WAKE, Atlanta 1959 Presentation (0:23:42)

… …Well, I don’t know if he was or not unless it was just because that I left him – because he drank. …

[Description by Gene Knight]

I was lucky enough to dub this from the original tape of WAKE from 1959, which I found at KCBQ when I worked there. From what I’ve read, KCBQ and WAKE were co-owned by Bartell in 1959, and both stations were Top 40. Lots of echo and production on this, and Bill Drake, one of the “WAKE HitParaders”, worked there at this time.

WAKE, an original “Local” (Class IV) AM station, would have been 250 watts on 1340 in 1959, but was a ratings leader in Atlanta before more powerful stations like WQXI and WPLO adopted the Top 40 format.

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