KHQ - Radio Central Building

After Louis Wasmer found the Davenport Hotel quarters to be too small for his growing radio station, he made the move to the Standard Stock Exchange Building (also called the Eilers Building and later called the Radio Central Building) across Post Street from the Davenport in August 1928. A transmitter plant was built in the Radio Central Building as well. (For further information about this transmitter plant at the Radio Central Building click here.)

The Radio Central Building housed KHQ's studio and offices until the early 1950's when KHQ moved to its new quarters on South Regal on Moran Prairie.

PICTURE GALLERY

The Radio Central Building. The corner of Post and Sprague. Date uncertain. (Courtesy of the Northwest Museum of Art and Culture, Spokane, Washington)

The Radio Central Building is on the left. You can see the KHQ and KGA signs on the corner of the building. (philcobill.com)

This is the main control room of KHQ-AM located on the 7th floor of the Radio Central Building in the early 1950's. The announcer was Herb Hess and the man sitting down was Jack Feldhausen, who is appearing to be starting a recording on the large RCA studio turntable. Notice a phonograph on the floor behind Jack's left arm; they bult that one to preview recordings, and had another one in the record library room. Both of them could play the 16-inch transcriptions. The control room had two large brass reflex loudspeakers, you see one high above and the other was one another wall. Also noted, KHQ was the only station known to be using the Zenith "Cobra" tonearm on their turntables. It was like the deluxe arm used n consumer radio-phonograph units, but was large enough to play 16-inch discs. It was a very "light" weight arm. Everyone else used the "Grey" transcription arm for microgroove records, as the big heavy RCA arm on those turntables were designed for 3 mil records, not the 1 mil microgroove.(Courtesy of Paul Quam and used by permission. Text by Paul.)

This is Jack again, same truntables, but a different console. This was when they moved from the Radio Central Bulding out to Moran. Notice the four Magnacord reel-to-reel recorders behind him. Jack was one of several "really nice" radio guys I had the good fortune to know as a young kid. (Courtesy of Paul Quam and used by permission. Text by Paul.)

Recording equipment used at KHQ on the seventh floor of the Radio Central Building, 1950. The recorders that Jack Feldhausen is standing in front of are Magnacord PT6 recorders. (Courtesy of the Northwest Museum of Art and Culture, Spokane, Washington)

KHQ console without the people. It is a mixer console that may have been an RCA or a GE. Paul Carter bought it from KHQ when he moved his recording studio from the Symons Building to West Indiana Avenue. Paul also bought their Presto Record cutter. In this shot, you see again their RCA turntable, bit here it is equpped with Grey arm for 1 mil records, so this picture may have been taken later. (Courtesy of Paul Quam and used by permission. Text by Paul.)

Grand Army of the Republic singing in the KHQ studios, 1932. (Courtesy of the Northwest Museum of Art and Culture, Spokane, Washington)

KHQ Radio Studio Orchestra, 1939. The announcer's name was Harry Lantry. (Courtesy of the Northwest Museum of Art and Culture, Spokane, Washington)

KHQ Radio Central Building Studio. Who are the people in the picture? Date Uncertain. (Courtesy of the Northwest Museum of Art and Culture, Spokane, Washington)

KHQ Radio Staff on the roof of the Radio Central Building. Probably early 1940's.

(Back Row L-R) Dallas?, Fred "Squire" Hartley, Norm Thue, Andy?, Marion Boyle, Bill Ross, Herb Wixon?, Dutch Grashoff?, Harold Treadwell

(Front Row L-R) Harry Lantry, Harvey Wixsom?, W. Treadwell?, W. McKenne?

If you can help identify the people in the above pictures, please send me an email. (Courtesy of the Northwest Museum of Art and Culture, Spokane, Washington)

Compiled and edited by Bill Harms - updated 1 June 1008

SOURCES

  • "KHQ Dedicates New Station." Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. 8 August 1928.
  • Quam, Paul. Spokane, Washington. Email correspondence with Bill Harms, early September 2007.