Bio: W. G. Patterson, Caddo Parish La Source: From Chronicles of Shreveport and Caddo Parish, Maude Hearn O'Pry, 1928, Submitted by: Kay Thompson Brown ********************************************************** ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** ************ W. G. PATTERSON Radio Pioneer W. C. PATTERSON was born in Nashville, Tenn., on July 22, 1889, moved to Shreveport in 1906, being employed by the Tilson Carriage Co., then located in the Boisseau Block, in an old brick and galvanized iron building at the corner of Spring and Milam streets for several years, later traveling the Southwest and Pacific as District Manager for the Columbus Motor Car Co., of Columbus, Ohio; in 1918, The W. C. Patterson Co., Inc., of Shreveport, was organized, handling the Franklin and Reo cars, and in 1921, Mr. Patterson retired from the motor car business. Four years has brought a mighty difference in radio broadcasting. Early in 1922, W. C. Patterson, a pioneer in this field, realizing that radio broadcasting and receiving was by far the greatest medium by which the American public could be reached with publicity and entertainment, and believing in it, erected and installed in March, 1922, a little ten watt DeForest transmitter in the Assembly Hall at Centenary College, being assigned the call letters WDAN, and licensed by the Department of Commerce to broadcast on 360 meters, using the stage of the Assembly Hall for a studio or place from which to broadcast programs, the majority of which consisted of "Canned Music" manufactured by the phonograph. Occasionally a program being broadcast by local soloists and musicians. On rare occasions one of Shreveport's prominent speakers was prevailed upon to talk into the "Mic." (Which, by the way, resembled a phonograph horn of the old days, about a yard and a half long and with a far end diameter of about 24 inches, attached to the old rattle type transmitter). In many instances their talks were completed after many interruptions caused by rigors of the speaker from microphone fright. This has been the experience of many a public speaker in addressing the invisible audience, but nevertheless their services were in earnest and given in furthering the interest and development of their community. After several months operation of WDAN, the ten watt station, a fifty watt transmitter was built, to replace the smaller outfit. The department granting an increase in power, changing the call letters to WCAQ, which was really the beginning of putting "Shreveport on the Air," this fifty watt station having been heard at a distance of more than 1,500 miles. A regular schedule of broadcasting musical programs, talks, lectures, etc., was maintained as well as broadcasting the morning and evening services of the First Baptist Church, for several months without cost to the church. Receiving sets were scarce in those days, but those who owned them were "Dyed in the wool Fans" from the time the programs started until "signing off." The telephone (we had a telephone, too) rang continually, one listener condemning the program artists and announcer, or speeler, and the next one saying they were the "best ever." When we believed we had an especially good program we received the largest number of knocks, and when we were putting on something "punk," we were informed by our listeners that "the concert was simply wonderful." One person would shout for "Jazz" and we would play a jazz selection, only to be flooded with calls to "cut out that stuff and give us something classical." Verily the task of the artists and announcer was a tough one, but luckily the listeners were not close enough to cause any physical harm. And so it goes down to the present day listener. During the winter of '23, WGAQ was moved to the City Hall, programs being broadcast from the auditorium, and for several months noon and night concerts were broadcast from the Peacock Room of the Inn Hotel, and during the remodeling of the City Hall, the transmitter was moved to 1513 Laurel street, the home of W. E. Antony, who has contributed much talent and labor towards radio broadcasting, having been associated with W 0. Patterson for the past several years. Mr. Antony built the first spark set in Shreveport some ten or twelve years ago, having since communicated with practically every country on the globe. In the spring of 1924, W. C. Patterson interested the Shreveport Times and the Hotel Youree, after materially increasing the power. Musical programs being broadcast from the Josephine Ball Room, and dance music from the Roof Garden, and after a year's operation under this arrangement W. G. Patterson, realizing that the power of the station would have to be increased to keep from being 'drowned out" by other large and more powerful stations, and that the transmitter would have to be moved from the center of population, permitting local listeners to tune in distant programs. Mr. W. K. Henderson, President of The W. K. Henderson Iron Works and Supply Co., known throughout the United States as a dreamer and a doer, and one who has unselfishly given of his time, energy and money towards the development of his town and community, was interested by Mr. Patterson in radio broadcasting, and immediately realized the immense value of radio broadcasting as a publicity medium as well as a means if furnishing entertainment anti educational matter to millions of people throughout the world and realizing that for the dissemination of propaganda relative to the resources and industrial development of the Greater Red River Valley, there was no medium available, without prohibitive costs that could be compared with radio broadcasting. He set about in his whole hearted aggressive way of doing things, and working with W. G. Patterson, the transmitting station was moved to Kennonwood, Mr. Henderson's country home, and taking the initials of Kennonwood and W. K. Henderson, Mr. Patterson secured from the Department of Commerce at Washington, a change in call letters from WGAQ to KWKH, and with the completion of the new transmitter at Kennonwood and the construction of the sound proof studio in the Hotel Youree, and various remote control lines throughout the city, Shreveport has been furnished with a broadcasting station that is true to its slogan, "KWKH on the Air, Shreveport everywhere." Mr. Henderson expresses the opinion "that were it not for the bull dog tenacity of W. G. Patterson, Shreveport would be without a broadcasting station today, for licenses and wave lengths are no longer available, and that Shreveport and North Louisiana should give their wholehearted support and co-operation to the station." Adding that any medium that will make more than 250,000 people in all parts of the country sit down and write a letter to Shreveport, in the short space of time of ninety days, is worth while. N. B.: On August 14, 1926, W. G. Patterson and associates organized the Shreveport Broadcasting Association, purchasing the interest of W. K. Henderson in the station, with all rights licenses and privileges. Moving the transmitting plant from Kennonwood to Mooringsport, changing the call letters to K. S. B. A.