In 1921, Elmer Beehler started "The Wireless Company of Yuma" and started broadcasting on an experimental basis. He built all of his own transmitting equipment and had to sell radios though BEECO since he was the first radio station in the area....very few people had radios. I don't think The Wireless Company of Yuma lasted too long.... later correspondence lists Beehler Electrical Equipment Company as the owner of the radio station. In 1925, the station, KGEK, was granted a commercial license (attached) and operated in Yuma until 1934, when he moved it to Sterling.
A 1928 radio station directory has KGEK Beehler Electrical Equipment Co., 109
West 2nd Avenue. If that's correct, it was in the building a block west of
the "behind the Gambles store" location.
Ernie Anderson's obituary said "In 1934 Ernie and his friend Garland Harper used
to sing on the KGEK on Saturday Mornings." KGEK was the 3rd radio station in Colorado. In 2005, the Broadcast Professionals of Colorado inducted my grandfather into their "Hall of Fame". A video tribute is available on their website: http://www.broadcastprofessionals.net/halloffame.html
Jennie Monk says "It was a real novelty to listen to Grandpa's battery-powered radio in the 1920's. When we moved to Wray in 1927 we had electricity, and really enjoyed the radio.
We listened to KGEK - the station was behind where the Gambles store used to be. Then it was on Main Street - close to the Pioneer office - for a while."
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This page is maintained by Marion Monk.