ABC Radio News: John F. Kennedy, November 1963 (1:30:50)

… . . . The President is dead. Let us pray . . . …

This is a 90-minute ABC Radio News special featuring radio network broadcast segments from November 22, through November 25, 1963 — four days that remain etched in the memories of Americans who otherwise would have been listening to Top 40 radio. It was the end of the age of post-war innocence for those born after World War II.

John Fitzgerald Kennedy was only 46 years old when assassinated. Then, even before he was buried at Arlington National Cemetery, his alleged assassin was murdered. All the whirlwind activity of those events is included in this excellent documentary.

Listeners from this era will remember the names and voices of many ABC network news reporters, all practiced wordsmiths who created pictures with words and expressed the emotion of the most sorrowful and chaotic days in American history. The program begins with the news that “shots were fired” in Dallas, and ends with “Taps”, concluding the President’s funeral.

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