Chuck Knapp, KSTP, 1973 (0:01:28)

… …and we’re gonna make this turkey fly… …

Fresh from his Chicago gigs, Chuck Knapp, from Fergus Falls (a few hours drive northwest of Minneapolis,) debuts on KSTP.

I only have the first 20 minutes and wished I had been able to get the whole first hour (but I had to get ready for school!) Chuck went on to become the PD of KSTP-FM and the last I heard he retired from radio and lives in the Twin Cities.

The air staff referred to KSTP on the air as a turkey, as in, “We’re gonna make this turkey fly.” And they did. In the summer of 1973, KSTP zoomed from last to number 2 in 100 days.

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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