KFUO History Trivia!

It's time for the KFUO History Trivia Game Show! The Rev. John Lukomski (co-host of Wrestling with the Basics), the Rev. Matt Clark (co-host of Wrestling with the Basics and pastor of Ascension Lutheran Church in St Louis, MO), the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe (host of Thy Strong Word and pastor of St. John Lutheran Church in Luverne, MN), and the Rev. Timothy Appel (host of Sharper Iron and pastor of Faith Lutheran Church in Godfrey, IL) join us as guests for this trivia extravaganza!

How well do you know KFUO? Download the PDF answer sheet here!

1. Today KFUO is found at 850 on the AM dial. When KFUO first started in 1924, what was its original AM dial number?

2. In 1924, what was the cost to build and operate the original seminary attic-based station in its first year? $14k, $140k, or $1.4m?

3. When KFUO first went on the air in 1924, how many programs were broadcast each week?

4. Before KFUO became the broadcast ministry of the LCMS, what organization owned and operated KFUO?

5. What year did the LCMS officially take ownership of KFUO?

6. True or False: In 1929, during construction to enlarge the station building, KFUO staff had to broadcast out of a Concordia Seminary dormitory.

7. What other station did KFUO share its original AM550 signal with until parting ways in 1940? KSD, WKRP, or KWIL?

8. True or False: Actress Betty White was once a guest on KFUO.

9. True or False: In the early 1950s, there was a proposal to expand the station building for a third time that would include a large chapel with television broadcasting capabilities.

10. True or False: In 1935, the St. Louis Star Times inquired if KFUO would consider an offer of $100k for the sale of its station.

11. True or False: Astronaut John Glenn was once a guest on KFUO.

12. True or False: KFUO FM was the first licensed FM signal in St. Louis.

13. True or False: KFUO FM was the first licensed FM signal west of the Mississippi.

14. The Three Stooges were once guests on KFUO.

15. In what year did KFUO make its first live link-up with another radio station to share the Bible Study with WLAB in Fort Wayne, Indiana, via a telephone connection?

16. What prestigious award was given to KFUO FM in 1999 by the National Association of Broadcasters for “Best Classical Music Station in the United States”?

17. Also in 1999, KFUO AM received two of this award from the National Religious Broadcasters for “Excellence in Religious Broadcasting”?

18. What year did KFUO Radio move from 85 Founders Lane on the Seminary campus to its current home at the International Center?

19. Can you name all ten current staff members of KFUO Radio (bonus point: Can you name the current KFUO intern?)

20. The call letters, KFUO, were assigned to the station arbitrarily by the United States federal government. What slogan was later ascribed to these call letters?

As you grab your morning coffee (and pastry, let’s be honest), join hosts Andy Bates and Sarah Gulseth as they bring you stories of the intersection of Lutheran life and a secular world. Catch real-life stories of mercy work of the LCMS and partners, updates from missionaries across the ocean, and practical talk about how to live boldly Lutheran. Have a topic you'd like to hear about on The Coffee Hour? Contact us at: listener@kfuo.org.