Our Company History

Clear Channel Outdoor began doing business as Foster & Kleiser Outdoor Advertising in 1901. Walter Foster and George Kleiser were outdoor advertising's original pioneers and have been credited with propelling the industry from simple posters pasted onto any available surface to standardized structures that are uniform, attractive and often feature landscaping enhancements. Early innovations and the automobile brought immediate success for Foster & Kleiser. The prosperity lead to an aggressive expansion from the company's roots in the Pacific Northwest to outdoor plants in Los Angeles, San Francisco and eastward toward the Atlantic seaboard. In 1952 the company was sold to W.R. Grace Co. but retained its name in the same year Karl Eller began working for Foster and Kleiser as a lease man. In 1959 the company was sold to Metropolitan Broadcasting but again continued with the F&K name. A division of Metropolitan Broadcasting called Metromedia eventually sold the Foster and Kleiser Division to Patrick Media Company. The name was changed to Patrick Media Group September 15th 1986. In 1995, Karl Eller and Partners acquired all assets of the 94 year-old Foster and Kleiser Company. The name was then changed from Patrick Media to Eller Media Co. In 1997, Eller Media Company became a wholly owned subsidiary of Clear Channel Communications, one of the world's largest media companies. In 1997 Clear Channel acquired Universal Outdoor and combined the two companies giving the company over 88,000 displays and coverage in 33 major U.S. markets. In the same year Clear Channel acquired The More Group, a European based company operating in 25 countries. In July of 2001Eller Media Company officially changed its name to Clear Channel Outdoor signaling its commitment to the parent company's strategy to create a global brand. Since being owned by Clear Channel the outdoor division has added Spectacolor in Times Square, Donrey outdoor and continues to expand their international presence.

For current information on our company visit our Press Releases section.

About the Company Chronology

1871 — 1925

The Early Years
1871	Walter Foster born September 30 in Vallejo, California.
1874	George Kleiser born June 25 in Cloverdale, California.
1897	Walter Foster begins selling outdoor advertising for Thomas H. B. Varney in Oakland, Ca.
1898	Walter Foster and George Kleiser meet in San Francisco. They become friends and soon consider idea of outdoor business partnership.
1900	Total of 8,000 autos registered in United States.
1901	Foster and Kleiser open for business in Portland, Oregon and Seattle, Washington.
1902	Foster and Kleiser incorporated.
1903	Wright brothers make first airplane flight.
1904	Tacoma, Everett, Bellingham plants added to Pacific Northwest territory.
1905	New Portland office and operating facility opened at 5th & Everett Streets. New Seattle office and plant opens at 8th & Virginia St.
1906	San Francisco earthquake and fire.
1907	U.S. Population is 83,000,000
1908	First Model T Ford sold.
1909	There are now 400,000 autos registered in America.
1910	• First company motor vehicle purchased. A truck. • Enlarged Portland branch building opened at 7th & Everett. • George Kleiser begins campaign for national standardization of outdoor structures at Poster Advertising Association Convention.
1911	• George Kleiser elected President of Associated Billposters and Distributors Association. • Company displays first individualized AA lOx25 24 sheet poster structure in America.
1912	• Conversion of 'horse wagons' operating equipment to auto truck begins. • Foster and Kleiser acquires and operate Alhambra Theater in Seattle.
1913	Foster and Kleiser open new Columbia moving picture theater in Portland, Oregon.
1914	George Kleiser elected Vice President of Outdoor Advertising Association.
1915	Acquire J. Charles Green plants in San Francisco Establish new General Office headquarters there.
1916	Illuminated outdoor advertising service begins on Market Street in San Francisco.
1917	• Classic U.S. Tires "history book' I ' free form painted bulletins appear near historical landmarks featured. • Horticultural department formed. Landscaping of deluxe painted bulletins begins. Many have gardens park like settings. • F&K artists assist in forming camouflage unit for service in World War I military and civilian projects. • Company advertising facilities mobilized for war service recruiting, Liberty Bond sales rationing bulletins etc.
1918	Acquire Thomas H. B. Varney plants in Los Angeles and Oakland, Berkeley and Alameda. Oakland Branch opens at 13th & Webster. Los Angeles Branch begins at 230 S. San Pedro Street near Civic Center.
Post World War I Expansion
1919	• F&K service now covers six key markets in California, Oregon and Washington. • Company cited by President Wilson and US War Department for outstanding service during World War I.
1920	• LA Branch office and operating plant moved from San Pedro Street to 1550 W. Washington Blvd. • Preferred stock issue placed on market. Proceeds used to purchase additional facilities.
1921	Sacramento territory acquired from Caswell Co. and W.R. Funk.
1922	• San Francisco Branch and General Offices moved to new location at 1675 Eddy Street (at Pierce). • Purchase Long Beach facilities from H. B. Whited.
1923	• Special department formed to paint walls and do sign shop work. Named 'country department'. • Fresno territory acquired from Griffin Service and William G. Fahy Co. • First photo departments started in larger branches.
1924	• F&K acquires San Diego and Arizona territory from McClintock. • Short handle method of billposting begins ending long handle use.
1925	• New York sales office opened. • First 12x25 poster panels with three foot green bottom lattice installed. Dry brush, non wrinkle type posting in use. • Poster Advertising Association and Outdoor Advertising Associations merge. The two national trade organizations become Outdoor Advertising Association of America.

