WBT Charlotte NC Composite, 1971-1972 (0:13:05)

… . . . No matter what time it is, it’s Eleven Ten in Charlotte . . . …
[DESCRIPTION BY UNCLE RICKY]
This composite was assembled with production elements from presentations created by Tom McMurray for “The Entertainer”, 1110 WBT, in 1971 and 1972. Both WBT Custom (“Logo One”) and classic resings from PAMS are included here, along with a few of the many custom production parts. When the WBT format debuted in 1971, the custom package was used exclusively; within a year, cuts from classic PAMS syndicated series were added.The composite begins with Tom’s “mission statement” about community involvement, (previously featured in the Thomas McMurray Ideas 1973 Presentation), a quick montage of WBT music, and at 1:58, three examples of custom WBT Public Service Announcements. The vast majority of radio stations of the time considered public service a pointless FCC requirement. At WBT, Tom took a different approach, creating memorable first-class PSAs. Later, at WJAR, Tom explained to me that he required everyone on his air staff to spend a few hours in the production room each month creating these announcements. It was considered part of the job at WBT.

Following the PSAs, we hear a sample of Charlotte morning icon Ty Boyd. Tom told me
that after WBT, Boyd made his living as a motivational speaker! H.A. Thompson, a short excerpt of newsman Frank Richardson, Jack Petry, Mike Ivers and Bob Lacy follow Boyd. There’s also one cut from McMurray’s All Kinds of People campaign – again, an example of “community involvement”.

The final element of this composite was the closer for a 1971 sales demo.

WBT Great Modern Radio History, 1972 (8:26)

Welcome to the new ReelRadio!

This site is now operated by the North Carolina Broadcast History Museum. 

We want to thank the board of ReelRadio, Inc. for their stewardship since the passing of the founder Richard Irwin in 2018.  It has not been easy and they have maintained the exhibits for future generations to enjoy.

I met Richard Irwin, aka Uncle Ricky, when we were freshmen at East Carolina University.  We both had worked at local stations in our hometowns.  No one was more passionate about radio, especially Top 40 radio, than my friend Richard. 

Our goals with this site are to preserve the exhibits and make them available free of charge for people to enjoy.  Over time, we hope to add some airchecks to the site.  This will not happen immediately.  Time and resources will determine the future of new exhibits. 

Many thanks to the web folks at the Beasley Media Group for countless hours of work.  Again thanks to the board members of ReelRadio, Inc. for their faith in us. 

Richard Irwin’s hope was that his site would live on long after his passing. He said, “I hope REELRADIO will survive as my contribution to the ‘radio business’. The business is allowed to forget me, but the business should never forget the great era of radio that we celebrate here”.

We remember Richard and we thank him. If you enjoy this new site, we would appreciate a contribution. We hope you enjoy the new ReelRadio!

Board of NCBHP
North Carolina Broadcast History Project