Serving the Fullerton Community Since 1922

The Hornet

The Hornet
Serving the Fullerton Community Since 1922

The Hornet
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December 23
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Background

90.1 KBPK was a Class D (non-comm) FM radio station broadcasting from Buena Park, California. The station was owned by the Buena Park School District. It was operated by the Fullerton College Media Studies Department and primarily aired adult contemporary format as well as various educational programs, sports events, and PSA’s.
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In late 1975, Dick Thompson and Jack Townsend, Principal of Buena Park’s Pendleton School and Buena Park School District Director of Instructional Media, turned the switches on to beam KBPK throughout North Orange County. Because of a higher tower and new antenna system, the station’s primary signal was boosted from 3-5 to 10-15 miles.

Fullerton College had sought a license to operate its own station, but had been denied when it was thought that the Fullerton program would interfere with another station operating in the area. The college brokered an agreement with the Buena Park School District to use their facilities at the Calder School radio station. Operations have since moved online.

KBPK in Photos

  • Fullerton College student Diana Kirchen, who later became a full-time instructor in the radio program, does a live remote broadcast along with Jim Hilliker and Bob Wood at the Anaheim Convention Center in March 1976. Courtesy of Diana (Kirchen) Kelly.

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  • Technical Education instructor Don DePuy. The Torch yearbook archives, 1964. Courtesy of Diana Kelly.

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  • Radio instructor Richard “Dick” Thompson, 1964. Courtesy of Diana Kelly.

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  • “SCHOOL STATION—Instructor Jack Townsend assists teen-agers Greg Picogna, left, and Mark Badenhop in FM broadcast from radio station at Calder Intermediate School in Buena Park. Times photo by Vince Streano.” Los Angeles Times archives, Feb. 16, 1971. Courtesy of Diana Kelly.

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  • “FIRST ANNOUNCER__James K. Ward mans microphone as Fullerton Junior College station KBPK goes on the air with live broadcast by remote control. Times photo.” Los Angeles Times archive, Feb. 8, 1972. Courtesy of Diana Kelly.

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  • Dick Thompson and Jack Townsend with the KBPK transmitter, 1975. Courtesy of Diana Kelly.

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  • Radio instructor Paul Kelly holds a camera at a live remote broadcast of KBPK at the Anaheim Convention Center on March 19, 1976. Courtesy of Diana Kelly.

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  • “Rocking Baby Lane — Darryl Kitchell, an ex-DJ from Oklahoma is now teaching broadcasting at FC. Kitchell is the latest addition to the broadcasting staff and plans to teach a film appreciation class as well, next semester.” The Hornet archives, OCt. 29, 1976. Courtesy of Diana Kelly.

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  • “Jim Bain, KBPK’s new Radio Workshop instructor, spends a rare moment off the air. He has not only entertained listeners through radio stations KIQQ, KFWB and KWIZ, but he also holds the FCC’s first class radio-telephone license, the highest license of its kind.” Photo by Greg Korver, The Hornet archives, Nov. 20, 1981. Courtesy of Diana Kelly.

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  • Image of broadcasting instructor Diana Kirchen from the Hornet archives, May 1, 1981. Courtesy of Diana (Kirchen) Kelly.

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  • Radio instructor Ed Berger at KWIZ, 1983. Courtesy of Diana Kelly.

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  • Radio Instructor Ed Ford, December 2002. Courtesy of Diana Kelly.

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  • Communications Division Dean Paul Kelly stands in the hallway of the 500 building in 1985. Courtesy of Diana Kelly.

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  • “KFJC HOPEFUL–Radio and TV communications student Dave Fisher (l) receives helpful instruction from Richard Thompson with a smile. Fisher is one of several potential DJ’s for FJC’s future radio station.” The Hornet archives, Jan. 8, 1965. Courtesy of Diana Kelly.

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  • Radio studios in room 1121 in the theater building, 1975. Courtesy of Diana Kelly.

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  • Radio board in room 1121 in theater building. Courtesy of Diana Kelly.

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  • “Diana Kelly, right, giving instructions to her 130 Broadcast Audio Production class in the classroom of the radio production facility.” The Hornet archives, Nov. 20, 1987. Courtesy of Diana Kelly.

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  • KBPK classroom and practice studios, December 2002. Courtesy of Diana Kelly.

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  • KBPK’s on-air studio, December 2002. Courtesy of Diana Kelly.

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  • KBPK’s production room, December 2002. Courtesy of Diana Kelly.

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  • KBPK practice studio, December 2002. Courtesy of Diana Kelly.

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  • KBPK on-air studio, 2022. Courtesy of Diana Kelly.

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  • KBPK production studio, spring 1986. Courtesy of Diana Kelly.

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  • KBPK news student pulls wire copy, 1986. Courtesy of Diana Kelly.

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  • A student in KBPK’s on-air studio. Courtesy of Diana Kelly.

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  • “BASKETBALL BROADCAST—The KBPK broadcast team scores a first in broadcasting when they announced this game between the Ganesha Giants and the Fullerton Indians. The announcers are [l to r] Scott Whitaker, Mark Panagoes, June Guethlen, Jim Hilliker and their instructor Paul Kelly. Photo by Henderson.” The Hornet archives, March 5, 1976. Courtesy of Diana Kelly.

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  • Mark Panagas (left) and Scott Whittaker announce a baseball game in 1976. Courtesy of Diana Kelly.

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  • Scott Whittaker (left) and Mark Panagas announce a basketball game between the Ganesha Giants and the Fullerton Indians in 1976. Courtesy of Diana Kelly.

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  • Radio instructor Don DePuy with a student at a live remote broadcast from the Anaheim Convention Center in March 1976. Courtesy of Diana Kelly.

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  • Radio Instructor Jim Bain (left) with students at a live remote broadcast of “A Night in Fullerton” in 1982. Courtesy of Diana Kelly.

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  • Ed Ford and Christina Kelly broadcast at “A Night in Fullerton.” Courtesy of Diana Kelly.

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  • KBPK open house, spring 1986. Courtesy of Diana Kelly.

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  • KBPK group photo, 1980s. Courtesy of Diana Kelly.

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  • Radio instructor Jim Bain with a student in 1986. Courtesy of Diana Kelly.

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  • Students Jim and Ron in front of KBPK sign, 1986. Courtesy of Diana Kelly.

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History of KBPK
Fullerton College student Diana Kirchen, who later became a full-time instructor in the radio program, does a live remote broadcast along with Jim Hilliker and Bob Wood at the Anaheim Convention Center in March 1976. Courtesy of Diana (Kirchen) Kelly.
KBPK rides the airwaves for 50 years in North Orange County
Fullerton College's radio station broadcast on 90.1 FM from 1972 until the 2023 with programming that included daily newscasts, weekend news magazines, children's storytelling, local interview shows, and live coverage of cultural and sports events.
February 7, 2022

This history of KBPK 90.1 FM was researched and written by Diana (Kirchen) Kelly, Ph.D., on Feb. 7, 2022, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the radio station. Kelly is a former KBPK student (1975-76) and former full-time radio faculty member...