1926 — 1950

Post World War I Expansion (continued)
1926	• Foster and Kleiser now operating service in 600 cities and towns in California, Oregon, Washington and Arizona. • Now San Diego office/operating plant opened at Columbia & Juniper.
1927	• Chicago sales office established. • Begin zone system in setting up equalized poster showings and guaranteed net advertising circulation values in all markets.
1928	• Paint factory established in San Francisco. Will test and manufacture all bulletin colors. • Painted bulletin with triangular shaped moving sections provide three design copy changes for LaSalle cars.
1929	• Chicago sales office opened in Wrigley Building, Central Manufacturing plant opens in San Francisco. Will produce sections, lattice, moldings etc. • Traffic flow maps showing vehicular volume patterns in all major cities printed.
The Depression Times
1930	• George Kleiser elected President of OAAA (served five years) • First rotating painted bulletin service begins in Portland Branch.
	• Foster and Kleiser "Garden Clubs of The Air" begin broadcasting on Sunday mornings over Don Lee Columbia Pacific Coast Network radio. • Oxydol poster designed by F&K artist Marshall Reid judged Best Poster of 1930 by Chicago Art Directors.
1931	F&K plays decisive role in forming O.A.I. national sales organization. Company extends complete recognition to general advertising agencies.
1932	• Pontiac poster designed by F&K artist Otis Shepard judged Best Poster of 1932 by Chicago Art Directors. • Live models on Paramount Pictures movie promotional bulletin creates traffic jams on Wilshire Blvd. Harpo Marx and Marlene Dietrich cause mob scene on night bulletin unveiled.
1933	• Country Department renamed "Special Paint Branch". • F&K leads formation of Traffic Audit Bureau. Factors and formulas for development of 12 and 18 hour counts tested in F&K territories.
1934	F&K painters change hourly Dow Jones averages figures on Montgomery street painted bulletin in San Francisco's financial district.
1935	• New streamlined 'art deco' painted bulletin structures introduced. • Monthly seasonal variation traffic counts begin in all branch cities.
1936	• First traffic origin study completed at 9th & Alameda, Los Angeles. • Recapitalization Plan for Company stock completed. • Special large scale models made for new San Francisco Oakland Bay Bridge.
1937	New presentation rooms featuring large electrically spotted maps for illustration of poster showing coverage opened in major branch cities and New York/Chicago sales offices.
1938	• "Know The Values" merchandising booklets featuring authenticated market values for each poster showing first published. • Experimental 9 sheet pasting units first displayed in Los Angeles.
1939	F&K produced model of new San Francisco Oakland Bay Bridge displayed at Worlds Fair in San Francisco.
1940	Company booklet, "Forty Years in Advertising" published.
World War II Activities
1941	F&K hosts OAAA Golden Anniversary Convention in Los Angeles.
1942	• Company World War II activities include recruiting, civilian defense and war bond promotions. Production of camouflage for civilian and military projects begin. Protective concealment of Boeing Aircraft Plant in Seattle is largest camouflage project ever completed in history of war. • War time coverage allotments in effect. Plans provides additional poster panels for each showing. • Lee DeForest, famed "Father of radio" aids company in developing device for turning off outdoor advertising illumination during air raid 'blackouts'.
1943	War activities expanded to include manufacturing of boxes and containers for Military shipments overseas. Adobe brick production also begins at military request.
1944	• Walter Foster died January 13th. • Time Magazine features Foster and Kleiser war effort activities. • New posting procedure applying paste on posters at the truck started.
1945	• Caladobe Department begins production and sale of adobe bricks for residential and commercial buildings. • At World War II end, 144 F&K employees in military service. Four were killed in war action. • LA Times "Headline" painted bulletin wins top national award for beat media promotion. Headline changed every day during World War II.
	Post War Growth and Change
1946	• First issues of new employee publication, "Our News" appear. • "Blentone" process posters perfected. It features delicate blending of colors and tones. • "Ad Andy" adopted as F&K company trademark character. • Loewy poster panel adopted as new 24 sheet structure. • Results of F&K sponsored Sacramento Study researching outdoor advertising awareness published. • Power driven boom trucks developed to lift posting and paint section into position on location.
1947	• Gil Haynes becomes President. George Kleiser is Chairman of Board. • Industrial Painting and Decorating Division begins operation. First assignments include painting of Governor's Mansion in Sacramento. • Creative book titled "Poster Design" by Walter Warde distributed to clients, agencies and art schools. Copies in all libraries on West Coast. • Construction departments begin using motor driven mechanical post hole diggers. • Cyril Wright previews his new company sales presentation, "Case of The Reluctant Dollar." • Light aluminum posting scaffolding and stages produced for use on new Loewy panels • Caladobe adobe brick department sold to J.E.Dietrich in Fresno. • Reflective Scotchlite introduced as night embellishment for highway bulletins in Arizona and California.
1948	• New posting pick up trucks replace traditional closed panel vehicles. • Coloring book for children published. Featuring "Ad Andy in Outdoorland", it is distributed to schools and day nurseries throughout West Coast. • Public relations booklet "Messages For Millions" published. • Industrial paint departments commissioned to paint super sized murals for drive in movies throughout Los Angeles.
1949	• Three alarm fire destroys Oakland Branch operating area. • Loewy poster panels modified. New lighter stainless steel moldings replaces porcelain enamel materials. • IBM department established at General Office to centralize accounting procedures.
1950	• F&K creates 'teaser' painted bulletin campaign "Consult An Advertising Agency." Was cited favorably by American Assc. of Advertising Agencies membership. • Black Light painted bulletins combining fluorescent paint and ultraviolet light introduced. • New Company 35mn slide sales training presentation, "The Outdoor Story" released. 50th Anniversary & W.R. Grace Ownership

