The News Vault from KCBS Radio
The News Vault from KCBS Radio is a podcast that brings radio news history back to life. Hosted by KCBS Radio morning anchor Stan Bunger, each episode will focus on news audio retrieved from the KCBS Radio archives. Stan sets the stage for each of these "museum pieces" with context and inside stories - the "news behind the news."
Mon, June 07, 2021
San Francisco 49ers Super Bowl XIX Victory Parade: Live Coverage January 21, 1985
KCBS Radio coverage of the January 21, 1985 San Francisco parade for the 49ers after their 38-16 victory over Miami in Super Bowl XIX the day before. The game was played at Stanford Stadium. Coverage is anchored by Charlie Seraphin and Valerie Coleman.
Wed, June 02, 2021
KCBS Radio News Aircheck: October 10, 1974
KCBS Radio news aircheck. Approximately 30 minutes as David Fowler anchors after 11 pm on October 10, 1974. Fowler was a KCBS reporter and San Jose bureau chief in the 1970's before moving to television reporting and anchoring in 1975 (KPIX and later KRON). This segment includes a report by Bob Safford and a sports report by longtime KCBS Radio Sports Director Don Klein. Our thanks to the California Historical Radio Society/ Bay Area Radio Museum for preserving this segment in digital form from the original reel-to-reel recording.
Fri, May 28, 2021
"Expedition: B-24" 1960 KCBS Radio Documentary
Broadcast on December 8, 1960. The KCBS Radio documentary "Expedition: B-24" told the story of the 1943 crash of a B-24 bomber into an unnamed High Sierra lake and the 17-year effort by the father of the co-pilot to find the wreckage. The program was written by Fred Goerner and anchored by Dave McElhatton and won a 1961 Sigma Delta Chi journalism award. Audio preserved by the California Historical Radio Society's Bay Area Radio Museum.
Mon, May 24, 2021
1983 KCBS Radio News Coverage Demo Reel
1983 "demo reel" of KCBS Radio coverage of various stories. Numerous segments include: Coalinga earthquake, grounding of USS Enterprise, Fleet Week live coverage, example of 8:06 AM "Beat Check". Anchors include Mike Pulsipher, Stan Bunger, Al Hart and Don Mozley.
Tue, May 18, 2021
KCBS Radio Presentation for Advertisers--Early 1960's
Early 1960's station presentation reel for advertisers, hosted by Dave McElhatton. It includes samples of a number of programming elements woven together by morning host McElhatton in his folksy style.
Thu, May 13, 2021
"The Silent Thunder": 1962 KCBS Radio documentary
1962 KCBS documentary "The Silent Thunder" looks back on the Pacific Theater during World War 2. Reporter Fred Goerner interviews a number of people, including Pacific Fleet Commander in Chief Admiral Chester Nimitz. He also visits Tinian Island, the launching point for the atomic bomb attacks on Japan.
Tue, May 11, 2021
KCBS Radio Special Series "Drought Watch" Winter 1991
Droughts are a fact of life in California. The one that lasted between 1986 and 1992 was a bad one. In 1991 alone, state officials would estimate the drought cost the state $1 billion in agriculture losses, increases in energy costs and damage to the environment—that’s close to 2 billion in today’s dollars. In the winter of 1991, KCBS Radio ran a series of reports entitled “Drought Watch”, looking at what had already happened—and what may lie ahead. You’ll hear discussion of things like drip irrigation, advanced weather forecasting, new approaches to water storage, challenges to agriculture, urban water rationing, Reporters are Mike Sugerman, Jim Taylor, Barbara Taylor, Dave Padilla, Jerry Wilcox, Mike Colgan, Chris Cutter and Paula Drake.
Fri, May 07, 2021
KCBS Radio Live Coverage: Iraq War Protests March 20, 2003
On March 20 2003, protests broke out around the world, including in the Bay Area, after the start of the US/British ground invasion of Southern Iraq. KCBS Radio coverage was anchored by Patti Reising with field reports delivered by Margie Shafer in San Francisco and Doug Sovern in Berkeley. Ron Cervi delivered airborne reports.
Mon, May 03, 2021
KCBS Radio Special Report: "Way Past Bad" April 12, 1993
A KCBS Radio "In Depth" special report broadcast on April 12, 1993. Reporter Rebecca Corral examined concerns about increasing acts of violence perpetrated by teenagers.
