ReelRadio-Default-01

Sam Van Zandt, KIOI San Francisco CA., August 29, 1978 (0:31:38)

Unscoped
… The only tip I ever got was, ‘don’t play with matches’ …
[Description by Uncle Ricky] The venerable Sam Van Zandt sounds fine here, but the format is insane. I’m sure there was some reason why Sam had to backsell songs after a long commercial set, but any advantage seems lost now. If it was intended to create confusion, it did. It almost sounds like an automation system with bad programming, the pieces out of order. Van Zandt had much better placement at other stations in the Bay Area over the years. This is a somewhat distorted mono cassette recording of a stereo FM broadcast, so we’re always on the edge here, hoping it will improve. Turns out the best improvements are Sam, and Bill Larson with ABC Contemporary News. There’s a Public Affairs segment with Leora Johnson, all about clean indoor air, where we learn that We ARE The ONE – KAY ONE OH ONE! There’s a HOT jingle, too. ©2015 REELRADIO, Inc. All Rights Reserved

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