1951 — 1975

Post War Growth and Change (continued)
1951	• 50th Anniversary observed. Eleven branches, 30 operating bases, 1,500 employees, take part in celebration. •  Company pictorial artists complete world's largest outdoor painting (1,575 sq. ft) for Howard Hughes movie.
1952	• George Kleiser dies November 30. •  Company sold to W.R. Grace Co. • Seattle and Tacoma branches consolidated into single Seattle unit. • Karl Eller begins outdoor advertising career joining Company as lease man in Phoenix Branch.
1953	• Sahara bulletin features real swimming pool and live bathing beauties. Comedian Red Skelton leaps into pool to publicize opening of his act in Las Vegas. In the start of famed Sunset Strip entertainment bulletin displays. • Engineers test new Fiberglass moldings for poster panels. • Boom trucks utilized to move rotating paint sections, cutouts etc.
1954	• Jackman painted bulletin at Wilshire & Virgil, Los Angeles, features no molding format with cut out extensions. • Hydraulic elevators used in paint studios to facilitate painting at all levels.
1955	• Durable lightweight Fiberglass molding adopted for poster panels. • Sun reflecting "Dancing Discs" embellishment appear on Hamms beer bulletin in San Jose. • Gil Haynes retires. L.H. Odell becomes President.
1956	• New slimline fluorescent lighting tested and adopted for poster panels. First unit so lighted on Magnolia Ave. in Long Beach. • Foster and Kleiser featured on KGO TV program "Success Story" in San Francisco. • Extra size 30-Sheet posters become popular. Extensively used this year. • "F&K Imprint", new company publication, published. • F&K hosts 59th Annual Convention of OAAA in Los Angeles. • Pabst illuminated revolving prisms first used as painted bulletin embellishment.
1957	• Front of Los Angeles Branch modernized with new steel porcelain enamel face. Has concrete lower exterior, translucent glass panels and the new round F&K logo. • Imperial Valley Yuma markets added to San Diego branch territory. • New Phoenix branch building opened.
1958	Imperial Valley Market facilities sold to Outdoor Lighting Inc.
1959	• W.R. Grace announces sale of Foster and Kleiser to Metropolitan Broadcasting Co. (12/11/59. • Neon embellished poster panels displayed in Los Angeles. • Detroit sales office established. • Operating departments develop and begin use of two way radio communication.Metromedia Era Begins F&K Goes National
1960	• A.C. Nielsen Study completed. Developed first reach and frequency figures for outdoor. • New Los Angeles paint studio opened.
1961	• Ross Barrett named President. • Single post unitized construction of Poster panels begins. Prefabricated panels are hoisted into place by boom truck. • LA Metro zones Coverage Plan announced (for 1962) • A.C. Nielsen Study completed in San Francisco and Oakland. • Pre pasting of posters in billrooms begins. • First printed bulletin displayed.
1962	• Phoenix and Fresno branch territories sold to Karl Eller then forming Eller Outdoor Advertising Co. • Long Beach Branch closed. • New San Diego and Seattle branch buildings completed. • San Joaquin Valley area facilities sold to Ryan. Indio Palm Springs area plant sold to Bob.Leonard. • Company facilities in Monterey, San Benito, San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara sold to Purcell. • First mobile panels used for merchandising and public relations. • First modern "multivision" painted bulletin displayed in Sacramento. Triangular sections permit display of three different designs on single unit. • IBM Computer system installed for all accounting operations. • A.C. Nielsen Study completed in Seattle.