Tue, April 27, 2021
KCBS Radio Special Report "Saving the San Francisco Giants" March 14, 1993
On March 14, 1993 KCBS Radio broadcast a special report on a story that had gripped Bay Area sports fans for months: the sale of the San Francisco Giants. Just before a deal to sell the team to buyers in St. Petersburg, Florida was to be concluded, a group of local investors led by Safeway Stores CEO Peter Magowan came forward. KCBS Radio sports anchor Steve Bitker produced this special report with assistance from Ron Lyons.
Thu, April 22, 2021
KCBS Radio "In Depth" with Guest Peter Magowan January 17, 1993
The January 17, 1993 edition of the KCBS Radio weekly program "In Depth" featured an interview with Peter Magowan, the Safeway Stores CEO who five days earlier had, along with a group of investors purchased the San Francisco Giants baseball team. The previous owner, Bob Lurie, had planned to sell the team to a group from St. Petersburg, Florida before the Magowan group came forward. The interview was conducted by Steve Bitker and Ed Cavagnaro.
Fri, April 16, 2021
KCBS Radio "In Depth" With Guest S.I. Hayakawa March 23, 1969
On March 23, 1969 KCBS Radio broadcast an episode of its weekly “In Depth” interview program, featuring controversial interm San Francisco State College President S. I. Hayakawa as the guest. Interviewers were KCBS Radio anchor Fred Wilcox, reporter Al Helmso, and legendary Time-Life journalist Jesse Birnbaum, then serving as chief of Time-Life’s San Francisco bureau.
Mon, April 05, 2021
NewsVault: KCBS Radio "The Week That Was" November 1984
For many years, KCBS Radio overnight news anchor Frank Knight produced a weekly compilation of the top stories that aired on the station during a given week. "The Week That Was" became a weekend feature. This example is from the last week of November 1984, broken out by days of the workweek. Audio preservation expert Andrew Wellburn digitized this from the original 7" reel of audio tape and noted, "many splices in this tape, catches as it goes through, bad tape used". We thank the California Historical Radio Society/Bay Area Radio Museum for their efforts in preserving this example.
Mon, March 22, 2021
KCBS Radio Special Report: "The Rent Squeeze" (1978)
In 1978, Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley signed a landmark rent control law. KCBS Radio reporter George McManus used the event as a "news peg" to focus on what was a major Bay Area issue at the time: skyrocketing rents. "The Rent Squeeze" featured interviews with a number of Bay Area political leaders.
Tue, March 09, 2021
KCBS Radio: "The Al Douglas Show" July 1964
This edition of the KCBS Radio features "The Al Douglas Show" from July 1964 and focuses on San Jose's Frontier Village amusement park. Frontier Village was only around for about 20 years but remains a fond memory for a generation of Santa Clara Valley residents. This segment is in the collection of the San Jose Public Library California Room.
Wed, January 20, 2021
KCBS Radio: "Amelia Earhart Special Report" July 2, 1960
On July 2 1960, KCBS Radio broadcast a special report on the mysterious disappearance of pioneering aviatrix Amelia Earhart. She and navigator Fred Noonan had disappeared over the South Pacific in July 1937 in one of the 20th Century's enduring mysteries. This special report, sponsored by Shell Oil, was introduced by KCBS Radio news director Don Mozley and featured the work of reporter Fred Goerner. Goerner was convinced Earhart and Noonan had survived the crash of their plane but then died in Japanese custody. On that day in 1960, he showed off some airplane parts he'd brought up from the harbor on Saipan. A year later, he made another trip and brought back human remains he believed might have been those of Earhart and Noonan (later analysis by a University of California anthropologist dashed cold water on that belief). Goerner made a third trip to Saipan on his own time and money, published a lengthy account in Argosy magazine in 1964, and then a best-selling book in 1966 ( The Search for Amelia Earhart) . The photo accompanying this episode was taken the day before this broadcast, on July 1 1960, in KCBS Radio's Studio B at the Palace Hotel. Goerner (R) sat next to Don Mozley and told San Francisco reporters who'd been called to the studio of his findings.
