Frank Christel

Director of Broadcast Services, Retired

Frank Christel has been a part of Public Radio Tulsa for more than 34 years, first as Chief Engineer, then General Manager, and The University of Tulsa's Director of Broadcast Services. In 2004, he was instrumental in signing Classical 88.7 KWTU on-the-air. Before that, he worked at KBJH, KCFO, KAKC, and KBEZ in Tulsa and also served in the Navy during the Vietnam era. 

He was introduced to the magic of radio by his 9th grade math teacher who in class would play tape recordings of Stan Freberg's radio shows. His love of electronics grew by building hi-fi and shortwave radio electronic kits.

He's quite proud of his two daughters, their husbands, four grandchildren, and is blessed by his lovely bride of more than 45 years.

Ways to Connect

Stations Off-Air to Exchange Broadcast Antennas

By • Sep 19, 2013

Listen to KWGS and KWTU online using the links in the Now Playing box at the right or through NPR's iPhone app, iPad app, or Android app.

Please contact us by email at public@publicmediatulsa.org.

Neal Conan Interviews Highlights' Goofus and Gallant

By • Jun 26, 2013

It's Neal Conan's final Talk of the Nation interview on Thursday. Neal will have special guests including an extended conversation with Ted Koppel, and the last 5-10 minutes include acknowledgements and an essay from host Neal Conan. Here is Neal interviewing two familar characters: how many differences can you find?

A Capitol Fourth 2013: Fireworks & Music Spectacular

By • Jun 26, 2013
Capital Concerts

Broadcast live 7-9 pm on Public Radio 89.5-1

This July 4, America's national Independence Day celebration broadcasts live from the West Lawn of the United States Capitol. Hosted by Emmy Award-winning TV personality Tom Bergeron and NPR's Korva Coleman, the event features performances from some of America's best known celebrities and musical artists.

One More Night - This Weekend on A Prairie Home Companion

By • Jun 26, 2013

This week on A Prairie Home Companion with Garrison Keillor, we're live from the Koussevitzky Music Shed at Tanglewood in Lenox, Massachusetts for our final live broadcast of the summer season.

Here & Now Debuts Weekday Afternoons on Public Radio 89.5-1

By • Jun 26, 2013

Talk of the Nation ceases national distribution at the end of June. Here & Now, a new NPR program, offers listeners live, updated news from around the world and nation Monday-Thursday from 1-3 pm. Science Friday continues from 1-3 pm on Friday afternoons.

This Weekend on A Prairie Home Companion: No Turning Back

By • Jun 19, 2013

This weekend on A Prairie Home Companion with Garrison Keillor, it's a live broadcast performance from the Ravinia Festival in Highland Park, Illinois.

This Week on A Prairie Home Companion: Long Gone Out West Blues

By • Jun 13, 2013

  Coming to you this week from the Chateau Ste. Michelle Winery in Woodinville, Washington, it's a live broadcast of A Prairie Home Companion with Garrison Keillor.

The Stories Your Car Could Tell... And The Stories It Still Might!

By • Jun 13, 2013

Poor Betsy. Or Bert. We know how difficult it can be to break ties with a beloved car. Yeah, it's been around the block a few times, but oh! the pleasure it gave you on trips back and forth to everywhere. There does comes a time, though, in every vehicle's life to say goodbye. 

When Ira Glass met Michael Jackson

By • May 28, 2013

Ira Glass, host of This American Life, recently received a medal from the Academy of Arts and letters. A portion of his talk revolved around a photo of Ira and Michael Jackson. See that photo and watch the humorous video of his acceptance of the award for spoken language.

State Has Kept Role to a Minimum with School Shelters

By • May 24, 2013

"When it comes to making sure that school kids have access to tornado shelters, Oklahoma’s state government has kept its distance. The state does not require public schools to install shelters, does not keep track of which schools have them, has provided limited state tax dollars to build them and has not assessed the cost of installing them statewide."

Tribe And Red Cross Help Native And Non-Native Residents Recover

By • May 24, 2013

"When last Sunday’s tornado tore through Shawnee, the tribe began to round up their emergency personnel, and the Red Cross made sure they had what they needed, items such as food, cots and volunteers."

Powerful Before/After Aerial Images of Moore

By • May 23, 2013

“This is the first big storm I've seen from the air, and well...I should get a storm shelter,” says Jamin Yeager with Aerial Oklahoma. “I'm honestly shocked there wasn't a greater loss of life.”

Norman: Aftermath of a Storm

By • May 22, 2013

"Jessica’s father was at home when the tornado hit and hid in the bathroom. It was the only room in the house where the roof wasn't entirely ripped off, and her father survived. “It makes you feel blessed,” Ellerd said. She gestured toward the house. “This is just stuff.”

Lawmakers Urge More Safe Rooms for Schools

By • May 22, 2013

"Albert Ashwood, director of the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management, said Tuesday there were no safe rooms in the two schools leveled by the tornado. Speaking at a public news briefing, Ashwood said hundreds of schools across the state have installed reinforced tornado shelters, but Plaza Towers Elementary and Briarwood Elementary were not among them."

