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Disco Demolition: The Day After, WLUP-FM Chicago, July 13, 1979 (0:20:53)

The Pete Battistini Collection
… I’m a disc jockey, not a baby sitter …
[Description by Uncle Ricky] This exhibit opens with a short news report from WBBM radio. And then, Steve Dahl and Garry Meier are heard in the first hour of the WLUP-FM (“The Loop”) morning show on (Friday) July 13, 1979 — the morning after their widely-reported Disco Demolition promotion. Dahl was right: this made big news in the contemporary music and radio press. For many of our visitors, this will be the first chance you’ve had to hear Coho Commander Dahl explain, in his very own hoarse words, exactly what happened. Hey, some maniac Cohos lost control of their buzz and went down on the field. At least, that was their story, and they stuck to it.

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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