1963	• San Diego North Interior Market sold. • Foster and Kleiser begins operation of Chicago and New York outdoor plants formerly owned by General Outdoor.
1964	• Second A.C. Nielsen Study conducted in Los Angeles Orange County Market. First to reveal complementary values of combined outdoor/television campaigns. • New Northern California Regional headquarters opened in Oakland.
1965	• Packer Outdoor facilities acquired in Cleveland, Cincinnati, Toledo and Salt Lake City. • F&K supports passage into law of Highway Beautification Act of 1965. • Study of Children's Outdoor Readership conducted by Poster Appraisal Service for F&K in Los Angeles and New York. • First aerial photographic study measuring and comparing freeway and surface street traffic volume takes place in Los Angeles. • New Chicago Regional office opened on Morgan Street.
1966	• Automated printing of IBM Verified Poster Location Lists begins. System provides instantaneous printing of location lists for all showings. • Alfred Politz Awareness Studies conducted in New York, Chicago and Los Angeles. • New Regional Operating Center opened in Maspeth, New York. • A.C.Neilsen Study completed in New York.
1967	• Company's new motion picture, "Adman's Dilemma" released. The David Wolper production starred Jonathan Winters. • Public Exhibition of famous Ervine Metzel Collection posters held in major cities. • F&K publishes complete Outdoor Advertising Manual.
1968	• Los Angeles headquarters offices remodeled. Carpets, air conditioning, new furniture featured in the 250,000 square feet project. •  Sheets from first 24sheet poster printed in America presented to F&K by Morgan Litho Co. • Financial Department and Order Processing Department moved from Sunset Metromedia offices to 1550 W. Washington Blvd headquarters. •  Toledo branch sold to Stoner System.
1969	• People's Gallery, featuring triosk structures in regional shopping malls introduced. • A.C. Nielsen Study completed in Chicago.
1970	• Frank Lott named President and General Manager. California Regional Headquarters set up in Los Angeles. • Lease Departments renamed, Real Estate Departments.
1971	Oakland Branch bombed causing $750,000 damage to office. Weatherman antiwar group later admit attack was a mistake. The Army Officers Club one block west was intended target.
1972	• Middleton outdoor plant in Dallas Fort Worth purchased. • Acquisition of Houston Poster Advertising Co. made in Houston, Texas. • Sterling Outdoor facilities acquired in Houston.
1973	Billboard Control Measure defeated 62% to 3776 in Seattle, Washington.
1974	• Ross Barrett named Senior vice-president of Metromedia. • New F&K Houston, Texas office/plant opened. • Rotating paint programs shifted to 60 day rotation. This was change from 30 day rotating in most West Coast markets. • Big Los Angeles billroom fire. Fire doors prevent spread of flames to rest of branch office and studios.
1975	New Dallas/Fort Worth regional office and operating facility completed.

1976 — 1989