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Charlie Van Dyke, KLIF Dallas 1968 (0:11:15)

… the big switch is coming to KLIF …
[Description by Dave Mitchell] This exhibit includes two 1968 airchecks of Charlie Van Dyke on KLIF in Dallas. The first I recorded myself on August 3, 1968 from my bedroom in Lewisville, Texas, just outside of Dallas, while home with my parents between jobs. I was 20 at the time. Charlie was 19. Even then, his pipes were fabulous. The Hamm’s Beer spot is classic, but much of the music KLIF was playing that afternoon was not. The Distortions? The Flavor? Aesop’s Fables? Who were these guys? Notice the promo for the Cowboys vs. Bears 1968 Hall of Fame game. In those days, KLIF was the flagship for the Cowboy radio network. The voice of the Cowboys, Bill Mercer, was one of my broadcast school instructors. The Big Switch was quite a promotion, dreamed up by Gordon McLendon. I remember everybody was asking if KLIF was “going country.” Actually, the entire air staff traded places, for a day, with the air staff of KFJZ in nearby Fort Worth. You can read more about it at Steve Eberhart’s History of KLIF site. This aircheck also includes Charlie’s “blue skies, green lights” signature sign-off that he used in all the years he was at KLIF.  The second aircheck begins at 6:04 and was recorded in January 1968. Here again is Charlie, on a Saturday show, unsure of who is following him, but nevertheless honing the skills that would someday take him to Boss Jock fame. The newsman is Frank Haley, another one of my instructors in broadcast school in 1966.

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