Gary Granger, WQXI Atlanta December 1967 (0:18:41)

… . . . The Tongue will be out tonight . . . …

Here’s another of the airchecks I made with the Revere while traveling. This was the night after my stop in Louisville. After driving all day I would: 1) Check into a motel 2) Tote the beast into the room and tune around to find the local top 40 outlet 3) Slap a reel on and go to dinner.
It turned out I was taping the night of the WQXI (790) Christmas party (at the Regency Hyatt House). We get to hear the low man in the pecking order, Gary Granger, subbing for regular Jim Jeffries. The 6:00 news segment starts the tape — note the heavy reverb. Also nicely captured, the jocks “Merry Christmas” wish. Dr. Don Rose was doing mornings then.

In the 60s, you didn’t get to use much Interstate when driving from Minnesota to Florida. It took four days (two, now) and included some twisty two lanes in Tennessee & Georgia. I remember driving south for three days, then pulling into Atlanta in 37 degree weather. In fact, I think there was actually a snowfall overnight.

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!

Board of NCBHP
North Carolina Broadcast History Project