At 94.1 on the FM dial, you’ll find one of America’s most historic broadcasting outlets: KPFA. In 1949, they began their broadcast journey as America’s first listener-supported radio station. You can celebrate their proud history this Saturday, April 18, at 2 p.m., starting at the Alameda Theatre & Cineplex.
Pacifists E. John Lewis and Lewis Hill were conscientious objectors in WWII. After the war, in 1946, they founded the Pacifica Foundation, a nonprofit that eventually grew to a network of five stations. One of those stations, New York City’s WBAI, was at the center of a landmark case in Free Speech history. In 1973, an afternoon announcer on WBAI aired an uncensored version of George Carlin’s famous “Filthy Words“ routine (also known as “Seven Dirty Words You Can Never Say On Television”).
By 1978, Pacifica wound up before the Supreme Court in the infamous FCC v. Pacifica Foundation case. While Pacifica ultimately lost the case in a 5-4 decision, the case set the precedent known as “Safe Harbor,” which moved more adult-oriented content to later broadcast hours.
The Pacifica Network remains strong to this day, providing content to over 200 member affiliates who share Pacifica’s devotion to free speech and cultural resistance.
As they did last November for KCSM’s 60th anniversary, the California Historical Radio Society, in partnership with the Alameda Theatre & Cineplex, is celebrating KPFA’s 77th year with a 2 p.m. screening of the 2000 documentary film KPFA on the Air. That will be followed at 3 p.m. by a panel discussion with KPFA staffers, hosted by Vylma V of KPFA Women’s Magazine.
After the discussion, attendees are invited to take the short walk to the exclusive after party at the California Historical Radio Society (CHRS) at 2152 Central Avenue, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., featuring KPFA DJs Mike Biggz and Davey D. Tickets are $20 for standard seating, $25 for Lux. Get more details and purchase tickets online at the CHRS website.
Scott Piehler hosts and produces Alameda’s only weekly news digest podcast, the Alameda PostCast. Reach him at [email protected].
