Sammy Hale, WJJD Chicago, February 16, 1961 (0:24:45)

… Big J Happy Time …
[Description by contributor Sam Hale]  (16:32) This Exhibit SCOPED The music has been removed for a ‘scoped version of this aircheck. The most unpleasant memories of my radio career are from WJJD — the exception being that I enjoyed working with Jack Spector, with whom I did some hops. Jack did afternoon drive. At the time of this air check the studios were in the Union Carbide building at 230 N. Michigan Avenue. The main broadcast studio was suspended so the vibrations from the underground rail would not be a problem. It must have been built in the ’30s or early ’40s as the studio was large enough to accommodate an orchestra and studio audience. I don’t think it had ever been repainted. The colors were drab to begin with and the lighting was poor. The announcer’s desk was in the center of the studio and way over in the left corner were the turntables, records and transcriptions (commercials). At this time, the musician’s union still provided the musician to operate the turntables. My guy hated top 40 music and would show his displeasure with grimaces and by actually plugging his fingers in his ears. The (older) engineer who controlled the mike and volume levels was up in the control room several yards away, and was smoking his pipe and reading the morning paper. Plus, after signing on at 4:00 or 5:00 AM (I’ve forgotten which); we signed off for 15 minutes at 7:00 AM to allow some station out West to sign on. This tape begins after we’ve signed back on. My charge was to do a light and happy show under these conditions. Embarrassing as these early air checks are, they are part of my Top 40 radio history. By the way, the “image” voice was the newest PD, Stan Major, heard on all the promos and intros. The short period that I was there was too long. I was later able to introduce newsman Cy Nelson, who was incredulous with those news stagings, to a job with Bartell at WOKY in Milwaukee. He was a quality gentleman. Interestingly, when I returned to Bartell later in ’61, Chris Lane was PD and his charge was just the opposite – straight ahead “tuff” manly radio. It was only a short time until Chris went to Bartell’s KYA. Later he became one of the giants with his country format. He actually put WJJD on the map for a few years later with country. Chris was post-humously inducted into the Country Music DJ Hall of Fame in 2001. Although he was a native of the mid-west, Chris’ radio career had begun in my little hometown of McMinnville, TN and we meet up again in Milwaukee! As they say, “it’s a small world, after all”.

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