Johnny Hayes, KRLA Los Angeles, 1967 (0:31:27)

… from L.A.’s King Size vibrator …
[Description by Uncle Ricky] Johnny Hayes (at KRTH101) Johnny Hayes was working for Bill Drake at WAKE (Atlanta) when he was 21. Five years later, he arrived at KRLA, Los Angeles, after appearances in San Francisco at KYA and San Diego at KGB. Hayes won Billboard magazine’s Personality of the Year award in 1984. Johnny was on the air at KRTH in Los Angeles from March 23, 1992 until May of 2002. Also included in this aircheck from April 14, 1967 is a newscast with KRLA News and Program Director Cecil Tuck, remembered for his “crusading journalism” and The Credibility Gap, a fifteen minute newscast with skits and original songs. With partner Bob Eubanks, he started the KRLA Beat newspaper. Tuck went on to write for The Smothers Brothers, Glen Campbell and Kenny Rogers TV shows. He also wrote campaign speeches for Pat Paulsen. This (clean but VERY narrowband) off-the-air recording even includes a pattern/power change (at approximately 23:10).

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