pacific Coast. With radio in the city of Butte, listeners enjoyed what they heard on the station, including local bands and singers, in addition to religious programming, to live inauguration of President Herbert Hoover
Herbert Hoover
Herbert Clark Hoover was the 31st President of the United States . Hoover was originally a professional mining engineer and author. As the United States Secretary of Commerce in the 1920s under Presidents Warren Harding and Calvin Coolidge, he promoted partnerships between government and business...
, which was heard around the town, and as far away as Ramsay
Ramsay, Montana
Ramsay is a neighborhood in Butte, Montana, United States. Located at the coordinates of N 46° 00.828 W 112° 40.644, Ramsey lies off exit 216 on Interstate 90 on the Rocker Hill above central Butte....
, a small community just west of Butte.
East Park Street location
The KGIR studios were originally to be located on the roof of Butte’s Finlen Hotel, but due to uprisings, the station was not able to assume the hotel as its location. Manager of the Finlen Hotel, Morris Weiss, told Craney the station could not open. It was later found out to be a brush with the politics of The Anaconda Company. In time, talks, and wanting to keep his studios centrally located in the uptown Butte area, Craney began talks with Carl Shiner, of Shiner’s Furniture, and was given the go ahead to build his studios on the fourth floor of the furniture store. This location would serve as the home to KGIR for approximately 18 months before a new location was sought.West Broadway Street location
After tenure of about 18 months, the location of the KGIR studios changed.The station moved to its Broadway Street location in Butte, which at that time was the old office of the Senator William A. Clark. In more recent times, the building was used as the bus depot, and currently houses CCCS, Incorporated. The station remained at this location until property was acquired by Craney and the station was moved west of town.
Nissler Junction location
In 1937, KGIR again moved, this time approximately seven miles west of the Butte city limits. Craney would open his new studios just a few miles from the Butte-Anaconda highway with a new transmitter and modern tower. The new location at Nissler Junction not only was the home of the station, but Craney also lived near the studios. Craney lived at Nissler for many years until his health deteriorated.Expanding operations beyond Butte and The Z-Bar Network
In 1941, Craney applied for KGIR to take over the 660 kHz clear channel then occupied by the New York City flagship of NBC's Red Network, WEAF, with WEAF being downgraded to protect Butte. The request was denied by the FCC.Before Craney had relocated the KGIR studios to Nissler Junction near Butte, he had been acquiring radio stations from around Montana and making them a part of his Z-Bar Network, which was an old Montana Cattle brand. The stations that Craney purchased were KPFA in Helena and KRBM in Bozeman. With the purchase of station KPFA in Helena, when joined together with KGIR, it led to creation Craney’s network. Craney then also went to purchase stations in Great Falls and Helena, both in 1947, they were KXLK and KXLL, respectively.
After searching through various radio sources, Craney found that there was a string of call letters that were not in use by the FCC at that time. He found a combination of call letters all containing “XL” letters. Craney then petitioned the FCC to have his Montana stations’ call letters changed so that they all have an “XL” sign. The petition was granted, and thus The Z-Bar Network grew to include the Montana stations KXLF (formerly KGIR), KXLJ (formerly KPFA), KXLQ (formerly KRBM), KXLK, and KXLL. The Z-Bar Network was one of the most successful in Montana history and has left its mark along with Craney’s regional broadcast sales office that was also headquartered in Butte, the Pacific Northwest Broadcasters. All five stations in the Z-Bar Network were affiliates of the National Broadcasting Company (NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
).
Making KGIR successful
Butte and the surrounding areas had no local radio station until KGIR went on the air in 1929. It was a new form of entertainment to the people who flooded the studios with messages of thanks and congratulations after is inaugural broadcast. Adding to the success story of KGIR is the fact that the programming was all local until the station became an NBC affiliate on November 28, 1931. After the affiliation, Craney and KGIR continued to run local programming along with network programming.It was through promotions and contests that many listeners were pulled into the shaping of KGIR as many who participated helped with the addition of programming during the Depression year. Listeners were said to have wanted more than just light music and farm reports.Along with his Z-Bar Network across the state of Montana, Craney also founded The Pacific Northwest Broadcasters, which was an agency to help in assisting the Montana stations with getting advertisement sales from larger cities.
Television audience growing
Craney’s venture into radio was a landmark in Montana broadcasting; however, with widening audience of television, Craney brought television to “The Mining City.” A man that began the first radio station in Butte, also created Montana’s first radio network, went on to create a Butte television station, KXLF-TVKXLF-TV
KXLF-TV is a television station in Butte, Montana, broadcasting locally as a CBS affiliate on digital channel 4-1 . Various programs from CBS are broadcast in high definition at 1080i. Programming from The CW is broadcast on digital channel 4-2 in standard definition.The station operates a...
, that was Montana’s first, and began Montana’s first television network, The Skyline Network, which was the predecessor to the Montana Television Network
Montana Television Network
The Montana Television Network is a network of CBS affiliates in Montana, all but one owned by the Evening Post Publishing Company.MTN was founded by Montana broadcasting pioneer Joseph S. "Joe" Sample. He signed on KOOK-TV in Billings, Montana's second television station, in 1953. He bought...
, ran by Joseph Sample. Although KXLF-TV did have one competitor when it began in 1953, KOPR-TV, would eventually close after 13 months on the air.
Later life
In 1958, Craney created The Greater Montana Foundation, a non-profit charitable organization that is dedicated to "benefiting the people of Montana by encouraging communication, with an emphasis on electronic media,on issues, trends and values of importance to present and future generations of Montanans." Since 1958, due to the continuing contributions from Craney and his estate, The Greater Montana Foundation has granted hundreds of thousands of dollars to worthy broadcasting projects in Montana.Craney died in Montpelier, Idaho
Montpelier, Idaho
Montpelier is a city in Bear Lake County, Idaho, United States. The population was 2,785 at the 2000 census. The city is the largest community in the Bear Lake Valley, a farming region north of Bear Lake in southeastern Idaho along the Utah border...
, on March 6, 1991.