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KEJK AM:
1928-1930

A search for "KEJK" on the web could lead to gibberish-like code or the foreign word "kejk" (pronounced "cake"). But in the late 1920s, KEJK was actually the call letters of an AM station in Los Angeles which later became a legend.

KEJK was formerly known as KRLO, and was authorized to operate on 1190 KHz (KC back then) at 500 watts ERP. It ran four days a week from 6 AM to 10 PM, except Wednesdays and weekends (Los Angeles Times, 2/28/28). The calls referred to Ernest J. Krause, who pwned the building that housed KEJK.

According to an article in the Los Angeles Times by Dr. Ralph L. Power (11/8/28), KEJK was getting ready to move into a new studio at Wilshire Blvd. and Camden Drive in Beverly Hills. It was now on 1250 Kc (239 meters), sharing time with KFON in Long Beach. KEJK was owned by R. S. Macmillan. Until the studio was ready, programs were sent by remote control from the old digs.

The station manager was W. G. Ebersole, and K. C. Ormiston held double duty as both Technical Supervisor, and Tech Editor of Radio Doings. The tower, 135 feet high, rested in concrete instead of on the top of a building. This was considered an innovation back then.

The same article by Dr. Power mentions that stories were told on the station twice a week, and were backed up by an 11-piece orchestra. Vocalists included Helen Fraser Macmillan (soprano), Edward Jardon(Tenor), Mildred Ware (contralto), and Tudor Williams (baritone). Jean Campbell Macmillan was the literary director.

The station moved to 710 KC in November 1929. On March 14, 1930, KEJK changed its call letters to reflect its owners, MacMillan Petroleum Company, and the calls stuck around long enough to become legend: KMPC.