Jim Channell, WDHF-FM, Chicago, 1975 (Scoped) (0:06:11)

Scoped
… “Slippin’ on by on ‘DHF, Friday night, troublebound” …
Was that an “image jingle”, or a sure way to get your record played? Definitely mid-70’s high energy – but whatever happened to Captain Whammo? Tim wrote the following when he contributed this aircheck in 1996:”…Jim “Captain Whammo” Channell on WDHF-FM … is now into the gospel related business and runs his ministry out of Ft. Myers, Florida. Long retired from the Windy City, Channell bailed out for KENO/Las Vegas in the late ’70’s. Reportedly, he and his girlfriend had a plan to ‘break the bank’ out in Vegas while working in radio there. It either didn’t pan out, or ‘The Captain’ got one of those offers he couldn’t refuse..

Channell came back to Chicago and hooked on with a ‘Mom ‘n’ Pop’ outlet in the Chicago suburbs. Later, when WCFL went to a religious format, Jim Channell was their PD and also did PM drive. After ‘CFL was sold to the folks at Evergreen Broadcasting (it’s now All-Sports WMVP), Channell set up shop in the suburbs and started to run his gospel syndication service.

(Years later) I taped his gospel countdown show (on WYLL-FM Des Plaines) to get an address for him. It turned out to be a P.O. Box in Fort Meyers, Florida, so I sent a letter to Mr. Channell asking for an aircheck of the gospel countdown. I eventually received the tape, six months later – along with a note from “The Captain” asking for a donation to his ministry!”

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. 

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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