[Description by Uncle Ricky]

This is the original “Performance Master”, from a 15 ips half-track mono tape that required a little “baking” prior to its close-up on REELRADIO. Strange to think that in 1987, we were mastering on tape that would be prone to sticky and squeaky only twenty years later.

In 1987, KROY was back – this time on FM, at 96.9. The call letters had been out of the market for a couple of years, but the station had been purchased by Great American Broadcasting. The KSAC-FM calls were dropped and a new (and final) generation of KROY was on the air. The General Manager was ex-KHJ-GM Ted Atkins, and the Program Director was Bob West.

I was still working for 1240AM (which inherited the KSAC call letters), so my participation in this show was as a contract employee for ShowPro, working with the Producer and my buddy, the late Don Early.

The theme for our 1987 pyromusical was the 200th Anniversary of the 1787 Constitutional Convention. It was at this historic meeting that the Constitution of the United States of America was created. However, most of the script was written for our sponsors and the massive visual elements. You won’t learn much about the Constitutional Convention listening to this show.

Co-Sponsors included KRBK-TV (Channel 31 Television,) The Cal Expo Racing Association, and The California State Fair. The event drew 26,159 in paid attendance (and a total parimutuel “handle” of $422,043 for the Racing Association.) 14 harness races were scheduled prior to the fireworks. Fireworks choreography was by our favorite Pyrotechnician, Ian Gilfillan of PyroSpectaculars. We’d first met Ian when we presented the 1982 California Capitol Restoration Gala show in 1982.