Captain Whammo, (Jim Channell), WMET Chicago, 1977 (0:06:49)

… Whammo! …

Here’s Captain Whammo (Jim Channell), smokin’ on WMET (FM) in Chicago, 1977. I was introduced to the good Captain by Dave Kohl, sports director at WBLG in Lexington, KY when I worked there in the late 70’s. Dave worked at WMET when it was WDHF and Captain Whammo sent him this aircheck, and I got a dub.

I later got a chance to go up to WMET’s studios and watch Whammo work. It was the dead of winter in Chicago, but he was on the air barefoot in a t-shirt and Bermuda shorts sweatin’ his butt off. I remember being especially impressed with their phone system where the jock talked into the microphone, but the caller was heard out of a speaker. Pretty much the norm today, but where I worked at the time it was radical technology.

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