The Fateful Hours: KLIF Dallas Covers The Kennedy Assassination (0:43:48)

… Preserve them well, for these were The Fateful Hours …
[Description by Beau Weaver] Gordon McLendon Gordon McLendon’s KLIF invented radio news as we know it, and on November 22, 1963, his team swung into action in an extraordinary effort. In 1964, airchecks of the coverage were assembled and pressed into a long-playing vinyl album entitled: “The Fateful Hours” for sale to the public. But McLendon may have underestimated the black eye that the Assassination would give Dallas, in the court of public opinion for many years to come. Wise counsel convinced him it might be construed as in poor taste, so the project was eventually shelved. JFK in Dallas During my tenure as PD at KNUS, I stumbled across these LPs in a warehouse, and saved one. It is a treasure. Gordon himself does much of the reporting and commentary, along with KLIF News luminaries Gary Delaune and Joe Long. The Album is narrated by long-time McLendon national PD, Don Keyes.
JFK and Jackie in the Motorcade in Dallas

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