Radio stations often neglect their own histories. "It could be that everyone is so caught up in the need to make advertising dollars they don't have the time to look to the past," Hilliker said.
A former radio broadcaster, journalist and disc jockey who grew up in Anaheim, Hilliker, 54, has a particular interest in Southern California radio of the early 1900s.
"Maybe I was born in the wrong era," he said.
He has written several long pieces for laradio.com based on government documents, newspaper microfilm, industry magazines and interviews with old radio hands. All for no pay. "A labor of love," he said.
Currently between radio jobs, Hilliker hopes to put his findings into a book titled "L.A. Radio Scrapbook."
One treasure he's searching for is another telegram written by McPherson. Responding to charges that her station was secretly shifting frequencies, she supposedly told Commerce Secretary Herbert Hoover: "Please order your minions of Satan to leave me alone."
Though the telegram is mentioned in some books about McPherson, Hilliker notes that no copy has ever surfaced. His research has found no other instance in which she used the phrase "minions of Satan."
Hilliker has also cast doubt on some Internet legends about call letters -- that KFI once promoted itself as the home of "Farm Information" and that KNX was so named because it was in the annex of a downtown building.
In truth, KNX's letters were issued by the government.
In the late 1920s, station owners were allowed to pick their own call letters. Many used the IDs to honor themselves or their businesses.
In 1931, E.L. Cord, owner of a Fuller Motors dealership and producer of Auburn and Cord automobiles, chose KFAC, his business initials, for his station. Cord's studio was in the penthouse of the dealership on Wilshire Boulevard. It's now KWKW-AM (1330).
KMPC-AM (710) was so named because it was briefly owned by MacMillan Petroleum Co. The station later discarded those letters; they are now used by Radio Korea at AM (1540).
Though many call letters may seem unappreciated, such is not the case with KHJ. In 1986, it was re-christened KRTH, went through a couple of owners and wound up as a Spanish-language station, KKHJ.
Management, however, complained that the "KK" was close to "caca" (Spanish slang for excrement). So the FCC allowed it to recycle the old KHJ name, bringing the owners happiness, if not joy.
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steveharvey9@gmail.com
