Downtown in St. Louis, Missouri — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

KMOX

Photographed By Jason Voigt, October 22, 2019

1. KMOX Marker

Inscription. On December 24, 1925, seventeen local businesses backing The Voice of St. Louis, Inc., launched their new radio station KMOX. Broadcast pioneer William Paley owned the station by 1932 and later nicknamed it "the jewel in the CBS crown."

Young guitarist Les Paul worked at KMOX using the name "Rhubarb Red." Dr. Tom Dooley reported for KMOX from the jungles of Southeast Asia. The first CBS station to air editorials and endorse candidates, KMOX added in 1960 its "At Your Service" show, a forebear of talk radio.

KMOX introduced Bob Costas, Jack Buck, Harry Caray, Joe Buck, Joe Garagiola, Dan Dierdorf, Dan Kelly, Skip Casey and countless others in St. Louis and beyond on its 50,000 "red hot" watts.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Communications. A significant historical date for this entry is December 24, 1925.

Location. 38° 37.497′ N, 90° 11.286′ W. Marker is in St. Louis, Missouri. It is in Downtown. Marker is on Market Street just west of Memorial Drive, on the left when traveling west. Marker is mounted at eye-level, directly on the Gateway Tower building at this address, facing the Luther Ely Smith Park. It is in front of the main entrance. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1 Memorial Drive, Saint Louis MO 63102, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Abraham Lincoln Slept Here (a few steps from this

Paid Advertisement

Click on the ad for more information.
Please report objectionable advertising to the Editor.

Click or scan to see
this page online

marker); International Fur Exchange (within shouting distance of this marker); Sold on the Steps of Justice (within shouting distance of this marker); Dred and Harriet Scott (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Western Reach of the Revolution (about 300 feet away); Rue des Granges (about 300 feet away); Joseph Pulitzer (about 300 feet away); American Zinc Building (about 300 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in St. Louis.

Regarding KMOX. KMOX-AM continues to be one of the top radio stations in St. Louis, as well as the Midwestern United States. It is considered to be one of the first 24/7 talk radio stations in the United States. Four of St. Louis' major sports teams would be broadcast on KMOX: the St. Louis Blues (hockey) and St. Louis Cardinals (baseball) - both of which the station has the rights to (as of 2019); and the defunct teams, the St. Louis Hawks (NBA) and the St. Louis Cardinals (football). It is not known the reasoning behind the call letters, but one local legend suggests "Kirkwood Missouri On Xmas", as the station's

Gateway Tower building image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Jason Voigt, October 22, 2019

2. Gateway Tower building

Marker is on the right next to the main entrance

original transmitter was in Kirkwood.

The station was housed in a few other places in St. Louis, including the Merchandise Mart building (where Busch Stadium sits now). It wasn't until 1968 that KMOX would move into the Gateway Tower building, where it would share its headquarters with their sister stations, KMOX-FM (which ended in 1982) and KMOX-TV (now KMOV-TV, a CBS affiliate). In October of 2012, the station's studios and offices moved to its current location at the corner of Tucker and Olive Streets in the Park Pacific building. KMOV still operates in the Gateway Tower.

Also see . . .
1. KMOX Official website. (Submitted on October 24, 2019, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois.)
2. KMOX on Wikipedia. (Submitted on October 24, 2019, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois.)

Credits. This page was last revised on January 30, 2023. It was originally submitted on October 23, 2019, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois. This page has been viewed 529 times since then and 51 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 24, 2019, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.