ReelRadio-Default-01

Richard Sands, KITS-FM San Francisco, August 13, 1983 (1:23:53)

Unscoped
… Richard Sands, hot-doggin’ in the back seat …

Richard Sands, a first-day veteran of Mike Joseph’s HOT HITS on KITS, is heard here and there and all over the City By The Bay, with a very tight HOT HITS playlist on August 13, 1983. The number of local references, in nearly every break, is impressive! And this format never disappoints – there are LOTS of jingles, and reverb on the microphone!

Incredible spots of the era from Dick Orkin (Gap) and Coors (Killian’s Irish Red), plus a goofy, complicated Family Fortune contest that made contributor Scott Rayer wonder “what’s in it for the guy making the phone calls in the first place?”

This format was SO hot that two power titles repeated within this 90-minute recording. It’s not clear if this was a special countdown, or regular format. Those titles were edited for the second presentation. One song was restored in the middle, where a tape change was required.

HOT HITS had been on KITS since February 18, 1983, which was allegedly the first day of the format. Scott Rayer has also contributed an aircheck of Richard Sands on that date, to be presented later.

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