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The Ultimate Radio Trip, 1976 (0:40:36)

… it is a fact that the average DJ only works four hours a day, but worries the other twenty hours how long he’ll be working only four hours a day …

I came across an ad in one of the trades in late 1975 or early ’76 for American AirChexx, a “bi-monthly Trade Publication of the Contemporary Radio Industry” on cassette. I think a six-issue subscription was $25. I was still in school, working part-time in radio, but I scraped the money together for the first six issues.

I reasoned that it would be a good resource tool to help me learn more about my chosen profession. (OK, I wanted some cheap entertainment, and a chance to steal some bits.) I still have five issues.The first issue, Vol. 1, No. 1, featured “The Ultimate Radio Trip – From Boston in the Morning to San Francisco at Night.” Two or three stations, Top 40, AOR or MOR, in each of the top twenty-five markets. The concept of American AirChexx was to feature a different market in every issue after number one. Subsequent tapes had Miami, San Francisco, St. Louis, Pittsburgh and Atlanta, but The Trip really whetted my appetite for more.

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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!

Carl Davis
Trustee
North Carolina Broadcast History Museum