Mon, January 04, 2021
KCBS Radio sales promotion: Sy Whitelaw with Dave McElhatton and Bill Dana
In this undated audio clip (clearly recorded prior to the May 1968 transition to the all-news format), KCBS Radio sales executive Seymour "Sy" Whitelaw introduces an aircheck featuring Dave McElhatton and comedian Bill Dana. Dana was a regular guest on the "McElhatton In The Morning " 6-10 AM program, often in the guise of his alter ego, Jose Jimenez. Whitelaw originally joined KCBS in the early 1950s, and worked in New York 1953-1954 before returning to his beloved San Francisco. According to his 2008 obituary, "He loved his years in early broadcasting. He continued in radio until the late 1960's when he obtained his stockbroker's license. He began a new life, which included an eight year avocation as food reviewer for the 'Pink Section' in the SF Chronicle."
Mon, November 30, 2020
KCBS Radio "Magazine": Mike Beeson With Swami Muktananda
In this undated segment from the KCBS Radio "Magazine" series from the mid-1970's, reporter Mike Beeson visits the Siddha Yoga Ashram in Oakland and meets spiritual leader Swami Muktananda. The ashram had been established in the rundown Stanford Hotel as Muktananda's first permanent center outside India.
Mon, May 11, 2020
KCBS Radio Aircheck: 7 AM to 8 AM plus 8:06 AM "Beatcheck" August 26, 1981
On August 25, 1981, a construction crew punctured a 16-inch natural gas gas pipeline within a block of KCBS Radio's Embarcadero Center studios in San Francisco. The leak went on for hours, forcing the evacuation of 30,000 people--including everyone from the KCBS Radio newsroom and studios. The next morning, the station had returned to its facilities. Al Hart is the station's lead anchor, joined by Ken Ackerman. This episode ends with the regulat 8:06 AM feature "Beatcheck". This audio is from a collection of radio airchecks assembled by the late Bay Area radio engineer Mike Schweizer.
Wed, March 11, 2020
KCBS Radio Aircheck: 5:06 AM to 6 AM August 26, 1981.
On August 25, 1981, a construction crew punctured a 16-inch natural gas gas pipeline within a block of KCBS Radio's Embarcadero Center studios in San Francisco. The leak went on for hours, forcing the evacuation of 30,000 people--including everyone from the KCBS Radio newsroom and studios. The next morning, the station had returned to its facilities but abandoned the normal format for extended coverage of the story. Al Hart anchors this first hour of that coverage. This audio is from a collection of radio airchecks assembled by the late Bay Area radio engineer Mike Schweizer.
Fri, February 14, 2020
KCBS Radio Aircheck: 6 AM to 7 AM August 26, 1981.
On August 25, 1981, a construction crew punctured a 16-inch natural gas gas pipeline within a block of KCBS Radio's Embarcadero Center studios in San Francisco. The leak went on for hours, forcing the evacuation of 30,000 people--including everyone from the KCBS Radio newsroom and studios. The next morning, the station had returned to its facilities. Al Hart is the station's lead anchor, joined by Ken Ackerman. Chris Brecher is the traffic anchor. Reporters include Jerry Wilcox, Wilson van Alst, and Charlie Seraphin This audio is from a collection of radio airchecks assembled by the late Bay Area radio engineer Mike Schweizer.
Fri, January 24, 2020
KCBS Radio Coverage: 1981 San Francisco Financial District Gas Leak August 25, 1981
On August 25, 1981, a construction crew punctured a 16-inch natural gas gas pipeline within a block of KCBS Radio's Embarcadero Center studios in San Francisco. The leak went on for hours, forcing the evacuation of 30,000 people--including everyone from the KCBS Radio newsroom and studios. This edited version of live coverage reveals the challenges facing the broadcast team.
Mon, January 06, 2020
KCBS Radio "Jan Black's Journal" April 27, 1988
An edition of the KCBS Radio newsmagazine program "Jan Black's Journal" broadcast from San Jose's Fairmont Hotel on April 27, 1988. The guest host Jan Hutchins, himself the host of a regular evening interview program on KCBS Radio, discussed San Jose's history and role in the Bay Area with two guests: longtime San Jose Mercury reporter and political writer Harry Farrell and Bob Haulman, a longtime Bay Area broadcast journalist then serving as KCBS Radio morning traffic and weather anchor. Our thanks to the San Jose Historical Museum Association for preserving this audio file. Jan Black, by the way, was away from her show because she was on maternity leave.
