An NPR member station
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
The first ten years of Spokane Public RadioThe second ten yearsThe third ten yearsThe last ten years

1985 for SPR

January

From a project in George Cole’s Basement to its 5th year, a note from Susan Wallace, President of the Board, about the history of KPBX.

Inland Northwest Voices, produced by Phyllis Silver, is still going strong.

Sidran on Record is a 13 week series looking at new releases.

Six one-hour programs of Dixieland Jubilee, celebrate the world’s largest international jazz festival.

 

February

Feb 5 - Garrison Keillor comes to the Opera House with Chet Atkins.

Radio begins at 5 a.m. instead of 6, starting Feb 4, with Morning Edition.

March

March 2 - KPBX participates in the live call-in Tax Clinic.

Women’s History Week programs.

Vintage Jazz from the Vineyard, midnight - 1 a.m. on Saturday nights.

March 10 - Prairie Home Companion party at the Sons of Norway Hall again.

Celebrating 300 years of Bach, programming for his 300th birthday on March 21, as well as a benefit from the American Guild of Organists at Messiah Lutheran Church.

April

Fresh Air debuts.

Interview about Marian McPartland.

KPBX presents Don Giovanni and The Magic Flute at the Magic Lantern.

May

A Prairie Home Companion’s Butch Thompson appears with Spokane Jazz Orchestra.

Three new programs begin: Bay Area Radio Drama, Now Nordine, New Age Spectrum.

KPBX carries two live broadcasts of the 14th Annual Northwest Folk Festival.

KPBX presents Carmen at the Magic Lantern.

Series from Senator Paula Hawkins about children’s rights called “Children at Risk.”

Bike-A-Thon

  June

Second Annual KPBX Bike-A-Thon

Article on Noah Adams, “the Indiana Jones of Public Radio.”

Nine-part series of radio dramas called Midnight.

New series Jazz at the Institute and Now Nordine.

July

Garrison Keillor receives the Edward R. Murrow Award

New show: A Private Space: The Personal Diaries of Women. 

August

KPBX receives funding from WA State Arts Commission.

Tribute to Charlie Parker.

 

September

82 bicyclists raise $13,500 in pledges from the third annual Bike-A-Thon.

Noah Adams interview.

 

November

Harlem Hit Parade history of 1940’s R&B series.

Hearts of Space begins.

KPBX shuffles programming: Morning Edition 5 - 9, classical 9 - 4, All Things Considered/Pubilc Affairs 4 - 6, Radio drama 6 - 7, symphony concerts 7 - 10, jazz til signoff, in response to industry research that recommended tightening up the schedule and increasing news.

December 

Radio Reader features The Grasshopper Trap by Patrick McManus.

 

Leona Vander Molen moved to Spokane in 2017 for graduate school and couldn’t bring herself to leave due to the sun, scenery, and community. She grew up in Columbus, Ohio, and attended Denison University for a BA in English and Psychology. Following graduation she moved to Japan for a year as a part of the JET program, and taught as an assistant English teacher on the island of Awaji. She returned to the US to pursue an MFA in creative writing, which she received from Eastern Washington University. While listening to Spokane Public Radio Leona likes to knit, pet her cat, or drive to the nearest bakery for a bagel or five.
Related Content
  • FebruaryRadio Reader features Growing Up by Russell Baker, read by Garrison Keillor.A four-part series on jazz on film is broadcast.The Corporate…