Jay McKay, WFUN Miami FL Fundamental News, 1961 (0:05:19)

… . . . We heard them screaming, but there was nothing we could do . . . …

Newsman Jay McKay is manning the MacKenzies in this bombastic backup to our original Britt Huey Fundamental newscast, one of the Repository’s original exhibits from February, 1996. This one, unfortunately, is missing the beginning teaser headlines, but is intact from the official opening all the way through to the grandiose “Count Down!” closer.

WFUN Program Director Frank Ward is featured commenting on a station promotion: DJ Bruce Bartley is to enter a “radiation shelter” at a local shopping center, and live for a week under “emergency survival conditions”, so that “WFUN and civil defense can prove it’s fun to stay alive.”

Note the use of the filter effect for “quotes” – a gimmick we haven’t heard previously. WFUN Fundamental News, circa 1961, still ranks as our favorite classic Top 40 news presentation.

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