WPEZ-FM Pittsburgh PA Composite, 1976 (0:06:37)

… This is my dog Shannon, he’s been very still and his eyes have been closed for three weeks …

[Description by Uncle Ricky]

Program Director Charles Lake introduces this composite of Pittsburgh’s WPEZ-FM from 1976. Lake says “we’re not doing anything here that’s terribly innovative”, and while it is true that the formatics were fairly common for Top 40 stations of the period, only a few stations achieved this polished and near-manic level of energy on a consistent basis.

Unfortunately, the mix is so dense, and the edits are so tight that it is very difficult to identify the air talent featured. One name we recognize is Beau Raines, whom Uncle Ricky met when Raines consulted WFEC in Harrisburg in 1975. Also, we picked out Dennis Elliot and some guy named Big Jim. Our guests are encouraged to help us identify the rest of this talented crew via COMMENT (below).

(from American Airchexx Vol 1 No. 5, ©American Airchexx, 1976.)

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