The original KOIL first signed on the air on July 10, 1925; 99 years ago (July 10, 1925). It was one of the earliest stations in the Omaha area. KOIL was originally owned by the Mona Motor Oil Company (hence the "OIL" in the call letters) and was located in nearby Council Bluffs, Iowa. It broadcast at 1080 AM before moving to 1290 AM. The station's studios moved across the river to Omaha in the early 1930s.[4]
KOIL was one of the stations that participated in the first CBS network radio broadcast on September 18, 1927.[5] Its affiliation switched to the NBC Blue Network on December 1, 1931.[6] KOIL carried its schedule of dramas, comedies, news and sports during the "Golden Age of Radio."
The station was purchased by salesman and promoter Don Burden in 1953. As network programming moved from radio to television, the station adopted a Top 40 format. KOIL was a popular station for Omaha's teens and young adults. It became part of Burden's Star Stations.
Scandal
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) began an investigation in the 1970s into allegations involving Burden and his stations. They included reports of bribes Burden made to officials in charge of renewing the licenses of his stations, supervision of on-air contests, and lack of candor with the FCC.[7]
Three months later, on December 16, 1976, KOIL resumed broadcasting. The station had a new license awarded to Omaha businessman Nathan Novak.
In 1993, the KOIL call sign moved to 1180 AM in an exchange with station KKAR (now KZOT). In April 2003, it moved to 1020 AM, replacing KKSC (now KMMQ).[8] The call sign resumed broadcasting on 1180 kHz in January 2009. On June 4, 2012, KOIL was returned to 1290 AM and rebranded as "The Mighty 1290" KOIL.[9]
Other personalities to spend time at KOIL include The Real Don Steele, Gary Owens, Kris Erik Stevens, Lyle Dean, Frank "Coffeehead" Allen, Joe Light, Dave Wingert, Sandy Jackson, and Tom Becka.
