Jim Runyon, KYW Cleveland, June 1965 (0:29:55)

… This is a Runyon named Jim …
When ex-marine Jim Runyon left his midday gig at KYW in Cleveland, he joined programmer Ken Draper at WCFL in Chicago. Cleveland is where he met Dick Orkin, and you will recognize Runyon as the announcer for the classic Chickenman comedy series created by Orkin. Jim Runyon died at the age of 42 in 1973.
This aircheck demonstrates the somewhat schizophrenic evolution of this station to what eventually became WKYC. KYW was emphasizing personality and “selected” Top 40 hits (and at least one “easy listening” stiff, represented here by Vic Damone.)

Dave Hull, at that time at KRLA in Los Angeles, appears in a PSA as Chairman of the National Disc Jockey Committee supporting The Breath of Life month; and we are reminded that in 1965, it was still OK to buy your beverages in TIN cans: “stackable, packable and never-go-backable!”

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