Jack Gale, WAYS Charlotte NC August 10, 1966 (restored) (0:25:08)

Unscoped
… . . . and don’t forget friends, GUM spelled backwards is MUG . . . …

Jack Gale himself contributed this one, with a note that “someone” sent it to him. It’s possible this was a pre-recorded hour for some reason, but it’s more likely this was a demo recording intended to introduce Jack’s show to potential advertisers. The biggest clue is that the famous, deep reverb that was always on the WAYS audio chain was missing, and everything had a bit of tape echo instead. We did add some reverb, and also restored the music, which also seems unlike the regular WAYS playlist.

The good news is that this recording sounds like Jack’s morning show, and it includes many of Jack’s favorite gags, including Helicopter Harry, Jan Piercing (The World’s Most Widely Disgusted Tenor), Cousin Floyd and The Gorilla. It’s likely that the late Jack Armstrong was inspired by Gale’s Gorilla when he worked at WAYS overnights as John Larsh in 1965.

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