40 Years of SPR

January/February March 

35th Anniversary of Spokane Public Radio is on  January 20!

SPR goes to the movies celebrated the Coen Brothers, with a showing of “Raising Arizona” and “O Brother, Where Art Thou,” along with a discussion by the Movies 101 crew.

April/May/June 

Cokie Roberts comes  to talk about her new book “Capitol Dames” at the Bing on May 14.

Too Slim and the Tail Draggers Unplugged, at The Bing on June 11.

January/February/March

BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet return to Spokane for an SPR benefit concert on a snowy night in February.

Dr. Cary Boyce announces the acquisition of Firestation No.3 for SPR’s new home. Moving to a Sound Future is the theme of the Capital Campaign.

Siobhan Flanagan, an intern from Lewis and Clark High School takes over production of Broadway Matinee which airs on Wednesday mornings.

April/May/June 

SPR launches its first (and successful) one day pledge drive.

Don Gonyea comes to Spokane to present a lecture and audience Q&A program at The Bing Crosby Theater, to benefit SPR.

A special Movies 101 program is recorded at The Bing Crosby Theater, with a discussion of the films of Alfred Hitchcock, followed by a screening of “North by Northwest.”

The Ted Radio Hour begins airing as a regular part of the Sunday morning lineup on KSFC.

January/February/March 

News Correspondent Paige Browning joins SPR.

SPR presents a Health Forum on Northwest Water: Your Health, Your Life.

The Guide changes format, from a newsprint magazine to a glossy trifold.

Frank Delaney’s program Backwater Blues Hour returns to the lineup of KPBX, followed by Beale Street Caravan.

January/February/March 

Scott Kirby performs at the KPBX Kids’ Concert on January 22, in celebration of the Roots of Ragtime.

The Recording and Video Sale takes place at the Masonic Center Auditorium.

April/May/June

Jack Wigen of British Columbia joins the SPR board. 

Jessica Robinson joins SPR as the Northwest News Network Correspondent and North Idaho Bureau Chief.

Mary Harvill joins the staff.

January/February

SPR Celebrates 30 years!

A Way With Words starts on KSFC.

Tony Flinn begins his program Just A Theory putting local academics to the test.

March/April 

Steve Becker moderates a Health Forum on Immunization at the Spokane City Hall Council Chambers.

May/June 

Musicfest Northwest broadcasts live again from the KPBX studios.

January/February

KPBX host John Johnson discusses A Hard Day’s Night, the movie that started it all, and the band that influenced music forever, at the January KPBX Kids’ Concert.

March/April

SPR Health Forum examines the causes & effects that hinder sleep, and introduces treatments that lead to uninterrupted rest.

March KPBX Kids’ Concert features tropical music from Moko Jumbie & dance from The Silver Spurs.

January/February 

Community Events include the annual Recording and Video sale at the Masonic Center Auditorium and a KPBX Kids’ Concert featuring Cap’n Ruby & The Scurvy Dogs.

Amy Laskowski joins the staff.

Tina Bjorklund returns with her new show, Village Rock.

March/April 

Community events include a Health Forum focusing on infertility and two KPBX Kids’ Concerts featuring

January/February 

Jazz at Lincoln Center remembers Ed Bradley, journalist and host of the program. Bradley died on November 9, 2006, at age 65.

Performance Today moves to Minneapolis.

Harlan McKasato returns to host Native America Calling which airs on KSFC.

March/April 2007

Special community programs include “Celtic Traditions” Kids Concert, and a health forum on Autism.

January/February

KPBX Kids’ Concert features Mardi Gras with music by The Dixie Dandies and square dancing music by River City Ramblers.

Tori Piecuch joins the SPR family.

Performance Today pays tribute to Martin Luther King and Rosa Parks.

JazzSet returns to KPBX with host Dee Dee Bridgewater.

R&V Sale features the Olinda Duo and Keeler, Melvin, and Morse.

March/April 

January 

New logo for SPR; lots of changes coming to the Guide (color, bi-monthly).

SPR celebrates 25 years of broadcasting.

February 

Men in Black: Percussion quartet for the next KPBX Kids’ Concert.

KPBX re-airs Jazz Masters, a 1987 series featuring local talent, and also re-airs The Pied Piper.

March/April

The Klezmer Band performs for a KPBX Kids’ Concert and Robert Munsch comes for SPR and Get Lit!

January 

Chinese music at the KPBX Kids’ Concert and SPR’s 24th anniversary at CenterStage.

February

Homeless Marathon to air from Cleveland, OH mid-month.

SPR joins the Northwest Public Affairs Network (N3).

March

Haran Irish Dancers perform at the next KPBX Kids’ Concert with Celtic Nots.

SPR forum addresses careers, housing, government programs and more for Baby Boomers.

April 

January

KPBX Kids’ Concert presents “A Day in the Life of Mrs. Bach,” featuring Darnelle Preston & the Spokane Children’s Chorus.

Michele Norris & Melissa Block join All Things Considered, along with Steve Inskeep.

February 

SPR and Spokane Regional Health present Growing Up Healthy with live forums.

Dawnelle Shaw joins the crew as Financial Assistant.

January 

Anniversary party at Cameo Catering.

Bill Roesch series, A Collector’s World of Opera,  airs Wednesdays at 7 p.m.

Marty Demarest starts a 15-part series exploring the string quartets of Shostakovich.

SPR hosts NPR’s Murray Horwitz.

February 

The EWU percussion ensemble performs at a KPBX  Kids’ Concert.

March

Health Forum to discuss the “Dangers of Diabetes.”

January

Kids’ Concert exploring the sounds of animals and machines.

