Boom Boom Brannigan, WPTR Albany NY, 1962 (0:05:05)

… Mostly music, here on the Big B Show …
[Description by Uncle Ricky]WPTR Tower Field
Above, the WPTR tower field in July, 2000. “WDCD”, which replaced WPTR for a time, is mounted on the far mast. On the right, the WPTR call letters, once mounted on one of the towers, are rusting in nearby weeds. Rusting Call Letters
Rusting Call Letters
Pictures by Anonymous
This rare clip of Boom Boom Brannigan doing mornings on 50,000 watt WPTR, Albany-Troy New York, was recorded on November 16, 1962. For an aircheck of such vintage, it’s a remarkably clear sample of the Brannigan Shenanigan featuring early PAMS jingles (Series 15, Living Radio) and a very understated time tone.

WPTR moved to FM as a country station for awhile; as of February 2001, the WPTR call letters are back on 1540, which is now co-owned with FM sister WDCD. And, at last report, Boom Boom Brannigan was still on the air at WPTR.

Rusting Call Letters
Rusting Call Letters

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