Jack Alix, WPGC Washington, D.C. Jan 1 1967 (0:09:53)

… Do it to it whoa whoa whoop it on me …
[Description by Lee Chambers]In this brief excerpt, ‘JA the DJ’ (Good Guy Jack Alix) can be heard
counting down the top nine songs of 1966 on January 1, 1967. Jack had
been the night guy at crosstown competitor WEAM in Arlington before
coming over to WPGC in 1966.

This aircheck was most likely recorded off the air from the FM (which
was 100% simulcast with the AM). At the end of the tape as the AM
(daytimer) sign off occurs, you’ll hear Jack urge listeners to ‘switch over
now’ to the FM. Years later, DC would become the first FM dominant
market in the country, due in no small measure to WPGC’s longtime effort
to convert cume over to the FM.

Other things to listen for:

The “Good Guys” New Year’s Greeting (Harv Moore, “Tiger” Bob
Raleigh (Bill Miller), Cousin Duffy, Jack Alix & newsguy Marv Brooks).

Jack repeatedly refers to the Top 100 list that listeners can mail for.

Jingles heard throughout are mainly from PAMS, but some
were from a package called “Funtastic” by Spot Productions of Dallas. Jack’s Bat-jingle was from a package called “Thatman” from the
same company.

The March of Dimes teaser promo, voiced by then night guy Bob
Raleigh (Bill Miller), touts PM driver & PD “Cousin Duffy” walking from
Dulles airport in the Virginia suburbs to downtown DC. The event
coincided with a major blizzard but went off anyway.

Morning man Harv Moore (“the boy next door”) is the voice on the
Free State Cycle spot.

Jack’s weekly gig at a local club featured the English Setters, a
local band of renown in the metro area. His promo coincided with a
New Year’s night dance there.

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