Tue, December 10, 2019
KCBS Radio Special Report: "The Feinstein Years" August 27, 1987
On August 27, 1987, KCBS Radio broadcast an hour-long special report, "The Feinstein Years". Produced and reported by longtime KCBS Radio San Francisco City Hall reporter Barbara Taylor, the piece examined the legacy of a political figure who had served at San Francisco City Hall for more than 17 years (sworn in as a city Supervisor in 1970) and was a few months away from the end of her mayoral term. Feinstein would run for Governor of California in 1990, and after that failed campaign, would be elected to the United States Senate in 1992.?
Thu, November 21, 2019
KCBS Radio Special Report: "Gourmet Garbage" December 23, 1993
On December 23 1993, KCBS Radio broadcast a special report entitled “Gourmet Garbage”. Reporter Mike Sugerman looked into the amount of food wasted by the food service business, at a time when public attention was focused on the growing problems of hunger and homelessness. As part of his research, Sugerman spent time peering into trash cans behind stores, hotels, and restaurants. The anchor lead-in read: “ A lot of Bay Area food is getting trashed these days—literally. Every day, tons of good food is being dumped by commercial kitchens in restaurants, hotels, catering services, and other places that feed a lot of people. And every day, thousands of other people in the Bay Area are going hungry, more now than at any time in the recent past. Critics say if chefs would only save the food they are now wasting, there would be little hunger in the Bay Area. KCBS Reporter Mike Sugerman spent some time investigating the tasty trash problem and has put together this in depth special report: ‘Gourmet Garbage’. ”
Tue, November 12, 2019
KCBS Radio "News Conference" (Host Scott Beach) May 31, 1961
This May 31, 1961 KCBS Radio broadcast featured host Scott Beach interviewing UC Berkeley Professor Jack London, an expert in the area of Adult Education. The "News Conference" format allowed listeners to submit questions while the studio host conducted the live interview.
Mon, November 04, 2019
NewsVault: "25 Years of Broadcasting" 1945 Live Broadcast With 1975 Introduction
On November 10 1945, KQW (the predecessor call letters to KCBS Radio) aired a live production celebrating "25 Years of Broadcasting" as the radio industry marked a quarter-century since the first government-licensed broadcasts on KDKA/Pittsburgh and WWJ/Detroit. Of course, KQW/KCBS roots ran deeper, traced to the 1909 broadcasts by Dr. Charles Herrold in San Jose. This audio file, courtesy of the California Historical Radio Society, includes that 1945 broadcast as well as an introduction delivered in 1975 by Paul Cortland Smith, who was the engineer for that 25th Anniversary production.
Mon, October 14, 2019
The Loma Prieta Earthquake: Hour One of KCBS Radio Coverage (October 17, 1989)
This is a “telescoped” reel of audio from the period between 5pm and 6pm on October 17, 1989 as KCBS Radio swings into gear after the Loma Prieta Earthquake—the first hour of coverage following the 5:03 pm quake. Jan Black is the studio anchor. Stan Bunger and Mike Woodley are at Candlestick Park. Of note: a pre-recorded safety announcement, which urged listeners to consult the front of their phone books for detailed information. The first reports of the destruction of the elevated Cypress Freeway came 32 minutes after the quake struck. The first magnitude readings were broadcast nearly 40 minutes after the quake hit (originally referred to as 6.9 in Hollister area). The first reports of the failure of a portion of the eastern span of the Bay Bridge came more than 45 minutes after the quake.
Tue, September 24, 2019
NewsVault: KCBS Radio Broadcast: "Remember 1957-California Politics" Aired December 29, 1957 and January 1, 1958?
This is an example of the journalistic tradition known as the “yearender”. Aired on December 29, 1957 and January 1, 1958, it is a KCBS Radio broadcast anchored by Don Mozley. He sums up the year’s developments in California politics—including the announcement by state Attorney General Pat Brown that he would seek the governor’s office in the 1958 election. When he won that race, Brown launched the dynasty that saw he or his son Jerry hold the governor’s office for 24 of the next 60 years. The 1958 campaign season was notable because an announced challenge to incumbent Republican Governor Goodwin Knight by Senator William Knowland resulted in Knight declining to seek re-election. Instead, he ran for Knowland’s Senate seat, and both lost.
