[Description by Mike Lynch]It began on November 2, 1920 when Leo Rosenberg broadcast the results of the
Harding-Cox Presidential election. KDKA wasn’t the first broadcaster, but the station’s claim as “the first ” is correct if you consider that it was the first commercial radio station to be issued a broadcasting license.It was KDKA that hired the first full-time radio announcer in broadcast history when
Harold W. Arlin came on board as the station’s staff announcer. Arlin introduced many great celebrities such as William Jennings Bryan and Will Rogers.

KDKA was also first with a regularly scheduled church service in January, 1921 as well
as first with the broadcast of a Professional Baseball Game between the Pirates and
Phillies in August of the same year.

By 1946 KDKA was still broadcasting the “Farm Hour News” every weekday morning at
six along with a “full service” format inlcuding news, sports interviews, and
play-by-play coverage of the Pirates, Penquins and Steelers.
In the late 50’s KDKA began blending top forty music into their format and the
battle of Pittsburgh was on.

But with the help of its powerful TV outlet, KDKA (Channel 2), Clark Race was able to stay ahead of KQV in spite of the fact that KQV was rocking around the clock while KDKA was airing live sports events.

By the late 60’s and 70’s KDKA and KQV were joined in the top forty battle by two
other AM rockers, 13Q and WIXZ. But the 50,000 watt KDKA continued to dominate the Pittsburgh market, as it does today with a 24 hour News-Talk format.

Bob Shannon,1972
Some of KDKA’s great personalties have included Clark Race, Rege Cordic,
Terry McGovern, Buzz Brindle, Jack Armstrong and, Bob Shannon, heard here on the station’s 53rd anniversary.

At the time, Shannon was working at both KDKA and WIXY Cleveland. He went on to do mornings at KDWB Minneapolis/St. Paul and afternoons at KHJ and KFI Los Angeles.