ReelRadio-Default-01

Christopher Jordan, WSVP West Warwick, RI. 1972 (scoped) (0:10:19)

Scoped
… at ten minutes after eleven tonight, we’re gonna have the entire 20 minutes of In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida …
Yep, they sure sound like genuine Johnny Mann jingles on WSVP in West Warwick, Rhode Island – but please, this station was not consulted by or associated with Bill Drake in any way, as far as we know. The jingles must have cost them a small fortune, and the money could have probably been better spent for fresh copies of the records they played. This aircheck wins “best cue burns” hands down! You may never hear more damaged vinyl. Somehow, they managed to cue burn the end of some records, too! (This exhibit is ‘scoped, only.) Christopher Jordan (Mike Scott) was 18 and doing his best to be cool and protect Mother Earth. This was his second job in radio. WSVP, with 1000 watts day and 250 watts night, had a hard time competing seriously in the Providence Metro, but it made enough money to try. The real mystery about this aircheck is the actual date of broadcast. One brief announcement places it before September 2, 1972 — but Chris has a news bulletin about a North Vietnam P.O.W. release that was anounced on September 17. Perhaps the aircheck is a composite (it came from an unlabeled cassette at the bottom of a very old box), but I’m not sure how this particular mystery can be solved. The best guess for an actual air date is September, 1972.

Start typing and press enter to search

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