Bob Sievers, WOWO Fort Wayne, IN February 20, 1971 (0:05:37)

… Please, please, do not call us to ask what is the matter …
[Description by Uncle Ricky, contributed by Eric Rhoads] Bob Sievers Bob Sievers was on WOWO in Fort Wayne for more than 50 years, retiring in 1987. At one time, Sievers was heard in 28 states as host of The Little Red Barn Show and The Bob Sievers Show. Sievers passed away September 3, 2007. He was 90. On February 20, 1971, Sievers was on the air when the Emergency Broadcast System was activated. A system operator “accidentally played the wrong tape” during a regularly scheduled test. In this rare recording, we hear Sievers’ confusion and concern, and finally, his relief when the activation is declared a mistake. This incident highlighted major flaws in the nation’s emergency broadcast procedures, and the EBS was eventually scrapped.

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