WLS DJ Reunion, May 1985, Part One (1:13:01)

… What are you doin’ to our children?! We’re makin’ money off ’em! …

[Description by Uncle Ricky]

This fascinating exhibit features segments of the WLS 1985 DJ Reunion, broadcast in April, 1985. Most of the music was not included, but one selection was restored.

The biggest voices (literally) in early Chicago top 40 were in the Big 89 studios. Chuck Britton introduces Mort Crowley, Sam Holman, Officer Vic, Gene Taylor, and Bob Hale. Jim Dunbar, who retired in 2000 after 37 years in talk radio at KGO/San Francisco, phones in from the Bay Area, and Larry Lujack is featured with his hilarious Cheap & Trashy Show-Biz goodbye to VP/GM Taylor from 1971.

Also part of the free-wheeling fun: Biondi and the bleeding bassist, background on the custom Anita Kerr jingles, and a 1962 anniversary promo by Mort Crowley for New York sister station WABC and Herb Oscar Anderson.

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