Machine Gun Kelly, KHJ Los Angeles, August 4, 1974 (0:13:18)

… The California Music Festival with The Gunner …
[Description by Contributor Jeff March] With Charlie Van Dyke and Tom Dooley holding down the morning and afternoon drive slots, KHJ sought to maintain the energy after dinner and after dark. The station recruited M. G. “Machine Gun” Kelly from KSTP Minneapolis. Only 22 years old at the time of this aircheck, Kelly demonstrates how to hit the 26-second post on Chicago’s “25 or 6 to 4” with only 13 seconds of material to say — by holding an ear-splitting note for the interminably long remainder of the intro. “The Gunner” takes dead aim at dead air in this sizzling aircheck as KHJ plugs the California Music Festival with simulated crowd noise over segues. Machine Gun Kelly, KHJ Los Angeles, August 4, 1974 ©2007 – 2011 REELRADIO, Inc.

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