John Van, Steve Carlson, KRSP Salt Lake City UT June 27 1973 (0:43:29)

Unscoped
… I was going to give the weather forecast, but there isn’t one …
[Description by Uncle Ricky, contributed by Mike Miles] As this exceptionally rare recording of Salt Lake City radio history opens, we hear John Van ending his show and introducing Steve Carlson, who flubs his first set before John returns with a lengthy newscast. This is another REELRADIO EXCLUSIVE (we have the original tape), and we believe this news report to be accurate and that the aircheck originated in the local radio station, programmed locally, with local employees (at least two, John and Steve.) Otherwise, this is a cool wannabe original local radio station that was drawing from the fringes of everything most of us knew about radio in 1973. Why not present Top 40 music like an album rock station with jingles? Here we have the PAMS SOLID ROCK series (ie: WLS) used on a station with a female-focused Top 40 playlist (VARIETY, not diversity). They play 3-record sets (were they themed?) and the jock backsells each set. Then they play lots of spots with jingles between a couple of them. Notice how ONLY the newsman refers to the station as Crisp.

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