Earle C. Anthony (December 18, 1880—August 6, 1961) was an American businessman and philanthropist based in Los Angeles, California. He worked in broadcasting and automobiles and was also a songwriter, journalist and playwright. Early life Earle C. Anthony was born on December 18, 1880. Career Anthony built an electric automobile of his own design, the first to run in Los Angeles, at the age of 17. A replica of this car, made in the 1920s with parts of the original automobile, is exhibited in the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles. In 1923, Anthony was the founder and owner of what eventually became 50,000-watt KFI AM (640) radio, a station he controlled until his death in 1961. From 1929 to 1944, he also owned KECA/1430, which evolved into KABC. He was an early president of the National Association of Broadcasters and during his term oversaw the establishment of the organization's first paid staff. He also was a founder of one of the earliest television stations in Los Angeles, KFI-TV (channel 9, now KCAL-TV), and KFI-FM (105.9 MHz, now defunct), both of which were disposed of in 1951. From 1915 to 1957, Anthony was the Packard distributor for all of California, selling one out of every seven Packards. When Packard was merged with Studebaker Corporation, Anthony saw the handwriting on the wall and relinquished his 40 plus year relationship with Packard. In the Summer of 1957, Anthony acquired two franchises for the ill-fated Edsel, a new, medium-priced car from Ford Motor Company, one in San Francisco and one in Los Angeles. In the fall of 1957, Anthony also got the Lincoln Franchise for Los Angeles and later added Mercury in the Summer of 1958. He would remain a Lincoln-Mercury dealer until his death. He was also instrumental in developing the concept of the gasoline service station (the Chevron was the trademark of the National Supply Co., a service station chain Anthony headed with several other auto dealers and sold to the Standard Oil Company of California in 1913.) He was also a pioneer in inter-urban bus transportation, founding a company later incorporated into Pacific Greyhound lines and had a role in the development of car radios. Philanthropy Anthony was active in many civic activities. He helped save the Hollywood Bowl by assuming leadership of the Symphony Under Stars Foundation in the early 1930s. He donated resources for a wind-resistant cross to