Tue, September 17, 2019
NewsVault: KCBS Radio "Contact" Hosted by Harv Morgan May 24, 1967
On May 24, 1967, KCBS Radio host Harv Morgan devoted his nighttime “Contact” program to a discussion of the brewing crisis in the Middle East. The “Six Day War” would break out two weeks later. Morgan’s first guest is Christina Harris, a longtime Middle East expert at the Hoover Institution and Stanford University. His second guest is UC Berkeley professor George Lenczowski, who the founder and first chair of what would become the Center for Middle Eastern Studies at Cal. (Note that gaps exist where commercial breaks were apparently “telescoped” and recording ends suddenly).
Tue, September 03, 2019
NewsVault: KCBS Radio "In Depth": Governor Gray Davis August 29, 1999
This episode of the KCBS Radio weekly program “In Depth” aired the weekend of August 28 th /29 th , 1999. Governor Gray Davis was the guest. He was interviewed by Mike Pulsipher and Ed Cavagnaro. Davis had been elected Governor the previous November, defeating Dan Lungren. His election ended a 16 year period during which Republicans controlled the Governor’s office. Davis was re-elected Governor in 2002, and nearly immediately, was targeted in a recall election that led to his removal from office. That October 2003 recall election installed Arnold Schwarzenegger as Governor. Among the issues discussed: the Bay Bridge retrofit. Ten years after the Loma Prieta earthquake, decisions still hadn’t been made about how to proceed. Davis also decried the ability of wealthy candidates to sidestep campaign-finance laws and self-fund their campaigns.
Wed, August 14, 2019
NewsVault: The Hilly Rose Exclusive Beatles Interview August 19, 1964
In August, 1964, The Beatles launched their first American tour, and the first stop was San Francisco. In the midst of Beatlemania, an enterprising KCBS Radio journalist named Hilly Rose scored an exclusive: an interview with the Fab Four in their hotel room. This episode includes the actual interview, held in the collection of the Bay Area Radio Museum, as well as an interview with Rose conducted in 2014 in which he told the story of how he scored his scoop. The typed label on the reel-to-reel tape box was clearly added later as it places the year as "1965" rather than the correct "1964".
Mon, August 05, 2019
NewsVault: "KCBS Radio Aircheck" October 22, 2000
This is a complete KCBS Radio aircheck of the 4 PM to 5 PM hour on Sunday, October 22, 2000. Dave Padilla anchors. The major stories of the day relate to a windstorm that caused numerous power outages and helped drive a wildfire in the Oakland Hills, not far from where the October 1991 fire destroyed thousands of homes and killed 25 people.
Thu, July 25, 2019
NewsVault: "The Liberator and the Liberated" July 27, 1986
KCBS Radio reporter Stan Bunger produced this special report, interviewing Nazi death camp survivor (and Bay Area resident) Eddy Wynschenk as well as the commander of the unit that liberated the Birkenau camp, Colonel Bob Clark of the 104th Infantry Division "Timberwolves". Original broadcast date: July 27, 1986.
Mon, July 15, 2019
NewsVault: "Al Douglas Show" with Ansel Adams November, 1963
Al Douglas was well-known to KCBS Radio evening listeners in the 1960’s. He hosted a call-in program called “Viewpoint” as well as an interview program called “The Al Douglas Show”. He was known for his wide-ranging interests, choosing interview subjects from across a wide spectrum. This example from the California Historical Society/Bay Area Radio Museum collection is an interview with legendary photographer Ansel Adams, aired in November 1963.
Mon, July 01, 2019
NewsVault: BART Transbay Tube Shutdown 1996
A power failure inside the Transbay Tube led to massive headaches for BART commuters in 1996. KCBS Radio reporters on both sides of the Bay swung into action to cover the story. The coverage led to numerous awards for the station.
Tue, June 18, 2019
NewsVault: "Victims of Bureaucracy" May 9, 1989
In May 1989, KCBS Radio reporter Mike Sugerman looked into a controversy surrounding the California Victims Compensation Fund and whether it was properly paying out claims.