Nancy Roth reads the local memoir, Atomic Farmgirl: The Betrayal of Chief Qualchan, The Appaloosa, and Me by Teri Hein.

Fred Child becomes host of Performance Today.

February 

Keli Cunningham becomes SPR’s Volunteer Coordinator. 

All Things Considered spin-off All Songs Considered becomes NPR’s first online-only show.

January 

John Vlahovich & Rusty Nelson join the team.

New show: Beyond Computers.

March

Health forum on heart health.

Live performance for Nacho Celtic at the Civic Theater.

SPR website gets an overhaul and more accessibility.

Juan Williams becomes Talk of the Nation host.

April 

January 

Sounds of the century showcased on All Things Considered.

Marty Demarest features music of the 20th century, delving deep into the SPR music library.

Birthday open-house announced.

February 

Gospel Choir at the KPBX Kids’ Concert.

March 

Shoestring Quartet: classical meets jazz, folk & rap at a KPBX Kids’ Concert.

Health forum tackles cancer.

January

“Race at the Kitchen Table” panel headed by Doug Nadvornick.

February 

Gunther Schuller in Spokane and interviewed by Verne Windham.

Banjo Extravaganza Kids’ Concert.

March 

Health forum on menopause.

April 

Volunteer thank you event takes you around the world in 2 hours.

May 

February 

KSFC announced for the coming year! Inland Journal returns 4 times a week!

Volunteer Dan Treecraft saves KPBX antenna in wild storm.

March

KPBX health forum about environmental impact/hazards to health.

39 Heaven's Gates Cultists perish in suicide ritual in California.

April 

KPBX hosts Magic Flute at the Magic Lantern.

First 7-day membership drive announced.

January 

The Health Journal, a weekly call-in health series, begins and is hosted by Doug Nadvornick. 

February 

“African American Music Tree II” series runs  devoted to Black History Month.

Beginning of Piano Fund campaign to buy the grand piano.

Widespread flooding in Washington, Oregon and Idaho; causes 3 deaths and an estimate $800 million in damage.

March 

January

KPBX celebrates its 15th anniversary!

February

Radio series goes inside the Gingrich revolution: 13 week series.

Announcer profile on Lakshmi Singh (now an NPR newscaster).

March 

SPR Health Forun: Cures & Costs, an update on healthcare reform in WA.

Presented on-air Timber Summit by Doug Nadvornick.

April 

January

“Wade in the Water: African American Sacred Traditions” series with NPR & The Smithsonian

March 

“Cures & Costs: Healthcare Reform in America” public issues forum presented by SPR and the Spokane Public Library with Doug Nadvornick moderating and a huge panel.

April

“Breaking the Cycle: How Do We Stop Child Abuse” – four-part series from NPR with local series hosted by Doug Nadvornick with local experts and listener call-in.

February 

Recordings & Videos Sale at REI.

Feb 26 - Bombing of World Trade Center (North Tower) kills six.

Feb 28 - Waco Siege begins, ends 51 days later with many casualties including Branch Davidian leader Koresh.

March

Public Radio receives the duPont Golden Baton award for overall news excellence. First time that the duPont, Columbia’s highest honor, is given to news.  

June

February

Iowa Writers Workshop: Saturdays at 3.

March

The River City Chili Cook-off featuring: live blues, chili tasting, commemorative T’s, prizes benefiting SPR.

June

Beginning of 5 part series on fundamentalist religions called The Glory & The Power: Fundamentalisms Observed.

January  

First mention of Recordings and Video Sale – “The KPBX Record, Tape and CD Sale” at REI who hosted the event.

February 

The R&V sale included over 3,500 recordings. Special thanks to DJ’s Sound City, REI, Street Music, Frederick and Nelson and Waldenbooks.

Susan Laney, KPBX’s afternoon classical music host, performs with Michael Price and Margaret Berry at the Metropolitan Performing Arts Center and is later broadcast.

January

Car Talk begins on KPBX in January.

February 

South Africa legalizes ANC, frees Nelson Mandela after 27 years in prison.

May

Marian McPartland comes to Spokane Public Radio.

June

First Hoopfest held in Spokane.

July

January

In 1989, Spokane’s Fox Theatre becomes a discount movie house.

Fabruary

Feb 14 - Iran offers reward for London writer Rushdie's death who lived to appear at Spokane’s Get Lit in 2005.

March

Mar 24 - Exxon Valdez oil spill fouls Alaskan Coast. 

June

February

Feb 5 - U.S. indicts Panamanian Military Leader Noriega on drug charges. 

May

May 15 - Soviets begin to withdraw troops from Afghanistan. 

May 27 - U.S. Senate ratifies Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty.

May 29 - Reagan, Gorbachev hold Moscow Summit.

July

July 3 - U.S. Navy shoots down Iranian airliner over Persian Gulf, killing 290.

January

KPBX celebrates 7 years.

March

Mar 4 – President Reagan accepts full responsibility for the Iran-Contra Affair in a nationally televised address.

Mar 20 – FDA approves AZT, an antiviral drug used in the treatment of AIDS.

October

KPBX sponsors the International Beer Tasting Festival at the Spokane Interstate Fairgrounds.

Oct 19 – The Dow plunges 508 points, the largest one-day percentage decline in history.

January

January 28 – Space shuttle challenger breaks apart 73 seconds into its flight, killing all seven astronauts on board, including Christa McAuliffe, a high school teacher who was selected from more than 11,000 applicants for nasa’s teacher in space project.

April

April 26 – In Ukraine, the Chernobyl nuclear power plant explodes, releasing radioactive fallout across much of Europe – the worst nuclear power plant disaster in history.