Tommy Vance, KOL Seattle WA. June 25, 1965 (0:31:42)

… Let’s shut up and play more music …
[Description by Uncle Ricky] British-styled Tommy Vance (one of the Magnificent Seven) was the afternoon host on Seattle’s Colorful KOL in June of 1965. This was space-age radio! It may have been the height of the British Invasion, but we’re treated to Hollywood’s Liverpool Five and Seattle’s own Sir Raleigh And The Coupons as Tommy counts down the latest KOL Tunedex. This Exhibit ‘SCOPED (12:22) No music for you! But everything else is still here. PAMS jingles, Brenda Holloway, The Strangeloves, Patti Page, a couple of short headline newscasts (with Ray Hutchinson) and a music movie spot voiced by Bruce Morrow are among the goodies in this delightfully eclectic half-hour, taped right off the station’s console. Note the crystal-clarity of the microphones and jingles, a pleasant contrast to the gritty, grungy vinyl singles.

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