Wed, June 05, 2019
NewsVault: An Assassination Attempt On President Ford
On September 22, 1975, President Gerald Ford was the target of an assassination attempt outside the St. Francis Hotel in San Francisco's Union Square. This audio file is a compendium of KCBS Radio coverage of the event.
Thu, May 30, 2019
NewsVault: "The World News Roundup" at 50 (March 1988 CBS Newsmark Broadcast)
In March of 1988, the legendary radio broadcast "The World News Roundup" turned 50. The weekly CBS Radio program "Newsmark" devoted an episode to honoring the WNR.
Mon, May 20, 2019
NewsVault: KCBS Radio "Spectrum 74" November 5, 1965
This program, hosted by Hilly Rose, examined the defeat of a bond measure that would have funded the reconstruction of the War Memorial Opera House. Rose’s guests were two legendary names: impresario Sol Hurok, who favored the bond measure, and Louis Lurie, real estate tycoon and theater investor. Lurie had opposed the bond measure. It was a spirited exchange, to say the least! At one point, the station breaks for a commercial while the two guests argue in the background. Upon return from the break, they’re still arguing. Note: there are a number of gaps on the original reel-to-reel recording; they remain in this digitized version. Host Hilly Rose explains he was responsible, having cut the microphones when he felt the conversation had gotten too heated!
Mon, May 13, 2019
NewsVault: KCBS Radio Coverage: Queen and President Depart San Francisco March 5, 1983
This is a portion of KCBS Radio live coverage around 9am on March 5, 1983 as President and Mrs. Reagan accompanied Britain's Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip from San Francisco to end a whirlwind visit by both the First Couple and the Royal Couple. The royal yacht Britannia docked at San Francisco's Pier 50, and the Queen and Prince Philip used the ship to host a dinner in honor of the Reagans' 31st wedding anniversary. The KCBS Radio team includes field reporter Bob Melrose and studio anchors Stan Bunger and Jerry Wilcox.
Mon, May 06, 2019
NewsVault: "KCBS In Depth" May 14, 1995: Julia Child with Narsai David
"That's feeding, not eating": one of the unrestrained comments from famed chef, broadcaster and writer Julia Child in this interview from the long-running KCBS Radio series "In Depth". The interviewer was KCBS Radio Food and Wine Editor Narsai David. This episode aired on May 14, 1995.
Mon, April 29, 2019
NewsVault: Jane Riley's "Bay Area Woman" With Guest Janis Cooke Newman
Jane Riley spent 30 years at KCBS Radio. She was hired in 1971 for a secretarial job and spent many years as the administrative assistant to the station’s vice president and general manager. For 25 years, Riley produced and hosted a program she created, “Bay Area Woman”. She figured she interviewed 2,000 women from all walks of life. She finally retired at age 79. Riley told the San Francisco Chronicle in 2011, “When I first started, women weren’t allowed to be on the air, and by the time I left the newsroom was practically filled with women,” Riley said. “I wasn’t afraid to push. I hope I helped a little bit” in breaking that glass ceiling. Jane Riley died in 2014 at age 89. In this episode, Jane interviews Janis Cooke Newman, author of "The Russian Word for Snow: A True Story of Adoption" (published in 2001)
Mon, April 22, 2019
NewsVault: KCBS Radio Reporters Cover Northern California Floods February 1986 ?
This collection of pieces by KCBS Radio reporters came from the week of February 17-21, 1986, when historic rainfall inundated Northern California. Reporters include Barry Simmons, Mike Sugerman, Ken Bastida, Jerry Wilcox, Lynn Jimenez, and Wayne Jordan.
Mon, April 15, 2019
NewsVault: "KCBS NewsMagazine" and "KCBS Kitchen", 1983
A special edition of the "KCBS NewsMagazine", hosted by Michael Dixon. This remote broadcast in the summer of 1983 originates from the Santa Clara County Fair in San Jose. Al Hart and Harvey Steiman, who host the "KCBS Kitchen", have joined Dixon for this broadcast. Segment includes local newsbreak anchored by Al Helmso and a portion of a CBS hourly newscast anchored by Douglas Edwards.
