Below is the link to an article with photographs of Class I-A Clear Channel AM Radio Station, and longtime CBS Radio affiliate KRLD-AM.

The Radio Laboratories of Dallas had put KRLD-AM on the air in October, 1926. The call letters KRLD stand For Radio Laboratories of Dallas. In 1939, KRLD-AM had upgraded its license to a Class I-A Clear Channel license, and its Effective Radiated Power (ERP) to 50 kilowatts.

KRLD-AM had spawned an FM stepchild, KRLD-FM (assigned by the FCC to transmit its signal at 92.5 Megacycles); and KRLD-TV (assigned by the FCC to transmit its signal at Channel 4).

KRLD-TV would change its call letters to KDFW-TV in 1970, and just like the ex-Storer Television Stations in Detroit, Cleveland, Atlanta, and Milwaukee; KBTC-TV in Austin, Texas; and WTVT-TV in Tampa, Florida; KRLD-TV/KDFW-TV would be one of many CBS Television affiliates falling victim to the changeover of becoming a FOX affiliate during the years 1994-1995.

As a longtime CBS Radio affiliate, KRLD had aired all of the CBS Radio Programs that the network had aired during the Golden Age of Radio, including Serials, Dramas, Game and Quiz Shows, Big Band performances, CBS Radio News Programs and Bulletins; and the like.

KRLD-AM would also originate a Country Music Radio Program called the Big D Jamboree, and would be networked nationally by CBS Radio for many years. The Big D Jamboree was not unlike The Grand Ole Opry of the WSM Radio and Television Stations, and the Louisiana Hayride that had originated from Radio Station KWKH-AM, KSLA-TV; and was also notably syndicated by Crosley/Avco Broadcasting, WLW-AM and WLWT-TV.

It shall be noted that with Elvis Presley having always wanted to be more of a Rhythm & Blues, and Rockabilly Music Artist, and never a genuine Country Music Artist; with Elvis Presley having given an inappropriate performance during his one and only appearance at the Grand Ole Opry, and being permanently expelled from the Grand Ole Opry upon his inappropriate performance, that Elvis was sent to the Louisiana Hayride as an outlet that would more likely tolerate him than the Grand Ole Opry ever would. Much in the same manner as say, when a pupil is permanently expelled from a Public School; that a Religious, Military, Reformatory, or any other type of Private School would likely be more than willing to admit, and deal with that pupil from that point forward.

It shall also be noted that for a time, Elvis Presley had also performed at the Big D Jamboree.

Moreover, the Big D Jamboree had taken place at the Dallas Sportatorium; which was demolished in 2003, and for much of its existence; was used mostly as a venue for Wrestling Events, and as a training ground for many well-known Professional Wrestlers; among them is Steven James Anderson (more commonly known as Steve Austin).

To a lesser extent, the Dallas Sportatorium was also used for Boxing Events, and when the emergence of Progressive Rock Music had taken place during the 1960’s, and gained popularity during this time; the Dallas Sportatorium had hosted Concerts of individual Rock musicians, and Rock bands of the era.

Also, speaking of the Dallas Sportatorium; KRLD-AM had also aired locally aired Wrestling events that had taken place at the Dallas Sportatorium, and KRLD Radio and Television News Reporter and Sportscaster Bill Mercer had served as the Color Commentator for the Wrestling events that KRLD-AM had aired locally.

In 1978, KRLD-AM switched from a Music-based Variety format to the All-News format that it retains well into the present day.

Send Us Your Blast From The Past: KRLD-AM, 1994