Miss KOSI 1955

Miss KOSI 1955 - Courtesy Aurora History Museum

Aurora’s KOSI 1430 radio station began broadcasting in 1954 with its studios located at the Riviera Motel on Colfax Avenue. The station sponsored a beauty contest in 1955 to bring attention to their new 5,000 watt power transmission. Pictured here is the winner Esther Zgut, who promoted KOSI throughout the metro area by giving away Denver Bears baseball tickets. She also helped to draw attention to the local navy recruitment office, which co-sponsored the contest. Renamed KEZW in 1984, the station continues to operate today, playing big band, Broadway, and jazz from the 1930s-50s. It’s now the largest radio station in the United States to run on solar power. What are some of your favorite local radio memories?