Mon, April 08, 2019
NewsVault: KCBS Radio Coverage Visit of Pope John Paul II, 1987
During his 1987 visit to the United States and Canada, Pope John Paul II spent two days in Northern California. KCBS Radio reporters stayed with the pontiff during those two days, covering a Papal Mass at Laguna Seca Raceway, visits to the Basilica of the Mission of San Carlos in Carmel and Mission Dolores in San Francisco, a event at Saint Mary's Cathedral in San Francisco, and his final stop, a Papal Mass at Candlestick Park. This recording is a "telescoped" set of highlights from the coverage.
Tue, April 02, 2019
NewsVault: KCBS Radio Special Report: "Bleak Harvest" May 29, 1991
A winter freeze in early 1991 severely damaged millions of dollars’ worth of California crops. But there was also a human toll. On May 29, 1991, KCBS Radio broadcast a special report, “Bleak Harvest”, examining the plight of farmworkers whose lives were made worse by the freeze. KCBS Radio’s Rebecca Corral reported from the Salinas-Watsonville agricultural area. The anchor lead-in read: “Mention last winter’s freeze to any Californians and the strongest memory you’re likely to trigger is a jump in the price of produce at the grocery store. But many of California’s farmworkers still live with the freeze every day. Acre after acre of destroyed crops have pushed the unemployment rate among field hands to a staggering 25 percent. That Depression-era unemployment rate is making life even more difficult for people who already struggle just to scratch out a living. KCBS Newsradio’s Rebecca Corral spent some time in one farmworker community, the Salinas Watsonville area…for this special report, ‘Bleak Harvest’.”
Mon, March 25, 2019
NewsVault: Frank Knight Interviews Roy Cohn October 11, 1968
In 1968, attorney Roy Cohn sat down for an interview with KCBS Radio anchor Frank Knight. At that time, Cohn was less than twenty years removed from his roles in the Julius and Ethel Rosenberg case and the Army-McCarthy hearings, and his work with clients like Aristotle Onassis and Donald Trump was still in the future.
Thu, March 07, 2019
NewsVault: KCBS Radio Coverage: General Chemical Leak July 26, 1993
On July 26, 1993, a railroad car being unloaded at the General Chemical plant in Richmond began to leak. A massive toxic cloud of sulfuric acid soon spread for miles, sending thousands of people for medical treatment. Eventually, 60,000 people would file claims and lawsuits against General Chemical. KCBS Radio anchors Lois Melkonian, Al Hart and Bob Price are heard on this reel of excerpts from the station’s coverage. Reporters on the story included George Harris, Dave Padilla, Bob Melrose and Ron Lyons.
Fri, March 01, 2019
NewsVault: KCBS Radio "In Depth": Walter Cronkite February 16, 1997
The legendary broadcast journalist Walter Cronkite was interviewed for the weekly KCBS Radio series "In Depth" by Rebecca Corral and Ed Cavagnaro in a segment that originally aired on February 16, 1997
Fri, February 22, 2019
NewsVault: KCBS Radio Special Report: “Beyond the Anger” June 26, 1992
After the jury verdict acquitting four Los Angeles Police officers of criminal charges in the Rodney King beating, rioting claimed more than 60 lives, did over a billion dollars in damage, and led to more than 12,000 arrests. On June 26, 1992, KCBS Radio broadcast a special report called "Beyond the Anger", looking at the issues of inner-city hopelessness and poverty, as well as signs of positive movement. Reporters Mike Sugerman, Jerry Wilcox and George Harris contributed.
Thu, February 14, 2019
NewsVault: KCBS Radio Aircheck--Coverage of Northern California Floods 1986
The winter of 1986 saw two weeks of non-stop rain inundate Northern California. The wettest day of that stretch was Monday February 17th, when 10 weather stations scattered across northern California reported 24-hour rainfall totals of more than 10 inches. This segment is captured as KCBS Radio began its 9 p.m. hour. Wayne Jordan is anchoring, with reporters Bob Melrose and Lynn Jimenez contributing.
Fri, February 08, 2019
NewsVault: KCBS Radio Special Report on Mayor Dianne Feinstein (1985)
In 1985, KCBS Radio reporter Barbara Taylor, a longtime San Francisco City Hall reporter, produced a 28-minute "KCBS Reports" segment on the mayoral administration of Dianne Feinstein. By then, Feinstein had already been an elected official in San Francisco for 16 years.