The Takeaway: Voices From Moore

By • May 21, 2013

John Hockenberry speaks with those on the scene of the tornado devastation, including Rachel Hubbard of KOSU who lives in Edmond, Pastor Ben Glover in Oklahoma City, and Garrett Ingoglia of AmeriCares, an emergency response organization.

"Google Crisis" A Clearinghouse for Information

By • May 21, 2013

An interactive Google map provides a wealth of information about Oklahoma City shelters, school and church closings, and displays the preliminary tornado track over the streets of Moore, Oklahoma.

Images From Monday's Tornado

By • May 21, 2013

StateImpact Oklahoma's Joe Wertz was in Moore yesterday and was caught in the tornado. Here's a slideshow of pictures that he took while reporting for NPR and our sister station KGOU in Norman.

Tweets Capture 'Shock And Awe' At Tornado's Deadly Power

By • May 20, 2013

First-hand reports, photos, and video of the tornado passing through Moore, Oklahoma

KWGS and StateImpact Oklahoma Receive Society of Professional Journalists Awards

By • Apr 22, 2013

KWGS and StateImpact Oklahoma received seventeen awards from the Society of Professional Journalists Oklahoma Pro Chapter on Saturday, April 21, 2013.

John Durkee, KWGS News Director, won an award for best radio newscast and Catherine Roberts, KWGS Reporter, won a best radio portfolio award.

KWGS Wins Oklahoma Association of Broadcasters Awards

By • Apr 21, 2013

Two Outstanding Achievement awards were presented to KWGS on Friday, April 19, 2013 by the Oklahoma Association of Broadcasters.

For his Live From The Cain's Ballroom broadcast of October 13, 2012, Swing On This host John Wooley received a Special Programming award.

That program featured The Tulsa Playboys and special guest, Cowbop, for two hours of western swing music celebrating the 100th birthday of western swing great, Johnnie Lee Wills.

Wait, Wait... Don't Tell Me! Cinecast Tickets Available

By • Apr 17, 2013

Breaking News: “Not My Job” guest Steve Martin and live music from Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings have been added to the show's lineup!

It's Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! like you've never seen it before! Because, well, normally you can't see it — it's a radio show.

A live staging of Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! will be beamed to Tulsa at 7:00 pm on Thursday, May 2, 2013 to the Cinemark Mark 17 in Tulsa and the Cinemark Broken Arrow.

Kudos & Brickbats From Our Spring Forward 2013 Fund Drive

By • Apr 4, 2013

These listeners haven't been too shy to tell us what they think about the six HD Radio channels of Public Radio Tulsa. Share your thoughts, good and bad, in these three ways:

Contribute Now & Comment

Or Comment by Email

Tell Us on FaceBook

So, What's In It For Me To Contribute?

By • Apr 4, 2013

Undying gratitude from zillions of form-fitting earbuds and stereo radio speakers aching to be modulated with the dulcet tones of NPR's announcers and the classical strains of the world's most transcendent music!

Oh, and these nifty items, too...

NPR Go Public Cap

Take II: Tokyo & Zodiac on Performance Oklahoma

By • Mar 28, 2013
J. Henry Fair / tokyoquartet.com

For fans of the Tokyo String Quartet and the Zodiac Trio who would like to hear the entire Performance Oklahoma program promised last Saturday evening, we have good news - a rebroadcast! This time, a broadcast in its entirety (we promise) this Saturday evening at 8:00 over Classical 88.7-1.

Performance Oklahoma Debuts on Classical 88.7-1 Saturday Night at 8:00

By • Mar 6, 2013
armstrongauditorium.org

Performance Oklahoma airs Saturday evenings at 8:00 on Classical 88.7-1.

Now 74, NPR’s Susan Stamberg talks about the ups and downs of aging

By • Feb 19, 2013

Our Grand Dame of Public Radio talks about her years of being associated with public radio since its beginning. She shares her take on technologies, hobbies, dating, and the peak age for working in radio.

Winterbound on A Prairie Home Companion

By • Feb 13, 2013
William Wesen / Wikimedia Commons

Coming to you live this week from The Fitzgerald Theater in Saint Paul, Minnesota, it's A Prairie Home Companion with Garrison Keillor.

This Weekend on A Prairie Home Companion: The Heart is a Tender Thing

By • Feb 6, 2013
NPR

Coming to you this week from The Fitzgerald Theater in Saint Paul, Minnesota, it's a live broadcast performance of A Prairie Home Companion with Garrison Keillor.

Masked Ball on A Prairie Home Companion

By • Feb 1, 2013

This week on A Prairie Home Companion with Garrison Keillor, we're kicking off a five-week homestand in Saint Paul, Minnesota with a live broadcast from The Fitzgerald Theater followed by our Prairie Home Companion Masked Ball.

Super Bowl Sunday on To The Best of Our Knowledge

By • Feb 1, 2013

Sunday, February 3 is Super Bowl Sunday! And to help celebrate, To The Best of Our Knowledge is planning a Super Bowl themed program.

Behold the spectacle of epic proportions!  The abundant feast laid out! Tribes decked in battle attire! Yes my friends – The Super Bowl.  Since its beginnings in Boston school yards, football has reshaped our weekends and spawned a one day advertising frenzy. The 49ers and the Ravens meet this week to play not Vince Lombardi’s game, but the Billion Dollar Game.

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