KCLS (defunct)
Encyclopedia
KCLS was the second radio station
to broadcast in Flagstaff. The first station failed. Licensed to Flagstaff
, Charles J. Saunders put it on the air in 1950
.
s of power in the daytime and 500 watts directional at night. This made it the most powerful AM
radio station in Northern Arizona. The KCLS studios were originally a quonset hut.
Throughout most of its history, KCLS broadcast "middle-of-the-road" or "adult contemporary" music. It was also an early communications link for members of the nearby Navajo
tribe, broadcasting in Navajo
for one hour a day from 5 to 6 in the morning until the mid-1970s. The station had a long tradition of local news, with several radio announcers moving on to news positions in larger markets and with networks. The station carried with the National Weather Service
to have their meteorologists deliver the weather. KCLS was also well known for broadcasting Northern Arizona University
sports and also the high school sports.
Charles Saunders also owned stations KUPI and KQPI in Idaho Falls, Idaho
at different times in the 1960s,'70s and '80s. Saunders, who was known as "C-J the D-J", served as mayor of Flagstaff from 1958 to 1960.
KCLS sold in 1986 and went dark
shortly thereafter. In the late 1990s the owners of KVNA AM
obtained the license for the 600 AM and moved their station from the 690 kHz frequency. KVNA (then KZKZ) had originally been on the 1290 AM frequency.
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
to broadcast in Flagstaff. The first station failed. Licensed to Flagstaff
Flagstaff, Arizona
Flagstaff is a city located in northern Arizona, in the southwestern United States. In 2010, the city's population was 65,870. The population of the Metropolitan Statistical Area was at 134,421 in 2010. It is the county seat of Coconino County...
, Charles J. Saunders put it on the air in 1950
1950 in radio
The year 1950 saw a number of significant happenings in radio broadcasting history.-Events:* May 1 - Springbok Radio became the first commercial radio station in South Africa.Springbok Radio broadcasted for 35 years until the 31st of December 1985....
.
History
KCLS signed on the air in 1950 and was owned by Saunders Broadcasting. The call letters were based upon the name of the owner's daughter "Cheryl Lynn Saunders." KCLS operated at 600 kHz with 5,000 wattWatt
The watt is a derived unit of power in the International System of Units , named after the Scottish engineer James Watt . The unit, defined as one joule per second, measures the rate of energy conversion.-Definition:...
s of power in the daytime and 500 watts directional at night. This made it the most powerful AM
Amplitude modulation
Amplitude modulation is a technique used in electronic communication, most commonly for transmitting information via a radio carrier wave. AM works by varying the strength of the transmitted signal in relation to the information being sent...
radio station in Northern Arizona. The KCLS studios were originally a quonset hut.
Throughout most of its history, KCLS broadcast "middle-of-the-road" or "adult contemporary" music. It was also an early communications link for members of the nearby Navajo
Navajo people
The Navajo of the Southwestern United States are the largest single federally recognized tribe of the United States of America. The Navajo Nation has 300,048 enrolled tribal members. The Navajo Nation constitutes an independent governmental body which manages the Navajo Indian reservation in the...
tribe, broadcasting in Navajo
Navajo language
Navajo or Navaho is an Athabaskan language spoken in the southwestern United States. It is geographically and linguistically one of the Southern Athabaskan languages .Navajo has more speakers than any other Native American language north of the...
for one hour a day from 5 to 6 in the morning until the mid-1970s. The station had a long tradition of local news, with several radio announcers moving on to news positions in larger markets and with networks. The station carried with the National Weather Service
National Weather Service
The National Weather Service , once known as the Weather Bureau, is one of the six scientific agencies that make up the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of the United States government...
to have their meteorologists deliver the weather. KCLS was also well known for broadcasting Northern Arizona University
Northern Arizona University
Northern Arizona University is a public university located in Flagstaff, Arizona, United States. It is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, and has 39 satellite campuses in the state of Arizona. The university offers both undergraduate and graduate degrees.As of...
sports and also the high school sports.
Charles Saunders also owned stations KUPI and KQPI in Idaho Falls, Idaho
Idaho Falls, Idaho
Idaho Falls is a city in and the county seat of Bonneville County, Idaho, United States, and the largest city in Eastern Idaho. As of the 2010 census, the population of Idaho Falls was 56,813, with a metro population of 130,374....
at different times in the 1960s,'70s and '80s. Saunders, who was known as "C-J the D-J", served as mayor of Flagstaff from 1958 to 1960.
KCLS sold in 1986 and went dark
Dark (broadcasting)
In the broadcasting industry, dark is a term used to describe a radio station or television station that has gone off-the-air for an indefinite period of time, or as defined by the U.S. Federal Communications Commission , a "silent" station...
shortly thereafter. In the late 1990s the owners of KVNA AM
KVNA (AM)
KVNA is a radio station broadcasting a News Talk Information format. Licensed to Flagstaff, Arizona, USA, the station serves the Flagstaff area. The station is currently owned by Yavapai Broadcasting Corporation and features programing from CBS Radio, ESPN Radio and Westwood One. KVNA's original...
obtained the license for the 600 AM and moved their station from the 690 kHz frequency. KVNA (then KZKZ) had originally been on the 1290 AM frequency.