Las Vegas’ first radio station also the first to have their license denied by the FCC

While searching online for more information on Las Vegas’ first radio station KGIX, I discovered the station has the dubious distinction of being the first license application denied by the FCC. The commission had only been in existence for one year and the denial was one of many roadblocks the 100-watt AM station faced in its very short history.

In his blog Radio Analyst Jose Fritz wrote,
“As broadcasting began to develop, it became obvious to lawmakers that some type of regulation was needed to provide for orderly use of the airwaves. To fill this need, the FCC (Federal Communications Commission) was formed in 1934, the end result of the Communications Act of the same year. The FCC, now observing its 76th year, was officially established on June 19, 1934, when President Franklin Roosevelt signed the enabling legislation.”

“Within a year of that signature, the first license application was denied. It would have belonged to KGIX, Las Vegas for failure to complete its construction within the granted CP as required. It was deleted May 14 1935. These days that’s kind of an old story.”

“Eventually Owner J.M. Heaton re-files and eventually does bring KGIX on air. It becomes the first radio station in Las Vegas and starts broadcasting services devoted to the town’s foundation and to its early days. The enterprise flops and shuts down.”

“Las Vegas didn’t have a radio station until Entrepreneur Max Kelch came in and bought KENO in 1940.”

Las Vegas broadcasting veteran Bob Stoldal is currently researching KGIX and plans on writing an article on the station’s history.  Bob states,

“Heaton, was the station agent for the railroad, an important position as he was basically the number one railroad guy in Las Vegas for a long time.
Appears to have been a well paid position, he bought a ranch in paradise valley, did not appear to make a go of it.
Well respected, he and his wife as hard workers.
After he died, she tried to keep the radio station license, but just could not get enough support.”

Many thanks to Bob for his complimentary words on the site, and for his help in finding information about this little-known piece of Las Vegas broadcasting history.  Bob is also trying to pin down the location of KGIX… an index of photographs in the UNLV Library Special Collections reveals one of the wife of J.M. Heaton, it states there were grand plans for the station with studios on Fremont Street but they landed at the corner of 9th and Mesquite.  An interview with George and Ed Von Tobel conducted by Frank Wright quotes George as remembering the station being somewhere near 10th and 12th streets.  There’s no evidence today of a broadcasting facility, except for the large tower on Ogden and 10th Streets.  I doubt if this was ever used by the station, if I recall correctly it was erected in the 1960s or 70s with its purpose being an support structure for signs and advertisements.  The venture ran out of money and the cost to bring this structure down is quite high.

KGIX memories from the NEVADA STATE MUSEUM & HISTORICAL SOCIETY here:
http://www.knpr.org/lvir/VonTobel.txt

Source: Arcane Radio Trivia
http://tenwatts.blogspot.com/2005/10/first-license-denial.html