Herb Oscar Anderson, Voices of Vista (0:14:13)

… Hilda, do you find the deprived children tend to be deprived mentally, too? …
[Description by Uncle Ricky] VISTA – Volunteers In Service To America was one of the Great Society government programs to “win the war on poverty.” This exhibit features 3 five-minute promotional programs hosted by long-time WMCA/WABC personality Herb Oscar Anderson. Otis Redding, Paul Simon and The Byrds are also featured with musical selections. Best guess: These programs were produced in 1966. Voices of Vista also features actual Vista Volunteers who thought they could make a difference. Wouldn’t we all like to know what happened to these Volunteers In Service to America? Did they have great success and/or much happiness in their later lives, as a reward for their good deeds? And what happens if you write to “Box A, Washington, D.C.” today? I mean, Box A sounds so very important. Herb Oscar Anderson passed away January 29, 2017. He was 89.

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