Dick Biondi, WCFL Chicago, June 4, 1970 (1:00:33)

… great shirts for playing golf and shooting in the low 60’s like I do …
[Description by Uncle Ricky, contributed by John Celarek]Shades of the forthcoming iPod format are heard in this June 4, 1970 pre-recorded hour of Dick Biondi on WCFL. Why anyone would go directly from music to spots back then is a mystery, but maybe not if you consider that the program was pre-recorded, and the air version needed last-minute adjustments. We know for sure an entire 10-minute newscast is missing. This was not recorded off-the-air. Like so many airchecks of WCFL, Production Director Tom Konard of Aircheck Factory was the originator of this one.

Biondi is very much on format here otherwise — organized and flawless, respecting the music, as do all the airchecks of his amazing career. The advantage of pre-recorded material is generally high fidelity. This one is a bit unpredictable. Some of the contributed recording is fluttery, and most of this recording is a bit hissy (even after some gentle redux.) One song was replaced (from vinyl). There’s also some “tape travel” causing the high-end to swish in and out. (But not as much as the pale guy on the electric shaver spot

Overall, this is a pleasant hour with great spots, fabulous TM jingles, a few musical surprises and one of the original Top 40 jocks on a great American Top 40 radio station owned by a labor union!

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