Fri, February 01, 2019
NewsVault: KCBS Radio "In Depth" With Ben Bradlee October 22, 1995
This episode of the KCBS Radio interview series "In Depth" featured former Washington Post editor Ben Bradlee. The interviewers are KCBS Radio Anchor Mike Pulsipher and News Director Ed Cavagnaro.
Fri, January 25, 2019
NewsVault: Eldridge Cleaver News Conference October 8, 1968
On October 8, 1968, Black Panther leader and Peace and Freedom Party Presidential candidate Eldridge Cleaver held a news conference in Oakland. He reacted to the news that the Supreme Court of the United States had refused to intervene in Cleaver's battle to appear on the California ballot in the 1968 Presidential election. California Secretary of State Frank M. Jordan had ruled that since Cleaver would not be the Constitutionally-required 35 years of age by the time of the Presidential inauguration, he was not a legitimate candidate.
Fri, January 18, 2019
NewsVault: Dick Leonard Records Own Testimony in San Francisco Courtroom January 7, 1958
On January 7, 1958, KCBS Radio news editor Dick Leonard appeared as a witness in a San Francisco criminal trial. Leonard's appearance was noteworthy not just because a journalist had been called to testify, but also because Superior Court Judge Raymond Arata allowed him to record the proceedings with the relatively-new tool for radio reporters: a "Mohawk Midgetape" audio recorder. This audio file was created from a reel-to-reel tape dubbed from the original Midgetape recording and is incomplete due to multiple breaks in the tape.
Fri, January 11, 2019
NewsVault: "Out of the Ashes" October 1992
Between October 12 and 20 1992, KCBS Radio aired a series of pieces by reporter Doug Sovern marking the one-year anniversary of the Oakland Hills firestorm, also known as the Tunnel Fire. That fire killed 25 people and destroyed more than 3,000 homes and apartment units.
Mon, January 07, 2019
NewsVault: "Memories of JFK" November 22, 1988
On the 25th anniversary of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, KCBS Radio anchor Stan Bunger compiled a report weaving together excerpts from the 1963 live coverage and memories from Bay Area residents who recalled where they were when they heard the news. The report begins with the show Arthur Godfrey Time , which was airing on KCBS Radio when the reports began to stream in from Dallas.
Wed, December 26, 2018
NewsVault: "Drinking and Driving--The Killer Next Door" December 31, 2000
On New Year’s Eve 2000, KCBS Radio re-broadcast a special report entitled “Drinking and Driving—The Killer Next Door”. Reporter Mike Sugerman took listeners beyond the statistics and inside the personal stories.
Tue, December 18, 2018
NewsVault: "Conversation on Death Row" April 16, 1992
On April 16, 1992 KCBS Radio aired a lengthy interview by reporter Jerry Wilcox with death row inmate Pedro Arias. Wilcox met with Arias at San Quentin Prison, where Arias, a convicted murderer from Sacramento, had been sent two years earlier to await his execution. The interview was broadcast less than a week before the scheduled execution of Robert Alton Harris marked the resumption of executions in California after a 25-year hiatus.
Tue, December 11, 2018
NewsVault: Moscone-Milk Assassinations November 27, 1978
On November 27, 1978, a shocking story unfolded in San Francisco: Mayor George Moscone and Supervisor Harvey Milk were shot and killed at City Hall by former Supervisor Dan White. This episode features an unedited "aircheck" of KCBS Radio coverage beginning shortly after 11 a.m., featuring field reports from Jim Hamblin and Barbara Taylor.
Tue, November 20, 2018
NewsVault: Alioto/Hayakawa News Conference December 5, 1968
Three days after the tumultuous re-opening of what was then called San Francisco State College during a period of campus unrest, interim SF State President S. I. Hayakawa and San Francisco Mayor Joseph Alioto met with reporters on the evening of December 5, 1968. You'll hear KCBS Radio anchor Frank Knight introduce the station's live coverage.
Tue, November 20, 2018
NewsVault: Interview with Dr. S. I. Hayakawa December 3, 1968
Student unrest at what was then known as San Francisco State College led to the shutdown of the campus in the fall of 1968. Newly-installed President S. I. Hayakawa ordered the campus re-opened on December 2, 1968, leading to a confrontation between Hayakawa and protesters with a loudspeaker-equipped truck. The next day, he sat down for an extended interview with KCBS Radio Managing Editor Jim Simon.
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